For the fourth year in a row I rocked the house at the Austin Food and Wine Festival. We ducked some rain, braved the heat because it’s always hot in Austin and stumbled upon some new exciting bites. Here are a few of my favs from the weekend:
The line at Austin Food and Wine was deep for this sweet, creamy shrimp dish from local Chinese heavy hitter Wu Chow. This was one of those classic Cantonese dishes that for me symbolize the NYC Chinese experience. Wu Chow strives for that nostalgia with commendable execution. Certainly a staple in Austin’s OG Chinese food scene.
Wine and cheese go hand in hand. At Austin Food and Wine Festival, Cabot Creamery made a smart play when it comes to cheese and hand held foods: A pimento cheese slider. The pro move was to chase this down with some sparkling wine, like Cava.
AIX RoséEvery year I make an effort to hit up the AIX Rosé tent for a glass or three of this thirst quenching French Rosé. The color comes from the skins staying on just long enough but never mistake this wine for the headache inducing doppelganger, White Zinfandel. Pro Tip – you can pick up this bottle at Whole Foods and it’s a decent value too.
Out in Hill Country, The Laurel is serving up upscale Northern Italian fare at Hotel Viata. I am a lover of meatballs and usually prefer an all beef blend. However the veal, pork, beef mix here was a welcomed mellow take and showcased the sauce. If I’m craving meatballs, it looks like I’ll be making a trip out west for it. I hope these guys come back to Austin Food and Wine Festival next year.
Hattie B’s was my most memorable bite at Austin Food and Wine Festival in 2023 and the same holds true for 2024. The chicken breast is brined and is incredibly juicy and the heat packs a wallop. Even at medium, the heat is REAL.
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