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Kinko’s Classic Comes to Lakeway: Where Hungry Golf Fans can Dine

I don’t know about you, but watching golf makes me hungry. Playing golf makes me even hungrier but that’s another story. This week the Kinko’s Classic is being played in Lakeway. The pros on the Champion’s Tour will all be there: Crenshaw, Kite, Watson, Loren Roberts, Jay Haas and all your favorites.

So where to eat after the round? My first choice would be Ciola’s smack dab in the middle of Lakeway on Higyhway 620. This is southern Italian food at its best. You’ll love their Linguine with Clams, the Penne with Vodka Sauce, the Clams Ciola, the Bruschetta, the Sausage and Peppers, the Oso Busco, and more. Plus they have an outstanding wine list.

Another good bet is Pao’s at the corner of Highway 620 and Lohman’s Spur. This is Chinese cuisine that will satisfy the western and the eastern palate. There’s two separate menus and they both rock. The Scallion Cakes are to die for and the Shrimp lettuce wraps are the bomb. I love the Tofu with Shredded Pork and the Sea Bass is incomparable.

And fans of Thai cuisine will love Thai Spice across the center from Ciola’s. Vicky Vicha presides over a very tasty and spicy menu. The Royal Dumplings are sinful. And the Charcoal Pork will make you a believer. The Pad Kee Mao is exceptional.

Want a burger or a pizza? Then head over to Kahuna’s Ice House farther down 620. The burgers are juicy and irresistible and the fries have real taste and staying power. The pizza is also pretty darned good. And do try the Fish tacos as well.

So enjoy the tournament and enjoy the food out at Lakeway. Fore!!!!!

04/29/2008

Athenian Grille Finally Receives Funding

Got a call from councilwoman Jennifer Kim's office this morning informing me that Anil Simicia, owner of the Athenian Grille, has finally gotten the funding approved for the build out of the new Athenian Grille, which will be located on W. 6th St., across from Ruth's Chris.

This is by no means a Perez sisters deal. All of the money is to be repaid. The small business office of the city did help: and that 's what they should do for small business.

No word on when the new AG will open but we'll keep you posted!

04/28/2008

Local chefs come up huge at Stars Across Texas at the THCWFF

Well, another Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival has gone into the books. And I think most would agree that it was a fun weekend.

I started things off with the “Hot Blooded Latins” seminar at Fogo de Chao featuring the wines of Chile and Argentina. John Bonadies was a knowledgeable and affable host and we should acknowledge the serious amount of time and energy put in by the Austin Chronicle’s Claudia Alarcon.

The follow-up lunch at Dona Emilia’s featured food from Dona Emilia’s, Sampaio, and from the kitchen of Aaron Sanchez, proprietor of two New York Latin hot spots, Centrico and Paladar. His ceviche was a smash!

Friday night found us sipping and noshing at the Stars Across Texas Chef’s competition at the ballroom of the downtown Austin Hilton. One thing was immediately apparent. The Austin chefs were not only in fine form but were well-represented.

Elmar Prambs from the new Trio at the Four Seasons, as usual, knocked us out with a lovely Niman Ranch Flat Iron Steak with corn brulee with beet salad along with an apple bacon biscuit.

Jeff Blank from Hudson’s on the Bend never fails to surprise at these events. His plump strawberry wrapped in venison with goat cheese and honey was another smash hit.

The Navajo Grill from Fredricksburg rolled into town with a nopalito biscuit with a sweet potato and goat cheese puree along with some crispy prosciutto and a ancho honey drizzle. Chef Josh Raymer was presiding.

The chefs at Finn and Porter from the host Austin Hilton were not to be outdone with a seaed pork belly, braised romaine, peppercorn aoli and roasted heirloom tomatoes.

Harvey Harris, Exec Chef at the always popular Siena prepared a rabbit and wild boar tureen with black truffles and a sweet green fig conserva on homemade crostini. Amazing!

Tyson Cole, Chef at the uber-cool Uchi on S. Lamar has been in the local headlines as of late for his epic battle against Chef Morimoto on the Food Newtork’s Iron Chef. Although Cole lost that one, he was a winner Friday night with a seared fois-gras nigiri sushi. You want to talk about a one-bite taste explosion!

Massively tasty!

The chefs from the new Italian restaurant at the Domain, NoRTH, looking a bit like magic men Penn and Teller, produced a magically tasty short rib. I had to go back for seconds on this one.

Jeffrey’s, as usual, was very much in evidence with a cool and lovely yellow tomato and habanero gazpacho with a bit of shrimp and avocado crème fresh. Chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas who helmed the seamless transition from David Garrido a few years ago continues to deliver daily excellence from this most revered of bistro restauants.

04/15/2008

The Gonzo Gourmet Club dines at Sicola’s: A Culinary Experience

Our Gonzo Gourmet Club has got to be one of the coolest dining clubs in Austin. We meet about 6-7 times a year and have epic feasts with wine pairings at wonderful restaurants. Our most recent splurge was Saturday, March 29th, at Sicola’s: A Culinary Experience.

