Gnocchi is one of my favorite dishes and it’s so difficult to get right. At Regal they make their gnocchi with sweet potatoes, giving it just a hint of sweetness that nicely balanced out the slight acidity of the marinara sauce.

Probably to balance out all of the carby goodness we were enjoying, the chef sent out some crisp cool green bean salad. But this isn’t your grandmother’s green bean salad. Interestingly enough the other ingredients in the mix were apples, blue cheese, tomatoes, and lentils. Yes, lentils. I wasn’t sure how it would all play together but it was really good. The mix of textures worked well together and the flavors were well balanced.

Before the day was out we tried most of their other pastas and sauced and there wasn’t a disappointing one among the bunch. I think the green chile and turnip green ravioli is still my favorite simply because it is so unexpected. But for a more traditional take on stuffed pasta the cheese ravioli with meat sauce can’t be beat.

If you haven’t found your way to Regal Ravioli I’d highly recommend you add it to your “to try” list, particularly now that the weather is cooler and a good batch of pasta will warm the heart as well as the stomach.

I’m ashamed to admit that this summer’s heat has kept me away from Austin’s ever-burgeoning food trailer scene. Except for a couple of strategically planned car-to-trailer incursions for ice cream sandwiches at Coolhaus, I’ve avoided eating outside for what seems like forever (but was realistically just 4 months). Last week I decided I was simply unwilling to let the scorching menace that has been our summer keep me from trying new tasty treats and old favorite dishes from outdoor eateries. Weather be damned, I was going to enjoy some trailer grub. I’d heard rumblings in the online world about a new ravioli trailer with a locally-sourced bent and, because I agree that it’s never to hot for pasta, I went trailer hunting.

After only a couple of wrong turns on 6th street because I can’t read maps, I found Regal Ravioli situated next to the well-established Trailer Perk at E. 6th and Comal St. The bright yellow trailer is hard to miss, but what really stands out is the menu. Their premise is simple: pick a ravioli and pick a sauce. Enjoy your custom concoction. Each and every ravioli is hand-made and they have flavor combinations for everyone. Not content with offering the standard cast of ravioli characters  – cheese and sausage ravioli, bolognese and marinara sauce —  this trailer offers some creative interpretations on stuffed pasta that feature beets, collard greens, poblanos, and more. They sure are thinking out of the ravioli box.

I can’t tell you how tempted I was to go with traditional cheese ravioli and lamb bolognese, because I’m a sucker for a good bolognese and an even bigger sucker for lamb. But, because I wanted to think outside of my own box and I’m in a squash sort of mood, I went with the butternut squash, collard green, cream cheese and poblano ravioli. After consultation at the window I was advised to try the pecan pesto and took their word for it. I wasn’t disappointed. The collard greens helped balance out the sweet squash while the poblano added a low burn at the back of the throat. The pesto was light, just a little crunchy, and full of flavor.

While I was a little concerned about the serving size for the price, I was completely satisfied when I was done with my lunch and think a little extra cost for hand-made ravioli featuring local ingredients in interesting ways is worth it. So is supporting local chef entrepreneurs. Paying that little bit extra for good food made by good people is one of the reasons I love eating in Austin.

Besides ravioli this trailer also serves up gnocchi which is a personal favorite of mine, so I’ll be back to give that dish a try. If their pasta craftsmanship is any indication, I’m expecting a light and fluffy dumpling just perfect for carrying that lamb bolognese.

What Others Are Saying

Regal Ravioli is relatively new to the scene so not much has been written about them. If they keep up the good work though I expect that to change soon.

• The Yelpers who have tried Regal Ravioli are very happy with their experiences.
• The folks over at Mercury Hall loved their meal so much they wrote a blog post about it.

As the weather gets cooler I’d like to suggest that you give Regal Ravioli a try and share your favorite combination in the comments. If we all work together we can try every sauce and pasta combo they offer!

I’m on the road again, this time for business, but that never stops me from seeking out food pleasures, particularly when I’m in a city so full of food adventure-in-waiting like Boston. It’s the beginning of summer here and I’ve been lucky enough to experience just-warm-enough days and glorious evenings perfect for running along the Charles River, watching the sailboats float into the sunset. I’ve walked down Commonwealth Avenue with fans streaming out of Fenway Park, whisked along by their energy after a Red Socks’ victory.

