quick cocktailing

Lady bartenders (of all kinds) compete in good old Speed Rack fun prior to San Antonio Cocktail Conference

Cocktail lovers turned out in full force at the Swoop House Tuesday night to support Austin’s finest lady bartenders and to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and research.

To be named "Miss" Speed Rack Austin, teams consisting of one male bartenders in drag and one female bartender as his bar-back competed in a knock down "drag" out fight in quick-cocktailing.

The event served as a lighthearted send off for the women competing in the all-female Speed Rack Texas cocktail competition finals at the San Antonio Cocktail Conference this weekend.

Sofanda Cox (otherwise known as, Matt Ross of La Condesa) took the crown by making a Cutty Sark Rob Roy — a Cabeza tequila margarita, a Brugal rum daiquiri and a Slow and Low on the rocks — in one minute and nine seconds. The first runner up (by only .3 seconds) was Rackie Onassis (sometimes called Chris Bostick, formerly of Los Angeles' renowned Varnish).

Other male competitors who participated in support of their female industry counterparts included:

Miles Worrell of Contigo Austin, aka Rosie Cheeks
Mark Kuchesky of Peche, aka Tess Tosterone
Travis Tober of Four Seasons, aka Na Gnomie
David Alan of The Tipsy Texan, aka Davida Loca
Michael Sanders of Drink.Well., aka Rachel Tensions
Steve Robbins of Contigo, aka Tallulah Tonsils

The women headed to the San Antonio Cocktail Conference include:

Amber Billiard of Drink.Well
Rachel DelRocco of Midnight Cowboy
Joyce Garrison of the W Austin
Whitney Hobbs of La Condesa
Karen Kirchem of ACL Live at The Moody Theater
Madelyn Kay of Haddington’s
Lana Lindsley of Frank
Pamela Pritchard of The Tigress
Tacy Rowland of Drink.Well
Jessica Sanders, co-owner of Drink.Well

The above expert bartendresses will compete Sunday, January 20 in San Antonio for a spot in the national Speed Rack finals in New York City later this year.

Thirsty? Tickets are available here.

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Back to the Plow

Homey Austin jam and bake shop closing and returning to farmers market

Confituras/Instagram

Confituras Little Kitchen is closing its brick-and-mortar store, but feeling optimistic about the future.

A famers market find is returning to its natural environment after six years in a brick-and-mortar location. Confituras Little Kitchen, which specializes in locally sourced preserves, is closing its jam and biscuit shop after service on Sunday, December 22. However, it will continue selling goods at the Barton Creek Farmers Market and via retailers.

Confituras announced the change in a newsletter to its customers in December. The letter called the news "bittersweet."

"Although the brick and mortar will no longer be, the good news is that this will be a fresh new start for us – we are bursting with energy and creativity at the thought of being back out in the community where it all started for confituras," it said.

The kitchen is closing because the lease is up, and the team has decided to "give up the chase." The newsletter emphasized the ups-and-downs of business over the past several years — ones that were chaotic for just about any business, let alone a small, fairly niche food operation.

"So much has happened since we decided to open a brick + mortar – a wonderful kickstarter fundraiser, THE PANDEMIC, the AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, and an ever growing city," the letter says. "We tried so very hard but never really got our footing. We know we are not alone, many small business are in the same boat. We renewed our lease during the pandemic because we were hopeful we could make it work - the changing times had other ideas."

Finally, it shared how customers could keep enjoying Confituras creations:

The Barton Creek Farmers Market is open at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
A list on confituras.net compiles retailers including Royal Blue Grocery, Farmhouse Delivery, and Antonelli's Cheese Shop.
Jam share and Table22 subscription customers will have more instructions coming soon about picking up their goods in January at the same space, 2129 Goodrich Ave.
Customers may also reach out to inquire about continuing to order meals directly.

The kitchen also hosted frequent events and workshops, but the letter did not address this aspect of the business.

A shorter message shared on Instagram has inspired 63 comments so far, five days later. Customers eulogized the shop for its community feel and providing a sense of regularity during the height of the pandemic thanks to weekend pick-ups.