Satellite Cafe in South Austin

Ever since I had the lettuce wraps at P.F. Chang's, who knows how long ago, I fell in love. The crisp lettuce cups the size of my head, sweet, crunchy, flavorful filling of chicken, and more had me at hello. One of my favorite little spots in South Austin is the Satellite Bistro & Bar. The menu boasts choices galore, everything from crab cakes to stacked enchiladas. Each time I sit in the cosmic setting, it takes me a minute to decide. On a weekend lunch outing with my Mom, we stepped into the cafe for a bite. I saw the lettuce wraps as an appetizer on the menu and my eyes widened with glee. I asked the waitress if they were big enough for lunch for person who enjoys her food, she said they would be plenty. Mom ordered the fish tacos, which are another must at the restaurant. I had a bit of shock and awe when my plate arrived. It was huge. Mountains of chicken goodness, toppings, crunchy wonton strips, and of course the lettuce the size of my head, led to a mini dance at the table. I piled each bit of goodness into the lettuce as if putting together a present for a dear friend. I wrapped the lettuce like a soft taco and took my first bite. Visions of my virgin lettuce wrap experience popped in my head. Was it possible to fall in love again? Yes, it was. The wraps at Satellite have a bit more bite, and I like it. My Pinot Grigio was the perfect partner for my Asian appetizer. Mom thoroughly enjoyed her tacos, and the conversation was of course wonderful. Stop in for brunch, lunch, or dinner if you're in this suburban hotspot of Austin. You'll thank your lucky stars you did.

Satellite Bistro & Bar
Twitter: @satellitebistro

Wink

I have been wanting to try Wink in Austin for years now. It literally is down the street, and I've never made it surprisingly. Well hello to restaurant.com again, and an official good-bye dinner for my dear friend Casey. She was off East for her career promotion and the thing we do best together is eat. We headed to Wink and got ready for all the rumors of greatness to be true. The restaurant is split in two separate sections. The right entrance is for reservations, the left for the bar and other come and go seating. We sat at the bar, which may be the best seat in the house. We had the bartender at our beckon call to answer all questions drink related. We fortunately ended up sitting next to the Wine selector for the restaurant. He gave us suggestions and tastings from his perfect personal choices. Seriously good start and ultimate finish to the night. Back to the middle of the culinary story. The menu changes daily, so we jumped right into the night's offerings. We ordered the cheese plate of the bar menu. I swear I've never had a full on bad cheese plate. It was excellent of course with one of its favorite partners, wine. We chose a Malbec, well the only Malbec on the wine list. Affordable yet satisfying. Then we got down to business. Casey chose the Dayboat Scallops (arugula, pattypan squash, sorrel emulsion, lemon grass vinaigrette). Cooked to PERFECTION. Light, sweet, the bounce back but softness you should get with good execution. I chose the Braised Rabbit leg (herbed gnudi, baby squash, lemony peashoots, and squash blossoms). Stick a fork in me and call me DONE. This was one of the best food marriages I've had. The vows exchanged by each flavor made my tastebuds tear up with love and adoration. Excellent. The rabbit tender, the lemony peashoots such a surprise, and gnudi a new fav. We chose desserts as if it could get any better. Well soldier, it DID. Caps are needed for this one. We selected the El Rey Chocolate cake (warm flourless chocolate cake, el ray chocolate, zinfandel infused cherries), and the Lemon Meringue pot (tart lemon curd, crisp meringue cup, candied lemon zest and berries). The chocolate cake was fantastic, but let me say the meringue pot stole the show. One of the best desserts ever. So light, so tart, so creamy. The candied lemon zest was out of sight. I could snack on it all day long. Wink is definitely one of my top picks in Austin after the visit. Go in for a drink at the bar, but don't forget the dishes that you can experience. It's worth every bite.

