FOOD & DRINK

Somnio's Cafe goes local with 'South Austin Cuisine'

Vin Bistro called out by economy, owners still hopeful Vin on Fifth will open

Somnio's Café grand opening saturday

In conjunction with the South First Street Art Walk, the "South Austin cuisine" specialists at Somnio's Café will hold their grand opening Saturday with live music and extended hours from noon to 10 p.m.

According to co-owner and head chef Jay Guidry, South Austin cuisine is about community and a commitment to locally grown foods. As much as 80 percent of Somnio's produce is purchased at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market every Saturday. Also a chemical engineer, Guidry makes sure the cafe's leafy greens are always organic.

Somnio's menu is constantly changing. During the first week of fall, diners enjoyed a pumpkin soup with fried okra that blended the creamy and crunchy into a warming dish. The meat of the orange pork tacos, simmered in beer and oranges, was tender, citrusy and served with a side of homemade peach salsa and warm pita chips. Though these items might not be on the menu for long, they show that Somnio's knows how to take what it has and make something worth trying. Some other enjoyable dishes are the green chile cheesesteak and pork medallions.

Another highlight: Somnio's Café invites diners to bring their own beer or wine.

Somnio's Café, 1807 S. First St. 442-2500. Usual hours 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. www.somnioscafe.com.

— Alex Daniel

Tour de vin takes party through the roof Oct. 9

International wine and cuisine meet on the rooftop plaza at Whole Foods Market downtown from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 9 for Tour de Vin, a fundraiser for the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas. More than 20 chefs from restaurants around town will present food to go with more than 100 wines, which guests can enjoy while listening to the music of Patricia Vonne. It's $75 to get in if you're not a member of the foundation, $50 for members. If you pay the $50 annual membership fee before Oct. 9, it's $25 to get in. www.winefoodfoundation.org.

— Addie Broyles

Vin Bistro closes; Focus turns to Vin on Fifth

The economic downtown is hitting local restaurants hard, and Vin Bistro is one of the first victims forced to close its doors. The small, upscale neighborhood dining spot on Kerbey Lane in midtown was undergoing renovations, but co-owner and co-founder Rick Deitrick says that after an investor pulled out it wasn't viable to put more money into a restaurant that wasn't ever very profitable. "I loved it, but it was a labor of love," Deitrick said this week.

With a bigger slowdown this summer than normal and more competition in the area (the restaurant-rich Triangle and Domain complexes are less than five miles away), it made sense to close Vin Bistro to concentrate on Vin on Fifth, a 150-space restaurant in the Monarch apartment tower downtown that was set to open later this year.

"It's been hard to find investors in this tough economy," Deitrick says of the downtown project. "I'm still trying to raise money (for Vin on Fifth), and that's the difficulty." He's hopeful that the location, brand and wine-centric concept will be attractive to investors, but "everyone's afraid to do anything right now because of the economy," he says.

— A.B.

Book helps you mix with champagne like a champ

Champagne is the quintessential party drink, but who says you have to limit yourself to drinking it straight or with orange juice? If you're feeling stuck in a mimosa rut, Kim Haasarud, the author of several drink and cocktail books, has tons of fresh ideas for you in "101 Champagne Cocktails" ($16.95, Wiley). It includes such drinks as the Pygmalian, with champagne, gin, orange juice and strawberries, and Bada Bing, a mix of champagne, gin, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, cherries and slivers of basil.

— A.B.

Les Dames' Dinner benefits scholarships

To raise money for culinary scholarships, the Austin chapter of Les Dames d' Escoffier, an organization of women leaders in the food, beverage and hospitality industry, is hosting a three-course dinner with Texas wine pairings at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Texas Culinary Academy. The third annual fundraiser includes demonstrations of many of the dishes from chefs including Alma Alcocer-Thomas of Jeffrey's, Kristine Kittrell of Stortini, Terry Wilson of Aquarelle, Denise Woods of Salado's Friendship House and private chefs Gina Burchenal and Pamela Nevarez. Tickets are $75 and are available at www.ldeiaustin.org.

— A.B.

Eat your way around town during October

The first official Austin Restaurant Week will take place during eight days in October. On Oct. 12-15 and 19-22, about 50 area restaurants, including Aquarelle, Sagra, Kenichi and Bistro 88, are offering three-course meals priced at $25 or $35 that include an appetizer, entrée and dessert.

Restaurant weeks started in New York in the early '90s as a way to open the world of fine dining to the uninitiated and promote the community of people eating there, according to founder Matt Swinney. It costs restaurants $500 to be part of the event, and Swinney says participating restaurants are already taking reservations for the meals. You can find restaurants, download menus and make reservations at www.restaurantweekaustin.com.

— A.B.

Get to know Texas wines in a tasting class Friday

On Friday, get a crash course in Texas wines at a tasting class at Whole Foods Market Culinary Center. The Texas Two Sip tasting class, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., costs $45, features regional wine expert and sommelier Devon Broglie, below. The event will cover varietals that are emerging as Texas' signature grapes, such as tempranillo, sangiovese and viognier. 525 N. Lamar Blvd., 542-2340. www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

— A.B.