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Mulberry: Wine and More in Austin

March 27, 2014 by greystar

This eclectic wine bar and bistro has quickly won fans among Austinites, who love its cozy ambiance and delectable menu of New American fare. Polished oak panels and a golden marble bar highlight the restaurant’s décor, creating a lovely ambiance for enjoying Mulberry's food.

Visit Mulberry, and begin with a glass or bottle from their expansive wine selection along with an appetizer like Seared Foie Gras with roasted figs, Salmon Sashimi with garlic oil & fried capers, or Escargot with lemon thyme butter. Several sandwiches adorn with menu, as do entrees like Corn Ravioli with blackened shishito & grape tomatoes, Halibut with saffron jam, Beef Tenderloin with coconut demi-glace, and Lamb Torchon with yellow curry yogurt sauce.

Mulberry also serves brunch on the weekends, offering flavorful fare like Toasted Brioche, a House Frittata, Lemon Ricotta Crepes, and Poached Eggs with béchamel sauce.

Mulberry
360 Nueces Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 320-0297
www.mulberryaustin.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mulberry-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Mulberry, Restaurants in Austin

Create Something Great With These DIY Blogs

March 20, 2014 by greystar

DIY-ers know that there’s no shortage of online instructional videos and websites showing you how to make everything from a bed made of wood palettes to your own beaded jewelry. If you’re a crafty girl or guy who loves to build things from scratch, these two creative websites are full of ideas to get your gears turning:

Pretty Handy Girl
Though the name implies that it’s a site for females, Pretty Handy Girl is full of ideas that all types of people will love. From complex home renovation projects to simple arts and crafts ideas, this site will help you make your house look as chic and stylish as a page in a magazine. It also features a peek inside the blogger's toolbox, helping beginning DIY enthusiasts learn which tools are necessary for just about any project.

Makezine
Makezine is a complete online resource for all things DIY, from project instructions and tutorials to meet-ups with other makers in your area. The main page offers interesting articles about incredible projects that other people have made, as well as the latest news from the DIY world. There’s also a database full of how-to guides, video tutorials, and even categories dividing projects by various subjects. Whether you’re a recreational DIY-er or an amateur inventor, Makezine has something for everyone.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Crafts, DIY, Do It Yourself, Home Decor

Core Power Yoga: Stretch Out in Austin

March 13, 2014 by greystar

Power up your flexibility and core strength with a class at Austin's Core Power Yoga. Step into the clean, well lit, spacious studio and throw off the cares of the day while you stretch, build strength and recharge with a series of yoga poses set to energizing music. Classes are geared to all levels of ability, from beginner to advanced. A helpful staff of trained teachers is there to guide and instruct.

Core Power's classes include Hot Power Fusion, Heated Power Yoga with Weights, and Beginning Power Yoga. Changing rooms with lockers and showers are part of what you’ll find here. They also have a boutique with a variety of apparel and yoga accessories. Check out their free classes for new students. See Core Power Yoga's website for class schedules and pricing information.

Core Power Yoga
801 W. 5th Street
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 542-9642
http://www.corepoweryoga.com/yoga-studio/texas/austin-monarch
http://www.yelp.com/biz/corepower-yoga-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Austin Attractions, Core Power Yoga, Things to Do in Austin

Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar: Join the Slow Food Movement With Farm to Table Fine Dining

March 6, 2014 by greystar

Austin’s Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar believes in supporting small farms and sustainable agriculture, and it is a member of the international slow food movement. Wink sources more than 75% of its menu items from within 100 miles of the restaurant, and the menu changes daily depending on what ingredients are fresh and available.

For diners who want to take a tasty tour of the day’s best offerings, Wink features a daily chef’s tasting menu of five or seven courses. Wink also features a daily farm and garden vegetarian tasting menu. Appropriate wine-pairings enhance each course. The elegant and intimate restaurant space fills up quickly, so reservations are recommended. Guests can also enjoy the full menu, and a more casual environment, in the Wine Bar.

The Wine Bar opens at 5 p.m. daily. The dining room opens its doors to dinner guests from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 5:30 p.m. ‘til 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar
1014 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite E
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 482-8868
http://www.winkrestaurant.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wink-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Restaurants in Austin, Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar

Chez Nous: Let Your Taste Buds Travel to France

February 27, 2014 by greystar

Chez Nous’s romantic, candle-lit ambiance and authentic French dishes like fioe gras, escargots, and house-made pâté can whisk diners away on a culinary journey. 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, pommes dauphines (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
http://cheznousaustin.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chez-nous-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Chez Nous, Restaurants in Austin

Three Heart-Healthy Soup Recipes

February 20, 2014 by greystar

It’s one thing to count calories, but finding foods that are just as beneficial to your health as they are to your weight is another story. These delicious soup recipes provide beneficial vitamins and nutrients, keep your heart strong and help you take control of your weight as they warm you up during colder months.

Homemade Turkey Soup
Perfect for using up those turkey dinner leftovers, this hearty turkey soup is full of flavor from its variety of spices. Turkey is a lean meat that provides energizing protein without the extra fat, and the broth base keeps it from weighing you down. At under 250 calories, this makes a light meal that will still fill you up.

