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Restaurant News – The Roaring Fork / Stubb’s BBQ

June 30, 2009 by siftingthroughaustin

Got these updates in my inbox and thought I’d share. The loyalty program at The Roaring Fork seems like you could rack up some rewards fairly quickly. I went ahead and signed up.

Roaring Fork Restaurants Launch “RF Rewards” Program 

Austin, Texas (June 30, 2009) – The Roaring Fork, with two locations in Austin including its newest along Quarry Lake on Stonelake Boulevard, recently launched a new guest appreciation program called “RF Rewards.”  The new rewards program is designed to reward frequency with the additional benefit of helping to offset the continuing economic doldrums.  RF Rewards, available at all Roaring Fork locations – Austin, San Antonio and Scottsdale, will reward guests 10 percent for every dollar spent in the restaurant at lunch, weekend brunch, dinner and happy hour.  Registration is free and available both in the restaurants and online at www.roaringfork.com.

Once registered, Roaring Fork will mail new members a personalized card within approximately three weeks of signing up.  Members can then immediately begin earning rewards points to be redeemed once a minimum of $50 is spent (or once $5 in rewards is accumulated).  The rewards may be redeemed on Sunday through Wednesday after 5:00 pm at any Roaring Fork location.  Rewards members are also first to receive news on special promotions, seasonal menu items and recipes as well as a tasty treat on birthdays and anniversaries if the guest provides this information upon registration. 

According to Garry Hubbard, general manager of the Roaring Fork at 7th and Congress, “This new program has been extremely well-received, with more than 450 RF rewards members signing up locally since we launched in mid-May. Frequent guests along with newcomers love the economics and the sense of appreciation,” he said.

Hubbard notes that this is a great program for corporate entertaining because of the generous rewards percentage. A host could easily earn enough credit after one dinner to provide a future complimentary dinner for two or more.  RF Rewards do not apply to tax and gratuity and the rewards cannot be redeemed for the purchase of gift cards

About Roaring Fork

Founded in 1998 by Larry Foles and Guy Villavaso, The Roaring Fork specializes in bold American flavors using wood-fired cooking techniques. The Roaring Fork is located at 10850 Stonelake Blvd. and at 7th and Congress Ave.  Hours of operation at Stonelake are lunch daily at 11 am, dinner daily at 4 pm, and brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Happy hour is nightly from 4 until 7 pm. The Congress Ave. location is open for lunch daily at 11:00 am, happy hour from 4:00 until 7 pm, Tuesday through Saturday and all night Sunday and Monday. Dinner is served nightly beginning at 5 pm. Villavaso and Foles also own the highly acclaimed Eddie V’s and Wildfish Seafood Grille restaurants located in Texas, Arizona and California.  For more information, including reservations, visit www.roaringfork.com.

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Some of the new menu items sound tasty and the decor updates should be nice. Check it out!

 

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Adds New Menu Items, Refurbishes Dining Room:

Upgrades Remain True to Restaurant’s Sense of Texas Tradition

 (June 2009) Austin, TX – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, Austin’s saucy, iconic barbecue joint best known for serving up outstanding live music and mouthwatering food, has made some recent upgrades that will enable the historic restaurant and venue to thrive in the 21st century with a balance of innovation and tradition. Long celebrated as the Live Music Capital of the World’s best spot for catching some soulful grooves, Stubb’s is spicing things up with a few new menu changes that will continue to prove the restaurant is home to the best darn barbecue in the Lone Star State.  

