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Not Our Parents’ Boxed Wine: Mini-Barrels are Great for Entertaining

November 5, 2009

MiniBarrelSmallIn the last few years, boxed wine has been making a comeback. I’ve tried a couple of offerings here and there, but am forced to admit that I’ve never seriously considered serving such a thing at one of my parties because, well, it’s boxed wine. I remember my mother setting up boxes of pink and white wine at baby showers and open houses, and as I’ve learned more about wine, I’ve discovered what a travesty those things were. Even so, when I saw a blurb about the Red Truck Mini-Barrel in either Bon Appetite or Gourmet (can’t remember which, I was on a plan on a business trip so my memory is a blur) I decided that it might be worth giving this cute little barrel a try. After all, it doesn’t look like a boxed wine, and it’s a built-in conversation starter at any party. Who can pass up a little barrel of wine on the counter just waiting to be tapped?

After taking a chance and serving the mini-barrel at a recent party, I’m happy to report that it has changed my mind about “alternative packaging” for wine. While I may not be a boxed-wine convert (yet), I’m a mini-barrel convert.

Disclaimer: While I enjoy wine, I don’t consider myself to be anything more than someone who likes wine. I know what I enjoy drinking and I’ve taken just enough courses on wine to be dangerous to myself and my dinner guests. I do highly recommend Great Wine Made Simple by Andrea Robinson for making any wine list navigable, but please know that I’m writing this post from the point of view of someone who entertains regularly and not as a wine aficionado. Also, because I don’t want the feds breathing down my neck, I was in no way compensated or encouraged to write this post by folks at Red Truck.

Why I Like the Mini-Barrel

The mini-barrel has a lot to recommend it:

  • It’s cost-effective. One barrel is the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine and retails for about $30. It contains about 20 standard pours of wine, which comes out to $1.50 per glass. If you are going to throw a party for 30 people and assume each will have 4 glasses of wine (120 pours total), you can buy 6 mini barrels for $180. You’d have to buy 24 standard size bottles of wine to serve the same crowd and to stay on par with the mini-barrel pricing, you couldn’t spend more than $7.50 total per bottle (if you get 20% case discounts you could buy wine priced at about $9.50 per bottle). Now while I do know how to get a decent party wine for less than $10, even with great values you start to run the risk of finding more duds than studs at the $8-9 mark. For reference, the other Red Truck wines (not in barrels) retail for around $10-12 per bottle, so this one is consistent with those offerings.
  • It’s eco-friendly. Almost all of the packaging can be recycled, which is true of a wine bottle of course, but there’s still less packaging all around which is good.
  • It lasts for 6 weeks. Thus far I’ve written about this wine in the context of entertaining, but the mini-barrel packaging keeps the wine fresh for quite a while, which makes it a good idea for people who only drink a glass or two every few nights.
  • It tastes good! Even with the first three pros going for this wine, if it tasted bad I wouldn’t even be writing this post. I liked this wine, and so did my party guests. It’s medium-bodied with tannins that are present but don’t take over your mouth. It’s a blend of syrah, petite sirah, cabernet franc, and malbec, and mourvedre grown throughout California, and they’ve done a nice job of balancing all of the flavors. I tasted red berries and chocolate, and it paired well with my very varied collection of party nibbles. It was easy to sit around and drink as the party progressed. While I wouldn’t say it was stupendous or amazing, that’s not what I’m typically looking for in my party wines in the first place. I want accessible, easy to drink, and tasty – which is exactly what I got.

What Others Are Saying

I’ve done some digging and because the mini-barrel is relatively new, I haven’t been able to find many reviews of the wine, but I did find a few on an interesting cross-section of sites:

Because reviews of the mini-barrel are scarce, I looked for reviews of other Red Truck wines to see how they fair as a group. In general, reviewers seem to consider them value wines that won’t blow your mind but that are good at their price points. These sites include reviews of Red Truck wines across a variety of vintages and varietals to give you an idea of what to expect from this winery:

Get Your Own Mini-Barrel

I’ve only seen the mini-barrel at SAMs Club thus far, but I know they will have wider distribution in 2010. You can order online from their site and they seem to be pretty active on their Facebook page as they help fans find distributors.

