September '10

HAPPY 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AFDA!

Green Pastures

September 29th, 2010

That's right folks, it has been 3 wonderfully delicious years since AFDA's first dinner in Austin. I cannot say how much I have enjoyed the evenings of fantastic food and friendship. I am incredibly excited to have many more nights around dinner tables for years to come.

To celebrate AFDA's big night we started with a champagne toast on the rooftop of the Crescent Apartments off South Congress. We watched the sun go down, and soaked in the Austin city skyline. After the bubbly was gone, we headed to one of Austin's finest and most beautiful restaurants, Green Pastures. I have been going to Green Pastures since I was a little one, and can remember my Mom's 40th birthday party there like it was yesterday. The luscious sprawling green lawn, free roaming peacocks, and gorgeous white home set the perfect southern atmosphere in the city. Nine members gathered on a Wednesday night not only to raise their glasses for AFDA, but also for Austin Restaurant Week. Green Pastures participated in this week long wonderland for foodies by creating a 3 course menu and donating a percentage of proceeds to the Sustainable Food Center of Austin. A marvelous trifecta.

We began our dinner with a few bottles of an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon recommended by our waiter as the special of the night (about $30). We intensely reviewed the menu and made our choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. The table was set with a bountiful bouquet of roses from my mother, so lovely. Our first course arrived and it was as if we were kids in a candy store. Forks met knives and mini bites were passed of SOUTH TEXAS TRIO (Bacon-wrapped Jalapeno-stuffed Texas Quail, Valencia Orange and Fresh Bay Pork En Croute, Ancho-Garlic Goat Cheese Chicken Sausage with Poblano Sauce and Navajo Bread), SAKE BOMBED LOBSTER TAIL (BBQ Kirin Tempura Lobster Tail with Black Pepper Ginger Sake Butter and Sesame Scallions), and CITY VIEW BRUNCH (Brie and Caramelized Mushroom Rosemary-Garlic Stromboli with Fig-Balsamic Avocado Soup with Texas Goat Cheese Fried Poached Pasture Raised Egg with Grilled Artichoke, Roasted Onion and Tomato Chutney). If you require a nap now from your mental food coma, no judgment comes your way. It was all splendid. The lobster tail literally cannot be described in words. If you find one, eat it, and you'll be happy the rest of your life. Light, crunch, succulent, the end. All delicious and so thoughtfully created.

Next we moved to Entrees. SALOON STYLE STEAK (Brown Sugar and Tellicherry Black Pepper Cured USDA Prime Beef Filet, Roasted Sweet Potato, Cabbage Confit, Pasilla Essence), TEXAS HYDROPONIC REDFISH (Coriander Spiced Redfish, Steamed Crab Cake, Coconut-Jasmine Rice, Fried Cilantro, Curried Cashews and Lime-Long Pepper Butter), FREE RANGE HUMANELY RAISED VEGETABLES (Crispy Mushroom Spring Rolls with Miso-Garlic Dip Truffled Yukon Torta with Chipotle Asparagus Spinach Flan with Cured Tomato, Spiced Red Wine and Lavosh Butternut Squash and Arugula Crepe with Pecans, Maple Syrup and Creme Fraiche). The biggest relief was that the vegetables were humanely raised. Nothing satisfactory about a scorned vegetable served on your plate. The majority chose the steak and it was excellent. A large portioned filet, very passionately cooked.

We ended the evening with decadent dessert, which was the icing to our celebration cake. GREEN PASTURES BREAD PUDDING (Traditional New Orleans Style Bread Pudding with White Chocolate, Pecans, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg. Served with a Jack Daniels Sauce), KOOCK CHEESECAKE Rich and Velvety New York Style Cheesecake with Raspberry and Blackberry Sauces), HELEN CORBITT TEXAS PECAN BALL Large Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream Rolled in Crushed Pecans and Homemade Fudge Sauce. Texas enriched all the way around. The pudding a creamy drunk, the cheesecake shockingly light, and the pecan ball a childhood favorite.

A special night with a group whose stories and laughs could entertain the most reserved of folk. We celebrating Ms. Cassie's birthday along with AFDA's, which was an extra special treat. Make sure to get yourself to Green Pastures any time you can. It's a place you can unwind, enjoy, and treasure.

Here's to whatever you're celebrating currently, and that you're able to toast with those you enjoy around a special table of your own. Salute!

Top Picks: Sake Bomb Lobster Tail, City View Brunch, Saloon Style Steak, Koock Cheesecake

