Little Barrel and Brown: Don’t Miss the Dewberry Farms Fried Chicken

Austin’s culinary culture has come a long way in the last decade, and one of the town’s most promising eateries is Little Barrel and Brown. This exceptional New American bistro specializes in unique takes on familiar foods.

Start off with a selection from the “little snacks” menu at the bar. The caramel corn with cracked black pepper and sea salt is delicious, and the cheese fries with cheddar, smoked gouda, and scallions are decadent and tasty. Moving on to entrees, regulars rave about the burgers topped with “marrownaise,” a creamy spread created from whipped bone marrow. Also awesome is the roasted pork shoulder with lentils and acorn squash, which is fork-tender and perfectly spiced. However, the one can’t-miss meal on the menu here is the Dewberry Farms fried chicken, which is crunchy, to perfection and served with celery root slaw and hot sauce.

Prices are reasonable, especially considering the high quality of the cuisine offered.

Little Barrel and Brown
1716 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 582-1229
www.littlebarrelandbrown.com
www.yelp.com/biz/little-barrel-and-brown-austin

Happy Memorial Day

Today we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our great country. We hope you have a great Memorial Day!

The Emerald Restaurant: Taste the Luck of the Irish

The Emerald Restaurant is a beautiful and cozy eatery tucked away in a scenic part of West Austin that locals truly adore. Approach the cottage-style restaurant and you’ll be amazed at its quaint beauty and lush, green lawn, which creates a stunning backdrop for the many private parties, weddings, and graduation dinners that are held here.

The Emerald Restaurant serves an imaginative menu of Irish-inspired dishes, and everything is made entirely from scratch using tried-and-true family restaurants straight from Ireland. Roasts and meats are carved tableside on silver platters, while onion soups are served flambéed and Tipperary sweetbreads come wrapped in Irish bacon. Each artistic dish is hearty and a bit dramatic, and there are even complete two-person dinners perfect for special occasions.

No true Irish meal would be complete without an accompanying beverage, and The Emerald also boasts a long list of libations to choose from.

The Emerald Restaurant
13614 Highway 71 West
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 963-4272
www.theemeraldrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-nature-and-science-center-austin-2

Safety First! Essentials for Your Home First Aid Kit

Safety is a major concern in just about every household across the country, but you might not know exactly what to keep on hand to prevent against illness and injury. From minor cuts to major bumps and bruises, these first aid kit essentials will keep you (and your family) safe against all kinds of ailments.

  • Assorted bandages. Be sure to choose a box with a variety of shapes and sizes for all kinds of cuts.
  • Gauze bandages. To wrap arms and legs in case of a larger cut or burn.
  • Adhesive cloth tape. To securely fasten gauze bandages and wraps.
  • Instant cold pack. For soothing bruises and reducing swelling.
  • Aspirin. To reduce headaches and ease pain from minor injuries.
  • Oral thermometer. All households should have an adult thermometer, but families should also keep a children’s model on hand.
  • Non-latex gloves. For safely cleaning and dressing wounds.
  • Antihistamine. Brands like Benadryl help to reduce allergic reactions, such as bee stings.
  • Antibacterial creams. For disinfecting cuts, burns, and scrapes.
  • Antiseptic wipe packets. To quickly clean cuts and burns as soon as they happen.
  • Tweezers. To remove splinters and other small debris.
  • Rubbing alcohol. To sterilize your tools.
  • Sharp scissors. For cutting bandages, gauze, and other supplies.

First-Aid Kit Essentials [Parents]
First Aid Essentials [Healthy Essentials]
Anatomy of a First Aid Kit [American Red Cross]
First Aid Essentials [Real Simple]

Have You Tried the Summermoon Latte at Brian’s Brew?

If it's your first visit to Brian's Brew, there are a few things you should know. First, this tiny, independently owned cafe is tucked within the Bank of America building. Next, the cafe brews coffee drinks made from wood-fired beans. That is, beans that have been hand-roasted in small batches over a wood fire. Lastly, Brian’s Brew serves a latte that they claim is "life-changing."