If you’ve had the mini-barrel, I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you try it, please come back and tell us how you liked it.

Posted in * Wine | Tagged | 2 Comments »

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Pumpkin Bread and a Lesson in Reading Recipe Comments

November 4, 2009

PumpkinBread[Jump right to the recipe: Pumpkin Bread]

Early this fall, my company’s resident baker brought in a wonderful loaf of pumpkin bread in an attempt to fatten up our staff. I was of course more than happy to partake of her bread, seeing as I love pumpkin in wholly unwholesome ways. I immediately asked for the recipe, assuming that as the bread was a quick bread the recipe would be devoid of yeast and therefore a strong candidate for something I could bake without totally screwing it up.

Note: I’m determined to conquer my fear of baking. I’ve purchased Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, joined a Google Group, and will be producing loaves of bread very soon. I plan to blog along the way, so look for future posts on how I’m becoming a (hopefully) decent baker. Now, back to our regularly scheduled blog post…

It turns out that Katie’s excellent bread was according to a Food Network recipe. As I reviewed the recipe, I noticed the that it has close to 100 comments and a range of ratings covering the whole spectrum from 1 star to 5. Reading the responses I discovered that the basic recipe seems to be flawed, at least in cooking time, and that it might be too sweet. In general, it seemed that results with the recipe were all over the map. I probably spent an hour reading the comments and thinking about how to assimilate them into my attempt. Along the way, the content geek in my realized that one of the reasons I love recipes stored electronically with tools for reviews and comments is because it allows everyone to contribute to and take advantage of the shared experience of making the recipe. We make the recipe better and improve our own cooking skills along the way. Group wisdom rocks!

I’m very happy with my pumpkin bread, and I’m sure there’s a chance I wouldn’t be if I’d gone right along with the recipe and not stopped to tap the wisdom of the crowd. As much as this is my adaptation of the recipe, it’s absolutely a product of the group of cooks who made it before me and took the time to comment. They validated my ideas about substitutions of applesauce for part of the oil and whole wheat flour for the AP flour. They recommended reducing the sugar and warned that the spices as written might lead to a bland bread. Finally, they helped me not panic when my bread was far from done in 40 minutes.

I can honestly say that this recipe is a shared creation. I hope you enjoy the resulting recipe and share your modifications with me in the comments.

Pumpkin Bread

Adapted from Pumpkin Bread by Cathy Lowe.

Details

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Makes: 2 loaves, 12 slices each
  • Prep Time: 40 min
  • Cook Time: 60 min
  • Weight Watchers Points: 4/slice

Ingredients

  • 1 c. brown sugar
  • 1.5 c. granulated sugar
  • 4 oz. apple sauce
  • 1/2 c. vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 15oz. can pumpkin puree
  • 1 c. whole wheat flour
  • 2.5 c. AP flour
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (1.5 tsp if not fresh)
  • 1.5 tsp. ground allspice
  • 1.5 tsp. ground cinnamon (recommend Saigon)
  • 3/4 tsp. ground cloves
  • 2/3 c. water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Spray 2 9×5 loaf pans with flour baking spray (such as Baker’s Joy).
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and granulated sugar; break up any clumps of brown sugar.
  4. Stir in the apple sauce and vegetable oil.
  5. Stir in the eggs and pumpkin.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients (wheat flour through cloves).
  7. Stir the dry ingredients and water into the wet ingredients in alternating batches, starting and ending with flour.
  8. Divide the batter between prepared pans. There should be 1 – 1.5 inches of space left at the top of the pans for the loaves to expand.
  9. Set pans on a foil-lined baking sheet and place in oven.
  10. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
  11. Remove the loaf pans from the oven and let the loaves rest in the pans on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.
  12. Turn the loaves out of their pans and let cool completely on the rack.

