Austinites gather to toast the city's top culinary leaders at the 2023 Tastemaker Awards

Toast the Tastemakers

Photo by Guillermo Rosas

On May 11, Austin foodies crossed 13 restaurants, bars, and desserts off their must-try lists — or enjoyed old favorites all in one room at our 2023 Tastemaker Awards. More than 700 visitors milled about Fair Market with cocktails and Topo Chico in hand, visiting booths and tasting creative Austin food.

A VIP hour welcomed some guests early for a toast to the nominees and our nonprofit beneficiary, the Southern Smoke Foundation, which shares funds for emergency relief and mental health resources with food industry workers. Lodgewell provided cocktails and insulated goodie bags with treats like Parch, LMNT, Siete, and SkinnyPop at its VIP lounge, where it gave away a 1-night stay in the famous Bloomhouse.

More sponsors provided specialty drinks and garnishes: Flor de Caña Rum brought sustainably crafted rum in its bar and lounge, with 70 percent cacao dark chocolate to pair with the more than 25-year-aged spirit. Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey brought several bottles of the Tennessee spirit to try neat, and Twang manned a booth for adding seasonings to the rim of favorite cocktails.

This year, even though the warehouse was busy right away, the tone was casual, and our vendors kept plates coming, so there was a free flow from booth to booth. Two vendors, Watertrade and Chapulín Cantina both brought chapulines — fried grasshoppers — for a salad and a taco, respectively. Lots of vendors brought handheld items for ease of snacking: Luminaire brought fried empanadas that could nearly fill a person up on their own, and Wunderkeks brought cookies to-go, so that visitors could keep the party going at home.

If there had been a theme of the day, it would have been sliders. A "Burger Throwdown" thanks to Goodstock by Nolan Ryan pitted three restaurants against each other in a friendly outdoor grilling competition. JewBoy Burgers and Honeymoon Spirit brought delicious contenders that couldn't be more different, but Lebowski's Grill charmed visitors with two different sandwiches and ultimately won the most of their votes. Although it wasn't part of the competition, BBQ Ramen Tatsu-ya brought its own smoked brisket slider, emphasizing the versatility of these little party snacks.

The irreplaceable Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League emceed again, reading out nominees to pointed cheers from the crowd — a win for vendors even if the award went home with someone else — and finally revealing the winners. (Although there was not a fashion contest, we feel confident saying Chef Harvard Aninye's family and friends blew all of us away in their spangly threads.) See the full list of winners here.

All the smiling faces and (very) full stomachs made this Tastemaker Awards ceremony a night to remember; Try to remember these superstar restaurants, bars, chefs, and more next time you have some free time to try something local.

Photo by Guillermo Rosas

The 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards introduced Austinites to the city's top food and drinks on May 11.

Photo courtesy of Birdie's

Austin's top restaurant, chef, bar, and more revealed at 2023 Tastemaker Awards

Toast the Tastemakers

It’s that time of year again, when we take stock of our best hometown restaurants and industry players at the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

As always, we started with a group of editorial staff and past winners, our judges, and selected our favorite restaurants, chefs, beverage pros, and more. The resulting nominations all reflect the amazing accomplishments in the Austin culinary scene since our 2022 Tastemaker Awards. We looked to Austinites to choose their favorite new restaurant in a bracket-style competition, and selected the rest via a vote among the industry judges. Now, it’s time to let everyone in on the results.

On May 11, we gathered with foodies of all persuasions for the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards at Fair Market. Guests got to try bites by nominees they’ve never visited before as well as old favorites, sipped cocktails, and watched a live burger competition before the ceremony. Then, Alamo Drafthouse founder and local restaurant supporter Tim League returned to reprise his role as emcee, revealing this year’s winners.

Join us in raising a toast to the 2023 CultureMap Austin Tastemaker Awards winners. Meet them below.

Restaurant of the Year: Birdie’s
After the cultural comeuppance of molecular gastronomy — its coffin nailed long before The Menu made it multiplex farce — nothing seems as current as a baguette smeared with washed-rind cheese. In post-pandemic Austin, the success of Birdie's casual model helped the entire culinary scene to reset. Why fuss with establishing restaurants as fiefdoms with chefs as their plundering lords? There's nothing more aspirational than serving orecchiette dressed in Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and dandelion greens.

