If there are two things Austinites love, it's food and Texas. During the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, which takes place July 22 through July 27, locals can celebrate both when they dine out in support of Texas farmers and ranchers.
Now in its seventh year, the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up is a celebration of both Texas agriculture and chefs, but also of community spirit.
"The GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up brings together the best offerings of Texas produce, meats, cheeses and beverages through the creativity of our local chefs," says Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. "By dining out during Restaurant Round-Up, consumers give back to our economy and help contribute to area food banks." Together, participating restaurants have agreed to donate $40,000 to local food banks, which will provide 360,000 meals to hungry Texans.
While there are more than 80 local restaurants that have pledged to "GO TEXAN," but here are a few places we're sure to hit up this week.
24 Diner
Texas Market Plate: heirloom tomatoes, shaved cucumber and sweet peppers, lemon, arugula and herbs. Produce comes from Springdale Farm and Johnson's Backyard Garden in Austin, along with Buena Tierra Farm in Fredonia.
The Carillon
Special Texas Dish: grilled quail with strawberries, spring onion and cashew. Ingredients are sourced from Johnson's Backyard Garden, as well as farms in Bandera and Poteet. The Carillon will also feature a special Texas wine and beer list for customers.
Hillside Farmacy
Fried Farm Egg Sandwich: avocado, aioli, sprouts and fried green tomato.
Beef Carpaccio: thin sliced Texas Waygu beef, arugula, Dijon mustard, lemon, Texas olive oil and fried capers.
Peel and Eat Shrimp: Texas Gulf shrimp, house made cocktail sauce and pickled onions.
Bone-in Pork Chop from Richardson Farms: polenta, green onion, strawberries, beets, mustard seed and orange vinegar.
Texas Gulf Fish: daily selection with chef's choice of daily preparation.
Hillside’s Texas drink special is the Rosewood, a house-made fountain soda with lemon and rosemary that can be tried with or without Dripping Springs Vodka.
Hoover’s Cooking
Guests can go hyper-local with Hoover’s Hot Sausage, which is a Hoover’s original recipe made just a few blocks away from the east side restaurant at the Texas Sausage Co.
House Pizzeria
Appetizers
Crispy Polenta Cake with zucchini from Johnson's Backyard Garden
Caprese Salad with tomatoes from Johnson's Backyard Garden
Lentil Salad with feta from Pure Luck Dairy in Dripping Springs
Entrées
Pizzas featuring Italian sausage made with pork from Richardson Farms, mushrooms from Kitchen Pride in Gonzales, and tomatoes and Swiss chard from Johnson's Backyard Garden.
Texas drink specials
Draft beers from 512 Brewing Co., Real Ale, Live Oak Brewing, Austin Beerworks, Lone Star, Shiner and Pearl
Cider by Austin Eastciders
Wines by Becker Vineyards
---
To see the full list of participating Austin restaurants, please go here.
24 Diner offers a special Texas plate for the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up.
And that's what an Asian-inspired pizza looks like.Photo courtesy of Sterrato Italian Specialties