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Food
News & Commentary
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Restaurant
Events
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Openings
Closings
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Chipotle
on Congress has bout with the mysterious cruise-ship stomach virus
Twenty six people came down with a severe albeit
brief stomach virus after visting the Chipotle store at Congress
earlier this week.. I spoke to Jack Hirschfield who broke the story
for FOX 7-TV and he told me it was a bizarre case of that same kind
of virus that hit the cruise ships last year. It did not, apparently,
originate with Chipotle. More than likely someone had it, was in
fairly close contact with someone else in the store, perhaps in
line, and it spread.
To its credit, Chipote closed volunarily to conduct an antiseptic
spraying of the interior.. It was NOT closed by the Health Department.
They should reopen shortly.
06/25
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Want
Your Own Private Sushi Party?: Meet Nat in the Kitchen
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Sushi is very popular in Austin
these days. And former Kenichi sushi chef and current Head Chef
at the new Fujiyama, Nat Sawatphadungkij, is taking advantage
of it. Nat, a 10-year veteran sushi man, is crafting sushi parties
for private or corporate functions. His enterprise is called
Nat in the Kitchen.
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The process is simple. You hook up with Nat,
tell him how many people you're expecting, and he'll come up with
a menu ranging from delicious sushi rolls to nigiri sushi and sashimi.
| The man has serious talent.
I had the opportunity to attend one of Nat's parties. The sushi
concoctions were creative (like the "Salmon Crunch"
with crab, cream cheese, asparagus, salmon rolled with seaweed
and fried, and then topped with eel sauce) and delicious. My
own chopsticks were moving so fast from platter to mouth that
I almost set them on fire. |
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Another one that I got a kick out of was the
Madonna Roll, a creation Nat put together for Madonna. There were
20-30 people at the party I was at and Nat's food was endless. I
literally can't recall the last time I ate that much sushi.
To book your own private sushi party, call Nat in the Kitchen at
797-6897. Or email him at sushinat@yahoo.com.
06/09
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First
Bites: Will Packwood and Sam Dickey collaborate on "7"
I had my first taste of the fare at the new
S. Congress restaurant "7" the other night. Helmed by
Will Packwood of Emilia's fame and Sam Dickey of Granite Cafe, 7
is in the space formerly occupied by Lambert's.
We sat at a lovely table overlooking the regentrified S. Congress
avenue and began with an order, well actually several orders.of
their complimentary homemade chips. Very cute idea. Very tasty.
Appetizers came next and they were flat out amazing. We had the
Gnocchi (potato dumplings) with scallops and leeks. Wow. To make
the gnocchi, they scoop out the meat of about 8 cooked potatoes,
add several egg yolks (resulting in a more consistent, harder mix),
a little flower, salt and pepper and nutmeg. The gnocchi are then
added to boiling water for several minutes. Then, the leeks are
sautéed in butter, and the scallops are added, and tossed
with the gnocchi. The flavor of this dish is amazing.
Equally appealing was the risotto. Beginning with a stock of white
fish and halibut bones, the rice is cooked and then a mirepoix of
onions, bell peppers, and carrots is added for seasoning. They then
ad clams and mussels along with some salt and pepper. The result
is sheer culinary bliss. The rice was aldente and the flavor was
riveting.
Have I aroused your curiosity? "7" is a serious player
in the emerging restaurant row of S. Congress just south of Riverside.
Check it out. Look for a full review soon. Phone: 383-8877
06/07
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It's
Official: The Athenian Grill will open at 11AM, Wednesday, July
7th
Not since the demise of Ted's Steakhouse on
Congress has there been a boisterous, fun, and tasty Greek restaurant
in the downtown area. That's about to change. OK folks, if you've
been craving gyros, moussaka, spanikopita, dolmathes and all your
other Greek comfort food, the Athenian Grille will open at 11AM
on July 7th. Location is 705 Colorado, at the site of the former
Jean Luc's, across from Gumbo's. Valet parking available for evenings.
Their hours will be as follows: Monday-Thursday: 11AM to 10 PM.
Friday and Saturday: 11AM to 10:30 PM. Lunch specials each day till
5PM.
Anil Simicia and George Betondos will be in the kitchen cooking
up all your favorites. Anil opened Zorba in Round Rock several years
ago. George has a long and varied pedigree as a chef in Houston.
Call 482-8988 for more information.
Click here
to see their menu.
06/30
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At
Site of former Demi Epicurious: Maiko Japanese Restaurant / Sushi
Bar to Open Oct. 1
Heard from a usually reliabale source today
that a new restaurant is finally ready to take over the space on
311 W. 6th St. that was formerly occupied by Demi Epicurious. The
restaurant will be called Maiko and it will feature traditional
Japanese fare along with a sushi bar. Date set for opening is October
1 (which also happens to be my birthday!) Hmmm. With Kenichi, Kyoto,
Mimosa, Uchi, and Silhouette and Finn and Porter all within a mile,
one wonders if we need another sushi joint. But sushi most definitely
appears to be the flavor of the moment. We'll see.
Stay tuned for more information.
06/29
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Tepanyaki
and Sushi restaurant FUJIYAMA opens on Jollyville
In the space formerly occupied by Kyoto II,
a new restaurant featuring tepanyaki grilling stations and a full
sushi bar has opened. The name: Fujiyama. The restaurant is across
the shopping center from The Brick Oven, off Jollyville Road.
