Austin TX - Can't Be Categorized

Heartbreaker. Tumblr Sold To Yahoo

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:51:00 -0700

Heartbreaking news from the world of high finance and micro-blogging. Tumblr has been sold by founder David Karp to the Yahoo. Things will never be the same. For the uninitiated, Tumblr is the wild, wild west of blogging. To some folks it's a photo-blogging platform, others use it as a diary a la Livejournal, and of course there are plenty people who use it to post lol cats and nudie pics from days of yore.

Captured And Killed! Texas Teenager Braxton Bielski Takes Down Texas State Record Alligator!

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:24:00 -0700

I have a long and rich history with alligators. I first sampled this treasured meat via the timeless "alligator on a stick" cuisine offered up at fairs and carnivals in the great state of Kentucky. It's absolutely delicious, and like most foods, it just tastes better due to the fact that a gator can prove to be quite a formidable foe in the wild. All foods taste better if they have the potential of also being a potent adversary.

Happy Mother's Day Texas!

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:08:00 -0700

Happy Mother's Day Y'all. Take your mom to Four Seasons and celebrate this august day in style.

Austin Texas: 2013 Pachanga Festival At Fiesta Gardens

Sat, 11 May 2013 11:35:00 -0700

Austin Texas Breastaurant Twin Peaks To Host Bikini Contest: We Propose Some Able Judges

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:25:00 -0700

Our night at Twin Peaks was not a fruitful one. Years back, one of the Scrumptious crew decided we needed to visit the sexy lumberjack-themed Twin Peaks in south Austin for a night of merriment and cage fight-watching. The joint was absolutely packed on a Saturday night so we retired to the patio where I had a once in a lifetime restaurant experience. The waitress did not want to accept US currency.

Get Rich Or Die Trying: Katharine Shilcutt Makes Her Move

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:22:00 -0700

Leaving the Houston Press for a rumored low 7 figure contract with Houstonia was a no brainer for Katharine Shilcutt, Texas' preeminent woman of food letters. But with her departure comes an intriguing job opportunity for somebody who can author 300+ food articles per annum-without breaking a sweat. We never get to Houston unless it's in the dead of night on our way to New Orleans, yet Shilcutt's prose was always so tightly wound that we read her anyway. The list of food writers we read daily is a short one, and Shilcutt was on it. Over here in the food writing desert known as Austin we're lucky to get 1 restaurant review per quarter out of our daily, and the Chronicle? Dust blowing in the desert wind. Looking to pull stumps and head over to Houston to get to writing? http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2013/05/food_criticblogger_opening_at.php

Happy National Enchilada Day Texas!

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:04:00 -0700

1831. That was the year that enchiladas were first mentioned in print in Mexico. The book was a landmark in Mexican cuisine titled: "El Cocinero Mexicano" (The Mexican Cook.) There is no author credit but it was published by Mariano Galván Rivera. Of course many Texas eaters consider enchiladas to be the epitome of Tex Mex with no roots in old-school Mexican cuisine. They would be wrong.

Happy Cinco de Mayo Austin Texas!

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:57:00 -0700

Preamble: After a languorous breakfast of fluffy bolillos stuffed with braised carnitas, and a dessert of bolillos slathered with cow's butter and mayhaw jelly, we got to thinking about how some of the best breads and pastries in Austin come out of Mexican bakeries. ------------------------------------------------------

Breastaurant Experts? Andrea Grimes, Virginia B Wood And Matthew Odam Judge Trailer Truck Off

Sat, 04 May 2013 10:56:00 -0700

Free lunch?

Austin Texas Cinco De Quatro Pig Roast Party At Tamale House East

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:39:00 -0700

Chef Cariño Cortez (alumnus of Jean Georges in NYC and Rick Bayless' Topolobampo in Chicago) is throwing a Cinco de Mayo eve party this Saturday May 4th 2013 at Tamale House East. Cortez was raised in the kitchen of San Antonio legend Mi Tierra (est.1941,) where her father had her elbow deep in the prep room once she was old enough to walk. The restaurant industry is in this girl's blood. Expect whole hog cuisine done Mexico-style with a battery of fresh salsas, deep fried chicharrones, pickled purple onions, charro beans, poblano rice and a salad of fresh organic goodies just plucked from Johnson's Backyard Garden. 7pm $20 http://pigpachanga-efbnend.eventbrite.com/

Origins Of The American Hamburger Part 1: Kaelin's Of Louisville Kentucky

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:50:00 -0700

6 weeks is a long time, but it goes by in about 20 minutes nowadays. Our Scrumptious Chef cook team should be well rested by mid-June 2013, when we swing back into motion with our latest pop up restaurant (number 11.) "Origins Of The American Hamburger" will be a fun event.

Willie Nelson Birthday Party And Pot Luck At Sam's Town Point

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:01:00 -0700

When we lived down in South Austin, Sam's Town Point saw a bunch of our beer money vanish into their coffers. It's a friendly, little neighborhood dive bar that's been around for a solid coon's age. Old timers would show up with crockpots filled with chili, and like as not a wandering musician would get up on the stage. Saw the Gourds, and affiliate members there plenty times. This Tuesday, April 30th Sam's is hosting a Willie Nelson Birthday party and pot luck. Who knows; you might get lucky, and ol Willie himself might show up. Brand new Scrumptious Chef Pop Up restaurant (hamburgers, cheeseburgers and a full blast of American history) http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2013/4/30/Origins-Of-The-American-Hamburger-Part-1-Kaelins-Of-Louisville-Kentucky

Read Virginia Woods Over Hyped And Breathless Press Release For Doug Guller's Trailer Truck-Off

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:30:00 -0700

Shameless. We just finished reading Virginia B Wood's overhyped and breathless blog post on Doug Guller of ATX Brands' Trailer Truck Off Challenge, and are stunned that this is what's passing for journalism these days over at the Chronicle. Wood has been phoning it in for years, but her latest work is pitiable even by her own low standards Issuing background on the man behind the promotion, Wood proclaims that: "Guller is the mastermind behind the Bikini's Sports Bar franchise..."

Field Report: East Austin Salsa Shootout

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:15:00 -0700

While Austin's mainstream corporate food-media lapdogs were breathlessly (and endlessly) reporting on the same 5 Austin chefs and bartenders that they always blather about, we were quietly organizing the East side's first hot sauce competition last week.

Name This Texas Pitboss And Dinner's On Us Saturday Night At Our Farm To Turntable Pop Up

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:50:00 -0700

Reprising one of our favorite gimmicks. This is the 3rd installment of our popular "name this" feature and we're venturing into the world of Texas barbecue for the second time. We still owe Ryan of Foie Gras Hotdog, a margarita over at El Azteca for his correct answer of Sam's on our last contest, and we have not forgotten but it's time to wade back into the fray. Name this Texas pitboss and dinner's on us Saturday night at our Smiling Tiger pop up restaurant! Details on the event http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2013/4/7/Smiling-Tiger-Restaurant-Pop-Up-10-Meet-Our-Purveyors-Part-8-Peeler-Farms

The Locavore Dilemma: Texas Finishes 51st Out Of 50 States

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:14:00 -0700

How did Texas finish in the 51st slot when there are only 50 states? Because Washington, DC was included in the survey that determined what states exhibited the most dedication to the locavore movement. The locavore index uses "census and U.S. Department of Agriculture data, along with a per capita comparison of farmers' markets, consumer supported agriculture operations (CSAs) and food hubs in ranking the states."

I Need To Purchase A Laptop

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:03:00 -0700

It's time to buy a new or used laptop. Please hit that tipster button if you have one you want to sell. PC only please, prefer Acer. RL

Dateline Atascosa County Texas: Poteet Strawberry Festival April 12th,13th,14th 2013 est. 1948

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:55:00 -0700

The most famous strawberry in Texas, and therefore the USA is preparing to take the main stage in the garden spot of Atascosa County: Poteet, Texas on the second weekend of April . Established way back in 1948 as an incentive for Texas servicemen to return to their lives as farmers after mustering out of the military, the strawberry party sees 1000s of people turn out pumping an estimated 10 million dollars into the south Texas economy!

Hornswoggled! Flim Flam Man Michael Angelo Carrion Outwits Wholly Cow And Ruby Thai Kitchen

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:42:00 -0700

Reading on the KHOU website they're reporting that confidence man Michael Angelo Carrion is using the old "pretend to be a fire safety equipment inspector and hustle the manager on duty out of a few hundred bucks" trick. Works every time. Carrion strolled into Wholly Cow on Congress Avenue and straight pulled the wool over the manager's eyes before walking out almost two hundred dollars richer. He also hornswoggled Ruby Thai Kitchen out of nearly $600. Smooth talker. Apparently Carrion is on a multi-state fire inspector confidence scam spree and needs to be stopped before slow-witted managers can be fooled again. He's also wanted in Atlanta among other states. If you spot the corpulent con man get in touch with law enforcement but do not engage the silver tongued devil as he's apparently quite fluid for a big man. KHOU piece http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news?fId=200918961&fPath=/news/local/&fDomain=10232

Shuttered Zed's Restaurant Executive Chef Jacob Hilbert Arrested by Lone Star Fugitive Task Force

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:31:00 -0700

The plot thickens at Zed's, the awful, shuttered North Austin restaurant that had a multi-year run in spite of routinely putting out food that beggared the imagination. Lone Star Fugitive Task Force swooped in on Jacob Hilbert and wife Lynda Kaye Hilbert in North Austin last night. The Hilbert's had been on the run from North Carolina where they stand accused of embezzling over 100k from Ends Meat LLC (Manna Restaurant.) Jacob Hilbert had been celebrated in Wilmington, first at Tango du Chat, and Santa Fe New Mexico at A La Mesa restaurant prior to his "mysterious disappearance" more http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2013/03/29/north_carolina_chef_wife_arres.html/ an obituary for Zed's http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2013/2/20/RIP-Rest-In-Peace-Zeds-Restaurant and Jacob Hilbert's blog http://jacobhilbert.wordpress.com/

Spider House Goes Into The Cabaret Business With Lex Land And Antonelli's Cheese

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:36:00 -0700

North campus mainstay Spider House is hosting a Lex Land dinner cabaret with foods from Antonelli's Cheese Shop. We were ignorant of Lex Land but a quick jaunt down the Tumblr rabbit hole proved that this gal has some serious pipes. Apparently there's a TV show called The Voice where she acquitted herself admirably prior to being ousted. If a night of wine, cheese and sultry vocals is your bag, gas up the Fiero, coax your ol lady into that dusty Dior gown she never gets to wear and act like it's Saturday night in a proper city. Prices range from $30 to $150. With the cabaret life of the Weimar Republic nearly a century in the rear view mirror perhaps Austin is on the threshold of a re-imagining of this genre? details http://spiderhouseballroom.do512.com/event/2013/03/30/lextravaganza-dinner-cabaret-with-lex-land

TABC To Defang The Tigress Of Rainey Street? Bridget Dunlap Fights To Retain Lustre Pearl License

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:19:00 -0700

Madeline Rackley stands charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of Jarrett Ryan Whittington. Last Summer, two Austin police officers were in the Rainey Street area and witnessed Rackley drive her Honda Civic into Lady Bird Lake in the early morning hours of Sunday July 1st 2012. Rackley, who reportedly had been drinking at Lustre Pearl, managed to escape the vehicle as it sank into the lake, but Whittington, the backseat passenger drowned.

Juan In A Million Beats The Mont! University Texas Bests Oklahoma In Cooking Channel Battle

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:13:00 -0700

Update: round 2 is underway and the Don Juan is on the business end of a good old fashioned dry gulching! Vote now,vote often. -------------------------------------------------------------- Austin Texas' Juan In A Million's Don Juan breakfast taco emerged victorious in a Cooking Channel battle with Norman Oklahoma's The Mont and their queso. The East side taqueria garnered 54.36% (1,714 votes) vs 45.64% (1,439 votes) for the Oklahoma outfit. The road's looking rocky for Juan Meza's overrated taco however as the next combatant is Top Dog Frankfurter of UC Berkeley. It's been a solid coon's age since we last ate in Berkeley CA and we didn't trouble ourselves with hot dogs opting instead for a curbside plate of ribs at Flint's Barbecue and a long night at the Starry Plough. An eye opening experience to put it mildly. Vote for Austin, the University of Texas and state pride-right this way http://blog.cookingchanneltv.com/2013/03/22/cooking-channel-march-madness-best-college-eats/ previous coverage http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2013/3/16/Juan-In-A-Million-Vs-The-Mont-University-Texas-Squares-Off-Vs-Oklahoma-in-Cooking-Channel-Battle

Get Paid To Blog. Austinist Is Hiring An Editor.

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:02:00 -0700

Gothamist LLC is hiring an editor for the Austin outlet of their national "ist" blogging network. Should you be hired, you'll be sequestered to company headquarters, reportedly atop the Four Season's condo tower on Cesar Chavez, where monkey waiters will bring you $100 margaritas from 9am-6pm Monday through Friday. The booze is contingent upon your ability to produce 6-9 posts per day...every day. That's a lot of blogging folks. Feel up to the task? Apply here http://austinist.com/2013/03/21/help_wanted_looking_for_an_editor.php Good luck and tell 'em Scrumptious Chef sent ya.

Glenn Bell's Taco Bell + Dan Foley's Taco Tico Do Land Office Business:It's National Crispy Taco Day

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:53:00 -0700

Love him or hate him, and there are plenty people in both camps, Glenn Bell was the man responsible for bringing crispy tacos to the great unwashed masses of rural USA. In 1962 Mr. Bell opened his first Taco Bell in Downey, California (tacos 19c!) and began building one of the largest fast food companies on planet earth.

South Texas Polka & Sausage Fest In Hallettsville Texas: March 22nd, 23rd, & 24th, 2013

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:17:00 -0700

We religiously read Dawn Orsak (https://twitter.com/svacinaproject) to keep up with what's going on in the Czech diaspora of Central Texas. We love the food (Kolaches!) the music (Polka!) and the womenfolk (gorgeous!)-Czech culture offers plenty to anyone with even a middling interest in the above pursuits. Ms Orsak recently broadcast a party happening this weekend down in Halletsville that sounds like a must attend: South Texas Polka & Sausage Fest is about to blow up in the garden spot of Lavaca county. Czechs and Czechophiles will be wolfing down sausages, fried fish and chicken platters, bowls of Czech chicken noodle soup and obviously metric tons of kolaches. When it comes time, there will be a multitude of polka bands taking the stage at the Knights of Columbus Hall (est. 1922) where the fete is being held. With a tagline of "Always a Good Time in Hallettsville" how could you not attend? http://www.kchall.com/polkafest/index.html

Austin Texas Happy Hour Specials Part 1: The Simple Pleasures of Taco Cabana

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:57:00 -0700

In a city filled with lazy ass taqueras and taqueros who can't be troubled with making their own tortillas, Taco Cabana continues taking that simple, extra step that defines next-level Mexican food. They do so with little fanfare, but one imagines a monstrous work load, as the San Antonio-based company has 15 Austin area locations.

SXSW 2013 Meant Big Business For Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:49:00 -0700

Not bad. SXSW 2013 acquitted itself quite admirably as Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services is reporting 381 calls for assistance during the 8 day bacchanal. Let's hope that translates to lots of billable services, as in 2012, it's estimated that the organization faced spending overruns of almost a million dollars. Study up http://www.austintexas.gov/news/atcems-wraps-sxsw-music-festival

Juan In A Million Vs The Mont: University Texas Squares Off Vs Oklahoma in Cooking Channel Battle

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:55:00 -0700

Someone really needs to get in touch with the cooking channel and let them know that Juan In A Million is in no way a University of Texas haunt. For one thing it's nearly 4 miles away from the 40 acres. To cash in on March Madness, the TV channel has designed a bracket of campus eateries going head to head in online voting to determine an eventual "Best College Eats" victor.

Raise The Prices! Austin Bars And Restaurants Profits Skyrocket From SXSW

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:59:00 -0700

Why wouldn't they? Of course Austin bars and restaurants should jack up their prices for SXSW. This is America dammit. We just noted a topic on the Austin branch of the national Eater blog wherein blogger Grimes posits the question: Should Austin Bars & Restaurants Raise Prices For SXSW? Apparently, a New York based pizza blogger named Adam Kuban has a beef with Hoek's Pizza requesting $30 for one of their enormous, hand-tossed pizzas.

Austin Texas: Taco Meet Up 2013

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:51:00 -0700

That $1595 you shelled out for your SXSW platinum badge will also allow you, for an additional charge, to buy a ticket for Taco Meet Up 2013. The landed gentry love tacos just as much as the rabble. Event details on the poster. Please report back. Alternately, stage your own taco meet up with this handy guide http://chowpapi.com/wordpress/wordpress-2.8.6/wordpress/category/the-state-of-barbacoa-in-austin-texas/

Happy Texas Independence Day Austin

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 09:32:00 -0700

Ordinarily we'd be kicked back on the front porch with the hi fi blasting Lefty, Ernest, Waylon and Doug-alternately. But when we heard Austin wanted the best Texas Independence Day party this town has ever seen, we swung into motion, ordered a tractor trailer load of Texas Wagyu beef out of Yoakum, and hit the commissary kitchen running full tilt.

Shark Tank Features Austin Texas Restaurant How Do You Roll

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:42:00 -0700

We open with a panorama of Austin's soaring skyline as a voice over from Yin and Peter (brothers and owners of How Do You Roll) explain that they are starting a sushi revolution the likes of which has not been seen since Texas wrestled itself free from old Mexico to become a sovereign nation. The brothers go onto explain that their parents had several Chinese restaurants when the lads were young and selling Asian food is "in their blood"

Happy Valentine's Day Austin Texas!

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:53:00 -0700

Here at Scrumptious HQ we'll be watching old Cary Grant movies and firing up the smoker in the backyard to celebrate. Hope you and yours are celebrating in high style.

Happy National Peppermint Patty Day + Recipe: York Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:35:00 -0700

Each day in a calendar year has a national food holiday attached to it. We ignore 99% of them but every so often we spring up out of the Lazy Boy when a particularly appealing one appears. Today is such a day. It's National Peppermint Patty Day y'all. There are few pleasures so simple that provide such glory as the humble peppermint patty. Henry C. Kessler invented this treat way back in 1940. 35 years passed before it became nationally prominent via Peter Paul, the maker of the incomparably delicious Almond Joy candy bar. We hit the test kitchen like a runaway truck a couple months ago and penned the following recipe: York Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. You can bang this recipe out in well under one hour. http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/12/23/Austin-Daily-Photo-Recipe-York-Peppermint-Patty-Stuffed-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies?adminview=true

Round Rock Happenings: PR Over Coffee Food Writers’ Panel at Art Institute February 13, 2013

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:33:00 -0700

Did Austin lasso annex part of Round Rock? The Art Institute of Austin which is located on Louis Henna Blvd in Round Rock is hosting a food writer's panel this Wednesday that sounds interesting. PR Over Coffee is inviting would be food entrepreneurs to show up and pitch their business ideas to: Kristi Willis of Kristi's Farm To Table food blog.

