Food-o-File
Classes, dancing, Bull at the Beard, and more among this week's scoops of news you can use
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., Aug. 13, 2004
News About Town
Award-winning chef David Bull of the Driskill Grill (604 Brazos, 474-5911) has just returned from presenting a dinner at the James Beard Foundation House in New York City. Bull and his crew served multiple appetizers and a sumptuous five-course meal on Aug. 9, making him one of a growing fraternity of Austin chefs who have been showcased at the Beard House... Executive Chef Martin Abundas and Patrick Dixon of Chez Zee (5406 Balcones, 454-2666) spent a week studying soups, stocks, sauces, and salsas at the Culinary Institute of America's Greystone campus in the Napa Valley... Steve Mannion had such a great time teaching on the high seas last year that he has spent another couple of weeks this summer providing culinary instruction on a U.S. Navy vessel. The Culinary Academy of Austin (2823 Hancock, 451-5743) honcho will soon be back behind the microphone on the weekly Austin Cooking Hour (9-10am, 1370AM), where he has recently been joined by new co-host and sponsor Damon Holditch, owner of Austin RentAll Party (9402-A United, 491-7368). Wine lover Holditch says he wants to focus attention on the many event-planning possibilities in the nearby Texas wine country... Speaking of the Texas wine country, look for harvest and grape-stomping events to begin next weekend... Rock 'n' Cook hostess Lori Barrera e-mailed to say her appearance with the Food Network's Tyler Florence on his show Food 911 runs again on Aug. 14 and 17... Remember a few weeks back we told you about the new gold-dusted SXUL Chocolates being created by Dr. Chocolate from a formula created by a local inventor? Grape Vine Market deli director Ike Johnson says he's now carrying the luscious candies both in boxes and in bulk, so you can stop by there and check out the supposed aphrodisiac properties for yourself... And, while we're on the subject of candy, it has been weeks now, and still no one has advised me of the whereabouts of any good peanut brittle. Is it a lost art? Is there none to be had in Central Texas?
Event Menu: Aug. 12-19
It's back to school at Grape Vine Market (7938 Great Northern Blvd., 323-5900) when their Grape Vine University resumes this week with instruction on the major wine areas of the world. A $200 registration fee entitles you to 12 weeks of instruction with wine guy Chris Black, concentrating on one wine region each week. No refunds or makeups for missed classes. Register via e-mail at [email protected] or by calling the store at 323-5900. Wednesdays, 7-8pm, Aug. 11-Oct. 27; Thursdays, 7-8pm, Aug. 19-Nov. 4.
Revel in A Night of Passion at Doña Emilia's (101 San Jacinto, 478-2520) on Friday, Aug. 13. The early set (5:30-8:30pm) will feature music and dancing from Teye & Belen Flamenco, while the later set (8:30-midnight) of Argentine tangos will be performed by Urbano Tangos. The complimentary dance event will take place in the Atrium Bar.
