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April 2010
Sarah Jarosz realizes her Austin City Limits dream
The fact of the matter is most people will probably get their first glimpse of Jarosz when her episode of Austin City Limits airs in late October, though, the 18 year-old’s performance in front of her friends, family, fellow Wimberley pickers and packed studio of soon-to-be-fans indeed felt like a downhome affair.
All artists who get the opportunity to perform on the ACL stage make note of what a special experience it is, but there was something unique in the sincerity shown by the Grammy-nominated Jarosz when she said that being on the stage was a “dream come true.”
Only a year removed from high school, Jarosz already has an incredible command of her voice but does not attempt to hide her age, as she plaintively sings about the tender pleadings for love and wistful searching of a young poet in songs like “Tell Me True” and “Edge of a Dream.”
When she introduced a song that she wrote as a response to Hurricane Katrina - Broussard’s Lament - it took me a second to do the math. Katrina was in 2005. Jarosz was 14 at the time. The righteous, passionate lines from this devil-went-down-to New Orleans tune were not the work of your typical high school student.
Although she came to music sitting around improvisational bluegrass jams, Jarosz’s style is expansive and seems to be moving toward the singer-songwriter direction as evidenced by the melancholy-tinged maturity of the observational “Gypsy” and the spiritual reverence of “My Muse” — which sounds like it could have been penned by a backpacking poet on the shores of the Indian Ocean — both of which she performed solo.
With the guys back on stage, Jarosz woke up all of the roosters in Ireland with Tim O’Brien’s “Land’s End/Chasin’ Talon,” a rousing shot of trad. She stayed in that neck of the woods — although in a much darker thicket - with her foreboding cover of The Decemberists’ “Shankill Butchers.”
Before closing with a cover of Tom Waits’ “Come on Up to the House,” the endearing young virtuoso asked the audience to help her out on the chorus and even pitch in with some harmonies if they felt up to it. With her bandmates slopping some slinky funk on it, Jarosz poured honey all over Waits’ gravel and had the newly converted aching to testify in the secular church of the Hill Country that for one night was rebuilt in the Austin City Limits studios.
The evening had special significance for me, as I was one of those people who saw the pre-teen Jarosz sitting in with her mother at the bluegrass jam in Wimberley that Mike Bond started 25 years ago. Thirty-five years ago, with mom, baby me and sister in tow, my father left his job at the attorney general’s office in Austin, heading back to the corporate law world in Houston, and, as my mother tells it, she cried when she had to leave this lovely town. So it was touching to be able to walk down The Drag with her, almost 40 years after her graduation from UT, to attend her first Austin City Limits. In the time since our family left town, we returned often to Central Texas, visiting Austin for work and play and spending time each spring in idyllic Wimberley.
About 12 years ago, my folks finally bought a little place in the town that sits along the Blanco River, and my mother (who herself has the voice of an angel) and my Elvis-impersonating father would go to the Friday night jams on the edge of town, and a few times I tagged along. It was touching to see the young lady who was raised in a community and family bound by the unique bond created by the sharing of music come of age on the stages of Austin City Limits. It was a night of goosebumps — likely for Jarosz and definitely for the audience.
For more on Jarosz’s backstory, check out this article from last year by my colleague Michael Corcoran.
(I would be remiss not to mention the lively and charming performance Steve Martin put on after Jarosz, after all, I grew up in the 70s entertaining my folks and their friends with recited comedic bits of the arrow-headed legend. It was thrilling to see a man who doesn’t need the money, in the midst of a music tour obviously prompted by passion for music and storytelling. For a sense of his performance Tuesday night, you can check out my colleague Patrick Caldwell’s review of Martin’s Sunday night show, which followed a similar formula. And you can see Martin’s ACL setlist after the jump below.)
Check out “Edge of a Dream,” the second track on Jarosz’s “Song Up in Her Head.”
Setlist:
“Tell Me True”
“Edge of a Dream”
“Broussard’s Lament”
“Mansineedof”
“Gypsy” (solo)
“My Muse” (solo)
“Land’s End”
“Shankill Butchers”
“Annabelle Lee”
“Song Up in Her Head”
“Come on Up to the House”
Top photo of Jarosz by Scott Simontacchi. Photo of Sarah and mother Mary from 2004 by Jay Janner AMERICAN-STATESMAN.
Steve Martin Austin City Limits Setlist:
“Pitkin County Turnaround”
“Daddy Played The Banjo”
“The Crow”
“Late For School”
“Hoedown at Alice’s”
“I Can’t Sit Down (Steep Canyon Rangers only)”
“Atheists Don’t Have No Songs “
“Hide Behind A Rock”
“Words Unspoken “
“Jubilation Day”
“Saga of the Old West”
“Calico Train”
Encore:
“Orange Blossom Special”
“King Tut”
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Ricky Williams keeps running until he finds himself
Few men who have played in the National Football League have possessed the physical talents of Ricky Williams. And fewer still have been so severely misunderstood while enduring the expectations, scrutiny and criticism that followed the former University of Texas Heisman Trophy winner.
