Austin's Best Food and Drink Events This Week

Thursday 4

COVER 3: SPRING WINE DINNER Enjoy a special five-course dinner prepared by chef Justin Manzi, with each course paired with wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards. Feast yourself happy with the likes of crab puffs, smoked chowder with bay scallops, duck croquettes, New York strip steak with truffled taters, and more as the vintner’s Matthew Kleinhenz introduces those Sonoma County delights that make Rodney’s rep so Strong. Thu., April 4, 6:30pm. (2019) Cover 3, 2700 W. Anderson #202, 512/374-1121. $80. www.cover-3.com

LIVE FIRE The Austin Food & Wine Alliance presents this "beef-centric live-fire cooking event" of a fundraiser that features sizzling proteins and cooking craftsmanship along with wine, beer, and spirits tastings, focusing on Mexican cuisine this year – with 21 chefs, 72 wines, and 13 cocktails! ¡Órale! Thu., April 4, 6-9:30pm. (2019) Camp Mabry, 2200 W. 35th. $95-150. www.austinfoodwinealliance.org

Friday 5

UNCLE BILLY’S: BARREL-AGED ABBAYE DE GEMBLOUX RELEASE Okay, so those bodacious beermongers at Uncle Billy’s, they brewed up a unique Abbey lager-style number – in collaboration with Belgian brewer Antoine Malingret – to serve at the Belgian Consulate’s visit during SXSW. Sound good and fancy? It gets better: Head brewer Stephen Wagner stashed away some of that divine beverage and then barrel-aged it for seven weeks in Uncle Billy’s Bourbon barrels – and now it’s ready for you. “You gotta try this paradoxical dichotomy of sensations,” we’re told – and when it’s put like that, oh, how could anyone deny? Fri., April 5, 11am-11pm. (2019) Uncle Billy's Brewery & Smokehouse. www.unclebillys.com

Saturday 6

SPEC'S FEST Welcome spring at the big ol' liquor store that's celebrating the year's most welcome season by treating you to product samplings, prize giveaways, expert pairing tips, and much more. They swear it'll be "a fun-for-all, free-for-all, mouthwatering celebration of everything gourmet," and we reckon they're not just pulling your hollow leg. Sat., April 6, 11am-5pm. (2019) Spec's, 4970 Hwy. 290 W., 512/366-8260. www.specsonline.com

[CANCELED] TEXAS VEGFEST Canceled due to inclement weather. This eighth annual celebration of edible plantlife offers amazing food, live music, youth activities, educational lectures, cooking demos, and more. Veggies, vitality, and vendors a-plenty will make for a day of local delights right there near the river. Sat., April 6, 11am-6pm. (2019) Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia, 512/480-8318. Free. www.texasvegfest.com

Sunday 7

FOOD TRUCK FEST: THE TEXAS THROWDOWN A big ol' herd of wheeled conveyances filled with tasty noms are coming in from all over, circling their wagons for a who's-got-the-best-grub championship at the BCS mall this Sunday, offering a sort of flash-mob food court replete with beat-droppin' DJs and live arcade games and all manner of festive accoutrements for your culinary celebration. Sun., April 7, noon-5pm Barton Creek Square, 2901 Capital of TX Hwy. S., 512/327-7040. $7-12 (free, ages 12 and younger). www.austinspartyscene.com

Tuesday 9

PITCHFORK PRETTY X BALCONES DISTILLERY When a culinary destination as powerfully good as this one teams up with an esteemed Texas spiritmonger to present a night of perfectly paired noms, you know the tickets are gonna go fast. Thus do we advise you to click it instanter, citizen, so’s not to miss out on chef Max Snyder’s offerings of four whiskey-complemented courses this lovely Tuesday night. Tue., April 9, 6:30-9pm. (2019) Pitchfork Pretty. $75. www.pitchforkpretty.com

Ongoing

BARTON CREEK FARMERS MARKET Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Barton Creek Square, 2901 Capital of TX Hwy. S., 512/327-7040. bartoncreekfarmersmarket.org

BEE CAVE FARMERS MARKET Sundays, 10am-2pm. 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave. beecavefarmersmarket.com

HOPE FARMERS MARKET Sundays, 11am-3pm. Plaza Saltillo, 412 Comal, 512/727-8363. hopefarmersmarket.org

SFC SUNSET VALLEY FARMERS’ MARKET Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Toney Burger Activity Center, 3200 Jones, 512/414-2096. sfcfarmersmarket.org

TEXAS FARMERS’ MARKET AT LAKELINE Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Lakeline Mall, 11200 Lakeline Mall Dr., Cedar Park, 512/363-5700. texasfarmersmarket.org/lakeline

TEXAS FARMERS’ MARKET AT MUELLER Sundays, 10am-2pm Branch Park Pavilion, 2006 Philomena. texasfarmersmarket.org/mueller

BOGGY CREEK FARM STAND Wed.-Sat., 8am-1pm. Boggy Creek Farm, 3414 Lyons, 512/926-4650. boggycreekfarm.com

SPRINGDALE FARM STAND Wednesdays & Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Springdale Farm, 755 Springdale, 512/386-8899. springdalefarmaustin.com