Food & Wine

Austin Food & Wine Festival plates up extra helping of all-star chefs for this weekend's food festivities

Sample the best local food and wine for a cause this weekend at the Austin Food & Wine Festival.

Courtesy of Austin Food & Wine Festival

Just because Austin City Limits Festival is over, doesn't mean festival season is over here in Austin. And for food lovers, one of the best festivals of the year is taking place this weekend. The Austin Food & Wine festival starts on Friday, November 4, and runs through Sunday, November 6.

As if the previously announced lineup of local, regional, and national chefs were not overwhelming enough, the festival recently released an update list for its Chef Showcase lineup, Rock Your Taco event, and Sunday Fire Pit. The Chef Showcase lineup now includes Kyle Mulligan (1417); Robert Mata (Benvolio’s); Laila Bazahm (Eberly); Tano Avila (Grizzelda’s); Nico Harrison (Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile); Wade Guice (Juliet Italian Kitchen); Mike Diaz (Oseyo); and Mike Warnock (The Dirdie Birdie). Amanda Turner (Olamiae) has joined the Rock Your Taco event and Terry Koval (The Deer and the Dove) will be at the Sunday Fire Pit. Be sure to check out our previous article for a full list of other chefs in the lineup.

As if a full weekend of eating and drinking for a cause was not overwhelming enough, the festival added several new events to keep on your radar this weekend. And while this may be bad news for an already-packed schedule, it's great news if you're currently hanging out on the waitlist for tickets, since several of these events are ticketed separately to the festival itself.

Powered by OpenTable, the most recent addition to the weekend's festivities will be a collaboration between top-rated local chefs and restaurants special guest chefs from around the country. Dining Series will take place across all three days of the festival, featuring collaborations between local stars such as Michael Fojtasek (Olamaie, Maie Day) and Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Canje, Emmer & Rye), and Fermín Núñez (Suerte, Este).

On Friday, Fojtasek will welcome special guests Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson of Los Angeles restaurant, Kismet, while Brisol-Joseph will partner with Maneet Chauhan, a regular judge on Chopped. Saturday's installment will see Fermín Núñez debut a new weekend lunch at his new East-side establishment, Este. The $115 pre-fixe menu will focus on seafood and includes a welcome cocktail. Tickets to all three events are separate to the festival itself and can be found at austinfoodandwinefestival.com/tickets.

Meanwhile, over at the main festival, another new addition to the lineup is equally star-studded. Dos Hombres Mezcal founders Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul will gather in the "Meet the Maker" tent on Saturday, November 5, at 3:45 pm to share the serendipitous story behind their brand. Mixologist Paul Ramon will mix a souvenir cocktail for the event, paired with a scallop aguachile from chef Alex Reyes.

For more information on the festival, visit austinfoodandwinefestival.com or head directly their ticket landing page to snag the final few All-in passes and tickets to the Dining Series.

Grocery news haul

Grocery service Farmhouse Delivery returns to Austin with fun surprise

Courtesy photo

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After suddenly halting its operations in May, grocery service Farmhouse Delivery is on its way back, with an extra surprise for Austin: a new storefront.

Known for offering locally prepared foods and produce from small Central Texas farms, the subscription-based service emailed its loyal customers on Monday, November 18, to share the relaunch news and outline its plans for the future.

“We’ve missed you and are beyond grateful for your patience as we’ve been hard at work planning the next chapter of Farmhouse Delivery,” the newsletter reads. “Soon, you’ll once again have fresh, local food delivered straight to your doorstep[.]”

Farmhouse Delivery is aiming for a December date to resume deliveries, they say. They've used the intervening six months to not only revamp their existing business model, but to expand their offerings.

The biggest surprise in the newsletter was a revelation of plans for a new storefront in Austin, blending a cozy farmer’s market vibe with what they call “the best parts of your favorite grocer — where you can discover fresh foods, refill on essentials, connect with other members on sustainable living, and, of course, [shop] our best local products — all in innovative, reusable packaging.”

The email did not divulge details for the location or timing of the storefront project.

The company also plans to introduce a new membership model with exclusive benefits such as sneak peeks of new products and promotions.

Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Farmhouse also announced that it’s working toward a completely plastic-free delivery:

“Expect to see your favorite items in sustainable packaging, with rewards for returning and reusing Farmhouse materials. Together, let’s reduce waste and make sustainable choices the coolest thing to do.”

The newsletter invited customers to complete a survey to help shape the ongoing Farmhouse experience. There, customers can indicate their desired delivery day (or days) and the factors that influence that preference (meal planning, work schedule, etc.), as well as specific products they would like to see in future deliveries.

Survey participants can also designate their preferred price point for memberships and the most appealing benefits from a long list, including free deliveries, additional delivery days, free products, members-only cooking classes, exclusive content, and more.

Neither the newsletter nor the Farmhouse website announced a specific date for relaunching, but returning and new customers can keep an eye on the website and social media for further details.

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