In their documentary “Run Ricky Run,” part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” initiative, filmmakers Sean Pamphilon and Royce Toni reveal a side of the enigmatic athlete who has defied labels and confounded fans and critics alike for over a decade.
After his first two injury-riddled seasons in New Orleans, where he arrived as one of the most coveted and curious rookies in pro football history, Williams seemed to lose his way. Burdened by current demands and past demons, Williams retreated inside his head — one both aided and clouded by marijuana — and began a long, bumpy and widely publicized and panned road to self-discovery.
“Run Ricky Run” explores Williams’ path to inner peace and, in the words of one of his Ayurvedic teachers, his journey to “understanding how he can merge the culture that is in his heart with the culture of the National Football League.”
On a personal note (and without giving away too much): Thumbs up to the film and an entirely different finger for Joe Theisman and Skip Bayless.
“Run Ricky Run” premieres on ESPN Tuesday night at 7 p.m. and repeats at 10 p.m. on ESPN2; 4:30 and 11 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN U; Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN 2 and Thursday at 10 p.m. on ESPN Classic.
Check out this piece from Statesman sports columnist Cedric Golden, who spoke with Williams a few days ago.
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Now Open: Your Mom’s Burger Bar
After slingin’ burgers at Headhunters (720 Red River St.) last winter, Ryan Blackmore — who looks like he would be at home on stage just as much as he is behind the stoves — decided it was time to open his own place. The tattooed grill master thought he might join the legion of food trailers in town, but on his way to visit a potential trailer location he came across the future home for his burger joint.
Attached to the back of Las Cazuelas, Your Mom’s — named after a joke between Blackmore and his wife, Regina — opened a week before South by Southwest. The walk-up features a menu with six specialty half-pound burgers, all stuffed with one of three cheeses, topped with exotica from fried wonton strips to artichokes, served on toasted buns.
In addition to the burgers, Your Mom’s serves standard fried bar food (mushrooms, French fries, onion rings) and Bedrockian chicken wings; they’re actually chicken legs, a bit of tongue-in-cheek rock ’n’ roll humor befitting the mood of the joint.
Blackmore says he plans to add cold beer (Lone Star, Firemans #4 and Carte Blanca) to help fill Your Mom’s five outdoor tables and handful of indoor stools.
Like any new neighbor, Your Mom’s is doing its best to make a good first impression by offering discounts, including one for diners who arrive on foot or bike, one for East Austin residents and half-off for your own mother on her first visit.
See, even dudes who look like they could front thrash metal bands love their mothers. Or at least yours.
1701 E. Cesar Chavez St. 474-6667, www.yourmoms.net.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
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Interview: Michael Stephenson, director of ‘Best Worst Movie’
An Italian director who hardly speaks English heads to Utah to make a horror movie about vegetarian ‘vampires’ played by novice actors. It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it’s actually what led to the ingredients for one of the worst movies ever made. “Troll 2” came and went in 1990 with hardly a peep. There was no fanfare — and in fact no theatrical distribution — behind the unmitigated flop. But in the late ’90s, a funny thing happened. The child star from the movie, Michael Stephenson, started catching wind of viewing parties around the country. The grass-roots movement that pushed “Troll 2” into the pantheon of cult movies led Stephenson to make the documentary “Best Worst Movie,” which premiered at SXSW in 2009 and opens at the Alamo South this weekend. I talked with the filmmaker by phone this week.
The M.O.: When did you first recognize the cult resurgence of “Troll 2”?
Michael Stephenson: It was about four years ago. I was living in Los Angeles and out of nowhere, on MySpace, I started getting messages from kids in different parts of the world. And they would say things like, “Are you Michael Stephenson who played Joshua Waits in ‘Troll 2’? Please say it is so.” I just remember looking at these messages and wondering what was going on. What was interesting is that these messages were coming from different people in different parts of the world and they were all saying things like ‘I’m a huge fan of ‘Troll 2.’ And nobody knew that anybody else was watching this movie, and there were no screenings. Then all of a sudden I started getting these pictures of like seven or eight kids in a basement somewhere in the middle of nowhere watching ‘Troll 2.’ And they’d be dressed up as goblins or would have like green punch and make food that had references to the film … And nobody knew that there were other people having these ‘Troll 2’ parties, and I started responding back to them.
I just got really intrigued on how organically this had happened on its own. It seemed like and it felt like it had reached its critical mass … I’d go on to some of these social networking sites and you’d see people list their favorites films, and you’d see this long list of Hollywood blockbuster films and right in the middle would be ‘Troll 2,’ you know nestled between ‘Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Life is Beautiful.’
When and why did you decide to make the movie?