Chef Steven Sicola showcased his inestimable skills with lobster cakes with remoulade, a stunning Portabello and Brie soup, an entrée choice of a light and flaky Sea Bass, a killer Braised Lamb Shank, and a delightful Ribeye. Dessert was a wickedly tasty chocolate raspberry torte. Each course was paired with wines.

For more information on setting up a corporate event or private party at Sicola’s call 323-6907 and ask for Melanie. Their web is www.sicolas.com. To join our Gonzo Gourmet Club, click here.

04/01/2008

Tyson Cole of Uchi Brings the Battle into Kitchen Stadium on the Iron Chef

It isn’t often that a local Austin chef gets to journey to New York to do battle with the big boys on the Food Network’s Iron Chef program.. The last one to do it was the former chef at the Driskill Grill, David Bull. And he lost to Bobby Flay.

Tyson Cole, the uber chef of Uchi on S. Lamar was the next Austin chef to get the call. Last September, he went to New York with his team of Paul Qui and Phillip Speer to take on the almost mythic chef Masaharu Morimoto. The featured ingredient was ginger. Cole was under a strict gag order to not reveal the outcome until the show aired.

On Sunday evening, March 23rd, a packed house of media and Tyson’s best friends and customers watched at Uchi as the event finally aired on the Food Network. We got to sample the same menu Tyson prepared in his battle with Morimoto. And it was fabulous food. From the Japanese black snapper sashimi to the Skewered and grilled salmon belly with ginger compressed watermelon; to the Pan-seared black bass with gingered lemon puree and the Ginger-cured smoked baby yellow tail (hamachi) served with ginger dusted yucca chips (my favorite) and finally to the Brown butter sorbet with ginger consommé it was enough, in my opinion to send Morimoto crumbling into the dust.

Iron Chef airs
to a packed house at Uchi

Alas, the judges, an odd lot if there was ever one assembled, did not agree. Morimoto got the victory but Tyson acquitted himself very well. Had the Food Network actually invited a few additional judges whose culinary chopsticks had a few more notches in them, it might have been different. But the evening was a gas.

The good news is that this exact same menu will be available to the public for the next four Sunday’s for $65 per person with wine and sake pairings available for an additional $31.

Call 916-4808 for reservations.

03/27/2008

Rob Opens Mouth, Inserts Foot: Both County Lines are very much open and doing great!

Radio is a live medium. That’s what makes it special and that’s what also makes it occasionally problematic. This morning, I inadvertently confused the County Line with the Salt Lick as we talked about the Salt Lick’s closing in Davenport. I corrected myself moments later but some folks apparently left the program thinking the County Line had closed.

I love what the County Line offers up, as do thousands of others in central Texas. AND as Hans and Franz of SNL fame used to say, “Listen to me now and hear me later!!!” Both County Lines are very much open. And as evidenced by my last meal at the County Line on the Hill, the food is still great. The view ain’t bad either!

02/29/2008

Austin Dining Recommendations for Hillary and Barack

Okay, the big night is at hand. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are going to square off in an Austin debate with the future of the Democratic presidential nomination at stake. Duly noted.

But the really burning question is where in our fair city are they going to dine? Or perhaps to couch it in culinary logic, where should they dine based on their political ideologies?

Obama is the candidate, so he says, who will unite all the disparate groups out there in fractious old USA. He will fuse, if you will, all the dissenters into one united front. So what better place for him to dine then Austin’s preeminent fusion restaurant, Bistro 88 on Bee Caves Road. Chef Jeff Liu has fused European and Asian flavors with great success. So this would seem to be a natural. Another good choice would be Saba Blue Water Café on 4th St. Lots of fusion going on there as well. And then, for breakfast, because he is sometimes accused of being long on sophistry and short on substance, he should head over to Cisco’s for breakfast and sit at the fabled Liar’s table.

Clinton is the candidate, so she says, who will get things done because she knows how to work the system to get what she wants. She’s also trying to distance herself from husband Bill. So the first thing she needs to do is head over to Guero’s on S. Congress and emphatically announce that she will not be ordering the Presidential plate named after her husband. Then she should head over to either Eddie V’s or The Shoreline Grill. These are two restaurants where serious corporate and political players hang out and in fact, get things done. In fact, George W and his brother Jeb were at Shoreline on election eve in 2,000 (remember that night where Al Gore won and then didn’t win?). Rumor has it that after the TV announced that Gore had won Florida, the two men were seen huddled outside in a hallway for quite some time.

02/21/2008

Trouble in Coffeeland? Starbucks to Close 100 Stores

The notion of value in the hospitality industry is an intriguing one. Some people will pay what they believe a product is worth and nothing more. Others though, will pay far more. Why? Because they want to be socially accepted or feel like they’re part of the cognoscenti.

Consider the case of a cup of coffee at Starbucks. I paid $2.00 for a medium cup of coffee the other day. I believe they call it a “grande”. Was that cup worth two bucks? Absolutely not. So why did I fork over the money? Good question. I actually began to ponder that issue as I sipped the lukewarm Colombian dark.

