Cup of Content

Whip up this side dish instead of pasta for easy weekday dinners

Couscous: the quickest side dish.

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In this episode of Cup of Content, host Roni Proter shares her go-to side dish: couscous. When a busy mom has to keep an eye on the kids while cooking, pasta may take too long to prepare.

Quick-cooking couscous works wonders for weekday dinners when you want another kind of "starchy" side. Proter likes to boil two cups of water in her electric kettle, then pour it over one cup of couscous she has waiting in a bowl.

Stir in the water with a pinch of salt, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for five minutes before forking and serving. What could be simpler? And it's only 10 minutes from start to finish.

If only raising kids were that easy.

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Good Taste

Exclusive Austin social club provides home for Hestia during renovation

The courtyard at The Pershing

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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