Recipe for Success

  • This recipe will work in just about any shape pan, from the loaf pans I used to a bunt pan or even mini-loaf pans and muffin tins. You’ll have to adjust the cooking time depending on the size of your pan. For mini-loaf pans and muffin tins I would start checking for doneness at 25-30 minutes. A whole loaf baked in a bunt pan may take upwards of 75 minutes, but I would still start checking around 50 minutes just in case.
  • The recipe reviewers offered a whole host of suggestions for mix-ins: chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, and dried cranberries just to name a few. I took one of their suggestions and topped one of my loaves with roasted pumpkin seeds which not only makes for a pretty presentation but adds a lovely crunch to the loaf’s crust. For those of you counting Weight Watcher’s Points out there, remember that adding mix-ins will increase the points per slice.
  • If your loaves are starting to look overly-brown at about 40 or 50 minutes in the oven, cover them loosely with aluminum foil.

Posted in * Breakfast, * Dessert | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

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Austin Foodie Bits: Week of November 2, 2009

November 2, 2009

Harvest Wine 2Halloween has come and gone, we’ve fallen back so we’re not waking up and dragging to work in the dark, and it’s officially November. It’s time to transition from jack-o-lanterns to pumpkin pies and start to consider the upcoming holidays. After all, there are only 53 days left until Christmas. Austin’s foodie events continue to occur at a breakneck pace as everyone tries to take advantage of our beautiful weather and the few weeks of downtime until Thanksgiving. This week features several opportunities to eat well and do good at a variety of price points, as well as a couple of very tasty special menus at local eateries. You can also learn how to make bacon and enjoy a celebration of food and wine. In short, there’s no shortage of foodie fun to be had by all.

Although not technically “events”, I’d like to highlight two things that fall into my “foodie goodness” category that readers of this post might like to know about:

  • A farmer’s market on Sunday. If you can’t quite make it to the various Saturday farmers markets, then there’s HOPE for you. Austin’s newest market is open from 11am – 3pm on Sundays in the corner of E. 5th and Waller Streets. In addition to local farmers and prepared foods, the market includes student DJs from Austin AMP, bike repair corners, yoga workshops from Empower Yoga, cooking classes from East Side Show Room, sustainable agriculture and landscaping from Big Red Sun and host free space for other non-profits and community groups as well as promote healthy living for local artists. I’ve spoken with several local food bloggers who’ve visited the market and they’ve said that while this market is smaller than others, it is a great option for a Sunday and includes some unique shopping and experience opportunities.
  • Butcher Shop breakfast at the Saturday market. I’m a big fan of the folks from Dai Due, not only because they throw great events, but because they make some really fantastic products. Starting next Sunday, November 7, they will be offering biscuits and gravy and fresh grilled handmade sausages for breakfast (or lunch, or both) at the Austin Farmer’s Market. From 9 am – 1 pm you can nosh on their goodies and even pick up some packages sausages, charcuterie, condiments, and ready to cook items. I’m already planning to serve their charcuterie at my holiday party and feature their chorizo in my Christmas morning breakfast tacos. Stop by and see them for a truly fantastic butcher shop experience.

