One of the best food festivals in Texas.

And that is saying something. Austin alone has Hot Luck Fest, Austin Food and Wine and even Austin City Limits Music Festival makes a case to got for the food alone. So what makes Field Guide Fest a standout? Marrying great produce with great chefs. It's all about Texas Farms at the Field Guide Fest. Here were some of my most memorable bites.

The grilled chicken wings from LeRoy and Lewis

You are going to want to grab a few extra napkins. Whole joint chicken wings from Michelin starred BBQ chef Evan LeRoy naps some chicken from Greener Pastures farms and goes town. Smokey, salty and well spiced, it was a miracle I didn't stain my shirt. Finger licking good.

The tamale from La Condessa

One might think the braised beef would be the star of show when it comes to this tamal from La Condessa. But no, it was the masa. Wrapped in a banana leaf it was so rich, tender and moist, I honestly can't imagine why I would eat a corn husk tamale ever again. But if it came from farm to table high end Mexican restaurant La Condessa, I would consider it. Whatever tamale they come up with, this certainly a reason why I think Field Guide Fest is the best food festival in Austin.

The veggie gumbo from Hissy Fit

Two things are new to me: veggie gumbo and Hissy Fit. Turns out I have just been in the dark. Veggie gumbo isn't an accomodation but rather part of the Cajun canon right along with seafood or chicken and sausage. The leafy greens and leeks from Farmshare Austin were just as savory as Andouille sausage and had hints of Chinese cookery as well and that complexity is what makes Field Guide Fest the best food festival in Austin. Looks like I gotta check out Hissy Fit now.

The Roasted Duck from Ling Wu

Chef Ling Qi Wu is the queen of Chinese cooking in Austin TX. Her dim sum at Lin Asian blew me away back in 2019. Now with five restaurant concepts under her name she adds some much needed poultry diversity to Field Guide Fest. Partnering with Belle Vie Farms allows her to bring a smoked duck dish which might make the case for Field Guide Fest being the best food festival in Austin.

The Chicken Merguez sausage from Foreign and Domestic

Typically served in a roll, the chicken merguez sausage was also plated which works well for guys like me watching my carb in take. Foreign and Domestic has been a farm to table fine dining destination restaurant for many years now. For them to join Field Guide Fest was a natural fit. What was not a natural fit was me loving a chicken based sausage as much as I loved this one. My takeaway is that when cooked gently, chicken sausage can be just as memorable as a pork, lamb, or beef version.

Smoked Pork Garden Picnic

Off the visual part of me said "this dish looks too healthy" at least considering I was amped up for a Sunday Funday. Then I took a bite. Smoked heritage pork tenderloin isn't an automatic slam dunk as the lean cut can come out less insta delish like say pork belly. I was impressed. And yes this seems almost like a weekday salad lunch except the flavors were pretty much explosive. Turns out the greens and the carrots from Eden East Farms pack a wallop of flavor. Also am here to bookmark Store House Market in Bastrop TX(30 miles east of Austin). This is the kind of dish that makes me say "when does the cookbook come out?"

The Lamb barbacoa taco from La Santa Barbacha

If you search through my posts you will find a lot of love for La Santa Barbacha. I take people there on food tours and push them out all over my socials including this YouTube video. While I think they have the best breakfast taco in Austin(spoiler alert: must love beef) the lamb barbacoa is frankly waaay better. I begged them to put this on their regular menu.

The Carrot Sorbet from Uchiba

Generally speaking, vegetables in Ice Cream is a "wow you pulled it off food". In the case of Uchiba and their work with the Refugee Collective Farm, its more of a "give chocolate a rest and expand your horizons". First off the farm is a remarkable program that offers refugees work at an organic farm. Uchiba, an Izakaya offering from the formidable Uchi restaurant group makes Willy Wonka level magic to create a carrot sorbet that was a treat to eat as much as it was to photograph.

Field Guide Fest recap

I was happy to have the chance to go but I walked away more impressed. Bonus points for partnering with great farms and the size of the festival was perfect. Very little wait times and plenty of food and drink. I will absolutely be there next year.  

Best BBQ Austin: Rollin Smoke BBQ

The Vitals: the spot: Rollin Smoke BBQ 1700 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 the eats: "G Thang" Carne Guisada Burrito the bucks: $$ the full nelson: the best late night BBQ in Austin

What makes Rollin Smoke BBQ the best BBQ in Austin?

They are open late and epitomize late night cravings and the best Texas BBQ. Take a look at their full platter and the picture becomes quite clear. Tender brisket, smokey ribs and craft Texas sausage links along with creative sides like you might find at some other great BBQ restaurants in Austin.

