New Kid On The Block

Added spice: Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts breaks ground

The Austin culinary scene will soon receive some additional spice with the ground breaking of it the Escoffier School of the Culinary Arts' new Agricultural Learning Center on August 23.

Escoffier, a superstar chef at the turn of the 20th century, is recognized as one of the pioneers of modern French cuisine. His techniques and recipes live on via the curriculum at the culinary school, which has a sister location in Boulder.

Escoffier is well known for modernizing the professional kitchen with brigade de cuisine, the hierarchy system which designates specific tasks to different positions (sous chef, pastry chef, saucier etc.) and is used in restaurants and hotels around the world.

“I cannot think of a better springboard for students’ careers than learning the methods, recipes and the philosophy of the man who in many ways is responsible for modern cuisine,” says Chef Mark Dowling, Vice President of academics and Executive Chef at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

Notably, the school has publicly committed itself to being as green as possible: "In addition to sourcing whenever possible local, fresh products and ingredients for our programs and classes, we are dedicated to providing a healthy and sustainable school and work environment. Recycling, composting, and energy savings are just some of the steps we have taken to ensure that Escoffier School of Culinary Arts treads lightly and acts responsibly."

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Editor's Note: The long established Escoffier School of Culinary Arts will break ground on a new 6,000 square-foot facility, that will focus specifically on agricultural, farm-to-table education for culinary students. The ground-breaking takes place Thursday, August 23 at 8:30 a.m.

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Good Taste

Exclusive Austin social club provides home for Hestia during renovation

Photo courtesy of The Pershing

These special dinners will start out with fireside appetizers and drinks in The Pershing's courtyard.

Starting out the new year, the Michelin-starred and Esquire-favorite restaurant Hestia will be undergoing equipment renovations and temporarily closing its doors. But there is a silver lining: throughout January, the Hestia team will take over The Pershing to host nine exclusive dining experiences. These will be from January 9-12, January 14-17, and January 19-22, from 6-8:30 pm.

The Pershing is an exclusive social club in East Austin that includes four environments: Pershing House (a clubhouse), Pershing Hall (a venue and event space), Pershing East (a coffee shop), and Panzo (a restaurant). Of these four spaces, Pershing House is available to members only, while the other spaces are open to the public.

According to a recent press release, Hestia's kitchen team has been given the go ahead to "make their culinary dreams come true" at The Pershing, so this temporary pop-up menu likely won't disappoint.

The release did not share a menu, but it does hint that it's inspired by Hestia's renowned chef's tasting menu with some slight alterations. The six-course meal will start out in the courtyard with fireside beverages and bites; and then guests will move into Pershing Hall for a multi-course, interactive, and community-style dinner. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the chefs chefs, ask them questions, and more.

"At Hestia, we’re passionate about bringing the elegance of live-fire cooking to life to create dishes that are as visually stunning as they are flavorful," said Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group partner Alicynn Fink the release. "After a monumental year, this pop-up at The Pershing allows our team to reimagine and push the boundaries of what we do best — crafting unforgettable dining experiences that celebrate the artistry of fire in food and the beauty of seasonal ingredients."

Tickets cost $150 per person, which includes all food for the evening plus access to The Pershing's amenities, like Pershing House, co-working and conference space, and much more, for the entire month of January. Wine pairings and beverages can be purchased separately.

During this month of renovations, the Hestia team will also be coming up with an exciting new menu for the restaurant's reopening at the end of January.

"We can’t wait to share this special chapter with our guests while preparing to unveil an exciting new menu when we return at the end of January," said Fink.

This Pershing pop-up will be the only way to experience Hestia's Michelin-star menu until the restaurant reopens on Saturday, January 25.

pop-ups dinner social club