Austin Foodie Bits ~ Food and Wine Events for the Week of December 6

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Christmas is 19 days away. I’m in denial. I think it would be better to attend many of this week’s very cool food and wine events rather than think about all of my Christmas to-dos. Won’t you join me?

In the Spotlight

Edible Austin Eat Local Week continues this week with their extensive celebration of all things wonderful about local food and drink in Austin. You can look forward to a special celebration of the movie Chocolat at Alamo Drafthouse, Drink Local Night, a Local Foods Holiday Gift Fair, an evening with Michael Pollen and more. Even if you missed the weekend kick-start to this important event, you have plenty of time to play catch up. You can buy tickets to individual events or purchase an all-inclusive VIP pass for $100 (still a great deal).

Alice Medrich, award-winning baker and author of Chewy, Gooey, Crispy, Crunch, Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies, will be in town to share the secrets of great cookies just in time for the holidays. Join her at the Central Market Cooking School this Saturday, December 12, and learn to make each of one kind of cookie and gather a collection of wisdom only a seasoned baker can share to your cookie adventures will be more fruitful and fun. The $95 admission fee includes a copy of her cookbook.

Be Spontaneous – This Week’s Events

  • December 6: Holiday Hors d’Oeuvres with an Asian Twist – Dumplings, rolls, and wraps are all perfect holiday bites for a buffet table or before a special dinner. Dorothy Huang will show you all the secrets to creating a collection of Asian appetizers that will serve you and your guests well this holiday season. $65/person. Central Market Cooking School. 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Reserve online.
  • December 7: South African Wine Dinner – The interior of Mexico meets South Africa in this multi-cultural wine dinner. Cape Classics expert Elizabeth Bray will teach you all about South African wines (she’s amazing) and Chef Jeff Martinez will pair them with a four-course dinner. Treat yourself or someone special (or both) to a pre-holiday dining experience. $75/person. Fonda San Miguel. 7:00 pm. Call 512.459.4121 to reserve.
  • December 8: 24 Diner Birthday Party – 24 Diner is celebrating their first birthday and their new liquor license with a free party on their patio. Featuring food from chef Andrew Curren and cocktails featuring Tito’s Vodka, what better way to toast this local favorite’s first year in town. Free. 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
  • December 10: Winemaker Dinner Series with Becker Vineyards – Becker Vineyards is teaming up with the chefs at Whole Foods for an evening celebrating their Texas wines and good food. Enjoy dishes like smoked trout mousse, roasted Texas quail, short ribs, and vanilla bean droughts, each paired with a special wine from the Beckers. $45/person. Whole Foods Culinary Center. 6:30 pm. Reserve online.
  • December 11: Petite Peche Paris Salon Dinner – Enjoy a truly Austin experience featuring amazing food served to an intimate gathering of guests in a refurbished church turned home and recording studio. Chef Danika Boyle will celebrate the history of French food as she welcomes you into her home and shares her passion for France, its food, and its people. BYOB and plan to settle in for a long, relaxing evening. Bring friends for a pre-holiday party you won’t soon forget. $70/person. Church House Studios. 7:00 pm – really really late. Reserve online.
  • December 11: Austin Wine Merchant & Potocki Vodka Holiday Tasting – Potocki Wódka, a boutique vodka from Poland, is teaming up with The Austin Wine Merchant and Bess Bistro for a festive afternoon of cocktail, wine and canapé sampling. David Alan of TipsyTexan.com will be mixing his new Potocki Vodka cocktail creations, and of course The Austin Wine Merchant will have a few fabulous wines on sample. Free. 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
  • December 12: Whole Venison Buchery Class – If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to dress a whole deer, this is your chance. Chef Larry Kocurek will butcher an entire deer and then you’ll make a variety of venison charcuterie. If you’re looking for a special gift for that hard-to-shop-for-foodie, this may very well be it. $485/person. Kocurek Family Charcuterie. 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Reserve online.
  • December 12: Hudson’s on the Bend Cooking Class – Join Chef Jeff Blank for his final cooking class of the year. You’ll learn to make Duck Diablos, Butternut Squash and Green Apple soup, Elk Backstrap Wellington, and Pumpkin & White Chocolate Bread Pudding. Talk about a perfect menu to impress friends and family this holiday season. Call 512.689.0133 or e-mail scourington@austin.rr.com to reserve.
  • December 12: Chef Diablo’s Sparkly Holiday Brunch – Chef Paul Petersen is back again with a fun holiday wine brunch, this time with a focus on pairing luscious holiday dishes with bubbly from around the world. You’ll enjoy lobster, pork, venison, and a chocolate torte each paired with the perfect sparkling wine. $65/person. Central Market Cooking School. 11:00 am 1:30 pm. Reserve online.

Plan Ahead – Events in the Next Three Weeks



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