Had a chance to dine there the other night and we enjoyed ourselves.
The Sushi, both the rolls and the nigiri sushi, was fresh and expertly
prepared. We tried the scallops and the lobster tepan style and
they were both quite good. The scallops, coated in flour, were particularly
tasty. Call 795-8333 for reservations.
06/17
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Italian
TinTinNio opens in the former Iron Chef location on Research
TinTinNio, a new Italian restaurant with a smattering
of other Mediterreanean fare, at the corner of Research and Burnet,
has just opened. Tintinnio in Italian means "ching", the
sound you might get when two champagne glasses meet in a happy toast.
It's open Monday-Sunday for lunch and dinner. Look for a first look
in First Bites at www.diningoutwithrobbalon.com.
Their number is 275-1206.
Glad to see that a new restaurant went in that space. Iron Chef
was a very good restaurant and deserved a better fate.
06/14
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The
35th and Jefferson jinx continues: Pacific Blue latest in line of
casualties at that location
Pacific Blue, a very good Asian-fusion restaurant
upstairs at 35th and Jefferson closed on the night of June 24th.
Pacific Blue, owned by the proprieters of the outstanding Korean
restaurant Koreana, just couldn't, for whatever reasons, attract
a substantial customer base. But then neither could its predecessor,
the superb Collin B's. And before that, it was Jean Pierre's Upstairs
(which later became the Y Bar and Grill in Oak Hill). It's too bad.
I don't know, but if I were looking to start a restaurant, I think
at this point I would avoid the hell out of that corner.
06/29
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It
appears that Crimson on 407 Colorado has closed
Got a broadside from a commercial realtor hawking
the space at 407 Colorado, the site of Crimson. Crimson's phone
message says they are closed for remodeling. (They may be looking
for another investor.) But it appears that they are just plain closed.
If that's the case, that's too bad. Another really good restaurant
bites the dust.
I lked their food. The fusion concept was interesting and for the
most part, well executed. But I suspect that many Austin diners
didn't want to spend 15 mintues trying to figure out the menu and
exactly what "Thai Jambalaya", for example, was all about.
I think this restaurant would have worked better in Houston or Dallas
where there is a higher degree of sophistication among the upscale
dining crowd. Nonetheless, I shall miss it.
06/04
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Closings:
Canyonside Cafe on Highway 620
With regret, we note the passing of the Canyonside
Cafe (formerly Calame's) on Highway 620 just west of Lakeway. Owned
by a brother and sister team and featuring tasty family recipes,
Canyonside just didn't seem to be able to get out of the gate.
The restaurant has a gorgeous Hill Country view.
There's a rumor that a well-known Lakeway eaterie might be considering
expansion to that site. We'll keep you posted.
06/02
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Events You Might Have Missed:
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Champagne
Tasting at Monica's 701
Wednesday June 30th at 6:30pm. Monica's
701 Restaurant in Georgetown.
Four Champagnes of differing style and regions will be sampled.
Jacques Fusellier from Glazer’s Wine Distributors will be the speaker.
Appropriate Hors d’ oeuvres from Executive Chef Jim McNeill will
accompany these sparkling wines. $35 per person.
Call 931-2438 for reservations.
06/23
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European
Bistro Wine Tasting
Tel: (512) 835-1919; 111 East Main; Pflugerville,
TX 78660
Bulgarian & Hungarian Wines, June 22nd,
5pm-8pm
Wine Tasting with Baltic Delicacies, $25 per person
Presented by Grapes Unlimited, Velizar Iliev
(from the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team)
For more information, visit www.hungarianbistro.com
or email dine@hungarianbistro.com
06/21
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The
Café at the Four Seasons Vintner Dinner
We are delighted to
announce another spectacular evening in our Vintner Dinner Series!
On Monday, June 21st, Frederick Panaiotis, winemaker of Veuve Clicquot
Champagne will be joining us to present an impressive selection
of the winery's finest champagnes.
The founder of the historic Champagne House of Veuve Clicquot, the
dynamic Madame Clicquot had as her motto: "Only one quality…the
finest." That same principle is the foundation upon which Clicquot
has built its international portfolio of ultra premium champagnes.
We will be featuring the ever popular Yellow Label, the exquisite
Vintage 1996, La Grand Dame and to finish the lavish series, The
Demi Sec. From France's Champagne region to the Marlborough region
of New Zealand, to the Pacific Northwest, Clicquot has traveled
the globe to bring you the finest champagnes and wines made today.
We are very excited to be hosting this event!
Executive Chef Elmar Prambs and Pastry Chef Tony Sansalone are creating
the perfect menu to compliment the evening's champagnes
The Veuve Clicquot dinner is $95.00 per
person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. This event begins at 7:00
PM and seating is limited. Please call The Café at 512-685-8300
for reservations. As always, we look forward to the pleasure of
your company!
06/14
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Dona
Emilia's Presents the Concha Y Toro Wine Dinner
Dona Emilia's invites you to join winemaker
Sebastian Lopez. June 14, 2004; 7-9pm. $39.00pp. Click
here for more information.
06/01
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