Chef of the Year: Amanda Turner, Olamaie
If there's a list of chefs — participants in a food festival or a fundraiser, honorees in an award ceremony — Amanda Turner's name is on it. In fact, before she made this list, she made the class of Rising Star Chefs in 2019 (with Juniper) and in 2022, winning both and proving some awesome foresight from those judges. As chef de cuisine at Restaurant of the Year nominee Olamaie, she somehow finds time while helping to define Southern cuisine — from the complicated position of a Black woman chef, she sometimes points out — to be one of the most public-facing chefs in Austin. About a year and a half into this new position, she's clearly hit her stride, and showing no signs of stopping.

Rising Star Chef of the Year: Joaquin Ceballos, Este
Joaquin Ceballos has always been international, and it's his "love for multicultural environments" that he says sets him apart. Born in Laredo, Texas, and raised across the border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, he now represents the latter country at Este, the upscale seafood restaurant in East Austin. If he'd never left, however, he'd never had a chance to return to those roots, so thank Parisian bistro Racines NY for holding on to him in between.

Pastry Chef of the Year: Mariela Camacho, Comadre Panadería
A first-generation American and daughter of Mexican immigrants, Mariela Camacho creates high-quality bread and pastries inspired by her experience growing up Xicana in America. Comadre Panadería started as a pop-up in Seattle in 2017 before moving back to Camacho’s home state of Texas, where she recently expanded into a space next to Nixta Taqueria.

Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Nixta Taqueria
Owners Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi bootstrapped this East Austin taqueria to James Beard acclaim, and one gets the sense that they take nothing for granted. Building on early triumphs like the sensuous duck carnitas taco, the joint keeps expanding its scope to antojitos like Yucatan Sikil P'aak and endearingly tasty goofs like the Space Glizzy crispy dog.

Bar of the Year: Nickel City
When this East Austin bar arrived, Capital City nightlife was under the thrall of mustachioed mixologists. The Nickel City team took the piss out with a frozen Irish coffee in a Styrofoam cup. It's not that the cocktails here require a less exacting palate (a current selection employs shiitake mushrooms and seaweed), it just turns out that barcraft with a sense of humor is a hell of a lot more fun.

Bartender of the Year: Erin Ashford, Olamaie
Erin Ashford spent seven years as bar manager, wine buyer, and assistant general manager at Restaurant of the Year nominee and former winner Olamaie. With all that practice, she's moved on to become the co-owner of brand-new cocktail bar Holiday with Rising Star nominee Peter Klein. It's a different venue but with Erin, it still feels like the same party — her favorite part of the job.

Wine Program of the Year: Bufalina
This acclaimed pizza joint has always put as much work into its wine list as its Neapolitan pies. In the early days, it miraculously squeezed 400 bottles into its tiny former East Austin space. These days, it brings wine to the masses through its monthly wine club, whose members get special discounts, pizza pairings, and witty tasting notes from wine director Rania Zayyat.

Brewery of the Year: Lazarus Brewing Co.
Owned by a Presbyterian pastor, the two locations of Lazarus wink to Christianity throughout with apocalyptic stained-glass installations and beer names like Walks on Water. Secular Austin still can't get enough of the boozy, most European brews — including rarer styles like Kellerbier and Belgian Dubbel.

Best New Restaurant:
Maie Day
Helmed by Olamaie founder and executive chef Michael Fojtasek, Maie Day took over for Central Standard at South Congress Hotel last May. With playful takes on a classic steakhouse menu, highlights include ribeye, a butcher’s steak, and a plethora of hearty sides.

Best Burger: Dai Due
Best to clear your afternoon before diving into the Dai Due burger, which is sure to induce a nice REM cycle with its double patty, ground with Dai Due bacon. Multiple James Beard Award winner chef Jesse Griffiths remains a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement, sourcing ingredients from Texas and primarily in the Austin region — and the burger is no exception. A sesame cemita bun sandwiches Stryk cheddar cheese, house-made dill pickles and onions, and the whole heavenly ensemble comes with a side of french fries and unbelievable beet ketchup.

Photo courtesy of Birdie's

Birdie's is 2023's Restaurant of the Year.

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Hannah J. Frías, Brianna Caleri, and Brandon Watson contributed to this article.

Photo courtesy of Wanderlust Wine Co.

