Justine's owners showcase their home
Who knew restaurateurs were ever so stylish? Camille Styles caught up with Justine Gilcrease and Pierre Pelegrin in their gorgeous Austin home, and the pad is quite the sight to behold. Think taxidermy peacocks, worn marble busts, an eclectic library, mix-matched china, lots of candles and bottles upon bottles of wine (naturally). The duo also hints at the possibility of opening a new restaurant one day, with writer Chanel Dror saying, "Justine has big plans for [her 17th century door] panels to be used in their next restaurant project."
Dogs, beers and benefits
Get your furry friends ready because Independence Brewing is hosting the adorable Pints for Pups Fundraiser next Saturday, April 19. This will be the fifth year the local brewery has featured the pet-friendly social, which benefits Austin animal shelters and advocacy groups including Austin Pets Alive! and Austin Animal Center. The canine benefit will run from 1- 3 pm at Independence’s South Austin location (3913 Todd Lane). With a $10 admission ticket, guests are given a commemorative glass and three craft Independence Brewery beers. Expect to behold such wonders as a doggy kissing booth, cake walk, photo booth and treat hunt. For more information on the multi-species event, please visit the Independence Brewing website.
Restaurant nightmares
Here is a sinfully delightful post in which Callie Speer, pastry chef of Swift’s Attic, details all her strange memories of feeding and serving patrons of the “Keep Austin Weird” crowd to VICE. In it, Speer recollects such ridiculousness as seeing someone throw up on the restaurant's floor only to keep eating, drug dealers tipping with ecstasy and customers getting naked. And those are just a few of the juicy details.
Discount dinners
Foreign & Domestic has lowered the price of the Indie Chefs dinner with Jason Vincent, which we highlighted in last week’s column. Beginning this week, the fine-dining abode has adjusted the tickets to $125 per counter seat and $100 per table seat. These price levels include gratuity and one glass of boozy bubbly during Vincent’s discussion and introduction. For more information or to purchase tickets, head over to the Indie Chefs website.
Trailer Food Tuesdays return
Coinciding with the gorgeous weather we’re been having, Trailer Food Tuesdays is returning. The monthly gourmet gathering will once again take place at the Long Center, beginning on April 29. The curated trailer festival is led by Eric Silverstein of the upcoming Peached Tortilla restaurant, Tony Yamanaka of Food Trailers Austin and Tiffany Harelik, author of Trailer Food Diaries. Each installment of the series will feature live music, Real Ale brews and a mix of mobile food establishments, including The Peached Tortilla, Chi’Lantro BBQ, Whole Foods and more. The event runs from 5 pm to 9 pm the last Tuesday of each month from April to October. For more details, check out the Trailer Food Tuesdays website.
Lenoir owners to debut Métier
Jessica Maher and Todd Duplechan of Lenoir have another project up their sleeves, and, no, it’s not another restaurant (in our dreams). The culinary power couple will debut a unique combination kitchen/cookbook store named Métier right next door to their celebrated restaurant. According to the Austin American-Statesman, “Métier will sell books that might be hard to find elsewhere, including high-level culinary books targeted toward food professionals and vintage cookbooks that nerdy cookbook lovers like me will adore combing through.” No word on when the shop will open its doors, but Maher took to Facebook to say, “It's imminent, not long before we officially announce something.”
Make your [Thai] New Year's plans
Starting this Sunday, April 13, Sway will feature a celebratory menu in honor of the forthcoming Thai New Year, known as Songkran. Though the festival is celebrated in Thailand from April 13-15, Sway will feature its special menu through April 19. The additional offerings include Mango Salad; Thai Eggplant; Ma Po Tofu; Coconut Clams; and Coconut pudding cake, peanut, lime pandan ice cream
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Trailer Food Tuesdays returns.
