Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine: From the Sushi Bar to the Sake Bar

Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine offers a creative, inventive take on classic Japanese cuisine, blending the best of both old and new culinary techniques.

For lunch and dinner, you’ll find delicious sashimi options, unique maki rolls, and even rice-free sushi dishes for those who are cutting carbs, and each one is almost to pretty to eat! (Because Beluga encourages a “shared table” style of dining, guests are encouraged to order a number of small plates to share amongst the table in order to experience every dish.) Beluga also features a full bar of wines, beers, and spirits, as well as traditional Japanese sake to make your experience feel truly authentic.

Visit Beluga for the two-for-one weekday sushi lunch special, then return for the post-work happy hour discounts!

Beluga Modern Japanese Cuisine
661 Louis Henna Blvd
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 255-6454
www.belugasushi.net

Add These Two Foods to Your Diet for a Boost of Iron

Consuming iron-rich foods helps your cells transport oxygen throughout our body, preventing fatigue and supplying energy. So getting enough iron each day is important, and it can be very easy if you know which foods to look for. Incorporate these two iron-rich foods into your diet if you're lacking in the mineral:

  1. Dark chocolate. Treat yourself and do something good for your body by indulging in a piece of dark chocolate every now and again. Just one serving of 80% dark chocolate contains 4.1 milligrams of iron, so dessert can be an integral part of your healthy diet.
  2. Red meat. While you do want to be careful not to over-consume red meat, it is one of the most iron-rich foods. So you can select a package of lean ground beef to meet your daily needs.

Best Foods For Iron: 20 Foods Packed With Iron [Huffington Post]
Iron Rich Foods [WedMD]
Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron [Healthaliciousness]
Iron Rich Foods [American Red Cross]

Have You Tried the Chile Relleno at Mesa Rosa Mexican Restaurant?

There are ample opportunities to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine in Austin, but Mesa Rosa Mexican Restaurant is a local favorite that’s certainly worth checking out. This casual eatery offers sizzling fajitas, enchiladas, and tacos made with high quality meats, cheeses, and vegetables, and they come in a variety of different styles. If you’re looking for something more filling, you might enjoy the combination platters or a traditional entree (don't skip the chile relleno!), or if you’re feeling a bit less adventurous, opt for a juicy hamburger or chicken tender platter.

Mesa Rosa offers large portions for reasonable prices, and the daily lunch specials make it even more affordable. Pair your meal with an icy margarita or the famous Austin Iced Tea, and be sure to stop by during the festive weekday happy hour.

Mesa Rosa Mexican Restaurant
10700 Anderson Mill Road
Austin, TX 78750
(512) 335-3335
www.mesarosa.com

Savor Sweet Corn Sorbet at Uchiko

The gourmet Japanese creations that Uchiko's chefs craft for dessert almost outshine the inventive fare they serve for the main course, at least according to online reviews. Fans rave about the sweet corn sorbet, an entirely unique sweet that comes with polenta custard, caramel salt, and just a dash of lemon. The fried milk garners wide acclaim, too, a mix of chocolate milk, toasted milk, and iced milk sherbet. Olive gelato, tobacco cream, and seasonal sorbets round out the selection of treats.

Before you get to the sweets, though, you should indulge in an entree or a few small plates. They're inspired by Japanese cuisine, but feature farm-fresh fare. Try the cook-it-yourself Wagyu beef or Atlantic salmon served with dinosaur kale, Asian pear, and yuzu. Uchiko also dishes out inventive sushi and maki rolls, like the Ham and Eggs makimono with katsu pork belly, yolk custard, and espelette.

Uchiko
4200 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808
uchiaustin.com/uchiko
www.yelp.com/biz/uchiko-austin

Mother’s Cafe: Sink Your Teeth Into a Bueno Burger

Long before vegetarianism and veganism went mainstream, Mother's Cafe was already on board. It opened in Austin back in 1980 with a completely meat-free menu. Plant-based eating may be commonplace today, but back then, this eatery was blazing a new trail.

