By Ginny, on May 17th, 2012%  I recently ventured to Henri’s Cheese and Wine for a little Italian Wine education. Surprisingly, it was my first official visit to the South Lamar shop, but it certainly won’t be the last. Henri’s Cheese and Wine is South Austin’s newest eatery and specialty grocery featuring both lunch and dinner alongside a large selection of retail cheese, wine, and more. Daily dining selections include gourmet sandwiches, small plates, and salads. Gourmet lunch spot by day and wine and beer lounge by night, needless to say, Henri’s is a very welcome addition to the neighborhood.  Henri's Cheese and Wine To be fair, any place specializing in cheese and wine is primed to be an instant classic in my book, but there is much to love about the neighborhood spot. On this particular evening, I joined a few fellow wine lovers for a tasting event with Italian wine expert Pier Mana. Continue reading Henri’s Cheese and Wine
By Ginny, on April 12th, 2012%  24 Diner Grilled Cheese Happy National Grilled Cheese Day! Truly, what’s not to love about melted gooey cheese sandwiched between buttery bread? While this childhood classic dish has inspired hundreds of variations over the years, a grilled cheese in its simplest form is rarely hard to beat. However, 24 Diner’s standout version proves sometimes reinventing the wheel is the best course of action after all. Continue reading National Grill Cheese Day + 24 Diner
By Ginny, on February 16th, 2012%  Nestled in a previously overlooked enclave just west of I-35 on 6th Street, the new Easy Tiger is arguably the most exciting addition to downtown in quite some time. Part bake shop and part beer garden, Easy Tiger is the ambitious new project from the 24 Diner team. As a bake shop and café, Easy Tiger features artisan breads baked fresh daily, house cured meats, and menu items such as sandwiches and cheese plates. To quench Austin’s thirst for a beer garden, Easy Tiger serves over 30 local and boutique beers alongside a full bar and limited wine selection. Located in a formerly overlooked stretch of downtown, Easy Tiger’s large space underwent quite a transition prior to opening. It is easy to underestimate the new spot stepping off the street into the upstairs bake and coffee shop. However, take a walk downstairs to discover a beer lover’s paradise. Offset to the right is a long, dark bar showcasing a laundry list of beer options overlooking the busy kitchen. Step around the dividing wall to find a large open room with ample first come, first serve seating. The exposed brick walls, thick wooden tables, and well conceived masculine touches leave little reminder of previous tenants. The inside area is a perfect spot to unwind with friends, but the spectacular outside area is an oasis in the heart of downtown. Easy Tiger capitalizes on the natural beauty of Waller Creek with an outdoor space filled with long tables, a ping pong table, and a large outside bar. Despite plenty of picnic tables, finding a seat on a pretty day is virtually impossible after five, and for good reason; Easy Tiger’s outdoor beer garden is a virtual oasis in the heart of dirty sixth. It is impossible not to become hooked on Easy Tiger after one initial visit. Friendly service matches the relaxed communal vibe. There are more than enough interesting beer options to appease any preference, including a few sour beer options to win over non beer drinkers. The food menu contains a simple variety of beer friendly choices, all well-priced and under $10. The housemade sausages are filled with flavor and delicious alone or paired with accompaniments like mustard, sauerkraut, and fresh breads. Soft chewy pretzels perfect for dipping in Easy Tiger’s beer cheese, which has a bold pimento cheese-like flavor. Along with the beer cheese, there are several other options for cheese lovers, including an Antonelli’s plate. Easy Tiger’s selection of boutique and local beers means a large variety of interesting finds and new types to sample. However, a small forewarning: be prepared to pay premium prices for these premium brews. Think more along the lines of $8 pints instead of $2 PBR’s and Coors Lights. Go the budget friendly route and stop in for a quick beer, pretzel, and amazing ambiance or throw caution to the wind and stay all night; either way Easy Tiger is worth the trip. As stated best in the new spot’s motto, Easy Tiger is the ideal place to slow down and stay awhile. And, since it is open daily from 7am – 2am, there is plenty of time to do just that.  Easy Tiger Beer Garden Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden. 709 East 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. 512.614.4972. Website & Facebook Continue reading Easy Tiger Bake Shop + Beer Garden