Apparently, a few million other customers have begun to rethink the value of a Starbuck’s cup of java as well. Because sales at the nation’s leading coffee shop chain have begun to slide.

Now let me clarify: I do like Starbuck’s coffee. And I get a kind of God-bless-American-business feeling when I walk into one of their stores and see people hard at work on their laptops or conducting sales meetings or job interviews over a cop of jo. But I suspect the bloom may be beginning to come off the rose. Starbuck’s began a national mania for exotic coffee blends and mysterious drinks with names like “Mocachocalatte” And for a time, people were willing to pay a premium for the cachet that Starbuck’s offered.

But what goes up must come down. And Starbuck’s corporate has closed 100 stores and has begun experiments with value pricing. At some spots in the country, one can now get a cup of coffee for, drum roll please, a buck! They’ve named this “the short cup”. And it’s a stab at competing with bottom feeders McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. Well sign me up for a short cup. It’s probably not even worth a dollar but it’s a step in the right direction.

Now, the burning question is: if you only order a “short cup” the next time you go to Starbuck’s, will they still give you free wireless?

02/06/2008

Rob and Art San Miguel enjoy an Imperial of Caymus Special Selection ’04

I get to go to a lot of wine auctions and affairs for charity. But earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to be the MC for the Parents to Parents wine benefit at the Wild Game Ranch south of Austin.

If you are not familiar with this charity, the work that goes into it is extraordinary. It was created by Texas parents of children with disabilities, chronic illness, and other special needs. The idea is to help families in need by providing information and resources, a one-on-one matched with a trained volunteer, a bit of encouragement, or help figuring out the next step in your journey of raising a child with a disability or a special need.

The event was very successful and we’ll keep you posted on when the next one will be. Some great wines were auctioned off and Art San MIguel and I were lucky enough to walk off with an Imperial (equivalent to four magnums) of Caymus Special Selction ‘04 Cabernet. The picture shown above is as we had decanted this excellent wine and, with friends, consumed the majority of it.

For information on Parents to Parents, their website is www.txp2p.org.

02/05/2008

What Will $4,937 Buy You and Your Valentine for Extravagant Indulgence at the Hilton

Got some discretionary cash lying around from the sale of your hedge fund? Or perhaps you just did a re-fi on your Lake Travis estate? Or maybe you just have a penchant for extravagance?

Well, the downtown Hilton has got a package for you. The weekend begins with a limo escorting you to the hotel. In your Presidential Suite, a dozen red roses will await along with a ’99 Dom Perignon and an original chocolate sculpture from award-winning pastry Chef Edward Schulz.

Then it’s off to the Spa for a couples’ massage along with a choice of facials, body wraps and other indulgences.

The evening features a gourmet dinner at the Hilton’s stunning Finn and Porter restaurant that will begin with Bluefin Tuna sashimi [I think I’d go just for the Bluefin] and include a host of Chris Bauer creations along with a 2004 Georges de la Tour Private Reserve Cabernet.

An indulgent brunch served in your suite follows the next morning that will feature French pressed coffee flavored with Louis XIII cognac.

An important out of town engagement has kept Rob from signing up for the package so it is still available. Call the Hilton at 482-8000 to reserve. Sorry, you may not trade in your Hilton Honors points for this one!

01/25/2008

Rob will host a booth at KLBJ-AM’s Talk Fest this Saturday at Convention Center

Looking for some one-on-one Q&A time with Rob? He will have a booth at 590 KLBJ-AM’s Talk Fest this Saturday, January 26th, at the Convention Center. The hours are 9am to 4pm. Admission is free!

Talk Fest is a popular yearly event that brings talk radio fans from across central Texas to meet and listen to KLBJ-AM’s local and national personalities.

01/23/2008

Craving Great Soups This Weekend?

The weather has taken a turn for the nasty here in sunny Austin. So what better time to hunker down over a hot and delicious bowl of soup? Some of our favorites are listed below.

The Sweet Potato Clam Chowder at Austin Land and Cattle. I know the name sounds a bit strange but I love this soup. It has perfect taste and it really stays with you.

The Shrimp Pho at Hao Hao on William Cannon at Manchaca. This is Vietnamese penicillin: a beef broth with plump shrimp, rice noodles, bean sprouts, jalapenos and more flavor than you can imagine. Perfect for a cold day.

The Seafood and Corn Chowder at McCormick and Schmick’s is also a great cold-weather treat. This is a robust soup but it has wonderfully nuanced flavors.

And please get the Taiwanese Hot and Sour Seafood Soup at Chinatown on Greystone. This is usually served for two but it’s so good that I’ve on occasion downed the bowl designed for two or three by myself. This is Ronald Cheng at his best.

The French Onion soup at both Aquarelle and The Belmont. This is exactly what French Onion soup should be: wonderfully cheesy gruyere and sharply flavored with that comforting taste. And who knows, at Belmont you might see someone really cool sitting across from you.

