August 23, 2010
OK, that was the obvious pun, right? But brunch at Tacos n Tequila, in the Gables Pressler on 5th Street, is THAT GOOD.
This is my plate at TnT.That’s ceviche, salad, fruit salad, mushrooms and yellow squash, polenta, migas, guacamole, and teeny-tiny homemade flour tortillas (heaven).
These are the homemade sweet potato chips. Yep, sweet potato chips, thin and crispy, and much healthier than tortilla chips. DELISH green and red salsa too. And my dad’s thumb, because he couldn’t stop eating for the five seconds it took for me to snap an iphone photo 
This is my mom’s plate. My mom has been raving about brunch since she first went–and, she’ll proudly tell you, she was one of the FIRST people to go to TnT, because it’s right next to her Bikram Yoga studio. She loves the make-your-own-omlette station, where they’ll use egg whites and make you a lil omlette so there’s room for everything else.
There’s also a waffle bar, tons of meat and chicken (unhappy, for now, so I can’t report on it), and desserts, which include a huge bowl of fresh fruit, ice cream, and mini churros! I love how they make everything mini, so you can try a lot of food without wasting or stuffing yourself. Since I was with my parents, I didn’t indulge in Sunday Funday, but a mimosa comes with brunch, and there’s a delicious blueberry aqua fresca available to all that I can only imagine combined with champagne would make me want to sing. Even on a hungover Sunday morning.
Our service was incredible–the waiter topped off our water and coffee every time it got to half-full, they brought the made-to-order omlettes and eggs to the table, and the people manning the buffet were smiley and sweet.
Sunday brunch 10a-3p … tntgrill.com
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April 15, 2010
Long the hidden hipster hot spot (celebs flock to the dark corners when they’re in town), Fonda San Miguel’s new Happy Hour in the Patio Bar should introduce the venerable interior Mexican restaurant–it’s been around for 35 years–to a younger Rosedale crowd. HH features $1 off tequila, $4.95 house margaritas, $5 House wines by the glass, and half-priced select appetizers from 5 – 7pm, Monday through Thursday.
Founder & Executive Chef Miguel Ravago’s three seasonal “antojitos” (appetizers) include:
Ostiones Empanizados, crispy Gulf oysters with tabasco aioli and salsa fresca
Miguel’s Gorditas, hand-ground corn masa pockets filled with seasoned black beans, ranchera salsa and crumbled Mexican cheese
Huaraches, oblong, sandal-shaped fried masa topped with chipotle black beans, crumbled cheese and Crème Fraîche
Cocktails stirred up by Fonda’s expert bartenders include:
Brillante: Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), St-Germaine elderflower liqueur and a Hibiscus flower in syrup
Mojito Apasionado: passion fruit mojito with 10 Can Rum, lime, mint and Chambord as well as a daily selection of fresh fruit margaritas and traditional margaritas.
www.fondasanmiguel.com.
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December 3, 2009
When I heard Changos had made the switch to all-natural, free-range meat and wild-caught fish, plus recycleable servingware, I was really excited. So excited that I made my roommate from college who was in town visiting head to the nearest Changos on Guadalupe to try it out.
I grabbed a salad with chicken, she had a chicken and a fish taco plus some chips and queso. She really liked the tacos, noting that the chicken had a really great flavor.
The chicken did have a really great flavor, but I ended up feeding half of it to my dog, who sat on the patio with us, because it was so fatty. I hope I simply got a bad piece of meat, because everything else for a yummy salad was there: the lettuce was fresh, the peppers spicy and crisp, the lemon vinaigrette lemony and light. And the chicken I could eat was great, it was the chicken I couldn’t eat that really ruined the salad for me. I hate having to pick through chicken to find the non-fatty pieces, that’s just gross.
- According to the company, the beef dishes at Changos are now “Premium Gold” brand, which features Premium Black Angus Beef owned by Texas ranchers and created by registered breeders. The cows are partially grass-fed, combined with a 100 percent vegetarian diet, at yards certified for humane treatment. They are never given artificial growth hormones or antibiotics.
- Chicken served at Changos is now all natural, minimally processed (no saline solution pumped into the chicken), hormone-free and antibiotic-free. Pork served at Changos is also now all natural, free of hormones and antibiotics.
- The black drum, yellow fin tuna and shrimp are “wild caught” from the Texas Gulf and harvested from sustainable fisheries. Fried items and salad dressings are made with canola oil, a healthier, zero-trans fat oil.