Get In Touch With The Scrumptious Chef Crew Directly

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:34:00 -0700

Right here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/contact.cfm Tell us about that new barbecue truck only you know about. Where you got the best Dark n Stormy you've ever had. That pre-1940 dive bar that only a handful of the leatheriest old south Austinites know about. Tell us what's on your mind.

Happy National Corn Chip Day aka National Fritos Day Austin Texas

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:44:00 -0700

Each of the 365 days in a regular calendar year has a food holiday attached to it. There's National Brisket Day, National Hot Dog Day etc etc. We normally ignore them for what they are; an industry's endeavor to shine a little light on whatever food group need some marketing to boost revenue. But we got real excited this morning when we noted that it was National Corn Chip Day. Not sure why they didn't just call it what it is; National Fritos Day. Is there even a corn chip that's not made by Frito Lay?

Mike Yassine,Hadi Yassine,Steve Yassine Sentenced To Federal Prison For Money Laundering,Narcotics

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:24:00 -0700

The long and sordid tale of the Yassine brothers (and associates) is finally winding down. Sentence were announced today. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks sentenced Mike Yassine to 12 years 7 months in federal prison. He also sentenced Hadi Yassine to 5 years. Steve Yassine will serve 1 year and 1 day. Get caught up with all the Yassines here

Taking A Hard Look At Brad Newman's "Reviewer Card" As The End Times Loom Upon Us All

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:20:00 -0700

Is this really what it has come to? Yes. Reviewer Card, from Brad Newman, is the most obvious end sum to the plague that has infested restaurants since 2004 when Yelp opened their doors for business. It's hard to believe it's been 9 years since "Yelpers" began rattling the cage of the internet with made up bullshit words like "sammich" "yumtastic" "listicle" and "amaze-balls." We wondered at first look if the website was some sort of therapeutic forum for folks who'd suffered closed-head brain trauma.

Landmark Austin Texas Blues Nightclub Antone's Set To Leave Downtown Location

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:21:00 -0700

More later but for now http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/290090/antone-s-night-club-to-close-its-downtown-doors and Culturemap has more information on the punk-ish club Project Infest that is set to take over the space that Antone's will vacate. http://austin.culturemap.com/newsdetail/01-21-13-14-06-antones-closure-makes-way-for-the-infest-artmusic-space/?utm_source=Austin+Alerts&utm_campaign=83e0923af3-Austin_news_alert_Antone_s_closing1_21_2013&utm_medium=email

South Texas Heritage Pork Farm Presents: Fine Swine Cook-Off 2013 In Floresville Texas

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:00:00 -0700

We're working overtime right now trying to get our heritage pork allotment lined out for our next pop up restaurant (number 8) To accomplish this we've been in contact with a multitude of hog farmers in Central Texas that are doing business the right way. Cultivating ancient breeds and feeding them nothing but whole foods and rainwater.

Austin Texas: Accused Mexican Heroin Drug Gang Ringleader Amado “Mayo” Pardo Out On Bail

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:51:00 -0700

He's out. Amado "Mayo" Pardo, reportedly terminally ill, has been released on bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane. The Jovita's restaurant boss is suffering from liver cancer, hepatitis and Parkinson's disease. He is a sick man. read our previous coverage Takedown! The Feds Stun South Austin With Four Sonic Booms-Raid Jovita's Cantina And Arrest 15 http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/6/21/Takedown-The-Feds-Stun-South-Austin-With-Four-Sonic-BoomsRaid-Jovitas-Cantina-And-Arrest-15 Austin Texas:Jovita's Heroin Ring Suspects In Muerte Negra FBI Takedown Set To Appear In Court http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/6/22/Austin-TexasJovitas-Heroin-Ring-Suspects-In-Muerte-Negra-FBI-Takedown-Set-To-Appear-In-Court Guns! Heroin! Tex Mex! Did Amado "Mayo" Pardo's Nephew Christopher Mier Earn 54K As GM At Jovita's http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/6/28/Guns-Heroin-Tex-Mex-Did-Amado-Mayo-Pardos-Nephew-Christopher-Mier-Earn-54K-As-GM-At-Jovitas Update: Amado "Mayo" Pardo, Two Time Killer, Texas Syndicate Member And Founder Of Jovita's Cantina http://chowpapi.com/wordpress/wordpress-2.8.6/wordpress/update-amado-mayo-pardo-two-time-killer-texas-syndicate-member-and-founder-of-jovitas-cantina/ credit https://twitter.com/jazmineulloa

Emeril Lagasse Speaks On Broken Arrow Ranch In Ingram, Texas

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:37:00 -0700

We only use Broken Arrow Ranch for our Wild Game meat. As does Emeril Lagasse, one of the top chefs in New Orleans.

Finally A National Resource For Pop Up Restaurants Has Launched: Pop Up Republic

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 14:01:00 -0700

Could 2013 be the year of the pop up restaurant in Austin, Texas? We're about to find out. One prediction that we're making for the year ahead is that we're going to see a lot more such events going off in our city. Austin's playing catch-up.

Scrumptious Chef's New All Time Most Popular Article: The Death Of The Austin Chowhound Board

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:30:00 -0700

With nearly 2,000 articles in our archives, there's a lot of bumping and jostling among the posts to decide what the all-time most popular article will be. We have a new number one. After three years and one month in the top spot; Scrumptious Chef Visit http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2009/11/4/Scrumptious-Chef-Visit has been deposed. Its popularity was always mystifying to me. After all, it was written by infrequent contributor and site admin; Chuck, and it did little other than describe a meal cooked by editor RL Reeves Jr. It's a fine piece, but it's been knocked off its lofty perch by an article we wrote on the sad, sorry decline of the Austin Texas Chowhound board. It's here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/8/1/The-Death-Of-The-Austin-Chowhound-Board The article was inspired by a Chowhound poster who remarked that the local board was extremely quiet for a city with such a thriving food scene. Of course the article was quickly removed by the moderators who've wrung every ounce of life out of the once bustling forum. Are you a Chowhound in Austin? What forum are you using to discuss Austin restaurants and bars? Reddit? Roadfood? Some other board? https://twitter.com/RLReevesJr get in touch http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/contact.cfm

2012 Year End Review: Best Commercial Salsa In Austin Texas? La Michoacana Meat Market

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:03:00 -0700

Austin is awash in salsa. Every self-respecting Tex Mex and Mexican restaurant in town brings you a bowl of the goods the moment you're seated-and if they're doing business the right way-it's gratis. But what about the commercial salsa that you buy for your home refrigerator? Walk down the sauce aisle at your local market and you'll see dozens of packaged blends from Texas, California and plenty states that have no business manufacturing the nectar.

2012 Year End Review: 5 Great Food Stories And The Writers That Told Them

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:24:00 -0700

We've never had it so good. Writers that formerly would've confined themselves to film or theater or investigative journalism are now typing furiously over charcoal grilled mutton, hammering out columns on salted cod and blogging wildly about cheese from the Caucasus. There is no keeping up. But via the magic of Twitter and Tumblr we can at least, crusty prospector-like, pan out a few grams of pure writerly gold. This is not a best of, it's more of a "these are some of the really good ones that somehow stuck in our memory bank from 2012"-list.

Merry Christmas Texas!

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:57:00 -0700

Hope y'all have a safe and joyous holiday. http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/contact.cfm

2012 Year End Review: Texas Food Writer Of The Year Is Katherine Shilcutt

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 13:31:00 -0700

Errata: Updated 12/26/2012. She's prolific. She can write. She has an intense love for Texas food and craft beer and she's the only reason we stay abreast of the Houston food scene. She's James Beard nominated writer and blogger Katherine Shilcutt and she's our Texas food writer of the year. Now can we please get her to move to Austin? From her throne chair at Houston Press, Ms. Shilcutt, typing (we imagine) 115 words per minute, authors dozens of articles per month on what is one of USA's hottest food scenes. Ingesting mammoth quantities of barbecue, enchiladas and craft beer she relentlessly fans out across Mutt City visiting both well-known, and hopelessly obscure restaurants, diners and food trucks.

2012 Year End Review: The Most Popular Recipe In The History Of Our Site

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 11:50:00 -0700

The backbone of the Scrumptious Chef test kitchen: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2010/3/4/How-To-Make-Pork-Stock

The Most Popular Post Ever Written On This Site

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:40:00 -0700

We continue with our 2012 year end review with a look back at the hottest article ever written on the site: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2009/11/4/Scrumptious-Chef-Visit

Autumn in Vermont, Young Fresh Fellows And National Maple Syrup Day

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:21:00 -0700

I was 18 and in love. At the one year mark of the torrid affair, I visited a Books A Million in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama and bought the latest edition of Roadfood by Jane and Michael Stern along with a guide to the bed and breakfasts of rural New England. Time to plan a roadtrip. We saved our money from our supermarket and bagel shop jobs, and hit the blue highways for a week exploring New England.

Eddie Nimibutr Ousted At Thai Noodle House Over Racist Facebook Screed?

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:21:00 -0700

May I speak to Eddie? Eddie no work here no more But he's the owner No, he the chef, and he no here no more, owner in Houston Where's Eddie working I no know but he here no more Ok

East Austin: Shangri La {formerly Bravo's Nightclub} Is Turning 4 And Throwing A Party

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:18:00 -0700

We still have fond memories of Bravo's Nightclub on east 6th street. Particularly that star-crossed night that saw us take a friend who'd relocated to Austin from Montana there for his birthday. He was unfamiliar with the old east Austin nightclub trope of buy a beauty a beer at an inflated price and get a dance for free.

Happy Thanksgiving Austin, Istanbul, New Orleans, Amsterdam, Kentucky, Zagreb and Budapest

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:14:00 -0700

Hope y'all and yours have a happy and joyous Thanksgiving

Hate The Idea Of People Making 16k Per Annum Having Health Care?Buy A Papa John's Pizza Fri Nov 16th

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 01:20:00 -0700

Other than Popeye's Fried Chicken, which is demonstrably delicious, we don't eat fast food. No soapbox involved. We live and breathe the Austin food scene and since the only vote that matters these days is via our wallets, we strive to keep our food money in local tills whenever possible. So we don't eat Papa John's or any other chain pizza {or even lousy local pizza like Pinthouse.} There's just too much good pie in Austin to worry about eating the bad stuff. So the movement to eat/not eat at Papa John's on Fri Nov 16th leaves us unperturbed either way.

Tasty Touring's Jodi Bart Dethroned.Lockhart Steele's NYC-based Eater Wins Best Austin Food Blog

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:00:00 -0700

The times they are a changing. Austin Chronicle just announced their Best of Austin winners and Jodi Bart/Tasty Touring has been knocked off her cushy perch as Best Local Food Blog by New York City's Eater outfit. Manhattan was stunned as Lockhart Steele, owner of Eater, Curbed and Racked strolled into the middle of Times Square and popped the cork on a big bottle of Armand de Brignac Midas Champagne.

Results 46th Annual Terlingua International Frank X Tolbert Wick Fowler Memorial Chili Championship

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:03:00 -0700

Year 46 of the legendary Terlingua Texas chili cook-off saw Dallas-area dentist Ted Hume take home the trophy. Mr. Hume won previously in 2003. The Chihuahua desert comes alive each Autumn as thousands of chili fanatics descend on Terlingua to party in the Texas badlands. Drunkenness, nudity, and the sort of out and out outlaw behavior that would get you thrown in the hoosegow in Austin is not only tolerated but outright encouraged at the 3 day bacchanal.

Wild Stripper Brawl In South Austin:Hot Bodies Dancer Victoria Perez Charged With Aggravated Assault

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:03:00 -0700

These things never turn out well. 17 women in a wild melee in a strip club dressing room is a recipe for nothing less than disaster. Victoria Perez, a stripper at Hot Bodies in Southeast Austin, stands accused of nearly blinding a man with her stiletto heel during a donnybrook backstage at the notorious cabaret just south of the industrial zone off Hwy 71. Closed circuit cameras caught the dust-up on tape. Perez has been charged with aggravated assault with a bail set at 50k. We hope "Dollar Menu" made it out safe. That girl can flat truck it when need be so we have no doubt she's halfway to Victoria by now.

Happy Birthday Scrumptious Chef: It's Our 3 Year Anniversary

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 21:37:00 -0700

November 3, 1839 First opium war-2 British frigates engage several Chinese junks November 3, 1868 Ulysses Grant (R) wins presidential election over Horatio Seymour (D) November 3, 1921 Actor Charles Bronson born November 3, 1928 Turkey switches from Arabic to Roman alphabet

Archives: Austin's Chowhound Board Bans John Mueller

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 23:37:00 -0700

Through the past. With all the controversy over the past 36 hours {http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/10/31/Explosion-In-The-World-Of-Austin-Texas-Barbecue-John-Mueller-Out-Of-JMueller-BBQ#more} I've been going over some old articles I've written in the past about John Mueller and his ramp up/re-entry into the world of Texas barbecue. I'd almost forgotten about this one:

6 Questions: Ryan Adams Of Nose To Tail At Home Food Blog

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:58:00 -0700

The perils of Reddit. To outsiders Reddit appears to be little more than a haven for people obsessed with housecats, fantasy football and other perils of modern life. To hard-nosed, old school reporters like Joe Gomez of CBS up in Dallas Fort Worth it's a great place to troll for news stories on a slow day. And if you have to make the news then so be it. Gomez noticed Pflugerville blogger Ryan Adams' upload of a photo of a white wing dove that had committed suicide by plowing itself into a window at Adams' home. Adams authors a food blog wherein he's cooking through Fergus Henderson's landmark "The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating" cookbook.

Austin, Texas: Mystery Woman Who Survived Hail Of Bullets From Officer Robert Krummel Not Charged

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:30:00 -0700

Hot news out of Austin Texas. This past weekend we reported on an unnamed female motorist who burned 2am rubber on 6th street in the heart of Austin's entertainment district provoking officer Robert Krummel to open fire. She was not struck by any of the bullets.

Magnum Force!Police Officer's Guns Blazing On 6th Street In The Heart Of Austin's Nightlife District

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:44:00 -0700

Gone in Sixty Seconds. An unnamed female driver peeled out in her Pontiac on 6th street in the wee hours of October 20th 2012 taking out 2 pedestrians and scattering a crowd of revelers before an Austin police officer opened fire on her vehicle bringing her evening to a grinding halt. Austin police chief Art Acevedo, at an impromptu, street-side news conference, referred to San Jacinto street as San Jack. Keeping it real in the white hot glare of media.

Show And Prove: Texas Beers Bring Home The Hardware At Great American Beer Fest

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 22:31:00 -0700

We're in the middle of a full fledged Texas craft beer renaissance. It's hard to believe that it's been twenty years since Pierre Celis set up shop in Austin and ignited an interest in fine beer that's still spreading like wildfire across the region. Central Texas is now home to a dazzling array of breweries putting out some of the best beer in the entire USA. Real Ale, Live Oak and 512 Brewing could set up shop in Oregon, Colorado or Pennsylvania and earn a good living.

Austin Texas Nightclub Scandal: Yassine Enterprises Verdicts Announced In Money Laundering Case

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:41:00 -0700

Guilty as charged verdicts were rendered today, Friday October 12th 2012, against Hussein Ali "Mike" Yassine and Hadi Yassine in their money laundering trial in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks.

A Big Bowl Of Red Awaits: Central Texas Chili Cook Offs Fall 2012

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:43:00 -0700

It's chili season y'all. My mom reminded me of the fact when she was breaking down the supper she made last night for the family. Her chili is delicious but she'd be escorted to the Texas border quick if she tried to pull a stunt like that in the Great State. Ground beef, tomatoes and red kidneys are her prime ingredients. It's also a thin, soup-like chili. A couple times a year I run by El Milagro and buy her a dozen packets of their premium, pure chili powders. They have the housewife, all in one, blends but I like to buy the 100% Guajillo{dried Marisol}, Ancho {dried Poblano}, Pasilla{dried chilaca} etc and then mix and match with other seasonings.

Casino El Camino Out! Doug Guller Of Bikinis Takes Over Scoot Inn

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 23:26:00 -0700

That was quick. We first reported that Paul Eighmey aka Casino Of Casino El Camino was preparing to take over the Scoot Inn back on August 23rd 2012. That has now changed. Gary Dinges over at the Statesman, penned an article in the daily paper this evening that Doug Guller of Bikini's fame is now the new owner and is set to take control of the property this Friday. Who knows what the inner machinations of that deal were as Eighmey was all systems go just a month ago. We covered the story here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/8/23/Paul-Eighmey-aka-Casino-Of-Casino-El-Camino-Set-To-Take-Over-The-Scoot-Inn?adminview=true as it broke across Austin. We'll update this article as more details emerge. Hot link to the Dinges piece http://www.statesman.com/news/business/new-owner-takes-over-east-austins-scoot-inn/nSNgb/

2012 Texas Craft Brewers Festival: Austin, Texas Fiesta Gardens Saturday October 6th 2012

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:14:00 -0700

We attended a media party for the Texas Craft Brewers Festival a couple weeks ago at Red's Porch down in South Austin. It was a fruitful gathering of drunks, beer lovers, beer bitches, beer journalists, craft brewers and the occasional outsider who managed to get past security into our cordoned off wonderland of free beer and bar snacks.

Killing On 6th Street In Austin Texas: Preston Joe Sharpnack Stands Accused In Death Of Matt Casey

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:05:00 -0700

It's getting rougher by the minute. Austin, Texas' playground: 6th Street, has been a rough and tumble zone for decades with fights, brawls, stabbings and the occasional riot going on to make sure you step lively and watch your back whilst slamming back flaming Dr Pepper shots. Murder can once more be added to the equation. Preston Joe Sharpnack has been charged with manslaughter, the technical, legal term for his alleged killing of Austin architect Matt Casey. We're not barristers and when one man kills another we generally refer it as murder.

Happy National Cheeseburger Day Austin Texas!

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:07:00 -0700

The delicate nature of the common, delicious hamburger can be upset by the application of cheese, therefore we normally take our burgers sans fromage. But occasionally we've been known to go all in when we place our order at our favorite burger shop, and tell the waitress to bring on the queso. We're still haunted by the memory of Capitol Brasserie, the short-lived redoubt of cheeseburger greatness on Colorado Street in downtown Austin. They put out a Stilton Bacon burger that still gives us fever dreams years after the cafe's closure. Looking to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day in Austin, Texas? We've been documenting some of the best places in town for the past couple years. Here's a hot link to the series. Now get out there and eat a cheeseburger then come back and tell us all about it. http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/Best-Hamburger-In-Austin?1&startrow=11 https://twitter.com/RLReevesJr

Gasping And Wheezing In Final Bid For Relevance Chowhound's Corporate Master Issues Austin BBQ List

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:20:00 -0700

In an article titled "Austin's Best Barbecue: Chowhound Lists," writer David Pistrang has peered through the dusty, cobweb laden corners of the dormant Austin Chowhound food board and scavenged up a list of "Austin's" best barbecue. Of course this being a Chow/Chowhound production the list is riddled with inaccuracies. While the prim maiden aunts who run Chowhound will never be known for their intellectual vigor, this article is especially pitiable.

