Pinthouse Pizza’s World Beer Cup Win, More Spring Menus Sprung, Texas Wine Auction Soars, It’s Kimchi-a-Go-Go Everywhere, and More

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.

Songbird x Meanwhile results in a spicy and joyous Chimaek Weekend

Yes, citizen, it’s your “Food News Buffet” for the last full week of May.

Been telling you for weeks about how everybody and their sibling’s been revamping menus for the spring, and you know that action hasn’t ended yet, nor will it – not until all and sundry begin shifting their kitchens’ offerings toward the height of summer. Still, heads up: The Roosevelt Room’s new executive chef, Kyle Mulligan (recently of 1417 French Bistro) is supercharging the posh gin joint at 307 W. Fifth with fresh culinary power (for instance: a vanilla goat cheesecake with crunchy graham-and-pretzel crust, accompanied by a choice of three booze-inspired toppings) to accompany their top-notch drinks menu. And, at Geraldine’s in the Hotel Van Zandt (605 Davis), chefs Sergio Ledesma and Garrett Werley plan to debut their collaborative dinner menu on Tue., June 6, and it’ll boast such treasures as a tartare made with prime beef tenderloin, black garlic, fermented habanero lacto-aioli, umami yolk jam, pickled shimeji, sunchoke, and sourdough. We know, right? Already drooling here, tyvm …

Hey, Northsiders – the new Round Rock location (1150 N. -35) of Tso Chinese Takeout & Delivery is now open, and you can get their delicious crab rangoons for half-price through the end of this month …

Oh! Way to go, Pinthouse brew crew!

Let’s pass a sudsy bucket of congrats to the brewing team at Pinthouse Pizza, whose Lasso West Coast Pils – a mash-up that combines Pinthouse’s favorite elements of a German Pils and a West Coast IPA – took home a silver award in the hoppy lager category in the 2023 World Beer Cup in Nashville earlier this month. You mean, wait, they’re not all about that excellent selection of pizzas and the Electric Jellyfish?

Also from the realm of delicious fermentation, the folks at Texas Wine Auction tell us that their second annual event on April 29 raised $245,134 for Texas A&M Agrilife extension programs and wellness programs for Hill Country hospitality workers. (They’re also happy to announce the winner of their first chef competition: Austin Simmons of TRIS, who prepared an oak-grilled big rib with kimchi vinaigrette, scallions, and Korean chili.)

And, look: Sunday, May 28, is National Burger Day! And, much as the Songbird x Meanwhile event pictured at the start of this column trumpets the existence of a kimchi chicken sandwich, here we note that the Hajimaleki Brothers’ Oasthouse (5701 W. Slaughter) will celebrate the date with a kimchi burger, made with ground brisket, sesame citrus aioli, kimchi, and fresh cucumber, on a brioche bun. But we’ll indulge our Hopdoddy obsession, too, cheering the popular local chain’s limited-time Ultimate Burger (two burger patties topped with cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, bacon, caramelized onions, tomato bacon jam, roasted poblanos and mushrooms, avocado, jalapeño slaw, and chipotle aioli on a house-baked bun), which will be available from May 24-29 at all their locations …

Mmmm, livin' that Greek life …

And, let’s see – what else, what else? Our correspondent Rod Machen reports on the longtime venue that used to be GM Steakhouse (and was then Counter Cafe and is now Garbo’s Fresh Maine Lobster near Sixth + Lamar … and Evan Rodriguez checks out four local Korean pubs for your late-night pleasure … and there’s that aforementioned spicy collab between food truck Songbird and Meanwhile Brewing for Chimaek Weekend on May 25-28 … and of course Aaron Franklin’s famed Hot Luck is happening around the same time … and the dolmathes-happy, tzatziki-dripping, gloriously Hellenic revelry of the Austin Greek Festival will be going on, too. Mmmmm, now we're gonna have to stop by Satellite (5900 Slaughter) sometime soon …

WUXTRY! Memorial Day’s a-coming (Mon., May 29), and we’re suggesting that all you grillmasters might want to check out Salt & Time and Goodstock by Nolan Ryan and Hardcore Carnivore long before you get those coals a-blazing for the bounty of beeves and more …

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and ask yourself – for postprandial pondering, like – if Texas or Florida has the more loathsome state government.