Perhaps that's why it's continued to thrive in the years since; vegetarians and vegans know that they can count on a fresh, carefully prepared meal here. Even if you're a meat-eater, you'll still be able to appreciate the fact that Mother's uses healthy ingredients such as non-GMO canola oil and offers purified water (which chefs also use when cooking). Locals suggest you try the Bueno burger, which showcases a patty made of veggies, grains, seeds, and tofu tucked inside a vegan whole-wheat sesame bun with tomato, pickle, red onion, and lettuce. Add vegan cheese or guacamole for some extra flavor. The artichoke enchiladas are a big hit, too, so opt for these if you're craving something spicy.

Mother's Cafe
4215 Duval Street
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 451-3994
motherscafeaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mothers-cafe-and-garden-austin

Caffeinate Your Morning at These Two Austin Cafes

Although Austin is probably better known for its barbecue, the city's gourmet coffee scene is rapidly catching up. For those who love to treat themselves to a premium cup of joe in the mornings, you have more than a few options from which to choose. Here are just two of Austin’s best coffee shops to fuel your morning.

Epoch Coffee
If you’re searching for the hippest coffee shop in Austin to people watch, surf the web, and get caffeinated, Epoch just may be it. Epoch features the rustic, urban decor that Austin is known for combined with a menu of strong brewed blends and simple espresso drinks. While you won’t find a sugary, blended coffee here, you will find great roasts for coffee purists.
221 W. North Loop Blvd., Austin, TX 78751; (512) 454-3762

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Mozart’s offers your morning cuppa with a stunning view on the side. The cafe’s outdoor patio overlooks a crystal clear lake, while inside friendly baristas create elaborate flavored lattes, seasonal coffee blends, and iced espresso drinks in a wide variety of styles. Although Mozart’s is best known for its sweet beverages, the shop offers more traditional cappuccinos and brewed coffees, as well. Order a coffee and a housemade pastry and enjoy it all while watching the sunrise over the lake outside.
3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, TX 78703; (512) 477-2900

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.

Julio’s Cafe: Don’t Miss the Breakfast Tacos

From its green enchiladas to the breakfast tacos, the authentic Mexican fare dished out by Julio's Cafe has been impressing Austin eaters since 1983. Thanks to that fresh, carefully crafted fare, one really seems to mind that this laid-back eatery is cash only. Patrons are more than happy to make an extra stop at the ATM if it means they can slurp up a bowl of Julio's chicken soup for dinner.

The soup features roasted chicken, one of the menu's mainstays, mixed with fresh, colorful veggies. You can also get the chicken all on its own by the quarter, half, or whole. Enjoy it with a smorgasbord of accouterments, including pinto beans, Spanish rice, tomatoes, lettuce, and salsa. If you come by a little earlier in the day (before 11:30 a.m.), you can dig into one of the popular breakfast tacos. Pick your own ingredients from a list that includes eggs, bacon, Mexican sausage, pinto beans, cheese, and rice. Migas, huevos rancheros, and even French toast are also on the morning menu.

Julio's Cafe
4230 Duval Street
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-1040
www.juliosaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/julios-caf%C3%A9-austin-2

Bowl a Strike, Bite Into Baked Brie at The Goodnight in Austin

The Goodnight is a retro-inspired bowling alley with more style and polish than some older alleys from decades past. This smaller venue hosts just eight bowling lanes and four custom billiards tables within its atmospheric space, which boasts pendant lights that hang from the ceiling and luxurious leather chairs that offer ample seating for you and your friends. Meanwhile, the 80-person dining room and two private lounge areas create a relaxing space to enjoy food and libations before or after your game.

Enjoy baked brie, pulled pork sliders, and fresh salads along with a handcrafted cocktail, or stop by for the weekday happy hour to enjoy special prices on food and drinks (as well as half off bowling and billiards!).

The Goodnight
2700 West Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 459-5000
www.thegoodnight.com

Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant: Order Dumplings to Your Doorstep

On those nights when you’re just too tired to cook and all you want is a relaxing evening at home, consider ordering delivery from Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant. This popular Austin eatery offers both dine-in and delivery options on a wide variety of Chinese fare favorites, from crab puffs and fried dumplings to classic sesame chicken, egg drop soup, and lo mein noodles.

Regulars say that the food is generously portioned, and that prices aren't too hard on the wallet (go for a meal combo if you want the best deal!).

Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekends.

Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant
14735 Bratton Lane
Austin, TX 78728
(512) 251-0827
www.fourseasonschinese.com

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