Texas:Adam Bryan's Cocktail Bar Motel, Behind Wet Whistle In East Austin, Gains Crucial Permit

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 23:49:00 -0700

Breaking news: Conditional Use Permit for Motel approved on consent. The cocktail bar from local liquor man Adam Bryan has officially moved one step closer to opening. We need more places to drink in East Austin and Motel will be a quick ten minute stagger from our house in French Place so we approve. Welcome to the neighborhood Mr. Bryan. We look forward to drinking a refreshing Captain's Blood at your joint soon. related http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/4/11/Austin-Daily-Photo-Sneak-Peek-Inside-The-Wet-Whistle-At-MLK-and-Chicon

Breaking News! Austin Texas Independence Brewing Co. Welcomes Todd Henry Of Lovejoys Aboard

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:42:00 -0700

One of Austin's top young gun brewers Todd Henry,formerly of Lovejoy's, is now at Independence Brewing Company. Huge score for Independence as Mr. Henry is revered for his outrageously delicious beers. Can't wait to see Brown Chicken Brown Cow available by the bottle in local grocery stores. story: http://www.independencebrewing.com/fairwell-lovejoys-welcome-aboard-todd-henry/ Lovejoy's coverage http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/search.cfm?search=lovejoy%27s

Video: Anthony Bourdain Freaking The Fuck Out Over Franklin Barbecue

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:02:00 -0700

Here's a sneak peek of Tony Bourdain, hanging out with Daniel Vaughn at Franklin Barbecue in East Austin. Premium brisket porn alert: http://www.travelchannel.com/video/austins-franklin-barbecue Vaughn's Texas bbq site http://fcg-bbq.blogspot.com/ and even more Texas barbecue http://chowpapi.com/wordpress/wordpress-2.8.6/wordpress/category/texas-barbecue/

Paul Eighmey aka Casino Of Casino El Camino Set To Take Over The Scoot Inn

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:19:00 -0700

In the 90's we felt like we were walking on the wild side hanging out at Red's Scoot Inn. Back then barkeep/owner Vera held court at the end of the bar underneath a sign that read "if mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy" We'd call her Red and she'd smile at our nonsense and crack us open a couple Miller Lite long necks. We always did our drinking during the daytime when the bar would be busy with Mexican cats in cowboy hats shooting pool while Little Joe Y La Familia played on the hi fi. Everybody put up with us.

Bastrop Cattle Company, Windy Hill Farm, Dewberry Hill Farm and Richardson Farms Launch Meat Club

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:28:00 -0700

How big's your meat budget? Got an extra thousand bucks for 6 months worth of Central Texas meat? Not just any meat either. This is the good stuff. All meat is raised in local pastures by family farmers and ranchers. All meat is hormone-free and antibiotic-free. All meat is humanely processed. This sounds like the real deal. I grew up eating meat that our family raised on our farm. The steers ate silage, timothy, fescue, red clover and alfalfa. They drank from our ponds that were filled via rain water or cold springs. We treated them like family til it was time to take them to the slaughterhouse so they could be enjoyed on our family table.

Congrats:New Braunfels Texas' Ernest Servantes Wins Food Network’s “Chopped Grill Masters”

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:44:00 -0700

Ernest Servantes is the executive chef at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin Texas. We treasure our visits to Seguin because the town hosts two of the best sources of Texas Hot Guts in the nation: Davila's Barbecue. Servantes was not without fame prior to his winning performance on the Food Network's Chopped. As the pitboss of Burnt Bean Co. he regularly competes on the Texas barbecue circuit with the motto "If you think you can beat me, think again."

Elvis Presley's Favorite Sandwich And The History Of Knoxville Tennessee's JFG Company

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:38:00 -0700

My mother, June Sullivan, was a voracious collector of vinyl record albums. Her focus was Elvis Presley but she also honed in on Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard and Boots Randolph. We'd hit flea markets and yard sales in the Cumberland Highlands region of Appalachia and often have a foot race to see who'd get to the always-present box of lps. My collection, sixty linear feet strong, can be attributed to this remarkable woman.

International Chefs Congress In NYC: Paul Qui Continues Nationwide Takeover W/ Star Chefs Appearance

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:18:00 -0700

Paul Qui joins twenty nine of the top cooks in the United States September 30th through October 2nd 2012 in New York City at the International Chefs Congress EAT@ICC event. He's keeping good company: Alex Stupak Empellón – New York, NY Andy Ricker Pok Pok Ny – New York, NY Bill Dorrler Osteria Morini – New York, NY

USBG Bombay Sapphire Competition At Malverde: Tacy Of Drink.Well Emerges With Victory

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:38:00 -0700

Tacy Rowland of Drink.Well, the Austin bar/restaurant on North Loop, won the Bombay Sapphire competition last night at Malverde in downtown Austin. Hope to gather more details later today. Follow Ms. Rowland on Twitter at https://twitter.com/taceoddity https://twitter.com/RLReevesJr

El Mariachi 20th Anniversary Party With Robert Rodriguez At The Paramount Theater

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:37:00 -0700

Has it really been twenty years since El Mariachi came out? The film represented a seismic shift in how Austin movie makers were perceived nationwide. Director Robert Rodriguez was a 23 year old punk kid on a shoestring budget who would go onto to use El Mariachi as a launching pad for a full tilt career as a major mover-shaker in Hollywood. And it's a pretty good movie too.

Austin Texas Food Service Industry Jobs

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:41:00 -0700

Lots of jobs for enterprising food service industry workers in Austin, Texas. A full time, front of the house worker can look forward to a wage of roughly 5k per annum, while certain back of the house toilers may earn 15k. Of course any employer offering a cook $15 per hour {31k} will have folks parachuting into the parking lot of the restaurant ready to put his life on the line for such an astronomical wage.

The World Of Austin Texas Coffee: Thursday Night Throwdowns Determine Ruler Of Barista Kingdom

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:45:00 -0700

I first got wind of the Austin, Texas barista competitions called Thursday Night Throwdowns via the Twitter feed of Lorenzo Perkins, the SCRBC 2012 champion and man in charge of wholesale customer support and training at Cuvee Coffee out in Spicewood,Texas. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/LorenzoPerkins I was curious so I asked Mr. Perkins if he'd care to elaborate on what goes on at these events. He responded with the following: Thursday Night Throwdown

Austin Texas Food Service Industry Jobs

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:57:00 -0700

Lots of restaurants and bars purportedly hiring in the Austin metro area right now. Many offer wages of a little over $2 per hour for front of house and $7.25 per hour for cooks who are almost certain to be big network food stars in the nearly immediate future. These are the rewards reaped during the "food era" that we are now living in.

St. Arnold Brewery:Low & Slow: An Evening of Smoked Food & Film w/Keeley Steenson and Foodways Texas

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:10:00 -0700

By now we're all familiar with Keeley Steenson from her documentary "Good Better Best" which details the lives of the Anderle family down in Mt. Olive Texas. They're earning a living the old fashioned way, raising cane and converting it into molasses. We detailed Steenson's film here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/10/4/Foodways-Texas-Film-Good-Better-Best-Short-Doc-By-Keeley-Steenson-On-Texas-Sorghum-Family and y'all went buck wild. The article was one of our most popular way back in the Fall of 2011. Foodways Texas, St. Arnold's Brewery and Ms Steenson have teamed up to throw a party tomorrow night {Thursday August 9th, 2012} from 7-10 pm at the brewery over in Houston. This is a Texas party so expect plenty barbecue-esque foods from Down House, Haven, Himalaya, Hugo's, The Grateful Bread, The Pass & Provisions, Reef and Revival Market. That's a full team of Houston heavy hitters. Keeley Steenson will be on hand, signing autographs and presenting her latest works documenting the foodways of Texas barbecue. Tickets http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e66gwol353735d2b&llr=fhrfcudab

6th Street Slasher Busted As Violence Continues To Plague Austin's Downtown Entertainment District

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 18:11:00 -0700

One hundred stitches. That's what it took to close the wound. Today, Robert Bradshaw stands accused of violently attacking an unnamed man who sprang to the defense of his girlfriend when Bradshaw allegedly attempted a purse snatching on Thursday evening in downtown Austin's west 6th street entertainment district. The couple were walking along near 6th and Lavaca when Bradshaw, according to witness accounts, grabbed the woman's purse and headed for the high country. The ladies boyfriend set out after the brigand, tracked him down and tackled him.

Sushi: The Global Catch By Mark S. Hall Will Screen At Alamo Drafthouse Village

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:39:00 -0700

Sushi: The Global Catch By Mark S. Hall, winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival, is set to screen at Alamo Drafthouse Village Wednesday August 8th 2012 at 7pm.

Austin Texas' Whole Foods Is Working Hard For The Children: Happy Birthday Whole Kids Foundation

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:21:00 -0700

There are plenty things to dislike about Austin's meganaut of a grocery store; Whole Foods, but they're doing some good work too. Their Whole Kids Foundation just turned 1 and they racked up some impressive numbers over the past year. * They funded eight hundred and eighty six school garden grants via a partnership with Foodcorps.

RAID! San Antonio's Sushi Zushi Shuttered After Immigration and Customs Enforcement Audit

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 22:07:00 -0700

We were sitting in a Mexican restaurant outside Huntsville, Alabama over a decade ago when the raid went down. A pack of charcoal gray Ford Crown Victorias comes tearing into the restaurant parking lot. I look up from my taco plate just as my friend starts laughing and pointing out the window.

Brick By Brick The Walls Of Western Commerce Are Dismantled:Split Bread Cafe Will Not Accept Cash

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:43:00 -0700

The unrelenting assholes at Mixt Greens, an "eco gourmet" California salad chain" have developed a new concept restaurant titled Split Bread. It's the same ol same ol as far as the fresh...local...seasonal...gimmick that every cafe on earth is trying to milk right now with one big difference. That US currency you have wadded up in your pocket from a hard night tending bar? It's no good here. That US currency that your grandfather busted his ass for hawking newspapers on the street corner during the Great Depression? No good at Split Bread.

Kolaches Come To New York City. Austin Texas Native Autumn Stanford Opens Brooklyn Kolache Company

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:11:00 -0700

First Daniel Delaney brought New Yorkers Texas brisket, now Autumn Stanford is bringing kolaches to Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy. We predict Live Oak Brewing will have a tap bar in Williamsburg before the end of the year. Then John Kelso will take over the Maureen Dowd column at the Times. Then what? After the failure of the short lived Kolache Mama a few years back, New Yorkers have been bereft of one of the most common breakfast treats of Central Texas. Til Autumn Stanford came along. The Austin native recently opened the Brooklyn Kolache Company and reportedly has been doing land office business in Bed-Stuy.

Meatopia And Josh Ozersky Prepare To Host Whole Food's Nationwide Butcher Competition Finals

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:58:00 -0700

Update:September 9th 2012 Armand "The Arm" Ferrante (East Coast Champion from the Northeast region) won in the butcher finals yesterday at Meatopia. He is the champion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Austin, Texas based Whole Foods, known locally as "whole paycheck", has been holding an intra-store butcher battle among its meat cutters for the past few months. The tournament comes to a head September 8th in New York City at this years edition of Josh Ozersky's Meatopia festival. This is one of USA's biggest and best food parties of the entire year. Doing battle are: John "Kabali" Kalabolas (West Coast champion from the Northern California region) Andy "The Animal" Alcorn (Central U.S. champion from the Rocky Mountain region) Armand "The Arm" Ferrante (East Coast Champion from the Northeast region) A Texan won last year! http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/7/25/Texan-Wins-Best-Butcher-In-Whole-Foods-Competition-At-Meatopia https://twitter.com/RLReevesJr

After Disastrous Top 5 Austin Tex Mex List, Zagat Turns Toward Austin Texas Bars And Nightclubs

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:37:00 -0700

Zagat is hurting. From time to time the Google-owned company issues an Austin-based "best of" list that is invariably woefully off target. Their Top 5 Austin Tex Mex list made me wonder if anyone at the company had ever set foot in the city. It was pitiable. Now they're turning their gaze toward our bar and nightclub scene. To help mitigate what will surely be a disaster I'm providing a hot link so y'all can lend them a hand. Austin's much vaunted nightlife culture can hold its own with cities twice its size. Cast your vote and let's make sure some of our town's treasures are reflected in the pending list. Hopefully this will ensure that this: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/7/19/Buffoonery-Zagat-Ranks-Austin-Texas-Top-5-Tex-Mex-Restaurants doesn't happen again. Vote now http://www.zagat.com/nightlifeAustin?utm_source=promo_twi20120723&utm_medium=socmed&utm_campaign=atxn_sm https://twitter.com/RLReevesJr

Get Your Degree From Kentucky Fried Chicken! Via De Monfort University In Leicester United Kingdom

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:49:00 -0700

In Corbin, Kentucky, the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken, there is a cabal of millionaires who wisely invested in the company when it was just another roadside restaurant in a small Appalachian town. Colonel Harlan Sanders was a larger than life figure in the community when I was a child. He made his way around town in a mammoth white convertible and was a regular player in any public event where he could promote his business.

Shootings. Stabbings. Has 6th Street In Austin, Texas Finally Earned The Sobriquet "Dirty 6th"

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:48:00 -0700

The 2 beefy Mexican hoss cats are going to war. It's 1999 and 6th street in downtown Austin Texas is about to host a good old fashioned riot. We're standing outside the Ritz when two young gentlemen take umbrage at what one or the other has just said. Fisticuffs quickly break out and both cats are swinging some pretty wild haymakers. It's a small brawl between 2 men with a good crowd of drunks gathered closely to watch the battle. Then the cops get involved.

Horseshit! HEB Rolls Out Line Of Cheapo German Made Candy Bars At Cut Rate Prices

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:04:00 -0700

HEB, the mammoth Texas-based grocer is preparing to roll out a line of dirt cheap candy bars in its US stores. A buck will get you two which means they're roughly half what you would pay for a boutique brand like Zero or 5th Avenue. But what's the real cost? Sounds like they've hired some hippie love weed smoking ad agency to come up with their copy for the advertising campaign. We just got a p.r release and it's a treasure.

Stephens Family Benefit Dinner At FINO Restaurant Is Sold Out But Donations Are Still Needed

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:53:00 -0700

Tomorrow night's {7/22/2012} benefit dinner for Tabatha (Dai Due Sous Chef) and Bobby Stephens is sold out but the family still needs your help. Their son Holden passed away at just ten weeks of age due to a rare genetic disease and the hospital bills are astronomical. Here's a link to a page where you can donate to help the family through these hard times. http://www.winefoodfoundation.org/events/details/522-Stephens%20Family%20Benefit%20Dinner and a link to their website http://weheartholden.wordpress.com/

Welcome Home Rachel And Logan Cooper Of Boots In The Oven

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 09:09:00 -0700

After 14 months and 28 countries the couple who author the Boots In The Oven food blog have returned safely to Austin, Texas. They didn't spend their time away idly snapping pics at famous tourist locations, they rolled up their sleeves and got down and dirty on this vacation that was more of a fact finding mission than anything else.

Goodbye Stodgy Old Bankersmith Hello Bikinis, Texas!

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:01:00 -0700

Bankersmith, Texas, a ghost town, has been purchased by Doug Guller, the owner of the Austin based Bikinis sports bar chain. Bankersmith had fallen on hard times in 1930 when its population dipped to around 10. This stands in stark contrast to its heyday back in the roaring 20s when nigh onto fifty people called the little community home. That's all about to change. Guller's going to oversee a renaissance of the once bustling village saying "Bikinis, Texas, will be a world-class destination, and I am thrilled to expand the Bikinis brand to include town ownership."

Austin Texas Food Service Industry Jobs

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:02:00 -0700

By all accounts the food service sector of Austin's economy is absolutely booming with new restaurants, food trailers and pubs opening by the dozen. When a business shutters it seems like it's mere moments before a saloon or cafe has sprung up with lines edging out the door. Looking for work in this industry? We cherry picked a few local ads that seemed intriguing

Happy National French Fry Day Austin! Peter's Barbecue In Ellinger Texas

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 23:18:00 -0700

Barely made it in under the wire. I'm celebrating National French Fry Day by peering all the way back to June of this year when I rejoiced over my return to Texas {after 3 weeks on the road} by eating brisket and french fries at Peter's Barbecue down in Ellinger, Texas. It was a hard earned meal. The normal 8-9 hour trip from New Orleans to Central Texas took 23 due to some hand of God level rainfall that had me biking it at 5 mph on I-10.

Paul Qui Is Coming Live To A Computer Screen Near You. Watch Chef Qui's Cooking Demo On The Internet

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:22:00 -0700

You can digitally interact with Chef Paul Qui, this Thursday July 12th at 5pm Central Standard Time. Chef Qui will be on a live stream via the internet and he will be cooking "his favorite dishes." By the way. Don't go to asking the chef about his time on Top Chef Texas. This topic is taboo per Qui's agreement with Bravo TV. Everything else under the sun is golden. Just no Top Chef talking. Here's all the info you'll need to be part of this event http://www.facebook.com/events/443604699012507/ real deal Austin food news and reviews: https://twitter.com/RLReevesJr

Austin Texas Food Service Industry Jobs

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:36:00 -0700

Looking for work in Austin, Texas' burgeoning food service industry? There are a multitude of places hiring right now. The sleepy old Austin of the early 90s is long gone. It's been replaced by a fast-paced, voracious city that has new bars and restaurants opening daily. Rental vacancies are not measured in days-they're measured in hours as competing interests vie for the most choice properties. A quick perusal across the internet yielded some intriguing employment options. Are you an owner/manager? Send us your listing and we'll publish it for you.

A Year On Twitter: RL Reeves Jr

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 12:22:00 -0700

As year one on Twitter draws to a close, I thought I'd take a look back at this weird universe I've found myself in for the past 12 months. I resisted joining for the longest time due to how annoying the whole thing seemed. "Tweeting" just seemed ridiculous. Still does. But, looking back, the effects are obvious. Twitter is a prime mover when it comes to letting your voice be heard. Immediately after joining, I received a late night phone call from the boys in the Cold Fusion lab in Ohio who administrate the site. "What's going on out there, the traffic has suddenly doubled?"

Happy National Fried Chicken Day Austin, Texas

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:57:00 -0700

Like any good Kentuckian I have a long and storied history with fried chicken. When I was just a sprout, Colonel Sanders would come to my grandma's house to break bread with my grandfather; Big Jim Sullivan. Big Jim raised Duroc hogs and cured their hams in a smokehouse in my grandma's back yard. Over the decades he became known as one of the best sources for cured meats in the Cumberland Highlands region of southeastern Kentucky. When I started my bacon curing project last year I wondered if I had gotten his gene that allowed him to put out pluperfect hams and pork bellies.

Party At Takoba! 2 Year Anniversary Party Saturday July 14th 2012

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:11:00 -0700

We're all over this. Takoba is having a 2 year anniversary party next weekend featuring: * Free Beer * Free Tacos * Music by DJ Manolo Black * Perpetual Happy Hour * $5 Frozen Jamaica and Sotol

Dust-up! In Houston Texas They Allow People Wearing Flip Flops Inside Restaurants

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:54:00 -0700

What? People in flip flops are allowed inside restaurants in Houston? The unthinkable has finally happened. Before long this disturbing trend will spread to Austin, where I've never seen a pair of flip flops except on televison, and next thing you know I'll be forced to eat in a restaurant where someone is dressing less like a gentleman or lady and more like a common road tramp.