Wink Restaurant
Twitter: @winkrestaurant

Uncorked Round Two (yes round two)

I have many successful, smart, driven girlfriends in my life and Casey is no exception. She recently received her MBA and a promotion in her career. It was her last weekend in town before her big move East and eating was on the agenda. She is one of my all time favorite dining partners. A mini girl's night was organized, and Uncorked was selected to feed the hunger(with another gift certificate from restaurant.com). One of the best things not mentioned in my previous Uncorked Round One entry, is the great patio and downtown view at the restaurant. A big factor in our decision. My first dining experience at the restaurant was in the evening, Round Two was right before sunset. Although the Texas heat, that will have you cursing its humidity was apparent, we still had the best time. We started with a wine selection recommended by another knowledgeable waiter. Funny enough, our first choice was unavailable, but we settled on a lovely Brandsen Malbec from Mendoza. Another steal at $27 for the bottle. Apps started with the International Cheese Board (selection of imported cheeses with grapes, honey and baguette). They, like most cheese plates, were fantastic. The honey was incredible and got our taste buds ready for more. We went for entrees and chose the Roasted Rack of Lamb (South American style with chimmichurri, garbanzo salad and watercress), Uncorked Hummus Trio with Pita Wedges, and the Seared Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad. Unfortunately, both Casey and my lamb was a bit overcooked. I was so disappointed because it was such a favorite from my last visit. The hummus was delicious, each very different and bursting with flavor. The salad was great too, which large seared tuna pieces. A great night, with great women! Take a trip for yourself, and see what this little house has to offer. Daily and weekly specials are created by Chef Ron White, and you will most likely find him behind the bar recommending selections to your liking!

Uncorked Tasting Room & Wine Bar

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Let's Go Have Some Vino

If I could dream up the perfect mother, it would be the one I was given. She is the most amazing woman/mother I know, and I'm so grateful she's in my life. We decided to treat her to a dinner via the Texas version of Tuscany. We headed out to Mandola Estate Winery in Driftwood, Texas. It's about 20 minuets outside of Austin, and quite lovely set in the Hill Country. We arrived about a half an hour before our reservation, and went right into the Winery for a tasting. We tried 6 wines, red and white, for $5 each(Mothers sipped free for their day), and enjoyed the information from the down to earth and knowledgeable wine pourer. Our favorites happened to be at the top of the list. The 2008 Viognier for the white, and the 2008 Sangiovese for the red. We made our way to the restaurant, Trattoria Lisina, on the property and got ready for our Italian spread. Our waiter could not have been more fantastic. He was honest, friendly, and consistent. Mom and I chose a Pinot Noir for dinner (they don't serve the wineries selection at the restaurant, but have many Italians to choose from), and grazed on bread and olive oil. We picked our dishes for the night, thanks to suggestions from our waiter, and melted into the Old World Italian atmosphere. He let us know that each recipe is from owner Damian Mandola's family, except the daily specials which are inspired by Chef John Lichtenberger who hails from New York. I decided on Costolette di Agnello alla Griglia (Texas grass fed lamb chops grilled over oak & pecan, with a reduced balsamic glaze, peperonata & Parmigiano garlic mashed potatoes). I consumed every tiny bit of this dish. It was so incredibly divine. The rack was medium rare, juicy and seasoned with just the right amount of spices. The balsamic glaze, oh I could bathe in it. The potatoes were creamy and velvety next to the meat. Excellent. Mom decided on Cannelloni Lisina (Stuffed with chicken, veal, pork, aromatic vegetables & Parmigiano, baked with besciamella & tomato sauces). She said it was a tad mushy, but still fantastic. Brother went for the Pollo al Girarrosto rotisserie chicken (Rosemary, garlic & lemon, served with roasted potatoes & a cucumber salad). He thought it was great, just a bit dry for his liking. All in all, the meal was wonderful. The best way to celebrate all that our Mom has done for us, and let her know how much we love and adore her. The setting was fantastic, as close to Tuscany as we'd get for the day. Stop by and enjoy a bottle in the courtyard, under a tree lit canopy. If you're in Austin, stop by Mandola Market for a similar bite, which this Sleepy Eater has mentioned before. Arrivederci!