Another favorite is the Aztec Corn and Shrimp Bisque at Chez Zee. The shrimp are served in a rich, tomato chicken broth and the corn is whole kernel. Yum.

And you have to try the Tortilla Soup at Zax Pints and Plates. Tortilla Soup is a classic cold weather dish and Zax just nails it.

Another good choice is the Chicken Caldo at Curra's Grill. The broth is loaded with tender chicken, squash, corn, and a boatload of the flavor that has made Curras’ such a foodie favorite over the years.

On the Italian side, get whatever soup La Traviata happens to be serving that day. It’s literally that good. My favorites are the Cauliflower, Mushroom and Butternut Squash. And also head over to Bellagio and try the Pasta Fagiolo (or pasta fah-zool as my Italian aunt used to call it). This is a hearty serving of pasta, fresh vegetables and kidney beans in a savory broth.

Another great choice is the Mediterranean Seafood Soup at Louie’s 106. Chef Frank Bellino, taking the reins from Norbert Brand, has nailed this soup.

And as always, on a cold day, you have a bowl of Gumbo. Try the version at Cherry Creek Catfish which has a milder roux than most but lots of flavor. Another recommendation is the Gumbo at Evangeline Café. This is hotter and has more bite but it’s equally flavorful.

01/18/2008

Craving a Steak this Weekend?

Austin is blessed with an abundance of fine steakhouses. Most are centered in or near the downtown area but there are also pleasant exceptions north such as Cool River on Parmer Lane off Mopac. I love the Ribeyes there along with the Seafood Empanadas. Great bar scene as well. Austin Land and Cattle on N. Lamar (not to be confused with Texas Land and Cattle) is the only one of my group of favorites that is owner-operated. Their Porterhouse is to die for and they make a sweet potato clam chowder that is unique in the city.

Austin Land & Cattle
(Porterhouse)

Another favorite is III Forks at Cesar Chavez and Lavaca. Curtiss Osmond is the consummate host and Jamie Gutierrez has the kitchen going strong. The Bone-In Ribeye is amazing. Love the sophisticated-yet-approachable ambiance as well. On 2nd St. next to Roy’s, Fleming’s is a long-time favorite. The Prime NY Strip is a killer as is their Sunday Prime Rib dinners. I am also addicted to their BBQ Shrimp. And one can’t ignore the near-legendary Sullivan’s on Colorado and 4th. This place has a rocking lounge and a Filet Mignon that will make you a believer. They are also open for lunch where a very credible burger is served. There are many more but this will get your started. It’s almost impossible to have a bad meal at any of these.

01/11/2008

Update on the Latest Attempt by the EU to Ban Foie Gras

I never thought I’d live to see this day. The European Union, with England in the lead, has been rumbling about a total ban of foie gras production. Can this be? I’m not sure what it would take to get this passed but I certainly can’t see the French of the Belgians supporting it.

In rural southwest France, over 30,000 workers make their living from the production of foie gras. Despite all the hue and cry, when the French and Belgian farmers bring their fresh foie gras to market on Sundays, their supplies, even at a price of over 50 Euros per kilo, are quickly exhausted. Seems the locals just can’t get enough of one of the last great delicacies on Earth. I don’t know how the EU will come down on this, but I must say I’m stunned that they are even considering it.

Here in America, things continue to be simply stupid. Chicago, at least for now, has banned the sales of foie gras at any restaurant. California, even worse, is considering a ban on production at the farms. And in Austin, restaurants like Jezebel and Jeffrey’s have been vandalized because they continue to have it on the menu. You know what? Good for them. If the foie gras activists abhor the sale of this product, then they have the right to boycott those offending restaurants. But they do not have the right to vandalize these places of threaten the families of the owners (that’s right, you heard me correctly).

This protest has gotten insane. We (humans) are at the top of the food chain. It may not always be the case. So let’s enjoy our status while we still have it. I am not going to get excited over a duck or goose that may be overfed to enlarge the size of its liver when that same duck or goose, were that not the case, would still destined for the slaughterhouse to serve as someone’s Christmas dinner. The Egyptians were doing it 3,000 years ago. Emperor Nero fed figs to his geese to produce foie gras. I’ve been to the Hudson Valley farm and watched the feeding of the duck and geese. I did not see anything inhumane about it. When the tubes (full of rich cornmeal) came out, the animals came running. No amount of force was necessary. On top of that, ducks and geese have very coarse throats. A tube does not bother them in the least as it might you or I. Sorry, that’s just the way I see it.

12/21/2007

Dona Emilia’s Now Open for Breakfast

Dona Emilia’s, one of our TOP 20 restaurants, has opened for breakfast at 7am Tuesdays thru Saturdays.

Dona Emilia’s will feature gourmet breakfast tacos, huevos rancheros, and other breakfast fare. Guests can dine in at the restaurant or phone in a to-go order.

Since the restaurant is only a few blocks from my office, you can rest assured I’ll be there. I am a serious fan of breakfast tacos. Call 478-2520.