The plastic cups, paper cups and disposable silverware are made out of eco-friendly cornstarch (by a company my out-of-town friend has a friend who works for!–small world), and the new “to go” bags, paper towels, and napkins are made from unbleached recycled paper. Changos is no longer using plastic bags, and recycling plans have been implemented at Changos Guadalupe and Changos South Lamar.
www.changos.com / @changosmexican
Verdict? Give it a shot for quick food, but if your chicken is too fatty don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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May 4, 2009
It seems like there are opportunities to support local charities in just about everything you do. While I don’t normally highlight events until a day or two before, I’ve got to get this on your calendar because it’s a cause near and dear to me (that, and I’m the Brunette QB, and we need to win the game and the fundraising challenge):
My fave bar, Lanai, is opening early just for us to run around in our uniforms passing out your drinks and collecting your tips for the Alzheimer’s Association. We’re gonna have some sweet drink specials, sweet treats, sick DJ beats–hey-o Johnny Bravvo!–and lots of fun. 6-8pm, Saturday May 9th at Lanai.
WHILE you’re drinking for the cause, here’s another example of boozin’ for local charities:
From May 4-8, Rio Grande Mexcian Restaurant on San Jacinto is giving 10% of bar sales (that’s a lot of money) to five selected charities, one each night. The sched:
Monday, May 4: A Legacy of Giving, 5-7:30pm
Tuesday, May 5: Austin Sunshine Camps, 5-7:30pm
Wednesday, May 6: Lance Armstrong Foundation, 5-7:30pm
Thursday, May 7: The Austin Theatre Alliance, 5-7:30pm
Friday, May 8: Red Cross of Central Texas, 5-7:30pm
Now’s the time to get your margarita on, people, and then keep the fun going through the weekend with a “Brunettes Do it Better” drink at BvB Happy Hour!
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April 2, 2009
Just in time for afternoon fun, Malverde introduces a Happy Hour!
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February 19, 2009
“This is going to be the next big Austin restaurant,” said my grounded, engineer, out-of-the-scene date to La Condesa‘s soft opening last night. He is not given to fanciful phrases and media hype, but he was absolutely floored by the decor and atmosphere at La Condesa. Add in some tasty drinks, superb guacamole, and just a few nibbles of food and he was all, “I have to come back here. Soon.”
Well, duh, I’ve been telling you that for weeks! La Condesa is just cool–aqua blue couples with concrete, glass and frosted glass with rich mahogony-colored leather booths, and chrome chairs on the patios with interior pine details–all of these combinations of texture and color lend the place an airy, easy-going vibe. And despite its hype as one of the nicest restaurants in town, it’d be easy to eat on the cheap too. Menu items range from street-style taquitos at $7 to whole suckling pig at $35. Most appetizers are between $8-$16, with several types of guacamoles and ceviches. The ceviche we had was very different–in a grapefruit juice, it was sweet rather than tangy and lime-y. We also sampled a few other delicious finger-foods: huraches (sandals! I joked with owner Jesse, but it’s the literal translation), tasty beef tacos in corn tortillas, and a delicious seared tuna atop. It was just enough to make us feel like we NEED to go back for more. The fantastic drinks (you know I already went into detail over those here), will be just $10.
Just last night I read something in US Weekly (I read it religiously, don’t knock it ’til you try it) about celebs dining at La Esquina in New York, and I got to put two-and-two together. You see, La Condesa lured René Ortiz, the famous NYC chef behind the famous La Esquina, to Austin, so now we have our own celeb hotspot. Owner Jesse Herman is also an NYC transplant, but the rest of the management team is local–and famous in their own right too, including neighboring chef Larry McGuire of Lamberts, who will be managing La Condesa’s 150-seat space as well. Plus, I love bar manager Andrea Brown with her Jenna-Bush-looks and constant grin, even when she’s shaking drinks for over 150 VIP guests.
On the northwest corner of 2nd & Guadalupe, La Condesa is open tonight, so head on over! It will be open 11am to 11pm daily, with lunch from 11-3, dinner from 5 -11, a bar menu inbetween, and brunch Saturdays and Sundays. http://www.lacondesaaustin.com/ Look for more info on upstairs bar Malverde next week!
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December 2, 2008
A new restaurant from the Lambert’s team called La Condesa (Mexican food?) is scheduled to open in February ’09, directly across from Lambert’s at the corner of Guadalupe and 2nd Street. Chef Rene Ortiz of New York’s La Esquina (the corner, haha) will lead the restaurant and Lambert’s Executive Chef Larry McGuire will assist in the beginning. The restaurant will also feature a hip lounge called Malverde above it.