Mandola Estate Winery
Twitter: @MandolaWinery

Trattoria Lisina

Mandola Market from The Sleepy Eater

It's My Birthday, Let's Eat! - Crawfish, Jack Allen's Kitchen & Perla's

My 27th Birthday rolled in and took me by surprise. Late, late twenties...wow. My wonderful newly married friends Bradley & Lindsay offered to throw a crawfish boil for my bday, and a newly graduated friend with her MBA! It was absolutely perfect, especially since all I really wanted for my bday was to eat, all weekend. We gathered at their adorable abode and the festivities began. Bradley, master chef/boiler rallied up his new pot, crawfish from Quality Seafood, and let the good times roll. While he was cooking away, we snacked upon my fabulous friend Laura's homemade crab cakes. Uh, ah-mazing! It was her first attempt, and may I say they were a home run to the max. The perfect amount of crab, seasoning, and bite. I could have eaten them all day, but they were gone in about 2.5 seconds. Lindsay busted out some fantastic Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting for the occastion as well. Delish! We drank our cervezas and Bradley's killer margaritas (we'll call them tequilla with a little lime and ice) and enjoyed the sunny May day. I couldn't imagine a better way to start a new year of mi vida, and celebrate such a major accomplishment as getting an MBA. It was fabulous. The next day, I awoke with an oh so friendly hangover, but ready to jump on the food trail again. My mom, brother and I started with appetizers at Jack Allen's Kitchen in South Austin. The restaurant was opened by Jack Gilmore and Tom Kamm. Jack was the founding chef at Z'Tejas in Austin. Not knowing what to expect, I went in wide eyed and hungry. We sat outside on the fantastic patio and were served a complimentary plate of the House made Pimento Cheese with flatbread. Delicious and creamy. After scarfing that down, we decided on the Bacon Wrapped Texas Quail (Jalepeno jam, peach jam, and micro green fig salad), as well as the Smoked Beef Rib Quesadilla (Pepper Jack, cotija cheese, and Jack's Slaw). They were both like a birthday present to our mouths. The quail was tender, juicy and soaked up every bit of its bacon wrapped flavor. The jellies and fig were outstanding with the meat. I could have licked the plate clean. The quesadillas were filled with moist beef rib in a sauce that was finger licking good. I could have stayed all day and eaten everything else on the menu. Jack's prides themselves on using local farm foods, and it definitely shows. The chefs put everything into each dish, and it makes you stop and appreciate their efforts. As if that little meal weren't enough, I was craving seafood for the big bday dinner. The three of us headed to Perla's on South Congress for the feast. The weather was perfection, so we sat at one of the picnic tables on the front patio. The trees, sunset, and strings of lights were like eating in a friend's backyard. So wonderful. I had been craving the restaurant's Crab Louie (Lump Crab with Cornmeal Fried Green Tomatoes, and Russian Dressing) for weeks, and immediately ordered it with a glass of Pinot Grigio. For our entrees, I ordered the Maine Sea Scallops a la Plancha with poached garlic drawn butter, Mom and brother both got the Oak Grilled Trout (one with Salsa Verde and the other with poached garlic drawn butter), and to top it off we got a side of Shells & Cheese. I have to say my scallops were the most perfectly cooked scallops I've ever had. They were large and in charge, perfectly tender and succulent. The fish was fresh and excellent. The Shells & cheese, heaven with a kick of jalapeno. We finished the happy birthday to me celebrations with an order of the Strawberry Rhubarb Tart, and the Banana Split. The tart was a blissful marriage of tart and sweet with a flaky crust to bind it together. The banana split was kick ass. The BEST chocolate ice cream I've ever tasted, which is handmade at the restaurant in an old fashioned ice cream maker. Rich, creamy, and the most pristine chocolate flavor, ever. It was one fantastic birthday and I loved every minute during every meal. Grateful for another year, and grateful for many more meals to come. Cheers!