I just woke up one morning and I just remember smiling and staring at the ceiling and saying, ‘Wait a minute. I’m the child star of the worst movie ever made. There’s a story here.’ And I thought I have to make a documentary about this. And I kept thinking about what happened to the guy who played my father - ‘He was a dentist and had this crazy Alabama accent … And what happened to Claudio (the director)? What does he know about this and what would he think about people loving his movie because it’s bad?’ And it went from there and really just became this almost obsession. I was really intrigued on how this was happening on its own. It wasn’t like ‘Snakes on a Plane,’ where it was made to kind of be wink-at-the-camera bad. This was a genuine failure on every level but then had become this kind of unintentional comedy and had become loved genuinely because it was so bad.
Was it hard getting people to participate?
It was a process. There were a few cast members who right off the bat were, ‘Oh, this would be fun,’ and then there were others who were just like ‘What? Why are you making a movie? ‘Troll 2’ is horrible. Haven’t you seen it?’ It took three years to make the film, so it was a process. One time I couldn’t get an interview and they didn’t want anything to do with it and then I’d catch them on a better day a month later.
Italians aren’t necessarily the most ironic people. Did you feel weird bringing (director) Claudio Fragasso into the fold? Did you think he would he was going to appreciate it the way you guys appreciated it?
You have no idea. It was one of these things that for the film I really wanted his fresh perspective because it would explain how the movie was made in the first place and why ‘Troll 2’ is what it is. When I actually talked to him on the phone for the first time, I said, ‘Do you understand what is happening with ‘Troll 2’? People are celebrating this movie in basements and dressing up and all of these things.’ And there was this silence on the phone and he said, ‘Why after 18 years do they like this movie? Why?’
And I was in Italy a couple weeks later and found out how sincere he is and he was in making ‘Troll 2,’ and that was really great. The reason why ‘Troll 2’ is what it is is because it’s sincere. There’s not irony and there’s not cynicism. It’s a genuine failure. When I was over there (in Italy), I started to learn about what he thought when he was making the film and realized he had no idea … And I thought, how do I sit down and tell him, ‘You are the director of one of the worst movies ever made but people love the movie. And it’s not necessarily a bad thing.’ How do you get that across? And I remember the only way I could do that was letting him see it and let him actually be at a screening. Because once you see it at a screening, you realize it is not mean spirited and is actually a fun vibe.
I have a lot of respect for Claudio and what he did in making ‘Troll 2.’ Making this movie I constantly thought, ‘What a trip for him: to go to small town Utah, work with actors who couldn’t act, and he couldn’t speak English … all to make his movie about vegetarian goblins.’ And somehow he got it done. And somehow 20 years later it’s had this will to live and it’s entertained hundreds of thousands of people.
George seems like such an imminently likable guy, but I feel kind of bad and embarrassed for him near the end of the movie as he the fanfare for ‘Troll 2’ falls flat even as he admits to his lifelong desire to be an actor.
George is one of the most genuine and authentic people you will ever meet. And it’s impossible to make George look bad because that’s just him. But it was refreshing. The thing that was so important to me with this story was that it wasn’t all phenomenon, rah-rah, sold-out screenings.
Did you expect that going in?
As with any story, it was going to have its ups and downs. But I really wanted to see and understand the people who were in the cast for who they really are … and actually get to know these people. I didn’t want it to be about experts on the outside looking in and saying, ‘What makes a bad movie.’ When we first started filming, it was all sold-out screenings and I thought, ‘This is all one note.’ And it didn’t really give the perspective on what ‘Troll 2’ is. ‘Troll 2’ isn’t for everybody. It takes a very certain person to like ‘Troll 2.’ And being famous for being in ‘Troll 2’ is worlds apart from another film. And there’s this line between fame and infamy. And then all of a sudden it was a bomb in the UK and a bomb at the horror convention and all of a sudden we were seeing George realize, ‘This isn’t quite what I thought it was.’ And that’s for me when it got exciting because this is real.
Why did you guys choose to officially open the movie in Austin?
There’s the obvious Alamo connection in the film. But this is such a fan city and such a movie-loving city that it felt right to come here first before New York and L.A. When I made the film I always wanted to premiere it at SXSW (which he did in 2009), and that was even before the Alamo connection. Then all of a sudden the Alamo had the first ‘Troll 2’ screening that actually played in theaters (in March 2007).
‘Best Worst Movie’ screens for a week at Alamo South. Stephenson and actor George Hardy will be in attendance at the 7 and 9:50 p.m. screenings on Friday and Saturday. Following the 9:50 p.m. screening Friday, there will be an afterparty at The Highball.
For the fan perspective on ‘Troll 2,’ check out my chat with Alamo Drafthouse programmer Zack Carlson, who appears in (and gets a ‘Troll 2’ tattoo in) ‘Best Worst Movie.’
The trailer for “Best Worst Movie” …
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One fan’s love affair with ‘Troll 2’
The M.O.: Do you remember the first time you saw “Troll 2”
Zack Carlson: Yep. A friend of mine named Big Gay Jerry showed it to everyone. He had a severely worn, ratty VHS that he’d taped off cable in the mid-’90s (this was about 2000). When the film had been playing for a while, a hobo walked in Jerry’s front door and sat down and watched the movie with us.