Be Spontaneous: This Week’s Events

  • [NEW] November 2 – 5: Yelp Drinks Week – Yelp is teaming up with some great local bars and restaurants to create a week-long happy hour that runs all day, every day. Each location will have a featured beverage or collection of beverages offered at 50% off, giving you the opportunity to try a new drink or a new place, or possibly both.
  • [NEW] [VALUE] November 2 – 4: FLAVORS of Austin at J. Blacks – Week 7 of the FLAVORS of Austin events features J Blacks Feel Good Lounge. The FLAVORS menu features perfect sharing plates giving you the chance to try everything on the menu for just $25 for 3 courses. The relaxed setting is a casual background for business or pleasure, so treat friends or co-workers, or maybe even clients, to a lovely evening this week while channeling your inner hipster.
  • [NEW] November 2 – 8: Wurstfest – Their website says it all: “A ten day Salute To Sausage celebration in New Braunfels, Texas”. Take a short drive down to beautiful New Braunfels in this perfect Texas fall weather to eat your fill of German food, listen to German music, and a whole host of special events. $8/day admission. Food and beverages offered for sale. Hours vary by day.
  • [NEW] November 3: RIP Gourmet “Mourning” Hour – Gourmet magazine is no more. I’ve sadly flipped through the last printing and join food lovers around the country in a deep sadness not only for the loss of this amazing magazine but for the future we see in food and food publishing. Addie Broyles, our favorite Statesman food writer, is joining forces with FINO, one of my favorite local restaurants, for a wake for Gourmet. We’ll nibble on chef Jason Donoho’s great food and toast to our departed friend with bar manager Bill Norris and Tipsy Texan David Alan. I’ll be there – won’t you join us? $20. 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.
  • [DO GOOD] November 4- 20: Les Dames d’Escoffier Food Fight Online Charity Auction – I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn that professional women leaders in food, fine beverage, and hospitality have a world-wide philanthropic organization. Eating well and doing good just go so naturally together. The local Austin chapter of this organization will be hosting their first online event –a Food Fight — that will feature auctions of all sorts of interesting food experiences, including a VIP evening at Stubbs, a customized Oscar Party, an artisan cheese getaway for two in Oregon, and a holiday cookie party. The event promises to be a fun way to support this organization while bidding on unique experiences you can’t otherwise purchase.
  • [NEW] [DO GOOD] November 4: Harvest Mandala Food Drive –On November 4th, the Living Color Signature Course in association with the UT Fine Arts Council will be throwing a feel good block party on the Main Mall right under the Tower. You won’t want to miss this celebration of the harvest, complete with live entertainment, can mountain, and UT’s very own colorful mandala. Bring canned goods to donate, and the entire event supports the Capital Area Food Bank. 10am – 6pm. RSVP on Facebook.
  • [NEW] [VALUE] November 4: Cipollina Farmer’s Dinner – On the first Wednesday of each month, Cipollina offers a three-course prix fixe meal showcasing the foods of local growers. This Wednesday features the wonderful lamb raised by Loncito Cartwright. At $35, this is a great deal and it gives you a chance to not only enjoy a wonderful local spot but to partake in truly amazing local lamb.
  • [NEW] [DO GOOD] [VALUE] November 5: Grape Escape Benefitting Heart House – Heart House is a free afterschool and summer program dedicated to providing a safe haven and academic support to low-income children. For just $25 you can enjoy a variety of wines, a myriad of tasty dishes provided by Austin’s finest dining establishments, and an eclectic silent auction. As foodie fundraising events go, this is one is one of the easiest on the pocketbook and helps support a great local organization. 6:30 – 9:30 pm. Purchase tickets online.
  • [NEW] [DO GOOD] November 5: Bringin’ Home the Bacon – Preservation Bacon is one of Austin’s best kept secrets. This Thursday you can join Greg Bass, the curator of said bacon, along with Austin blogger, photographer, and bacon maker extraordinaire Marshall Wright to learn the ins and outs of curing your own bacon at home. The event is free but donations are accepted to support the good work of Slow Food Austin. There will be snacks available, but feel free to bring your own contribution as all of the discussion of bacon is sure to make everyone hungry. RSVP required because seating is limited. 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. RSVP online.
  • [UPDATED] November 5: Texas Wine and Food Festival November Night to Remember – As we look forward to the Hill Country Wine and Food Festival in the spring, this event brings a taste of that event and an opportunity to support the organization as they prepare to tantalize our taste buds in 2010. Enjoy an evening of culinary enchantment prepared by Chef Jon Gelman expertly paired with wines from award winning winemaker Adam Lee and local celebrity winemaker Ross Outon in the splendor of the Driskill Hotel’s Victorian Room. The $100 price tag includes a four-course dinner followed by a lively auction of fine wines, private winery tours and tastings, chef prepared dinner parties, and many other fabulous items. 6:30 pm. For reservations call 512.249.6300 or email erika@texaswineandfood.org.
  • [NEW] November 6: Lou Lambert’s Casual Fall Dinner – Lou Lambert, owner of Lambert’s Downtown BBQ and Jo’s, will share the recipes for a tasty fall menu that includes acorn squash soup, chicken pot pie, and corn meal pancake. Lou is a fun teacher so you’ll leave with not only a full belly but a warm heart. $65. 6:30 – 9:00 pm. Reserve online.
  • [UPDATED] [DO GOOD] November 6-7: MAX’s Wine Dive Austin Cellar Classic
     –MAX’s Wine Dive wants to help the Capital Area Food Bank offer 10,000 holiday meals to Central Texans in need while offering you some good deals on wine for holiday entertaining. The Austin Cellar Classic is a two-day event that features a Grand Wine Dinner on Friday ($80/person) and two Grand Wine Tasting sessions ($40/person) on Saturday. Guests attending the events will have the opportunity to purchase by the bottle or the case any of the wines served. For every total case purchased, the equivalent of 30 meals will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. MAX’s is not your ordinary venue, making these events all the more fun. Order tickets online.
  • [NEW] November 6-8: Central Market Wine and Cheese Celebration – The holidays are fast approaching and that means one thing: time to stock up on wine and cheese. Central Market is hosting their annual celebration of grapes and Gouda (and beyond!) with a weekend celebrating Wine & Cheese. Enjoy tastings and conversations with experts at both Central Market locations. I try to make it to this event at least once (okay sometimes two or three times) each year because it is a great way to sample a variety of goodies as I contemplate my holiday party menus. This event also features the biannual 20% off wine sale. Mix and match your 12 favorite reds, whites and bubbles and take 20% off the bunch.
  • [DO GOOD] November 8: Sustainable Food Center Inaugural Chef Series Benefit Hosted by La Condesa – To celebrate the importance of locally grown and harvested food, La Condesa will host the inaugural Sustainable Food Center Chef Series on Sunday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. Austin’s most exciting and innovative chefs will be on hand to prepare an exquisite multi-course tasting menu featuring fresh meats and produce from the Austin Farmers’ Market. Experience amazing food from local chefs including ne Ortiz, executive chef at La Condesa, Tyson Cole, executive chef at Uchi, Shawn Cirkiel, executive chef at Parkside, Todd Duplechan, executive chef at Trio, Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due Supper Club, and Laura Sawicki, pastry chef at La Condesa. This will indeed be a night to remember. $150 with all proceeds benefiting the Sustainable Food Center. 6:00 pm. Purchase tickets online.

