Fall Brunch Fest

2009 has been an interesting year for me, opposite of what I expected, but never the less, a fantastic year that is slipping away surprisingly fast. Was La Dolce Vita already a month ago? I guess because the blog tells me it's so. I've been galavanting to weekend brunches this last month (my schedule changed to real weekends, yay!!!), and I've left you readers completely in the dark. Bad blogger!

However in order to make up for lost time, here's the first edition of my two part brunch round-up. After all, brunch may be the best meal and needs two posts of devotion. You get an excuse to sip champagne cocktails with eggs on brisk, sunny mornings? Yes, please!

Max's wine dive, a 2009 sophomore in the downtown scene, kicked off my fall brunch fest. It's a dim lit speakeasy type restaurant that serves up inventive home cooking on refined plates. Their waiters' shirts boast, "Fried chicken and Champagne? ... Why the hell not?!" Ryan, two other Aarons, and I were lucky to be seated on the restaurant's small patio on the beautiful afternoon. Was everyone else hungover in bed still? Must have been because the vitamin D along with the fresh squeezed grapefruit mimosas were too good to pass up.

Ryan ordered Big M's "El Muerte", the cure all hangover meal. Tender morsels of braised goat are sandwiched between fried tostadas, then topped with two fried eggs and fresh salsa. The savory concoction is rich and erases Sunday morning headaches. The dish exemplifies, if goat can be cooked right, it is a protein to be reckoned with; nightmares of stringy meat from salvaging livestock disappear after just a bite.

I dined on the Eggs Max, their take on the classic eggs benedict. Sweet brioche like Texas toast is topped with prosciutto, sauteed greens, and two perfectly poached eggs (according to my standards) all topped with a truffle cream sauce that was more decadent than hollandaise. The nibble of all the components was perfection.

Next up on my brunch fest, some girl friends and I visited Perla's, arguably one of the hottest new places to hit the Austin scene this year, even Esquire agrees. We were seated in a bright, airy dining room equipped with fish tanks and tasteful Gulf Coast decor. The four of us sat dazed, sipping Cava mimosas reviewing our Halloween craziness from the night before.

We began our meal with raw oysters. I am new to them, and I must admit their texture takes a bit to get used to, but these mollusks have won me over. We ordered a half dozen of two different kinds, both from Prince Edward Island. Please forgive me, but their exact names escape me. One tasted more briney, and the half shell was full of it's potent oyster juice. The other was a milder sea taste that I enjoyed more, especially when topped with mignonette sauce.

For my entree I ordered, along with 2 other ladies at the table, the Crab Florentine. I am a sucker for egg Benedict like dishes these days, however I was disappointed with this one. Don't get me wrong, the combination of flavors, the succulent lump crab, spinach, griddled tomato, and hollandaise, were heavenly. But, and this is a big but, my eggs were overcooked to the point I considered them soft boiled.

The reason I love poached eggs is due to the runny yolk, and I missed out. Unfortunately, my friend Jamie did as well, but Jodi's were perfect. I think the biggest problem with new restaurants is inconsistency, and this experience proved Perla's brunch still needs a bit of work in that arena. I'll be back be soon though to reevaluate.

Stay tuned for part 2 of my Fall Brunch Fest!

The Sweet Life

Last year I fell in love with Laguna Gloria, a Mediterranean style villa built by Clara Driscoll in 1916 on the shore of Lake Austin, that now operates as an intimate branch of the Austin Museum of Art. As you stroll the grounds, you are whisked away to the romantic, Italian countryside; strung lights hang from the old trees softly illuminating the fountains, statues, and grand villa. It is the perfect backdrop for spectacular affairs like their La Dolce Vita Food and Wine Festival, and tonight I was fortunate enough to volunteer at the annual fundraiser.

In Italian, La Dolce Vita means the "The Sweet Life", and this premiere foodie event perfectly defines the phrase. When you waltz in the front gate, you are handed a commemorative wine glass that you are allowed to fill repeatedly and a tasting plate that conveniently holds your glass. My shift was not scheduled to start until 7:30, so I had an hour to sip vino and savor limitless cuisine from Austin's finest establishments.

Lamberts, Perlas, Max's Wine Dive, Ranch 616, the list goes on...more than fifty restaurants participated, serving their best bites. My camera could not keep up with my mouth so I can only share my first samples of the night: a Tempranillo, Lambert's pulled pork slider and house made oreo, and a warm Oyster with bacon from Perla's. Both restaurants, with executive chef Larry McGuire at their helm, have been at the top of my must eat list. These morsels only enticed me more.