Mexican Pozole
If you love the spicy taste of authentic Mexican food, this traditional soup is for you. With lean beef and a large helping of tomatoes, it provides beneficial nutrients as well as exciting flavor.

Rockport Fish Chowder
While other chowders are high in calories due to their creamy base, this lighter version provides the same rich texture without the extra calories. By using low-fat milk and a variety of veggies, you can create a delicious fish chowder that will help keep your diet on track.

For more healthy soup recipes, visit the NIH website.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/thatwelike

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Cooking, Food, Recipes, Soup

Parts & Labour: Unique Gifts on South Congress

February 13, 2014 by greystar

Looking for a great spot to pick up a unique gift hand crafted by a talented artisan? Head to Parts & Labor on South Congress, where you’ll find just that in a fun, friendly setting. Their unique selection includes items that would be perfect for a birthday, wedding, housewarming, or baby shower gift.

On the other hand, it’s also a spot to treat your own sweet self to something special, like a Lego bracelet, soy candle, Scrabble tile pendant, or hand silkscreened t-shirt illustrated with something cute and quirky. Clothing, jewelry, baby items, wall art, cards, stationary, candles, hats, scarves, socks, toys and more, are all arrayed vibrantly for your perusal. The staff is super friendly and helpful, too!

Parts and Labour
1117 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 326-1648
http://partsandlabour.blogspot.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/parts-and-labour-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/chitrasudar

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Austin Attractions, Parts and Labour, Things to Do in Austin

24 Diner: Austin Comfort Food

February 6, 2014 by greystar

24 Diner offers classic American fare with a modern twist in a fun, laid-back Austin atmosphere. The inspired menu, plus a great beer, wine and cocktail selection turn up the volume on the ordinary diner experience. Partygoers love the fact that they stay open round the clock right in the heart of central Austin.

24's all day breakfast menu means you can sidle up to Eggs, Sausage and Waffles at any hour. Burger and sandwich options include a French Dip with gruyere & horseradish, Chicken Salad with spicy pepper relish and a Bacon Avocado Burger with smoked aioli. Entrees include Meatloaf with sweet onion gravy, Pork Chops with sage butter, Roast Chicken with shallot jus, Vegetable Plate with lemon vinaigrette, and No-Bean Chili with cornbread.

Austin's 24 Diner is open daily.

24 Diner
600 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-5400
http://www.24diner.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/24-diner-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: 24 Diner, Austin Dining, Restaurants in Austin

The Bonneville: Sophisticated New American Cuisine

January 30, 2014 by greystar

Take a date to The Bonneville, a classy restaurant in downtown Austin offering sophisticated New American cuisine. Most dishes are gourmet updates on everyday favorites, like the popular Bacon and Egg Ravioli appetizer — tender dumplings served in a creamy brown butter sauce. Diners also recommend the Grilled Pizza as a starter. (Try the lamb pizza with a spicy eggplant puree, mint, Manchego cheese, and a drizzle of lemon yogurt sauce.) There is a handful of entrees to choose from. The Toasted Orrecchiette Pasta with house-made veal meatballs is a crowd pleaser. Don't skip dessert at The Bonneville; the Lemon Buttermilk Pudding with blackberry compote is out of this world.

A full bar features craft cocktails, like a Habanero Margarita. Stop by during the daily happy hour from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and take advantage of $3 discounts on cocktails and wine by the glass. The ambiance is ideal for a date — a mix of wood and contemporary brick make it sophisticated, yet simple; modern, yet inviting.

The Bonneville
202 W. Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 428-4643
http://www.thebonnevilleaustin.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-bonneville-austin

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Austin Dining, Restaurants in Austin, The Bonneville

How To Tell If Pineapples and Avocados Are Ripe

January 22, 2014 by greystar

While fruits like bananas and peaches show telltale signs of being ripe, other fruits can be a little trickier to read. Case in point: pineapples and avocados, two gems from the produce department that seem to go from underripe to spoiled in the blink of an eye. Here are a few tips to help pick pineapples and avocados at their peak.

Pineapple
Choosing one of these spiky bromeliads at their peak can be tricky. While some say that green pineapples can actually be ripe, your best bet is to seek out fruit that's 1) uniformly golden yellow and 2) doesn't show any signs of deterioration, i.e. leakage, wrinkled skin, mold, or browned leaves. The base of the pineapple should smell sweet and mild.

Avocado
Unlike pineapples, avocados continue to ripen after being harvested, which means that avocados that are underripe at the market will continue to ripen at home. That said, skip overripe avocados—avocados that are wrinkly and mushy to the touch. An avocado at its peak will yield slightly when pressed, while an underripe avocado will be very firm. A perfectly ripe avocado should be consumed within a day or two. Miss the ripeness window? A slightly overripe avocado makes great guacamole!

A Guide to Choosing a Ripe Pineapple [NY Times]
Pick & Buy Hass Avocados [Hass Avocados]