Restaurant News and Gossip: Miguel Rovago, Brad Womack, Tyson Cole, Sharon Watkins, Beau Theriot and More!

We went to Fonda San Miguel for brunch last Sunday and I was surprised and delighted to see Chef Miguel Rovago back behind one of the serving stations. Miguel had announced his retirement last year and had planned to teach at a cooking school in Spain. But to our good fortune, he’s rotating between Austin and Europe and will continue to be a presence at my favorite interior Mexican restaurant in the city.

Some of you will recall that a few weeks ago, for a few short days, we ran on DOWR a picture of Austinite “Bachelor” Brad Womack’s old girl friend and our family friend Laurel Kagay. Since Brad is in local the hospitality business (he owns college bars like The Chugging Monkey) and starring in a national reality show, we thought we’d have a little fun with the story. Well, you can imagine my surprise when somebody from a national website that focuses on TV called a few days later and wanted to know about the baby that Brad and Laurel had, and if the girls on the “Bachelor” knew about this. I couldn’t believe this woman had asked the question. I told her that there was no baby as emphatically as I could: and she seemed disappointed.

But there’s the viral power of the Internet for you. Take one piece of misinformation or wishful thinking on the part of some publicist from Hell and multiply it by 100,000. And hold your breath.

Ran into Tyson Cole of Uchi fame at La Dolce Vita last week. He was just back from his Iron Chef competition in New York. He wouldn’t fess up as to whether or not he had won, but there seems to be a standard order of business on this show. If you go up against Mario Batali or Bobby Flay, regardless of your talent, you’re going to lose. I watched the episode where the former exec chef at the Driskill Grill, David Bull, went up against Flay. The surprise ingredient was Wild Boar (right in Bull’s wheelhouse). In my opinion, Bull flayed Flay. But the lame celebrity judges they had didn’t see it that way. Their comments were so inane that I chuckled through the last part of the show. But Tyson is fortunate that he didn’t go up against one of the BIG TWO. So maybe some sanity will be forthcoming and he’ll prevail because he is one hell of a chef.

Chez Zee, one of my favorite little bistros in north Austin has concocted a Pumpkin Crème Brulee in honor of the season. I’m not a fan of pumpkin pie or anything pumpkin as a rule, but even I loved this. Stop by and check it out. They also have a pumpkin cake that’s quite good as well.

We went to Beau Theriot’s way fun Halloween party this past Saturday night on the top floor of the newly rebuilt Oasis. Sat with Travis Country Sheriff Greg Hamilton and his wife Mayzie. Greg looked great dressed as a pimp. Marge was the Queen of Hearts and I was Mr. Cool, wearing my blonde Jesus wig, a jacket with no shirt and shorts.

The room, overlooking the lake, has got three movable skylights, great acoustics for music, a huge bandstand, and is large enough to accommodate many dancers. This is just one part of the enormous Oasis complex that will open early in 2008. I take my hat off to Beau and Shirley Shaw and all the staff out there for the amazing rebuild that they have overseen. The place is beautiful.

And you know, if there’s anyone in Austin who enjoys cutting loose and having a good time any more than Beau Theriot, I’d like to know who it is.