FOOD MATTERS

Proteak cutting boards, the Festival of Cheese, a cupcake smackdown and more

El Chilito expanding to Barton Springs Road

The popular Manor Road taco stand El Chilito will open a second location in August at the former home of Gypsy on Barton Springs Road, a company spokesperson confirmed last week. The sign's already up at 1025 Barton Springs Road, a seemingly doomed locale that's been home to Rockhound's, Castleberry's Cafe and most recently Gypsy Italian Bistro. El Chilito, a sister operation to El Chile, has gained fame in East Austin for value-priced tacos, a relaxed walk-up aesthetic and interesting drinks like a spicy frozen sangria. The owners made a brief run at a second El Chilito on Congress Avenue downtown last year, but have since converted that restaurant into a third El Chile location.

- Mike Sutter

Flip us your recipes

Central Texas backyard burger queens and kings, here's a chance to prove yourselves. Send your favorite grilled burger recipe to pbeach@statesman.com. We'll take the most promising recipes and grill them up (on a gas grill) and announce the winner in time for Labor Day. The winner will receive a set of grilling cookbooks and a $100 gift certificate. Only amateurs allowed; no pro chefs. Burgers must be beef, and ingredients must be readily available at area markets. Entries due Aug. 12.

- Patrick Beach

Proteak products made from trees grown on reclaimed land in Mexico

Ten years ago, a Wimberley company planted a forest of teak trees along the Pacific coast of Mexico to create a source of sustainable teak in North America. Now Proteak Renewable Forestry Inc. has nearly 8,000 acres of teak, most of which was planted on reclaimed ranchland that had been eroded, overgrazed and abandoned by farmers, says Taylor Guess, who works in marketing and sales for the company. Products made of teak had become unfavorable because the tree, which is native to Southeast Asia, was harvested through deforestation of old-growth forests. Starting last year, the company started selling durable and beautiful cutting boards and butcher blocks made from the first trees that were thinned out to make room for other trees to reach maturity. Proteak's cutting boards (from $9.99) and butcher blocks (from $750) are available at Breed & Co., Sur la Table and Williams-Sonoma.

- Addie Broyles

Say 'cheese' to this festival

The American Cheese Society is holding its annual Festival of Cheese in Austin Aug. 5-8. The event is expected to draw cheesemakers from around the country and Canada for judging, seminars and tastings. From 5:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 8, the public can participate in a tasting of more than 1,100 artisan and specialty cheeses, along with wine, beer and specialty foods at the Hilton Austin, 500 E. Fourth St. Tickets are $75 at www.cheesesociety.org.

- M.S.

Whose cupcake takes the cake? Find out at Saturday's smackdown

Cupcakes are the most popular treats on the bakery block these days, and what better way to celebrate the mini-cakes than with a party? To bring cupcake fans together and to raise money for the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, food blogger and master cupcake baker Jennie Chen is hosting Cupcake Smackdown 1.0 from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at One-2-One bar, 121 E. Fifth St. The event will feature contests, including cupcake-eating contests for both humans and dogs (four-legged competitors will be eating "pupcakes," made with carrot and ginger from Grand Dog bakery). Bid on cupcakes at a silent auction, vote on which Austin baker has the best cupcakes and enjoy live music from Arielle Nicole. Dogs and kids are welcome, Chen says. The party is free, but it's $10 to enter the cupcake-eating contest. E-mail jennie@misohungrynow.com to enter yourself, your dog or your cupcakes. More information at www.misohungrynow.com.

­- A.B.

Author spotlights organic farmers of the Lone Star State

Houston-based author Pamela Walker spent four years touring organic farms to get to know the families behind them to write her newest book, "Growing Good Things to Eat in Texas," which comes out next month. "I wanted to make organic farmers more visible," she says, which in turn might encourage people who are thinking about getting into farming. She says she also wants people to know what kind of living they support when they buy local, organic produce. Walker, who has a farm of her own in Schulenburg, will be signing copies of her book at the American Cheese Society Conference next week. She'll also be signing books in Austin from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 15 at Wheatsville Co-op, at the Austin Farmers' Market on Oct. 17 and at the Texas Book Festival on Halloween weekend.

- A.B.

Seguin farm offering delivery in Austin

Steele Farms in Seguin, which is run by a family that has been farming in Central Texas for 150 years, has launched a produce delivery program in addition to its weekly booth at the Austin Farmers' Market. Company official Trey Steele says customers sign up for four, 10 or 40 weeks of produce, which is delivered in a reusable shopping bag from the Austin company Blue Avocado. What makes this system different from a traditional community-supported agriculture program is that each week customers can go online and add extra items or take away produce they don't want, Steele says. There's also a recipe section online where subscribers can share ideas and tips. Starting this week, they are accepting new customers for fall harvest shares. Information at www.freshtexasproduce.com.

- A.B.

Openings and closings

• Open: Third Base, the third location of a local sports bar and restaurant at the Grove at Southpark Meadows, 9600 S. Interstate 35, Building B, Suite 500 (381-2273. www.thirdbaseaustin.com).

• Open: Chedd's Gourmet Grilled Cheese, an Austin outlet of the Colorado sandwich shop in the Triangle at 4601 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 504 (323-0989, www.chedds.com).

• Open: East Side Showroom, an arts space and cafe at 1100 E. Sixth St. (eastsideshowroom.com ).

• Closed: The Star Bar, a cocktail lounge at 600 W. Sixth St.

- M.S.

Restaurant briefs

• National Lasagna Day is a ridiculous notion, but free lasagna isn't. Today , the Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo (3612 Tudor Blvd. 342-8462, www.bucadibeppo.com) will give away lasagna with the purchase of any Buca pasta dish or main course.

• On Tuesday , businesses in Salado (50 miles north of Austin along Interstate 35) will join forces for a progressive wine dinner called "A Progressive Taste of Salado." The event will feature Texas wines, appetizers and food courses from Inn on the Creek, the Range at Barton House, Gregory's and more. It starts at 5:45 p.m. at the Salado Wine Seller, 841 N. Main St. $125. Reservations at www.inncreek.com or 877-947-5554.

- M.S.