the wait is almost over

How to tune in for the invite-only Michelin Guide Texas ceremony

An Austin favorite as established as Uchi has a strong shot at winning a star.

Photo courtesy of Uchi

Missed out on one of the coveted invites for Monday night’s ceremony that will reveal which Texas restaurants are included in the state’s first ever Michelin Guide? Fear not.

The event will be streamed live on YouTube beginning at 7 pm. We’ve embedded it below.

As CultureMap haspreviously reported, restaurants from Texas’ five largest cities — Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as points in between — have been invited to the ceremony that’s being held at Houston’s 713 Music Hall. They’re eligible for one of four designations:

Michelin stars: rated at one, two, or three for restaurants that offer exceptional experiences
Bib Gourmand: described as “restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices”
Recommended: for restaurants that serve good food but are not quite star worthy
Green stars: for “restaurants that are leaders in sustainable gastronomy”

Considered to be the most prestigious restaurant review site in the world, Michelin uses five criteria to evaluate restaurants. They are: product quality; mastery of cooking techniques; harmony of flavors; the personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; and consistency over time and across the entire menu.

The guide’s famously anonymous inspectors had already been spending time in Texas when Michelin announced its presence in July. It seems like they’ve been busy.

Texas Monthlyreported that at least 16 barbecue restaurants statewide have been invited to the ceremony, including Austin's Franklin Barbecue, LeRoy and Lewis BBQ, Interstellar BBQ, and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, as well as the meteorically successful Lockhart joint Barbs B Q. In the article, barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn speculates that at least one barbecue restaurant could receive a star, which would be a first for America.

Austin's relatively casual dining scene and inconsistent performance with other food awards (not too shabby, but showing alternating periods of obsession and being overlooked) makes it a bit hard to predict how it will fare in this inaugural year of recognition.

Some Austin restaurants like Pasta|Bar have sibling restaurants in other states that already have stars; others like El Naranjo and Nixta Taqueria already have chef wins from the James Beard Foundation under their belts. There are also some obvious contenders given their ongoing local prestige: Uchi, Hestia, Barley Swine, and Olamaie come to mind. So do newer restaurants that are doing something truly unique, riding huge waves of media praise, or both, like Canje, Birdie's, and Fabrik.

Of course, CultureMap will be in attendance. We'll have full coverage of the results later.

CultureMap Austin editor Brianna Caleri adapted this story with local commentary.

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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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