BBQ Fest: Sample Smoked Meats from Some of Texas’ Best Pitmasters

Tickets tend to sell out for Texas Monthly Magazine's BBQ Fest, which is happening less than two miles away from Elan East this year. So if you have your heart set on learning more about the art of barbecue, snag your tickets in advance. That's the only way you're guaranteed admission to the festival, which showcases eateries that have earned the honor of appearing on Texas Monthly Magazine's Top 50 BBQ Joints list.

This year, you'll meet Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Harold "Buzzie" Hughes of Buzzie's Bar-B-Q, and Tootsie Tomanetz of Snow's BBQ. They've all been highly rated by the magazine, and they each bring their own brand of barbecue to the food fest. Savor samples of the smoked meats and wash it down with frosty brews while you chat with the pitmasters themselves about the way they prepare their grub.

BBQ Fest
City Terrace at the Long Center for Performing Arts
Nov. 1
701 W. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78704
www.tmbbq.com/events/tmbbq-fest-2015

Fukumoto: Eat Your Way Through the Yakitori Menu

Chefs use every part of the chicken at Fukumoto, and that's part of the reason it's already garnering so much buzz in Austin even though it only opened last month (about two miles away from Elan East). Its yakitori menu encompasses everything from chicken thigh and chicken meatball to chicken gizzard, chicken heart, and chicken wing, not to mention a few non-poultry items. The pork belly is a big hit among diners, but you can opt for bacon-wrapped asparagus, too, if you like your pork crispy.

Yet yakitori is only half of the equation at this new Japanese restaurant. Its chefs also dish out fresh sushi. Order a serving of geoduck and ora King Salmon nigiri, a pairing that brings bright orange and seaweed-wrapped white fish to your plate. Customers recommend the hama toro nigiri, a pretty pink fish that tastes even better with some spicy wasabi on the side.

Fukumoto
514 Medina Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 770-6880
fukumotoaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fukumoto-austin-4

Vote For Your Favorite Food Truck At The Texas Trucklandia Fest, October 13-18

Through Oct. 18, a notable roster of food trucks will park close to Elan East for the Texas Trucklandia Fest, a food truck festival hitting Austin this week.

Billed as the largest food truck mashup in the area, the roving festival allows you to sample bites from the vendors and vote for your favorite food truck or trailer. Be sure to vote — the winning truck will take home $10,000!

More than 45 trucks are participating, including Little Lucy’s, I Love Churros, The Hot Box Diner, Texas Chili Queens, Beef Cake Shop, Pitalicious, Thai Kitchen and Spartan Pizza. To track the trucks, simply download the free app Byte, which will have the latest information on the mobile vendor’s locations, since they'll be driving around all week.

Wristbands are required for those looking to participate. You can purchase a wristband online that will allow you to sample food for three days or you can purchase a wristband that will allow you to sample food for six days.

Will you be feasting on some of the best food truck fare in town?

Texas Trucklandia Fest
Through Oct. 18
www.trailercrawl.com

Try a New Pizza Topping (Or Three) at 100 Pizzitas

It doesn’t look like there will be a shortage of places to get pizza in Austin any time soon. When you live in a city where you can get a slice of pizza on almost every corner, finding a truly unique pizzeria can be challenging.

Elan East residents and pizza lovers that are eager to try something new will be happy to know that 100 Pizzitas opened just two miles away about a month ago. 100 Pizzitas puts a tapas spin on serving pizza and gives you a chance to try as many different kinds as you’d like. Its mini pizzas are excellent for sharing with friends, and for experimenting with toppings and styles. 100 Pizzitas also servers beer and wine, so this could be the perfect place to go for an impromptu happy hour or get-together!

100 Pizzitas
900 E. 7th St.
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 514-1639
www.cienpizzitas.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/100-pizzitas-austin-3

Craving Comfort Food? Hoover’s Cooking is the Place To Go!

If there’s one thing the Lone Star State is known for, it’s food. Nobody can do chicken fried steak, mac and cheese, and other classic comfort foods like Texas. If you’ve been on the hunt for some of the best comfort food that Austin has to offer, you’ll be happy to know that one of the best places is just a half-mile from Elan East.

Hoover’s Cooking has deep roots in the Austin area, and plenty of residents and tourists flock here to try these unique take on classic comfort foods. The portions are huge, the staff is friendly, and the prices are more than affordable. If you’re in need of a traditional “family” dinner, you won’t have any trouble finding it at Hoover’s Cooking.

Hoover’s Cooking
2002 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 479-5006
www.hooverscooking.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hoovers-cooking-austin

Looking for the Perfect Bloody Mary? It’s at The Hightower!

Can you call a brunch truly complete if it doesn't involve sipping a Bloody Mary? The folks behind one popular Austin restaurant doesn't think so, so they fashioned their brunch around the almightly beverage.

The Hightower is only about 2.5 miles from Elan East, and it offers Bloody Mary bar, so you have sole control over what goes into your cocktail. Not only that, mimosas are only $1.50 during brunch time. While it's easy to get excited about the drinks here, the food deserves applause, too. A few highlights include peanut butter Brussels sprouts, fried chickpeas, ceviche, smoked redfish spread, s'mores fried pie. Yelpers say the prices at The Hightower are more than reasonable when considering the large portion sizes, and the service is spot-on. Regulars recommend making reservations, especially for brunch — The Hightower tends to be hopping then!

The Hightower
1209 E. 7th St.
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-1448
thehightoweraustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-hightower-austin

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, visit our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends October 31, 2015. We suggest you like our page to keep informed about future sweepstakes and community happenings.

For mobile users, click here to enter.

For a Fun Food Truck Meal, Visit Mueller Trailer Eats, a Gathering Spot for Mobile Eateries!

Do you ever have a craving for something tasty, but you aren’t exactly sure about what you want to eat? Think beyond your brick-and-mortar hotspots and try Mueller Trailer Eats, a veritable haven for food trucks and food truck lovers.

Located a mere mile from Elan East, this food truck food court is home to some of the best mobile eateries in all of Austin. If you’re craving Asian street food, Fresh Off the Truck will have you covered. If you just want a strong cup of joe, Elixir Coffee is ready to serve you something hot! That’s only a small sampling of the trucks available. There are so many dishes to try here, you’re going to have to come back more than once to try them all.

Mueller Trailer Eats
4209 Mueller Blvd.
Austin, TX 78723
(512)-703-9208
www.yelp.com/biz/mueller-trailer-eats-austin

Get Ready For Austin’s 2015 Pride Festival!

It’s that time of year again! The Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation is hosting on the city’s Pride Festival on Saturday, Aug. 29, and it’s only three miles away from Elan East. Every year the number of guests and accompanying events grows, and it looks like 2015 may have the biggest celebration yet!

The Pride Festival is the largest LGBTQ fundraising and advocacy event in all of central Texas, and people from around the state and country come to town to celebrate. More than 140 vendor booths from local businesses will be on hand, in addition to some lively entertainment.

The Pride Festival begins at 11 a.m. at Fiesta Gardens, and performers such as singer Martha Wash and others will grace the main stage throughout the day, and DJs will be spinning tunes. The parade will start at 8 p.m. at the state capital, and it’s safe to say that the floats, pageantry, and fun will make for an unforgettable night.

The list of special guests keeps growing, so be sure to check their website for details on the day’s full lineup!

Austin Pride Festival 2015
Saturday, Aug. 22 beginning at 11 a.m.
Edward Rendon, Sr. Park at Festival Beach
2101 Jesse E. Segovia St.
Austin TX, 78702
(512) 468-8113
www.austinpride.org

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