A few other notable noshings of mine included Venison Frito Pie from Ranch 616, an oxtail tostada from Max's, braised shorts ribs with creamy polenta from Cannoli Joe's, a brown butter bar from La Condensa, and too many more to recount. When my volunteer shift started, I was full, but Erin, Laguna's event coordinator, put me to work redistributing port and reds among the crowded wine stations. I was delighted to help the event pour smoother.

If you live in Austin, and love food and wine, you must attend this festival. I assure you the cost is worth it! Your palate won't be disappointed. I hope to partake in the event for years to come.

Spinach Alfredo Pizza

Forgive me foodies for I have sinned with this weeknight pizza dinner. I cheated and took the Sandra Lee route (again). I know, it's disgraceful, but hey, I work 40 hours a week on my feet. Despite good intentions, I don't always have the stamina to cook from scratch (...or blog on a scheduled basis).

Excuses aside, pre-made H.E.B. pizza dough and alfredo sauce combined with fresh ingredients create one heck of a quick "homemade" pie, ten times better than that frozen stuff. If you crave something quick and cheesy, give this tasty recipe a try. Please, don't be skeptical of the egg. The runny yolk is a perfect dipper for the crust. You can forget the ranch and garlic butter for good.

P.S. if you have an easy pizza dough recipe, please share! I will take on the challenge next time.

Spinach Alfredo Pizza

-Pre-made pizza dough

-A sprinkle of course-ground cornmeal

-A small container of pre-made Light Alfredo Sauce

-A small handful of fresh chopped cayenne pepper (If you like a little spice.)

-A handful of basil chiffonade

- A handful of fresh chopped spinach

-A sprinkle of thin sliced red onion

- A handful of sliced prosciutto

-Shredded Mozzarella cheese

-A cracked egg

-Nutmeg and black pepper

-Olive oil

-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

-Roll out the pizza dough until it's 1/4 inch thick or about 10 inches in diameter on a slightly floured board.

-Lightly mist a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and sprinkle on the cornmeal. Then transfer the dough to the sheet, ensuring it has an even coating of cornmeal.

-Lightly sauce the dough with the Alfredo sauce, and then layer on the pepper, basil, spinach, onion, prosciutto, and mozzarella. Make sure to leave a well in the center of the pizza, then add the cracked egg to it.

-Sprinkle on a pinch of nutmeg and black pepper.

-Brush the crust edges with olive oil.

-Bake the pizza about 8-10 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the egg is set.

What's Mightier than A Mighty Cone?

I must admit, I was skeptical of Twitter when I first joined. Did I really need to add another online social network to the list of frivolous sites I check and update on an obsessive basis? However, when the tweets started flowing, I realized part of why the site was great...FREE STUFF!

Since joining, I have won tickets to Spoon and a fashion show, but I hit the jackpot when I ran into a tip posted by ATX4U. "Mighty Cone on SoCo will be giving 1 FREE chicken or shrimp cone per person until they run out. (surplus from ACL)." OMG score! I have been dying to try one since I heard about the ACL festival phenomenon, originated by the guys at Hudson's on the Bend.

My friend Lynn joined me for a cone at the bright South Congress trailer. We were both stunned a line didn't stretch around the block when we arrived. Why wasn't everyone in the city here on this beautiful afternoon? This was the deal of the week, and certainly the only time you could eat at Hudson's for zero dollars.

They offered two choices, the hot and crunchy chicken or shrimp. Either option is dipped in a batter of sesame seeds, arbol chili flakes, sea salt, sugar, and corn flakes and then fried. They wrap the filling in a flour tortilla and top it with mango-jalapeno slaw and ancho sauce. The flavorful taco is served in a convenient, disposable drink cone. We both ordered the shrimp, and our cones were out in no time.

The first bite was delicious, and I expected no less from a Rhoades and Blank recipe. The ingredients created the perfect sweet, savory combination. As promised, the shrimp delivered a pleasant crunch with a slight spicy kick. And even though, I thought the ancho sauce could have been spicier, I enjoyed the smokey flavor paired with the refreshing, tangy slaw. This is not your average street fare. Make sure to try this upscale trailer because even if your cone isn't free, it will be the only time you can sample Hudson's food for under ten bucks.