8 things to know in Austin food right now: Wine, coffee, and tacos come together on Barton Springs

News You Can Eat

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

It's still early — more specifically, it's a soft launch — but Wanderlust Wine Co. is now operating its third location, this time at 1601 Barton Springs Rd. The two existing locations are known for commitment to the bit, through events and popups, as well as a fun wine tasting system that works on visitor-operated tap. The new location partners with Tacos TJ, which offers Tijuana-style birria tacos, and Vision Coffee, which serves up adaptogens in its brews. (Think helpful herbs and mushrooms.) During this stage of opening, this Wanderlust location operates Tuesday through Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm, and Sunday from 8 am - 6 pm.

OneTaco (stylized ONETACO.) is certainly more than just one, and it's growing. A new location at 5425 Burnet Rd. #110 makes eight of the fast-casual restaurants. The simple menu offers breakfast and street-style tacos with a few twists here and there, but an emphasis on authenticity since the restaurant's inception in 2009 as a food truck. A grand opening event on April 30 runs from noon to 3 pm with margaritas, face painting, a DJ, and a giveaway: the "Golden Ticket Taco" promises free tacos for a year. The location will donate 15 percent of proceeds from the opening week to the 4ATX Foundation.

Other news and notes

Rules & Regs at Fairmont Austin is changing its rules with a new happy hour (Thursday to Sunday, 6-8 pm) for deals on Modelo ($5), margaritas ($8), and suadero or carnitas tacos ($10). It also added two cocktails to the lineup: "The 7th Four" daiquiri sampling tower presents four cocktails — strawberry, mango, banana, and lime — on an Instagrammable stand, and the ‘Haily Mary’ Bloody Mary uses Grey Goose as a canvas for a guest to choose the perfect toppings. Reserve on OpenTable (or just walk in).

Bijan Mustardson, the alias of Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson in the form of a condiment for sale, is celebrating the upcoming NFL draft at Koko's Bavarian with a watch party on April 27. There will be drinks, snacks, "custom swag, and autographed gear," while the draft plays alongside a live performance by Thebrosfresh. Students get in free with a school ID, and further proceeds go toward Tankproof, a national swim lessons nonprofit. Tickets (starting at $10) available on Eventbrite.

The 2023 round of University of Texas graduates are about to embark on their post-grad lives (or maybe stick around the best grad school in Texas). To send them off, Cookie Rich and UT alum Lorin Peters collaborated to make a burnt orange treat (in color, not flavor) with a "dollop of salted caramel," perfect for a low-key gift ($39). Zombie Taco, the restaurant at The Moxy hotel, is also congratulating folks in a cap and gown on May 6 with buy-one-get-one tacos all day.

Zanzibar, a tiki bar on the rooftop of the Austin Marriott Downtown is turning up the tiki knob with a rotating cocktail series called Tiki Tuesdays. Once a month on a Tuesday, a different bartender will present a speciality cocktail in the tiki tradition. There's no one flavor profile to stick to, so some drinks may be sweet, spicy, or entirely unique, but they're all inspired by tropical flavors. Zanzibar also has a meals and snacks menu to work through on these repeat visits as new cocktails come out.

Austinites curious about growing food in their semi-urban home can get a closer look at the food system at Urban Roots' annual Tour de Farm. The organization says it's "the only farm-based youth leadership organization in Austin," and operates two farms with paid learning opportunities. During the May 3 event at Meanwhile Brewing, the organization will highlight some of its youth participants' ideas alongside cooking by Chef Damian Rockway of Distant Relatives. Tickets ($175) available at betterunite.com.

Maie Day, the steakhouse offshoot of southern restaurant Olamaie, is celebrating its first birthday with a party on May 4. Visitors can purchase a wristband ($35) to sample bites by the restaurant and access the bar all night through a sort of pre-existing afterparty; The South Congress hotel, Maie Day's home, hosts a monthly event called First Thursday that brings together local businesses and up-and-coming artists for a community get together. Birthday visitors get early access to First Thursday. Tickets available on Tock.

Photo courtesy of Austin PBS

Austin PBS adds tacos and brings back gardening and star interviews for upcoming season

Don't change the channel

There are so many things made in Austin that it's hard to know what they are. Austin PBS is here to help, following its Made in Austin Premiere Night on April 20, where it showed clips of new programming for 2023-24. It will continue to share musical performances on Austin City Limits, while adding a food series, and bringing back a gardening series and another series with one of Austin's top journalists.

