Born in Bangkok, Madam Mam learned Royal- and family-style Thai cuisine in her grandmother’s kitchen. She grew up to run restaurants and be a food critic in her native country before coming to Austin in 2001.

Here, she combines family-style cuisine in a slick but comfortable atmosphere, boasting the closest thing to Thai home cooking this side of the Pacific. Ex-pats tend to agree, calling Madam Mam’s a taste of home, with no concessions or compromises for American palates. Natives love it too; they praise the huge menu across the board, saying that the classic noodle dishes and curries give them a new perspective on Thai cooking.

Prices are decent considering the quality and portion size, and there are frequent specials. Take-out is available.

Madam Mam’s
2700 West Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 371-9930
http://www.madammam.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/madam-mams-austin-2

Public Domain/Public Domain

Schmidt Family Barbecue is built on 75 years of tasty family tradition. The menu consists of straightforward Texas-style barbecue favorites like beef brisket, boneless prime rib, pulled pork, beef ribs, and spare ribs. In addition to the staples, they offer alternative selections like smoked turkey breast and fresh-made jalapeño cheese sausage. Round out your meal with a side of baked beans, potato salad, crisp coleslaw, or mac-n-cheese. If you’re in the mood for a little heat, try their spicy version of mac-n-cheese with ham and jalapeños.

Just a short trip from Paseo at Bee Cave Schmidt Family Barbecue is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They also offer catering options for events both big and small. You can even take a style cue from Schmidt Family Barbecue and purchase a hat or a T-shirt.

Schmidt Family Barbecue
12532 FM 2244
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-4060
http://schmidtfamilybarbecue.com/index.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/schmidt-family-bbq-bee-cave

Public Domain/Public Domain

Hosting a dinner party? While this may seem like a daunting task, the perfect dinner party is achievable with a little planning and preparation. Make your next dinner party a smashing success with these four tips.

1. First thing's first: Invite people you believe will get along amicably. While the food might be brilliant, the conversation should be equally enjoyable.

2. Background music is a great way to fill in the gaps at a party when mouths are busy chewing. Make a killer playlist ahead of time, and watch how it inspires the evening.

3. Ask a friend you trust for help. Put them in charge of picking up extra bags of ice or stocking up on supplies you don’t have time to run out and purchase yourself.

4. Planning ahead is essential to a perfect dinner. Familiarizing yourself with recipes, preparing dishes beforehand and having a flow to the meal will keep everyone, and you, happy.

6 Rules for a Successful Dinner Party [My Home Ideas]
101 Party Dos & Donts [House Beautiful]
How to Host a Dinner Party so Everyone Enjoys It [Lettuce Eat Kale]
Do’s and Don’ts of Hosting a Dinner Party [Rue Magazine]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Dinner Series