What to order at Rollin Smoke BBQ

What makes Rollin Smoke BBQ really stand out among the best BBQ in Austin is their unique dishes. Around Christmas they will do tamales made with brisket drippings they collect all year. But any time of year you can get this:

BBQ Burrito

Named the "G-Thang", Rollin Smoke BBQ has a signature dish(in my mind) that is a burrito filled with Carne Guisada and Mac n Cheese. Carne Guisada is a TexMex classic where chunks of beef(brisket in this case) are simmered in a gravy with Mexican seasonings. The Mac n Cheese is  pasta shells tossed in a blend of four cheeses. Salsa Verde and a Chipotle Crema are the sauces and the whole thing is wrapped in a foot wide flour tortilla warmed in beef tallow. Needless to say this is a gut buster you might want to share but goes down far too easily. Check out the video on YouTube for the full rundown on the Rollin Smoke BBQ experience and see why when it comes to late night, is very much some of the best BBQ in Austin.

Rollin Smoke on YouTube

The Best Food in Austin Texas: April 2025

Old School Hotel Brunch Buffet

The Vitals: the spot: The Carillon AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705 the eats: Brunch Buffet the bucks: $90 per person the full nelson: Throwback Brunch Buffet for special occasions or for just feeling special  Over Easter Sunday, I took up an invite to check out The Carillon and their brunch buffet. Buffets are a tricky business. It's hard to meet a level of quality when you're also committed to quantity. I was surprised at how good the food was. A few highlights included the beef tenderloin which was cooked to a perfect medium rare, the crab and asparagus soup and the roasted vegetables. And don't miss the Cajun aioli at the chilled seafood bar. Pro tip: when you try the eggs benedict, grab a piece of lobster as a topper. You're welcome. It's that kind of brunch buffet hack that positions the Carillon to the category of some of the best food in Austin.

Cajun Meets Central Texas BBQ

The Vitals: the spot: Parish Barbecue 3220 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723 the eats: "Texas barbecue with Lousiana Roots" the bucks: $$ the full nelson: An exciting new barbecue spot in Austin After spending some time honing his skills at top tier barbecue restaurants like Franklin BBQ and Interstellar BBQ, Holden Fulco is embarking on a new chapter of BBQ in Austin by pairing Central Texas meats with Cajun flavors. One bite of his brisket smoked over hickory instead of the classic Central Texas post oak easily qualifies some of the best food in Austin. And that's not even the best meats on the menu.Be sure to try his smoked ham, duck and muffuletta sandwich. This is one to be on the watch for potential best new restaurants of the year.

Cambodian Food Pop Up

The Vitals: the spot: Feed Me Right Mau Roaming Pop Up  the eats: Cambodian food pop up the bucks: $-$$ the full nelson: A Cambodian pop up that is popping up all over town Chanda Mau is a pure delight. She is someone who thoroughly loves food and seems to pop up all over town with her Cambodian food pop up. I caught up with her a few Saturdays ago where I was treated to her stuffed chicken and marinated flank steak skewers. Cambodian food is a rare occurrence, especially in Austin so follow her on IG for a this rare treat. That stuffed chicken wing haunts my dreams and is an easy candidate for some of the best food in Austin. The Vitals: the spot: Jabs Burgers and Fries 111 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704 the eats: Excellent Smash Burgers the bucks: $ the full nelson: Some of the best Bang for your Burger Buck Smash Burgers in town I was already hyped on trying Jabs Smash Burgers on the price alone. $10 for a double Smash Burger is a fair deal in Austin 2025. Add to the fact that they use good beef,Creekstone Farms, and their burger sauce is lights out amazing and you have zero excuses for not heading into downtown Austin. While the triple seems like a fair deal at $13, I honestly thought the double for $10 with lettuce and tomato was a more balanced burger experience. Be sure to ask for extra sauce. It's that good.  

Best Food In Austin April 2025 recap

Loved range of food for this month. Bang for your Buck Smash burgers, Cambodian Pop Up, a killer new BBQ joint and an old school brunch vibe combined for the best food in Austin I discovered this month. May has a lot to live up too . . . .

Are Protein Chips healthy?

It is a question worth asking if you are considering buy protein chips which are at times 10 times more expensive than potato chips. But if there is one thing we have learned, it is this: junk food is cheap. And you don't need a personal trainer and a nutritionist to tell you that potato chips aren't exactly a healthy food option. But are protein chips any better?

Protein chips by the numbers

If you're gonna ask the question "are protein chips healthy?" you gotta crunch some numbers and do the math. A single serving of Wilde Protein chips has

• 170 calories
• 10 grams of protein
• 340 mg of sodium
• 20 mg of cholesterol
• 6 grams of carbs
• 2 grams of sugar
• trace amount of fiber, potassium and iron.

Potato Chips by the numbers

Now let's compare that to a bag of Kettle brand potato chips. Surprisingly the total calories are less. A serving of these chips yields a total of:

• 150 calories
• 16 grams of carbs
• 430 mg of potassium, way less sodium at
• 115 mg sodium,
• 0 mg cholesterol
• 9 grams of fat.