Eat Well, Do Good

  • [NEW] November 18: A Slow Taste of Tuscany Benefiting Urban Roots – You are invited to be part of a celebration across North America of Slow Food and Douglas Gayeton’s new book Slow: Life in a Tuscan Town. Join Slow Food Austin and Edible Austin in honoring the simple and superb pleasures of local, fresh food that has been prepared slowly and locally at Austin’s own Primizie Osteria. Tickets are $85 and include not only a four-course feast highlighting local ingredients, but an autographed copy of the book ($50 value), and a contribution to Urban Roots. Gratuity and taxes are separate. Reserve online at Open Table for November 18 and note “Tuscan Dinner” in the comments box. Seating is limited. To be sure you receive your book at the event, please reserve by November 6.
  • [NEW] December 5-12: Eat Local Week –Eat Local Week, Edible Austin’s winter fundraiser event, is an invitation to Central Texans to explore and celebrate the abundance of local food and to raise money for Urban Roots. Eat Local Week will kick off on December 5 at the Austin Farmers’ Market with the City of Austin’s proclamation and with support from GO TEXAN and other Central Texas communities. Dine out and shop locally, attend featured events, throw a dinner or cocktail party or simply make a home-cooked meal using local foods and beverages.

Plan Ahead: Events in the Next 3 Weeks

Posted in Austin Eats | Tagged | 1 Comment »

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Austin Foodie Bits: Halloween Week 2009

October 26, 2009

PumpkinTower

October has been a whirlwind of food events and the last week of October closes the month with a big Halloween bang – or boo! This is one of those fun years where Halloween falls on a weekend, so events abound. Interestingly enough, many events are on Friday instead of Saturday, making it possible to celebrate Halloween all weekend long with food and festivities. I’ve highlighted some of the more interesting food-related events, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. The Austin Chronicle has a great list of Halloween and Dia de los Muertos events, so be sure to review it as well as you plan your frightening fun.

I hope everyone has a safe and adventurous Halloween. I haven’t picked out my costume yet, have you?

