TRIO: Taste the Eponymous Trio of Steak, Seafood, and Wine

Steps from Austin’s bustling downtown and overlooking scenic Lady Bird Lake, TRIO gives diners the best of both worlds. Trio’s carefully-curated menu offers both steak (range) and seafood (Gulf) options. Gulf offerings include Texas shrimp served with red mole sauce, shishito peppers, and corncakes and grouper prepared with grapefruit, roasted cipollini, and brown butter hollandaise. In addition to succulent steaks, TRIO’s range options include chicken, lamb, and antelope for more adventurous eaters. Locals love the made-to-order omelette station at Sunday brunch—as well as the unlimited mimosas, coffee, and tea. TRIO welcomes diners seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Guests praise the attentive and accommodating service as much as the cuisine. One frequent diner had TRIO’s staff custom-create her wedding cake, while another asked (in advance) for the pastry chef to bake a birthday dessert that was not on the menu. Both were pleased with the results!

TRIO
98 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 685-8300
http://www.triorestaurantaustin.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trio-austin-2

Public Domain/Public Domain

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

May the luck of the Irish be with you today.

6 Tips for Creating a Fabulous At-Home Bar Cart

Entertaining guests in your home is sometimes more fun than going out. Every gathering needs a well-stocked bar with delicious drinks for folks to enjoy. If your house is where the party is, check out these six great tips for putting together a swanky bar cart that will be the center of attention.

1. Get a great cart.
Depending on your personal style, select a cart that fits your aesthetic, whether it be modern, industrial, or vintage. Make sure the cart has a few different shelves or drawers for holding various accoutrements.

2. Select a stylin’ tray.
Find a tray that can be set on top of the cart, so you can prepare a few drinks to walk around and distribute throughout the party. Mirrored trays look swanky, while colorful plastic trays give off fun vibes.

3. Sport a cool decanter.
Bottles of booze are fine, but pouring your liquor into a cool decanter ups your level of commitment to style. Bonus: Label snobs won’t judge your selection; that bargain booze will appear fit for a king being poured from a crystal bottle!

4. It's in the mix.
Make sure you have the basics covered: gin, vodka, and whiskey. If your party craves one liquor over another, make sure it has a place on your cart, along with the appropriate mixers and garnishes.

5. Stock your toolkit.
You have got to have the right drink mixing tools on hand, like shot glasses, stirrers, shakers, and drinkware.

6. Cool it off.
This is important to keep the drinks tasting fresh. Get a bucket or put the ice in a festive bowl with a pair of tongs.

Assembling the Perfect Bar Cart [The Intentional Apartment]
Create and Stylize the Perfect Bar Cart [Guest of a Guest]
How to Style a Bar Cart [DIY Playbook]
How to Style a Bar Cart [Style Within Reach]
How to Style a Bar Cart [HGTV]

SXSW

Anyone planning on joining in on any of the South by Southwest activities? What is your favorite? Music? Film? Do tell us!

Billy’s on Burnet: An Austin Gastropub

Looking for a relaxing Austin spot where you can enjoy a beer and a burger? Billy’s on Burnet is a favorite spot to do just that in a friendly setting.

Stop by for what they say is the "Happiest Hour" around, with great specials on drinks and food. Their tasty draft beer selection includes Avery Maharajah Imperial IPA, Blue Moon Belgian White, Austin Beerworks Pearl Snap, and Hops and Grain Greenhouse Hoppy Brown. Pair your beer with a dish like Fried Zucchini, Chips & Salsa, Fried Okra, Chili Cheese Fries, or Chips & Queso. The big burger menu includes choices like the Billy Burger with double meat & cheese, and the Cobra Burger with bacon, grilled jalapenos, cheddar & chipotle mayo. There’s also plenty to eat for vegetarians, including a Veggie Burger, a Veggie Dog and an Avocado Reuben.

Billy's on Burnet is open daily in Austin.

Billy's on Burnet
4526 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 524-4740
http://www.billysonburnet.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/billys-on-burnet-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/stu_spivack

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends April 30th, 2014.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

Time to Spring Forward!

Spring is here and now it is time to Spring Forward! Don't forget to change your clocks this weekend!

Easy Ways to Create a Spa-Like Bathroom at Home

The peace and tranquility of a spa is closer to home than you might think! Simple touches, like adding fresh flowers and swapping out old towels, can give your bathroom an instant spa makeover. Here are five elements that will help you transform your bathroom into a spa.

1. Plush towels
Upgrade to plush, hotel-quality towels in white or shades of cream. Instead of folding the towels, roll them into a cylindrical shape and arrange them in a wicker basket next to your tub or shower. Having a cozy bathrobe on hand couldn't hurt, either!

2. Glass containers
For a clean, chic look, take cotton swabs and balls out of their store packaging and place them in clear glass apothecary jars. Give your hand soap the same treatment by pouring it into a clear or tinted glass dispenser.

3. Candles
Group sweet-smelling candles on your vanity or on the side of your bathtub. Opt for candles infused with botanical essences to up the spa feel. Just remember to blow them out when you leave the bathroom!

4. Luxe bath products
Make every shower or bath a spa-like experience by splurging on grooming products. The lather from your favorite shampoo or soap will breathe new life into your bathing routine.

5. Fresh flowers
While it's probably not cost-effective to sprinkle rose petals into your tub before every bath, consider placing a vase of fresh orchids on your vanity. Even a green houseplant will add a touch of serenity to your bathroom—just choose a plant that will thrive in high humidity.

Happy Fat Tuesday

HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!!!!

Entertaining Online Crossword Puzzle Sites

If you’re the type of person who always has a crossword puzzle book on hand, you know how frustrating it is when you run out of pages. With the endless number of puzzles on these two websites, you’ll have access to a brand new crossword puzzle when you’re on your laptop at home or on the go.

USA Today Crossword
The USA Today crossword puzzle is one of the best in the country, and now even non-subscribers can have access to this challenging puzzle. The site gives you free access on your desktop computer or PC, and there’s even a mobile app so that you can solve puzzles when you’re on your phone. If you missed a day, the site also allows you to search by dates to browse back puzzles.

Best Crosswords
The name basically says it all: Best Crosswords is a website devote to—you guessed it—all of the best crossword puzzles. The game boards come in both online and printable forms, and they’re all available completely free of charge. If you’re feeling competitive, Best Crosswords also lists a congratulatory list of the top five players of the past month to give you something to strive for.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/CrosswordMan

Pin It on Pinterest