just the beginning

Elevated cocktail bar from Bocuse d’Or winner pours into downtown Austin

Prélude is indeed a peek at what's to come for Chef Mathew Peters.

Photo courtesy of Prélude

A new cocktail bar from an award-winning chef is coming to the West Sixth Street area of downtown. Set in a historic home on West 10th Street, Préludewill open on Thursday, May 2.

The concept comes from Chef Mathew Peters, the first (and thus far only) American to win the prestigious biennial Bocuse d'Or (2017) – a biennial world chef championship that takes place in Lyon, France.

$Pr\u00e9lude Austin dish$ The award-winning food looks the part.Photo courtesy of Prélude

True to its name, the new cocktail bar and lounge will act as a preview of a full-service restaurant coming in 2025 from Peters, whose background includes experience under Alain Ducasse in New York City and Thomas Keller at his three Michelin starred restaurant, Per Se.

After bringing home the Bocuse d’Or in 2017, Peters and his wife Lorin moved to Austin to design their own space. He settled on the historic home at 707 West 10th as the future site for his flagship restaurant, Maven, with Prélude serving as a foretaste in the meantime.

$Pr\u00e9lude Austin exterior$ This home may be historic, but the details are decidedly modern.Photo courtesy of Prélude

“Prélude will be the introduction for what is to come from my team and the house,” shares Peters via release. “We wanted to take Austin along for the journey as we evolve the space and begin construction in 2025 for my fine dining concept, Maven, which will be located on the second floor. While Maven is being designed, guests will get to enjoy all levels of the home, whether for reservations or private events.”

Menu highlights at Prélude will include sweet pea croquettes (Iberico ham, Meyer lemon, and labneh); chicken “nuggets” (hot sauce, whipped dill creme fraiche, seasonal pickles); masa gougeres (guajillo pepper, finger lime, coriander blooms); and much more. Each plate is designed to complement seasonal signature cocktails from the bar team led by Dragan Milivojević.

$Pr\u00e9lude Austin dishes$ Prélude is not shy about its dramatic aesthetic.Photo courtesy of Prélude

Harnessing the historic home’s charm and elegance, Prélude's interior will reflect a modern and sophisticated aesthetic with a sleek, luxurious design. Each of the four first-floor rooms will have its own vibe, featuring a curated collection of art from West Chelsea Contemporary littered throughout the entire space.

Outside, a large back lawn will offer elegant (and thankfully shaded) lounge seating with downtown views, while guests looking for a private experience can book rooms for groups up to 10 on the second floor. Majhong players will love the third floor’s private room for 4-12 guests.

Starting Thursday, May 2, will open for cocktails Prélude will be open for cocktails and small bites service five days a week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5-11 pm, and Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 pm to 1 am. Reservations are available through the Prélude website and on OpenTable. Booking for private events is open through the end of 2024.

openings cocktails french cuisine luxury

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.

delivery farmhouse grocery supermarkets