The verdict is still out about that verity of that last point, but regular visitors of Brian's Brew say the latte is worth ordering nonetheless. It's called the Summermoon Latte, and it's described as being creamy, full-bodied, and just a tad sweet. Order yours hot or iced, and pair it with a breakfast taco (provided by Torchy's Tacos) or freshly baked glazed doughnut or apple fritter from local doughnut bakery Round Rock Donuts.

Brian’s Brew is open 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

Brian’s Brew
515 N. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 738-7713
www.briansbrew.com/index.html
www.yelp.com/biz/brians-brew-austin

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate Mom! Are you doing anything special for your mother today?

How to Create a Chic and Stylish Bar Cart

Bar carts are the types of finishing touches that add a major pop of designer flair to any room in the home. From the living room to the dining room, adding a well-curated bar cart will really give your home the type of 1950s style that is right on trend. Here are just a few tips for creating a truly chic bar cart.

  1. Start with the perfect cart. Scour flea markets and thrift stores for an authentic vintage bar cart. If you can’t find one there, try purchasing one at an affordable furniture store or even using a small three-tiered bookshelf.
  2. Choose your spirits. The types of spirits that you add to your cart really depend on your personal preferences. Investing in three or four bottles of common spirits like vodka, gin, and bourbon is a good place to start.
  3. Add your glassware. Next, invest in new or secondhand sets of wine glasses, low tumblers and martini glasses. You may even want to add decanters to fill with mixers or to trade out unattractive liquor bottles.
  4. Add the accessories. Fill a glass jar with stirrers, add a small cutting board for slicing lemons and limes and even add stacks of mixology books for the finishing touches.

How to Style a Bar Cart [The DIY Playbook]
How To: Create and Stylize the Perfect Bar Cart [Guest of a Guest]
Assembling the Perfect Bar Cart [Primer Magazine]
How to Style the Perfect Bar Cart for Any Party [HGTV]

Chago’s: Taste Puerto Rican Cuisine in Austin

Taste Puerto Rican cuisine in Austin at Chago's. Chef Chago creates an authentic take on the cuisine, building a menu that features dishes like fried pork chop with rice and beans, beer braised chicken with sweet plantains, and slow roasted pulled pork with pigeon peas. You can’t leave Chago’s without trying the Mofongo, which is made from mashed fried green plantains and pork crackling. If you come in for lunch, you may also want to try the restaurant’s Cuban sandwich, winner of Austin Chronicle’s 2012 “Critics Cuban Sandwich Smackdown.” (There are gluten free options available, as well.)

Come in for lunch, dinner, or a pina colada. The family-owned and -operated restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Visit its website to find out more.

Chago’s
7301 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 275-6013
www.chagos.biz
www.yelp.com/biz/chagos-austin

Where to Shop Monogrammed Items on the Web

Select the perfect personalized gifts for the special people in your life from one of these fabulous websites. Give a lovely set of monogrammed towels as a holiday gift or give that special person in your life a beautiful inscribed piece of jewelry. Find an array of options and a little something that is just for you.

Mark and Graham
Mark and Graham offer hundreds of home and personal items that can be inscribed however you wish. You’ll recognize their sleek, stylish offerings from Williams and Sonoma as a brand that is classic and now, personal.

Preppy Monogrammed Gifts
Monogram the whole family at Preppy Monogrammed Gifts. Get fun kids' gear, a classic scarf or sweater seat, and office supplies emblazoned with the letters of those you love.

Monkey See Monkey Do!: Off-the-Wall Gifts That Can’t be Imitated

Whether you love kitschy, quirky trinkets or you know someone else who does, Monkey See Monkey Do! is one of Austin’s most popular gift shops. This wacky store is like a toy store for adults, and it is positively packed full of all of the magnets, action figures, whoopee cushions, and novelty candies that you can imagine. There’s also a number of Austin-themed gifts!

None of these items are particularly useful, but once you spend a while in this silly shop you'll realize that that’s what makes them great. And of course, Monkey See Monkey Do! even carries a vast assortment of—you guessed it—monkey paraphernalia!

Monkey See Monkey Do! is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Monkey See Monkey Do!
1712 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 443-4999
www.facebook.com/MonkeySeeMonkeyDoAustin
www.yelp.com/biz/monkey-see-monkey-do-austin

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