kitchenknife's Profile
Cafe la Bella, 8500 block of Research
There's a new 'international' bakery opening north, in the same shopping center as Sunflower and the other great Vietnamese places. The sign on the door says 'opening soon,' but the inside is looking very finished...so hopefully they're close. Exterior signage says: vietnamese coffee, tea, pastries, bahn mi, fruit, etc.
Sound promising and looks like it might be nice. I'm right around the corner, so I'll update when I find our they're opening.
Vegan Food
Also, Kirbey Lane Cafe has a great menu with options for everyone....and there are tons of Indian places north (Madras Pavillion, Swad, Curry in Hurry) that are delicious and have plenty of vegan options.
Oh, and I have been, but the place next to Toy Joy on Guadulupe...Dhaba Joy is all vegan and features sandwiches, ice cream...desserts. I have had some of their sweets which were great, but not lunch. http://www.dhabajoy.com/
Primizie! Grazie!
Last week, I entertained some guests of the museum at Primizie, a new Italian eatery on east 11th street. Primizie has been running a successful catering company in the city for several years and I guess decided to try their hand at a storefront location.
The decor is modern and simple, but made very warm with the inclusion of wood and other natural materials in the mix. It's slightly cavernous, and while it wasn't busy the evening we were there, I can imagine that it would get rather loud if the space were full. They don't take reservations, but we didn't have any problems with our party of six on a Thursday night. They have a very relaxed 'sit anywhere' policy with the hostess, which always seems to add a little pressure to the diner, especially if you haven't been to the space before. Service was attentive and good for the most part, but our waiter didn't relay the specials (written on a chalkboard far too small for our table to read) until we had been seated for quite a while. They have an interesting wine list and a very full menu.
To start, I had the roasted vegetable salad which was deliciously dressed in a light, but flavorful mixture of oils, vinegars and herbs. It was far more than one person could eat, so I suggest sharing. I especially enjoyed the addition of cauliflower to the mix, and the eggplant was the perfect texture.
For my main course, I was torn between the gnocchi with chanterelles, sweet corn and brown butter sauce and the goat cheese and chive stuffed ravioli in an olive butter. Ultimately, I chose the ravioli and it was delicious. All of their pasta is house made, so the raviolis were large, loosely shaped with a toothy, fresh texture complementary to the filling. The bread they serve on the side is slightly strange, but garlicky with a little crunch of salt--kind of like thick, Italian tortillas.
I didn't stay for dessert, but the offerings were certainly tempting.
Primizie Osteria – Italian Café and Wine Bar
1000 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78702
512.236.0088
Titaya's Thai: Where does it rank in the Thai game?
The Thai Passion north is pretty close to the house, so I have to admit that I have been relying on them for my Thai takeout lately. Last weekend we went to Satay for the first time in a while, and their huge menu offers many tempting choices.
Heading to Fargo, ND
Thanks for all your suggestions, reporting back I had martinis at Hodo, but not food and coffee a couple of times at Atomic Coffee which was great. I think the highlight meals were probably at Isabella's (manicotti, but made the 'old fashioned' way with crepes, which I love) and Thai Orchid, which is actually across the river in Moorehead. Perhaps some of the best Thai food I have had. Thanks for the help and suggestions, it was a great visit and Fargo is a delightful city...
Chinese Takeout in the Movies and on Television
it's actually one of my favorite dinner party tricks: make a giant bowl of peanut noodles and fill chinese take-out boxes with them, offering a variety of add-ins like tofu, carrot, cucumber, peanuts, hot sauce, soy sauce, etc. everyone sits/stands around eating dinner out of the take-out box with their choice of chopsticks from my VAST collection. most are those melamine ones, which i'm not sure you would classify as nice, but i do have some nicer wooden ones and that set of multi-colored ones that moma used to sell. i usually don't even offer forks, as i have some of those kid-friendly kind that are joined at the top by some sort of cute sea or farm animal for the unititated. clean up is super easy!
