Wine and Food Foundation's Tour de Vin - Oct. 7th

Even though Austin is located in the center of Texas, cultural cuisine and wine is still within our reach.  The Wine and Food Foundation of Texas is hosting the 6th Annual Tour de Vin, a globe trotting adventure for your palate.  Wines from France, Argentina, Italy, and Chile will be showcased along with tasty treats from local restaurants.  Here's a short list of participating restaurants: Buenos Aires Cafe, Cipollina, Fogo de Chao, Foreign & Domestic, Jack Allen's Kitchen, Maria Maria, NoRTH, Portabla, Rio's Brazilian Cafe, Silver Whisk, StrEAT, and The Turtle.  There might be some names that you don't recognize yet, and that can be remedied.  Last year's event was the first time I was introduced to StrEAT, and it is still one of my favorite foodie finds.  It is incredible how brand new foods to me could taste so comforting.  See the food porn below and read about last year's event here.  If you'd like to discover some new tasty eats and taste some delicious wines, tickets are $50 per person for Foundation members and $75 per person for the general public. To purchase Tour de Vin tickets (available in September), or to become a WFFT member, visit www.winefoodfoundation.org or contact the Foundation office at 512-327-7555.  The event is Thursday, Oct. 7th, 2010 from 6:30 - 9:00 at Whole Foods Downtown. Bunny Chow from StrEats. Pionono from Buenos Aires Cafe.  Hint: They have booze in them.  Fete Accompli's Special was a creamy dip served on a cracker.

Fall Events to leave you stuffed and tipsy

Fall is underway, and that means the food events are picking up like mobile homes in a tornado.  Excuse my sense of humor.  :o)  @windaddict and I will be in Denver covering the Great American Beer Fest over the next week, but here's some upcoming events to satisfy the glutton in you.  I also have some tickets to give away, so make sure you read the entire post. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept 15th, 6:30 pm - Jeff Potter, author of Cooking For Geeks, is coming to Austin on a book tour.  He is giving a talk on the science of cooking and will show some sous vide cooking equipment. Event: Jeff Potter, author of Cooking For Geeks Location: Whole Foods (525 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX‎), Mezzanine Time: 6:30pm Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept 15th, 7 pm - Maker's Mark Whiskey Dinner at Highball.  Whiskey is delicious. In fact, it's so delicious, that aside from drinking it, sometimes we put it in food. There's going to be a lot of whiskey going around at this dinner, folks. The menu, four-courses of tasty whiskey-enhanced edibles, includes crab bisque served with White Dog, Texas Quail stuffed with a Maker's-infused duck liver mousse and served with underaged whiskey, beef tenderlion with a bourbon basted oyster mushroom duxelle, scalloped sweet potatoes and prosciutto bundled asparagus and served with a fully matured whiskey, and finally, an aniss scented creme brulee with salted shortbread, served with Maker's Mark 46.  Tickets are $57 and include everything listed above.  Purchase tickets here: http://www.thehighball.com/events/whiskey-dinner-7pm-55/   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, Sept. 18th, 11am - 4 pm - Taste of North Austin invites you to sample good eats, enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, children's events and fabulous shopping.  Food samplings and children’s activities will require wristbands. Beer and wine will be available for purchase at select restaurant booths. A wristband of 10 tastes is available for purchase for $20 at Simon Guest Services at The Domain. Purchase you wristband before September 12th for $5 off.  Location:  The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX.  Contact for more information: Lauren Harris, Area Director of Marketing, 512.873.8099. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sept. 17-20th - Whole Foods Turns 30!  Join Whole Foods as they celebrate their 30th birthday.  See here for list of events and activities.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It isn't a secret that Indian food has a special place in my heart.  Here's an event I don't want to miss.  Saturday, Sept. 25, 5-9 pm - Taste of India invites you to enjoy Indian Cuisine, entertainment from 6-7:30pm, henna art, and name writing.  Proceeds from this event will benefit orphanages in India and locally to Austin Mobile Loaves & Fishes. $3 for admission to this event that is sure to stimulate your taste buds.  Location: St. Williams Catholic Church in Round Rock.  More information here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146498762038181&ref=mf I also have 15 pairs of tickets to give away to this event.  To win a pair: Tweet "@misohungry I want to go to Taste of India! Benefits @MLFNOW!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept. 30th - 6:00 pm -  Chef Showdown at the Southwest Bistro at the Hyatt.  I've judged several Chef Showdowns, and these are events that will leave you wondering how you managed to eat stuff so much in your face.  Here's the details! WHO: Go Texan restaurant chefs representing the Driskill Grill, Roaring Fork, and Southwest Bistro WHAT: The Hyatt Regency Austin hosts the third Go Texan Chef Showdown, a multi-course gourmet chef competition featuring local ingredients. Event is part of the Go Texan Restaurant Round-up. WHEN: Thursday, September 30, 2010. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m.; Chef Showdown at 7 p.m. WHERE: The Hyatt Regency Austin Southwest Bistro | 208 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704. TICKETS: $49 plus tax and gratuity. Includes wine pairings. Limited seating. Event reservations are available via opentable.com or by calling 512.480.2035 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mondays Starting Sept. 13th - Hotel San Jose announced today the return of steak night, a monthly prix fixe menu prepared by Chef Larry Mcguire of Perla’s and Lambert’s with reservations at 6:30 pm, 7 pm, 8:30 pm, or 9 pm. The meals range from McAllen Ranch NY Strip ($40) with seared mushroom and shallot relish, Niman Ranch Natural Rib Eye ($40) with fennel salsa verde, Certified Angus Beef Filet ($45) with Hollandaise and fresh horseradish, or Ahi Tuna Steak ($40) with smoked paprika chimichurri. Served with salad, grilled asparagus, steak house potatoes and crispy shallots, diners are in for a real treat.  Dessert includes Mexia Pear and blackberry cobbler served with vanilla ice cream. Wine options for the evening include ($9/glass or $34/bottle) Fontsainte Corbieres Rouge from France 2008 vintage or Hugl Weine Gruner Veltliner from Australia 2008 vintage.  If you're craving a steak, the prix fix menu is sure to satisfy your tummy.  Hotel San Jose is located 1316 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704. Reservations are limited, for more information or reserve your table call 512-852-2350. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursday, Oct. 7th- 6:30 - pm - Tour De Vin at Whole Foods Downtown.  I have 3 words.  This event rocks.  This is where I first had StEats last year, and it was absolutely amazing.  Trying food for the first time that tasted like comfort food is kind of mind blowing in that dejavu-Inceptions-meets-Matrix kind of way.  If you like food and wine with from other cultures, you'll love this event.

