46 ACL Eats 48 Restaurant Roulette food-o-file
food
Welcome to the ACL Beerfest
I’ve been told there’s some music festival in town this weekend. I assume a few
BY V I R G I N I A B . WO O D
“It was like the Christmas Eve of my culinary career,”
said chef John Bullington, describing his excitement
and anticipation about cooking a 550-pound steer over
an open fire last week. Bullington’s live fire cooking expe-
rience was inspired by Argentine chef Francis Mallman
and ordered up by Bullington’s boss, Alamo Drafthouse
of you are beer tourists – you know, the type that immediately start looking for the
bars with the best suds selection and, if available, local brews. You’re in a pretty CEO Tim League, who asked his chef to prepare the beef
good town for such adventures. for a party at the J. Lorraine Ghost Town near Manor on
Unfortunately, you won’t get local flavor at ACL Fest – while ACL is great at offering the last night of Fantastic Fest. First, Bullington had to
up local food, the beer choices will be mostly Anheuser-Busch products and Heineken, find a local welder to create a heavy metal rig that could
although Widmer Brothers’ Broken Halo IPA or Kona Brewing Co.’s Longboard Island suspend a butterflied whole steer over hot coals for
Lager should keep craft beer lovers happy. But presumably you’ll stray outside at some about 20 hours. Once that was done and the grass-fed
point, and here are your best bets near Zilker Park and Downtown. – Lee Nichols steer was ordered from Richardson Farms, Bullington
assembled a cooking team of chefs and kitchen staffers
Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que and import choices and a nice from all the local Alamo kitchens. “It turned out to be a
1530 Barton Springs Rd. cozy atmosphere. ”
great corporate team-building experience, Bullington
Located just outside Zilker
beer Opal Divine’s Freehouse said, because all the staffers worked shifts tending the
in the middle of Barton 700 W. Sixth. Not only a solid fire, prepping food for the party, or serving at the event
Springs Road’s restaurant beer bar, Opal’s also fea- (see photos online with this story at austinchronicle.com).
row, this is the perfect
place for locals and tour- flights tures a magnificent Scotch When 400-500 moviegoers arrived at the Ghost Town
last Thursday night, they dined on appetizers inspired by
JOHN ADNERSON
selection and good food.
ists alike to get a taste of Argentine cuisine, grilled Texas beef with chimichurri
Lovejoys 604 Neches. It’s a
Texas – delicious, juicy bar- Uncle Billy's sauce, and rescoldo vegetables roasted among the
bit far from Zilker, but Lovejoys
becue complemented by a Brew & Que coals of the fire. The party capped off another distinc-
is a good launching pad to the
Texas-only beer selection, including tive schedule of fascinating genre films and outrageous
Red River scene after the fest shuts
great house brews. The downside: oak bark tap handles), (512) Brewing Co. events for which Fantastic Fest has become justifiably
down, with some good house brews.
Everyone else at the fest might have (especially the Pecan Porter), and Thirsty famous. Bullington admits he was concerned that his
the same idea. Expect a crowd. Zax Restaurant 312 Barton Springs promotion to corporate executive chef of the entire
Planet Brewing Co. – they’re only available
Rd. Zax is more a restaurant than a Alamo Drafthouse operation would mean spending all
The Ginger Man 301 Lavaca. Perhaps on tap. Other good choices (bottle or tap)
bar, but it has a solid beer lineup. his time working at the computer and traveling to open
you’re staying Downtown and walking to include beers from Real Ale Brewing Co.
and from the fest. This place will be on Local beers: In the bars, make a spe- (Oktoberfest and Lost Gold IPA are current new Alamo kitchens at theatres around the country, but
your way and worth the stop. You’ll find cial effort to try products from Live Oak seasonals) and Independence Brewing Co. it turns out he need not have worried. “I’m still working
dozens and dozens and dozens of craft Brewing Co. (look for the distinctive for this crazy man who comes up with these wild ideas
for special events, and that’s the best part of my job!”…
Spicewood Vineyards is home to a
After All the Great Music, How About Some Wine? Sancerre-style Sauvignon Blanc John Bullington and the 550-pound
Folks visiting our area for the Austin tional Viogniers costing up to $125 a (www.spicewoodvineyards.com). ex-steer
City Limits Festival might be surprised to bottle. Fall Creek’s Salt Lick Vineyard Stone House Vineyard is famous for its
learn that Austin is surrounded by more Tempranillo ($35, www.fcv.com) Norton wine, called Claros
than 30 wineries. Hitting them all would placed a strong second in (www.stonehousevineyard.com).
take over a week, but it’s easy to put that same tasting – again, Driftwood Estate Winery, one of
together a nice day or half-day trip. We’re
here to steer you to some of the best.
up against European
wines running more wine the original suppliers of Becker’s
Viognier, now makes its own
The two largest wineries in the area
are Fall Creek Vineyards in Tow and
than $100 a bottle.