12/17/2007

Cibo’s Servers Donate Tips to Help Needy Families

I like this story. Next Thursday, Dec. 20th, Cibo, (at 9th and Congress) one of my favorite restaurants in the city, will donate 10% of the evening’s sales to help several needy Austin families. But beyond that, the servers have decided to donate all their tips for the night to those same families. You don’t see the servers giving up ALL their tips too often. So hats off to the waitrons at Cibo.

Go dine there on Thursday, have some amazing gnocchi, and tip generously. It’ll be a great evening of dining, and it will make some deserving families very happy. Call 478-3663 for reservations.

12/14/2007

Chinatown Greystone Begins Dim Sum Service on Dec. 8-9

It’s taken 25 years but Ronald Cheng has finally come to terms with Dim Sum and has begun service on weekends from 11-3pm starting Dec. 8th.

Ronald Cheng only does things one way: with ultimate quality. That’s why Chinatown has had a spot in our Top 20 since we began posting it six years ago!

Click here to see their Dim Sum Menu.

12/07/2007

Chefs Brady and Loiacono team at Ventana

I like the idea of a functioning restaurant as a learning center for culinary students: you know a place where they can put their classroom instructions to the acid test. Ventana, the commercial restaurant of the Texas Culinary Academy is such a place.

And the TCA just scored a major coup by securing the services of two of our most outstanding central Texas chefs: Robert Brady of Aquarelle and Steve Loiacono, formerly of Bellagio.

We attended a student-prepared dinner there the other night where the food was paired with wines from the Frank Family Vineyards. The Foie Gras au Torchon was magnificent: deep, rich flavors with perfect texture. And every dish after that was equally good. The dinner was a complete success and the students deserved the recognition they got from a room full of critical foodies.

If you've not yet tried Ventana, you owe it to yourself and your palate to get out to 11400 Burnet Road behind the Domain and see what chefs Brady and Loiacono have taught their young protégées. Phone: 339-3850

11/29/2007

Craving German food? Scholz Garten is Alive and Well!

Scholz Garten, aside from being one of the oldest restaurants in the city, is a fun place to snarf down some vienerschnitzel or bratwurst. They also have many, many beers to choose from and provide an excellent venue for watching games on TV. Click here for menu.

10/27/2007

For Fans of Kaprow: Fatty Tuna in for two weeks only!

Chef Opart at Ka Prow on Howard Lane has written to inform me he has fatty tuna in for only a limited time: until the end of October. The price is $5 per piece for either sushi or sashimi. For more information go to www.kaprowleaf.com.

Get there in a hurry because I suspect there’s going to be a line!

10/26/2007

Watch Hut’s Recent Appearance on Emeril Legasse’s Good Morning America Segment

The colorful Legasse recently gave some well-deserved love to Hut’s, the legendary 6th St. burger emporium. You can watch it here in the all-too-brief segment. But hey, national TV? Emeril Legasse? Way to go Hutch and the gang!

10/12/2007

You Want Some Real Comfort this Weekend: Check Out Angel’s Chicken Fried Meatloaf

Chicken Fried Meatloaf? Why the hell not, I say. And Mary and Sara at Angel’s Ice House in Spicewood agree. This weekend the special is Chicken Fried Meatloaf. It’s served with brown gravy, corn, mashed potatoes and Texas toast.

What’s not to like about that? Call 264-3377 for more information. Angel’s is at 21815 W. Spicewood, just across from the Backstage Steakhouse.

10/12/2007

Cannoli Joe’s Now Open For Sunday Brunch

If you’re looking for an unusual and tasty Sunday brunch, Cannoli Joe’s in S. Austin is serving up a bevy of Italian treats along with more traditional brunch fare such as:

Baked Fontina and Egg Strata
Poached Eggs Fiorientina
Custom-Made Omelets
Belgian Waffles
French Toast
Blueberry and Raspberry Scones
Cherry Strudel
Bacon, Sausage and Ham
Crispy Potatoes Rustico

Cannoli Joe's: (512) 892-4444. 4715 Hwy. 290 West. Click here for their menu.

09/21/2007

Craving Thai? Check Out Rob's Favorites

When I first tried Thai food, I was living in Southern California and teaching at Cal St. Long Beach. My restauarant reviewing days were far ahead of me. But from that very first bit of Pad Thai at a place in Newport Beach, I was hooked.

Thai food is about searing flavors, huge spices, and wonderful sauces and curries. It's healthy, laden with meats, seafood, and vegetables. And prepared by the right chefs, it can leave you with taste experiences that are second to none.

And we are blessed here in Austin with an abundance of excellent Thai favorites. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorites.

Satay. Founded by the inimitable Dr. Foo Swasdee, Satay is a marvelous restaurant. Best Pad Prik King I've had anywhere. Foo's husband also concocts wonderful "Chocolate"desserts made from soy.

Thai Tara. Yupa Rushing is a disciple of Dr. Foo's. Her little 6th St. restauarnt is a gem. I can't get enought of her Panang Curry nor her Pad Kee Mao. Busy a lunch but dinners are slow. Take advantage.