By Ginny, on February 6th, 2012% On February 11, Antonelli’s Cheese Shop is celebrating TWO YEARS of success in Austin by sharing the love via FREE CHEESE PLATES around town. Starting Monday, February 6, visit one of the restaurants listed below and enjoy a custom Antonelli’s Cheese Plate on the house (while supplies last). Additionally, purchase a cheese plate from any restaurant which serves the shop’s cheese, save receipt, and qualify for a 5% discount (or up to 15% w/three receipts) February 11-18. As always, you can take advantage of Wine Wednesday deals at Star Bar, Dive Bar, and Gibson where each bottle of wine . . . → Read More: Antonelli’s Cheese Shop + FREE CHEESE By Ginny, on January 23rd, 2012% Second Bar + Kitchen ‘s well priced and diverse menu and casual trendy atmosphere make it an ideal spot for a group dinner downtown. With visiting friends in town and a birthday to celebrate it was the perfect Saturday night dinner spot. We started with an order of chicken fried olives and a cheese board along with a round of Moscow Mules. The olives were salty, unusual, and begged to be eaten while sipping a martini. Second’s cheese board features a lovely rustic presentation of five different cheeses served with housemade crostini. While it’s no secret there is nothing I fancy more than a cheese plate, I would advise sampling some of Second’s other small plate offerings because it is there the menu really shines, as showcased in our second round of appetizers.  Chicken Fried Green Olives - $6 Arriving next were blue crab and corn fritters and veal meatballs. The fritters’ spicy glaze and decadent filling were tasty, but almost overlooked when unfairly served next to the amazing veal meatballs. The delicate meatballs were moist, tender, and full of earthy Italian flavors. A warm marinara sauce topping brought out a subtle fennel flavor to create a little bite of heaven. A last round of appetizers included goat cheese and ricotta fondue and a few bowls of Second’s famous pepperoni soup, which were both delicious as always.  Veal Meatballs - $8 Continue reading Second Bar + Kitchen
By Ginny, on December 13th, 2011% The holiday season is in full swing, which means festivities galore. One of my favorite winter appetizer recipes to utilize for holiday entertaining is Cooking Light’s Baked Brie and Apple Raisin Compote. These little morsels of goodness are simple to make and always a crowd favorite. As an added bonus, the compote’s spices smell fantastic while cooking. Any leftover apple-raisin mixture pairs nicely with pork or even pureed with butternut squash. The recipe calls for golden raisins, but if you can’t locate any, regular raisins work as well. I have also substituted pears for apples in this recipe with solid results. A good tip for making these more budget friendly is to buy bulk spices since the recipe calls for quite a few. Enjoy!  Continue reading Recipe File: Baked Brie and Apple Raisin Compote Crostinis
By Ginny, on November 7th, 2011% Located in the bustling Rainey Street District, Bar 96 is Austin’s answer to a sports bar. Keeping with the nieghboorhood, Bar 96 is situated in a reconstructed home turned bar with ample outdoor seating, large TVs, cheap drinks and a casual, come-as-you-are attitude. A turf grass covered backyard speckled with picnic tables creates a perfect post-horns game setting for fans looking to celebrate a big win with more football watching. What’s more, come nightfall, Bar 96 projects the night’s big game on an adjacent building ensuring no bad view in the house. With washers, board games, and old and new friends jumping from table to table, Bar 96 begins to feel more like a tailgate party than a bar, which is especially ideal for those less than enthused with spending Saturday evening at a traditional sports bar. As with similar bars on the block, Bar 96 benefits from diverse handful of food trailers eager to serve flocks of hungry bar patrons. Closest in proximity is Cazamance, which currently sits in Bar 96’s own backyard. Inspired by head chef Ida Thaim’s West African upbringing as well as subsequent adventures to France, New York and now Austin, Cazamance’s menu consists of western traditions appetizers, salads, and sandwiches infused with African and Moroccan flavors and ingredients. Bonus points for a cheese and fresh fruit plate appetizer option. While it is advertised to feed two, it was fairly difficult to share the small portion of excellent cheeses. The Moroccan lamb sausage wrap received mixed reviews. The black bean veggie burger proved to be a fan favorite as did the slice roast of the day (pictured below). A bit hesitant by the sandwich’s presentation, the meat, grilled onions, and mustard were a solid combination. With a rotating selection of daily specials, healthy menu options, and a weekend brunch, there is still much to try at Cazamance, making this trailer a reason to visit Bar 96 all on its own.  Bar 96 Bar 96. 96 Rainey Street, Austin, TX 78701. http://96austin.com/  Cazamance Fruit & Cheese Plate - $8.50 Continue reading Bar 96 + Cazamance
By Ginny, on October 18th, 2011% A big thank you to the Keeper Collection for hosting the 2011 Chef’s Under Fire event on Sunday. It was a truly entertaining evening filled with food, wine and new friends. Upon arrival the secret ingredients were revealed to guests. The three chefs were tasked with creating a dish using lean ground beef, beets, green onions and potatoes. As the three chef contestants prepped their dishes, attendees enjoyed glasses of Texas wine provided by Fall Creek Vineyards and Pioneer Wines as well as snacks like pork belly and lobster bisque courtesy of Chef Josh Watkins (The . . . → Read More: Chef’s Under Fire 2011 Recap | | AboutGinny’s Austin is one girl's take on everything happening around Austin, focusing primarily food, music, and events around town.  |
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