Food-o-File

Now open: Olivia's (Photo by John Anderson)

Man, the coolest things are happening in South Austin this summer! The healthiest new frozen treat can be found at Mambo Berry (1210 Barton Springs Rd., 626-2321, www.mamboberry.com), where they serve a very tangy natural frozen yogurt based on White Mountain Yogurt in tart and green-tea flavors with toppings such as fresh fruit, nuts, chocolate, and cereals. Look for the colorful trailer in the bike-shop parking lot every afternoon and evening but Tuesday... SoCo residents with a taste for Thai food have already discovered Thai Fresh (909 W. Mary, 494-6436, www.thai-fresh.com), Jam Sanitchat's new take-out shop/grocery/cooking school. After years of selling her delectable Thai creations at the Sunset Val­ley Farmers Market and teaching classes at Central Market, this talented young woman has struck out on her own. She's basing many of her eight daily prepared food items on fresh ingredients purchased from her friends at the market. The store stocks imported Thai grocery items necessary to re-create Jam's recipes at home, and cooking classes start in mid-September... The tantalizing new aromas at the Whip In (1950 S. I-35, 442-5337, www.whipin.com) are generated by the Middle Eastern menu items in its new Parlour Cafe. Lunch (10am-4pm) offers sandwiches dressed with their own chutneys on homemade naan, and dinner (4-11:30pm, Wednesday-Sunday) features Indian rice bowls and naan pizzas. They're pouring chai, mango lassi, cardamom iced tea, and espresso and eventually hope to offer beer and wine. The seating area has free Wi-Fi, and the extremely well-stocked retail area remains the same... Just a couple of blocks south, second generation local steak house owner Steve Ray (his dad, Jack Ray, ran both the Barn and the Feedlot here back in the day) has opened his second Mesa Ranch outlet (2200 S. I-35, 916-8787; 8108 Mesa Dr., 853-9480; www.mesaranchaustin.com) next to the Comfort Inn. Look for mesquite-grilled specialties with a side of live music... The most eagerly awaited restaurant opening of the summer had to be that of Olivia (2043 S. Lamar, 804-2700, www.olivia-austin.com), the lovely new place from chef James Holmes. The striking building design is by überhot local restaurant designer Michael Hsu, and the intriguing French/Italian inspired menu is in the capable hands of chef de cuisine Morgan Angelone. Olivia, named for the Holmes' precious daughter, is open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch... Jennifer Cran­dell and Christy Hughes are looking forward to the realization of their dreams when the retail outlet of their custom dessert business, Sweet Tempered (4301 W. William Cannon), opens in the Shops at Arbor Trails in about a month. We'll keep you posted... FYI, buttermilk lovers: Remember When Dairy owner Mark Ganske tells me he has revamped his procedures to accommodate the increased demand for that glorious buttermilk. Look for it at local farmers' markets, Greenling, Wheatsville Co-op, and Central Market: buttermilk biscuits, corn bread, ice cream, and buttermilk pie – oh, my.