“Chillax” at Shady Grove

Nestled in a grove of pecan trees, Shady Grove has offered American comfort food favorites since 1992. Regulars love their beefy chili — anything on the menu that features this signature creation is a guaranteed hit. The chili cheese fries, Frito pie and chicken fried steak topped with green chili sauce are also perennial favorites. If you want lighter fare, there are several salads as well as the popular vegetarian “hippie” sandwich which layers grilled veggies, mozzarella, and pesto onto homemade bread. Old-fashioned stone work complete with a fireplace makes Shady Grove a great place to stay a while and savor your food. Their outdoor patio is spacious and every Thursday they host “Unplugged at the Grove” which features Austin’s musical talent.  Don't miss the mixed drinks, either …
 

Shady Grove
1624 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-9991
www.yelp.com/biz/shady-grove-austin

Mulberry: Wine and Dine

Located in the heart of Austin's downtown, Mulberry is a restaurant and wine bar that offers New American cuisine in an intimate setting. The warm and cozy atmosphere are incredibly inviting, and the extremely knowledgeable staff will make you feel confident that you're in good hands throughout your visit. The wine list contains over 150 bottles and has an impressive selection of wines by the glass, all with a focus on the world's most esteemed wine regions. Draft beer is also available. In addition to cheese and charcuterie plates, Mulberry's food menu also contains a number of salad and sandwich options as well as some enticing larger plates. These is mouth-watering cuisine, not food as an afterthought as at many wine bars. For a delicious, wine-filled outing in a great setting, you'd do well to consider Mulberry.

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

On the Go? Check Out These Easy, Healthy Snacks

Oftentimes, the biggest issue people face when trying to stick to a healthy diet is snacking. Most snack food (i.e. junk food) isn't good for our health, and is filled with sugar, fat, sodium, and empty calories. But with just a bit of planning, you can be prepared with delicious snacks that are tasty and great for you, too! Below are a few ideas:

1.     Nuts and Seeds. Nuts and seeds are one of nature’s most perfect foods. They contain lots of protein and vital nutrients in an easily portable size. The very best nuts and seeds for your health are walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds. Enjoy them roasted with just a pinch salt, or try out other more exotic spices.

2.     Rice Cakes. If you like crunch, but don't like calories, rice cakes are ideal! They're large enough to give you some substance, but low-cal enough to keep your weight in check. Plus, they come in a variety of sweet and savory flavors to please any palate.

3.     Fresh Veggies. Prep carrots, cucumbers, and celery and but them into small baggies or tupperware so they're easy to grab on the go. Add a little salt and pepper and some fresh squeezed lemon, or dip them into a light vinaigrette dressing.

4.     Dried Fruit. Fruit is always a fabulous snack, and dried fruits are not only good for you, but they're very portable as well. Try to avoid excessively sugary items like pineapple and mango, and instead go for dried apricots and other stone fruits, which lose less of their nutritional value when dehydrated.

5.     String Cheese. Convenient and delicious, this ideal snack is individually wrapped, and can stay fresh outside of the refrigerator for many hours. And, it offers a great amount of protein and calcium that will help hold off hunger until your next meal.

The Peached Tortilla: Discover Mobile Delicacies

A food truck full of personality, The Peached Tortilla is an incredible fusion of cuisines that makes for a truly unique dining experience. Drawing on Asian and Mexican influences, the food here is full of compelling combinations that will delight your taste buds. The menu has tacos and burritos loaded imaginatively with things like Pad Thai, Chinese bbq, and Szechuan-style vegetables. You can also choose among several delectable sliders. Add some parmesan or sweet-potato fries into the mix, with dipping sauces like peach mint and truffle mayo, and you've got some incredible gourmet goodness. Visit the truck's website to help track down this deliciousness, or stop by its Twitter page!

The Peached Tortilla
(512) 761-3241
http://twitter.com/peachedtortilla
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-peached-tortilla-austin
 

Wink: A Flirtatious and Delicious Bite

If you’re looking for a relaxing fine dining experience, Austin’s Wink might be right up your alley. Although the food prepared by chefs Mark Paul and Stewart Scruggs is incredibly vivid, flavorful cuisine that can go toe-to-toe with any restaurant in Austin, Wink works hard to keep its menu accessible and comfortable as well. This philosophy has paid off, as local foodies have nothing but raves about the place. Focusing on using only the best sustainably sourced ingredients, signature dishes include the fantastic sweetbreads, truffled macaroni & cheese, and the flavorful, moist duck breast. The dining room is small— really small—so be warned, you might make some new friends. The service is so welcoming that you won’t even notice the slightly cramped surroundings a bite or two into your meal. Stop into the adjoining wine bar for reasonably priced appetizers and wine from the restaurant’s impressive cellar.