In both scenarios one thing is critical.

Serving Size matters

If you're asking the question "are protein chips healthy" and you don't measure your portion size, you are doing it wrong. Both nutrition labels essentially offer the same serving size and that matters, like a lot. Wilde Protein chips says a serving size is 30 grams. Kettle Chips says 28 grams. Almost the same thing right? I think so. But how much is 30 grams of chips?

Enough to fit in your hand

Or a bowl that fits in your hand. Regardless if you are considering Protein chips as a "healthy alternative" to potato chips, portion size is paramount. And when you ask the question of whether "protein chips are healthy?", the bigger question becomes: can you resist the urge to eat more than you should of this food?

So, are protein chips healthy?

In place of potato chips, you are getting more protein for a comparable portion and increased protein is something I have been looking into in tandem with a dedicated workout regiment. But is it better than say 4 oz of cooked chicken breast? Like any snack food, moderation is key and it is not a substitute for non processed foods.

Why I tried protein chips

These chips came into my home for my son and his health needs are in a different place than mine. I'm looking for a calorie deficit and overeating is something I struggle with. For these reasons, protein chips fall under the indulgence category for me.

My favorite protein chips (and dip!)

I tried Wilde protein chips regular, Buffalo and Salt and Vinegar. I preferred the latter two and I will say that the buffalo flavor version with some guacamole not only slaps but kept me fuller off the recommended 30 gram portion. But overall for someone like me, the possibility of overeating is too great to make this part of a regular calorie deficit regiment. So while protein chips might be healthy snack alternative for some, it's no replacement for an unprocessed source of protein.

Healthy Steak Recipe

Is that even possible? Growing up I was taught that steak was nothing but an indulgence. Red meat was vilified as the main culprit for heart disease among other serious health risks. But current thinking has changed when it comes to some red meats in certain instances. I was recently invited to an event at SXSW(South by Southwest) by Force of Nature. They offer a line of meats that showcase regenerative farming practices. In a nutshell it's healthier meat that is good for the environment. They sent me some of their product and it gave me the perfect opportunity for me to share a healthy steak recipe and give you a review of their Bison New York steak.

Healthy Steak Recipe Step 1: Simple Seasoning

After I took the Bison steak out of the package I patted it dry with paper towels. It's very lean so I rubbed it in a little olive oil(I like Graza) and seasoned it simply with salt and pepper.

Healthy Steak Recipe Step 2: Cook hot and fast

I got my cast iron pan good and hot. I used a little beef tallow to grease the pan too. The steak isn't thick so a few flips and you will be good to go. I think I went about 3 minutes a side and then kept flipping for a minute a side for extra color.

Healthy Steak Recipe Step 3: Let it rest

I love to rest my steaks on a wire rack. Five minute is plenty of time. I have heard of some recipes calling for resting beyond 10 minutes which is bonkers in my mind. At that point you might as well order steak through DoorDash. Good luck with that bill.

Healthy Steak Recipe Step 4: Portion size

Portion is everything. Any healthy steak recipe can be compromised if you're overeating. A couple slices should give you 3-4 ounces of protein. That's a modest serving and a good way to keep your overall calorie count in check.

Healthy Steak Recipe Step 5: Choose the right side

Think about the the whole plate when considering this healthy steak recipe. I love a potato gratin but that is gonna shoot your calorie intake faster than you can say "seconds" on Thanksgiving. I chose to slice up some brussels nice and thin and cook them off in the residual fat left in the pan while steak was resting.

Force of Nature Bison Steak Review

This steak is lean, gamey and has more chew to it than say a grain fed steak. Even compared to lean cuts like flank steak, you will notice a difference here. If you're not accustomed to Bison, quite frankly it might not be for you . . . at first. I've always enjoyed game meats and it quite literally is a whole different animal. Modern farming practices have created a meat experience that showcases a rich taste and tenderness. As a result, many of us don't know what red meat tastes like when it is raised in a natural setting that the animal evolved in.

Which steak is best?

I can say that I like both experiences for different reasons. Want a steak that tastes indulgent? Go for grain fed. Want a steak that tastes "pure and clean" and with health in mind? Try out Bison or any game meat or true grass fed beef for that matter. If you're looking for the right steak for a healthy steak recipe, going for wild game and a lean cut is the move.

Would I buy it?

Over the last three years I have made great strides in my overall health. By focusing on my diet, I have lowered my cholesterol, my A1C and lost 30lbs. And I have maintained it. I also LOVE THE TASTE OF MEAT. For those reasons, I would consider buying this steak for my healthy steak recipe which is a nice change up from the usual midweek chicken breast or salmon.

Final Thought

My last thought is this: if you're concerned about your health and are looking for more lean protein options, lean steak like this Bison New York Strip from Force of Nature might be worth looking into. After making french fries from scratch for my son the other day though, the idea of making another healthy steak recipe somehow seems like a wise decision.