Quality Seafood

Jack Allen's Kitchen
Twitter: @jackallens

Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar

Brooklyn Laundry - A Moveable Feast

I had the absolute pleasure of attending "A Moveable Feast" this past weekend, with Brooklyn Laundry. What is Brooklyn Laundry you ask? It is a fantastic dining club and catering group, based in New York, which focuses on farm-to-table convivial meals and literary-inspired menus. Previous to their venture to Austin, the group meets once a month in different locations all over New York, with Chef Fiore Tedesco leading the culinary trail. Their first dinner outside New York happened to be in my fair city of Austin, and I jumped at the chance to try a dining group other than my own. Two dinners were created over a weekend and focused on Ernest Hemingway's, A Moveable Feast. The memoir is based on Hemingway's life in Paris in the 1920's. The book is a true dive into French wine and cuisine, with no detail left unturned or forgotten. The dinners Brooklyn Laundry created were over two nights, each with a little over 20 people. The first was hosted at a private home, the second at East Side Stages, an Austin office and stage space. I was fortunate enough to attend the second dinner, as I was celebrating the wedding of two wonderful friends the night before. I arrived at the east side location greatly anticipating what I was about to experience. I was graced with candle-lit stairs, a table with chilled beverages, and a warm greeting from Chef Tedesco himself. We briefly talked about the group, my history, and what was to come for the edible evening. As Chef returned to his final prep, I sipped on Lillet and Champagne (a cocktail Hemingway fancied), with the cool spring air as my background and a copy of Edible Austin in my hand. I had the chance to speak with Tedesco's wife, mother, and sister. All whom were incredibly lovely and welcoming. Slowly but surely, more quests continued to arrive. Many knew each other previously, and I was excited to meet others intrigued by the meal ahead. We soon sat down at a perfectly set long table with wildflowers and candles galore. Chef Tedesco welcomed the group and explained that each of the five courses was based on a passage of the book, and meant to mimic a dish Hemingway adored in Paris. The first course began with a re-creation of oysters. We were served Golden Tilefish ceviche with butter lettuce cups and french sorrel salad. A glass of 2009 Bieler Estate Rose accompanied the dish. It was heavenly. The sorrel salad left the palate clean and refreshed, while the ceviche cooled the senses with a salty twist. A perfect way to start the evening. We were next presented with Fried "Goujon" with sweet potatoes and baby turnips in a mint, caper and lemon butter. This served with a 2005 Drouhin Saint Veran. As a Southern girl, I appreciate anyone who serves something fried. Chef Tedesco did not disappoint. The batter was light, and fish moist. The vegetables complimented the fish with hearty ability. Delicious. Next came the Truffled roast quail with venison live pate and pommes a l'huile. The quail was created to showcase Hemingway's love for roast chicken lunch in Lyon. I felt the same love towards the quail. The pate was perfect. I usually have to leave a little behind, but with this one I devoured every bite. Not the least bit heavy or strong. It was served with a 2006 Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence. My absolute favorite of the night. It was spicy and robust, but sipped so easily. The last course before dessert was Seared Siika venison with spring onion and strawberry puree. Yes, your mouth should be watering. The uncommon combination of venison and strawberry thrilled every eater. The berries created a backdrop of suddle sweetness with the venison sweeping its way over the taste buds. We were served a 2007 Terre d'Ardoise Vieilles Vignes Carignan with the dish. To finish the evening off, as we were all smiling and satisfied, came dessert. Chef Tedesco called it 'Opium and Milk', a recreation from a passage in the book where Hemingway is told to give his friend a bit of opium when he needed it, and milk when he'd had enough. The dish was just as addictive, a Chocolate rose tart with poppy seed lavender ice cream. The ice cream was custom made by Amy's Ice Cream in town, and it was phenomenal. Lavender is one of my most favorite ingredients used in cooking, and I was so glad to see it incorporated in the dessert. The chocolate was perfectly dark and sweet. The crust flaky and buttery. The whole thing was exceptional, and I will miss it most of all. The dessert was served with your choice of fruit liqueur. Texas Hills Orange Moscato, Mirabelle Eau-De-Vie, or Framboise Eau-De-Vie. I chose the Mirablle (plum) and many others the Framboise (rasberry). Each could knock your socks off. As the scent punched at your noise, the flavor was surprisingly smooth. A great end to what was an unforgettable meal. Brooklyn Laundry will be returning to Austin sometime in December, and headed to Los Angeles next. It is not to miss. Take part in what should be the way we cook, dine, and enjoy. All ingredients from the dinner came from places in and around the city. Amy's Ice Cream, Boggy Creak Farms, Broken Arrow Ranch, Sweetish Hill Bakery, and Texas Quail Farms. Be sure to stay tuned to what Tedesco continues to achieve. He is a delight to be around, and continues to drape his Italian based passion on the mouths he feeds.