Swad Indian on N. Lamar
i live pretty close to swad and eat there as often as possible. my absolute favorite thing is the dahi puri which are crisp little shells filled with chickpeas, tomatoes, onions and spices, then sprinkled with little vermicelli. delicious!
their pakoras are great, especially the methi pakora. there is also something that i've recently becoming addicted to, but can't remember the name....i'll have to check the take-out menu at home.
Heading to Fargo, ND
thanks, i'll check out those suggestions....perhaps something new has opened in the place of red bear?
Cooking from CSA/Farmers Market
this is our second year eating from a csa, and i must admit it is going much better than the first. personally, i had to make a keen mental switch in thinking about dinner not as 'what do i want to eat' but 'what do i have to eat and how can i make that satisfying.' my partner and i are really enjoying it and eating about everything we get.
eating:
lots of cucumber salad, sometimes with onion from the farm, sometimes with dill, sometimes with sour cream AND dill. sometime just vinegar.
tomatoes are coming in fast and furious, so enjoying those on sandwiches and just by themselves.
gratineed gnocchi with starburst sqash and onion
refrigerator bread and butter pickles
refrigerator pickled okra
okra pancakes
beats and all sorts of root vegetables
eggs in all iterations (we get a dozen eggs every other week)
potato salad with pesto (also from the farm), beans, onions and sour cream...
last night i made a polenta and tossed in a farm egg at the end then topped with sauteed squash, onion and fresh tomato
i'm so hungry thinking about it. tonight, i'm tossing some of the cherry tomatoes (purple and yellow teardrops this week) with housemade mozzarella from central market and basil from the garden. why do i have to work late?!?
Heading to Fargo, ND
I'm heading to Fargo, ND in September for a conference, but would also like to find some of the good food i'm sure is out there. Any suggestions?
What am I not getting about Amy's Ice Cream? And...
i like amy's and the funky behavior and the rotating strange flavors and all of it. my favorite is the dark chocolate, but the other day i had a banana pudding which was perfect with bits of banana and vanilla wafers. i have never encountered ice crystals in anything i have ordered there and love to get samples of whatever they are serving that day.
likewise, i'm a lifetime fan of blue bell--the best ice cream in the country, even if they do say so themselves.
but then again, i enjoy liking stuff and would prefer to spend my time enjoying food rather than going on and on about what i don't like. but that's just me! :)
Indian Spice World
Taj is def the best I've found. Plus, you can slip into Swad for some delicious treats...
Veggie places, Cosmic Cafe Closed
i think they had beer on the menu, but i don't remember wine. could be wrong though...
Veggie places, Cosmic Cafe Closed
I haven't been, but there is Casa de Luz which many people like...
and other ethnic places like Swad Veggi Food, Curry in Hurry (bargan $5 meals) and Madras Pavillion. And Dog Almighty does anything on the menu vegetarian....and does it well. Oh, and Aster's has a nice selection of vegetarian items.
We do need a more 'upscale' destination though. Hmmmm....
Banh mi in Austin?
does tam deli do a veggie option on the banh mi? if not, any suggestions?
CSAs in Austin?
i have a subscription to the csa from hairston creek farm which has been certified organic forever. last year we did a half-share, which was a box every other week. this year we did a full-plus-share which means we get a box every week, a dozen eggs every other week and a jar of jam, pesto or some other treat on weeks we don't get eggs.
i must admit that it takes a certain mindshift to cook from a box of food that you receive each week, not knowing exactly what will be in it. it's much easier to go to the store or farmers market and buy what sounds yummy or looks good. but once you get in the swing, it's fun and i was raised eating from the garden so enjoy the familiarity of the process. when strange things appear in the box, i start looking through cookbooks and find recipes i probably never might have tried. also, when you get a glut of something, it pays to be informed on how to save it for later (in the freezer? cooked and prepared? raw?) as well those cookbooks which give you new ideas for even familiar foods.
right now i'm getting psyched up for the storm of okra i know will be arriving mid-summer. keeping the recipes stacked and ready to go...
as far as variety goes, we have received a smattering of everything this year: asparagus, lots of lettuce, chard, greens, potatoes, onions, garlic, ONE TOMATOE, basil, dill, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, starburst squash, beets, turnips. yum.
for a comprehensive list of csas in the area, check localharvest.org
and remember the benefit to a local farmer is that they have guaranteed income from the crop and don't have to worry about what might or might not sell at market, etc.