Sorry Y'all. Had To Turn Comment Moderation On

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 12:30:00 -0700

Somebody who's fixated on selling Lebron shoes to people who read foodblogs is all over the scrumptious chef site right now. When he moves on to easier pickings I'll turn off the moderator. I post every comment: good, bad or ugly as long as you're not trying to sell sneakers or condo shares.

64th Annual McDade Texas Watermelon Festival

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:10:00 -0700

As soon as I saw the Watermelon Queen wielding a scepter with a watermelon slice attached to the end of it, I knew I was going all in. A reader sent us a tip about the following: Next weekend {July 13th and 14th} McDade, Texas, 30 minutes east of Austin on hwy 290, hosts the 64th edition of their Watermelon Festival. It promises to be a beauty. There will be a Watermelon Queen coronation, a street dance with the music of the Crop Dusters, prizes for heaviest melons, mobile taco carts, and barbecue plate lunches for sale. We're suckers for small town events like these so expect to see us out there posing for pictures with the watermelon princesses, begging for rides in the conestoga wagons, and hefting melons left and right. website for the event http://www.mcdadetexas.com/index.html https://twitter.com/#!/RLReevesJr

Rocket Man! Austin Texas Chef Paul Qui Of East Side King Teams Up With City Grit Of New York City

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:02:00 -0700

He's taking over. Austin, Texas hometown hero Paul Qui is leaving other, lesser, chefs in the dust as he prepares to conquer New York city culinary salon; City Grit. He will be breathing in some rarefied air. Other chefs cooking in the same venue are TIEN HO, CHRIS JAECKLE, APRIL BLOOMFIELD & BILL TELEPAN, and MARC VETRI AND MARK LADNER That's a who's who y'all.

Austin Texas Food Service Industry Jobs

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:24:00 -0700

Austin's food service industry, along with the tech sector, is the fastest growing driver of our community's economy. A quick perusal of Craigslist shows there are a multitude of gigs all over Travis County. We cherry picked a few that sounded particularly promising. Are you a restaurant owner or manager? Get in touch with us and we'll post your job. http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/contact.cfm

Happy 15th Anniversary Chowhound! A Birthday Wish And An Obituary by RL Reeves Jr

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 12:45:00 -0700

I was late to the party. Chowhound was birthed on this day in 1997 by Jim Leff and Bob Okumura but it wasn't until 1999 that I began regularly {and voraciously} reading it on a daily basis. Back then it was the wild, wild west of food boards with free wheeling exchanges between devout lifers as well as people who were just figuring out that food could be more than just calories to keep you alive while you worked, watched television or participated in other life activities {if there are any.}

Hussein Ali "Mike" Yassine And Mohammed Ali "Steve" Yassine Agree To Pay Cheated Workers 685k

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:24:00 -0700

Scandal sells. Looking back over site metrics from the past year the biggest stories have revolved around high drama-not tacos or ramen. The brisket bandits that ensnared Sam's Barbecue, Willie's Barbecue and La Morenita had our readership enthralled. The saga of people smuggling meat out of HEB and hawking it out of their pants to restaurants in East Austin was an endless source of fascination to our readers. That tale reached its pinnacle when USA Today came calling

Guns! Heroin! Tex Mex! Did Amado "Mayo" Pardo's Nephew Christopher Mier Earn 54K As GM At Jovita's

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:03:00 -0700

Christopher Mier was in a bind. He needed a place to crash at night, a stash house for his allegedly burgeoning heroin business and a place to kick back when the black tar kicked in and the chasing of the dragon commenced. In the open court of U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane, a few more details emerged in the Operation Muerte Negra heroin case that took down the popular south Austin Tex Mex restaurant Jovita's Cantina.

Bastille Day Party - The French Legation By Alliance Francaise d'Austin:Christine Albert French Show

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:39:00 -0700

Details are scant. Date: July 14th 2012 Place: French Legation Museum Time: 7-11 pm Cost: $8 advance $10 at door Kids under 12 free Food: Unsure, perhaps Central Market? We'll post more details as warranted

Jovita's Boss Amado "Mayo" Pardo Facing Heroin Charges In Operation Muerte Negra Has Hearing Delayed

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:50:00 -0700

Explosions rocked south Austin last Thursday morning as a host of law enforcement descended on Jovita's Cantina, as well as a number of private homes in the drug bust operation dubbed Muerte Negra. Some of the structures were known to be barricaded so the lawmen utilized explosive devices to gain entry. A friend who lives in Bouldin Creek said the explosions sounded like people firing shotguns. During the raid 18 people were arrested on a variety of charges with the unifying factor being heroin. Twice convicted of murder, Amado "Mayo" Pardo owner/operator of Jovita's, stands to do some serious time if he's actually convicted of the fresh charges he's now facing.

It's National Catfish Day Austin! Get Out There And Eat Some Catfish

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:02:00 -0700

Hot off the tipster button, we just found out that today, June 25th, is National Catfish Day. The great communicator, Ronald Reagan, established this holiday all the way back in 1987. We have a long and storied history with this fish. An intriguing part of the coal industry in eastern Kentucky is that multiple ponds have to be built near the mines themselves. These ponds are dug out to accommodate the silt that runs off the sides of the mountains during rain fall. A traditional part of the building of the ponds is the stocking of said ponds with Bluegill and Catfish, two very good eating fish. Once a year the coal operator will throw a party, toss a few blasting caps in the ponds and retrieve the fish for a fry-out on the banks of the silt ponds. Fires are built, big lard cans are heated up, and the fish are gutted, battered and fried right there on the side of the mountain.

Tip Line Gets A Mite Heated From Time To Time

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:29:00 -0700

Some of our best story ideas have come from our tip line http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/contact.cfm We're all ears when you're overheated about that plate of fried catfish you got a hold of or enamored with that stripper you want to tell the world about over at Chicas Bonitas {we're going to have to go see what all the fuss is over that new girl calling herself "Dollar Menu"}. Fried rice and shaved ice cart sprung up down the street from your flat? Hostess in a tutu with a signature vapid expression that's particularly intriguing? Suspect a queso and margarita joint is really a front for a black tar heroin ring? We're all ears. Tell us what's on your mind y'all.

Gold Rush! Round Rock Texas Looks Toward Cashing In On The Nationwide Food Truck Movement

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:44:00 -0700

Update October 1st 2012 The food trailer park is now open with thirteen food trailers up and running. Update 9/14/2012 Round Rock city council approved a measure allowing a food trailer court in their downtown. Update 9/13/2012: Shawn Faulk, owner of Starcorp, Inc is putting his money where his mouth is. He's willing to invest up to 20k if Round Rock city council gives the ok to his proposed food trailer court in the downtown area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I suspect the disdain Austinites feel toward Round Rock is largely based on the faceless sprawl that is the signature of our northern neighbor. Blasting through the city on I-35 you would be excused if you thought the city offered little more than an endless array of fast food chains, muffler repair shops and the occasional hundred acre asphalt parking lot. It's an ugly-ass town, there's no getting around it.

Austin Texas Restaurants, Nightclubs And Bloggers On Tumblr: RL Reeves Jr

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 23:54:00 -0700

Tumblr now has 50 million blogs and 20 billion posts. It has almost doubled in size since last fall. Back in September 2011, the blogging service hosted 28 million blogs containing a total of 10 billion blog posts. Today, Tumblr has passed 50 million blogs, and its users have produced more than 20 billion blog posts {from http://royal.pingdom.com/}-bear in mind this is from April of 2012- a million years ago in our modern, frenetic world. But when you type in Austin,Texas there's barely any movement. It's kind of pitiful. We're on Wordpress, Pinterest, Cold fusion, Twitter etc. but when it comes to the pure enjoyment of the form-nothing compares to Tumblr. It's the king of the micro-blogging, social media scene. Check out Tumblr y'all. It's a blast, easy to use and there are a multitude of accounts that are riveting. If this post gains traction we'll start putting up some of our favorites. And if you're on Tumblr let us know. We're always looking for new folks to follow and interact with. http://rlreevesjr.tumblr.com/ https://twitter.com/RLReevesJr

Field Report: Juneteenth Soul Food Party W/ Angela Shelf Medearis At George Washington Carver Museum

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:55:00 -0700

Earlier today, George Washington Carver Museum on Austin's East Side played host to a packed house of soul food aficionados who gathered together to celebrate Juneteenth. Angela Shelf Medearis, the noted cookbook author and Bobby Flay ass-beater {Jerk Chicken throwdown} was in fine form.

Happy Father's Day Austin.We Look At The Appalachia Staple: Soup Beans

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 09:56:00 -0700

My daddy can cook. He was doing farm to table way before it was a catch phrase of cooks and menu writers across the United States. Of course, farm to table meant walking out the back door of the house to the garden that was halfway down the driveway on our farm in Eastern Kentucky. In addition to a vast garden that yielded green beans {greasy as well as shuck} sweet corn, zucchini, tomatoes, plum grannies, potatoes, cabbage, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, and sweet onions, there was always a field filled with tobacco-til the government buyouts of the 90s.

Sentenced! Steven Lawrence Keller, Thug Who Sucker Punched Girl At Liberty Bar Gets 45 Years

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:49:00 -0700

Will a 75 year old Steven Lawrence Keller still be able to pack enough punch to knock out a girl trying to get an order of beet fries from an Austin food cart like East Side King? Perhaps a blogger in 2057 will be able to report on Mr. Keller's punching power, cause that's when he'll be breathing free air again. Travis county jurors are notoriously lenient but not in the case of Keller. The Austin community was outraged last year when Keller, in a vicious blind-side attack, cold-cocked Merri Gale Hieger as she made her way to Paul Qui's East Side King food trailer for a plate of the notoriously delicious beet fries. Full details on the dust-up here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/6/12/Steven-Lawrence-Keller-Convicted-Punched-A-Girl-Trying-To-Eat-At-Paul-Quis-East-Side-King-Trailer?adminview=true and the sentencing piece in the Statesman http://www.statesman.com/news/local/purse-snatcher-gets-45-years-for-punching-robbing-2399019.html https://twitter.com/#!/RLReevesJr

Steven Lawrence Keller Convicted! Punched A Girl Trying To Eat At Paul Qui's East Side King Trailer

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:57:00 -0700

Justice was served today in Travis County, Texas. Steven Lawrence Keller was convicted of aggravated robbery in his assault of Merri Gale Hieger, in front of Liberty Bar on east 6th street in Spring of 2011. Local media were all over the case last year as Liberty Bar had just installed security cameras that recorded the brutal, blind-side, knock-out punch.

RL Reeves Jr Taken To Task By Austin Scribe Alan Sudo Over East Austin Weatherup Cocktail Bar Review

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:18:00 -0700

We visited Kathryn Weatherup's eponymous cocktail bar in the Cesar Chavez barrio on Sunday afternoon and filed a report {http://chowpapi.com/wordpress/wordpress-2.8.6/wordpress/kathryn-weatherups-new-east-austin-bar-is-dead-serious-about-your-cocktails-and-the-ice-that-keeps-them-cold/} that was met with the following response by Alan Sudo, a long time Austin food lover whom we've had numerous exchanges with over the years: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hey Scrumptious, remember Nov 8, 2010?

Win A Free Louie Mueller Brisket. The Icon Of Taylor, Texas Barbecue Joins Forces With Roadfood

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:22:00 -0700

The superb food website Roadfood is holding a contest and the prize is an entire Louie Mueller brisket delivered to your doorstep! Details: For the past 4 years Michael Stern, one of the preeminent men of American food letters, has hosted a festival in New Orleans celebrating the culinary backroads of USA. He cajoles numerous, off-the-beaten-path restaurants to come to Louisiana for a food party unlike any other. But he has a problem.

Starbucks Coffee Run Goes Awry In Georgetown, Texas. Demetria Williams, 32, Charged

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 07:47:00 -0700

Don't come between Demetria Williams and her Starbucks Coffee. Police in Georgetown, Texas are alleging that Ms. Williams was in such dire need of a caffeine fix that she tore through our northern neighbor's village, ramming automobiles along the way, all to get to her beloved coffee shop. Best quote? Ms Williams told a police officer her name was ""honey mother-(expletive) cocaine," during the subsequent investigation. read the full piece in the morning Statesman http://www.statesman.com/news/local/police-woman-hit-2-cars-during-quest-for-2392800.html https://twitter.com/#!/RLReevesJr

It's National Bleu Cheese Day! Get Out There And Eat Some Bleu Cheese Austin

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 21:44:00 -0700

Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton...whatever Pure Luck Dairy is putting out right now-there are countless versions of good, ripe, funky bleu cheeses and we can't get enough of them at the scrumptious house. The more down and dirty the bleu, the better we like it. Never found one too ripe and we always scheme for ways to incorporate it in dishes in the test kitchen. It's National Bleu Cheese Day in the United States, so we went rooting through the back files to dig up a world class bleu cheese recipe. Here it is, a primer on making scratch bleu cheese dressing: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2010/3/10/How-To-Make-Bleu-Cheese-Dressing https://twitter.com/#!/RLReevesJr

Happy National Donut Day Texas! We Look At Iconic Southern Donut Maker: Spalding's Bakery

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:14:00 -0700

Where's a donut lassie when you need one? National Donut Day was created by The Salvation Army to honor the gals, nicknamed donut lassies {can't believe there wasn't a riot girl band named that}, who fed the sweet treats to soldiers during World War I. Apparently the wheels of honorifics turn slowly, as the holiday was not established until 1938. World War I ended in 1919, as best we recall.

Austin Daily Photo: How To Make Your Own Bacon

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:06:00 -0700

Bacon project continues apace. Due to the mammoth rock slide in northern Tennessee our yearly visit to Benton's Country Hams in Madisonville is not happening so the homemade pork belly projects take on added import. Pictured: Utilizing the electric slicer at work to make sure the bacon is perfectly sliced. 10 slices per pound. Industry standard is 20. Yep, we like it thick. previous articles about our homemade bacon http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/How-To-Make-Your-Own-Bacon previous Austin Daily Photos http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/Austin-Daily-Photo

The Towering Oak Of Austin Fine Dining Celebrates His Birthday + Colleen Sommers Benefit

Sat, 26 May 2012 13:28:00 -0700

It's Raymond Tatum's birthday party tonight at the Three Little Pigs food trailer in the parking lot of East End Wines in East Austin, Texas. That's plenty reason to break out of the house and eat a plate of food from one of the heaviest hitting kitchens in Texas but it's also a benefit for Colleen Sommers of Pie Fixes Everything, one of the most talented bakers in Austin. Sommers is battling cancer so every penny counts as she's facing astronomical medical bills. Chef Tatum's selling plates of high level cuisine that would go for $60-$70 dollars at a traditional brick and mortar restaurant for twenty bucks. He's in the trailer as we speak knocking out a long list of prep before service tonight. Event goes down at 5 pm and runs til 10-ish. Austin's famous for taking care of its own so let's band together and all get the word out for this fundraiser. hotlink http://www.facebook.com/events/314512748630387/ previous "can't be categorized" http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/Cant-Be-Categorized

Meatpaper Issues Stark Reminder Of Why We No Longer Contribute To Other Sites

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:58:00 -0700

Dear RL, Thank you for submitting to Meat Up! There were many fine submissions this quarter. Your piece was not selected for inclusion, but we very much appreciate your work, and your interest in Meatpaper. Best wishes, The Editors

Gustavo Arellano Left His Belly Deep In The Heart Of Texas.Pleas For A Tex-Mex California Migration

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:09:00 -0700

The majesty of Tex-Mex cuisine is not lost on noted author and Mexican food culture expert Gustavo Arellano. He was recently in Texas on a tour to promote his new book "Taco USA" and he must have eaten quite well on his visit. In a column for OC Weekly titled "Five Tex-Mex Food Specialties That Should Go Nationwide--Or At Least to California" Arellano pleads for some of our glorious regional food specialties to migrate to the Golden State. Who can blame him? We've got it good in Texas. We can eat real deal Mexican food like the kind mujeres puts on the table for the family in Puebla or we can eat real deal Tex-Mex food, the kind mujeres puts on the table for the family in Harlingen.

Excellent Journalism: Yassine Enterprises Scandal Detailed By Richard Whittaker Of Austin Chronicle

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:44:00 -0700

We've been all over the Yassine Enterprises scandal since before the contretemps exploded into the public consciousness. It's an incredibly juicy story with the Yassine family being implicated in murder, tax evasion, cocaine dealing, terrorism ties, rape allegations, money laundering, marine mammal abuse, indentured servitude, and just about any other foul behavior that humans choose to indulge in.

Ambush! Raul Vizueth Torres Killers Drop Dime, Cop Plea, Get Long Jail Terms In Bobby Burks Jr Case

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:09:00 -0700

Justice was dispensed yesterday in Williamson County. How many times has that sentence been written? Thousands. Down a dark, county road northeast of Austin on April 17th of 2010, an ambush was set. Three thugs: Bobby Burks Jr, Veronica Evonne Ortiz, and Isabel Michelle Gonzales had hatched a plan to send the women into an Austin nightclub, choose a victim, lure him into the county, and rob him. As these plans often do, the robbery turned into a murder.

SceneTap's Facial Detection Tentacles Take Hold In Austin-Spread To San Francisco

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:33:00 -0700

SF Weekly has a great article about SceneTap, the now Austin-based company's spread to the Bay Area. Writer Erin Sherber, in an article titled "San Francisco Bars to Install Creepy Facial Detection Cameras Inside Venues", discusses the outfit's entrance into the city. It's not coming without controversy.

Gunned Down!Houston's Enchilada Queen Sylvia Casares To Return To Work At Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:40:00 -0700

Tex-Mex cooking empress Sylvia Casares is nearly healed up after being gunned down in March of this year, allegedly by boyfriend Michael Warren. After shooting Casares, Warren reportedly stole Casares SUV and made a dead run for the Louisiana border, apparently successfully returning to his hometown of Lafayette, before returning to Texas with the aid of family. Bad move.

Features That You Love On Your iphone And Android Restaurant Apps

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:09:00 -0700

We're down to the wire on our first app for iphone and android. It's titled "Austin Texas Barbacoa Taco Trail." The heavy lifting, visiting a ton of barbacoa joints in the Austin area, is largely done. Now we're in research mode on features that should be built into the app. One reader posited that he loves users to be able to post comments and add content to the app. Check, it shall be done. The same reader loves free updates to be added to the app as warranted. Check, this too shall be done. What are your favorite features on your restaurant apps you have loaded onto your smartphone?

