News You Can Eat
Michelin-starred beer, Hong Kong desserts, and a new 'Asian comfort' spot top Austin's tastiest food news
Chef Andrew Leigh presents three Hong Kong desserts for a bake sale at Lenoir this weekend.
Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of Austin’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.
Openings
Some of us don't know the difference between love and dumplings, and that's okay. "Authentic Asian comfort food" purveyor Lee's Kitchen + Cocktails is holding a grand opening party in the Westlake Hills neighborhood on August 27. (The restaurant is technically already open and has been testing the waters since its soft opening in April.) From 3-5 pm, the restaurant will host a ribbon cutting and a lion dance, then passing around small bites for sampling. The family-owned restaurant isn't the owners' first foray into food service; They also own the small local chain PhoNatic, and have a further background in grocery. Lee's Kitchen is located at 701 S. Capital of T.X. Hwy. Ste. G700.
Other news and notes
Why do baked goods taste better when they're in limited supply? Whatever the reason, Lenoir is taking that concept and turning it up a notch with a Hong Kong twist at Andrew’s Tiny Bakehouse pop-up on August 12 and 13. In-house baker Andrew Leigh is serving up golden bo lo bao (pineapple buns), coconut-infused gai mei bao (cocktail buns), and ma lai gao (steamed sponge cake) along with hot and iced milk tea. The bake sale runs from 9 am to noon both weekend days.
Perhaps you did not think your Austin Pride festivities would not include flamenco, but if that's the case you weren't thinking big enough. El Raval is emphasizing its Spanish roots on August 13 with an "inclusive Flamenco night" in two seatings — but the earlier one is sold out, so make your booking soon. Diners can enjoy tapas like croquetas and gazpacho, along with wine and cocktails, while members of the Austin Flamenco Academy showcase their dramatic dance skills. Reserve at elravalatx.com.
One of Austin Proper's restaurants, the Mexican-inspired La Piscina, is running a pop-up on the building's ground floor so that people can enjoy the food in a grab-and-go context from August 14-23. These street-ready foods include the obvious tacos, street corn, and guacamole, but they also get fancier and less expected: When's the last time you found yourself strolling off with a bag of Gulf snapper and aji amarillo aguachile? The pop-up will operate from 11 am to 8 pm, and will only offer take-out. Meanwhile, the full restaurant will take a break.
L'Oca d'Oro, an Austin favorite that still maintains strong neighborhood restaurant status, is launching a new happy hour. (Never would have guessed that there wasn't already one.) August 15 will mark the first happy hour, which will be held Tuesdays through Sundays from 5-6 pm. Guests will take $2 off all wines and beers on tap, plus some discounted bites and cocktails. The announcement also teases rotating punch drinks. Like the main menu, the happy hour selections will be seasonal.
If you didn't know Michelin-starred breweries exist, you're not alone. One is in a category of its own as the only brewery with two stars: Chicago's Moody Tongue Culinary Brewery. It's coming to Austin for a special dinner in collaboration with French restaurant1417, offering a four-course meal with perfect beer pairings, of course. Combos include an appetizer trio with an aperitif pilsner, and duck à l’orange with a nectarine IPA (that's also in the glaze). There's only one seating, at 5 pm, so book ($150) right away at sevenrooms.com.