Good Indian Food in Austin
I went to Curry in a Hurry on Parmer yesterday for the first time, and for a simple, delicious and VERY affordable meal I suggest you check it out. If you're looking for ambience, go elsewhere. If you want to dig into a delicious plate of Indian food, check it out.
http://www.gandhibazar.com/page3.html
Good Indian Food in Austin
i've also heard that its kosher! i like their dinner for two, which last time i had it, was way more food that dinner for two...
Swell Sangria recipe [Split from Austin Board]
i think the best sangria in austin can be found on my back porch. i adapted this recipe from one in bon appetite, i think...it's swell.
Cava Sangria
1/2 cup white grape juice
6 tbsp. Licor 43 or Tuaca (I used Tuaca. The bottle of Licor 43 I found was about 60 years old.)
5 tbsp. brandy
2 tbsp. sugar
2 750-ml bottle of cava
1 cup sliced strawberries
Fresh mint
Combine the first four ingredients in a large pitcher, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the strawberries and allow to sit for several hours or overnight. Add the two bottles of cava, stir to combine and serve over ice. Garnish with mint and strawberries.
Good Indian Food in Austin
swad is right around the corner, so i often find myself there. what it lacks in decor and service, it definitely makes up for with the excellent dishes. if i don't feel like squeezing into their little tables, i just get it go and enjoy it at my own table. their south indian street food is def different than offerings one finds at places like clay pit or madras pavillion, but you should try as many cities can't boast of a restaurant featuring such great treats. if you've never been, i suggest a thali platter which allows you to try a little bit of everything...
Thali anywhere?
Swad definitely has a great one, vegetarian to boot, with your chose of puri or some other kind of bread, not naan. I can't remember. I love Swad and can't recommend enough.
what is replacing capitol brasserie?
i called for reservations at capitol brasserie on saturday night and was told it was their last evening open. apparently someone bought the restaurant and is changing the concept. anyone know what is coming?
What to order at Sunflower
i love the vegetarian hot and sour soup, with tomatoes, pineapple and sprouts. the veggie noodle soup is great as well and what i crave if i have the sniffles. my partner loves the shaken tofu as well.
we took a group of friends not long ago and they loved it. sunflower was more than happy to hold a large table for us and we brought lots of our own wine.
it's around the corner, so we happily eat it often. the chronicle and others rank 'la soleil' as the best vietnamese, and while the menu is a near carbon copy...i strongly disagree.
Hey Cupcake near campus
when picking up cookies from tiff's last week, i found out they make made-to-order ice cream sandwiches with their delicious cookies. didn't try one, since we already had cookies ordered....but i'm goin' back.
Any Ethiopian places?
there was some info in the chronicle this week, which said it would be open...but drove by this morning and it still looked like they were doing a lot of work, like exterior painting.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A456248
Canned condensed milk morphs into Dulce de Leche
it's great on toast. a graham cracker. a SPOON. you name it.
Canned condensed milk morphs into Dulce de Leche
in the south, this is called 'cooked can' and is trailer trash delicacy...
Five day visit--what's great?
nu age cafe is a very nice place for veggies and non-veggies alike. the name is cheesy and the decor is a little too, but the food is great. very haute vegetarian with lots of world flavors
http://www.nuagecafe.com/
as for food markets, you don't want to miss central market which is unbelievable. i teared up the first time i went. and of course whole foods is based here and the one downtown is huge, but probably not that exciting...
http://www.centralmarket.com
