News you can eat
A great chef's granddad and a mom's premium cookies blaze a trail through Austin food news
Oh boy, Austin. We have three foodie holidays coming up — Valentine's Day, the Lunar New Year, and the Super Bowl. (I'm serious, albeit agnostic, about the last one.) You can peruse those lists after reading this more agnostic collection, with a strong prevalance of family ties and comfort foods. Here we've got some welcome openings and events from some of the city's top chefs, from cookies to important save-the-dates.
Openings and closings
Longhorns player Deandre Moore has made a genius marketing move opening his new Jive Turkeyfood truck on Super Bowl Sunday. Even better, it's parked at the beautiful new college football-inspired barVictory Lap near campus (504 West 24th St.). Austinites who feel more affiliated with their home team than anyone playing on Sunday can enjoy the game while supporting a local player. The menu is simple, and developed by Moore's talented mom. Jive Turkey is open Sundays to Wednesdays from 4 pm to midnight, and Thursdays to Saturdays from 2 pm to 2 am, opening early for morning games. Of course, there will be big TVs for watching the game(s).
All you need is love...and cookies. Then the new place opening at 1701 South Lamar Blvd. should solve all our problems. Love&Cookies already has a fan base from its Lakeway location, online cookie sales, selling dough at H-E-B, and supporting kids with Kawasaki Disease (IVIG) like owner Ashley Cameron's son. Alongside the 10 or more classic and rotating cookie flavors, the shop will serve brownies, cinnamon rolls, and deep-dish cookie cakes, plus goods from a coffee bar and ice cream counter. Cameron insists on "premium" ingredients like pasture-raised eggs, European butter, and Guittard chocolate. It'll be open in late March from 9 am to 8 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and 8 am to 9 pm Fridays and Saturdays.
ICYMI: Austinites were surprised and disappointed to hear that the cool-yet-kitschy Wax Myrtle's was closing in December of 2023, but the sister hotels housing it have announced new, more Mexican plans in the form of Arriba Abajo. Mezcal will be a focus point. Another popular hangout, Armadillo Den (with distinctly different vibes), also announced this week that it is opening a spinoff called Dainty Dillo. Expect outdoorsy fun.
Other news and notes
Austinites carrying around nostalgia for Dirty Martin's Place, a hamburger joint that symbolized the University of Texas experience for many, are relieved to hear that it will not be demolished...yet. The Austin Transit Partnership — tasked with building Austin's famous, forthcoming light rail — decided it can build around the address, contrary to its earlier and bleaker guesses. Surely, the outrage at the original plans to take it down helped turn the tides.
You'd think Comedor chef Philip Speer is busy enough with his own restaurant and running club. But he somehow found the time to create a whole new menu for the Lounge at Hotel Saint Cecilia, the historic music-devoted hotel tucked behind South Congress Avenue. A press release mentions culinary inspiration from "the eclectic style of Austin," "Central Texas’ bounty," and "European classics drenched in rock-and-roll opulence." Take the burger, for example, with house-baked bread, in-house ground beef, brie cheese, and a demi-glace. You'll have to take a staycation to try it — it's only open to hotel guests and members.
If you think Chef Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel is good, you should try her grandfather Phil Aiello's red sauce. That's possible now through February 10, and then again from February 13-17, at the pop-upAiello’s at Birdie’s. A four-course meal ($72) includes pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans), Caesar all’Aiello or house salad, fusilli alla vodka, and gelati or tiramisu. Guests can also add à la carte items: garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, "Nonna's meatballs," and chicken marsala. There are no reservations, so be prepared to wait, especially on Valentine's Day.
Unfortunately living in Texas does not mean we automatically know how to smoke meats, but Beef Loving Texans is here to help. The community of more than 13,000 Texas farmers and ranchers is represented by Pitmaster Jerry McPherson in this detailed "smoke lab" crash course on February 10. Attendees will learn about beef cuts, quality grades, browsing in the butcher shop, and smoking a brisket from start to finish. Then they'll enjoy tastings and dinner. Tickets ($149.50 on sale) are available via Eventbrite.
Speaking of pitmasters, Aaron Franklin's 2023 restaurantUptown Sports Club is inspired by New Orleans and celebrating Mardi Gras on February 10 and 11, from noon to 2 am or midnight, respectively. Franklin's gumbo is excellent — smoky and thick — and some specials will be on the menu: an oyster po' boy; a “Surf and Turf” with roast beef and fried shrimp; fried chicken and Champagne; beignets; and four new cocktails in souvenir cups.
These events are not for a while, but you might want to save the dates and snag tickets while they're available. First up is the second annualSound Wine Fest with local band the Bright Light Social Hour and at least 25 wine-and-band pairings on March 10. That's going down at the Far Out Lounge. Next is the 25th annualUmlauf Garden Party on April 18. Food will be provided by an impressive list of popular Austin restaurants, alongside wines and big band jazz by the Nash Hernandez Orchestra.