Bits and Bites -- Austin Food News

Lot's of dinners and events coming up in Austin!

 

 -- Five course tequila-pairing dinner at Jack Allen's Kitchen (Oak Hill) with local tequila legend Lucinda Hutson, October 8th, $75/person.

-- Tuscan wine dinner at Olive + June, October 8th, $85/person.

-- Art Bites, an evening of art-inspired culinary creations by top local chefs is October 10th at Russell Collection Fine Art (1137 W. 6th), $25/person.

-- El Monumento in Georgetown is hosting a cocktail class on October 12th, followed by a seasonal dinner with drink pairings on October 22nd; both $65/person.

-- Russia House is having a 1st Anniversary celebration on October 19th.

-- Dames Across Texas on October 24th celebrates the wineries, restaurants, and artisan food products of over 20 local members of Les Dames d'Escoffier at the AT+T conference center; proceeds benefit their culinary scholarships. $55/person.

-- La Dolce Vita, the annual food event at Laguna Gloria is also October 24th.

-- The Hotel San Jose is now offering brunch on select Saturdays, October 26 and November 24 coming up.

-- Eden East, the pop-up locavore eatery at Springdale Farm, will be expanding their hours beginning October 24th to include a Thursday night 4-course service for $45; Friday and Saturdays still $65 for 6- courses, reservations required.

 -- Truck by Truck West, a food trailer truck event, is coming up at the end of October. If you buy a badge, you get a tasting from about 60 different trucks; proceeds benefit Austin Food for Life, and you can help pick the truck most deserving of a $10,000 bonus.

-- La Condesa is debuting a taco truck, El Cubico, which will primarily work events/festivals and is available for hire.

-- Finn + Porter, in the Hilton Hotel downtown, unveils a new fall menu with many locally sourced items, such as Lockhart quail.

-- The Gateway Guesthouse, a B & B at 1001 E. Riverside Drive is now offering cooking classes, including some designed to ease the stress of holiday meal planning.

-- Dan's Hamburgers on Ben White at Manchaca is undergoing a renovation. I haven't driven past recently, but was told the old building is totally gone. Website says it's reopening in late November.

-- Suggestions for holiday parties, either for available space or catering (hint: book NOW!): Contigo, Epicerie, Lucy's Fried Chicken, Argus Cidery, Jack Allen's Kitchen, The Bonneville, Houndstooth Coffee, drink.well, Hops and Grain.

-- In case you missed it, both Wheatsville Co-op on South Lamar and Trader Joe's on Bee Caves are now open.

-- A really unique Kickstarter campaign has come to my attention. Piq Chocolates, based here in Austin, is trying to get funding for their own 3D printer to expand production, which allows them to make custom-shaped chocolates.  Take a look at their website & their Kickstarter!