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South Austin restaurant books spot among Bon Appétit's best new restaurants

Congrats to Carpenters Hall.

Photo courtesy of Carpenter Hotel

Four Texas restaurants are basking in the national spotlight. On September 10, Bon Appétit released its anticipated list of America's 50 best new restaurants, including one new Austin eatery. The long list is a prelude to the magazine's annual Hot 10 list, which will be released September 17.

The Texas establishments are Carpenters Hall in Austin, Blood Bros. BBQ in Houston, and two Dallas restaurants: Khao Noodle Shop and Petra and the Beast. That matches last year's total, which also included four spots from the Lone Star State.

The inclusion of Carpenters Hall, the restaurant inside South Austin’s upscale Carpenter Hotel, may surprise even food-obsessed Austinites. The high-profile project garnered widespread attention when it opened courtesy of chef Grae Nonas (formerly of Olamaie) but has largely fallen off the media radar.

It does have one advantage, however. Christina Skogly Knowlton, the wife of Bon Appétit editor-at-large Andrew Knowlton, consulted on the project.

For Blood Bros., the nod from Bon Appétit is only the latest recognition for the Vietnamese-influenced barbecue joint. In addition to winning Best New Restaurant in this year's CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, the Bellaire restaurant also earned shout outs in the New York Times and Texas Monthly, which named it one of the state's 25 best new barbecue joints.

Opened by chef Donny Sirisavath in August 2018, Dallas' Khao Noodle Shop has drawn broad acclaim for its boat noodle soup, dumplings, and other Laotian snacks. Sirisavath’s recipes are inspired by childhood memories of his mother’s home-cooking as well as his travels throughout Southeast Asia. Dubbed “a tiny marvel” by the Dallas Morning News, Khao has earned numerous nods and awards including a spot on Eater’s list of best new restaurants in America for 2019, and a nomination for Rising Star Chef in CultureMap’s 2019 Tastemaker Awards.

Petra and the Beast, the highly personal restaurant from chef and charcuterie queen Misti Norris (winner of Chef of the Year in the CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards), is a critical favorite and one of Dallas’ most lauded eateries, including a spot on Texas Monthly’sbest new restaurants list of 2019, and a semifinalist slot for best new restaurant in the 2019 James Beard Awards. Norris was also one of 10 chefs singled out by Food & Wine on its 2019 list of Best New Chefs, the only chef in Texas to earn that nod.

Bon Appétit deputy editor Julia Kramer travels the country to compile the list, which includes restaurants ranging from New York City and Los Angeles to Providence and St. Louis. Restaurants open since May 2018 are eligible, and Kramer takes "all aspects of the restaurant into account, including service, overall vibe, and of course the food," according to a representative.

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Brandon Watson and Teresa Gubbins contributed to this article.

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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.

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