Dinner and a Movie

Hotly anticipated dining experience pops up in East Austin

The next time you feel like dinner and a movie, consider the curiously named Monkey Town 6. Austin's newest dining experience comes with a side of avant-garde film, taking the tired old date cliché to the next level.

Monkey Town 6 is the sixth iteration of a "New York City video cinema and dining installation" especially adapted for Austin. For three months, the unique experience will pop up at the former Balcones Recycling Depot on East Sixth and Pedernales streets.

The beguiling affair is summed up perfectly with this: "The audience sits inside a massive 27-foot cube, watching a two-hour multi-channel video program, dining on four- or five-course menus from Chef Sonya Coté."

Coté, the culinary mind behind Eden East has carefully crafted different courses incorporating locally sourced ingredients, each paired with wine. Alternatives will be available for those with dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

An evening with Monkey Town 6 will feature short films from artists like Takeshi Murata, Rachel Stuckey, and Hillerbrand+Magsamen. There will also be a weekly rotating lineup of local acts like Justin Sherburn, TJ Wade, LOLA Opera, and more.

Tickets to this unparalleled event range from $45-$65, with two seating times Tuesdays through Sundays through February 7. Monkey Town 6 begins Wednesday, November 4. For a taste, check out the trailer below.

The avant-garde pop-up event runs through February.

Photo by Favoreat

The avant-garde pop-up event runs through February.

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Siete Counts Higher

Health-focused Austin snacks brand acquired by major corporation

Siete Foods/Instagram

Siete Foods has been acquired by PepsiCo.

A popular food and beverage corporation is preparing to take over an Austin-based food brand.

On Tuesday, PepsiCo announced a $1.2 billion agreement to purchase Siete Foods, a Mexican-American brand that sells chips, tortillas, sauces and more.

The deal is expected to be officially approved in the first part of next year, with limited specifics available at this time.

"PepsiCo believes in the spirit and authenticity of the Siete brand, and we're excited to carry on the legacy created by the Garza family," PepsiCo chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said.

"We look forward to expanding our multicultural portfolio with these incredible products and even more consumers discovering and enjoying Siete."

The history of Siete Foods
Siete, or Garza Food Ventures LLC, was created ten years ago in South Texas by co-founder Veronica Garza.

As a teenager, Garza was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases, including lupus. In order to combat her health struggles, she worked alongside her mother to produce unique recipes, eventually crafting an almond flour-based tortilla.

"I wanted to eat tacos on something other than a piece of lettuce," Garza told KVUE last year. "I want to make enchiladas. I want to, you know, be able to enjoy all of these foods."

Ten years later, the thriving business offers a wide variety of healthy products, including grain-free Fuego potato chips, Cassava flour tortillas and Tangy Traditional sauce.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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