Harold Marmulstein grew up with a love for high quality food. His father owned a bakery in upstate New York where Harold spent many early mornings and late nights developing a deep appreciation for cuisine. That passion drove him to the Culinary Institute of New York, and, over the course of his career, to the kitchens of more than 30 high-end dining establishments throughout the country where he worked as executive chef.

He finally landed at Salty Sow in Austin, where he's more than just the executive chef—he's also a partner. This means Harold has a voice in creating its menu of farm-to-table fare that utilizes the ingredients of local purveyors. Regular diners praise the Salty Sow's duck fat fries, a small plate that exemplifies the French food influences of this place's New American cuisine menu. The menu also encompasses bacon-wrapped filet mignon, asiago-crusted halibut, and a double cheeseburger.

Some customers suggest that the main draw is Salty Sow's cocktail list. Visit and you can sip a glass of the sparkling sangria or a Rosemary's Piglet cocktail (bubbly pomegranate juice and rosemary syrup) while you dine on tasty French-American food!

Salty Sow
1917 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 391-2337
www.saltysow.com/#/home
www.yelp.com/biz/salty-sow-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/daspunkt

Vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters alike flock to Arlo's food truck on a daily basis. This Austin eatery serves seriously mouth-watering food made fresh daily, and it's all vegan friendly. The vegan bacon cheeseburgers are something of a local legend, and when paired with a side order of crispy, golden tater tots, the burger makes a hearty and drool-worthy meal. You'll also find spicy chili, cornbread wedges, tomato-basil hot dogs, and even vegan chicken tacos on the menu, but the cheeseburgers are really the main draw. It’s the cheeseburgers that cause lines to wrap around the side of the truck during peak times.

The only downside to eating at Arlo’s is that as a food truck, Arlo's doesn't have any seating to offer. This generally isn't a problem, however, as nearby bars usually allow you to bring your Arlo's meal inside, so it's easy to pair your meal with a cold beer and a seat.

Arlo's
900 Red River Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 628-0608
www.arlostruck.com
www.yelp.com/biz/arlos-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Neeta Lind

Austin is one of the quirkiest cities in the country, so it only makes sense that it would be filled with lots of shops selling strange curiosities. Whether you want to decorate your home or find something unique to wear, you’ll find it all from Austin’s weird and wonderful purveyors. Here are two of the city’s must-see shopping destinations.

Parts & Labour
If you prefer your quirky trinkets with a cute flair, you’ll want just about everything in Parts & Labour. This local boutique sells things that you wouldn’t imagine in even your most adorable daydreams, from stuffed animal taxidermy and colorful t-shirts to geeky greeting cards. The shop is open and airy and perfect for browsing, which you’ll likely want to do for the better part of an afternoon.
1117 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704; (512) 326-1648

Uncommon Objects
Just like its name suggests, Uncommon Objects is Austin’s go-to spot for everything creepy, eclectic, and just plain strange. The shop itself is an organized mess of antiques and oddities, including wall mounted armadillos, authentic Texan belt buckles, and more costume jewelry than you’ll have time to root through. Ideal for the antique lover who loves a good hunt, you truly never know what you’ll find at this artistic shop.
1512 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704; (512) 442-4000

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/stockterre