It probably comes as no surprise that I’ve enjoyed just-caught seafood. At the recommendation of the Boston Chowhound community I had dinner at Island Creek Oyster Bar, a refined yet casual space near Fenway park with an extensive raw bar menu. I tried four different kinds of oysters including Belons, an oyster species native to Europe that is very different from any domestic oyster I’ve ever had. Beyond fresh seafood though I tried dishes featuring fresh seasonal vegetables including a summer slaw made with summer squash instead of cabbage (served with some pretty great crab cakes) and a spicy gazpacho bursting with summer flavors at Summer Shack. I went to Summer Shack for the seafood but was very much impressed with their use of seasonal produce.

Possibly the biggest surprise of this trip for me was the dinner I had just a few floors down from my hotel room. I typically avoid hotel restaurants because they often count on the convenience factor for guests to drive traffic instead of the quality of their food. Looking at the menu for City Table at the Lenox Hotel I saw plenty of regional seafood dishes along with fun items like duck confit spring rolls. The Chowhounds didn’t hate the restaurant so I decided it was worth rolling the dinner dice. I was rewarded with a lovely salad featuring house-made burrata cheese and heirloom tomatoes, an herb risotto that was fresh and light, and a crisp that was just sweetened enough with strawberries to showcase the summer flavors of humble rhubarb.

I’ll call this trip a food success all around (it was a business one as well) because I’ve not only eaten well but because I’ve expanded my perspective of Boston’s food culture. This trip was a good reminder for me that it’s important to visit a city during different seasons to really get a feel for local ingredients and the way chefs make use of them.

I’m convinced I could visit Pike Place Market daily and never cease to wonder at the array of produce, seafood, and artisan goods. On this visit rhubarb and morel mushrooms stood out as the produce of the day. Row upon row of crabby crabs made me giggle, and the arrangement of the golden trout and monster oysters seems to evoke the very way these beautiful specimens would gather in the wild.

I can buy Beecher’s cheeses at Central Market in Austin, and if their supply is low, Beecher’s will ship their cheeses to my doorstep. Even so, theres’s just something special about visiting the source, watching the cheese being made, and of course diving head first into a cup of their creamy and oh-so-cheesy macaroni and cheese. With a hint of paprika and a bit of sharpness from Beecher’s Flagship cheese, this hearty pasta is soul-satisfying.

Who needs travel guides when the world has food bloggers? When my dear friend Kristi of Austin Farm to Table visited Seattle she fueled up at Dahila Bakery before her trip to the market and we did the same. Why reinvent the wheel? Especially such a tasty wheel. I had the best English muffin I believe I’ve ever had and I just loved the baskets of fresh bread hanging from the walls, waiting to satisfy locals and visitors alike.

As a fan of Molly Wizenberg’s Orangette, visiting her pizza shop, Delancey, has been high on my food blogger must-do list. Given Molly’s status in the food blogging community, a simple visit becomes something akin to a food blogger pilgrimage. And let me say that given our taxi mishaps that evening it felt like one too.

While you might expect a pizza photo as a memento of our visit, something about these small dishes of salt and red pepper by the single candle in a glass votive stood out to me as the best expression of the refined simplicity that is Delancey. Yes, the pizza rocked. So did the charcuterie plate with the best olives I’ve ever eaten. So did the staff and ambiance. So did the funky Seattle neighborhood in which it was nestled. Everything about the evening and the food was just right, just like this just right photo of salt, red pepper flakes, and a flickering flame.

One of the benefits of being in a client-oriented business and being a food blogger is that I’ve seen a lot in this town when it comes to special dining. There’s plenty of good and unfortunately some bad. To help make things easier for anyone trying to entertain clients in Austin, I’ve put together this guide with my recommendations for the best places to take clients for fine dining, casual meals, and even a foodie adventure or two. I’ve also included links to the restaurants in town that I know deliver the best on private group events thanks to their interesting private room setups and their willingness to work with clients.

Because so much client entertainment happens in the downtown area, I’ve kept my focus on places that are within walking distance or a quick cab ride from downtown. The Take a Drive section highlights a few places I think are worth the effort to go the extra mile for.

