NEWS YOU CAN EAT

8 things to know in Austin food right now: Asian bun shop steams into newest location

Asian eatery Bao'd Up opens its newest steamed-buns shop in Southeast Austin.

Bao'd Up/Instagram

Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of Austin’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings
Popular Asian comfort-food chain Bao’d Up is full steam ahead at its new East Riverside location, offering such beloved menu items as its juicy steamed pork bao and sweet and savory cheesecake buns. Also available for takeout at the new outpost is an impressive assortment of teas and tapioca drinks, as well as catering offerings like the irresistible bao, fried chicken, and Szechuan fries party trays. Located at 1920 E. Riverside Dr., Bao’d Up is open 11 am to 9 pm daily.

Just in time for spring weather, Hotel Magdalena is opening the Pool Bar, available to loungers Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm through the summer. Chef Jeffrey Hundelt will offer a special menu ideal for poolside snacking and dining. Highlights include yellowtail ceviche, onion dip with house-made potato chips, the Smash Burger, and carnitas tacos. Cocktails and natural wine will also be available. (After all, what's a poolside chill session without a cocktail?) Mask wearing will be enforced and capacity will be limited. Reserve a spot by calling (512) 422-1000.

The latest culinary concept to move into North Austin’s premier ghost kitchen space, Kitchen United, is all about the gains! Opening late last week, Protein House brings its signature menu of nutritious, protein-packed items — designed with the professional athlete in mind — to the Capital City for the first time. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, and its move to Austin comes in the form of a new takeout and delivery-only concept offering such craveable options as the Muscle Builder double bison burger, PB&J protein pancakes, and morning offerings like loaded oatmeal. Protein House is open daily from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm.

Other news and notes
After a serious health scare, a popular Nova Hospitality Group sushi concept is raising money for its executive chef and his family. Last October, TenTen executive chef Yasuo Fujimori suffered a debilitating stroke. Though he’s recovering, he may never return to his previous profession. In an effort to support the financial burden of his recovery, TenTen will donate a portion of all the restaurant’s proceeds (for both dine-in and takeout service) from April 5 through April 11, with the ultimate fundraising goal of $10,000. Additionally, those wishing to make direct financial donations toward chef Fujimori, his wife, Chiemi, and their son Kai can do so via the family’s official GoFundMe page.

For the first time in more than a year, a posh wine-pairing dinner is back on the schedule at Ciclo, famed restaurateur Richard Sandoval’s modern Texas kitchen nestled against the sprawling lawn of Lady Bird Lake at Four Seasons Hotel Austin. March 31, Ciclo will host a one-night-only Orin Swift Cellars Wine Dinner featuring five Orin Swift varietals paired with a five-course menu from Ciclo chef Gerardo Lopez. A representative from Orin Swift will also be on hand to share tasting notes and perspectives on each wine. The event, which will include physically distanced seating for only 40 people (Ciclo will be closed to regular reservations that evening.), runs $98 per person, plus an additional $62 for wine pairings. Make a reservation by calling (512) 685-8300, or through OpenTable.

With its dining room water damaged as a result of last month’s winter storm, one East Seventh Street wine bar is coming up with a creative new way to serve its clientele. APT 115’s new aptly titled pop-up bar, Under Repairs, gets shaking on weekend evenings at a “super-secret location” near the wine bar’s currently shuttered brick-and-mortar (2025 E. Seventh St., Apt 115). Guests can book reservations for the pop-up event for $60 each and can expect a multicourse meal, raw seafood, and a wine pairing, plus additional offerings of beer, cider, cheese, charcuterie, and globally inspired snacks. Under Repairs pops up Fridays and Saturdays for the foreseeable future. Tickets to the event can be purchase via Resy.

Popular modern Mexican eatery Gabriela’s is officially unveiling its highly anticipated second location with one heck of a bang. Located due south from its original downtown location, Gabriela’s new outpost at 9600 S. IH-35 at Southpark Meadows will host a special grand opening party Sunday, March 28. Accommodating walk-in guests beginning at 11 am, Gabriela’s will offer discounted food items and drink specials during the grand opening event, including $5 margaritas, plus there’ll be live entertainment from local DJs, mariachi bands, and regional Mexican star Esteban Gabriel. Gabriela’s is currently open Monday through Wednesday from 11 am to 10 pm., Thursday through Saturday from 11 am to midnight, and Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm.

Austin-based liquor retailer Twin Liquors is bringing some real local star power to its latest virtual cocktail happy hour. During a special “How We Built This” installment of Twin Liquors’ online drinks and conversation series, taking place March 23 from 6 to 7 pm, Jill Burns and Kelly Gasink — co-founders of locally owned canned sparkling-cocktail operation Austin Cocktails — will lead an evening of stories, conversations, and libations. The virtual happy hour will be introduced by panelist Margaret Jabour, co-owner of Twin Liquors, and Burns and Gasink will discuss such topics as how their grandfather’s philosophy shaped their company’s brand personality, their biggest cocktail fails and their riskiest business decisions. Register for the free event here. Austin Cocktails (in mojito, margarita, and Ruby Red) are available in-store and on the Twin Liquors’ website.

openings wine drinks chefs

News You Can Eat

New bodega and farm-focused brunch warm up Austin dining news

Photo courtesy of Foreign & Domestic

Foreign & Domestic has refreshed its brunch menu.