Shaggybevo Is Now On Board RL Reeves Jr's Austin, Texas Barbacoa Project

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:05:00 -0700

I've enlisted the aid of the gentlemen over at Shaggybevo for my barbacoa project. Should be interesting, to put it mildly. Shaggybevo has been well documented in these pages before. It's Austin's dominant food forum with thousands of posters covering hundreds of topics. If anybody remembers the old Austin Chowhound board [RIP] in its heyday, well, this one's even better. Here's the hot link to the discussion titled "Best Barbacoa In Austin, Texas"

Disgraced Corporation Dr Pepper Snapple Group Forges Alliance With University Texas' McCombs School

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:45:00 -0700

Texans have long memories. As we gaze back to January of this year one of the hottest stories of this young century erupted out of the Great State. Dr Pepper Snapple Group [DPS] crushed Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company by rescinding their right to manufacture cane sugar powered Dr Pepper. The immediate result was that 14 hard working Texans in Dublin were sent to the unemployment line by the global behemoth. The long term result was that millions of people across the United States joined boycott groups to ensure that Dr Pepper Snapple Group would see no more of their soda money.

Austin Daily Photo: Happy Cinco De Mayo Texas! Tacorama Is Today At The MACC

Sat, 05 May 2012 08:58:00 -0700

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone. May 5th is traditionally the day that Americans celebrate as though it was Mexican Independence day. With all the major beer companies getting on board years ago you would think that today is a major Mexican holiday. It's not.

We've Got A Runner! Karim Faiq Of Yassine Enterprises Crew Is First To Flee

Wed, 02 May 2012 23:41:00 -0700

Update 9/12/12 Authorities continue to express amazement that Faiq has continually not shown up for multiple hearings since being indicted and making bail. Really. -------------------------------- Surprise. Karim Faiq, of the Yassine Enterprises consortium that is up on a litany of charges in the Austin, Texas nightclub scandal that rocked the downtown set, didn't show up for his court appearance today. Mike Yassine and Steve Yassine, the two jailed brothers who are regarded as the linchpins of the operation, can't be too happy about that.

Senor Torchy Of Austin Issues Stinging Rebuke To Houston's Alison Cook Over Restaurant Review

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:24:00 -0700

By now, we're all well aware that Alison Cook, Houston food writer, offered some qualified praise of Torchy's Taco's new restaurant in the Rocket City, but ultimately opted to not award the restaurant a star in her review. The shit immediately hit the fan as the beloved Austin transplant has a serous and vocal fan-base. We weighed in on the dust-up here: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/4/29/Pile-Driver-Alison-Cook-Takes-On-AustinBred-Torchys-Tacos-As-They-Open-Houston-Location

Pile Driver! Alison Cook Takes On Austin-Bred Torchy's Tacos As They Open Houston Location

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:20:00 -0700

I'll never forget my last visit to Torchy's Tacos. I was coming out of a long surgery [getting pieced back together after being run-over by a drunk driver while on my motorbike], heavily narcotized, and starving after fasting for a day. My companion asked me where I wanted to eat and the first words out of my mouth were "Torchy's" upon which she burst-out laughing and announced "he's really fucked up" to the room filled with medical personnel.

Acid Bomb! Teenagers Attack North Austin Wienerschnitzel Fast Food Restaurant

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:23:00 -0700

Busted teens. Reports are filtering into our desk of a bombing at the Wienerschnitzel restaurant on Braker Lane last night. Two malcontents apparently raced into the restroom, left an explosive device, then circled the parking lot til their handiwork detonated, presumably scaring the living hell out of the people inside. One minute you're just trying to wolf down a cheap hot dog and get back to your evening's affairs, the next minute you're wondering if the terrorists are at the gate. Arrested: Michael Zachary Foley, 19 years of age. Also arrested, a 17 year old accomplice who was not named by the police. Der Wienerschnitzel [the chain mysteriously dropped the Der years ago but we prefer its use] is a California-based hot dog restaurant that kicked up quite a fuss when it came to Texas years ago. All the Cali-expats were up in arms that such a lauded native son had seen fit to open up on Texas soil. Perhaps the general malaise of Austin life finally broke down the young mister Foley and his accomplice. Could the ennui of living in central Texas finally drive a pair of young men to this sort of deed? Mayhaps a vendetta against the hot dog vendor was realized last evening? We'll report back as events warrant. previous "can't be categorized" http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/Cant-Be-Categorized

Yassine Enterprises Scandal Deepens: State Of Texas Comptroller Seizes Nightclub Property Roial

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:46:00 -0700

Sign posted on the door at former Yassine Enterprises showcase club Roial: "The Comptroller of Public Accounts has seized this property for non-payment of taxes, penalty or interest due to the State of Texas,it is against the law to enter, dismantle, take possession of or remove anything from this property." We'd been waiting for the state of Texas to make a move on the nightclubs that were shuttered earlier this year in the wake of the Yassine Enterprises scandal that rocked the Austin nightlife community.

42nd Annual Texas Ladies State Championship Chili Cookoff

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:11:00 -0700

I've been wary of food-based competitions since back in the 80s when my mom went down in flames in a rib eating contest up in Kentucky. It wasn't pretty. But when I received a judges packet in the mail the other day from the Texas Ladies State Championship Chili Cookoff I knew it was time to put the old, bad memories to the side and do what I could to help the women folk of our great state out. Southern gentleman.

Chupacabra Cantina Number One Liquor Seller On 6th Street. Yassine Enterprises Surprisingly Low

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:59:00 -0700

Gary Dinges over at The Statesman just released some interesting data regarding Austin based alcohol tax revenue for the state of Texas in February 2012. We are a vigorous, some might say sodden, community of drinkers buying well over a million dollars of alcohol per day-every day. We reckon it must help with the torpor of Austin living. Unsurprisingly, Barton Creek Resort came in in the number one spot filling their strong boxes with almost $350,000. The foppish dandies out that way must really like to tipple after a hard day's work.

Now That Facebook Is Completely Passé: Scrumptiouschef Is On Facebook

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:08:00 -0700

We'll give pinterest a few more years til we hitch our wagon to their star too. Right when it goes in the tank-we'll be all over it. Find us on Friendster! Watch our cooking gifs on Myspace! Really, this is probably a big mistake but http://www.facebook.com/pages/scrumptiouschefcom/116725775127162 How does the damn thing work anyway?

Workhorse Bar Gets Serious: Barbecue To Be Served At Grand Opening April 21st 2012

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:49:00 -0700

Yes, dirt cheap beer from 50 taps is always nice but if you really want to pull in the hoi polloi there's only one path to walk down; smoked meat. Looks like Workhorse Bar is in it for the long run. Saturday April 21st the brand new addition to North Loop's restaurant/bar district [weird sounding but true] will be hosting a grand opening party with live music, cold beer and most importantly; barbecue.

As Steve Anderson's Reign At Live Oak Brewing Comes To A Close It's 15th Anniversary Time

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:13:00 -0700

The good folks at Beer Town Austin [http://www.beertownaustin.com/] are tweeting that this Saturday April 14th 2012 Live Oak Brewing Company will be celebrating 15 years of operation by throwing an anniversary party. Celebrants will begin guzzling beer at noon and if you want to get the kids out of the house you're welcome to bring them. Dogs on the other hand are not welcome so leave ol Scrap Iron chained up to that AMC Javelin axle you got out back. Sounds like a bitter sweet affair as local icon Steve Anderson is taking leave of his duties as brew master in May. He'll be relocating to Alpine, Texas to oversee a big new brewery that's in preparation stage now but should see beer flowing fairly soon. Watch for Big Bend Brewing in the future as Mr Anderson has put some of the finest beer we've ever drunk in bars around Austin for over a decade. previous Live Oak Brewing coverage http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/1/12/BREAKING-NEWSLive-Oak-Brewing-Company-Austin-Texas-Premiere-Craft-Beer-Maker-Is-Hiring-Head-Brewer

American Icon Is Throwing A Patio Party At Spiderhouse! Vintage Clothing. Cheap Beer. Tacos. Bands

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:49:00 -0700

We just got wind of this event. This Sunday April 15th 2012 at Spiderhouse Cafe local event promoter/vintage clothing entrepreneur American Icon is throwing a massive patio party at Spider House Cafe. It combines several of our favorite things: Tacos, cheap beer, vintage clothing and rock n roll bands. Expect 20+ clothing vendors including American Icon/Austin, Magnolia Family Vintage, Las Cruxes, Slinky Whistle bait, Palomino Vintage, Brooks General and Splendor. Rock n roll breakout acts Bad Lovers and Teenage News will be whipping their mic cords and karate kicking off amplifiers. Sounds like our kind of soiree. Free admission.

New Orleans Beer Lovers Spring Into Motion To Prevent Repeat Of Disastrous Texas Beer Festivals

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:48:00 -0700

We're getting a headache. The byzantine connections between the Houston Beer Fest people, the Austin Beer Fest People and now the Southern Craft Beer Conference are so convoluted that we're reaching for a bottle of tequila and a handful of anacin as we speak. Eater New Orleans is up on the scandal. Here's a link http://nola.eater.com/archives/2012/04/04/southern-craft-beer-conference-coming-to-new-orleans.php Now, a beer blogger from New Orleans "The Beer Buddha" is calling for a ban on the festival. Here's a clip from a piece on the website:

Happy Easter Austin

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:42:00 -0700

Hope the Easter Bunny brought y'all a big basket filled with delicious sweets. We went ahead and did the big feast last night: Smoked lamb, borek, eggplant and zucchini with yogurt, huitlacoche tacos with nopalitos, crawfish taquitos, collards, slaw.....assorted fruits and cheeses. Have a safe and joyous Easter.

Fallout From Disastrous Austin Beer Fest: Central Texas Beer Festival Cancelled

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:02:00 -0700

Fallout from this past weekend's utter disaster of an event; Austin Beer Fest [http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/4/3/Dear-Austin-Beer-Fest-Organizers-Your-Facebook-Apology-Doesnt-Cut-It-Now-Were-Getting-A-Rope] commences now. The Central Texas Beer Festival that was to be held at Austin Music Hall on April 21st has been called off.

Dear Austin Beer Fest Organizers: Your Facebook "Apology" Doesn't Cut It. Now We're Getting A Rope

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:57:00 -0700

Our minds are blown. Below is a Facebook apology from the organizers of the disastrous Austin Beer Fest at Travis County Expo Center. We've never seen or heard of such duplicity in our life. It's shameful. If these people ever show their face in Austin again we're afraid we'll have but one option: GET THE ROPE. We're not on Facebook so we would like to thank the person who pasted this and emailed it to us. Prepare to be shocked.

Dexter Bayack & Brent Villareal? What Went Wrong At Austin Beer Fest At Travis County Expo Center?

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:47:00 -0700

We never have a good time at these things. The $35 entrance fee is invariably better spent buying $35 worth of Lagunitas at East End Wines then sprawling out in the backyard near a smoker filled with ribs and brisket. We learned our lesson the hard way years back when Mexic Arte threw a Celebrate The Foods Of Mexico party that was so poorly run we considered executing a Tiger Driver on the president of the organization.

Horny? Like Eating Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Getting Drunk And Hitting On Strangers?

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:43:00 -0700

Then we've got just the party for you. Chedd's Gourmet Grilled Cheese and Icenhauer's on Rainey Street are throwing a party where you will be encouraged to indulge in free grilled cheese sandwiches while guzzling booze and making passes at strangers. How is this different than any other night on the town in Austin? Details: Wednesday, Mar 28 2012 6:30p to 11:00pm. Location: Icenhauer's, 83 Rainey Street, Austin, TX. We'd love to post a scene report from anybody who's willing to brave this event.

BREAKING NEWS! Mike Yassine Of Yassine Enterprises In Austin Texas Nightclub Scandal

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:04:00 -0700

I'm going to use this post as a clearing house for outside media links on the Yassine Enterprises scandal with fresh, hot links added daily. ------------------------------------------------ Mike Yassine has been denied bail in court today, Tuesday March 27th 2012. From Gary Dinges at Austin American Statesman [Twitter:@gdinges] "No bond for Mike Yassine. He will remain in custody" ------------------------------------------------ Here's our previous coverage of the scandal that has rocked the Austin Texas nightlife community: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/3/22/Shit-Hits-The-Fan-Austin-Texas-Yassine-Enterprises-Raided-By-The-FBI ------------------------------------------------ new from Gary Dinges at the Statesman [ no bond for two Yassine brothers ] http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/courts/entries/2012/03/27/no_bond_for_austin_nightclub_o.html Austinist! A Yassine Enterprises nightclub dj spills the beans: Too funny http://austinist.com/2012/03/24/yassine_bars_where_the_music_isnt_t.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Wow. More from Austinist and definitely not funny: Where did Yassine Enterprises funnel money? http://austinist.com/2012/03/27/feds_yassine_enterprises_may_have_t.php Mugshots of the Yassine Enterprises crew.1st pic I've seen of Yassine's girl friday http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/suspects-yassine-enterprises-case/#435968 Late breaking Tuesday March 27th from Gary Dinges at the Statesman, full rundown on the entire affair including allegations tying Yassine Enterprises to a litany of crimes including a cold, homicide case and possible links to terrorists! Definitely worth a read http://www.statesman.com/news/local/investigators-link-nightclub-owner-associates-to-drug-deals-2265889.html ------------------------------------------- Wednesday March 28th 2012 NPR is up on the scandal: http://www.npr.org/local/stories/KUT/149490843 Wednesday March 28th 2012 from Gary Dinges at Statesman. Mike Yassine person of interest in disappeared bar owner http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/courts/entries/2012/03/28/breaking_sixth_street_bar_owne.html Wednesday March 28th 2012 More from "man on a mission"; Gary Dinges on bails set and bails denied for Yassine crew http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/courts/entries/2012/03/28/no_bond_for_yassine_brother_as.html Wednesday March 28th 2012 Bar owner known as the the "Jerry Jones of Sixth Street" has been missing since 2000. http://www.statesman.com/news/local/indicted-downtown-club-owner-a-person-of-interest-2268473.html ----------------------------------------- Friday March 30th 2012 Landlords prepare to move in on shuttered Yassine properties http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/closed-clubs-leave-downtown-void Friday March 30th 2012 Virginia landlord Lilia Jiminez brags on Yassine as tenant http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/landlord-yassine-was-a-dream-tenant ------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday March 31st 2012 Event planner blogger writes about Yassine Enterprises scandal http://www.thefeedbak.com/2012/03/displaced-employees-gigs-events-associated-with-yassine-enterprises-troubles/ Saturday March 31st 2012 John Hambrick Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Texan writes about the Yassine Enterprises scandal http://digitaltexan.net/2012/austin-local-news/austin-nighclub-impressario-mike-yassine-brother-steve-remain-jail/article30298/#.T3dCl9XuVbc Saturday March 31st 2012 Thanks to the tipster who sent us this hot link. Mike Yassine vs PETA! http://jessebrede.com/wordpress/2007/12/11/whats-this-stink-about-the-shark-tank-at-qua/ Saturday March 31st 2012 Texas Monthly Daily Post makes passing mention of Mike Yassine and a rape case. First we've heard about this http://tmdailypost.com/article/crime/feds-say-austin-nightclub-owners-have-alleged-hezbollah-ties ------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday April 2nd 2012 Bribery! http://austinist.com/2012/04/02/yassine_enterprises_drugs_murder_te.php more on bribery allegations http://www.kvue.com/news/Another-day-in-court-for-the-Yassine-family--145738355.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday April 3rd 2012 Yassine associate has top secret clearance from US government http://www.statesman.com/news/local/the-blotter-lawyer-says-yassine-associate-was-in-2279572.html Steve Yassine bail news http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/283962/bail-hearing-for-steve-yassine-postponed video on Yassine associate who served as interpreter for US government http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVI2Mf8DTZg&feature=youtube_gdata ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday April 8th 2012 video: local attorney Mindy Montford discusses the Yassine Enterprises scandal http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/legal-analysis-on-yassine-cases What do the bar closures of Yassine Enterprises mean for 6th street? http://www.statesman.com/news/local/what-do-bar-closures-mean-for-sixth-street-2290858.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday April 9th 2011 The Statesman is on top of the Yassine Enterprises scandal. Fresh content just put up http://www.statesman.com/news/local/details-emerge-about-the-men-behind-yassine-enterprises-2290946.html More from reporter Gary Dinges in the Statesman. The State moves to revoke the liquor licenses of Yassine Enterprises bars http://www.statesman.com/news/local/state-seeks-to-revoke-liquor-licenses-for-8-2293028.html

Cuvee Coffee’s Lorenzo Perkins Wins 2012 South Central Regional Barista Championship

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:47:00 -0700

More to come later but Austin's own Lorenzo Perkins has won the 2012 South Central Regional Barista Championship. Perkins represented roaster Cuvee Coffee out of Spicewood, a small town 25 miles west of Austin. The division in which Perkins competed included Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. We'll have more later as details emerge on the victory. http://cuveecoffee.com/

Shit Hits The Fan. Austin Texas Yassine Enterprises Raided By The FBI

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:35:00 -0700

Yassine Enterprises has been in hot water for the past few months. Let's get caught up. Here's an article we wrote last fall about this controversial group: Attorneys Dan Byrne and Kevin Brown have filed suit in federal court alleging local nightclub impresario outfit Yassine Enterprises failed to pay several of their workers the federally mandated $2.13 per hour wage.

Wall Street Big Boy TSG Consumer Partners And Lapdog Stumptown Coffee Roasters Invade Austin

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:35:00 -0700

Mystifying. Stumptown Coffee Roasters is now being served in Austin and shops serving the corporate brew are trumpeting their affiliation. Partial list: 1] Juan Pelota Cafe 2] Elizabeth Street Cafe 3] Hillside Farmacy

Serious Eats Seriously Screws Up On Their SXSW Recommendations For Austin Texas

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:05:00 -0700

Now's the time of the year when know-nothing national websites all start penning their SXSW guides for Austin Texas. First out of the gate: Serious Eats, the seriously boring website that loves writing about Texas and seems to always gets it wrong. Let's take a look at some of their recommendations for SXSW attendees.

At Last: Austin Texas Prepares For Rollout Of Nation's First Crème Brûlée Food Cart

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:09:00 -0700

Hot off the tipster button on this site, we're pleased to announce Austin Texas newest food cart: Brulee Brulee, devoted to Crème brûlée and nothing else. We'll have more later but for now here's a link to their budding website http://bruleebrulee.com/ Word on the street has it that a certain local veteran restaurant owner is considering opening a Hamburger Helper food cart as well. Thoughts? Opinions?

A Big Thank You To The Good People Of Thorndale Texas

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:37:00 -0700

Many thanks. We've been traveling up to Williamson and Milam County Texas for years to eat, drink, take pictures and breathe in a little fresh country air. You'll not meet a nicer group of people in the great state of Texas. Then we hit a roadblock.

Austin Daily Photo: Carnaval Party At The Palmer Sat February 4th 2012

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:55:00 -0700

Team Scrump is loading up in the Econo-line and heading down to Palmer Event Center here in a few hours for the one night where Austin lets her hair down. Wouldn't miss it for the world. Who all's going? Info http://www.sambaparty.com/

Chowhoundjunior Is LIVE: We're Going National And Looking At Chowhound From A Broader Perspective

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

Taking it national y'all. Yes, this weekly article will mainly concern itself with Austin Texas Chowhound but after reading a post earlier tonight we will also delve into the national board. We'll never forget penning a post on Chowhound about our love for homemade tortillas and the mujeres who make them. We were met with vitriol from an assortment of eaters, "Torchy's apologists" if you will.