If you’ve had a great experience entertaining clients at a spot not listed here, please let me know in the comments. The more options the merrier.

Fine Dining at Its Best

When the occasion calls for the best food and service, Austin has a collection of restaurants that will deliver each and every time.

• The Carillon – Chef Josh Watkins is putting together some of the best food in town and your guests won’t soon forget their dinner at his restaurant. This is a great choice if your group appreciates interesting food experiences and well-designed presentations. Every aspect of the restaurant oozes attention to detail. Prix fix menus make ordering easy and the beautifully appointed restaurant in the AT&T Conference center is well-configured for intimate dinners of 2-4 as well as larger groups of 6-10. The Carillon is just outside of walking distance from downtown but well within a reasonable cab ride.
• Congress – If you want to host an intimate and refined dinner for your client, put Chef David Bull’s Congress at the top of your list. The three course menu program is updated nightly to reflect the availability of local ingredients and an extensive wine program completes the package. The service is among the best you’ll find in Austin and the smaller size of the restaurant means your guests won’t feel as if they are part of the client dinner cattle call. The adjacent Bar Congress is the perfect meeting spot for a pre-dinner cocktail and possibly some last minute business discussions.
• Eddie V’s – When you need flawless service and food for a group with mixed experiences and palettes, Eddie V’s will never let you down. While they have all the hallmarks of a traditional steak and fish establishment, they stand well above the other options in town for consistency. Everyone in your party will be able to find a dish they will enjoy and the wine program is varied enough to accommodate an array of budgets and preferences.
• Trace – Situated in the newly built W Hotel in the 2^nd Street District, Trace blends the W experience well with all that is the Austin. From dishes made with ingredients procured by a local forager (that’s really her title) to a sophisticated ambiance with quality service, the W will deliver a unique experience clients won’t get anywhere else in the country. Be sure to plan time before or after dinner to enjoy one of the three unique bar areas at the W.
• TRIO – Dining at a Four Seasons restaurant is always a great experience, but we like to think that TRIO, is just a little bit better than every other Four Seasons restaurant. I suppose we’re biased, but Chef Todd Depluchan works some serious magic in the kitchen while the staff attend to each diner’s every need. Situated on the banks of Lake Austin, the view is beautiful, and for most of the year you can begin your evening with stroll along the lake with a cocktail or glass of wine in hand.
• Truluck’s – More seafood-focused than steak focused, Truluck’s is another option for taking a group with varied dining preferences. Their rich interior immediately adds depth to your dinner conversations. Located conveniently in the warehouse district Truluck’s can be a good jumping off point for clients who are interested in seeing a bit of the city’s nightlife.

Note: There are a host of other classic steakhouses around downtown that I don’t mention in this list: III Forks, Perry’s, Finn and Porter, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and McCormick & Schmick’s. Each of these will deliver a very predictable experience and are good fallbacks if the spots on my list aren’t available. I’ve highlighted the above restaurants because they are a little different than your average high-end restaurant and I believe they are at the top of their game for the price point.

More Casual Fare

Often neither you nor your clients are up for a suit-and-tie sort of evening. When that’s the case, there are several spots around town that will deliver on great food and service in a much more relaxed atmosphere.