Did you become a convert and proselytizer immediately?
Of course.
How did the Alamo get involved with the cult resurgence of the film?
I’d booked a Terror Tuesday screening of “Troll 2” at the downtown Alamo just because I love the film so much, not realizing how many other people did as well. A week before the show, its star, Michael Stephenson, contacted me saying that he and other members of the cast wanted to come out for the event. I almost fell down. It was even more surprising when hundreds of “Troll 2” fans came out of the woodwork to wrap around the block. It was mentally ill, and one of the best evenings I’ve ever had at the theater.
How meta is it to be in a documentary talking about a movie you loved so much that you must have felt would never get its proper due?
I have to look away when I’m on screen. I have a weird, bad face.
Can you pinpoint exactly what it is about “Troll 2” that makes it so amazing
Maybe it’s a cop-out, but I really don’t think anyone can. I mean, there are those who take the easy route of the point-and-laugh, but there’s an intensely strong appeal to the movie that goes way beyond its ridicule value. No one can deny that it’s one of the most unique and bizarre movies of our lifetime, and the fact that it largely nails those qualities by accident earns it a lot of its value. Nobody could deliberately capture the magic that fuels “Troll 2.”
The trailer for “Troll 2” …
The trailer for “Best Worst Movie” …
Picture of actor George Hardy at a “Troll 2” screening.
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Doug Stanhope returns with a sidekick - we think
Guest post from Chad Swiatecki:
As happy as comedian Doug Stanhope is to make a visit to Austin — he was close to buying a home during a visit here this winter before he decided to stay in rural Arizona — he’s most excited about having Neighbor Dave along for the ride.
That’s what he says, anyway. You have to take stories from Stanhope with a fairly large grain of salt. This is, after all, the guy who encourages interviewers to fabricate key parts of his back story, or include a false claim that “The Man Show” was canceled because of a gay lovers’ quarrel between him and co-host Joe Rogan.
So Neighbor Dave could be a complete work of fiction. But talking by phone ahead of his show Saturday at Red 7, Stanhope sounds positively giddy about the prospect of having his mild-mannered neighbor along to see what life on the comedy circuit is like. So we’ll believe him, for the most part:
“We didn’t even know the guy until one day when my girlfriend and I were on a mushroom binge and decided we had to have some pizza, but we couldn’t get any delivered and there was no way we were driving. I’m not sure why, but we headed outside and were going to flag down cars driving by and give someone cash to go and pick up a pizza for us. We had like $100 but decided that wasn’t the best idea, but we still wanted some pizza. That’s when my neighbor sees us and we offer him the $100, but he’s kind of shocked and is like ‘You don’t have to pay me, of course I’ll go grab a pizza for you. That’s what neighbors are for.’
“His name’s Dave and he’s the most normal, down-to-earth guy there is, with a wife and couldn’t be further from what I do. He’s never been to one of my shows, but we’ve got Neighbor Dave hats and T-shirts made for when he’s in Austin with us. I don’t really know what’s going to happen to him when he’s out there, and I’m kind of freaked out about it. Either he’ll be turned off by the whole thing or after he gets home he’ll start writing his own (standup) act. That’d be really bad, though, because if that happens I don’t want to be responsible for ruining this guy’s life.”
Doug Stanhope
When:8 p.m. Saturday
Where:Red 7, 611 E. Seventh St.
Cost:$20
Info:476-8100, transmission.frontgate.com
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Pizza on the side: Parkside chef expanding his circle
After bringing refinement to Sixth Street dining with the fresh, clean flavors of Parkside, chef-owner Shawn Cirkiel is preparing to expand his culinary corner. In July, Cirkiel plans to open the Backspace, a pizzeria in the space at 507 San Jacinto Blvd., adjacent to his restaurant at 301 E. Sixth St. The small space will seat about 30 people. With the simplicity of just a wood-burning oven, Cirkiel said the Backspace will serve about five Neapolitan-style pizzas (including a marinara and a margherita) along with a few appetizers, such as prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella.
Cirkiel said the inspiration for the Backspace was fairly simple: “Cook for your friends and for yourself and then hope everyone else enjoys it.” The Backspace, which will be designed by Austin restaurant icon Michael Hsu, will initially be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., but Cirkiel says they plan to be open for both lunch and dinner by the fall.
Photo from Courtney Dudley FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN.
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Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Fest: Grape Escape Cocktail Showdown
Sometimes there is such a thing as too much wine. At least I would imagine that was the thinking behind the Grape Escape Cocktail Showdown at the Driskill Hotel late Saturday afternoon. With the exception of one of the cocktails, there was no wine to be seen, sniffed or tasted. The centerpiece of the boozy event — held on one of those out-of-the-way “Being John Malckovich”-esque half-floors at the ornate hotel — was Maker’s Mark bourbon, brought down from Kentucky by distillery president Bill Samuels Jr. Each of the six contestants utilized the sweet bourbon to form an original cocktail that was judged by the attendees at the sold out event along with a panel of judges. At the end of the evening, the charming and intentionally goofy emcee, Adam Harris of Maker’s Mark, declared two winners: one voted on by the people and one by the judges.
