Food-O-File

Still hopping around trying to make plans for Easter Sunday dinner? Here's some additional information to supplement our recent Brunch round-up (March 7, 1997, Vol. 16, No. 27). According to General Manager Bob Russell, Bertram's (1601 Guadalupe, 476-2743) will open Easter Sunday, 11:30am-4:30pm. Chef Peter O'Brien has designed an Easter menu he describes as "drunch" rather than brunch, and reservations are suggested. If you'd rather eat in but the thought of cooking overwhelms, chef Nicholas Bogert at Bon Fresh Food Market (3801 Bee Caves Rd., 327-3801) has a scrumptious-looking Easter menu that provides the option of choosing oven-ready delectables such as stuffed butterflied boneless leg of lamb, crown roast of pork, or stuffed cornish game hens to pop in the oven and pass off as your own creations. He has everything from salads to entrées to desserts fully cooked and ready to eat. For those intimate little dinners, Bon also offers two-person meals for $24.99 featuring a choice of broiled salmon or rack of lamb with roasted potatoes, spring vegetables and dessert. Quantities are limited so it would be wise to order ahead...

There's another food and fun-filled weekend on tap. This Saturday, March 29, several East Austin businesses are hosting a daytime block party (10am-4pm) on the block between East Fourth & East Fifth, Allen Street & Springdale Road. Live Oak Brewing Co. will debut their first beer, a Czechoslovakian Pilsner, with tastings and tours of the microbrewery. Look for their brews to turn up in local bars in April. Purist Foods-White Mountain Yogurt will introduce their newest product, yogurt cheese, with tastings and tours of the facilities where they prepare yogurt, tofu salads, vegetarian tamales and wheat roast. These products have legions of loyal fans at Whole Foods Market and Sun Harvest. In between brews and bites, visit the creative studios on the block. The artisans at Fire Island Hot Glass, Armadillo Clay, and Circle in the Square Pottery will present demonstrations and host "second sales" of their wares. To access the block, take either Caesar Chavez or East Seventh east of I-35 to Springdale...

Chef Mary Morris will celebrate Greek Independence Day, March 29, 8pm-10pm at the Boarding House Catering Company at Hang 'em High Saloon (201 E. Sixth). Tickets are $10 at the door and all Greek food lovers are invited to attend...

Two popular local restaurants have recently added new locations. Northwest fans of Al Capone's Risorante Italiano (312 Barton Springs at Riverside, 472-2700) can now get their favorite dishes at Baby Al's (12636 Research, 250-8400). The owners of Pok E Jo's Barbeque have returned to their original stomping grounds near the intersection of Mopac & Parmer Lane. The former Moreland's Grill at 2121 Parmer has become the fourth outlet in their fast growing company...

The ongoing remodel at the Magnolia Cafe-West (2304 Lake Austin Blvd., 478-8645) has reached a critical juncture. In order to complete what owner Kent Cole refers to as "the bridge to the 20th Century," the restaurant will close at 5am Monday, April 7 with plans to reopen two weeks later, on April 21. The final construction phase will enable the expansion of the kitchen and prep areas. According to Cole, the result will be "cleaner, safer, more fun and more attractive without, of course, betraying the ineffable Spirit of Austin." The Magnolia South (1900 S. Congress,
445-0000) will be open as usual.