• Bess Bistro – Sandra Bullock’s restaurant is tucked away underneath a building which makes for a cozy and intimate atmosphere from the second you walk down the steps and enter the restaurant. With a menu of new American fare inspired by French and Southern traditions, everyone in your party will be able to find something they enjoy. Be sure not to miss the baked goods and pastries as they are a family specialty.
• Haddingtons
  – This Austin take on a tavern come gastropub features a rustic menu combined with strong cocktail, beer, and wine programs. Built like a tavern with several dining spaces, you can easily bring a party of 6-10 to the restaurant and expect a bit of privacy.
• La Condesa – If you’re thinking TexMex but really don’t want run of the mill TexMex, La Condesa may be right up your alley. Inspired by the cuisines of the interior of Mexico, the menu includes dishes like guacamole with pomegranate seeds, quinoa stuffed chile rellenos, and Negro Modelo braised short ribs. The bar area is sophisticated and a great stop for a flight of tequila or a pre-dinner cocktail.
• Lambert’s – What would a list of Austin restaurants be without at least one nod (and there are two really) to BBQ? Lambert’s is a self-described “Fancy BBQ” restaurant so expect goodies like wild boar ribs and anchiote seared chickpeas on the appetizer menu. Once you get into the meat of things (pun intended), you’ll find pulled pork, lamb chops, and fresh market fish on the list. Desserts include fried pies and who doesn’t like a fried pie?
• Maria Maria – The brainchild of Carlos Santana and Chef Roberto Santibanez, this restaurant offers a sophisticated and open environment where goodies like duck tacos and chicken mole tortilla casserole are served alongside live music (most nights). Perfect for a drink and small plates to be shared or a full sit-down dinner, Maria Maria is another way to enjoy the flavors of Mexico in a client-appropriate setting.
• Moonshine – Focused on comfort food in a homey setting, Moonshine is a great way to introduce your clients to Texas and Southern traditions like chicken fried steak, catfish, and red velvet cake. Their large patio is great on spring and fall nights and they are nicely positioned within a couple of blocks of the convention center.
• Parkside – While I’d usual recommend staying as far away from 6^th street as possible with clients, the single exception to that rule is Parkside. Featuring an extensive raw bar as well as refined dishes made with local ingredients, the food at Parkside is some of the best you’ll find in a casual environment. Start with oysters and champagne in the bar and then move into the main dining room for fresh fish, house made gnocchi, and more.
• Roaring Fork – Located on Congress in the heart of downtown, Roaring Fork is one of my go-to places for client meals. Their menu is a little bit Texan and a little bit Southwestern, but anyone can find a dish they will enjoy. And the ambiance is exactly what you’d expect from a restaurant just down the street from the capital: leather, horns, and lots of stars.
• Second Bar + Kitchen – From the brilliant mind of David Bull, the chef behind Congress, Second Bar + Kitchen is a casual and fun spot for entertaining smaller client groups and creating a dining experience they won’t soon forget. Chicken fried olives, black truffle pomme frite, buratta with oxtail marmalade, and beef short rib pizza are just a few of the delectable items on the menu. If you are entertaining foodie clients, this is absolutely the place to go. Second Bar + Kitchen also features a beautiful balcony with a lush Astroturf flooring (it’s really cool – trust me) for enjoying a drink and people watching when the weather is particularly glorious.

Take a Drive

If you happen to have access to a car and want to expand your horizons a bit beyond the downtown area, these spots are worth the trip.

• FINO – Inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean, FINO offers tapas, small plates, and a nice collection of main courses that utilize the best of in-season ingredients. They also have a very strong cocktail program if your clients are interested in the revival of mixology. FINO is great for smaller groups of 4-6, but they also offer a large communal table for larger groups of 10-12. If you’re truly comfortable with your client and want to create a more communal dinner experience, FINO’s menu and shared plate philosophy are just perfect.
• Foreign and Domestic – Tucked away in one of Austin’s fun neighborhoods, Foreign and Domestic is a small restaurant delivering big on some of the most interesting food in town. From chicken leg confit to lacquered Texas quail and parsnip ravioli, this is the perfect destination if you want to take your client on a true foodie adventure. I wouldn’t recommend trying to take a large group there, but a party of four would do just fine.
• Salt Lick – This is one of those “Austin experiences” that everyone wants to have at least once. The Salt Lick is a two-building destination in Driftwood Texas, about 30 minutes outside of downtown Austin. They don’t take reservations so you just show up and wait, but they are also in a dry county so you can bring your own alcoholic beverages of choice. You eat lots of Texas BBQ (chicken, brisket, sausage, and more) while seated on rough benches. And while true Texas BBQ experts will tell you Salt Lick is just okay BBQ, you’re really headed out there for the experience. Be prepared to arrange for transportation and alcohol, to bring cash to pay, and to have some good client bonding time while you wait.
• Uchiko – Helmed by nationally recognized Tyson Cole, Uchiko is one of Austin’s top restaurants. With a focus on Japanese farmhouse dinning, this is cuisine may be unlike any experience you and your guests have had. While fish (both raw and cooked) is plentiful, the preparations are unexpected and quite amazing. The menu changes daily based on the availability of fish and local ingredients. Be sure that your entire group is willing to be somewhat adventuresome and open minded as they review the menu. Located outside of downtown, but not unreasonably so, Uchiko is easily accessible by cab and has plenty of parking if you choose to drive there yourself.