Cocktail: “The Kentucky Peach”
Mixologist: Lara Nixon of Boxcar Cocktails
Ingredients: Maker’s Mark, homemade peach syrup, Fee Brothers peach bitters and mint garnish
What you need to know: Nixon was the judges’ pick as the best cocktail. For her victory, Nixon’s cocktail will be named the official cocktail of the 2010 fest; The Kentucky Peach will be served at the Sunday Fair today; and she receives VIP access to the entire Wine & Food Festival in 2011. Not too shabby. The drink is simple and powerfully sweet.
Cocktail: “Bowie Creek Julep”
Mixologist: Russell Davis (formerly) of Peche
Ingredients: Maker’s Mark, Texas Wildflower honey syrup, fresh Texas lemon juice, fresh watermelon, sparkling almond wine from Marble Falls, Texas) and Texas mint
What you need to know: Davis, who said he left his position at Peche earlier in the week, was treated like a mixologist demigod by some of the attendees, especially the older women, who loved his sweet but slightly subtle concoction (all things considered). That love won him the people’s choice vote which will entitle Russell to VIP entrance to the Grand Tasting and Sunday Fair next year.
Cocktail: “Sweet Tay”
Mixologist: Jeff Boley of Paggi House
Ingredients: Maker’s Mark, home-brewed iced tea, homemade ginger syrup, fresh pressed lemon juice, candied lemon garnish
What you need to know: Tastes like a summer evening on a porch in Kentucky.
Cocktail: “The Terry Southern”
Mixologist: Ben Craven of Perla’s
Ingredients: Black peppercorn-infused Maker’s Mark, fresh peach nectar, honey syrup, Fee Brothers peach bitters, fresh pressed lemon juice, mineral water, mint garnish
What you need to know: The drink that best attempted to mitigate the sweetness of the bourbon, Craven’s pepper-infused Maker’s Mark drink was probably my favorite.
Cocktail: “Bow Tie”
Mixologist: Mindy Kucan of Anvil Refuge and Lounge in Houston
Ingredients: Maker’s Mark; watermelon, juniper and rose reduction; egg white; pressed fresh grapefruit juice; juniper berries and edible flower garnish
What you need to know: Kucan seemed to have the most fun and her use of an egg white felt completely appropriate in a glamorous old hotel in which we were celebrating the most Southern of spirits.
Cocktail: “The Loretta”
Mixologist: Abdul Ford of The Driskill
Ingredients: Maker’s Mark, Chambord, amaretto (served with an almond cookie and orange garnish)
What you need to know: Ford’s cocktail was arguably the strongest of the six and would likely best be served as an after-dinner martini.
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Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Fest: Stars Across Texas Grand Tasting
The Stars Across Texas Grand Tasting, the centerpiece of the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Fest, went off without a hitch Friday night at the Long Center despite the nasty weather. Dozens of Texas chefs and local and national wine and booze distributors kept hundreds of attendees from being distracted by the 100% humidity, as people floated between tables inside and out, grazing and gaping at the flavors.
Located at the west end of the hall inside were chef Tyson Cole and his crew from Uchi, which were serving a delicious amberjack sashimi. Not surprisingly, Cole’s table looked to be the most popular on the inside lower level.
The balcony on the second level offered great views of the skyline and respite from the sticky humidity of the tented area downstairs.
The Jason Dady group from San Antonio served an amazing New York strip steak tartare with roasted peppers, sea salt, black pepper and white cheddar foam.
With cooking options limited, tartares did seem a popular choice Friday night. Local French standout Aquarelle offered a eye-opening tuna tartare with a bright avocado mousse, bits of zucchini bites and a mango coulis. The dish went wonderfully with a cocktail made of Belvedere vodka, cucumber, mint and lemonade — perfect on a steamy evening.
Although the music from Reggae Rainsplash 2010 across the street lent a uniquely Austin vibe to the evening, I felt kind of bad in my dry clothes as I looked out at the couple of thousand people who had to endure such awful weather to get their groove on. At least we were able to hear some of the music from the upstairs patio, which fortunately drowned out the cheesy ambient house music playing at the Wine & Food Fest. The piped in tunes were so incredibly un-hip, one friend told me he was worried that someone was going to bust into the room and take away all the Miller High Life.
Locals Whole Foods served a very pleasant and surprisingly complex watermelon salad topped with yellow tomatoes, feta cheese, pickled red onions, microgreens and a balsamic reduction. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts of Austin also had a very fine showing at the Long Center. The culinary school was even skilled enough to slip some tofu by unassuming participants Friday night with their delicious pork-tofu slider served with a rich ponzu aioli and crunchy pickled daikon, the tofu doing a great job of keeping the meat nice and moist. And to prove that not all good food as to take itself too seriously, the team from Le Cordon Bleu also offered a sinfully rich whoopie pie.