Seth Kugel, New York Times Frugal Traveler Flew 1500 Miles To Eat At TacoDeli

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:08:00 -0700

Now we'll be lucky if we'll ever get him to come back. We noted on Twitter awhile back that Seth Kugel, the New York Times "frugal traveler" was coming to Austin for a $100 weekend of food and merriment to be documented in the paper of record. He paid some hard dues while he was here.

Austin Texas Has A Brand New Craft Beer Brewery: South Austin Brewing Co. Opens For Business

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:12:00 -0700

Former Balcones brewer Jordan Weeks has set a date for his South Austin Brewing Co. grand opening party. It will be Saturday February 11th from 2-7 pm Weeks is specializing in Belgian-style ales so the party should be good and boozy with plentiful high abv style brews. Interview with the brew maker http://localsavour.com/2010/12/an-interview-with-brew-master-weeks/ and more on Weeks http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/bws/entries/2010/02/11/still_another_austin_brewery_s.html http://texpatriate.wordpress.com/ South Austin Brewing: 512-762-6102.

Sputnik Gets With The Program: East Austin Burger Shop Is Now Open For Lunch

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:35:00 -0700

Randall Stockton made a rare misstep with the roll out of his latest business venture Sputnik when he neglected to establish proper operating hours. To wit: His burger shop wasn't open for lunch. He's addressed the issue and starting tomorrow, January 30th 2012, Sputnik will begin flinging their doors open at 11am for lunch service. Since this is our prime hamburger eating time we'll be running by there one day this week for the quintessential mid day meal; hamburger, fries and an ice cold beer. previously http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/8/14/Austin-Daily-Photo-Sputnik-Burgers-Sunday-August-14th-2010?adminview=true

Austin Daily Photo:Stabbing At Mi Palacio Tex Mex Restaurant On Manor Road

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:35:00 -0700

Tipster button is heating up again. Thanks to the reader who clicked on our tipster button with the story of an attack at Mi Palacio Tex Mex restaurant on Manor Road near Rogge Lane. This little neighborhood is famous for being one of the last open air drug and prostitution markets in Austin. Love The Wire and hate that it got cancelled? Then head on over to this zone and you can relive the glory of one of the greatest tv series of all time.

Dust-up In Milam County:RL Reeves Jr Eats At Barron's Hamburger Haven In Thorndale.Avoids Jailtime

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:45:00 -0700

The Thorndale police officer is polite but he means business. "Turn the bike off, I need to talk to you a minute". With visions of "Macon County Line" in my head I shut off the bike and take off my helmet. "The lady in there [Barron's Hamburger Haven] says you were taking pictures of her restaurant and smoking marijuana on her front porch"

Big News Out Of The Scrumptious Camp: We Have A New Team Member

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:51:00 -0700

Jake, Travis, Chuck, Rhonda and RL welcome Shawn aka Lix Lix to the team. Over on the Chowhound board we've been surreptitiously recruiting their top writers for awhile now. While we would never poach a big buck when we're in the field with our Smith and Wesson, we have no problem going for big game in the dead of night at the expense of the CBS corporation.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Favorite Foods: A Guide To Celebrating The Great Man On His Birthday

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:21:00 -0700

How to honor the great man? This is what we pondered when it dawned on us this weekend that Martin Luther King Jr's day is celebrated on Monday January 21st 2013. We're simple folk who like working with our hands so we decided to hit the kitchen to cook up some of Martin Luther King Jr's favorite foods.

BREAKING NEWS:Live Oak Brewing Company, Austin Texas Premiere Craft Beer Maker Is Hiring Head Brewer

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:55:00 -0700

Sometimes the news hits like a ton. We've known that Live Oak Brewing Company has had long range plans on expansion for some time. They purchased a large piece of property near the Austin Bergstrom International Airport some time ago for a new facility and we're waiting for the day when they move in so we can keep bottles of Live Oak Pilz in the fridge at all times. But there's a larger question. Whither goest Steve Anderson, current head brewer at Live Oak Brewing? The man is a legend in Austin and we hate to see one of the founding fathers of craft beer in Central Texas walk away from the game at the height of his career. Perhaps the new facility will be so large and highly productive that an additional brewer will be needed? We don't know. For now, if you're a hot shot local brewer, you may be interested in applying for this position. For our money we'd love to see Todd Henry over at Lovejoys get the call up to the big leagues. His beer is superb. We've predicted big things for this young brewer for years and now could be the time for him to step into the spotlight and produce on the big stage. We'll be updating this as the evening progresses. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Update: Steve Anderson is moving to Alpine to be the head brewer at Big Bend Brewing.

Rest In Peace: Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:20:00 -0700

Dark day in the history of the great state of Texas. Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company is no more. It's being reborn under a new name; Dublin Bottling Works Inc. and will no longer be manufacturing its signature drink; Dublin Dr Pepper with pure cane sugar.

Fire! Historic Texas Meat House: Hughson Meat Company Has Burned

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:27:00 -0700

The Hughson Meat Company has burned. Perhaps most famous for introducing the Charolais breed of cow to Central Texas consumers, it also played an interesting role in the career of University of Texas Hall of Honor baseball player Tex Hughson by virtue of the fact that his father, Pop Hughson, founded the company in 1946. The historic meat house had shuttered prior to the fire and was in the process of being renovated. Story in San Marco Mercury http://smmercury.com/52379/firefighters-extinguish-blaze-at-old-hughson-meat-co/

Terlingua Texas Chili Festival Winner Reveals All In Recipe Stunner: Mexene Took Him To The Top

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:51:00 -0700

Leafing through a neglected inbox after 3 days of intense barbecue research in Lubbock Texas we stumbled upon the following press release from Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI). This year's winner, Larry Walton, who defeated 305 of the USA's top chili cooks has revealed his championship recipe as well as his 5 signature tips for would be chili cook off entrants.

Happy New Years Day Austin Texas

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:40:00 -0700

Spent the day cooking as is the custom in the great state of Texas. Menu: Hoppin John, Green Beans w/onions and bacon, Smoked Ham and a chocolate cake rising up in the oven right now. Hope y'all have a prosperous and safe 2012.

Birth Notice:Austin Texas Craft Brewery Adelbert's Rolls Out Initial Bottling

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:00 -0700

After a long run up, Adelbert's Brewery has beer for purchase now available in Austin Texas. With the craft beer renaissance in full flower in central Texas you have to have a signature niche to get your product in the mouths of Austin drinkers and these guys have come up with a good one.

Merry Christmas Austin Texas

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:50:00 -0700

Hope you and yours had a safe and joyous holiday.

Dear Southern Living: Houston Food Is Great But Texas Is Not Part Of "The South"

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:36:00 -0700

The South is a glorious part of the United States, we've lived, loved, eaten and celebrated life there since we were born and it is a huge and important part of our dna. We now live in Texas which is the equal to the South but is in no way to be mistaken for our southern neighbors in fine states such as Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. When Southern Living shamelessly placed Houston in their "Tastiest Towns in the South" article we saw it for what it was. A ploy to sell a few more issues of their magazine and that's about it.

Happy National Hamburger Day Austin Texas: 5 Places To Celebrate This August Day

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:37:00 -0700

We seek balance in all things. Yes we love barbecue but we're not going to write about barbecue til you feel like taking your computer and throwing it out a window. We love hamburgers but we're not going to exclusively write about them til you feel like screaming "enough already scrump, we get it, you really love hamburgers"

Austin Craft Beer Brewer Jester King Wins Battle vs TABC. War Rages On. Devil In The Details

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:37:00 -0700

We'll be updating this later as information becomes more clear but Jester King has won at least a partial victory against TABC in their much discussed lawsuit. This we do know. Jester King and Zax Pub emerged victorious in their claims that their freedom of speech was being violated by TABC's arcane laws. This should lead to broader ability to accurately label lagers and ales without having to follow guidelines that were written by people who'd apparently never drank a beer. Only in Texas are the lines between lagers, ales and malt liquors drawn so inanely. This should soon change. Other arguments in their lawsuit fell on deaf ears and we'll note those failures later today. Information is scant right now but today marks a new dawn in Texas beer as TABC is in retreat on several fronts. Can an abolition of this superfluous, outdated agency be far behind? The Sunset Advisory Commission will have the final say.

Chowhoundjunior Is LIVE: We Look At This Weeks Top 5 Posts From The Austin Chowhound Board [5]

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:10:00 -0700

This whole Chowhoundjunior model is contributing greatly to the weal of this site. Whereas before we regularly answered queries on the Austin Chowhound board itself we saw little fruit from our postings. Now, we answer the same queries posted on the board over that way with crucial hotlinks [forbidden on that site] and everybody benefits. Win win from where we sit. Interestingly enough, last night we got hit up through our tipster button by a local eater who was thinking about signing up for Austin's Chowhound board but had gotten frightened off via google search where our columns on the death of the board are apparently up near the top of the google rankings.

Torchy's Apologists vs Scratch Tortilla Makers: RL Reeves Jr Speaks On Current Trends In Austin

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:26:00 -0700

Out here in Austin we refer to the defenders of the plastic bag tortillas as the "Torchy's apologists". Torchy's is a local chain that puts out c-grade tacos on plastic bag tortillas. The food is prepared in a central commissary and shipped out to the satellite shops, heated and served to the public. It is wildly popular.

Gigante! Peligrosa 4 Year Anniversary Dance Party At Scoot Inn Friday December 16th 2011

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:14:00 -0700

The return of Peligrosa. Austin's long running Latin Dance party is set to shake down the Scoot Inn this Friday December 16th 2011. Party starts at 9 pm and runs til 2 am when everybody loads up and hits a strangers backyard to sip on Lone Star Tall Girls and shiver in the Winter cold. Lots of djs for this edition: Orion, Hobo D, Manolo Black and mysteriously; King Louie! Odd inclusion but the guy is a major talent. $5 gets you in the door and here's hoping you have a good fake if you're not 21. relevant http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/1/21/Austin-Daily-Photo-Reds-Scoot-Inn--1940--Friday-January-21st-2011

Parsing The Difference Between Facial Recognition vs Detection:Cole Harper Brings Scenetap To Austin

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:58:00 -0700

We've been reading a lot of articles about Scenetap, Facebook, Cole Harper, Dystopian realities of modern life and the difference between facial recognition vs facial detection. The lines are both blurry and frightening. Facial recognition is a biometric form of identification wherein a face is scanned and compared to a database to determine who belongs to the image that is captured. Think Facebook and the new technology they're currently trumpeting. Facial detection is a little bit looser. Let's quote Scenetap's website:

Fire! Austin Texas El Agasajo Tejano Nightclub Has Burned

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:33:00 -0700

One of the last of the old school East Austin Tejano clubs has burned. We'll have more later but for now http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2010/10/2/Austin-Daily-Photo-El-Agasajo-Nightclub-Saturday-October-2nd-2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update Photo: Not for the faint of heart, El Agasajo after the fire http://chowpapi.com/wordpress/wordpress-2.8.6/wordpress/?p=1725

Orwellian Cameras Linked To Facial Recognition Software At Austin Bar Entries Via Scene Tap

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:26:00 -0700

Who in their right mind thought this would be a good idea? Cameras covertly placed at the Austin bar or nightclub you're preparing to enter scan your face, eyes, nose and facial structure so that they may determine sex and age. The information is then disseminated through network infrastructure so that smart phone bearers with the appropriate app can determine whether the crowd at the bar is male or, if female, composed of cougars, sabre tooths or even the much sought after "wildcats."

Chowhoundjunior Is LIVE: We Look At This Weeks Top 5 Posts From The Austin Chowhound Board [4]

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:35:00 -0700

We're still hard at work over on the Austin Chowhound board. When we were booted off a few weeks back a great hue and cry went up from some of the long term posters over that way. Of course it was removed by the Quakers they've hired as the board moderators. Yet still we soldier onward, harvesting the best work from a board, that while slowly dying, still has 5 or so gems per week. Without further ado. Here's the top 5 and as always, your comments are crucial to this feature.

Machiavelli Laughs. JW Walthall We Hardly Knew Ye. Changing Of The Guard At Eater Austin

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:14:00 -0700

A bruised and bloodied JW Walthall has been thrown off the 35th floor balcony of the sumptuous Eater Austin corporate suite at the Austonian in downtown Austin. We're certain tomorrow's Statesman will have a screaming 50 point type headline in tomorrow's paper "WALTHALL OUT GRIMES IN" Or something to that effect It seems like it was only yesterday that our town welcomed JW as the new Eater editor http://austin.eater.com/tags/jw-walthall as Paula Forbes, the Wisconsin fireball, was kicked upstairs to Eater National. Walthall didn't last long. Andrea Grimes of Eater Dallas who made waves in that town by riding around in an Eater Dallas stretch Jag with a brace of Irish Wolfhounds, is officially replacing the short term JW as of today December 7th 2011. Read all about it below. http://austin.eater.com/archives/2011/12/07/chchchchaaaaaaaanges-at-eater-austin.php

United States Dept Of Labor Files Suit Against Austin Texas Based Whole Foods

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:39:00 -0700

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has sued Austin Texas based Whole Foods over the grocery chains firing of a worker at a Miami Beach location. The suit seeks to have the worker reinstated, along with back wages, after the worker was fired for expressing distress over a raw sewage leak at the store. A sewage line had ruptured at the market and was spilling into the cheese section as well as the restrooms. After a day of no corrective action taken by management, the worker then called the companies anonymous tip line to report the problem. 4 days later the employee reported the leak to another manager.

Scrumptiouschef Hits The Big Time. Texas Monthly Daily Post Features Our Work

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:31:00 -0700

The Woodward and Bernstein of Austin food letters, Scrumptiouschef, has been feted for our deep, investigative journalism once again. Jason Cohen over at Texas Monthly, the 900lb gorilla of Austin journalism, has seen fit to feature our work on day one of the concern's newest feature http://tmdailypost.com/article/food/franklin-bbq-gets-twitter-homage We're bursting with pride over here at HQ in East Austin. Thanks Texas Monthly Daily Post. our deep cover piece that sparked the feature http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/11/29/Turns-Out-Aaron-Franklin-Is-Not-God-Hes-Jesus-Austin-Pit-Boss-Hits-Twitter-Running-Wide-Open

New Category Alert: Top Chef Texas Has Its Own Home

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:38:00 -0700

All of our Top Chef Texas articles are consistently skyrocketing upwards in our page view category. We'd been sort of haphazard as far as where we were putting them in our vast archives but no more. Top Chef Texas has its own category now. You may read all about Paul Qui, Magical Elves, Padma and GIANT BLACK MAN here: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/Top-Chef-Texas Thanks for checking out the site y'all. We really appreciate it.

Bar Louie Chain Purchased By Affiliate Of Sun Capital Partners

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:46:00 -0700

Sun Capital Partners is a private investment firm which owns [ partial list] Captain D's Seafood Kitchen, Boston Market, Contessa Premium Foods, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef,Fazoli's Restaurants, Friendly Ice Cream Corp., Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., Harry's Fresh Foods, Smokey Bones Barbeque and Grill and Bar Louie which they purchased in 2010.

Austin Daily Photo: Central Texas Hot Guts Project

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:05:00 -0700

We've searched for years for the best Central Texas barbecue hot guts sausages and we have our favorites. Thankfully, here in Austin, we're just a short drive to the hot guts temples in Lockhart, McMahan, Taylor and Elgin but after 20 years of visiting we felt it was time to show and prove and make a batch ourselves.

Scrumptiouschef Hits The Big Time: Eater Austin Comes Calling

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:23:00 -0700

RL Reeves Jr is always hard at work for the people. Even when recreating, the pad and pen is always handy so story ideas that come out of nowhere [generally fueled by Pearl beer and good company] can be converted into articles to keep Austin better informed.

Scrumptiouschef Hits The Big Time: Thrown Off Chowhound For Once And For All

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:41:00 -0700

We imagine the wizened, little old granny aunt moderator slowly shuffling her way to her Commodore 64 computer to type in the following email that we just got in our inbox "We're sorry you've been unable to respect our requests to adhere to our guidelines for bloggers. We've deactivated your account.

Turkey Texas, Home Of Bob Wills Issues Stinging Rebuke To Peta Over Proposed Name Change To Tofurky

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:58:00 -0700

Come take it. Peta's always in the news. The national animal rights concern is masterly at keeping its name on the top of mastheads in newspapers around USA. But then they came to Texas where they are scrambling to gain purchase. We aren't privy to the machinations the braintrust at Peta went through prior to their proposal offering a free, vegan Thanksgiving day feast for the citizens of Turkey, Texas. Of course the devil is in the details and in exchange for the feast Peta offered a proviso that the town change its name to Tofurky.

Happy National Baklava Day Austin: It's November 17th 2011

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:28:00 -0700

How this escaped us we'll never know but at least we got in under the wire. While it's certainly true that baklava is not a commonly served dessert in Eastern Kentucky it was in our home. Our mother was an adventurous young woman. Saturday mornings often meant getting up early so we [me and my sister] could be whisked away to yard sales in Barboursville, Williamsburg, London and Corbin.

Kenji Lopez Alt And Serious Eats: Come On Out To The Great State And Learn What Real Texas Chili Is

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:47:00 -0700

Peering around on Roadfood earlier this evening we stumbled upon a recipe for "real Texas chili con carne" which is a topic near and dear to us. A poster from Arizona named foodbme had put up a recipe claiming to be authentic Texas chili. That always perks our ears up cause genuine Texas Red is a food that sustains us through the hard times...a food that carries us back to San Angelo and Sonora and a food that always has us reaching for one of our old Doug Sahm or Ernest Tubb lps when we're getting ready to hit the kitchen.

Happy National Fast Food Day Austin Texas: Get On Over To A Popeye's And Celebrate

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:26:00 -0700

We eat as little fast food as possible. Then there's Popeye's [est. 1972] which is delicious by any metric. We raged with great fury when the Airport Blvd location ceased their 2 piece with a biscuit $1.99 special that every other Popeye's in town continues to run. But then we realized it was probably for the best.

Can We Please Get Some Riot Police Over Here:Free Franklin Barbecue/Austin East Ciders At Longbranch

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:04:00 -0700

This could get ugly. Austin Eastciders, a new cidery concern in town, is teaming up with Longbranch Inn to helm a keg of dynamite of a party this Thursday November 17th 2011. Expect truncheon swinging members of Austin Police Department to wade into the fray, cracking skulls of would-be party-goers at Longbranch Inn.

Terlingua Texas Comes To Ubud Bali: Texas Chili Cook Off Results From The Island Of The Gods

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:06:00 -0700

It was long time coming. Once Texas gets ahold of you there's no letting go. We reckon the folks behind the first ever Texas-style Chili Cook Off in Indonesia must have set foot in the Great State at some point in their lives. Why else would they be trying to get a taste of Texas way over in Bali? On Sunday November 6th 2011 Ubud hosted this event and it was reportedly quite the success. Stephen Michaels emerged victorious in the only category that mattered. CASI, all meat, no filler-in other words, the only true chili. We've never made our way over to Bali but have heard good things about the lifestyle out that way. We'd definitely be interested in going, particularly to sample some of their barbecue.