Brooklyn Laundry

Edible Austin

Amy's Ice Cream, Boggy Creek Farms, Broken Arrow Ranch, Sweetish Hill Bakery, Texas Quail Farm

Cru Wine Bar

My friend Lisa and I seriously needed to talk life, so we decided to go al fresco at Cru Wine Bar in downtown Austin. I had never been, and was excited to try one of their well-known wine flights. We sat down, took a deep breath, and began our convos. While we chatted our waitress brought out each of our flights. The pieces they serve the flights with are almost the best part. They are circular metal holders that allow the waitress to place the flight, in order, in front of you all at once. Lisa decided on the White Global Pinots and I went with the Sexy Reds (I was in need of a little tenderness). The flights were great, and we each found one wine we loved. Mine happened to be the Betts & Scholl 2006 O.G. Barossa Valley Grenache. It was heavenly, and I ordered another glass, or two. We of course couldn't just sip on wonderful vino, a girl's got to eat after all. We ordered a few of the sharing plates. The fried brie with honey and black peppercorns, and the beef tenderloin with salad and green beans. They were both fantastic. The brie was soft, creamy and not overwhelming with the slightest crunch from the batter. The honey with pepper was amazingly awesome. We got a second order of the brie, we couldn't resist the perfection. The steak was tender and such a nice choice to match the brie. Wonderfully cooked and flavorful. We spent the rest of the evening sipping our picks of the night, and figuring out the answers to life's questions. Cru has locations in Austin, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Denver. They know their stuff, and can help you or your party pick the perfect cast to your edible play. Cheers to tastiness.

Cru Wine Bar

Steak Supper

I was at my dear friends Rachel & Lydia's parents house last night planning an upcoming bridal shower. We discussed bridal details, and shortly after their Dad mentioned he was cooking steak for dinner. He asked if I'd like to join, but I needed to head home so I declined the lovely offer. Though I couldn't join, his idea inspired me to try a Steak Supper por uno. I stopped by my local grocery, Fresh Plus, to check out the goods. Fresh Plus isn't exactly the deal spot of the century, but I'm usually impressed by their meats. I decided to go big or go home, and well that would have just let me hungry. I chose a beautiful Rib Eye from the meat counter. It was pricey, but a hunk of a piece of meat. About a pound. I picked up some red potatoes, green beans, and the pièce de résistance, blue cheese. I jumped in my car with great excitement to get my Julia on and make a meal. I walked in the door, greeted by a very sleepy puppy (thanks to his doggy play date with the girl's pups earlier), and began my feast. I'm a big fan of googling recipes if I don't feel like flipping through cookbooks. I found a Pan Seared Rib Eye from Alton Brown. He's not one of my favorite Food Network personalities, but I went for it. I left the meat out in order to get to room temperature, and pre-heated my oven to 500 degrees. A hot one, but a must. I washed the gorgeous red potatoes and sliced into even-sized chunks. I boiled and salted water and threw them in. I then got my oven-safe pan and popped it in the oven for about 5 min. While that was heating up for my pound of pleasure, I ran outside to grab some rosemary. I'm lucky to have an apartment complex with rosemary bushes in front. Once inside I coated my steak with olive oil, salt, and pepper. I took out my pan and immediately put it on high heat. I put the seasoned steak in the pan and cooked on each side for 30 seconds. After it was seared, I placed the pan in the oven and cooked on each side for about 3 min. That temp allowed the steak to be medium. If you prefer medium rare, try 2 min. each side. Once my steak was finished, I took it out of the oven and placed on a plate covered in foil to rest. Many of you know that resting meat is so important, it allows the juices to redistribute. If not, you'll have one juicy bite and that's it. No bueno. With my meat resting, I drained my potatoes (they boiled for about 10-15 min) and placed them on a baking sheet with olive oil, salt, pepper, chopped garlic, and rosemary. Mmmmmmm. I turned my oven down to 400 and let them roast for about 15 min. I'm not a patient in the kitchen, so I'm sure longer would get a bit more crisp, but they were great. I chopped up my green beans and boiled them for about 10 min. I topped a portion of my steak with blue cheese crumbles and got myself some vino. Everything was so so so so so so good. I was impressed. I've always been hesitant with meats, and thanks to an easy recipe, it was fool proof. The simple seasoning of the meat and natural juices were excellent. The blue cheese added a boost to the steak. Creamy, soft and a burst of tangy flavor. The potatoes, with their classic garlic and rosemary, were tender and divine. The green beans still had a bit of crunch to them. Tossed with a little olive oil and salt, they were excellent. Try it for yourself, date night, or a good meat eating friend. They will definitely appreciate your steakhouse supper at home.

Alton Brown's Recipe