Other standouts of the night not pictured included La Condesa’s lump crab meat served with mango, tomato and a spicy chipotle mayo; Hudson’s on the Bend’s venison with potatoes; and David Garrido’s braised pork with shaved manchego, black truffle aioli and dried cranberry. I probably had a half dozen of Garrido’s offering. When I suggested he put it on the menu he said he couldn’t put everything on the menu because then he wouldn’t have these flavors to play with at special events. Fair enough; just tell me when the next special event is.
Not all of the participants were local. The woman on the left from Belvedere mixed the delicious cocktails I mentioned earlier. The man on the right was manning the Makers Mark table. When I asked what his role was with the company, he told me he did “whatever was left over.” Turns out it was Makers Mark president Bill Samuels, Jr. I told him I probably helped put his grandkids through college, and the affable Kentucky native — who should definitely be played by Gary Busey if a movie is ever made about his life — and I shared a toast to his first (but I bet not his last) time at the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival.
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Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Fest: Culinary Masters
Making my way down the great stairs and through the ground level of the hotel felt like a Scorsese tracking shot, as I weaved through what I can only assume were oil and gas or insurance conventioneers and partiers before arriving at the east end of the hotel. While the setting may have lacked the Gatsby-esque elegance of the lawn, the always exceptional staff at the hotel and the flavors they delivered in the foyer reassured that the night was not to lose any of its glamor.
Despite the inclement weather, the reception area outside of the ballroom filled up early with guests snacking on appetizers and sipping La Marca Prosecco. Unfortunately, the delivered appetizers, creations of Trio’s Todd Duplechan, were actually the first of the six courses of the meal. This meant that, most likely, not everybody was able to sample each of the three dishes. While I only heard the deviled tuna was amazing, I actually tasted the torched salmon belly served on river crackers. If this dish was any indication, pork belly’s 15 minutes of being the most famous animal belly may be close to expiring. The smoky, fatty salmon was full of robust flavor, and I expect (or at least hope) to see the dish offered more at Austin’s finer restaurants.
The ballroom in which dinner was served was rather generic (excepting the grand chandelier), but the staff did a nice job with the lighting, specifically on the walls, providing the simple elegance of an outdoor tent to the room that otherwise could have been located in Hotel Anywhere USA.
Fest director Chad Auler introduced the portly and affable Michael Martini, whose family’s vineyards provided the evening’s wines. Martini briefly regaled the crowd of 200 or so with a story about a cruise he had recently taken to Monte Carlo before discussing the simple French style of the Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Chardonnay 2006. Martini’s gregarious attitude lent a casual air to the evening and set the tone for what would become a night that felt like a dinner party amongst friends, an atmosphere that was enhanced by the wonderful and chatty company at my table.
Trio executive chef Elmar Prambs introduced his wonderful beef carpaccio, which he said comes from the back of the ribeye. The Trio happy hour staple was served with a farm egg, shaved manchego and truffled arugula.
Kent Rathbun of Jaspers Restaurant breathlessly introduced his pan-seared diver scallops, which for me was probably the best dish of the night. While the roasted cauliflower and grilled leek risotto was a bit gooey and rich, the supple scallop, which could have eased apart just by staring longingly at it, was sublime. And I would happily dip just about anything in the Meyer lemon-butter sauce that came with the dish.
Some of the biggest food related chatter at our table surrounded the forthcoming David Bull restaurants Congress and Second at Congress, which will be the culinary bedrocks of the Austonian. While Bull has been at the Stoneleigh in Dallas for the past few years, he made it clear to those who hissed at the mention of the Metroplex that he actually never left Central Texas and has been commuting from his home in Manor, God bless him. For those not familiar with the restaurant concepts, PR pro David Shaw told me that Congress will offer “sophisticated service and a cutting-edge, chef-driven cuisine featuring ultra-premium seasonal ingredient” while the more casual Second at Congress will offer “a comfortable and inviting food and drink experience serving American regional cuisine.” Bull shared with the crowd that his team just Wednesday received the permit to start construction on the two restaurants that will open this fall. As for his work in the kitchen on this evening, Bull impressed with a homemade goat’s milk ricotta that came served along side crisp black bass.
Martini popped back up to describe the two cabernets, his vineyard’s specialty, we were enjoying with the rest of our meal: a delicious Napa Valley Cabernet 2006 and the bold, slap-you-in-the-face Lot 1 Cabernet 2005. He was followed by Houstonian Bryan Caswell — the energetic and confident chef behind Reef (seafood), Little Bigs (burgers) and the recently opened Stella Sola (Tuscan-Texan cuisine, he calls it) in the Bayou City — who served a braised short rib that tore apart with not so much as a peep and came served with a sweet but subtle beet reduction.
