Austin Foodie Bits ~ Food and Wine Events for the Week of November 5

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The weather is crisp and cool, the skies are blue, and Thanksgiving is somehow, inexplicably, right around the corner. Soon after Christmas will be staring us down. Thanks to the approaching holidays, events about town are slowing down just a little bit which is a welcome respite from the breakneck pace we say in October. Still, there are some very interesting activities for food lovers coming up including wine and spirits dinners, a cheese fest, holiday cooking classes and more. Given how quickly holiday calendars fill up, be sure to look ahead to the events of the next three weeks at the end of the post to be sure you reserve your time for the events you’re most interested in.

In the Spotlight

  • The Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival’s Chef Wine & Dine Series offers you a unique opportunity to participate in an exceptional evening at some of Austin’s best restaurants. You’ll enjoy a champagne reception, top-tier wine pairings with each course, private dining, and the opportunity to meet Austin’s star chefs. Proceeds benefit the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival. The next dinner is on November 16 at Parkside, and the final dinner in the series is on December 2 at the Carillon.
  • Food trailers and trucks continue to be all the rage in Austin, and these days there are so many of them it’s hard to keep track much less try all of their wares. On Saturday, a slew of the area’s trucks are coming together for the Gypsy Picnic, a charity event that will benefit the Health Alliance for Musicians (HAAM). 35 different vendors will offer tasting plates for $3 or less, so be sure to wear your stretchy pants to this event folks. Entry is free and you can even bring your canine friends along for the food ride.
  • For the entire month of November, Austin’s Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier will challenge food and wine lovers to out bid one another in an online Food Fight. You can bid on one of 30 exciting food experiences including a wood-fired pizza party for 40, cooking classes, culinary weekends, and more. All proceeds benefit the Les Dames local chapter in their education, advocacy, and philanthrophy work.

Be Spontaneous – This Week’s Events

  • November 7: Somewhere in Time Dinner – Go back to the future with an 1840’s inspired dinner on the lawn of Boggy Creek Farm. Enjoy eats from Gina’s Kitchen and learn about organic farming. $75/person. 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm. Purchase tickets online.
  • November 8: Breaking the Jemima Code Slow Session – Slow Food Austin presents the second of three events celebrating the culinary heritage of Central Texas. Join Toni Tipton-Martin as she looks into the cookbooks of great black cooks. Be ready to think differently about the our American culinary traditions after this enlightening session. Free. Carver Library. 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. E-mail anneh@slowfoodaustin.org to reserve.
  • November 9: Flat Creek Winery Interactive Paired Dinner – Meet Rick and Madelyn Naber, the proprietors of Flat Creek Winery, as you enjoy a five course dinner paired with their wines. The menu is exciting featuring wild boar pork belly, chile and cranberry glazed duck breast, and more. $65/person. Jack Allen’s Kitchen. 7:00 pm. Call 512.852.8558 to reserve.
  • November 9: Cover 3’s 2nd Anniversary Party – Teaming with local nonprofit Partnerships for Children (PC), Cover 3 is celebrating its two years in Austin by hosting combining their birthday party with a benefit to gather new toys and raise funds for neglected and abused children in the care of Austin Child Protective Services (CPS) during the holidays. $20 or two toys at the door. 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm.
  • November 10: Healthy Holiday Sides – Many folks will tell you they love the Thanksgiving sides as much (or more than) the turkey, which probably explains why we have so many of them on the menu. With so many choices, a few healthy options will help balance out your holiday table. During this class you’ll get some great ideas for shaking up your Thanksgiving menu in a healthy and tasty way. $45/person. Whole Foods Culinary Center. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Reserve online.
  • November 10: Fall Fromage Fest – Austin’s Indulge Cheese specializes in cheese creations (cheese wedding cake anyone) and the French Legation is sharing their inspired cheese, along with some lovely wines, with the public as part of an event to welcome a delegation of visitor from Villefranche-sur-Mer. You can tour the beautiful French Legation grounds, enjoy some lovely cheese and wine, and welcome our French guests to Texas. Free. 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Reserve a ticket online.
  • November 11: Scotch Dinner – Learn about the history, production, and flavors of scotch while you enjoy a specially prepared meal and chat with the Scotchmaster. A fun evening out for anyone truly passionate about scotch. $20/person or $30/couple. Twin Liquors Galleria Marketplace. Buy tickets online.
  • November 11: Art of the Amuse – As you plan your holiday menus you’ll want to have a collection of beautiful bites to draw from, and there’s no one better in town from whom to learn about beautiful bites than Chef Josh Watkins at the Carrilon. Enjoy a cocktail party of his best offerings, paired wines, and the opportunity to watch his team assemble their creations. You’ll also leave with recipe cards so you can make the dishes at home for your holiday events. $35/person. 6:300 pm – 9:00 pm. E-mail Lauri.Drysdale@attconf.utexas.edu to RSVP.

Plan Ahead – Events in the Next Three Weeks



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