Food
News & Commentary
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Restaurant
Events
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Openings
Closings
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Koriente:
A Healthy and Tasty Korean Restaurant that Needs Your Support
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This is a very tasty
and exceptionally healthy restaurant on 7th St. across from
the Municipal Court (just west of I-35) called Koriente. It
is owned buy a Korean woman named Nam. It is immaculate and
I can’t say enough about the food. The beef and chicken Bulgogi,
the chicken soup (recipe from Nam’s mother-in-law), the BiBimBap
(wonderful Vegan dish), and the Tofu with veggies. All dishes
are low cal and offered with brown rice. And the flavors are
amazing! |
I don’t want to see this restaurant on our CLOSED
list a month from now. Business has been sparse and they need your
support. Check out their website at www.koriente.com.
02/17/06
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Huge
News from the Oasis: Quattro’s Tim Keating Signs on as Exec Chef
Just when you thought that Oasis owner Beau
Theriot might have folded up his tent and headed out for the territories,
he did the exact opposite. Not bowing to adversity in the slightest,
he has shrugged off the devastating fire of 2005 that destroyed
much of the restaurant. And he’s announced the hiring of mega chef
Tim Keating, star of the Four Season’s Quattro in Houston and a
member of the famed all-chef band [along with Robert Del Grande
of Café Annie among others] the Barbed Wires.
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Keating will be at the epicenter
of a monumental new development that will not only see the restoration
and enhancement of the original Oasis restaurant but will also
the opening of several other bistro-type restaurants on the
property. |
As more details come in, we’ll keep you posted.
But the Keating announcement is a major coup for the Oasis management
team. This gentleman is a serious player on the dining scene in
the southwest. And talk about resilience, Theriot’s picture should
come up in the dictionary next to that word.
02/09/06
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Executive
Chef Johnny Carino bids adieu to Truluck’s
| Johnny Carino, Vice President
of Operations for the Truluck's restaurant group for the past
five years, has resigned to join the Yum Brands “Pizza Hut Division”
in their New Concepts area in Dallas. He’ll work on the Pizza
Hut Italian Bistro and the Wing Street Brands.
Carino, who stars in the PBS television
show, Break Me off A Piece of That, is scheduled to begin
the new job on February 20th.
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I’ve enjoyed Carino’s work at Truluck's and
I will quite frankly miss him. Besides that, how many superstar
chefs do you know who are volunteer fire fighters (in Manchaca)?
That tells you volumes about the guy. Bon chance mon ami!
02/03/06
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The
Driskill Grill’s David Bull becomes Austin’s first Iron Chef competitor
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If you’re a foodie, you’ve
undoubtedly watched The Iron Chef. This show is culinary skill
with showbiz schmaltz that kind of reminds me of the old American
Gladiators concept. Two chefs compete in a specially built “stadium”
where they have an hour to prepare a meal where one dominant
ingredient holds forth.
Originally developed in Japan, the show
developed a cult following abroad which soon led to an American
produced spin off.
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Chef David Bull, of the Driskill Grill, recently
had the honor of squaring off on the American version against the
celebrated Bobby Flay in an episode that was recently taped in New
York. It will air in Austin sometime in October.
02/03/06
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Finally:
Hoover’s Cooking to Open March 13, 2006on Research at Anderson Mill!
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After fighting through more
city bureaucracy and red tape than any small business should
have to, Hoover Alexander has finally gotten all the myriad
permits and certificates he needed and will open the north
store of Hoover’s Cooking at the site of the former Ray’s
Steakhouse. |
The opening date is March 13th, 2006 and I
for one am delighted. Hoover’s down home cooking will be a welcome
change in an area with far too many chains.
He tells me that he is also going to experiment
with bone-in fried chicken at this new location. (Hooray!)
The City of Austin likes to spin this PR that
they are friendly to small business. If what Hoover and other
restaurant have had to fight through is any indication, that so
called “friendliness” is mostly smoke and mirrors.
The menu at the Research store will duplicate
the original restaurant on Manor Road that opened five years ago
to rave reviews.
02/27/06
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The
Veranda opens on Anderson Lane at Northcross Mall
You would never know that the lovely restaurant
that now graces the North side of Northcross Mall used to be a
Hooter’s location. Well, so much for the past.
The Veranda has opened with a very eclectic
menu featuring retro classics like Steak Diane and Veal Oscar,
a killer Cajun crawfish pasta, and a very delectable Tex Mex menu.
The atmosphere is nice and the price points are very reasonable.
This is by the long-time owner of Mesa
Hills Café on Greystone.
02/24/06
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Galaxy
Café to open 2nd Location on West Lynn, next to Cosmic Café:
Triangle on Hold
I announced on KLBJ-AM
last week that one of my favorite joints, the Galaxy Café
at Slaughter and Brodie, would open a second location in the new
Trinagle Development (along with Damien Mendola’s new Italian
store/eaterie) off N. Lamar. However, there has been a change
in plans. The Triangle opening is on hold and Galaxy has firmed
up the opening of its 2nd location on West Lyn, next to the new
Cosmic Café.
This will be a real treat for the folks in
that area as Galaxy epitomizes that laid back, casual kind of
Austin vibe along with great breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Look for the opening around early summer of
2006.
02/17/06
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Rocco’s
on 6th Street Closes Over the Weekend
After trying to make a go of it in the spot
of the former Ninfa’s on 6th street for more than two years, italian
eatery Rocco’s has closed its doors. This was the sister restaurant
to the popular Rocco’s in Lakeway. The site, next to Katz’s at 6th
and West, has once again proved inhospitable to its occupant.
The sign on the door says the restautant
will relocate, but we’re not optimistic.
02/21/06
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John
Mueller’s BBQ on Manor Road Loses Lease and Closes
The sign on the door may say closed for remodeling
but the back story is that the restaurant is permanently closed.
There will be no reopening at the Manor Road location.
John Mueller lost his lease and was forced
out by the new owners. He is looking for a new location to rebuild
his popular BBQ joint. We’ll let you know when and if he reopens.
02/13/06
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Events You Might Have Missed:
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McCormick
& Schmick's Hosts Northwest Wine Dinner
Experience the Northwest
at McCormick & Schmick's; fresh Northwest seafood paired with
oregon wines from Willamette Valley Vineyards.
This five course dinner is only $60, and includes a free seafood
cookbook.
Click here
for details.
02/14/2006
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archived Openings, Closings, and Food News & Commentary
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