Be Spontaneous: This Week’s Events

  • [NEW] [VALUE] October 25 – 28: FLAVORS of Austin at Judges’ Hill
    – The new “restaurant week is every week” event sponsored by FLAVORS of Austin and supporting the Sustainable Food Center moves to Judges’ Hill Restaurant this week with a $30 menu full of tasty choices. Appetizers include a choice of seasonally-inspired soup, salad, or duck tart (yes please). For your entrée, choose from fowl, fish, or filet, and then wrap the evening up with a trio of desserts that include chocolate, coconut, and bananas. Yet another easy and cost-effective way to try a new local Austin eatery or revisit a favorite. To reserve your table, go online, call 12.495.1857, or e-mail restaurant@judgeshill.com.
  • [NEW] [VALUE] October 27: New World Wine Series, The Wines of South Africa – Cissi’s Market is continuing their New World Wine Series with a tasting of South African wines. I’ve been a big fan of wines from this region ever since I was introduced to them by distributor and aficionado Elizabeth Bray at a Central Market Cooking School class. This region is still coming into its own, and as a result these wines are a huge value given their high quality. With the holidays coming up, it’s a great time to learn about these interesting, unique, and cost-effective wines. 7 pm – 9 pm. $25. Make reservations online or RSVP to reckel@cissismarket.com.
  • [DO GOOD] [VALUE] October 28: Paint the Town Pink Ladies Happy Hour – Ladies, grab your girlfriends and get ready to get into a bit of trouble (the good kind of course). Local favorites Sugar Mama’s, Cornucopia Popcorn, Tito’s, and Milk and Honey Spa are putting on a great event at the Belmont to benefit the Komen foundation. With the Austin Race for the Cure just around the corner on November 1, this is a great way to celebrate one another while helping support research into this disease that can so quickly impact any one of us. The donation for the event is (at least) $20, which is a steal considering the fun you’ll have. 6 pm – 8 pm. Donate online or at the door.
  • [UPDATED] October 29: Ciola’s Foods of Tuscany and Wines of Antinori Dinner
    – As one who dwells a ways away from downtown near the lake, I’m always interested in events out in my neck of the woods. Ciola’s, a well beloved Italian eatery in Lakeway is kick-starting their monthly wine dinner series this week. This initial dinner will feature wines from a vineyard that has been in production for 600 years and dishes like rabbit ragu, herb-roasted pork, and honey-nut cake. Even if you don’t live out in the lake area this event will be worth the drive. $65 – $70 per person. Call 512.263.9936 to reserve your spot.
  • [NEW] [DO GOOD] October 30: Ghoulwill Ball
    – Channel the ghosts of Graceland and support Goodwill’s job-related programs and services on the night before Halloween. You’ll hobnob with Austin’s best ghouls and goblins while you enjoy endless food and drink at the Driskill. Have your face painted or your palm read, all while you enjoy music and a live auction. 8 pm – 11:30 pm. $125 per person. Purchase tickets online or e-mail ghoulwillball@austingoodwill.org.
  • [NEW] October 30: Halloween Wine Bar Crawl – The Austin Winos are going on a pre-Halloween wine expedition and it promises to be a blast. They will be visiting five wine bars – Aquarelle, Cru, Max’s, Mulberry, and Cork & Co – and buying two bottles at each spot that are listed at between $80 and $100 each. Everyone on the tour contributes to the pot and everyone gets two big pours at each stop. That’s 10 glasses of $80 wine for $72.40. What I love most about this is the opportunity to sample several good quality wines for the prices of one. The company will be great as well and if you haven’t been to all of these fantastic establishments, you’ll get to experience them all in one evening. Space is limited to 24 people so if you’re interested, I’d sign up now. 7:30 pm – 12:30 am. Reserve online.
  • [NEW] [VALUE] October 30: Moulin Rouge Halloween PARTY! – Local French favorite Aquarelle is hosting a pre-Halloween party featuring $6 wines and $6 nibbles including truffle-scented potatoes, lamb chops with orange gastrigue, and apple cupcakes. There will be music and a costume contest as well, so grab some friends and start the weekend out right without breaking the bank.
  • [UPDATED] October 30: Cooking Class International Food & Wine: France – Central Market’s dynamic duo of Paul Schunder and Robert Jenkins are at it again, continuing their world expedition of food and wine with a stop in France. Sample the flavors of France including dishes like Salade Lyonnaise, chestnut soup, and leg of lamb. Each course will be paired with specially selected wines from France that will amaze your taste buds but not empty your wallet. Seating is limited. 6:30 pm – 9pm. $60 per person. Reserve online.
  • [UPDATED] [GREAT VALUE] October 30: Whole Foods Sunset Supper & Cinema Featuring Ghost Busters – Once again this week, Whole Foods and Alamo Draft House bring you dinner and a movie on the roof of the Lamar mothership store. The movie is free and you can purchase wonderful food and drink from the store. A special $15 three course menu is available to go with the theme of the movie. This is a great event for friends or even an innovative date night.
  • [UPDATED] [VALUE] October 30: Tea Embassy Halloween Afternoon Tea – Before you get your ghoul on and run about the neighborhood scaring small children, start your Halloween day with a refined spot of tea. Enjoy pumpkin tarts, brie, tea sandwiches, scones, and more along with paired teas for a relaxing and rejuvenating afternoon before the tricks and treats begin. Seatings at 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm. $35 per person. Call 512.330.9991 to reserve.
  • [UPDATED]October 31: Dai Due Halloween Feast of Junk at the Cathedral of Junk – Looking for something new and fun to do this Halloween? How about sharing a fantastic meal with your follow Austin foodies at the very Austin Cathedral of Junk. You’ll spend Halloween night eating pickled watermelon rinds, offal, chard stems, dandelion, hoja santa, purslane and bread pudding next to the flickering lights of Vince Hannemann’s magnificent sculpture, listening to the ethereal live tunes of Ethan Azarian and his band at the Cathedral of Junk. And of course, you should dress for the occasion. $75. BYOB. To reserve, e-mail info@daidue.com with the number in your party. Payment required in advance.
  • [UPDATED] October 31: MAX’s Underground Halloween Party – MAX’s Wine Dive Underground space is exceptionally cool and it would be a fun place to spend or at least start your Halloween. Their event includes music, drinks, munchies, and a whole bunch of fun. $50 per person. Or, if you’re more in the mood for a sit down meal, MAX’s is offering a $35 prix-fix menu with an optional $20 wine pairing menu. You really can’t go wrong with either option. Call 512.904.0111 to reserve for either event.