“Although we have gathered to view and celebrate our new Austin PBS original programming, this is first and foremost a celebration of our community,” said president and CEO Luis Patiño, as quoted in a news release. “I believe that Austin PBS is truly in the right place, at the right time, to tell the stories of this diverse community and give voice to the multitude of artists, changemakers and leaders that call Austin and the surrounding communities home."

"Without people — and their willingness to share their stories with us — we would not be able to create the impactful content that enriches and transforms the communities we serve," he added. "Above all, Austin PBS will continue to create and cultivate collaboration that is community-serving and community-focused.”

The highlighted shows are as follows:

Taco Mafia: This limited docuseries of four episodes explores Austin through its tacos — not a brand new idea, by any means, but these hosts are well-known around town for their contributions on top of tortillas. James Beard Award winner Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria, Beto Robledo of Cuantos Tacos, and Xose Velasco and Anthony Pratto of Discada join together as the "Taco Mafia" to talk about "entrepreneurship, sustainability, immigration, cultural appropriation, gentrification and the pandemic," all while creating a stronger bond and taco community.

“Our mission is to showcase not only the exceptional members of the Taco Mafia in this show, but also the networks of individuals who contribute to the Mafia's unique identity,” said Rico. “From highlighting the journey of Raymundo Escamilla of La Colonial in San Antonio to our corn farmer Hugo Gomez in Oaxaca, Mexico, we aim to feature all of the exceptional individuals who have helped craft the DNA of our establishments and make them so special. We are excited for everyone to tune in and witness the remarkable work that Austin PBS has put into the production and vision of our show.”

Central Texas Gardener: Central Texas Gardener is a DIY show that tours gardens for inspiration and tips for gardeners of every experience level. It also places an emphasis on sustainability through "organic techniques, water-wise plants, and homegrown food." The real Texas gardens are also a great way to get to know our surrounding area and the people that take care of the land in their gardens. Aside from aired episodes, Central Texas Gardener runs a blog for easier reference, as well as an extensive list of resources for browsing.

Overheard With Evan Smith: This interview series enters its 11th season, in a notable reappearance by host Evan Smith, who recently left his post as the CEO of the publication he co-founded, The Texas Tribune. This is not a hyperlocal show: it airs nationally in 136 markets, inviting well-known guests that often qualify as household names. Season 10 included former President George W. Bush, author John Grisham, musician Jeff Tweedy, and more. It also featured some category compilations that may be an interesting entry point for someone new to the show.

Austin PBS recently acquired the state-wide streaming and broadcast rights to Deep In The Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story, which features the voice of Matthew McConaughey over scenes of Texas landscapes. Viewers will see wildlife and scenery that can't be found anywhere outside the Lone Star State. This show was made possible through a gift from private benefactors Lisa and Desi Rhoden.

In March, the station also announced a new show about the murals around the city, called Muraling Austin. Another notable show out of Austin, a National Geographic contribution called Restaurants at the End of the World, features Top Chef winner Kristen Kish traveling the world and preparing regional foods in remote locations. Austin TV speaks most to the people who are likely to see its subjects on the street, but the Capital City is increasingly interesting to people all over.

The above programs will be air or stream on KLRU-TV, the Austin PBS app, and austinpbs.org. A full schedule is available on the website.

Veracruz All Natural/ Facebook

6 things to know in Austin food right now: Local street taco chain fries up sit-down Mueller concept

News You Can Eat

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

Veracruz All Natural, one of Austin's favorite taco chains, is coming to Muelleras Veracruz Fonda & Bar, a sit-down concept. Although some hardcore taco fans might turn away from a chain, sisters and owners Reyna and Maritza Vazquez are bona fide taco pros, born and raised in the restaurant life in Mexico. They opened their food truck in Austin in 2008, becoming known for both straightforward and creative tacos loaded up with veggies. The new location will serve traditional meals, pastries, and coffee at 1905 Aldrich St., and opens on April 8. Mueller's Aldrich Street district announced that along with Veracruz, it would add locations for Aviator Pizza & Drafthouse, Dish Society, Nautical Bowls, and Sweetgreen.