Green Pastures

June '10

TNT

June 18th, 2010

The diners of AFDA headed to the newly opened Tacos and Tequila (TNT) on the corner of 5th and Pressler. This hot spot could not have been more hopping. Every table from the patio to bar seating was full. Almost as if Austinites were so thankful for yet another place to dine and drink. We had a reservation, and thank goodness because the wait was an hour. We sat down at our long narrow table by the bar, and focused on the orders to be made. Unfortunately, the service was almost non-existent. We waited quite a long time to order drinks, though water, chips and a trio of salsa were served. They were delicious, but barely tided us over as we waited. Once the poor overwhelmed waitress made her way to the table, we ordered drinks and food as fear of her never coming back set in. The margarita and tequila list is extensive. The restaurant serves over 100 types of tequilas. They feature a tequila on tap served at a chilled 15 degrees. Yes we ordered it, and yes because it took a while, it was not so chilled. We chose the Citrus Margarita (corzo silver, organic agave nectar, fresh squeezed orange & lime juice), Modern Paloma (gran centenario, ruby red grapefruit, fresh squeezed lime juice, grapefruit soda), the Ultimate 1800 Margarita (1800 reposado, Grand Marnier, fresh squeezed lime juice), and a few cervezas. The restaurant was out of all frozen margaritas, which would have changed our orders a bit. They ran out of Dos Equis as well, but luckily had plenty more to choose from. The drink menu features tequila flights, which for any tequila lover should be tried. We stuck with the mixed creations of margaritas. The best by far was the Paloma. Great balance with the essence of grapefruit. For food, we started with the Good Karma guacamole. This guac is mixed to order on a guacamole cart. Fifty cents from every good karma guacamole order supports Urban Roots, a youth development program in Austin that teaches sustainable farming. Not only is it heavenly, but you feel good eating it. Our guac cart guy even juggled for us, yes juggled. We had the Classic Queso as well. Beef chorizo, wild mushroom, and spinach artichoke are other queso choices. You can go for the queso flight if you're feeling cheesy. For entrees, many of us chose the Taco Platter (3 tacos and choice of side). We picked everything thing from Corn Crusted Chicken (roasted coriander and cumin, pickled red onions, pobalno ranch sauce), BBQ Pulled Pork (brushed with BBQ ranchera sauce, pickled red onions, jalepeno relish), Korean Short Ribs (beef short ribs brushed with korean bbq glaze, TNT kim chee relish), and Rojo Shrimp (jicama slaw, guajillo mayo, mango relish, rubbed in recado rojo seasoning, brushed with ginger chipotle baste). Big side pick were the Black bean adobe pie and Ginger Rice. Fantatic! I was a fan of the ginger rice for sure. Another entree pick was the Mixed Grill Skewer Platter (chile glazed steak, chipolte chicken, rojo shrimp with chimayo market corn). Great presentation and all really tasty. The Chimayo market corn is similar to the roasted corn with mayonnaise and chili found at the Fiesta mart in town. Not as good, but still delicious. Yes mayo and chile are amazing on corn. The favorites were the Corn Crusted Chicken and Korean Short Ribs hands down. We ordered a few more drinks and peopled watched galore. Apparently happy hour is awesome at TNT. Complimentary quesadillas from 4-6:30 and $4 Blue Margartias and more with $2.25Draft Beer. Not bad at all. We all agreed we'd like to head back in a month or two when the kinks have been worked out. Affordable and tasty. Definitely a great place to incorporate in your Downtown Austin eating.

Top Picks: Taco Platter with Corn Crusted Chicken, Korean Short Ribs, Chipolte Chicken (not ordered but recommended), Ginger Rice, Good Karma Guacomole, Paloma.

TNT (Tacos & Tequila)
Twitter: @TnTacosTequila

Urban Roots

May '10

Zax Restaurant & Bar

May 21st, 2010

It was time to hit the patio in Austin before the triple digit heats welcomed their way into town. The perfect place to do so? Zax Restaurant and Bar. We headed to our seats on the restaurant's back patio, and were pleasantly greeted with the rocking sounds from Threadgill's across the street. It was our own private concert. We started the night with vino, beers (they offer several delicious local beers on tap), and cocktails. Appetizers were a must and we jumped in with Steamed Mussels (White wine, garlic, shallots, butter and parsley, saffron infused curry sauce), Grilled Polenta (Melted bleu cheese, marinara), an olive & cheese platter (Sourdough baguette, marinated green and Kalamata olives, selection of cheeses). Recommendations run high with these! The mussels were so delightful and swam in their garlic and white wine flavors. The polenta was creamy and fantastic with the blue cheese and marinara. We continued dining on Mushroom Cheeseburgers, Spinach Artichoke Pizza, Steak Salad (NY strip, crispy fried onion rings, mixed greens, bleu cheese, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette), Brick Chicken (Chili rubbed, semi-boneless chicken breast grilled with brick press, creamy polenta), Grilled Pork Tenderloin (Spicy Thai peanut sauce, rum mashed sweet potatoes), Beef Tenderloin Skewers (Wild mushroom red wine reduction, bacon poblano-cheddar potato cake), Blues Burger (Onion rings, blue cheese, crushed black pepper, mustard), Pan Seared Duck Breast (Green peppercorn mustard sauce, wild mushroom risotto), Shrimp Salad, Steak au Poivre with & Frites (New York strip, classic brandy peppercorn demi-glace, house frites), and the Fish special with cream sauce and lump crab. It was all quite tasty. The only disappointments were the shrimp salad and fish special, but everything else rocked it. The steak was one of the biggest hits. The husband and wife owners of Zax got the name for the restaurant from their very own son, Zack. Definitely stop by, say hi, grab a beer, lunch, or check out their full brunch spread. You'll feel right at home. We finished the night at the newly opened Townhouse bar in Austin. A great spot for eclectic cocktails that come in all different glasses (copper cups included), and a dark intriguing setting. The smells of bruleed orange may greet you, don't worry it's all part of the cocktail creations that are endless. Enjoy!

Top Picks: Steamed Mussels, Grilled Polenta, Steak au Poivre & Frites, Spinach Artichoke and Goat Cheese Pizza

Zax Restaurant and Bar
Twitter: @zaxaustin

Townhouse Bar 303 W. 5th St.