Over on West Sixth, Walton’s Fancy & Staple is moving in and will provide … um, flowers and a deli? Maybe they say it best:
“Walton’s Florist & Nursery has served the Austin & West Lake Hills area from our Bee Caves Road location. Construction is underway for a Walton’s downtown location at 609 W. 6th (across from Katz’s). We’ll offer downtown residents, businesses & visitors exquisite arrangements, beautiful bouquets, gift baskets, comprehensive design services, interior & outdoor plants for the home or office – all available for walk-in customers & by delivery. Walton’s downtown will include a traditional delicatessen & bakery (for folks on the go), & sidewalk café seating. Our Grand Opening is scheduled for late 2008. We look forward to fulfilling your fanciest floral, gift-giving & event design wishes.”
OH YEAH, and Lambert’s has a brunch?! Has anyone been?!
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December 1, 2008
My friends and I are finally jumping on the brunch bandwagon socialites have been riding for years: what better way to rehash the night before than over hashbrowns and mimosas? Hair of the dog …
So we went to Moonshine awhile ago and loved it. Yesterday we hit a spot most of us didn’t even realize had a brunch: Iron Cactus. We went to the 6th Street location and requested a patio spot. Nestled into a primo corner table overlooking 6th Street at 1:30pm, we felt like kings and queens of the city.
Trekking down the stairs, we were excited for brunch. Walking through the buffet line, where lunch and breakfast options abound, we were excited. But once we started to eat, we were less excited. The clouds rolled in. We realized our food was only lukewarm. We turned on the space heater.
Of course, we all went back for seconds.
At $13.95 plus $4.95 for bottomless mimosas, you can’t really go wrong. But I think Moonshine’s brunch is better, so there are other places to try before I go back. Does anyone have any good suggestions? I hear Enoteca’s brunch is amazing …
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June 20, 2008
There’s a lot going on this weekend! Here’s a calendar:
Texas music classic, big dance floor, $10 cover, $2.75 Coors Light, $3.25 Crown Royal … what more could you really want from Friday night?
SATURDAY
10am-1pm: As always, sand volleyball at Zilker starting at 10 am. atxvb.com for more info, but really, just show up and play.
Splitting Time Between:
Veggie Dog Eating Contest at Scholz Garten from 1 to 4pm
The best thing to happen to vegetarians since … I don’t know. Anyway, iLoveMikeLitt is some strange social and cultural organization that just throws parties as far as I can tell, but they’re throwing this shindig and there’s still time to sign up to compete! If you just want to watch, it’s $5 for a veggie dog and unlimited vegan ice cream. Local vegetarian celebs (like Deb O’Keefe from 101X) will be on hand for the revelry. Do512 is offering $1 off of the $5 cover if you RSVP through the site.
Clarksville Cookout at West Austin park from 1 – 3pm
The Clarksville neighborhood is trying to create a sense of community with their website, and now a cookout! There will be limited, but delicious, quantities of hot dogs, water, soda, and even some treats for dogs. They’re also giving away t-shirts to the first 35 people.
SummerFest at Guero’s from noon to 9:30pm!
mrandmrsmays is a crazy group, so much fun to watch. The rest of the lineup is pretty stellar too:
Have a great weekend!
Posted in Good people/services, Music, One-time event, Sports/Fitness |
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May 7, 2008
I was thoroughly impressed by El Chile North–I haven’t been to the East Austin one, but the food was superb. They serve chips and salsa in little bowls, which one of my companions deemed “classier than a big one.” I thought it just looked like more work for our server, but whatever. The salsa is a bean-y concoction that I wasn’t sure I would approve of, being a lover of tomato salsa, but it was delicious enough that my table went through three bowls.
I ordered the Tamal Azteca, a cheesy, veggie casserole-style layered tortilla, saucy mess. It was a delicious mess, the sauce on top was spicy but sweet, the veggies were actually veggies like zucchini and squash, not just onion and tomato–though they were in there too. My one complaint about it was that my portion was tiny–so small, when the waitress placed the plate on my table another companion said, “you got gypped!” In all honesty, it was a perfect size for me to eat, and a nice departure from the enormous serving sizes restaurants normally dish up. But, it looked a little lonely on my plate.
And the margaritas … yes, they were indeed free, but that did not stop the bartender from using a heavy hand on the tequila! I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor, it was very tangy and not too sweet, which is usually my complaint with restaurant ‘ritas. Definitely worth the entree price!
El Chile North is not actually on Far West, it’s just north of Far West on Greystone, in a little strip mall shopping center. I liked the location, they had a cute patio with a view of north Austin–although a friend not-so-sweetly pointed out that there’s also a view of the Golden Arches. In any case, I endorse the new El Chile, especially during this time of free margaritas! (2 with an entree purchase)
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