It may be cold outside, but the Austin food scene always stays warm with openings and events. This week we heard about a new bodega, a tried-and-true brunch, and charitable cupcakes.

Openings and closings

A new bodega opening in Austin takes inspiration from "the timeless, laid-back feel of Texas marinas and bait shops," according to a press release. Handsome Dan's is soft opening at 979 Springdale Rd. #124 on January 20; that period runs until February 6, followed by a grand opening February 8 with a buy-a-sandwich, get-a-beverage promotion. The bodega will serve grab-and-go goods, sandwiches, and a wide range of beers including some brewed on-site, plus THC and non-alcoholic brews by Rick's Near Beer, which happens to be brewed by Handsome Dan's founder Josh Hare. He's joined in this effort by industry vet Brian O’Neill. Hours are daily from 11 am to 10 pm.

Keith Shaw at Handsome Dan's Keith Shaw, director of brewing operations at Handsome Dan's.Photo courtesy of Handsome Dan's

The famous Tex-Mex chain Chuy's is opening its first Hutto location on January 21. Every Chuy's is a little different, but this one contains an Elvis shrine, metal palm trees, a school of wooden fish, and a "Hutto Hippo." It'll be the same menu Chuy's fans know: Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom Enchiladas, Chuy’s Famous Big As Yo’ Face Burritos, Chuy’s Famous ‘Ritas, and more. Another special Hutto connection comes from the restaurant's two local nonprofit partners, the Sandbox at Madeline’s Place and Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter. Hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 11 am to 9:30 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 10:30 pm.

Aris, a "modern Mediterranean steakhouse,” opened at 1111 W. 6th Street on January 6. The concept is a new one by the Houston restaurant group Sof Hospitality; co-founder Itai Ben Eli told CultureMap Houston it will be similar to the group's Israeli steakhouse, Doris Metropolitan. Aris will use the same dry aging techniques that Sof Hospitality restaurants are known for, and will also showcase dishes like a sweetbread cigar appetizer, crudo, Chateaubriand tartare, slow-cooked short ribs, and fish. Hours are 5-10 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and 5-11 pm Fridays and Saturdays.

In December, one of Austin's longest-running vegan restaurants, the Beer Plant, closed permanently. The Beer Plant was known for its gastropub-style menu that was friendly to people with many diets — it offered vegan comfort food that was also appealing to non-vegans, plus beer and cocktails. The announcement on Instagram cited financial pressures: "Our model of a plant-based kitchen, using scratch ingredients, is a costly one—that combined with inflation and declining sales in the post-Covid era have proven more than we can sustain."

ICYMI: Two very different but popular taco closures changed the Austin landscape in the past week. Trudy's Tex-Mex has been around since the 70s, but it has now closed its final location. The much newer, but widely lauded trailer Con Todo also packed it up, but Chef Joseph Gomez says Austin hasn't seen the end of him at all.

Other news and notes

Although Austin Eastciders gave fans a scare in closing its taproom, a recent win suggests the brand is doing just fine. The Original Dry Cider won gold twice at the PR%F Awards (pronounced "proof"), a competition judged by industry professional beverage buyers and distributors, according to a press release. It won both a blind tasting and an unmasked competition. All the places Austinites can get some ciders can be found at austineastciders.com.

Austinites who want to supplement their California wildfire response with some shareable sweets can pick up some cupcakes at SusieCakes, a bakery chain that started in Los Angeles and now has two locations in Austin. The chain is donating 100 percent of proceeds to organizations supporting wildfire victims: the American Red Cross, the LA Fire Department Foundation, and Canine Rescue Club. Orders can be made online individually ($5.99) or as a 4-pack.

SusieCakes cupcakes These friendly cupcakes support wildfire victims.Photo courtesy of SusieCakes

Brunch in Austin already doesn't get better than it does at Foreign & Domestic, but the restaurant is upping the ante regardless. A refreshed brunch menu at the farm-to-table restaurant includes blackberry and lemon crepes, fried chicken biscuits, 44 Farms steak and eggs, and Croque Madame, among other treats. That's available every Sunday from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. There are also some new happy hour offerings every Wednesday to Saturday from 5-6 pm, plus a new deal for $1 oysters every Tuesday from 5-9:30 pm.

One of Austin's favorite breweries, Lazarus, is celebrating its 8th anniversary this weekend at 1902 E. 6th St. All day on Saturday, January 18, there will be new beer releases, food specials, merch releases, and other special offerings like a s'mores pit from 1-5 pm. If those community vibes feed the soul, check out Lazarus' events calendar for reasons to hang out more often, like a book club, comedy shows, and more.

Speaking of Sixth Street, the Liberty Bar is hosting its 14th Annual Chili Cook-off on Sunday, January 19. It'll be chilly, but not punishingly cold if you get there during the day; the event kicks off at 2 pm and the tasting starts at 5 pm. There are 10 contestants in this spicy competition, plus raffle prizes and drink specials.