 Since 1968, when the legendary C.B. Stubblefield first fired up the pit, Stubb’s has been a Texas favorite, thanks in part to the restaurant’s tantalizing, savory barbecue dishes and sides. While the Stubb’s menu still features superb barbecue staples like scrumptious beef brisket, peppery sausage and well-seasoned pork ribs, new additions such as the Cattleman’s Plates ($12.95 ea.) (Stubb’s version of a blue plate special) are bringing even more flavor to the table. A daily menu special, the Cattleman’s Plate features seasonal, contemporary dishes like chorizo and apple stuffed pork loin; chile-rubbed smoked salmon; and the smoked chicken chile relleno. The new appetizer menu includes offerings such as smoked duck quesadillas ($7.95); and jalapeño smoked chicken wings ($6.95).  And in honor of its commitment to fresh, unprocessed ingredients, Stubb’s has eliminated all pre-made foods from its menu, opting instead for homegrown recipes featuring the most natural foods available. Iodized salt has been replaced with higher quality sea salt in the Stubb’s kitchen, and the fryer’s cottonseed oil was swapped for healthier canola oil. From the old-fashion Southern cornbread to the creamy ranch dressing, every bite of Stubb’s new menu is a celebration of fresh and hearty home-cookin’.

 The Stubb’s menu isn’t the only thing that’s seen some recent improvements. The restaurant’s cool and casual interior has been spruced up with new cobalt blue stained-glass windows near the indoor stage, and custom zinc-and-pecan seating and rich leather-upholstered booths and stools. Exposed electrical conduits have been hidden behind the walls, and the beautifully carved antique bar has been extended an additional six feet, enhancing the Western elegance of Stubb’s main dining room. And by closing up the pass-through area leading into the kitchen, Stubb’s creative director Margaret Vera has doubled dining-room seating.

 Vera, who spearheaded the cuisine and décor changes at Stubb’s, knows how important it is for the restaurant to maintain its beloved rugged style and well-seasoned menu. “Our development style here is like the food – slow-cooked,” Vera says, adding that the many long-held traditions of Stubb’s will never be exchanged for the modern, urban lifestyle thriving on the restaurant’s front porch. Instead, Vera and her staff have put careful thought into each and every detail of the restaurant and venue, guaranteeing that Stubb’s will continue to be the best spot in Texas for great music and even greater food. 

 Stubb’s Bar-B-Q is located in the heart of Austin’s most popular live-music district at 801 Red River St. For more information about Stubb’s and the recent menu and décor changes, call (512) 480-8341, or visit www.StubbsAustin.com.   

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Product of the Month – June

June 18, 2009 by siftingthroughaustin

I have a subscription to Food and Wine magazine and find myself perusing other local publications of the sort. They always seem to have a devoted section or ads throughout that feature a new, tasty item to try. In Food and Wine, they have a section called “news and notes” that usually has a theme for the products that are being showcased in that months issue.  I’ve always been curious about the different offerings, but have never taken the time or given into the temptation to actually order it or go out and find the item at the market. Well, I’ve decided to give into my curiosity and start ordering at least one item per month to try. So, “Product of the Month” is born. It will work a little something like this. I will choose at least one item a month and feature it on the blog. Once I receive it and have had a chance to use, taste, consume, etc.. it will be reviewed.  I will definitely focus on local merchants and food purveyors as well.

For this months choice I am going to go with something that was featured in last months issue of F&W. The theme was “Wood-Fired Flavor”.  There were a few interesting choices but I am going to go with the smoked peppercorns by Vanns Spices. I love fresh cracked pepper on just about anything, but especially on eggs, potatoes of any sort, and mac and cheese. I can only imagine that the smokiness will just add to the goodness. According to their website:

Like our smoked cinnamon, the high volatile oil content of Tellicherry Peppercorns allow the smoke to penetrate deeply into the corns. The smokiness is released when ground, to give your dish a burst of intense flavor and aroma. The smoke lingers heavily in the peppercorns for more than a year.

So, the item has been ordered and I will follow-up soon.

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The Hub – Burger in The Backyard

June 1, 2009 by siftingthroughaustin

First off, I apologize for the lack of updates in the past few weeks. It’s been hectic around here and although we have been MIA, we’ve had the opportunity to try a few good spots, and one of  them was The Hub off of 2222. Dropped in a few weeks ago to enjoy the weather and treat ourselves to a burger. It was early on a Sunday afternoon so there were plenty of spots open in their backyard seating area. They have it decked out with patio tables and cushy chairs. If you don’t score a comfy seat there are plenty of picnic tables available. There is a large projector screen setup for watching the game or whatever may be of interest that day. Large shade trees offer spots out of the sun and even though you are just off 2222, it feels as if you are in a very chill backyard setting, with strung colored lights and tiki torches (we pondered if they light these in the evening – more on that in a sec). They call it the “Back Porch” and if you check their calendar it looks like there is live music from time to time, movie nights and sports on the big screen. Pets are welcome and I believe once a week they have a “Yappy Hour” that has a different theme each week. Below is a quote from the event that is being hosted tonight.