Other news and notes

The old world of Texas barbecue and the new world of YouTubers collide on a channel called Mad Scientist BBQ, where Jeremy Yoder cooks and talks about the supremacy of the regional art. He's bringing that argument and a 1,000-gallon smoker on the road through Texas, signing on some guest chefs to cook for fans along the tour, and then giving the four-barrel monster away. Hopeful winners can buy a mug ($49) to enter. Yoder will announce his tour locations and dates on Instagram as he goes.

Brunch doesn't have to be a lazy Sunday activity. The Dirdie Birdie, a surreal carnival of an indoor mini golf course, just added a brunch service starting April 8, every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. Befitting the imaginative golf course, the food is also above and beyond. Try a loco moco (Hawaiian hamburger) with crispy jasmine rice, ham, and runny egg; chicken and waffles with hot honey; avocado toast with mezcal pickled onions; bottomless mimosas, and more. Reserve at dirdiebirdieatx.com.

A free "Dog Party" at the Lucky Rabbit Live Music Bar & Kitchen on April 8 will connect interested adopters with dogs from Texas Humane Heroes and Texas Lifelong Friends. Mobile adoption units make it possible to complete everything onsite, but if visitors prefer just to get acquainted, there's plenty to do with their own pooches. The kitchen is whipping up some specialty hot dogs (for dogs); organizations are trimming nails, selling pet apparel and jewelry; and three bands are playing live. No RSVP required.

If you're not already super competitive about bar trivia, maybe having some Austin FC players in attendance will put a fire under your own team. Will Bruin, Leo Vaisanen, Jon Gallagher, and Nick Lima are heading over to Pluckers Wing Bar (9070 Research Blvd.) on April 12 to participate in a soccer and general sports round of the weekly live trivia game. Even if a visitor doesn't win trivia, they may win a raffle for a pair of Austin FC tickets and a signed jersey. Comment on Instagram for a chance to join the FC players' team.

Easter and Passover are finally here, and anyone suffering some last-minute planning angst should check CultureMap's best-of list for new additions. We've had our ears to the ground and shared our favorites. There are 11 recommendations from weekend brunches, to egg hunts, to beautiful desserts. Neighborhood Italian restaurant L’Oca D’Oro offers an all-faiths Passover Seder; Fareground removes the obstacle of families having to agree on what to eat; and Drag performers don their Sunday best.

Photo courtesy of Goldee's BBQ

Where to find the most iconic — and best — meals in all of Texas

Hit the Road

Texans don't need much of a reason to hit the open road. Our state is brimming with natural beauty and charming small towns, but nothing motivates us to fill up the tank like a bonanza of regional foods.

There are renowned Texas flavors to be found throughout the entire state, from small towns like Round Top to the far west end in El Paso. And with meals ranging from Tex-Mex and barbecue to Frito Pie and kolaches, the Lone Star State is known for some of the most iconic foods in America.

When you hit the open road to explore (and taste) it all, know that a Hilton Hotel is nearby for a good night's rest. Whether you're traveling with family, friends, or as a couple, the right room is waiting with a warm welcome.

Hope you're hungry, because here is but a small slice of some of the best.

Barbecue
Goldee's BBQ, Fort Worth
Few barbecue joints in Texas can make a name without serving the holy trinity of brisket, sausage, and ribs. Still, the young chefs and pitmasters at this Fort Worth stop one-up the competition with unexpected sides like chicken rice and collard greens and crowd-pleasers like fish and chips.

Chicken Fried Steak
Babe's Chicken Dinner House, Carrollton
All Texans take their chicken fried steak with some degree of seriousness. We dare say this eatery — which originated in Carrollton and has locations all over North Texas — takes it the most seriously of all, with plenty of family-style sides to round out the table.

Tacos
La Cocina, McAllen
Former oil worker Evin Garcia combines tradition and innovation at this McAllen haunt. Enjoy everything from birria tacos dipped in a luscious consommé to an octopus version served with traditional al pastor fixings like onion, cilantro, and grilled pineapple.

Elotes
Elotes Fanny, Austin + North Texas
With locations in Austin, Fort Worth, and Garland, this snack shop mini-chain knows everything about corn. Get it by the cob or in a cup, and make sure to douse it in the fiery homemade Atomic Salsa.

Fried Chicken
Dolli's Diner, Nacogdoches
This diner does just about everything right, but the crowning jewel of the menu is undoubtedly the chicken fried chicken. It's served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and fresh veggies for color and is best enjoyed with funnel cake fries for dessert.

