Happy Father's Day! We hope all of the Dads out there have a great day with loved ones! Let us know how you plan to help Dad relax today!
Porter Ale House and Gastropub: Contemporary Food and Drink for the Everyman
June 19, 2015 by
Porter Ale House co-owners Neil, Joe, and Trevor share many common interests, namely good food, good drink, and good music. In fact, Johnny Cash's ditty Hey Porter inspired the name for their Austin eatery. The moniker's meaning is two-fold, though, because it also obviously refers to porter ale—historically the drink of choice for the English working class. The trio attempts to create a comfortable atmosphere that caters to the everyman, the type of folks who would drink porter, at their gastropub. If its widespread popularity is any indication, they've succeeded.
Of course, customers don't come just for the atmosphere. The food and drink also play a major role in Porter Ale House's constant crowds. The beer cheese fondue, in particular, earns raves. It comes with apples and caraway pretzels for dipping. You can also start your meal with oxtail croquettes or a kale salad with beer-battered anchovies on top. When it comes to the main course, try the bangers and mash, curry-fried chicken thighs, or porter burger topped with triple cream brie. Don't forget to sample one of the many beers and cocktails on the drink list.
Porter Ale House and Gastropub
3715 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 291-6299
porteraustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/porter-ale-house-and-gastropub-austin
Enjoy Freshly Made Pastries and Pretzels at Easy Tiger
June 16, 2015 by
The sweet aroma of freshly baked breads engulfs you when you pass through the doors of Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden in downtown Austin. The comforting, warm ambiance invites you to relax and stay while you enjoy the made-from-scratch menu.
The extensive coffee and tea list includes espresso, chai lattes, hot teas, and a variety of water, soda, and juice choices. Don't miss one of Easy Tiger's melt-in-your-mouth pastries, danish, cookies, and croissants. Snacks and sandwiches include beef jerky and pretzels, as well as house-smoked pastrami, turkey breast, and muffulettas. The restaurant also offers a variety of charcuterie boards and house-made sausages.
Easy Tiger has a full bar and the cocktail, beer, and reserves menu is extensive.
Easy Tiger
709 E. Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
www.easytigeraustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/easy-tiger-austin
Enjoy Freshly Made Pastries and Pretzels at Easy Tiger
June 16, 2015 by
The sweet aroma of freshly baked breads engulfs you when you pass through the doors of Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden in downtown Austin. The comforting, warm ambiance invites you to relax and stay while you enjoy the made-from-scratch menu.
The extensive coffee and tea list includes espresso, chai lattes, hot teas, and a variety of water, soda, and juice choices. Don't miss one of Easy Tiger's melt-in-your-mouth pastries, danish, cookies, and croissants. Snacks and sandwiches include beef jerky and pretzels, as well as house-smoked pastrami, turkey breast, and muffulettas. The restaurant also offers a variety of charcuterie boards and house-made sausages.
Easy Tiger has a full bar and the cocktail, beer, and reserves menu is extensive.
Easy Tiger
709 E. Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
www.easytigeraustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/easy-tiger-austin
Get an Education in Thai Sauces at Sway
June 12, 2015 by
Sway's Jungle curry is fittingly named, given that it exudes the heat of the jungle. That's thanks to its red chili and peppercorn, which spice up the Texas wagyu beef, eggplant, baby corn, and coconut cream base. This careful balance of spicy tones with other complex flavors results in a dish that has won rave reviews from more than 100 Yelpers. This should come as no surprise to anyone who's ever dined at Sway. The eatery is notorious for recreating classic Thai dishes in a way that delights taste buds.
The Son in Law entree also earns high marks from regulars, and not just for its creative name. This braised pork dish comes with a crispy, farm-fresh egg and soy smothered in a classic Thai sauce known as nahm prik pla. If you prefer beef to pork, try the equally popular Tiger Cry dish instead. It showcases chargrilled hanger steak seasoned with Thai basil, red chili nahm jim, fresno chile, and served with toasted rice and spicy nahm prik pao jam.
Sway
1417 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 326-1999
swayaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sway-austin
Ramen Tatsu-Ya: Japanese Soul Food
June 9, 2015 by
Ramen Tatsu-Ya co-owner (and half of its namesake) Tatsu Aikawa describes ramen as "the soul food of Japan." He should know, given that he's lived in Japan. He's also lived in L.A.—that's where he cultivated his culinary talents as a chef at a sushi bar—but Tatsu still considers Austin his hometown. He met Takuya Matsumoto, the other half of the Tatsu-Ya equation, when they were both working as DJs in Austin. After each DJ did some soul-searching, they ended up on the same culinary path. So when Tatsu moved back to Austin from Los Angeles, it didn't take long for he and Takuya to debut their ramen restaurant.