Globetrotting Cuisine with Tour de Vin

My photographer and I were guests at the Wine and Food Foundation's Tour de Vin.  Tour de Vin is a fabulous food event celebrating wines and food from around the world.  Here's the rest of John Knox's photos, and some of the highlights from the event.

This was one of my favorite dishes.  It is called Bunny Chow from StrEats.  This chow is actually a South African spicy curry fish stew served in a bread bowl.  It is called bunny chow because you are supposed to hold it in both hands and eat it like a bunny.  Michael Vilim of Mirabelle and Castle Hill is opening StrEats on 32nd & Red River.  The restaurant will feature street food from around the world.  Construction of the restaurant starts next week. No website yet.

Fete Accompli's Special was a creamy dip served on a cracker.  Oh so yummy.

Aquarelle served up a fennel tart with carrots.  

 

ThaiFresh served a deliciously spicy rice ball.  These spicy treats were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. 

 

 Ecstatic Cuisine served up dates filled with goat cheese and pecans.

Tour De Vin - Thursday, Oct. 8th at Whole Foods Downtown Plaza

^This one is for all you wine and food lovers out there.  Tour De Vin is right around the corner, and a great opportunity to tasty fabulous wines and a variety of a cuisines from around the world.  The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, in partnership with Whole Foods Market and Marquee Event Group, is gearing up for a whirlwind tour of fine wine and food, Tour de Vin. Benefiting The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, Tour de Vin is a get-your-passport-stamped style wine and food tasting featuring the best domestic and internationally-inspired cuisine in Central Texas.

In addition to fine wine presented by Republic National Distributing Company, this globetrotting culinary showcase and community favorite brings out a vast selection of sweet and savory bites from Central Texas eateries, including Aquarelle, Buenos Aires Café, Primizie Osteria, Satay, Z’ Tejas and many more. Cienfuegos will also be featured as the live music guest. For a complete list of participating restaurants and wineries, visit www.winefoodfoundation.org. Tour de Vin is open to the public, but space is limited and attendees are strongly encouraged to register early. Tickets are $50 per person for Foundation members and $75 per person for the general public. To purchase Tour de Vin tickets, or to become a Foundation member, visit www.winefoodfoundation.org or contact the Foundation office at 512-327-755   The date is Thursday, October 8, 2009, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at Whole Foods Market Rooftop Plaza at 6th & Lamar, 525 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX. The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, in partnership with Whole Foods Market and Marquee Event Group, is gearing up for a whirlwind tour of fine wine and food, Tour de Vin. Benefiting The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, Tour de Vin is a get-your-passport-stamped style wine and food tasting featuring the best domestic and internationally-inspired cuisine in Central Texas.