Sweet tastes of Argentina rise at new Austin bakery

A new taste of South America has taken root in South Austin. At the Buenos Aires Cafe, 2414 S. First St. (441-9004) just south of Oltorf Street, owner Reina Morris, above, is producing captivating pastries, sandwiches and other dishes that are popular in her native Argentina. Morris, a graduate of the Texas Culinary Academy, is baking a wide variety of cakes, breads and pastries, including the alfajor, two cornstarch cookies held together by a thick layer of dulce de leche (caramel) with the perimeter rolled in coconut. She also makes savory pastries, including spicy meat empanadas in a flaky, golden crust, as well as daily lunch and dinner specials. The small cafe and bakery (seven tables inside, plus a few on the patio) is open 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Matt Rourke
AMERICAN-STATESMAN

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Spicy meat empanadas from Buenos Aires Cafe.

Matt Rourke
AMERICAN-STATESMAN

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Cakes, breads and pastries at Buenos Aires Cafe.

Larry Kolvoord
AMERICAN-STATESMAN

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Color cauliflowers from Boggy Creek Farm.

Parade of colored cauliflower at Boggy Creek tempts kids

Green, gold, purple — the Mardi Gras-colored cauliflower at Boggy Creek Farm is a showstopper. One morning last week the local farm sold 80 heads in just a few hours. They taste and smell like white cauliflower, although the gold is a little buttery and the green a bit nutty. The varieties hold their color when cooked. And the color is the key. One mother, buying a head of purple cauliflower at Whole Foods Market one morning before the holidays, said her kids won't eat green veggies, but they are enticed by purple. Smart mom. Cauliflower is one of those good foods pushed by nutritionists.

Cafe goes under cover at south Central Market

Central Market at Westgate has closed its cafe for three months to enclose the outdoor section permanently and increase seating from 170 to 250. It also will upgrade the kitchen to meet increased business. There will no longer be outdoor seating when the cafe reopens April 1. Live music, which will be suspended during the remodel, will resume inside the cafe.

Other changes afoot include incorporating the coffee bar into the restaurant operation along with a gelato bar, relocating 16 feet of the to-go Cafe on the Run to the deli. New paint, fixtures and tables will grace such departments as grocery, healthy living, produce and meats. There may be some jack-hammering, but nothing like the extensive remodel of the North Lamar Boulevard store, says Central Market's John Campbell. Many of the changes will hardly be noticeable to the shopper, he says, but will freshen up the 8-year-old store.

New faces turn up at Austin culinary academies

Names in the news: Chefs Will Packwood and Alain Braux have joined the staff at the Culinary Academy of Austin. Packwood, one of 10 Food & Wine best chefs in America for 2001, is known from his stints at 7 and Emilia's. Braux was the longtime pastry chef-owner of Amandine Bakery. More recently he was pastry chef at Barr Mansion. ... Julia Brooks has been appointed president of the Texas Culinary Academy, replacing Harvey Giblin. Brooks comes to Austin from Dallas, where she was president of Le Cordon Bleu Institute. Giblin is the new director of Austin Business College. He remains president of the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, scheduled this year for April 6-9. ... Hallie Speranza, who had Speranza's, a small beloved Italian restaurant in downtown Austin a couple of decades ago, is catering dinner parties featuring her homemade Italian dishes. She can be reached at lasperanza@swbell.net.