Food-o-File
Austin's latest culinary news in this week's "Food-o-File."
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., May 3, 2002
News A-Plenty
If May 10's Alice Waters dinner and booksigning at Fonda San Miguel (2330 W. North Loop, 459-4121) mentioned last week in this space looked like a real steal, that's because the price was supposed to be $75, rather than just $7. As usual in cases like this, off with my head! The dinner is still a sellout at the correct price. Please don't call for refunds. On to the news: Things have come full circle for restaurateurs Michael and Yoli Amir. The non-competition agreement they signed when Fired Up! Inc. bought their previous restaurant, Gumbo's, has finally lapsed. Now they'll be returning to chef Michael's Cajun/Creole culinary roots in their former restaurant's original location. After a fling with a Mediterranean menu, customer demand has encouraged them to change the name and focus of their restaurant to Yoli's Jambalaya (14735 Bratton Ln., 670-2788) with a Cajun/Creole-inspired menu. The new restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 2pm and for dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 10pm. We'll be making the long trek north to check it out sometime very soon... We won't have to drive nearly as far to visit the new location of the popular Eastside natural food bakery and vegetarian restaurant Mr. Natural (1901 Cesar Chavez, 477-5228; 2414 S. Lamar, 916-9223). Look for their new South Austin outlet to be open by mid-May... New owners Jennifer Moore and Randy Bartos have changed the name of their baking supply and wedding cake business to All in One Bakeshop (8566 Research Blvd., 371-3401) and invite customers and future brides to a wedding cake tasting this Saturday, May 4, from 11am-2pm at the shop. The new business will continue to carry the complete line of Wilton baking supplies in addition to an expanded inventory of items necessary for professional and home baking. Heather Boulier will continue to provide custom cakes for all occasions... In anticipation of Mother's Day, the Four Seasons Hotel (98 San Jacinto, 478-4500) is hosting a Mother/Daughter Tea on Saturday, May 11, from 2-4pm in the Lobby Lounge. Sara D. McWhorter, from Kids With Class, an Austin etiquette consulting school, will discuss the history of tea, how to serve it, and proper manners for parties of this nature. The hotel will provide an array of tea sandwiches and pastries to accompany the tea service. Tickets are $18.50 for adults and $12 for children under 12. For the necessary reservations, call 685-8300... With summer fast approaching, Manuel's Great Hills (10201 Jollyville Road, 345-1042) will once again be hosting live Latin music on their lovely outdoor patio from 6:30-9pm on Thursday evenings and on Sundays during brunch service... It's signup time for Central Market's Cooking Camp for Kids (4001 N. Lamar, 458-3068). The aspiring young chefs in your household (sous chefs, ages 5-8, and master chefs, ages 9-12), will receive hands-on education from Dara Moore and Homero Sanchez in the cooking school kitchen during a series of nine morning classes. The menus offer everything from Lickety Splits to Wraps and Party Foods to Campfire Favorites. School director Kelly Hargrove emphasizes that this is not a babysitting service; participants will definitely learn to cook things they can duplicate at home and have a great time in the process! It's possible to sign up for individual classes or the entire series, but reservations are necessary... With spring crops blooming, local farmstands and farmer's markets are opening up for the spring/summer season. Watch this space for a list of openings next week.
Food Intern Wanted
The Chronicle Food section is looking for a student intern interested in food journalism and in helping us update our restaurant listings. Applicants should leave a message for Virginia B. Wood at the Chronicle, 454-5766.
