The Gonzo Gourmet Club Dines at Sicola’s: A Culinary Experience
Our Gonzo Gourmet Club has got to be one of the coolest dining clubs in Austin. We meet about 6-7 times a year and have epic feasts with wine pairings at wonderful restaurants. Our most recent splurge was Saturday, March 29th, at Sicola’s: A Culinary Experience. Chef Steven Sicola showcased his inestimable skills with lobster […]
SXSW: Not So Kind to Fine Dining Restaurants?
Much is made over the millions of dollars that SXSW brings into the Austin economy each month. But an informal poll we conducted with owners/chefs at fine dining restaurants revealed a segment of the Austin economy that was not blessed with the magic dust that SXSW seems to spread around each year. Most high-end restaurant […]
Tyson Cole of Uchi Brings the Battle into Kitchen Stadium on the Iron Chef
It isn’t often that a local Austin chef gets to journey to New York to do battle with the big boys on the Food Network’s Iron Chef program.. The last one to do it was the former chef at the Driskill Grill, David Bull. And he lost to Bobby Flay. Tyson Cole, the uber-chef of […]
Cabernet Sauvignon: The Grape of Destiny
In most upscale restaurants across Austin, you will usually see an extensive part of the wine list usually devoted to cabernet sauvignons. The cabernet sauvignon grape is the most widely grown in the world for wine production. Many think that this is an ancient grape but in truth, a DNA analysis in the 1990’s proved […]
Josh Watkins is in Fine Form at The Driskill
One of our traditions in the Balon family is to stay home on Valentine’s Day (would you believe home-made Philly Cheese Steak hoagies) and dine out the evening after. Such was the case with our last meal at The Driskill Grill. Josh Watkins, who took over the reins from David Bull last year, was in […]
Westlake Restaurant Scene Continues to Defy Logic
You’ve all heard me rant about the ongoing paradox that characterizes dining in Westlake. I’ve mentioned the Bermuda triangle of restaurants more than once in this blog: so then what happens? Two new restaurants open within a few months of each other and they are both packing them in. I’m referring of course to the […]
Rob Opens Mouth, Inserts Foot: Both County Lines Are Very Much Open and Doing Great!
Radio is a live medium. That’s what makes it special and that’s what also makes it occasionally problematic. This morning, I inadvertently confused the County Line with the Salt Lick as we talked about the Salt Lick’s closing in Davenport. I corrected myself moments later but some folks apparently left the program thinking the County […]
Austin Dining Recommendations for Hillary and Barack
Okay, the big night is at hand. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are going to square off in an Austin debate with the future of the Democratic presidential nomination at stake. Duly noted. But the really burning question is where in our fair city are they going to dine? Or perhaps to couch it in […]
The Roach Report Finds a New Home on KVUE
It used to be KXAN-TV that carried the torch for all the hue and cry regarding reports of restaurants that were regarded as “unsafe” by the Austin-Travis county health inspectors. Now KVUE, Channel 24, home of the seriously cute Christine Haas, has stepped into the breach with a feature entitled Eat, Drink and be Wary! […]
Paris Hilton Gets Burned at Benihana
Noted the other day where that extremely well-known gastronomical giant Paris Hilton managed to suffer burns on her hand from the grill at a Benihana’s in LA. Short of climbing over the table on your hands and knees or having a quickie with the knife-wielding stir fry chef, one wonders how you could possibly burn […]
Trouble in Coffeeland? Starbucks to Close 100 Stores
The notion of value in the hospitality industry is an intriguing one. Some people will pay what they believe a product is worth and nothing more. Others though, will pay far more. Why? Because they want to be socially accepted or feel like they’re part of the cognoscenti. Consider the case of a cup of […]
Rob and Art San Miguel Enjoy an Imperial of Caymus Special Selection ’04
I get to go to a lot of wine auctions and affairs for charity. But earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to be the MC for the Parents to Parents wine benefit at the Wild Game Ranch south of Austin. If you are not familiar with this charity, the work that goes into it […]
Gordon Ramsey Coming to The Bakehouse???
If this isn’t a match made in the restaurant version of Hollywood casting, I don’t know what is. Gordon Ramsey may be about to take on an Austin restaurant for his Kitchen Nightmare series on the Fox Network: the 30-year favorite on Manchaca, the Bakehouse. The Bakehouse is not a fine dining restaurant (the kind […]
What Will $4,937 Buy You and Your Valentine for Extravagant Indulgence at the Hilton
Got some discretionary cash lying around from the sale of your hedge fund? Or perhaps you just did a re-fi on your Lake Travis estate? Or maybe you just have a penchant for extravagance? Well, the downtown Hilton has got a package for you. The weekend begins with a limo escorting you to the hotel. […]