The duo is serious about crafting authentic, perfectly presented ramen—that's why they don't allow takeout. In the time it takes you to travel from the restaurant to your home, the noodles could get soggy and the broth could separate. No, it's best to dip your spoon into a piping-hot bowl of noodles within the walls of Ramen Tatsu-Ya. From original pork to soy-based vegan ramen, none of the soups disappoint. However, Yelp reviewers do recommend adding some heat with a Spicy Bomb mix-in (it consists of spicy red pepper paste) and some flavor with fried Brussels sprouts on top.
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
ramen-tatsuya.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ramen-tatsu-ya-austin-2
Javelina: Craft Beer and Fine Cuisine in Austin, Texas
June 5, 2015 by
Founded by four college pals, Javelina features what the owners call ‘Hill Country Soul.' It’s your go-to spot to kick back with a craft beer and a bite to eat while listening to some great music from Austin’s array of musicians.
Settle in with a craft beer or one of their signature cocktails like the Sandiamo with vodka, watermelon juice, fresh lemon and agave syrup. If you need a nosh, order something from the starter menu, like the all-time favorite Green Chile Pork Fries with your choice of plain or sweet potatoes topped with a heaping mound of pork-infused green chile. The yummy burger selection includes the Javelina topped with green chile pork, mustard & jack cheese, and the Miga with fried egg, tortilla strips & American cheese. Entree salads are also served.
Just a short trip from Marquis at Barton Trails, Javelina is open every day.
Javelina
69 Rainey Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 382-6917
www.javelinabar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/javelina-austin
Bring Spring in Bloom with These Crepe Flower Tutorials
June 2, 2015 by
Whether you’re decorating for a bridal shower, a child’s birthday party, or you simply want to spruce up your home for the spring season, crafting crepe flowers is an easy project that really makes an impact. These blossoms look beautiful, but they last a lot longer than the real thing! Here are three great tutorials for creating crepe flowers at home.
Martha Stewart’s DIY Flowers [marthastewart.com]
Martha Stewart’s website includes a number of different ways to make various types of crepe flowers. The single-petal method produces lush, full blossoms, while the tulip version is great for creating a bouquet of life-like flowers to display in your home or give as a gift.
Crepe and Watercolor Flower Tutorial [craftberrybush.com]
If you’re interested in creating the most realistic crepe flowers possible, this is the tutorial for you. It involves first using crepe paper to form the petals themselves, then gently painting the petals with watercolor paints to create the gradation that you find on a real flower. By spritzing the petals with water, you can even get them to curl a bit in a truly realistic way.
DIY Crepe Paper Flowers [thebridescafe.com]
This simple tutorial is perfect when you don’t have a lot of time, but you still want to get beautiful results. All it takes is a bit of crepe paper, floral wire and tape and some microbeads to form the flower’s center.
Chez Nous: An Austin French Restaurant
May 28, 2015 by
Chez Nous’s romantic, candle-lit ambiance and authentic French dishes like foie gras, escargots, and house-made pâté can whisk diners away on a culinary journey.
Visit and you can try the sautéed veal sweetbreads with button mushrooms, or check out the pepper crusted beef tenderloin with a brandy and demi-glaze reduction. All entrees are served with warm French bread, pommesdauphines (crispy potato puffs), and fresh vegetables. At $29.50, many customers praise the affordability and variety of Chez Nous’s three-course prix-fixe dinner menu.
Chez Nous’s downtown location and quiet and intimate atmosphere make it a great go-to spot for business-colleague lunches or catch-up night with friends, or date-night with that special someone. Chez Nous provides hungry patrons with lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, serves dinner Saturday and Sunday, and is closed Mondays.
Chez Nous
510 Neches Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 473-2413
www.cheznousaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/chez-nous-austin
Browse Unique, Fair-Trade Gifts at Tesoros Trading Company
May 26, 2015 by
If you frequently peruse the South Congress shopping district and have yet to stop by Tesoros Trading Company, then you should make it a point to drop by on your next outing. Inside, you'll find a large selection of one-of-a-kind goods from all over the world, as well as items made here in the United States.
Tesoros is dedicated to providing customers with ethically sourced goods that help support the artisans' local communities. The shelves are crammed with interesting things to look at, especially "little somethings" that can make a great birthday gift or thoughtful trinket. Among the selection is musical instruments, dolls, folk art, weavings, and more. Be sure to look through the jewelry for a piece to complement your outfit, and keep an eye out for in-store trunk shows.
Tesoros Trading Company
1500 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 447-7500
www.tesoros.com/homepage.html
www.yelp.com/biz/tesoros-trading-company-austin
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