A Cool New Dive Bar And A Whole Book On Turkey Gobble Up Austin Food News

April 25, 2024, Austin — Despite its continued growth, Austin has maintained the charming personality of a relatively small city. This week’s food and drink picks reflect this town’s vibrant diversity, with culturally varied offerings from Tex-Mex “truck stop food” to golf-inspired beer. The food scene in Austin never fails to delight with its countless expansions, new ventures, and collaboration between venues and chefs, demonstrating the town’s cultural richness.

Openings and Closings

Austin’s affection for nostalgically curated, unique interiors is apparent in the design of the newly-opened Busty’s Bar & Jukebox, located at 6214 Cameron Rd. Classic car references imbibe the space, including an actual vehicle hanging upside down above plush, elegant velvet booths. Named after the ex-manager of the White Horse, Eric “Busty” Morris, the restaurant showcases an informal menu featuring classic sandwiches, Southern staples, and Tex-Mex treats.

In the line of recent closure news, the semi-local market Foxtrot has shut its doors. However, in more exciting developments, Lao food truck Seksē•Füd•Kō is evolving into a brick-and-mortar venture – Lao’d Bar, coming diversified with a full bar area.

Also joining Austin’s bustling bar scene is The Long Goodbye. This new establishment combines the intricate aesthetics of Art Deco design with two distinct cocktail menus: one for the classics and the other emphasizing on agave-based blends.

Noteworthy News and Events

Renowned chef Jesse Griffiths, known for his expertise with game meat, recently launched “The Turkey Book” this March, a cookbook dedicated to wild turkey. Griffiths will be reading from his book at First Light Books on April 26 from 7-8:30 pm, accompanied by Saba Rahimian of Texas Monthly and Southern Living for a Q&A.

Meanwhile Brewing Company has created a golf-inspired beer named Fore! Scheduled for release on April 27, the Arnold Palmer-style Kolsch brew was created in honor of the Masters Tournament and has already clinched a silver medal at the World Beer Cup. Brew notes suggest hints of “bright lemon peel and crisp sweet tea, a clean malt finish, and a touch of tannins”.

Austin Food Community Gives Back

Urban Roots’ Tour de Farm, a youth farming initiative fundraiser, is scheduled for May 1. The event promises farm-to-table family-style eatables, cocktails, a community vision board, and farm tours led by program participants. The event hosts include some of Austin’s finest chefs, such as Damien Brockway, Rick Lopez, Abby Love, Fiore Tedesco, and Michael Fojtasek, with appetizers courtesy of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop.

Redbud Ice House, in its first few months of operations, is set to host its first crawfish boil on May 27. The event, First Annual Buds Crawfish Fun-draising Thing, aims to raise funds for No Kid Hungry while attendees enjoy crawfish, soft serve ice cream, sno-cones, cocktails, and live music by Spaceflight Records.