Food and drink specials for the humans and a Mini-Me Costume Contest for all our four-legged friends and their matching owners! Don’t miss the dog dance and trick show from 6:15-6:45! Marilyn Nichols, with Happy Puppy Tutoring will be showing you why “training people and coaching dogs” is her specialty! Bark-tastic vendors with some fantastic goodies, including a generous gift card from Bark’n Bubbles for our contest winner. This is going to be a yappin’ good time, so come out and see what we’re all about!

So, on to the food… Had to try the burgers. We both got a basic cheeseburger. There is a fatty and a flatty version (1/2lb vs 1/4lb). Hillary got the flatty with cheddar and I got the fatty with bacon and American cheese.  It was a good solid burger, the patty was moist, seasoned well and had good flavor, the bacon was crisp (a must!) and was served on a basic, fresh hamburger bun. It definitely satisfied our burger craving. Hillary mentioned hers was a little dry and that may have had something to do with the “flatty” side of things, but she still enjoyed it overall. We also ordered a basket of chips and queso, it was a splurge kind of day. The queso was on the runny side and not entirely memorable. The chips could have been any store bought brand, however it did the trick for our snack attack. The service and staff were very friendly and efficient. When we asked for more chips so that we could polish off the queso, they actually brought more queso along with them.

The menu offers up your standard pub type food with nachos, cheese fries, dogs and sandwiches. One item of note, that we will try next time around, is the “Purple Bubba” which is vintage grape soda mixed with vanilla ice cream – yum!

We came back one evening about a week later to get a couple beers (they also serve wine) and be outdoors. There was a Hawaiian Luau themed party in full swing in the back yard. At first we thought we were intruding on a private party but learned it was something the owners try to do once a month – host some kind of themed party with food and beer to match the occasion. We still managed to find a spot. The tiki torches were blazing and everyone was sportin their Hawaiian shirts and having a good time. It made for some good people watching and we enjoyed the surroundings. Check it out the next time you want to catch a game or grab a good burger and a beer. Cheers!

The Hub

THE HUB

3815 Dry Creek Drive
Austin, TX 78731
512-432-5390

Lunch and Dinner Hours
Sunday 11am – 9pm
Monday thru Thursday 11am – 10pm
Friday thru Saturday 11am – 11pm

The Hub on Urbanspoon

Posted in Articles, Restaurant Reviews | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

The Quick and Easy Winery Tour

May 3, 2009 by siftingthroughaustin

Recently our friend Dallas came in from Houston for a visit. We only had about half a day to get out and explore and had already talked about doing a mini wine tour. The main criteria was to keep it fairly low key. Just twenty minutes outside of Austin awaits the perfect option. We hit up the Mandola Estate Winery and Driftwood Vineyards. They are both located in and around the small hill country town of Driftwood, TX and both offer up a distinct experience and have different aspects to enjoy.

Driving up to the Mandola Estate you can squint just a bit and envision yourself entering into an Italian Villa. They have built an impressive facility and you get the feeling that you are in for a treat. When we first started visiting the winery they had recently planted the new grape vines (about 20 acres) and constructed the building that contains the tasting room, and the wine making and bottling production rooms as well. Since then they have added the Trattoria Lisina restaurant to the property and it always seems to be bustling with activity. We started off in the tasting room where you pay $5 for a sampling of 6 different wines. On this particular day it was jam packed with eager tasters looking to sample the wines. It was difficult to grab some counter space so that we could talk to the fine folks that were pouring the wine, however they were being very generous with the pours on this particular day and we weren’t complaining. Our favorite bottle turned out to be the Dolcetto. Our only minor suggestion would be to add some counter space or expand the tasting room all-together. It seems as if there is plenty of  free space to accommodate for this. 