Frito Pie
RD's Burger, Cibolo
This casual stop does its namesake dish with aplomb, but found pure magic in its Frito Pie. It's served with no muss or fuss and occasionally on the insanely delicious burger.

Kolaches
Slovacek’s, West
When it comes to kolaches, any bakery in West will serve the real deal. Relative newcomer Slovacek's gets the vote for its dozens of fruit flavors and creative klobasnek (the meaty cousin of kolaches) filled with boudin, pepperoni, or kraut.

Pies
Royer's Round Top Cafe, Round Top
No trip to Round Top's famous antique fair is complete without a stop at this darling cafe. "Pie Man" Bud Royer makes every visit sweet with pies like buttermilk, pecan, and the multi-fruit Troy's Junk Berry.

Queso
L & J Cafe, El Paso
This El Paso tradition is by a graveyard, sure, but don't let that deter you from enjoying its queso. The miraculous concoction made with roasted green chile, tomatoes, and onions is served with just-fried tostadas.

Tamales
Leal's Tamale Factory, Lubbock
A Lubbock classic, this mainstay doesn't go for newfangled tamale flavors like sweet potato. Order pork, chicken, or cheese and rediscover the fundamentals.

Viet-Cajun crawfish boils
Crawfish & Noodles, Houston
Who knows what James Beard-nominated chef Trong Nguyen puts in his secret sauce. What we do know is that it's one of the most intensely flavorful experiences in all of Houston.

Texas knows no bounds when it comes to to where you can go (and eat). No matter where your next foodie adventure takes you, a Hilton hotel is waiting for you.

With over 550 Hilton hotels spanning across the state of Texas, the possibilities to earn more while exploring the Lone Star State are endless.

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Dip your toes into these 7 Austin pools with passes, snacks, and summer events; plus more top stories

hot headlines

Editor’s note: It’s that time again — time to check in with our top stories. From hotel pools, to museums, to a show-stopping Hill Country rental, here are five articles that captured our collective attention over the past seven days.

1. Dip your toes into these 7 Austin pools with passes, snacks, and summer events. The city is getting unreasonably hot again; It's time to start planning poolside hangs, which are even better with a cocktail.

2. Breathtaking Hill Country hideaway is one of Vrbo's top 10 vacation homes in the country. The retractable floor-to-ceiling glass windows are a nice touch in this $400-a-night house.

3. 6 Austin museums are offering free admission for military families all summer long. These organizations want to help military families spend more time together without breaking the bank.

4. Space-inspired screenings invade Austin Film Society ahead of Wes Anderson's upcoming release. Austinites looking forward to the June 16 release of Asteroid City can soak up the inspirations and watch a sneak peek screening.

5. Texas ranks No. 2 best state to start a small business in new report. The state's tax framework makes the finance side of running a business relatively easy.

4 Austin-inspired cocktail recipes to whisk you away from the Texas heat this summer

SIP SIP

Now that summer weather has arrived in Austin, we can tell you’re thirsting for some new drinks to try. And with World Gin Day coming up on June 10, we’re sharing a few recipes from local Austin restaurants (and Austin’s favorite Topo Chico!) we hope you’ll enjoy.

The following recipes feature some of our favorite ingredients or mixers we’re loving at the moment. Whether your drink of choice is a cocktail or mocktail, we’ve gathered four bright and bubbly beverages to help whisk you away from the Texas heat. And if you prefer to drink them rather than make them, three of these lovely libations can be found on the seasonal summer menus at their respective restaurant.

Aba’s Rhubarb Rose Gin and Tonic
This cocktail was created by Senior Beverage Manager Thomas Mizuno-Moore.

Ingredients:
½ oz lime juice
¼ oz honey syrup
½ oz Fruitful Mixology rhubarb liqueur
¾ oz Brockmans Gin
¾ oz Hendrick’s Flora Adora
2 oz tonic water
Rosebud tea, for garnish

Directions:

Combine lime juice, honey syrup, Fruitful Mixology rhubarb liqueur, Brockmans Gin and Hendrick’s Flora Adora in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake until cold.
Add tonic water to the shaker, then strain over fresh ice in a double old fashioned glass.
Garnish with rosebud tea and enjoy!