Private Group Dining

If you want to host a more private dinner in reserved space, each of these restaurants has a place just right for the occasion. All of them will help you establish the right menu and manage to your budget. What’s great about this list is the restaurants are different enough that you can create any one of a variety of experiences for your clients without offering them the same ol’, same ol’ dinner.

• Congress – To take one of the best dining experiences in town to the next level you can reserve the private dining room with a view of the wine cellar.
• Fleming’s – If you need to host a large dinner with the ambiance and quality food you’d find at a steakhouse, Fleming’s is one of the best options in downtown. They can partition a significant portion of the restaurant to accommodate your crowd.
• La Condesa – Host your group dinner in the historic cellar underneath La Condesa’s main restaurant for a truly private experience.
• Lambert’s – Take your event upstairs to the private room and bar. This space is great if you want to arrange a mix-and-mingle dinner with a buffet or just accommodate a larger crowd at a seated event.
• Sullivan’s Steakhouse – With the feeling of a secret room in a restaurant in Chicago or New York, you can create an intimate affair even if the guest list is 40 or more.
• Truluck’s – Host your dinner in the private room downstairs at Truluck’s. Reminiscent of a private club, their dining space is great for business meetings followed by dinner.

Sometimes I think when we talk about the food trailer phenomenon that’s taken hold in cities like Austin and Los Angeles, we forget that the idea of serving food out of a (mostly) mobile space isn’t exactly a new idea. In fact, hot dog vendors have been perfecting the art of mobile food for years of not decades. It’s only fitting then, that one of the most fun food trailers I’ve come across in the Austin area is Man Bites Dog, an updated take on the traditional hot dog stand. The folks at Man Bites Dog do serve traditional hot dogs, but they also serve incredible sausages made with local ingredients or by local suppliers like Central Market. They eschew traditional hot dog buns in favor of brioche buns that are ultra-light and just the right touch of sweetness.

When I visited them I enjoyed My Big Fat Greek Dog: a lamb sausage topped with cucumbers and feta, a Greek-style take on ye ol’ wiener on a bun. The sausage was perfectly grilled and while the cucumber and feta were unexpected, they nicely balanced the bulk of the sausage for a well-rounded dish. Besides daily features that take advantage of currently available ingredients, their standard menu includes fare like:

• Bird Dog – chicken sausage with sweet corn relish and pesto mayo
• Buffalo Hottie – beef frank with blue cheese crumbles, buffalo wing sauce, and green onions
• Frito Weenie Pie – classic Frito chili pie topped with a slice beef frank

Located in the Trailer Park Eatery alongside Torchy’s Tacos and Holy Cacao, they offer a nice alternative when you’re just not up for a taco. Or, you could be really eclectic and enjoy both a hot dog and a taco, then finish off with a cake ball for dessert. Imagine the mix-and-match possibilities.

Man Bites Dog even hava a catering arm that will bring the dogs to you.

Word on the Street

A few folks have written about Man Bites Dog, and there’s even a nice video out there that gives you a glimpse into the innerworkings of the trailer.

• Yelp reviews of Man Bites Dog are favorable and tend to trend in the four to five star range.
• VndrTV put together a fun video all about this trailer that includes an interview with the owner and a behind the scenes look at the trailer kitchen.
• Austin 360 calls Man Bites Dog a “trailer treasure”.
• Girl Eats World chronicles two separate trips to the trailer for a nice overview the menu.

You can become a fan of Man Bites Dog on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. If you’re a Foodspotting fan, you can see the treats spotted thus far and share your spots once you’ve given the food a try.

***Urban Spoon***

Know Before You Go

Like the other trailers in the Trailer Park Eatery, Man Bites Dog has fairly standard hours and they don’t mov around. Their standard hours are Sunday – Thursday 11 am – 9 pm and Friday – Saturday 11 am – 10 pm. As with every other trailer, I’d recommend taking a quick look at their blog, Twitter feed, or Facebook page before you go just to be sure they are open.

