Local Happenings

News bits:

-- My neighborhood bakery, La Patisserie (LP), has teamed up with Pate Letelier (PL) to now serve lunch! I have purchased the bison and pork pate from PL at the Hope Farmer's Market, and had appetizers with the chicken liver pate, and thought they were both delicious! This is a great idea by LP to make their business more versatile; weekly menus will be posted on LP's website. Yum, yum, yum!

-- Think you are ready for prime time? Bravo's Top Chef and Top Chef: Just Desserts will be in town next week, doing casting at Olivia on Wednesday, March 2nd. There's an application and video involved, so if you think you're ready for quick fire and elimination challenges, not to mention living with a bunch of semi-crazy roommates, DO IT!! And as for the current season, we're down to five chefs, and I have to say, Antonia is really growing on me!

-- While I am bummed to be missing it (I'll be in San Fran, so not all that bummed!), the second annual Austin Bacon Takedown will be here on Sunday, March 13th at Emo's. Contestants get 15 pounds of Hormel bacon to make their creations. So entering or attending, lots of pork happiness will surely abound.

-- The annual Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival will take place March 31 - April 3 at various venues throughout the area. Check their website for details and tickets. The traditional Sunday fair (huge event with tastings from local restaurants, beer/wine/spirit vendors) is at a new locale this year -- the Mexican American Cultural Center off of Rainey Street.... where are people going to park? Guess I'll be finding out, because I already have my tickets!