Eat Well, Do Good

  • November 8: Sustainable Food Center Inaugural Chef Series Benefit Hosted by La Condesa – To celebrate the importance of locally grown and harvested food, La Condesa will host the inaugural Sustainable Food Center Chef Series on Sunday, November 8 at 6:00 p.m. Austin’s most exciting and innovative chefs will be on hand to prepare an exquisite multi-course tasting menu featuring fresh meats and produce from the Austin Farmers’ Market. Experience amazing food from local chefs including ne Ortiz, executive chef at La Condesa, Tyson Cole, executive chef at Uchi, Shawn Cirkiel, executive chef at Parkside, Todd Duplechan, executive chef at Trio, Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due Supper Club, and Laura Sawicki, pastry chef at La Condesa. This will indeed be a night to remember. $150 with all proceeds benefiting the Sustainable Food Center. 6:00 pm. Purchase tickets online.
  • November 4- 20: Les Dames d’Escoffier Food Fight Online Charity Auction – I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn that professional women leaders in food, fine beverage, and hospitality have a world-wide philanthropic organization. Eating well and doing good just go so naturally together. The local Austin chapter of this organization will be hosting their first online event –a Food Fight — that will feature auctions of all sorts of interesting food experiences, including a VIP evening at Stubbs, a customized Oscar Party, an artisan cheese getaway for two in Oregon, and a holiday cookie party. The event promises to be a fun way to support this organization while bidding on unique experiences you can’t otherwise purchase. Watch their site (and this one) for more details as November 4 approaches.

Plan Ahead: Events in the Next 3 Weeks

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