Some of the best OF THE (www.driftwoodvineyards.com).
week
Becker Vineyards in Stonewall. Both wineries are also some Duchman Family Winery
are 60-90 minutes from town and of the closest. You can specializes in Italian-style wines, SANDY CARSON
each makes a remarkably high per- reach the following winer- especially a delightful Vermentino
centage of top-notch wine. Becker’s ies in about an hour from (www.duchmanwines.com).
Viognier ($14, www.beckervineyards.com), Zilker Park. Each has different Flat Creek Estate is a lovely place to
the winery’s flagship, was a unanimous hours, and all offer occasional food sit and look at the countryside while enjoying In other local news, Carlos Rivero’s restaurant group
winner in a tasting I led two weeks and special events. Check the web- a glass of Muscato D’Arancia closed the El Chilito outlet on Congress Avenue last
ago, where it competed with interna- sites for more details. – Wes Marshall (www.flatcreekestate.com). week and completed renovations on the rooftop patio at
El Chile Cafe y Cantina (1025 Barton Springs Rd.,
609-8923, www.elchilecafe.com) just in time for Austin
Event Menu Oct. 7-14 City Limits festivalgoers to enjoy the dramatic Downtown
› The 24th annual Gruene Music › The Barton Creek Farmers › The former Manny Hattan’s › Enjoy the Austin Museum of skyline with refreshing cocktails. Look for Rivero to
and Wine Festival offers four Market (2901 Capital of TX is now Manny’s Uptown Art’s annual lakeside celebration open a new icehouse burger concept when Flat Top
days of wine tastings, food, and Hwy. S.) and Austin Herb Kitchen (9503 Research of international food and wine at joins the other eateries on the Manor Road restaurant
music, at various locations in the Society present HerbFest – #650, 794-0088, www.mannys La Dolce Vita on the scenic row early next year… National magazine writers have
Gruene Historic District. Schedules, educational presentations uptownkitchen.com) and intro- grounds at Laguna Gloria obviously found great places to drink around Austin.
prices, and directions are at from master gardeners, duces its new name and (3809 W. 35th, www.amoa.org).
www.gruenemusicandwinefest.com. herbalists, and culinary expanded menu offerings with $125; $100 for members, with Just this month, Food & Wine magazine named the
Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 7-10. experts, plus a market of specials and live music. All an optional $25/$20 upgrade Paggi House (200 Lee Barton Dr., 473-3700, www.
herb plants and products. day Wednesday, Oct. 13. for the cocktail lounge. paggihouse.com) to its list of “wine-pro hangouts,” while
› Marble Falls’ annual Texas Fall Saturday, Oct. 9, 9am-1pm. Thursday, Oct. 14, 6-9pm. GQ put Fino (2905 San Gabriel, 474-2905, www.
Fest & Wine Auction features › Meet society columnist
events from almost 20 Hill › Streat (3211 Red River, Michael Barnes, and enjoy a › Zax Pints & Plates astiaustin.com) on its list of the 25 best cocktail bars in
Country wineries and meals pre- 628-0288, www.eatatstreat. meal prepared by chef/owner (312 Barton Springs Rd., America. Drop in for a drink while you’re in town for
pared by such Texas celebrity com) celebrates its grand Foo Swasdee during Wisdom 481-0100, www.zaxaustin.com) ACL. And speaking of ACL guests, if you love ice cream
chefs as Grady Spears, Michael opening with a Seven Wednesday at Satay (3202 invites you to its Oktoberfest sandwiches, grab one at the Cool Haus truck in the
Flores, Rebecca Rather, and Ray- Continents food and wine W. Anderson #205, 467-6731) party with German food, parking lot at Thom’s Market (1418 Barton Springs Rd.,
mond Tatum. Schedule, prices, menu, live music, and door for $30. Reservations: foo@ Oktoberfest beers, giveaways,
and tickets are at www.texasfallfest. prizes. Sunday, Oct. 10, satayusa.com. Wednesday, and special surprises. Thursday, 479-9800) on your way to or from the party this week-
com. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 8-10. 11am-5pm. Oct. 13, 6:30-8:30pm. Oct. 14, 6-10pm. – V.B.W. end. You’ll be glad you did.
44 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E OCTOBER 8, 2010 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m