For dessert, the charming Rebecca Rather of Fredericksburg explained that the weather slightly altered her initial plan for dessert, but she hit it out of the park, ending the meal on a decadent note with a rich, flourless chocolate cake served with a scoop of pistachio gelato, both of which were bathed in a viscous chocolate lava.
Early in the meal it seemed the courses were coming to the table somewhat slowly, but by evening’s end, with diners floating about the room in a state of food- and wine-induced bliss, it was obvious that the wonderful evening had been perfectly paced, an unmitigated success despite the lousy weather.
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Playboy names The University of Texas #1 party school in the land
To save you the potential embarrassment or HR investigations at work, here is what Playboy.com had to say about UT.
The Longhorns football team fell just short in the national championship game, but here’s a victory the entire school can claim a part of. We’re talking to you, bikinied coed in Devil’s Cove, and you, star wide receiver Jordan Shipley, and even the humanities library, which just purchased David Foster Wallace’s papers. When you add up academics, the weather, the liberal atmosphere, South by Southwest, game day and the nightlife on Sixth Street, UT Austin is one heck of a school. Hook ’em, Horns!
The rest of the top 10, in order: West Virginia University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Miami, East Carolina University, Arizona State University, Rollins College, University of California Santa Barbara, Plymouth State University, and University of Iowa. For parents scared to let their children leave home, lest they be corrupted by the outside world, Playboy.com named BYU and Oral Roberts the worst party schools in the country.
Once again, the list reminds me of ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons’ rationale for how high school students should select their colleges.
[Taken from Simmons’ Dec. 28, 2008 Reader Mailbag]
And while we’re here, with the college application season wrapping up, allow me to make my annual case for everyone to apply to warm-weather schools. Don’t spend four years in cold weather. There’s no reason. Go south, go west, but go.And if they have a good sports team, even better.I know people who attended the following schools: Pepperdine, the University of California at Santa Barbara, USC, UCLA, Rollins, North Carolina, Arizona, Arizona State and the University of Texas. Here’s how many of them regretted their choices: Zero. Meanwhile, the majority of my friends attended cold-weather schools … and only a handful of them would travel down that same road again. Again, why spend four years of your life in cold weather when you don’t have to do it? And why pick a college with crummy sports when you don’t have to do it? Beyond everything else, remember this above all: It doesn’t matter where you went to college as much as what you did when you got there. I have successful friends who went to every type of school; I even have successful friends who never graduated from college. So don’t stress out about it, expand your horizons, don’t be afraid to take a chance and please know that I’m telling you this only because I wish somebody had told me.
One last thing: Don’t go to Princeton. I’m still waiting to meet my first Princeton grad that I might like. I am like 0-for-79. Princeton grads carry themselves like bad guys in a sports movie. Remember the scene in “Pretty In Pink” when James Spader ordered his two henchmen to beat up Andrew McCarthy because he didn’t approve of McCarthy’s poor girlfriend? There’s no question that Spader’s character went on to Princeton, just like there’s no doubt Johnny Lawrence went to Duke.
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Louie’s 106 closed?
According to a message on its Web site, Louie’s 106, the tapas restaurant featuring Mediterranean flavors, is closed — whether that is temporary or permanent is unclear. Located just steps from Congress Avenue at 106 E. Sixth St., Louie’s 106 opened in 1986. Calls to the restaurant were unanswered this afternoon.
Photo by Tammy Perez FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN.
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Amy’s Ice Creams and Phil’s Ice House coming to South Lamar
Once opened, the two eateries will anchor Austinville 78704, a retail center that will cross Barton Skyway and include Thundercloud Subs, the newly opened children’s boutique Gaga and Papalote, a taqueria from the owners of (the wildly underrated) Azul Tequila restaurant. Several other locally owned businesses may also join the fray, though no names have been mentioned.
For more details on Austinville 78704, check out this story from Thursday’s Austin American-Statesman.
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GQ doffs its corduroy newsboy cap to New Brohemia
New Brohemia
2209 S. First St., Suite D [map]
804.0988
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Tax Day food and drink specials
Izzoz Tacos: Get any one of Izzoz tortas (pulled pork, braised beef, tilapia, fried shrimp or fried portabella and avocado) for $4.15, a savings of $1 or even $2.
Hooters: Buy 10 chicken wings and get 10 free. To wash down those wings, all day you can get Big Daddy domestic beers (22 ounces) for only $2.99 and Big Daddy premium beers for $3.99.
Mangia Pizza (two locations): Reader Bryan is correct; the Mangia locations at Lake Austin Boulevard and The Domain are both offering 9 percent off (no tax, ostensibly), with your order when you mention the “Tax Free” special.
The Melting Pot: High five to reader Hollie, who was correct in her assertion that The Melting Pot (both locations) is offering half-priced wine tonight.
Z’Tejas: It seems reader Jenni is correct. According to this Tweetphoto, you get a Sixth Street Margarita for $4.15 on the 15th, if you say “Tax Revolt.” The special price is only good for your first margarita.