Has La Zona Rosa Been Sold?

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:22:00 -0700

Word on the street this past week has it that the big nightclub over on 4th street west has been sold to an unnamed buyer. We're digging for more information right now but this could turn out to be a huge story. We've been going to La Zona Rosa for years and have seen countless, hard charging shows from the likes of MIA, Hank 3, Beck, The Gourds, The Streets, Ghostland Observatory, Guided By Voices....we could name a hundred. No, it's by no means our favorite live music venue but we still managed to get by there a dozen or so times a year. We'll keep y'all posted as more news comes in.

Pflugerville Pfall Chili Pfest Tomorrow Saturday Nov 12th 2011

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:55:00 -0700

Sometimes Austin feels like it weighs a ton. The relentless pace of the city simply becomes too much and we have to break away from the town we love, if only for an evening or two. That's when we take a short trip up the highway to Pflugerville. The tiny farming community 13 miles north of Austin provides all we need for an evening away from the throb of big city Austin. There's great food [Nuernberg Brauhaus] an excellent bar crawl with 3 good joints within a block of each other [Hanover's, Players, Red Rooster] and a general feel of camaraderie from the citizenry.

Final Days Of Wurstfest In New Braunfels: Who's Up For Some $25 Pitchers And Chicken Dancing?

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:38:00 -0700

In business since 1961, Wurstfest is one of the biggest parties Texas throws all year long. Tens of thousands of people descend on New Braunfels to eat meat on a stick, listen to accordion music and drink expensive beer. We'll be sitting this one out.

Attention United States Military Veterans. Eat Free This Friday November 11th It's Your Day

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:50:00 -0700

United States military personnel have an array of options from restaurants offering free food this Friday November 11th 2011 to commemorate Veterans Day. We dug around the backwoods of the internet to construct an omnibus guide so y'all can get out there and chowdown and feel the love of Austin area restaurants. Here's our list:

2011 Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff Winner!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:30:00 -0700

Details are still coming in but George Odom of Manchaca Texas bested 75 other chili cooks out in Terlingua Texas this past Saturday November 5th 2011. Congratulations Mr. Odom we don't doubt that your bowl of red was a good one. Any chili cooks out there? We wrote the rules on how to make a proper bowl of Texas Red http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2009/11/11/The-Rules-of-Texas-Red and once you know the rules of Texas Red it's time to hit the kitchen and make a kettle http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2009/11/18/How-To-Make-Authentic-Texas-Red-Chili

Texas Wrangler Darlins Throwing A $5 Barbecue Plate Lunch At Gregory Plaza

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:45:00 -0700

Barbecue benefit for Ride On Center For Kids Wed Nov 9th 2011 at Gregory Plaza. This will be put on by Texas Wrangler Darlins. If you've ever run up on a posse of a few dozen girls wearing denim skirts with cowgirl boots and cowgirl hats around UT campus then you know who these gals are. Don't cross 'em. This lunch is for a good cause so get on out and get a cheap plate of barbecue in you and support some needy children. No idea who's doing the cooking so can't vouch for that but you can't beat the price. noon-3pm all barbecue coverage here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/Barbecue

No Sleep At Scrumptious HQ Tonight: We Give You The Ketchup Fountain

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:48:00 -0700

Sometimes peering around the dusty, poorly maintained corners of the internet we stumble upon the most horrific things. This is one of those times. But first a little backstory. Both of our parents are dedicated cooks. A potent tag team in the kitchen, collectors of arcane cookbooks and dedicated gardeners they can put a Daniel Boulud-esque feast on the table and do so with startling frequency.

Attention Tias y Primas: How's Your Tamale Making Skills These Days? $1000 Prize On The Hook

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:17:00 -0700

UPDATE! Hot Off The Twitter:2011 Tamales! Fest Winners: Chicken - Mayra Gonzalez, Pork - Maria Reyes, Wildcard - Courtney Stone (apple AND caramel tamal). Now onto the original article: We eat a lot of tamales. Like most long term Austinites we have a secret source who vends them out of her kitchen on a dusty side street in South Austin. Met her through Big Mike the cabbie. She's solid Mexican gold and we would be lost without her. Of course our favorite restaurant source; El Zunzal, fills in when we need to just sit down and have at it. Their tamal de elote is insane.

Attention Austin Area Vegetarians: 23rd Annual Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:52:00 -0700

Can it be called chili if it doesn't have meat in it? The answer is yes. Some of the best bowls of chili we've ever sampled were meat free and most delicious. We've even been known to whomp up a kettle of vegetarian chili ourselves from time to time. Of course our secret weapon is pork stock as we must bow before the gods of flavor ultimately. As long as the vegetarians don't try to append the label "Texas Red" to their chili we're fine with their endeavors and will eat at their table with gusto.

2011 Chow 13 Honorees Just Went Live! Hannah Hart David Tran Tom Peters Eddie Huang et al

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:20:00 -0700

Way back in the paleo era of 2010, Chow blew up the careers of Ruth Bourdain, Sean Brock, Tom Mylan and a handful of other food folks when they were inducted into the website's Chow 13 list of yearly notables. The 2011 list just went live and it is a doozy. Chow dug deep on this one and got it right with a compendium of cooking world bad asses from all across the food spectrum.

Terlingua Chili Cook-Off: Texas Lynch Mobs, No Good Scoundrels And A Big Bowl Of Red

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:46:00 -0700

It's here. The Frank X. Tolbert - Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cookoff is this weekend out in Terlingua, Texas November 3,4th and 5th 2011. Past events have gotten so heated that one cheating contestant [who won the affair] was described this way: "That rotten, no-good scoundrel," chili judge Tom Nall said. "We've posted guards around the Texas border to keep him out."

Not Happy Unless You're Riding A Fixie Around Austin On A Guided Tour? Austin Eats Food Tours

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:35:00 -0700

We're not in the market for an Austin Food Tour. We'd love to meet a guide that could show us all our town's secret spots but we've spent a lifetime finding them ourselves and could probably mentor a would be guide. But we were intrigued when we found out there's a local company taking Austin neophytes on guided, food bicycle tours. We're not all in but we do reckon there's a good market for it as our town has a brand new thousand or so citizens per month.

In Texas We Want To Drink Ice Cold Beer And We Want To Do It In A Honky Tonk

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:16:00 -0700

It's hard to believe but as it stands right now the good citizens of Kyle and Buda are honky tonk free. As per local ordinance, bars and nightclubs are forbidden. That seems a mite extreme. Even in small towns in Turkey there are plenty bars for a hardworking citizen to relax over an Efes Pilsner at the end of the workday. We loved it over in those parts and were surprised at how hard the Muslims like to party when it comes time to blow some steam off.

Put Down The Doughnut And Slowly Walk Away: Scientists Have Some Bad News For You

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:05:00 -0700

You might as well replace that doughnut you're wolfing down right now with a line of cocaine. They're both addictive and each one will eventually kill you. Researchers the world over, including the University of Texas, 3 blocks from where we pen this as we eat a late night brisket snack, have shifted their studies into overdrive in 2011 with 28 significant papers being released.

Local Bar Tycoons Yassine Enterprises Facing Lawsuit From Industry Workers-Opens Stack Burger Bar

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:55:00 -0700

Updated: RAID! FBI raids Yassine Enterprises! New article http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2012/3/22/Shit-Hits-The-Fan-Austin-Texas-Yassine-Enterprises-Raided-By-The-FBI?adminview=true --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attorneys Dan Byrne and Kevin Brown have filed suit in federal court alleging local nightclub impresario outfit Yassine Enterprises failed to pay several of their workers the federally mandated $2.13 per hour wage. Yassine Enterprises owns multiple nightclubs, each one more nightmarish than the next. Any of these names ring a bell? Malaia, Fuel, Still, Qua, Treasure Island, and Pure. Nope, we didn't think so.

Public Service Time: Austin Bars And Restaurants Carrying The Longhorn Network. Hook Em

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:37:00 -0700

Public service time. We'll be at the pig roast at Three Little Pigs tomorrow when the University of Texas Longhorns begin duking it out with the state of Kansas on the football field so we'll miss the shenanigans. As will a lot of the UT faithful as there's some sort of weird pissing contest going on between one group of rich businessmen and another group of rich businessmen over who shall be allowed to carry UT Football games on television in Austin. We rolled around the internet for a bit and came up with a list of places for the Longhorn nation to rally around their team. Here it is:

Texas Forever

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:56:00 -0700

Resolution: WHEREAS, Texans are renowned for their love of chicken fried steak, that exceptional dish that elevates the hearty flavor of beef to new heights by coating it in batter and breading and frying it until the ingredients are melded in a blissful union; and WHEREAS, A food that reflects the history and diversity of our state, chicken fried steak has been linked to the German specialty Wiener schnitzel, which arrived in Texas with European immigrants; other food historians note that chicken fried steak is similar to pan-fried steak, a favorite of Texas cowboys; and WHEREAS, Generations of Lone Star State residents have partaken of this beloved entree, and happy memories of putting knife and fork to a chicken fried steak in the company of family and friends are shared by countless people all across Texas; and WHEREAS, While chicken fried steak can be enjoyed at any time, the dish's popularity justifies the celebration of an observance in its honor; on October 26, 2011, restaurants throughout the state are marking the second annual Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day with special deals and related activities; and WHEREAS, This signature dish occupies a special place in the culinary culture of the Lone Star State, and Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day provides a welcome opportunity to pay homage to that shared legacy; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby recognize October 26, 2011, as Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day and extend sincere best wishes to all who are taking part in this unique occasion. relevant http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/10/26/Happy-Chicken-Fried-Steak-Day-Austin-Texas-Its-Wednesday-October-26th-2011 relevant http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/5/15/Austin-Daily-Photo-Best-Chicken-Fried-Steak-in-Austin-Saturday-May-14th-2011

East Austin Soul Food Joint Set To Throw A 50lb Pig On Their Barbecue Pit:Party At Three Little Pigs

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:26:00 -0700

We're starting to get some good tips on food events through the site. Thanks y'all. In East Austin right now a young pig from local premium pork farm Richardson's, is enjoying a bath of Sambal chile sauce, honey, orange juice, brown sugar, salt and star anise. As the shoat relaxes in its brine Chef Raymond Tatum is mapping out his East Austin pig roast party in the parking lot of East End Wines.

Want To Take A Random Stroll Through Our 1000 Article Archive?

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:39:00 -0700

Hit the surprise me button over there to the right. It's a random post generator. You might hit the first article ever written for the site or perhaps one from earlier today.

Happy Chicken Fried Steak Day Austin Texas: It's Wednesday October 26th 2011

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:35:00 -0700

Today is the day. We'll revisit this post tonight but for now here are a few links to get your mind right on this august day for all Texans. Where NOT to go http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/5/15/Austin-Daily-Photo-Best-Chicken-Fried-Steak-in-Austin-Saturday-May-14th-2011 The best we ever had http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/8/4/Austin-Daily-PhotoBlanco-Bowling-Club-Cafe-Thursday-August-4th-2011

Czhilispiel:Flatonia Texas Hosts Giant Czech & German Heritage Chili Eating Margarita Guzzling Party

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:26:00 -0700

Sounds like the good folks of Flatonia Texas have come up with a winning combination for a big party. Czhilispiel is set to go off this weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday October 28, 29 and 30th 2011. Czhilispiel includes a barbecue cookoff, a chili cookoff that is the second largest in Texas, a margarita jackpot competition and a biergarten that as recently as 2002 was the largest on planet earth. We reckon it must have been surpassed at some point as the City of Flatonia is no longer making that claim. We love the quote from Jennifer Boland, a Flatonian "The only place hotter than Czhilispiel....is the surface of the sun." Now we know we're going. We head down to Waelder fairly regularly on our hot guts runs and Flatonia is only about 15 miles further east on Hwy 90. We'll put up some pertinent links in comments below if you're thinking about heading down.

The End Times Are Upon Us. McDonald's Launches McRib Sandwich Deep In The Heart Of Texas

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:27:00 -0700

It's been 29 years since the McDonald's corporation first foisted the McRib sandwich upon the American eating public. But unlike Marvin Hagler, who appears to not be mounting a comeback, the McRib is back and folks are going crazy for this exercise in faux barbecue. Between now and November 14th 2011 the barbecue rib sandwich that mysteriously has no bones will make a reappearance on select McDonald's menus across the US and yes that includes Texas.

Thanks Y'all

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:42:00 -0700

The scrumptiouschef site is absolutely blowing up. We're charting new records every single day with page views, unique visits and other important stuff that admin keeps us up to date on. Just wanted to say thank you. What started as a humble little recipe blog has morphed into a beast of an Austin Texas food industry site. We appreciate the thousands of folks who visit each day and promise to keep y'all up to date on our bread and butter: Barbecue, Tex Mex, Soul Food and up to the minute restaurant industry news. If there's anything we're missing out on let us know.

Scandal On Austin Chowhound: New Poster Mugged In Back Alley By Moderator

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:52:00 -0700

Screen grab from redacted and censored Chowhound post by slowdownsavor. After the jump read about the controversy. Gypsy Picnic - what did you all think of it this year? Hey everyone, I just read another post about how the only real complaint was that there was too MUCH food given as a portion. I agree. I must say i felt terrible throwing some foods away - but COME ON.... this isn't a typical service day people!!! half portions would have been great. I think the point was to sample Austin's best - and as many as was possible.... how can you enjoy sampling when you're getting a full lunch at each stop?? anyway, I reviewed my experience and took a whole bunch of pictures - check it out slow down and savor: Gypsy Picnic Trailer Food Festival 2011: Reviewed http://bit.ly/qfKdUC i'm super interested in hearing what people have to say about this years compared to last years event.... Permalink | Reply By slowdownsavor on Oct 23, 2011 03:42AM

The Hog Queen Shall Be Crowned Saturday October 22nd 2011 In Elgin Texas At The Hogeye Festival

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:21:00 -0700

We weren't around for its initial run but we loved tales of Hog Winslow and his daughter Hogette on the old Andy Griffith show re-runs. Ernest T. Bass once wrote a love note to the lovely Hogette and winged it through the Winslow's front window. Caught the gal in the noggin and she had to get stitches if we recall.

At Scrumptiouschef We Post Your Comments Whether We Agree Or Not

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:38:00 -0700

Feel free to comment on our articles and put up links to your blog or website. Take issue with us, agree, disagree, state your opinion, rant, rave, argue-whatever. We reckon this is a public forum and we want to hear from you. We won't censor you unless you're trying to sell Timberland shoes. We've tried to engage other bloggers and writers in Austin but we reckon their ivory towers are a mite rickety-they mainly just delete our comments or neglect to approve them so they can be posted on their sites. No matter. We'll just keep hammering out a hundred or so articles a month on what's going on in Austin food. Welcome aboard commenters.

Had Enough Texas Wild Boar Coverage? A&E Debuts "American Hoggers" Tonight Wed October 19th 2011

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:05:00 -0700

Our tv went silent a few years back when the FCC moved all the broadcasts over from our beloved analog to the new fangled digital format. Friends reported that you could go by HEB and get a little box that would convert the signal but we're dyed in the wool Fiesta loyalists and the thought of going elsewhere gives us pangs. But if we were to have a working, digital television you would find us glued to the set tonight for the debut of American Hoggers.

America's Favorite Food Truck Is From Texas Town But It Ain't Austin: Congratulations Chef Tai Lee

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:25:00 -0700

College Station one upped Austin in securing victory for resident food trailer Mobile Gourmet in the Food Network's contest to determine America's Favorite Food Truck. Chef Tai Lee won ten thousand dollars as well as the right to compete in next year's Great American Food Truck race challenge on the channel. Over four million people voted and nearly six hundred trucks were entered in the fray. A humanitarian as well as a mobile cook, Chef Lee will be donating a portion of the winnings to the Texas Wildfire Relief Charity. Recipe from Lee?

DUSTUP! Three Texas Gals Ignite Firestorm With Crock Pot Girls Cooking Controversy

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:45:00 -0700

Any thing that goes viral on the Facebook may as well be going viral in Azerbaijan as we're just too damn busy to dedicate the 3-7 hours a day that all our friends spend on the site. We're certain that it's a fine endeavor but our hours in the day are all completely spoken for and we really wish we had 30 instead of the allotted 24. So when we mistakenly stumbled upon The Crock Pot girls, three gals from Brownwood's Facebook page, we lingered for a moment then got back to doing what we do best; digging up all the latest Austin Texas food stories.

So Many People So Very Wrong: Yellow Jacket Social Club/Swan Dive Win Best Of Austin Best New Bar

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:48:00 -0700

There are a few cocktails so iconic that if you're a bartender and you can't make them you might as well call it a day. Near the top of that list is the Dark n Stormy, a witches brew of rum and ginger so potent and delicious that we became hopeless slaves to it years back when the cocktail revival swept through America and then Austin Texas bars.

NEW SITE FEATURE! Hit The Surprise Me Button Over There To The Right

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:31:00 -0700

We're closing in on a 1000 articles on the site and that archive is getting bigger by the day. Take a random walk through the past by hitting the "surprise me" button on the top right of this page. You'll be glad you did.

Texas Writers Bring Home The Bacon At 2011 Association Of Food Journalists Awards

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:32:00 -0700

We're nothing if not evenhanded. Although we visited the Association Of Food Journalists website and dissolved in laughter over how poorly they're running their operation, we reckon it might have more to do with a webmaster who suffers from chronic ineptitude than anything else. The AFJ had their annual awards ceremony last Thursday October 6th over in South Carolina and Texas received some good accolades.

The Association Of Food Journalists Website: Good For A Few Laughs And That's About It.

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:45:00 -0700

We love the tag line on the website of the Association of Food Journalists website where it says. "A Website By And For Professional Food Journalists". That's laughable once you begin attempting to navigate their site. We read that the Association was having its big annual awards ceremony Thursday October 6th over in South Carolina so we started checking out their website to see how Texas food writers fared.

Ole Town Country Hoedown! Party In Pflugerville At Red Rooster Wed Oct 12th 2011

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 22:13:00 -0700

Sometimes Austin living becomes entirely too much. When lassitude sets in from our high flying lifestyle we don't allow ourselves to lay on the sofa quietly weeping...we set out for Pflugerville so we can recalibrate via an evening at one of Central Texas' historic taverns. While it's true that Red Rooster has only been around for three years, the room has played host to the drinking set since 1983 with a linear heritage stretching all the way back to 1952.

Magical Elves Of Top Chef Loot Texas Treasury Of 400k. Flee. Return To Sue Texas Attorney General

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:56:00 -0700

Dear Magical Elves+Bravo TV: Please Report Back To Texas For Your Drygulching Bravo TV and the production team behind Top Chef aka Magical Elves recently completed filming season nine of their reality show in the great state. Their tenure here was not without controversy. After plundering an estimated 400k from our treasury and making a million pie in the sky promises, they decided a good capper would be to go ahead and sue Texas to keep the details of their sweetheart deal with Gov. Perry's office top secret.