Chon Som. Chon Som means spoon and fork in Thai (typical cutlery used by Thai people). Nat and Alicia make both Thai and Sushi work in an intriguing and harmonious manner. Only open at year on Wells Branch Parkway, it is rapidly taking its place among the really tasty restaurants in the city. The Drunken Noodles, awash in a garlic-basil sauce are to die for.

Madam Mam's. The collaboration of Sap Apisksari and Chatfuang Mam will leave you breathless. With two locations on the drag and out at Westgate Dr.near Central Market, Madam Mam's. The Pad Cha Catfish truly will leave you breathless as it's a bit firely. But oh soo good.

Ka Prow. Chef Opart is one of the good guys. Not only can he cook great Thai food, he cares about his fellow restaurateurs. He's donated proceeds from sales to help with the rebuild of Mother's Cafe. He can also whip up a mean Pad Ka Prow with tangy beef that will blow you away. And the Duck Curry is without peer.

Thai Passion. On Congress, Lots of interesting and palatable dishes here including the Koong Pla which is griled shrimp flavored with lemon grass, lime and thai pepper. Open late for the downtown crowd. And that makes sense. I can see dingging into some Tod Mun at 12:30am!

Thai Spice. Vicky and Tut Visha have these two little restaurnts in Lakeway and at the Albertson's Shopping Ctr in Westlake that just are hard to resist. I love the Royal Dumplings and the Garlic Shrimp. Chef Opart of KaProw is an alumnus of Thai Spice also.

09/07/2007

Ryan Bouillet Assumes the Helm of Bellagio

Bellagio has been almost a permanent resident in our Top 20 for the last three years. And usually, when there is a transition of chefs at a restaurant of that calibre, one always takes a deep breath. Well, Ryan Bouillet is the real deal and will more than capably fill the shoes of the departed Steve Loicano.

A graduate of the Texas Culinary Academy, he worked at the prestigious Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, CA and then at Tim Keating's illustrious Quatro at the Four Seasons in Houston. He then gravitated back to Austin as Steve's Sous Chef at Bellagio.

We had one of his meals the other night and let me assure you that all cylinders were clicking. This guy can flat out cook. You've got to try his gnuddi, a delcious variation of gnocchi. He is capable of replicating all the old favorites at Bellagio while adding some new classics of his own. It's going to be fun to watch him at work. I for one will definitely be back.

09/06/2007

Vodka Fest at Cool River Serves up Some Great Spirits

The annual Vodka fest at Cool River on Parmer Lane attracted between 600-700 people on August 29th. It was a fun night to be sure replete with intriguing new tastes, lovely vodka pourers and lots of cool people.

There were some very interesting new vodkas on hand including the amazing 42 Below from New Zealand (which draws from a spring found 1,000 feet below an extinct volacno). I really enjoyed the fresh, almost sweet taste of this vodka. Also of interest was P.i.n.k. a very hip new vodka that had a kind of wheatey taste that I liked.

I found the Imperia Russian vodka, made from an 1894 recipe using winter wheat grown on the fields of the Russian Steppes, to have quite a pleasant jolt. I'm not sure if I'm ready for this as a regular drink but it was not unpleasant.

Also interesting was the new Dripping Springs Voda from good old Dripping Springs, Texas. It had a very smooth, almost lush character. I will most definitely pick up a bottle of this one.

Boru was another vodka new to me. It's made in Ireland and is named after the legendary king Brian Boru who united Irelandin 1014.. It has legions of fans, including the inestimable Andy Dick. That's good enough for me. And the UV cherry vodka was a blast. Very pleasant taste AND aftertaste. Another way cool vodka was Fall Creek's new Savvy, made by Chad Auler. If that name sounds familiar, it's because Ed and Susan Auler are the founders of Fall Creek and the Texas Hill Country Wine Festival.

You have to love the cool bottle that P.I.N.K uses.

The Dripping Springs pourer was exceptionally busy all night.

You would expect two girls like this to be pouring Russian vodka.

The UV pourers were mixing their vodka with Red Bull: now there's an idea!

These two obviously Irish girls were pouring in honor of old King Boru.

08/31/2007

Finn and Porter voted Best Steaks in Austin by City Search Readers

Readers of City Search have spoken and the ballots are in. Finn and Porter, the signature restaurant (helmed by Chris Bauer) of the downtown Hilton Hotel, has been voted to have the Best Steaks in Austin.

As readers of our site will recognize, I've long been a fan of this restaurant as well and they have a well-deserved spot in our Top 20.

08/28/2007

Ego's: A Neighborhood Bar in a City that Could Use Some More

I grew up in New England. To say that we had a lot of neighborhood bars and taverns is an understatement. There was one on every corner. Some catered to the blue-collar shift workers; others to college kids while others were very ethnic in their persuasion. My father-in-law spent many a memorable evening at the Gaelic club. And when I first came down to Austin, I was struck by how few real neighborhood bars there were. Maybe it's due to the fact that while the old neighborhoods were evolving, Austin was a dry town. All I know is that I found the lack of the neighborhood joints to be a detriment. Fast-forward to 2007: 35 years of selling liquor and we still have very few of these places. Which brings me to the topic of Ego's.

