Coming 'Round the Bend

Surprising comeback for iconic Hill Country restaurant following abrupt shutter

Hudson's on the Bend is getting a new lease on life.

Hudson's on the Bend/ Facebook

Three months after classic Hill Country restaurant Hudson's on the Bend rebooted with a splashy renovation, it suddenly closed after Valentine’s Day 2017, becoming one of the most shocking shutters of the year. Now, almost a year later, the iconic eatery is getting a redo with new owners and a new name — Hudson’s Hill Country.

Although some new dishes will be brought on, the culinary concept will remain much the same, with the classic dishes and focus on game that made Hudson's a crowd-pleaser. The new team includes John Sturdivant as the executive chef, although the restaurant may host guest chefs from time to time.

Under original owner and chef Jeff Blank, Hudson's became one of Austin's most popular restaurants after opening in 1984. Serving seafood; steaks; and wild game like rattlesnake, venison, and pheasant, the restaurant helped define Texas Hill Country cuisine. Health problems caused Blank to sell his beloved business after more than two decades of perpetually topping "best of" lists.

The restaurant is now owned by a group that includes Chris Kimura, Eric Leonard, and philanthropist Dilum Chandrasoma. Chandrasoma purchased the space from chef Billy Caruso and advanced sommelier Chris McFall’s Prime Thyme Restaurant Group, who took over the restaurant from Jeff Blank in 2016, in December 2017.

The interior, which was significantly brightened by Prime Thyme’s costly farmhouse rework, will remain the same. If all goes according to plan, Hudson’s Hill Country will host its first guests by the end of March.

openings

More pumpkin, less milk

Austin-based vegan milk ready for fall with new pumpkin spice flavor

Photo courtesy of Malk

Pumpkin is one of the first ingredients in this flavored almond milk.

Vegans may avoid dairy, but they deserve a pumpkin spice latte in the fall. Malk Organics, an Austin-based almond milk company, is taking care of that with a new pumpkin spice variety.

This seasonal flavor is hitting shelves now, and will be available "throughout the fall season while supplies last," according to a news release. It joins three standard flavors — unsweetened, vanilla, and chocolate — for a total of four almond milks across the board. The company also makes oat and cashew milk, or "malk," and some creamers.

The second ingredient after filtered water is organic pumpkin, so that flavor should come out strong in whatever drink it's spicing up. It also contains almond butter and sugar, plus extracts of vanilla, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, ginger, and clove — all organic, too.

"With the popularity of the pumpkin spice flavor profile, we wanted to offer consumers a healthier way to enjoy their favorite fall beverages." said Malk CEO Jason Bronstad in the release. "We have meticulously crafted a pumpkin spice SKU featuring the cleanest ingredients without compromising on delicious flavor."

When Bronstad talks about health, he's referring to claims made in the release that distance the completely organic product from "gums, oils, and fillers." The brand prides itself on these things, plus few enough ingredients to count on one hand — not quite the case for this more intricately spiced product, but surely an exception can be made for that pumpkin pie flavor.

This isn't Malk's only seasonal effort; it's also bringing back its holiday nog made with almonds, maple syrup, nutmeg extract, and Himalayan pink salt. So far there aren't really any exotic flavors on the permanent menu, but a caramel creamer enhances the otherwise vanilla and unflavored line.

For those who feel called by the dairy-free pumpkin spice but don't know what to make with it, Malk has plenty of recipes on its site that might be nice to spice up. The Pumpkin Protein Pancakes are an obvious candidate for an extra bit of pumpkin oomph, as is the Pumpkin Pie Smoothie. Actually, there are lots of pumpkin recipes already on the website using other varieties of Malk; but perhaps the Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Bars could use some additional adventure.

Pumpkin Spice Malk ($6.99 for 28 ounces) can be found at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Erewhon, Gelsons, HEB, Fresh Market, and other local retailers. Find nearby options at malkorganics.com.