Dine Austin - Take a Bite Out Of The Capital City

When people think of exclusive cuisine, Texas is at the top of the list. Everything is bigger in Texas, they say, and that includes appetites, portions and taste. Austin has recently been heralded as a hotbed of creative gastronomic exploration and hosts fabulous restaurants for the tourist and local to explore, as well as dozens of events every year to please your palate.

It used to be that one would have to travel to larger cities for exclusive cuisine. But notable chefs and foodies have named Austin as noteworthy when it comes to sumptuous offerings. Famous chef and restaurateur Richard Sandoval recently named Austin as a “culinary hotspot” and with events like the Austin Food & Wine Festival, which is hosted by Food & Wine Magazine, and the much-anticipated Austin Chocolate Festival, we couldn’t agree more. Another major event in Austin is the Annual Film & Food party hosted through the Austin Film Festival & Conference. Held in the prestigious Driskill Hotel in October, it brings to Austin some of the most notable chefs the state and country have to offer. The proceeds of this culinary experience support another blooming Austin arena: filmmaking.

In 2012 Texas was excited to host Top Chef: Texas, the ninth season of the beloved series, which premiered on Bravo. Austin saw plenty of excitement when the chefs and the show came to the capital city and visited local icons such as the Driskill Hotel and the Salt Lick Barbeque. The show’s famous “Restaurant Wars” episode was filmed in empty locations downtown, and locals were excited to recognize familiar buildings. Two Austinites made it to the final rounds of Top Chef: Texas, and Austin couldn’t have been more proud when local chef Paul Qui took the grand prize, effectively lauding Texas, and specifically Austin, as a celebrated food destination.

Chef Qui has recently been joined by several of his contemporaries in the development of a handful of small yet ambitious restaurants that push the boundaries of innovative culinary offerings. Often sourcing their entire menus from local, sustainable farms and ranches, these “foodie finds” offer sharable plates that combine a thoughtful and totally unexpected mélange of flavors and ingredients. Several of these locations have been recognized by nationally renowned food critics and publications, such as Food & Wine Magazine, Zagat and Bon Appetit, and the accolades continue to roll in.

Austin restaurants have also been featured on a variety of network television shows. Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives has visited several Austin locations, our favorite of these being the unique Casino El Camino on the corner of Sixth Street and Red River. Keep in mind the wait for a burger here is often an hour long, so order some fries while you wait and get a cocktail at the bar while you listen to the authentic jukebox. If you dig spicy food, go for the Amarillo Burger, which boats roasted Serrano chiles, jalapeño jack cheese and cilantro mayonnaise. Another local favorite is known as The Pitts, a burger smothered in melted provolone, mushrooms, onions and zesty sauce.

Texas has a rich history and culture that gives its food a one-of-a-kind flavor. Tex-Mex cuisine is unique to this region and combines influences from Spanish and Mexican-Indian foods with cowboy and European fare in Texas, resulting in a delicious hybrid of flavors that is served in restaurants across the state. Tex-Mex is known for its use of meat, beans, spices and corn or flour tortillas, and while the basic components have not changed, the dishes have evolved. Nachos, crispy tacos, chili con queso, chili con carne and fajitas are all Tex-Mex inventions. This cuisine hybrid has grown in popularity and these days can be found in many independent and chain restaurants throughout the rest of the country and the world. Dozens of Tex-Mex restaurants have opened from Paris to Abu Dhabi, so much so that tortilla chips, margaritas and chili con queso are now wellknown staples around the world.

Chili, a favorite Tex-Mex dish, is one of the first things that come to mind when you think of Texas and food. Texans claim that chili originated in their state and it was named the official state dish of Texas in 1977. This is especially fitting since Texas has not one but two official state peppers: the jalapeño and the chiltepin. There are several ways to prepare it, but staunch traditionalists will remind you that chili in Texas should be all about the meat, and should not contain beans. See for yourself what the debate is all about when you visit the Annual Hot Sauce Festival, which happens in August, or America’s longest-running Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off, which happens in November, or any of the innumerable local chili cook-offs that occur throughout the year in Austin.

One thing that cannot be missed on your trip to Texas is, of course, our barbeque. The American South is famous for it, but Texas has put its own spin on charcoal, grills and slow-cooked meat. Since the weather is almost always nice in Austin, you need to know everything there is to know about this great Texas tradition, because there is always a famous outdoor barbeque joint waiting for visitors. What makes this popular style of cooking unique in Austin and Central Texas is the prominence of a cut of meat called brisket, which is melt-in-your-mouth heavenly. Be it chopped on a bun or sliced on a tray, it’s a select cut of beef that you’ll find on every single barbeque menu across the

state. Meat is always the main focus of Texas-style barbeque, accompanied by a red tomato-based sauce served as a condiment (as opposed to being used to baste meat during the cooking process). Though sliced white bread is commonly served on the side, don’t be surprised if you’re asked if you want flour or corn tortillas to wrap around your meat. And don’t forget to order sausage, which is almost always made from local farming communities in and around Austin.

While it’s easy to get lost in the sway of Tex-Mex and barbeque, don’t forget that Austin is also known for its fine dining offerings. Steakhouses serve up succulent cuts of meat and fresh seafood ranging from pastoral to fine. Don’t worry if you forgot to pack a coat and tie on your trip; Austin dining culture takes a somewhat laissez faire approach to dress codes, which are almost never enforced.

If something more exotic is to your taste, seek out hundreds of sundry options in the form of sushi, Asian infusion, backyard burger joints, 24-hour diners serving up breakfast and so much more. If you’re travelling down the road and spy a food trailer with a line downthe block, stop! Mobile food vending isn’t just about corn dogs and nachos anymore, and Austin is on top of the food truck craze that has been developing across the country. In fact, some of our city’s most delicious and innovative offerings can be found, not in a posh bistro, but from the windows of these modest kitchens on wheels.

While exploring all that the capital city has to offer, take a moment to enjoy a bit of local food in the form of barbeque and Tex-Mex, but also be sure to try the emerging food options that have put Austin, Texas on the culinary hotspot map.