Ode to Fino Austin.

By now you've heard the sad news, Fino Austin will be closing their doors at the end of March 2015. While I'm happy for Emmett and Lisa Fox, this piece of Austin culinary history will always have a place in my heart and a place in many chef's vitaes. During Fino's ten year run, the back of the house was a training ground for many of Austin's new great chefs, bartenders, and restaurants. Faces that I got to know and love at Fino include Jason Donoho now at Alamo Drafthouse, Bill Norris also at Alamo Drafthouse and Midnight Cowboy, and Josh Loving now at Midnight Cowboy and Jeffery’s. That’s just the short list. I’ve included a social graph of some of the chefs that have gone through the doors of Fino. Photos by John M. P. Knox.

While we wait for Emmett and Lisa’s new place to open, savor some past photos from Fino.

The shishito peppers are one of my favorites along with the fried olives.

Here's the mussels with a light yet flavorful broth.

This was a special. And special indeed.

This photo was from a wine ride in 2011.

Mr. Josh Loving doing his thing.

I'm pretty sure those are the hands of Bill Norris.

This was a special. A modern interpretation of meat and potatoes.

Fino was one of the first places that had a solid cocktail program. Many of Austin's great bartenders had a stint behind the bar here.

This foie was part of a chef's special dinner with St. Germain Elderflower circa 2010.

Dinner at Fino Austin with St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

My inner foodie dreams had come true.  Not only was I going to attend a dinner and cocktail pairing with St. Germain Elderflower liqueur at Fino, but I was also going to provide the dessert.  Chef Jason Donoho and Bill Norris presented a fabulous dinner and cocktail dinner, and Richard Arebalo did a wonderful and thorough write up.  

Two of my favorite dishes from the dinner were the scallop crudo with grapefruit and lavender and the pork belly confit with seared foie gras and julienned apples over smoked potatoes.  The scallop crudo was simply amazing.  With sweet and citrus notes paired with the light fragrance of lavender, the dish was to die for. Yes, I want that as part of my last meals. This dish also inspired me to top grapefruit with St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur.  The pork belly confit with foie gras and apples was also intense, rich, and well balanced.  The potatoes were amazing.  As an ordinary root veggie, the potato is usually a filler food, a side dish, something that we generally kick to the back of our minds. Not these potatoes though.  With smokey goodness, Chef Jason's smoked potatoes can hold their own.

The dessert I provided is a very special to me.  I first tried an ispahan cupcake made by Deverah Otten at Cupcake Meetup 2.0 at SXSW 2009.  One bite, and I was in love.  Ispahan is a classic French combination of lychees, raspberry, and rosewater created by Peirre Hermes.  I worked on my tipsy ispahan (boozed up version) recipe for several months only to think "This needs something."  I chatted about my problem with the extremely knowledgeable Bill Norris, and he introduced me to St. Germain.  I'm very honored that I got to share my favorite cupcake at Fino.  The cupcake is Amaretto cake, brushed with rose water, filled with lychees and raspberries, topped with St. Germain Swiss buttercream, and garnished with a fresh rose petal.
A big thank you to Fino_Austin, Chef Jason Donoho, and Bill Norris for having us over for dinner.  A big thank you to Bryan Townsend from St. Germain making it happen.  Don't forget to read Richard's in-depth write up of the dinner. 

Bill preparing the drinks.

Pouring of the first drink.

Delicious snacks.

Bryan Townsend from St. Germain.

Scallop Crudo, grapefruit, and lavender.

Pork Belly confit, foie gras, apples, and smokey potatoes.

Bill teaching us about St. Germain.

Pretty bottle for a lovely drink.

 The Tipsy Ispahan.