Gail Johnson was not planning on going into the bar business after his stint in the Air Force back in the 1960's. He was a graduate of UT with a degree in accounting.

But somehow, one of those serendipitous life-changing moments we always hear about came his way when he wandered into Ego's, a little bar set in a parking garage (that's right, you heard me) off S. Congress just past Riverside.

Ego's is not the kind of place one just happens to find. Trust me, I've occupied two offices across from it for almost thirteen years and while I've seen the sign, I've never gone in. That is, until the other night.

It's kind of like going into one of those grotto clubs in Berlin, Germany. It's dark yet its also inviting. There was a bunch of people sitting at the bar that I instantly recognized: not by face but by disposition. They were clearly regulars: the kind of folks I had spent my younger years sitting next to at neighborhood bars.

If this is starting to sound like a Billy Joel song, forgive me, but I couldn't help but wax nostalgic. I sat down with owner Gail Johnson and we had a couple of brewskies together. He told me that Ego's is open every night. And there's music every night. Finger foods appear occasionally but it's mostly a bar. And it's been catering to the need for libations in this neighborhood for over 30 years!!!!

Johnson loves the bar business. He bought Ego's because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Hell, Walking Suits were a good idea back in the 70's. But this good idea has had one hell of a run. And Johnson's steady hand has helmed a place where the average employee has had an amazingly long tenure. The barmaid working the night I went in had been there for almost ten years. Ditto for a doorman who was leaving for New York who had been there that long.

I spoke to a customer named Mike. A retired Air Force guy who lives in the apartments adjacent to Ego's. Mike gave up drinking in 1991 but he still comes in every day and has three Sharp's non alcoholic brews. He comes in because in his words: "It's easy-going and lots of fun. No problems here. Just a nice place to pass the time."

Mike's sentiments were echoed by others I spoke to. "This place is a gem," said a sturdy guy with brown hair named Bill. "There is just nothing like it in the city. You feel like everyone's your friend."

Ego's is not easy to find. You take a right off S. Congress and follow the signs just past Riverside. Then you head into the parking garage. Ego's is inside behind a door that you can easily miss. But if the concept of neighborhood intrigues you, grab a beer at Ego's. There's over 30 years of history on those bar stools. Now if that's not iconic, I don't know what is.

For more information on Ego's click here.

08/22/2007

Perez Sister Decide They Don't Want City Loan After All

Lydia and Cynthia Perez have told the city that they are no longer interested in receiving the almost completely forgivable $750,000 loan earmarked for Las Manitas.

The sisters have said they want to keep the "iconic" Las Manitas open, but are now not sure where they will find the money for the rennovation costs, estimated at between $844,000 and $1.13 million.

Mayor Will Wynn, a strong backer of the loan, told the Statesman that he was disappointed as this could jeopardize the impending Marriot Project that was going to replace Las Manitas.

I don't think either the city nor the Perez sisters expected the outpouring of anger that the loan decision generated. Now it looks as if the Perez sisters are going to have to get their funding just like the other business would have: from private investors or priviate financial institutions. I think this is the way it should have been from the beginning, and whether genuine or not I am glad to see the sisters displaying a decided lack hubris here.

So, as of this moment, I am no longer boycotting Las Manitas. I will be there Monday morning for some breakfast tacos, and will be happy to give the sisters the name of my friendly local banker.

08/17/2007

Hut's Gets Some Love From Good Morning America Friday at 8:15am

The Good Morning America camera crew was in Austin this week to film some burgers at one of Austin's perennial favorites: Hut's on W. 6th.

The national ABC morning show is doing a burger referendum. Rumor has it that Emeril Legasse will also be involved.

Hut's has won more than its share of best burger awards in Austin over its long tenure on W. 6th. And now, at 8:15am on GMA (KVUE Cable 3) we can see the results of their national search.

08/08/2007

Chef Opart of Ka Prow Reaches Into the Till to Help Mother's Cafe

Chef Opart of Ka Prow on Howard Lane is donating 10% of his total sales each Wednesday and Thursday in August to help the Mother's cafe rebuilding fund. I applaud this effort and hope other restaurants will pitch in as well. The vegan community has been devestated with the loss of Mother's and Nu Age.

08/07/2007

Will Packwood Sizzles for the Gonzo Gourmets at Cibo

One of the coolest things about being a member of Rob's Gonzo Gourmet Club is that the very best chefs in the city knock themselves out to produce memorable wine dinners at exceptionally affordable costs.

Sunday night at Cibo at 9th and Congress was no exception. Cibo opened exclusively for our club that evening and the 48 people on hand were treated to an outstanding 4-course meal by Chef Packwood. The Shrimp-Zucchini Risotto was amazing, as was the Roasted Beef Loin with Gorgonzola Butter and the Grilled Magrove Snapper with Warm Pepperonata and Caper-Lemon Citonette. Gonzos also were very complimentary about the Montepulciano d' abruzzo 04.