Restaurant Week at Jeffrey's

The fall installment of Restaurant Week rolled around again last month, a semi annual event in which some of the best restaurants around town offer prix fixed menus and donate a portion of these special profits to local charities. AIDS Services of Austin and the Sustainable Food Center were chosen as the beneficiaries so I couldn't resist supporting two great causes.

After I read the line up of participating places, my heart was set on Jeffrey's. It's been on my must eat list for years now, and Restaurant Week finally provided the rare opportunity to sample their cuisine at an affordable rate. My friend Ryan lives two blocks away from the restaurant in Clarksville so he invited a large group of friends to join us for our dining adventure. We met for drinks at his casa, then strolled over for a pleasant dinner at the dim lit, intimate restaurant.

Our party was set at a large table adjacent to the compact bar. Rich wood grain panels (probably dating back to 1975 when the restaurant opened) line the walls, but are juxtaposed with modern additions of sleek silverware, and crystal fixtures. Long mirrors are hung to produce the illusion of space creating an alluring atmosphere. As I breathed in the surroundings, I imagined James Bond sipping sexy martinis here.

The three course Restaurant Week menu was limited, but every option sounded appealing. For appetizers, they offered Crispy Oysters Octavia, Thumbalina Salad, and a seasonal black eyed pea soup. I was set on the oysters, but after I reviewed the entire dinner menu, I realized the Original Oysters were extended at the same price as the other RW choices. My co-worker, Hanne, a trusted shell fish and spice connoisseur, assured me the Original tasted better, so I did not hesitate to ask the waiter for them instead. He was accommodating and gladly granted my request.

A generous portion of six crisp, tender oysters were beautifully presented on yucca chips and topped with habanero aioli and pineapple pico de gallo. I took advantage of my pinch hit, and traded bites for an Octavia so I could compare the restaurant's original to the current chef's new version. I preferred the delectable spice of mine to the vinegary tang of "Overnight" Tomato Vinaigrette on the Octavia. However, my yucca chips were a bit chewy, perhaps due to under frying, but I looked past this and relished the tropical flair of my oysters.

Two entrees were offered, scallops or quail. My decision was simple. I am absolutely in love with scallops, and I only fell deeper after this eating dish. Two giants were seared, sliced in half, then served on a leek soubise with granny smith apples, toasted mustard seed, and pickled chanterelles. The dish sounded complicated, but the flavors complimented each other well and tasted of sweet, Indian Summer. I particularly enjoyed the contrast of textures between the crunchy, julienned apples and buttery scallops.

After our plates were cleared, our waiter presented the table with the final course menus which I didn't bother to peruse. I made my decision when I previewed the online version. "I will have the banana crepes!" I requested assertively. My friends kindly corrected me after the waiter skirted away, "Beignets, not crepes." Woops, wrong French dessert...those two glasses of wine got to me, but thank goodness, he knew what I meant.

The fried, pillowy pastries housed warm mashed banana and were dusted with powdered sugar. Caramel sauce, house made coconut ice cream, and toasted coconut accompanied the beignets. A bite of all the components were perfectly sweet and melted in your mouth. I savored every morsel; it was a lovely conclusion to a filling, dinner.

The overall experience of the meal was outstanding and a memorable night shared with good company. Jeffrey's is a new contender for my favorite fine dining spot in Austin, right up there with Hudson's on the Bend.

Labor Day Lobster

Last night, I committed murder...cold blooded, lobster murder. I couldn't resist. The decadent crustaceans were on sale for $5.99 per pound at H.E.B. for Labor Day. Plus, my dad, in town for the weekend, was celebrating his 59th birthday so we had the perfect excuse to indulge. However, I must admit, I was nervous. I've eaten lobster tons of times, but I've never been responsible for their untimely delicious death. Time to face my fear.

Before I plunged them in the boiling pot spiced with bay, coriander, and cayenne, I sincerely apologized and thanked the boys for sacrificing their lives for our fine dinner. I closed my eyes, plopped them in, and stepped away for a few moments to avoid hearing them fight the heat. When I returned, the dirty work was done, and the lobsters had drifted off in the spiced bath. Ten minutes passed, and my one and quarter pounders were successfully boiled to the perfect bright red color.

My dad requested traditional sides be served with the meal. Thus I prepared, roasted red potatoes, fresh corn shucked from the cob, and of course warm drawn butter. Everything was perfection, and this simple New England style dinner, may be the best I've ever cooked.