Food-O-File
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., Nov. 20, 1998
Soup's On!
What a smart idea! ClayWays Pottery Studio & Gallery (5442 Burnet, 459-6445) has once again enlisted the talents of local potters and soup chefs to raise money to feed hungry Central Texans with the Empty Bowl Project 1998. The clever event takes place this Sunday, November 22, 11am-4pm, at the ClayWays studio and benefits the Capital Area Food Bank (8201 S. Congress, 282-2111). For only $10, patrons can choose from among nearly 1,000 hand-crafted bowls created especially for the project and fill them with hearty, satisfying soups prepared by some of Austin's favorite restaurants. Over the past few months, well over 100 potters (from individual artists such as Kit Adams, John Gray, Claudia Reese, and Diane Seidel to studios like Feats of Clay andSunset Canyon Pottery) have joined other volunteers at "bowl-a-thons," using clay donated by Armadillo Clay & Supply to create the necessary bowls. The delectable soups for this year's project will be provided by Cafe Josie, theCapitol of Texas Chef's Association, CastleHill Cafe, Creative Cuisine & Catering, East Side Cafe, Good Eats Cafe, Jeffrey's, Laura's Bluebonnet Kitchen, Mother's Cafe, West Lynn Cafe, Private Affairs Catering, and TheThicket. Breads will be provided by Kerbey LaneCafe, La Madeleine, and Upper Crust. Proceeds help the Food Bank to provide food and grocery products for more than 250 human service agenciesserving hungry people in 21 Central Texas counties.
A Cup of Jo
Although Liz Lambert has just closed the San Jose Motel (1316 S. Congress, 444-7222) for a year of renovations, her brother, chef Louis Lambert, has just opened a little storefront coffee shop in the San Jose parking lot. Jo's (1300 S. Congress, 444-3800) is now open daily, 7am-3pm, selling coffees, pastries, and a limited menu of salads and sandwiches. Food items are being prepared in the commissary kitchen at Word of Mouth Catering (919 W. 12th, 472-9500), where Louis Lambert is the chef. Lambert plans to expand both the hours and the menu in the near future. Then, when the San Jose reopens, Jo's will provide room service to motel guests. You can just see the SXSW crowds now. This little place is a very positive addition to the neighborhood.
Bocaditos
Whole Foods Market (Sixth & Lamar, 476-1206; Gateway:343-5003) hosts its annual Tastes of Thanksgiving event in both stores this Friday, November 20, 6-9pm. Suggested holiday foods and wines will be available for tasting throughout the stores, along with delicious dishes from several local restaurants...
The next time youorder pizza from Pizza Nizza (1608 Barton Springs, 474-7070), order some cold beer to wash down their fresh, hot pizza. Owner Mark Stiles reports that a new configuration of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permits makes it possible for him to offer his customers the convenience of singles or six-packs of iced-down beer with their pizzas...
Author and master baker Arthur Meyer will sign copies of his newest book Baking Across America (UT Press, $29.95 hard) this Saturday, November 21, 3pm, at Barnes & Noble Westlake...
Dreaming about a little country restaurant where you can trade city life for the bucolic environs of rural Fayette County? Successful restaurateur Bud Royer is selling the jewel of his empire, the charming 39-seat Royer's Round Top Cafe on the square in tiny antique store haven of Round Top. Just down the road from Winedale, where James Ayres' students perform Shakespeare in a cedar barn, and James Dick's Festival Hill, Royer's is famous for big food and big crowds of well-fed people. For particulars, contact Bud at 888/478-5182 or 800/878-0351.
