Got dinner plans this week? Scrap ‘em. Unless of course they involve a visit to one of the many restaurants participating in the annual Go Texan Restaurant Round Up. All next week (July 25 – July 31) more than 500 restaurants around the state will offer special dishes and menus featuring seasonal ingredients from local farmers and purveyors as well as Texas wines. From cafés to five-star restaurants Lone Star chefs are doing their part to showing off the very best of what the state has to offer. And Austin is no exception.
Judges Hill Restaurant near campus will offer a fixed-price menu for $45 including a suggested wine pairing. The first course will feature a Chef’s daily selection of Brazos Valley cheese. The second course will offer a few options including fried Gulf shrimp stuffed with hatch green chili and bacon. For entrées, guests can choose from pecan-crusted trout; Broken Arrow Ranch chicken fried antelope; filet mignon; or a Strube Ranch Kobe burger. To finish, there is either Texas chevre cheesecake, or chocolate bourbon pecan tart.
Northwest Austin brunch favorite, Chez Zee American Bistro will offer two Texas menu, the first of which includes a South Texas wedge salad, blackened red drum, and peach crostata with honey-thyme ice cream. The second is a gluten-free menu including baked Texas goat cheese, lemon-herb Cornish game hen, and watermelon sorbet.
Other Capital City participants include Manuel’s, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, Red’s Porch, Tacos 'n Tequila, Meyer’s Elgin Smokehouse, Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard in San Marcos. Check here for a list of participating restaurants across the state.
And while you’re out there supporting Texas food culture, you’ll also be supporting local food banks. The majority of Austin participants will donate a portion of their Texas menu proceeds to the Capital Area Food Bank. So this week, instead of grabbing a bite to eat without putting much thought into it, make a deliberate choice to support Texas farms and purveyors. As the Texas Department of Agriculture urges; Go Out, Go Eat, Go Texan!