Chef Pig Butcher Businessman:Andrew Wiseheart Of Contigo Austin Offers Butchery Class Today

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:55:00 -0700

Information is scarce but Chef Andrew Wiseheart of Contigo is offering a butchery class today. He'll break down a half pig and show you how to do so as well. Link to website http://contigotexas.com/austin Good article about Contigo http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/us/12tttravel.html Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Mezcal Moves To The Center Of The Stage: Booze Party At Takoba Saturday October 8th 2011

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:38:00 -0700

We've been drinking more mezcal than usual of late. What with Bridget Dunlap opening up her Bar Ilegal near Rainey Street and our continued love of Takoba's extensive mezcal menu, we've careened into the house late at night buzzed up on the stuff and landed on the couch with startling frequency these past few weeks.

Attn:International Eaters.Lebanon, Palestine, Greece, Eritrea and Romania Food Party Oct 7-8 2011

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:11:00 -0700

One of Austin's biggest food parties is this weekend at St. Elias Church on 11th st. This event has been celebrated each year since 1932 and features the food of several different Mediterranean countries, most prominently Greece.

Foodways Texas Film: Good Better Best. Short Doc By Keeley Steenson On Texas Sorghum Family

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:16:00 -0700

Growing up in the bread basket of Appalachia; Kentucky, afforded us the opportunity to eat lots of molasses, as sorghum was grown on both our parent's and our extended family's farms. We all loved to raise a little cane.

Happy National Taco Day Austin: Fifteen Plus Places For You To Eat Tacos Morning Noon And Night

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:36:00 -0700

October 4th 2012 is National Taco Day, which to us is about the same as Christmas. We've curated a list from the archives so here are a few suggestions depending on where you live and how you like your tacos:

The Rise Of Texas Craft Beer: Austin Beerworks, Humperdink's, Uncle Billy's,NXNW At GABF In Colorado

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:07:00 -0700

Texas breweries acquitted themselves admirably at the Great American Beer Fest this weekend in Colorado.

Austin's Alamo Drafthouse Expansion, Eventual Domination Of Both New York And Los Angeles

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:02:00 -0700

Tim and Karrie League are about to hit the big time. The real big time, not just Austin's version. The Alamo Drafthouse is set to invade both New York City and Los Angeles California. Hope the Leagues have good strong backs to tote all those duffel bags filled with cash back to Texas. They're going to need them.

Austin Chocolate Festival Set To Reveal The State Of Chocolate In Texas October 15th-16th 2011

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:24:00 -0700

We eat a lot of chocolate. We like the good stuff e.g Vosges, but we're not above the pleasures of whatever mass market bar we can grab from the candy counter at Royal Blue Grocery either.

You May Have Missed: Top Austin Texas Food Stories From This Past Week Sept 26th - October 2nd 2011

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:53:00 -0700

Here are the top food stories we reported on this past week: We rolled out a brand new feature on the site http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/9/29/Birth-Notice-Mai-Thai-Thursday-September-29th-2011

Reinforce The Civic Center: State Championship LULAC 4876 Barbecue Cook-off San Marcos Oct 8th 2011

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:23:00 -0700

There's only one official Barbecue State Championship in the Hill Country and this is it. The winners at the State Championship in San Marcos will qualify for the Meridian National Championship, the prestigious barbecue cook off that's taken place in Meridian Texas for the past 23 years.

The United States First New Sake Brewery In 15 Years Is Set To Open In Austin: Texas Sake Kura

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:23:00 -0700

With a mantra of only Texas rice in their sake, we hope this new company has a nice big warehouse as the Texas rice farmers are about to be officially screwed. As of March 1st of 2012, if the water in the Highlands Lakes reservoirs fails to meet the 850,000 acre feet minimum standard then the taps are turned off and the rice farmers are hung out to dry. The affected farmers are in the state's three biggest rice-producing counties – Matagorda, Wharton and Colorado.

Go West Young Vegan Organic Macrobiotic Restaurant: Austin's Casa De Luz To Open In San Diego

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:53:00 -0700

With any luck the football Longhorns will get another prestigious Holiday Bowl bid and all their plant-based diet faithful can rally in San Diego at the brand new Casa De Luz at the turn of the year. Austin's only vegan, macrobiotic restaurant is heading west to California.

Patsy Cline, Chili Cook Offs And Honky Tonks: Get Down To Giddy Ups In South Austin Oct 1-2 2011

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 11:50:00 -0700

There might still be a warm day or two but when we usher in chili season, we reckon Summer's goose is officially cooked. It's time for chili cook offs every weekend between now and the end of the year. The first one is at Giddy Ups down in Manchaca aka South Austin Texas.

Are You A Wend? A Sorb? A Slav? Wendish Festival Serbin Texas Sunday September 25th 2011

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 01:27:00 -0700

In the mid 1800s a sailing vessel docked in Galveston bay loaded with several hundred migrants hailing from Germany. They were not German per se however. They were Wends. Like many immigrants of the time they had come to America seeking freedom to practice their religion. They were Lutherans.

Chicanery! Skullduggery! Roguery! How Whole Foods Extracts The Maximum Amount of $ From Your Wallet

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:50:00 -0700

Fascinating piece of journalism in Fast Company. Author Martin Lindstrom has broken down the methods Whole Foods uses to pluck your hard earned wages directly from your wallet and into their corporate coffers.

Texas Craft Brewers Association Party At Fiesta Gardens Saturday September 24th 2011

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:22:00 -0700

We never have a good time at these things. They're invariably outside, the lines to get a swallow or two of beer are long, people feel duty bound to bring their children, the food is subpar....we could go on and on but suffice to say we're not chuffed at the prospects.

Texas Is Burnt: Central Texas Wildfire Fund To Be Enriched Through Austin Bakes For Bastrop Oct.1st

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:46:00 -0700

The love of baking in Austin is boundless. From the shaggy headed hippies living in Airstreams parked in people's back yards in 78704 to high end dessert specialists at professional kitchens scattered all over town.

RIP: Rest In Peace. Roscar Chocolates Sunday September 18th 2011

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:42:00 -0700

Roscar has burned to the ground. The local purveyor of truffles and bon bons was immolated by the mammoth wild fires that swept through Bastrop Texas last week. Tragedy. We loved their bon bons, particularly the horchata flavored ones. The truffles were also good, especially the tequila jalapeno flavor. Central Texas is not known for delicious chocolatiers so let's hope owner Frans Hendriks gets his business back up and starts feeding us his homemade sweets once again. all obituaries here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/RIP-Rest-In-Piece

You May Have Missed: Top Austin Texas Food Stories From This Past Week Sept 12th - September 18th

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:15:00 -0700

Here are the top 5 Austin food scene stories we reported on from this past week. It's ACL time so we geared up to show Austin food in its best possible light. Ancient steakhouse http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/9/12/Top-Eleven-Bites-of-Food-In-Austin-Texas-For-ACL-Visitors-Part-Six-The-Hoffbrau

Spy Photo: John Mueller Barbecue aka JMueller BBQ

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:27:00 -0700

Rolling down South First Street this morning something looked a mite different in the 1500 block. We circled back to see if there'd been any movement in the big vacant lot where John Mueller is slated to open his new barbecue joint this month. A big stack of oak is tucked away under guard of a group of hobos drinking tall boys, hustling their balls and spitting. They looked a little rough and tumble but since this is the first concrete evidence we have of the barbecue to come we figured we'd hop off the bike and make a picture. No dustup. They looked us over and figured easier pickings might come along later.

Congratulations:El Paso Native Daniel Valenzuela Wins Auguste Escoffier Chefs Under Fire In Austin

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:53:00 -0700

Last night at Auguste Escoffier chef school in North Austin, Daniel Valenzuela emerged as the victor in the Chefs Under Fire cooking competition beating Chef Erica Beneke of Max's Wine Dive.

You May Have Missed: Top Austin Texas Food Stories From This Past Week Sept 5th - September 11th

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:46:00 -0700

Here are the top Austin Texas food stories we reported on this past week: A group of area chefs are gathered together at Escoffier Austin for a fistfight http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/9/5/Another-Day-Another-Group-Of-Chefs-In-A-Bloody-Fight-To-The-Finish-At-Auguste-Escoffier-In-Austin

Unpaid Volunteer Moderator Tells Texas Barbecue Legend To Stop It

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:37:00 -0700

We reckon you get what you pay for. Anytime we've needed work to be done that we weren't capable of we figured it was a good idea to shell out some decent money and get the job done right the first time. Apparently that's not how they do things at CBS/Cnet corporation. The billion dollar businesses like to keep things good and cheap at the outfit that used to be called the "Tiffany network".

Drinking With The Swells: Another Local Tippling Session At Four Seasons Austin-This Time With Tito

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:13:00 -0700

In years past we've limited our visits to Four Seasons Austin to those very special occasions[ Buddy Holly/Doug Sahm's birthday for instance ] that come up once or twice a year. After all, it's an expensive place to have a good time and while we love the joint we don't have the funds to make it a regular haunt.

The Seventh Seal Has Been Opened: Bacon Concept Restaurant Serving Vegan "Bacon"

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:56:00 -0700

We wrote about the chef at the new "Bacon" restaurant Tyler Johnson here: http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/8/3/New-Concept-Restaurant-Bacon-Announces-Executive-Chef and we have to admit we've had high hopes for the new joint since we first learned of their pork belly based business model.

Attention Austin Area Winos: Tour De Vin Is Tonight At The W Hotel

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:02:00 -0700

The Wine and Food Foundation of Texas is throwing a party tonight at the W Hotel in downtown Austin. If bottomless glasses of wine and endless buffets of food appeal to you this may be your event. The Foundation has certainly worked overtime on getting their food line-up looking good as they've enlisted, among others, the following restaurants:

Farm And Ranch Freedom Alliance: 5th Annual Farm & Food Leadership Conference

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:48:00 -0700

Food activists from Austin and across the nation will be taking to the streets next week; September 12 and 13th 2011 in San Antonio Texas. One can imagine scenes reminiscent of Vancouver Canada back a few months ago when one hockey team got beaten by another hockey team and folks expressed their displeasure by burning buildings to the ground and assaulting one another with sticks and such.

Another Day Another Group Of Chefs In A Bloody Fight To The Finish At Auguste Escoffier In Austin

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:54:00 -0700

Certain long term Austinites may remember the Texas Top Cook series of cooking challenges where a group of top flight Austin cooks would meet up in a big backyard and compete against one another in the category du jour of that particular evening.

Some States Can Only Manage One State Food. In Texas We Have Eight

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:52:00 -0700

The forty nine states that are not Texas have some catching up to do in the official state food category. California is pitiable for any number of reasons but especially when it comes to state food as they have zero.

Drink A Glass Of Bourbon Every Day For 30 Days It's National Bourbon Heritage Month

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:20:00 -0700

Growing up in bourbon country, Eastern Kentucky, is like growing up anywhere else in the world. When you hit 13 or so you start scheming a way to crack into the parents liquor cabinet and see what all the fuss is about. We'll never forget the first time we got drunk. It was around the eighth grade era and we were playing club soccer for a local outfit called The Battling Buckaroos.

Sad Day In Fort Worth Texas: Fina's Tortilla Factory Shutters

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:06:00 -0700

Bad news coming out of Fort Worth Texas this morning. Fina's Tamales aka Fina's Tortilla factory has closed. The business, in operation since 1949, was famous in cowtown for being one of the few molinos [a grain mill where corn is treated and ground to be utilized in the preparation of tamales and corn tortillas] in the area.

The Fryolators Will Be Filled With Bubble Gum and Sauer Kraut At The Texas State Fair In 2011

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:39:00 -0700

We're not sure where this going to end but we have a feeling it won't be pretty. The State Fair tradition of throwing things in a fryolator that have no business being fried is time honored and observed from coast to coast. Especially in Texas where previous fairs have boasted of deep fried Lattes, deep fried butter and deep fried banana splits.

Downtown Georgetown Texas To Be Bulldozed And Converted Into Vineyards?

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:29:00 -0700

In a surprising turn the Georgetown Texas city council voted to establish a winery in the downtown area of the notoriously staid community. The move came at the behest of the Georgetown Winery Initiative, an outfit devoted to recruiting wineries to the old downtown square. No word on whether they city will move to demolish the historic city center, rend the pavement from the earth and plant the resultant fields in grape vines.

Chronicle’s Virginia B. Wood speaks: Vivo Is Tacky,Garish,Strip Mall,Unpleasant,Pulsating,Obnoxious

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:41:00 -0700

It's been a long time since we read a negative review from the Austin Chronicle's Virginia B Wood. The reasons are obvious. The revenue stream at her employer's paper would suffer if she started taking restaurants down for being of poor quality. If we remember correctly the last bad review we can recall is when she pile drived Y Bar And Grill out in Oak Hill close to a decade ago. It needed to happen.

Got $10? Like Pie? Movies? Austin Food Blogger Alliance Pie Love Party At Alamo

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:06:00 -0700

Austin Food Blogger Alliance is throwing a pie party to help out Safeplace, the local non profit that exists to protect women caught in an abusive relationship.

Tito Beveridge and Iron Chef Mixologist Tony Abou Ganim Are Appearing At Peche' In Austin

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:51:00 -0700

Tony Abou-Ganim, Winner of Iron Chef - mixologist and Tito Beveridge, Founder of Tito's Handmade Vodka are set to barnstorm the state of Texas August 29, 30th and 31st. The duo will be talking up cocktail culture in the Great State from days of yore as well as what's happening in the insurgent booze culture that's gripped Texas of late.

Drinking The Devil’s Backbone At Four Season’s Real Ale Party

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:07:00 -0700

While we spend the vast majority of our beer drinking money at an array of local dive bars, every so often it's nice to get down with the Duesenberg set and lounge back at the Four Seasons on San Jacinto in downtown Austin. The women folk are all toddling about in stiletto heels drinking booze from nice stemware while the men are nattily attired in their summer-y Brooks Brothers best. We look like a couple roadies from Tommy X. Hancock's Supernatural Family Band but nobody seems to care that much. As long as the money's green everybody's going to get along just fine.

Breaking News: Real Ale Tasting At Austin Texas Four Seasons Tonight August 15th 5-7pm

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:42:00 -0700

Ever so often we get out our better cowboy hat and ride down to the Four Seasons on San Jacinto to party with the swells. This is when we're on our best behavior so as not to attract too much attention from the brutal security forces the hotel reportedly employs.

Sully's Side Bar Set To Open: New Project From Sullivan's Steakhouse

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:07:00 -0700

Arizona native Carlos Garcia is about to have his already full plate ladled with more responsibilities. Chef Garcia is the exec at Sullivan's Steakhouse on Colorado Street in downtown Austin. Now he has an additional job. He's in charge of Sully's Side Bar, the new Mexican food project the Steakhouse is opening in a portion of the building they've occupied for the last ten years or so.

Dear Snapple: Please Come To Dublin Texas For Your Dry Gulching. Snapple Auto-Sues Dublin Dr. Pepper

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 12:54:00 -0700

Plano Texas based Snapple must be run by blackguards as they've seen fit to sue Dublin Dr. Pepper [est. 1891]. It further complicates matters that Snapple owns Dublin Dr. Pepper. So they're suing themselves. In Texas.

Local Attorney, In An Abraham Lincoln-Like Star Turn Sways Planning Commission On Crossroads Bar

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:59:00 -0700

We recently watched the online video of the planning commission's hearing on Crossroads Bar's plea to be allowed to open their business in a defunct service center in South Austin. Bear in mind that Willie's Service Center has been out of business for nearly a decade, is boarded up and appears to be near tumbledown.

Mike Sutter’s New Joint:Cat Like X-Statesman Food Critic Sutter Lands On His Feet-Launches Food Site

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:43:00 -0700

We look at a lot of food sites in Austin on a daily basis. There are few that we find compelling, most are boring and everybody seems to be lowering the bar on a daily basis.

Attention: Wine Drinking Little Old Granny Women.Lavendar & Wine Festival This Weekend

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:47:00 -0700

The Lavender and Wine Fest in Chappell Hill is taking place this Saturday August 13th 2011. We imagine throngs of lavendar enthusiasts flocking to this event. Neighborhood Wal-Green's are reporting a run on support hose and reading glasses.

Austin Daily Photo: Istanbul Fresh Market Tuesday August 9th 2011

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:36:00 -0700

Once in a blue moon we'll post a non-Austin photo. Today is one of those days.

Winner Announced: San Antonio Food Truck Throwdown Victor Is Smoke Shack

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:31:00 -0700

The San Antonio Food Truck Throw Down was a huge success with 6,000 people attending over the course of the 3 day affair. Lines were long for the 2 dozen or so food trucks perched on Boardwalk on Bulverde, a dedicated food truck park in northwest San Antonio. The organizer of the event, Josh Davies, says he has a solution to the line problem for the next event.

Unless Dallas Gets 40 Inches Of Rain Texas' Oyster Harvest Is Ruined

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:16:00 -0700

Consequences of Texas' drought. In an average year as the rain falls in North and Central Texas it flows through the various rivers, hits the Gulf of Mexico and mixes with the saltwater in the bays resulting in premium conditions under which our state's oysters reproduce, grow big and prepare to be transformed into glorious fried oyster po boys drenched in remoulade. But this year is far from average.

The Ambitious Life Of Christian Remde

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:58:00 -0700

We see a lot of movies over the course of a year in Austin Texas. Right around a hundred and fifty on average. It's easy to do. Join Austin Film Society, become a film fan at The Paramount, hit the Alamo's website everyday, follow the goings on at the Harry Ransom Center, check in on UT's Cinemateque offerings....keep your ear to the ground for the various renegade film offerings that different coffee shops and public spaces put on on a weekly basis. Which brings us to local film maker Christian Remde.

Public Broadcast System Gets In The Food Biz

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:32:00 -0700

It remains to be seen whether it's going to be a worthwhile effort but PBS has jumped into the food game. They've launched their own site, hired some bloggers and are having a go at covering the food scene. A cursory search finds the site to be sorely lacking in content but something tells us the eggheads in charge will start cranking out some content soon.

Texan Wins Best Butcher In Whole Foods Competition At Meatopia

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:02:00 -0700

Information is still scarce but Hans "Grizz" Van Der Enden of Dallas has defeated all comers to emerge victorious in the nationwide butchery competition held at Meatopia this weekend. Congratulations Grizz. More details to come. http://meatopia.org/rollover-photos/ Previous Meatopia coverage http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/7/15/The-Best-In-Butchery-Hans-Grizz-Van-Der-Enden-Of-Dallas-To-Compete-At-New-Yorks-Meatopia comments below have a link to a video of hans victory

Like Pakistani Food? Texas Barbecue? Moroccan Food? San Antonio Is Having A Food Truck Throwdown

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:33:00 -0700

We're always looking for an excuse to ride down to San Antonio. Our love of Tex Mex knows no bounds and while we have good sources in Austin, we can't get enough of those San Antonio flour tortillas. Now we've got a few more reasons to visit the River City. This weekend July 29-31st our favorite big city in Texas is hosting a food truck competition at "The Boardwalk on Bulverde" in Northwest San Antonio. There are to be many, many competitors but we're most intrigued by three.

Lardcore: The New Southern Cuisine

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:41:00 -0700

Good article in Time magazine of all places about chefs in the South reviving and reinterpreting the regions cuisine.