Five Can’t-Miss Austin Food & Drink Events This Week

Fluff Meringues and More is announcing some big updates this month, starting with a new breakfast menu and reverse happy hour. Plus other news bites about wine, puppies, and live music.

Fluff Meringues’ grapefruit curd tart with hibiscus and blood orange mousse (Photo by Kristin Collins)

Fluff Meringues will now be opening at 9am on the weekends and 7am on weekdays, staying open to 11pm Saturday night for all your late-night, meringue-based party needs. Fittingly enough for their new earlier in the a.m. time slot, they’ll also be offering grab-and-go breakfast items starting Friday, Feb. 1. Think savory favorites and sweet treats like hand pies, twisty breads, and fresh fruit parfaits. On weekends, they’ll even be slinging mini quiches in both meat and vegetarian varieties, so you can have a little nibble alongside your cup of Cuvee Coffee or imported London Tea Palace tea before diving headfirst into the requisite bowl full of fluffy sugar.

Friday also marks the kickoff of their “reverse happy hour.” Don’t worry, it’s not a sad hour (although what could be more fitting in a sad hour than a couple of tear-absorbing meringues?); they’re just moving their happy hour to 7-9pm weeknights. Now you can get a glass of something boozy and a glass of something sweet on nights when you work late and need it the most. Get $2 off glasses, $8 off bottles, and 20% off beers.

And, of course, with February being the official month of sweetness, they’ll be hosting a cozy, single-seating, two-course Valentine’s Day tea service at 7pm for $60 a person. Enjoy a light savory meal of meats, cheeses, roasted veggies, and salad before diving into the main event – an elaborate, tiered dessert service of Valentine’s inspired treats, like a tart filled with grapefruit curd, hibiscus, and blood orange mousse; strawberry basil madeleines; chocolate strawberry marshmallows; and several dipped drops. There will also be a smattering of their signature treats like meringues, marshmallows, cookies, and tarts, and a few additional surprises they aren’t giving away just yet. Each high tea includes a glass of wine or Prosecco, with the option to upgrade to a bottle.

Image from Getty Images

On Saturday, Feb. 9, 10am-2pm, Birds Barbershop will be hosting another installment of DOGPOP, a dog-friendly market and pup party that includes a pet costume contest, dog play area, drinks from Independence Brewery, local food trucks, and music by DJ Girlfriend, as well as 20-plus pet-industry and local-maker vendors. While the event is free, a suggested minimum donation of $5 goes to benefit the Forgotten Friends Rescue.

The Infinite Monkey Theorem is celebrating the end of Dry-nuary at the first possible opportunity, with the Breaking Dry January Silent Disco on Feb. 1.

DJ 401(k)/HALLPASS and DJ jNilla will be spinning silently via first-come, first-served headphones at the free event, which features tiered drink specials depending on how serious you are about re-entering the drinking world. The level-one tier – “Easing Back Into It” – includes $6 cans of their Dry Hopped Pear Cider; tier two – “This Ain’t My First Rodeo” – includes 3-for-$12 drinks; and tier three – “Diving Into the Deep End” – is a try-and-buy special that lets you deduct the the price of your glass from the at-cost whole bottle, ensuring you a smooth ride into 2019’s first wine hangover.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, 6-9pm, Jack Allen’s Kitchen will be hosting their ninth annual patio party at the restaurant’s Oak Hill location. The $150 ticket cost all goes to benefit the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, and gets you a spread of food from the Jack Allen’s Kitchen kitchen, plus bites from sister restaurant Salt Traders Coastal Cooking; an open bar of specialty cocktails; and beer and wine from local sponsors like Tito’s Vodka, Tequila 512, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Treaty Oak Distilling, Becker Vineyards, and Thirsty Planet Brewing. There will also be desserts from pastry chef Dee Dee Sanchez, and Duane & the Hipsters will be playing live musical accompaniment.

Every Thursday, Wheatsville is offering a $5 dinner special at their in-store hot bar, with a rotating menu available 5-8pm at both the South Lamar and Guadalupe locations. This week, it’s Cuban chicken or tofu simmered in citrusy Cuban mojo sauce with organic mango black bean salad and organic cilantro lime rice. The rotating menu includes combos like turkey (or quinoa cashew) loaf with garlic mashed potatoes and lemon roasted broccoli, beef or mushroom bolognese with salad and garlic bread, baked potatoes with turkey, tempeh chili with veggie toppings and Baja slaw, or barbecue chicken/seitan with vegan potato salad and baked beans. Note: Pay for your token before heading to the hot bar to load up!