We were in need of some food, especially if we were going to continue our tasting adventures and decided to stop in at the restaurant.  This was on a Saturday around 3:30 in the afternoon and there was already a 45 minute wait for a table. We didn’t really want to hang out that long and they suggested that we could order something to go and then eat our meal outside at the picnic tables. This turned out to be the perfect option. Fifteen minutes later a pizza, some calamari (both good), and another round of wine was in place for our outdoor picnic. The tables are scattered among the manicured grounds and all have a view of the central sparkling fountain. After enjoying the afternoon for a bit, we were fueled up and ready for the next stop.

Driftwood vineyards has a  rustic hill country charm. Their tasting room is perched atop a hill and their westward facing vantage point is perfect for taking in the sunset. They have comfy lawn chairs sprinkled about the property, perfect for sipping your wine and admiring the view. You can see the vineyard down below from high up on the hill and, in my opinion, this offers up one of the prettiest views of all the central Texas vineyards that I’ve visited.

Note to self: Always bring the camera – the phone camera pictures I tried to take and the one below do not do it justice.

On the porch at Driftwood Vineyards

On the porch at Driftwood Vineyards

They have also undergone some renovations since we first started visiting a couple years ago. Their tasting room used to be in a  portable trailer that could get pretty cramped on a busy day. They have since built a nice structure that has a generously sized sampling room and an area where you can purchase your selections. There is also a covered patio with plenty of seating and tables. The samples will run you $5 for 6 tastes. We sampled away and landed on the Super Texan as our favorite. We ordered a glass and sat outside. On that afternoon a gentlemen was playing and singing some classic tunes on the porch [Think: Sweet home Alabama / Brown Eyed Girl, Etc.]. He was good and was scheduled to play for the next several Saturdays. We also met the owner and his dog, the vineyard mascot, who was perfectly happy lounging on the patio and accepting all the pets and attention he was getting from everyone. 

The owner of Driftwood is also the president of the organization that is putting on the upcoming Austin Wine Festival event at The Domain. The shindig is set to take place at the end of May and he was encouraging all to come for a good time. After watching the sunset and a very enjoyable evening of wine and song we made our way back to Austin. On the ride back it was determined that we were still in the mood for some music and we all agreed that The Saxon Pub was going to be the spot for it. We had no idea who was going to be playing, but  lucked out with a great show by W.C. Clarke - he got our feet tapping with some really good blues and then called it a day.

I’ve listed a couple variations to the day that could easily be worked into the “quick and easy” tour:

1. Spend some time in the charming town of Wimberly, touring the galleries and quaint shops.

2. Stop in at the legendary Salt Lick Bar-B-Que for lunch or dinner – it is BYOB so it would be a great spot to break out your recent purchases. (The Salt Lick is only a few minutes away from either vineyard)

Posted in Articles, Wineries | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Sifting Through Austin on a Mini-Break

April 21, 2009 by siftingthroughaustin

Hi there, I wanted to post a quick update. I have had a bit of a change in routine lately and have taken a brief pause from updating the blog but will be back very soon with new adventures. The change is definitely a good one as I’ve taken on a new job after being off for a period of time (let’s call it a vacation from work) and then working more of a part-time schedule for the past year. We are still managing to get out and about and were even out of town this weekend for wedding festivities in Houston. Hillary’s brother and now new sister-in-law got married on Saturday [more on this to come - we will call it the Houston edition of Sifting Through Austin]. Until then… eat, drink and be happy!

~Lee

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An Urban Adventure Race in Austin

April 2, 2009 by siftingthroughaustin

Ready for an Amazing Race type adventure right here in Austin, TX? I read about this urban adventure race and scavenger hunt and thought I would pass the info along. I participated in one similar to this as part of a corporate function. It was on a much smaller scale and only covered a few block radius, but it was a blast. This one seems like it will spread across the entire city and will be more involved, utilizing public transportation, more elaborate clues and puzzles, etc. The race orientation / check-in will be at Zax Pints & Plates on April 11th from 11:00 – 11:50am and the race starts at noon.