Blueberry Sparkler Mocktail by Topo Chico Because everyone needs a good go-to mocktail recipe in their life.Photo courtesy of Topo Chico

Blueberry Sparkler Mocktail by Topo Chico
This beverage might not be gin-themed, but it does make a great refreshing mocktail. If you don’t have Topo Chico Sabores on hand, you can substitute it with sparkling water.

Ingredients:
1 Blueberry Topo Chico Sabores
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
½ cup water
½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Lemon slices and additional blueberries, for garnish

Blueberry Syrup Directions:

In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries are soft and the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the blueberry mixture to cool for about 10 minutes.
Once cooled, use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the blueberry mixture into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids and set the blueberry syrup aside.

Mocktail Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 ounce of the blueberry syrup, and lemon juice. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until chilled, about 15-20 seconds.
Fill a glass with ice and strain the mixture into the glass. Top off the glass with Blueberry Topo Chico Sabores (or sparkling water) and give it a gentle stir to mix.
Garnish with lemon slices and additional blueberries, if desired. Enjoy your refreshing Blueberry Sparkler!

Tillie's seasonal summer cocktail This colorful cocktail is a lively take on a gin martini.Photo courtesy of Tillie's at Camp Lucy

Empress Gin Martini by Tillie’s at Camp Lucy
This martini recipe was developed by Paolo Lazarich, the mixologist for Abbey Row Restaurant at The Old Bell Hotel in the United Kingdom. Fun fact: Camp Lucy owners Kim and White Hanks also own The Old Bell Hotel, which is rumored to be England’s oldest hotel.

Ingredients:
3 oz Empress 1908 Gin
1 oz dry vermouth
Splash of lemon juice
Lemon and rosemary for garnish

Directions:

Add the Empress 1908 Gin, dry vermouth, and lemon juice to a glass and stir gently.
Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of rosemary. Enjoy.

$\u200bSummertime Spritz by Dean's Italian Steakhouse$ There's nothing like a summer spritz.Photo courtesy of Dean's Italian Steakhouse

Summertime Spritz by Dean's Italian Steakhouse
This recipe is geared toward a mixologist who enjoys the little details that make a cocktail so unique, such as making their own oleo saccharum or curating the perfect flower as a garnish.

Ingredients:
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz strawberry oleo saccharum
¼ oz Aperol
¼ oz Giffard Abricot
1.5 oz Zephyr Gin
2 oz Brut champagne
1 each cocktail flower

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except Brut champagne into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously, about 15-20 seconds.
Fill a wine glass with ice and add the Brut. Fine strain the cocktail into the glass.
Garnish with the cocktail flower

Extravagant estate in West Austin hits the market for $4.25 million

ON THE MARKET

An imperial estate in the Lost Creek neighborhood of West Austin has become the latest addition to the city's stabilizing real estate market. The property was listed at $4.25 million.

The magnificent three-story home was originally built in 2009, making great use of Austin's Hill Country views that can be seen from every single room. The home spans 8,215 square feet on just over two acres of land, surrounded by lush trees and enclosed with a private gated entrance.

Natural light floods the inside of the home, highlighting intricate details and complimenting the high ceilings. The home boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and three half-baths. The primary suite is reminiscent of an upscale resort, containing its own spa-like bathroom, walk-in closets, and access to a private balcony.

In the kitchen, the 60-inch wolf range is an aspiring chef's dream. The area has plenty of space and storage with its rich brown cabinets, a sub-zero refrigerator, a cabinet-mounted wine rack, two sinks, and more.

8105 Talbot Lane in Austin The 60-inch wolf range is an aspiring chef's dream.Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography

A few other highlights of the home include a game room, media room, terraces, and a resort-style pool deck with an accompanying hot tub, kitchen, and fire pit. The two-car garage also includes a guest suite above it, with a single bedroom, kitchenette, and half bath.

Looking into the property's history, it was listed in June 2022 for $4.9 million, which was reduced to $3.9 million by September. The home was reported as sold in October of that year before being re-listed for its current $4.25 million price in 2023.

Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography

The estate is located at 8105 Talbot Lane in West Austin.

The estate is located at 8105 Talbot Lane, which is a brief 10 minutes from downtown Austin, and is zoned for the highly-esteemed Eanes Independent School District. The listing is held by agent Wade Giles of Douglas Elliman.

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