P.F. Chang’s: Get a 15-percent discount on all food and non-alcoholic beverage purchases. Does not apply to happy-hour specials.
Starbucks: Get a free brewed coffee with your reusable mug, up to 20 ounces.
Mr. Jim’s Pizza: Get a coupon for a free pizza when you friend Mr. Jim’s on Facebook. For those not familiar, Mr. Jim’s is located at 10401 Anderson Mill Rd #108A.
McCormick & Schmick’s: Invites guests to join them at the bar for $10.40 dinner and drink specials. While supplies last, visitors will also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for their next visit.
McDonald’s (select locations): Purchase an Egg McMuffin or Big Mac at and get a second sandwich for 1 cent. The Egg McMuffin promotion is offered from opening through 10:30 a.m.; the Big Mac deal is available from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
The Library Bar: Until 11 p.m., get $1 domestic bottles and well drinks, $2 import bottles, $2.50 Jagermeister all night and $2.50 “U Call.” They will also be giving away free leis, Uncle Sam top hats, noisemakers, and more. Please be warned that you may hate freedom by the end of the night. [details]
Cinnabon: Two free cupcake bites from 6 to 8 p.m.
MaggieMoo’s: From 3 to 7 p.m., get a free sample of their new MaggieMia Ice Cream Pizza. Yeah, I know.
Jamba Juice: This isn’t exactly a Tax Day special, but to celebrate their 20th birthday, Jamba Juice is giving customers a free drink with a drink purchase. That special runs until April 25.
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Now open: Turf N Surf Po’ Boy
Turf N Surf Po’ Boy, the latest addition to the downtown trailer scene, is housed in a rusty old ship container that looks like it was sitting on a beach for the past several decades before being dragged along the blue highways and into Central Texas.
But the crusty and rusty exterior belies the fresh flavors coming out of the trailer.
Owners Ralph Gilmore and Priscilla Garcia profess a strict commitment to organic and local ingredients, which they’ve used to create a menu for a restaurant four times the size of their space — which is a good thing for anyone looking for some Gulf Coast boardwalk-meets roadhouse Americana fare.
Representing the “turf” side of the menu are a half-dozen free-range chicken sandwiches, a sinful fried pork chop sandwich, burgers that can be customized with more than a dozen toppings and more.
No matter how high the architects built the Austonian, the residents in the upscale new condos were never going to get an ocean view, but at least now they can catch a glimpse of food with a flavor of the coast.
Turf N Surf Po’ Boy. Second Street at Congress Avenue. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
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Around the world and back: Chatting with Harlem Globetrotter “Firefly” Fisher
- Photos: Harlem Globetrotters roster
Over the past 84 years, the game of basketball has evolved into one almost unrecognizable from its earliest years. But through the advent of the slam dunk, the three-point shot, the 24-second shot clock, and multi-million-dollar shoe endorsements, one constant on the hoops landscape has been the Harlem Globetrotters.
The club started by Abe Saperstein continues to travel the world and return to Austin Sunday as part of their 2010 “Magical Memories” World Tour. The Globetrotters take the court at the Frank Erwin at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $115. For tickets and more information, call 800-982-2386 or order online at texasboxoffice.com.
We spoke Wednesday with Globetrotter rookie “Firefly” Fisher, who, in the middle of his first visit to Texas, expressed excitement in getting the opportunity to crisscross the globe, entertaining families and visiting new places.
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What my mom and Phil Mickelson have in common
As was widely publicized at the time, Mickelson’s wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, and months later, his mother received the same diagnosis. Both ladies received treatment at the world-class M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the same place my mother received treatment after her diagnosis in 2008.
My mom’s recovery to becoming cancer free was due to her individual strength, the support of friends and family, faith, a degree of luck and the folks at M.D. Anderson, specifically Dr. Tom Buchholz. As it happens, Dr. Buchholz is also treating Mickleson’s wife and mother.
Last week at the Shell Houston Open, the three-time major winner left tickets for Dr. Buchholz and his staff. On Sunday, with Mickelson out of contention, he invited Dr. Buchholz inside the ropes to caddie for him, according to this story from Chris Duncan of Yahoo Sports. The gesture, a form of gratitude for all of the doctor’s work, was meant to be for one hole. But after Mickelson birdied the 14th, he kept Dr. Buchholz on his bag for two more holes, which he also birdied.
“This man has helped us through some of the toughest times that we’ve gone through,” Mickelson said. “He’s the best at what he does.”
When my mother saw the story, she emailed Dr. Buchholz congratulating him on the cool experience and echoing Mickelson’s sentiments.
“You and your staff always made me feel like I was the only patient that day,” my mother wrote. “Each of you always took the time to ask if I had any questions or concerns, a truly remarkable team.”
Hat tip to Phil for the classy gesture, and, thanks, Dr. Buchholz for all you do.
Photo from Associated Press
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New Kerbey Lane Cafe coming to …
Photo from Kerbey Lane on South Lamar by Ralph Barrera AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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