XL Xtra: ACL Festival 2005

Chill from the inside out with cool foods

Photo by Ralph Barrera/AA-S Amy's is an Austin chain with the flavor of homemade ice cream.

• When it comes to fresh ingredients and fabulous dressings, it's impossible to beat the salads at Chez Nous, the small French bistro in the Sixth Street entertainment district. The salade Michele, for example, combines mixed greens, Belgian endive, roasted pears, sautéed shallots and crumbled Roquefort in a black currant-walnut oil vinaigrette. 510 Neches St., 473-2413.

• For many diners, Mexican is synonymous with hot. But that doesn't mean everything is served on a scorching plate or with a highly zesty flavor. One cool Mexican pair is ceviche and a frozen margarita at El Chile Cafe y Cantina. Bringing a little spice without the heat, the ceviche is a chilled mix of tilapia "cooked" in lime juice with red onion, tomato, serrano and cilantro. 1809 Manor Road, 457-9900.

• A few licks from Amy's Ice Cream and the Austin heat will start to melt away. Choose from a blackboard full of locally made flavors (my favorite is the seemingly plain but intensely flavored Mexican vanilla) to fill a cone or dish. Better yet, have one of Amy's scoopers crush some candy, cookies or fruit to combine in that cool, sweetened cream. Locations near the festival grounds: 1012 W. Sixth St., 480-0673; 1301 S. Congress Ave., 440-7488.

• Sautéed crab cakes might taste great, but they don't do much to counter the warm weather. That's why the chilled jumbo lump crab salad at the Cafe at the Four Seasons is such a welcome alternative. In this upscale appetizer, the lump crab is lightly dressed with spicy mayonnaise and accompanied by grilled bruschetta, cherry tomatoes and tobikko caviar emulsion. 98 San Jacinto Blvd., 478-4500.

• When a cold meal seems like the perfect antidote to a hot concert, head for some sushi. In fact, one of the closest restaurants to ACL Fest is Mimosa Cafe, where diners can find a tasty array of tidbits from the sea. Mimosa's Austin roll, for example, encases the appealing combination of shrimp, smoked salmon and snow crab. 1530 Barton Springs Road, 494-0202.