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

February '10

Fabi + Rosi

February 19th, 2010

For February, AFDA members ventured to the German/French owned Fabi + Rosi. Walking up the steps to the house where the restaurant abides, one would never think modern vibes and splendor await. The house is perfectly decorated with chandeliers, black and white motifs, and warm lighting. We were fortunate to have the back dining room to ourselves, with 14 diners. The menu was exactly the perfect combination of German and French choices. We decided on a few starters to well start the night off right. First among the picks was an all time favorite, Escargot. The dish was broiled in garlic and served with parsley butter. If you haven't tried escargot or are weary, at least dip some bread in the butter. You will be one happy camper. We then chose the Handcrafted charcuterie (Duck rillette, Boar sausage, Liver paté). I must admit, the selections were a bit overwhelming for our pallets. Not a favorite of the table. On the other hand, the Trio of Artisan cheeses with accompaniments were fantastic. We gobbled up every bite of Sottocenere, Manchego, and Valdeon cheeses. The entree choices were on opposite ends of the Fabi + Rosi spectrum. We had Vegetarian Cottage Pie (stewed vegetables in tomato and herbs de provence topped with crispy golden mashed potatoes), Handmade Lobster Ravioli (in a champagne velouté, topped with lump crab meat) This was a definite favorite very creamy and rich. Our German pick was the Jägerschnitzel and Spätzle (local, farm raised pork loin breaded, served with german pasta topped with creamy mushrooms). If you're a fan of schnitzel, this is right up your alley. Delish. Next were Fresh Rainbow Trout (with herbed creme fraiche cucumber salat and crispy rice balls), Steak and Frites (marinated tenderloin with crisp frites and green peppercorn sauce), Grilled Leg of Lamb (with ratatouille, pommes dauphines, port wine demi), and finally the Special which was Roast Lamb that was cooked to perfection with potatoes and green beans. We can never call it a complete meal without dessert. We picked every dessert on the menu, go figure. Handmade chocolate truffles, Profiteroles with valrhona chocolate sauce, Belgium chocolate mousse, Chevré tart on gingerbread crust with candied meyers lemon, and Apfel strudel and vanilla eis. They were all so different, but so incredibly good. The Chevre tart was a favorite of mine. Light, tart, and satisfying. This place became on of AFDA's all time favorites. We did not feel rushed, and took advantage of our semi-private space to laugh, eat, and enjoy the company. Fabi + Rosi is a perfect spot for date night, or a celebration. Stop in when you feel like an excellent, affordable experience.

Top picks: Escargot, Trio of Artesan Cheeses, Lobster Ravioli, Lamb, Steak and Frites, Chevre Tart

http://www.fabiandrosi.com/index.html

*As fate would have it, I lost my camera after mouth watering images were captured from dinner. Please enjoy the restaurant for yourself, and the mental images you've gained from this post. To tide you over, here are some pictures courtesy of Forklore from Austin360