News you can eat

Smoothie and juice shop whirls onto Manor Road, plus more Austin food news

Vida Pura Juicery is days away from opening.

Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the what’s what and who’s who of Austin food. But we have you covered with our regular roundup of the freshest Austin restaurant news.

A new juice shop is opening February 8 at 2610 B Manor Rd., the former location of grocery store In.gredients. Vida Pura Juicery, from Mi Madres Restaurant CEO Veronica Torres, features organic, freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, açai bowls, salads, and sandwiches.

Domain Northside bar St. Genevieve shuttered on February 3 but the space won't be vacant long. Union Venture Group, the owners of nearby 77 Degrees, Jack & Ginger’s, and Rose Room, are revamping the space to open Wonder Bar in the spring. The new concept promises “installations that ignites all five senses” and will include bar games, a full bar, and a light food menu.

Micklethwait Craft Meats opens its anticipated brick-and-mortar at 114 NE Second St. in downtown Smithville on February 9. The market and grocery, located in a renovated auto shop, carries pastries, grab-and-go snacks, gifts, and, of course, smoked meats.

A third Austin location of Poke-Poke is opening in South Austin. A wine and beer retailers permit application has been filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for an outpost at 9911 Brodie Ln. A rep for the company said they plan to make an opening date announcement in March.

The Sustainable Food Center has released the chef lineup for Farm to Plate, the nonprofit’s signature fundraiser. Among the lauded Austin restaurants slated to serve snacks at Barr Mansion is The Brewer’s Table, Contigo, Fixe, Loro, Juniper, Pitchfork Pretty, and L’Oca d’Oro. Tickets can be purchased here.

East Austin’s Craftsman is hosting a French Quarter-themed pop-up bar from February 20-March 5 to celebrate the Mardis Gras season. Owner Brandon Testa tells CultureMap that the experience includes New Orleans-inspired cocktails, food, and decor.

Hyde Park neighborhood mainstay Vino Vino has updated its charcuterie program. Under the helm of chef Ben Schwarz, the wine bar offers a build-your-own board featuring several cheese and meat options, including a mousse truffee, duck rillette, and pate de Campagne made in house.

LeRoy and Lewis is teaming up with Bird Bird Biscuit to offer a brisket biscuit (say that three times fast) benefitting the Austin Food & Wine Alliance. The meaty treat is available at both locations Saturday and Sunday until the end of February.

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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.