Goodbye, Daily Juice; We’re Gonna Miss You, Sa-Tén; Glad You’ve Stopped Burning, Shoal Creek Saloon; Congrats, TFWA Grant Winners; Are You Totes Insane, Proud Mary?; and More…
All the news that’s fit to get your taste buds quivering
By Wayne Alan Brenner, 4:04PM, Wed. Jan. 25, 2023
Here’s some of what's happening in Austin's culinary scene – as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings.
Yes, citizen, it’s your “Food News Buffet” for the final week of January, as most of our really-gonna-stick-with-it-this-time resolutions slowly fade into oblivion…
Of course it’s not too early to start making your Valentine’s Day dining plans, lover. That’s why we’ve already got a batch of recommendations wrangled for you here, and more to come, hour by hour, as the day of romantic exuberance draws nigh…
Meanwhile, in somewhat less kissy-smoochy news, Daily Juice – the company founded in 2003 by Keith Wahrer and Matt Shook, and owned and operated by Joanie and Cary Frieden since 2015 – has closed its final three locations. Oh hell, right? Now we’re looking even more thirstily at the welcoming stores of JuiceLand and the Soup Peddler, thanking our lucky cold-pressed stars, and going like, “Don’t you guys go anywhere, mmmkay?”
And Sa-Tén, at 4917 Airport Blvd.? They’re closing. Mind you, the Sa-Tén in Canopy (916 Springdale) will continue on – we daresay: hallelujah! – but the one on Airport will be closing forever on May 27, so get there while you can, friends, and bid ’em a fond farewell. Oh, and why are they closing? Is it staffing problems? Is it increasing food costs? The whole mysterious supply chain thing? Oh, it might be partly a little bit of all three of those, sure; but the main reason is that they can’t renew their lease. Right? What is this – excuse our Klingon – fucking real estate market going to price out of existence next, hmmm?
In other lousy news, some skulking firebug dipshit paid a visit to Shoal Creek Saloon (909 N. Lamar) after business hours, in the early morning of Tue., Jan. 17, and intentionally set the joint’s deck a-blazing. Nobody was there to be hurt; the city’s fire crews doused the flames before the interior was too damaged (yay, socialism); the perp was caught on security-cam video; and Shoal Creek is still open – as our A. Richmond reports here – and kicking crawfish ass as prime mudbug season gears up again in these parts…
The Munday Library at St. Edward's University (3001 S. Congress) is hosting Hillhops: A Celebration of Texas Beer History, on Thu., Jan. 26, 4:30-8pm. This free public event will include a showcase of items from the Texas Craft Brewing Archive, panels of Texas brewing professionals offering historical and educational insights, and a Brewer’s Hall where guests can network with more than 30 local brewers. And, psssst: Free parking is available through this link…
Heads-up, ladies! The Austin chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier is accepting applications for its annual scholarship awards – in categories including Beverage Professional, Culinary Professional, Educator, Culinary School, À La Carte, and Travel. You can submit to multiple categories through Feb. 10, but will only be able to receive one award total; past recipients are eligible to reapply…
Speaking of awards: Fueled by $107,500 in grants from the Texas Food & Wine Alliance, 19 Texas-based culinary innovators (in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas) received funds to help realize their dreams and further propel our state's robust culinary scene. The grants to Austin-based businesses include: Trosi Farms ($10,000); Boggy Creek Farm ($7,500); Coyote Creek Organic Feed Mill ($6,250); Vista Farm at Vista Brewing ($5,000); Tierra Todun ($5,000); Rising Tide Roast Collaborative ($5,000); Bake Austin ($5,000); Community Vegan ($5,000); and Comadre Panadería ($5,000)…
Meridian – the new pub and community hub for wellness, community, music, in downtown Buda (200 N. Main) – will host its opening celebration on Sat., Jan. 28, 9am-12mid. The stylish place is owned and operated by Travis and Noa Sutherland, founders of Zoi Well, Zoi Market, and UtopiaFest, and the event will include a brunch buffet featuring gluten-free baked goods, vendors, free samples, and an evening performance from Texas String Assembly…
You Olamaie if you wish: Chefs Michael Fojtasek and Amanda Turner kick off their monthly Southern Exposure Dinner Series at that bastion of Southern-inflected bounty on Tue., Jan. 31, offering a three-course meal and seasonal cocktail for $100. (Though the dinners will be a joint effort between the two chefs, chef Turner will take the reins from chef Fojtasek, showcasing the skills she learned from cooking in Japan and at some of Austin’s best restaurants, like Juniper, Odd Duck, Uchi, and Uchiko.) Same for the next two dinners in the series (Feb. 18 & March 28), after which each monthly Southern Exposure night will feature a different guest chef working with chef Turner. Bonus: Proceeds from the series will benefit the Jeremiah Project…
Most ordinary mortals will never match (or even get close to) the beer-o-centric expertise of the Chronicle’s Eric Puga. But! City Brew Tours, North America’s oldest craft brewery tour company, is about to open its first outpost in the Lone Star State, so you’ll be able to conveniently experience a bit of what that brew-bro journo enjoys on the reg. Note: The first tours begin on Wed., Feb. 1, and reservations are already being accepted…
Australian-based company Proud Mary Coffee Roasters is launching its most expensive coffee so far, a Black Jaguar Geisha coffee from Hartmann Estate in Panama. Available for $150 per cup starting Mon., Feb. 6, a total of just 22 cups will be available in the U.S. – and only at the company’s cafes in Portland (Oregon) and Austin (2043 S. Lamar). Why so expensive, why so few? The coffee won first place in the 2022 Best of Panama competition, and Proud Mary paid $2,000 for a single pound of those beans…
What, exactly, is the Digital Dining Experience called Animación at Ciclo that’ll be enchanting citizens dining at the excellent restaurant within the Four Seasons Hotel (98 San Jacinto)? You’re no dummy: While we go to investigate the state-of-the-art animated dining experience created by TableMation Studios – so we can tell you more about it soon – you’ve already clicked that link, haven’t you?
Let’s see – what else, what else? Sway’s chef Randy Magallanez is out at the Hill Country’s Walden Retreats this weekend, spit-roasting a huge pig for their Saturday night Supper Club… chef Jorge Cavazos is serving up the Mexican brilliance at De Nada Cantina, to complement a night of tequila tastings on Monday… itamae Michael Carranza of Texas Sushiko is conjuring his delicious accompaniments to Sarah Stewart's Saké Class & Tasting at Texas Saké Co. (440 E. St. Elmo) on Sun., Feb. 5…
WUXTRY! There’ll be ramen at Loro (2115 S. Lamar) in February! The popular Asian smokehouse and bar is revamping the menu and soon, in addition to their usual array of elevated yum, you’ll be able to get smoked brisket ramen and post oak grilled prawn ramen on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings after 4pm…
Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and just, you know, love everybody as much as your battle-scarred heart will allow.
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March 22, 2024