I’m sad to report that as of August 8, 2010, Official Muncher is closing, at least for the time being. If they open back up, I’ll update this post with all of the recent details.

The Official Muncher is a shiny air stream trailer located out back at Gibson Bar, a swank spot on South Lamar just across the street from the Alamo Drafthouse. I was invited to sample the trailer’s fare along with several of my other food blogger friends, and it was an absolute one-of-a-kind experience. The trailer’s menu is bar food with an extreme creative twist and features unexpected items like:

• The Trailer Burger: a ¼ burger on a Round Rock Doughnut bun. Yes, you read that the right way. They us a doughnut as a bun, and it actually works pretty well. The combination of sweet doughnut stands up well to the savory burger and bacon. I’m not sure I could eat a whole one of these, but I’d definitely share it again with a friend.
• The Loaded Baked Potato Hot Dog: of everything we tasted, this was my favorite. Put simply, they wrap a frank in bacon (because everything is better with bacon) and add all the toppings you’d expect to find on a baked potato: cheese, sour cream, and chives. They even slip in a slice of crunchy potato to round it out. It was divine, in a harden your arteries sort of way.
• Buenos Dias Hot Dog: yet another dog wrapped in bacon (it’s a trend and a mighty good one at that) but this time it’s topped with a fried egg and some cheese. All your favorites from breakfast and dinner together on a bun.
• Tater Sticks: hand-cut fries in a buttermilk batter. These have to be some of the best fries I’ve ever had. The outside crust adds extra crunch and flavor, while the potatoes were tender and perfectly cooked. If all fries were this great I couldn’t run enough miles to work off the number of fries I would consume.

I am the first to admit that most of the items on the Official Muncher menu are not in any way shape or form good for you. While there are a few salads and some edamame tossed in for good measure, most dishes feature lost of meat, cheese, bacon, and crazy things like doughnuts and fried eggs. There’s no way I could eat this food every month or really every few months, but for a “throw caution and nutrition to the wind” sort of adventure, it’s just perfect.

Word on the Street

A few other sites around town have some nice if not honest things to say about Official Muncher

• Thrillist has a fun write-up that features an up-close and personal portrait of the Trailer Burger on the Round Rock doughnut with the addictive trailer sticks alongside. If you weren’t sure you could handle a burger on a doughnut, this picture will change your mind.
• Over on Yelp, people are reviewing the trailer and the bar together and seem to be largely happy with both.
• This is Life in Austin is honest about the complete and total “bad for you” factor of the trailer’s food. I do have to agree you can’t eat this food on any sort of a regular basis and stay healthy, but when you’re ready to completely throw health sense out the window, this it the place to do it.
• Poco-cocoa offers a lovely synopsis of the food at the trailer complete with a cavalcade of photos.
• Mariah of Dining in Austin offers a very fair review of the food blogger event at Gibson’s. I have to agree that when you taste half of the menu at one time, it starts to get a little greasy and heavy, so be sure to pace yourself and don’t over-order if you visit.
• The Hungry Engineer classifies the trailer’s food as guilty pleasures, which is just about right.
• Michael Chu of Cooking for Engineers and Orthogonal Thought
  puts it best when he says: “If you’re in the mood to indulge in some junk food, you can’t go wrong with Gibson Bar and The Trailer if they keep preparing food like what I had.”

You can become a fan of Official Muncher on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. If you’re a Foodspotting fan, you can see the treats spotted thus far and share your spots once you’ve given the food a try.

Know Before You Go

• Based on some recent Facebook and Twitter activity, the trailer’s hours aren’t always the same. They seem to be generally open at 4 each day and are open as late as 2:00 am on the weekends. Just to be on the safe side, check Facbook before you go to be sure they are open.
• When we visited Gibson’s they didn’t offer beer on tap which can be a deal breaker for some. They do have a reasonable wine list and a full bar otherwise.
• As much as the trailer is officially called the Official Muncher, I’m not sure the logo is anywhere on the trailer. Just look for the Air Stream behind Gibson Bar and you’ll be in the right place.