Wink
1014 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 482-8868

Wholly Cow: Grab a Great Burger

Nestled inside the ZEN Food Mart Convenience Store, Wholly Cow Burgers is a purveyor of food that uses local, organic, and hormone & chemical free grass-fed beef. It's a high quality ingredient that, along with the local, organic produce used here, makes for some really wonderful food. The menu consists of several burger combinations as well as some classic beef and chicken sandwiches like the reuben and club. There are vegetarian options, too! Wholly Cow is also open for breakfast, where you'll find a nice selection of breakfast tacos in addition to french toast and some great breakfast sandwiches. A great thing about the location is that the store where it's located also has other great items like fresh fruit and produce, and a wide selection of wine and beer. That's quality and convenience!

Wholly Cow
3010 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-8156
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wholly-cow-austin

The Carillon: Ring The Bells

Austin’s culinary scene has been booming in recent years, with a number of focused, motivated chefs bringing new perspectives in fine dining to grateful eaters. Chef Josh Watkins’ tenure at The Carillon began in 2008, after he returned to Texas and worked alongside famed chef David Bull at the Driskill Grill. Watkins appeared alongside Bull on TV show Iron Chef America, where he showed off his impressive skills, and not long after he was recruited to open the Carillon. Every aspect of this restaurant is top-notch. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, the décor is classy and comfortable, and the food is some of the best you’ll find in town. Frequent diners rave about the incredible spinach salad with house bacon and poached egg yolk, as well as the duck leg confit with root vegetables and white bean cassoulet. They also offer both three-course and six-course tasting menus, which come highly recommended.

The Carillon
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 404-3655
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-carillon-austin-2

Zilker Botanical Garden: A Jewel In The Heart Of Austin

Austin, Texas, has a very different environment than much of the rest of the state—it’s moist and verdant, with heavy forests covering much of the city. For a wonderful immersion in the botanical glory of the area, head into the Zilker Botanical Gardens. Located in the center of Zilker Park, which was deeded to the city of Austin in 1917, the Botanical Garden is a spectacular collection of themed gardens. One of the most notable is the Hartman Prehistoric Garden—in 1992, a group of paleontologists discovered more than 100 dinosaur tracks in Zilker Park, and the area was then transformed into a garden populated with plants that would have grown there during the Cretaceous era. If you’re looking for some peace and serenity, head over to the Isamu Taniguchi Oriental Garden, a wonderful location to sit and commune with nature in front of a burbling koi pond. It’s a fantastic oasis in the middle of the city.

Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 477-8672

Balanced Breakfast: Healthy, Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe

Cereal, oatmeal, and toast are simple breakfast options, but if you're in the mood for something a bit heartier, why not enjoy a batch of homemade pancakes instead? If you tend of only indulge in pancakes when you dine out, you're not alone. Many are intimidated to try to prepare them at home, but this awesome whole wheat pancake recipe is easy to make and much, much healthier than your average diner pancake. Check out the recipe below from Food.com, which yields approximately 12 medium-sized pancakes. Eat them plain (yes, they're that good!), drizzle the with syrup, top with fresh, or even add chocolate chips to the mix.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups low-fat/skim milk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 large egg
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 -2 cup fruit (i.e., sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries…your choice) (optional)

Click here for prep instructions and recipe reviews: http://www.food.com/recipe/100-whole-wheat-low-fat-pancakes-151328#ixzz1BxbYGNxD.

 

Check Out Austin Fan Fest 2012!

Celebrating 2012's inaugural U.S. Grand Prix, Austin Fan Fest 2012 comes to downtown Austin from November 16-18th. If you haven't heard, the U.S. GP is a Formula 1 race taking place that weekend at Austin's newly constructed Circuit of the Americas race track, and Austin Fan Fest brings the city even more fun with an array of musical acts from all over the country, along with great local and regional bands.

Fan Fest's headline performers Aerosmith, Flo Rida, and Enrique Iglesias will play on main stages for the Fest's three night engagement, while smaller stages will showcase acts like Lupe Fiasco and The Wallflowers.

Around downtown Austin, attendees can also interact with F1 racing related installations, like racing simulators and Formula 1 cars. Arts exhibits, parties, and family friendly events all over downtown make the whole thing complete.

Want to know more? Click here to learn about Austin Fan Fest 2012.

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