Below is a brief description of the event borrowed directly from their website:

What is High Trek Adventure?

High Trek Adventure is a unique urban adventure game where teams solve clever clues and face fun challenges while discovering their city a fun new way! 

What do I get?
  • 1. A fun urban adventure!
  • 2. High Trek Adventure t-shirt and race number
  • 3. National Championship Qualifier (Top 25 teams)
  • 4. Chance at $12,345.67 in the National Championship.
    More Info

You’ve registered for this crazy train experience of a lifetime, so what next? You and your team partner will be on a lively, one-day, Austin amazing race. This scavenger hunt will take you to unmarked checkpoints known as TREKpoints and explore Austin like you’ve never experienced it before as the puzzle unfolds. Our high octane energy adventure game might take you through the many exciting neighborhoods of Austin like Hyde Park, University of Texas, Clarksville, Downtown, and some nifty places you might not even know about!

On this sensational metro adventure, you’ll solve clues ranging from pop culture to math (nothing tougher than 8th grade) to American history, anagrams, sudoku, and so much more. It’s like a real life Trivial Pursuit game! Along the way you’ll face exciting challenges like bowling a strike, identifying a flavor of ice cream or putting a puzzle together.

In case of a disaster including, but not limited to flooding, tornadoes, terrorism, High Trek Adventure will decide whether or not to cancel the event based on the safety of participants and staff. In the event of a cancelation, refunds will NOT be issued; risk is assumed by all participants. However, participants will have the option to transfer registration to a different 2009 city, excluding Championship Race.

The best team(s) move on for the chance to compete in a championship race elsewhere in the country. Check out more detail and their FAQ at High Trek Adventure. If you participate, we’d love to hear about your adventures!

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Zilker Garden Festival

March 30, 2009 by siftingthroughaustin

On our mission to work-in at least a bit of exercise when and where we can (it does not seem to be happening at the gym lately), we parked at the Spy Glass entrance to the greenbelt and trekked over to the Zilker Garden Festival yesterday. They host it annually at the Zilker Botanical Gardens and it was another beautiful day in Austin, even more so than Saturday as the wind had toned down to a nice breeze.  If you have never taken a trip to the botanical gardens, it is worth a trip. The Japanese tea gardens are well manicured and always fun to visit. They truly give you the feeling that you are in an exotic land and not in Austin anymore. The rest of the park is in bloom right now so this is definitely the time to visit. Also, be sure to check out the pre-historic gardens, easy to imagine a dino lurking around the corner.

We had no real agenda other than to amble around and see what there was to see. A ton of vendors were near the entrance. We decided to check them out on the way out.

Vendors at the Festival

Picked up a bite to eat at the food court - good ol’ festival food was available – sausage wraps, frito pie, tacos, bbq, even Amy’s ice cream. With snack in hand we plopped down in the rose garden to listen to some Zydeco and soak up some rays.

Music at the Rose Garden

Listening to some Zydeco

Playing with the macro setting

Playing with the macro setting

Music played throughout the day and you could hear it in the distance up at the vendor tents. We wound up picking out some herbs – Thai basil, rosemary and lavender. I am most excited about the Thai basil for some cooking adventures, but I am going to have to read up on the care for it. Hillary picked up some unique jewelry that neither one of us has ever seen. This artist had taken tiny dried, but colorful flowers and made mini arrangements that were then encapsulated  in clear acrylic with sterling silver trim. They were sold in the form of pendants, earings, rings, etc. She was excited about her purchase. We also had the “pleasure” of choosing a succulent that we later found out may or may not have blooming flowers that smell like carrion, cow manure or stinky garbage. Apparently this particular species uses flies to pollinate. The flower on it is pretty cool looking though. After some research we got mixed reviews on whether this particular plant would be offensive. Oh well, if it ends up stinking up the place it will be donated to the wilderness.

We packed it all up and headed back to the car, which was close to two miles away…. it was a good day!

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