By popular acclaim, the dinner was voted one of the best the Gonzo's have ever had. So thanks Chef Packwood for a memorable evening.

To join the Gonzo Gourmet Club, click here.

07/24/2007

We Have Free Passes for the "No Reservations" Premier

Really good movies about the food world are far and few between (think of "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman or "Eating Raoul"). So when one comes along that shows promise, I'm excited. I'm even more excited because we have 25 sets of tickets for two for this Saturday only.

Stop by our office to pick up your freebies to
"No Reservations," starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart. The action is set in NYC (where else?) at a restaruant called 22 Bleeker St.. Noted chef Michael White trained the actors. Advance notices have been good.

Tickets will be given out from Noon-7pm at the address below on first-come first-serve basis. Remember, they are good for Saturday only.

907 South Congress Ave., Ste. #7
(512) 707-7500
Across from the Texas School for the Deaf
Behind ACR Engineering

07/17/2007

Lengendary Brewer Brian Peters back at Uncle Billy's

Most of the regular readers of www.diningoutwithrobbalon.com know that I am a wine guy first. I certainly appreciate a good glass of beer but my knowledge of the fine art of beer-making is sketchy at best.

But when you need an expert to expand your education, one need look no further than Brian Peters. Peters is a legend among home brewers in Austin. He started the iconic Live Oak back in the 90's and followed that by a memorable run at Bitter End. Now, he is brewing his eminently potable suds at the new Uncle Billy's Brew and Que on Barton Springs.

It was something of a coup for Uncle Billy's to land Peters: in the beer world, it would be something close to the baseball equivalent of signing Roger Clemens.

A recent afternoon spent with Peters at Uncle Billy's provided a sense of what makes this guy so good. He loves his craft and is passionate about it. His pride in his work and his enthusiasm were evident as he led me through the intricate process of beer-brewing at UB's.

But it was when we started sampling the fruits of his labors that I got a sense of how much this guy knows about beer. Brian has produced five beers thus far at Uncle Billy's: they include the Back 40 Blonde Ale (a mild malt-flavored lighter brew), the Amber Ale (smooth and malty with a slight bisquity flavor), the Haystack Hefeweizen (an unfiltered Bavarian-style wheat beer), the Ax Handle Pale Ale (finishes with a firm bitterness and a nice malt aftertaste) and the India Pale Ale (dates back to the 1700's when India was under British rule. The high alcohol content and hops helped preserve the beer while it was shipped from British breweries to India).

We did a horizontal tasting of all five and I listened spellbound as he regaled me with an almost unlimited number of factoids regarding each of the beers. Soon, I was drowning in a sea of jargon: two-row malt vs. six-row malt; the percentage of Plato [not the philosopher]; Perle, Fuggle and Golding hops; bitterness, color, and so much more.

Bottom line though: while I may not have been able to keep up with all the terminology, one thing was abundantly clear: these were beers with depth and character. All had really interesting flavors. True, not all were my personal cup of tea. But the two that I liked best (The Back 40 Blonde Ale and the Amber Ale) I REALLY liked. I'd be back there in a heartbeat to soak in a pitcher or two of either one.

And it is of course, a foregone conclusion that beer goes perfectly with Barbecue. So do make it a point to stop by Uncle Billy's Brew and Que on Barton Springs and check out the maestro himself at work. Brian Peters is back and the beer lovers across the city are celebrating!

07/02/2007

Cibo Rolls Out New Menu

For Chef Will Packwood, whose mother is from Italy, Italian cooking has always been about the beautiful simplicity of the cuisine; that and the unrelenting passion that all Italians have for food. His techniques were finely honed by spending a year at the acclaimed Gamberinus restaurant north of Trevisio.

So it's no surprise that the new menu at Cibo will feature the things that Packwood cares most about: putting his own spin on classic Italian dishes."It's all about textures and flavors, unofrthodox combinations, reaching out of the box" said Packwood. "This is a menu that our customers will have fun with and that I have really enjoyed putting together. To take a look at the new Cibo menu, click here.

06/28/2007

Austin Activists Work Toward Ban of Foie Gras in Restaurants

The animal rights activists are at it again. Taking a cue from Chicago, where the sale of foie gras has been banned in city restaurants, Austin activists have been threatening to picket restaurants that serve this 2500-year old delicacy. To make matters worse, they've actually managed to get a few of our best Austin restaurants to cave in on this and take foie gras off the menu.

I am appalled by these strong-arm tactics and even more upset that some restaurants are bowing to the pressure. The facts are simple. To get their livers to grow unnaturally larger in a relatively short period, geese and ducks are fed a very rich diet through feeding tubes. Activists claim this is barbaric. Perhaps. But who is to say that the geese and ducks don't enjoy being fed this way?

And unless I'm missing something, are not all these animals ultimately heading for the chopping block anyway? Why must we go through this posturing and angst over being "humane" when the animal's end is a certainty?

And if we give in on foie gras, what's next? Veal, cabrito, lobsters placed in boiling water, sushi? What about prying clams or oysters open with a

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