Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
By Jasmin Sun
Nothing says “festive” to me more than pumpkin. Especially when scented with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, it’s the quintessential holiday fragrance. Sure, the veggie might be more appropriate for Thanksgiving, but bake it into a muffin with chocolate chips and you have a delicious snack or on-the-go breakfast fit for any day of the year.
The Don Juan Taco. Photo by Mason Scheer
By Mason Scheer
Juan in a Million has been featured on the show “Man vs. Food”. The host faced the Don Juan Challenge. In order to win, he had to eat 8 Don Juan Tacos, and set the new record. In one of the rare losses for the host, he didn’t even come close, eating 4.
So I had to at least try it.
The Florence at The Local Yolk. Photo by Rebecca Adams
If you’re not yet tired of Austin restaurants touting their “organic” or “local” cuisine, then you might just enjoy The Local Yolk, an East Austin food cart that serves fried egg sandwiches. I have developed an affinity for food carts, partly because I’m a sucker for kitsch outdoor decor and partly because I think there is just a little more love in the food. Owner Shelley Speer started up The Local Yolk after she “fell in love” with the egg (her words, not mine) to promote wellness by serving up fresh healthy sandwiches.
A tasty treat you can make at home. Photo by Mason Scheer
By Mason Scheer
I really love to cook, but I am not a chef. People have told me that I am more of a scientist with an apron on. I mix and match things that don’t usually go together, just to see what kind of result I’m going to get. I’d say I have about a 75% success rate.
When we announced bacon week, I scrambled (that pun should have been saved for egg week) to think of something new and exciting you can make at home. Breakfast is usually the meal made at home. So how can I make bacon even more interesting? What usually does not go together? Then it hit me.
Bacon Cinnamon Rolls.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
This was the first thing that came out of my mouth when a friend told me about the Flying Pig donut at Gourdoughs. This delectable, heart-attack inducing monstrosity consists of a fluffy donut doused in maple syrup icing, topped with a mound of crunchy bacon. It isn’t too hard to imagine my surprise that this mythical creation actually exists.
Chimichurri Seitan Wrap at Conscious Cravings. Photo by Jessie Wang, Editing by Jasmin Sun
As you might have garnered from my comrades’ previous posts, the Gypsy Picnic food trailer festival took place this past Saturday (Nov. 6) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It goes without saying that there were plenty of delicious eats to be had at the event–which was, for the record, like Austin City Limits for food–so I’ll be concentrating on what I found to be the most unexpectedly tasty dish as well as a cart that wasn’t all it was hyped up to be.
The Chicken & Eggplant Sandwich at Food Heads
We here at Austin Eat Cetera are constantly on the lookout for the perfect sandwich. While there’s definitely no shortage in amazing local sandwich joints, my favorite has to be Food Heads. It’s easy to miss because it’s located in a house, tucked away from the drag just north of the UT campus on 34th street. I’m a sucker for quirky outdoor furniture and crafty decor so the kitsch feel of the place made me feel right at home and ready for a good meal.
Relax and enjoy a beer (or two) tonight
Dinner at Rio's Brazilian
Like most everyone in Austin, I am hit with a slight tinge of paranoia when venture across Interstate 35 into the east side of the city. It’s seen as the “dangerous” part of town, somewhere you should aim to avoid when the sun goes down. Either that, or white hipsterville. While the area does have its fair share of sketchy neighborhoods and artsy-fartsy establishments, the food there certainly should not be discounted. And in this case, I am telling you to run, not walk, to Rio’s Brazilian Café.
Pancakes, bacon an hash browns at Red River Cafe. Photo by Joshua Avelar
Simplicity is an unappreciated characteristic for restaurants nowadays. It seems like way too many places are trying to be fad spots full of themes and décor that may just try to distract you from how bad the food tastes.
Alas, there is Red River Cafe, a small diner – and I really do mean small – located just outside the University of Texas campus. Its name is a bit misleading, considering it is not exactly on Red River Street but its location on the corner of 29th and Medical Arts streets make it visible from the Red River and 32nd streets stoplight. After all, it is hard not to notice giant eggs on the wall.
Red River Cafe. Photo by Joshua Avelar
The menu is simple, for the most part, with essential breakfast items like pancakes and French toast. The cafe also has a good selection of breakfast tacos – a mandatory menu item for any true Austin breakfast spot. A friend of mine with whom I was eating had some of the Red River Cafe’s fluffy buttermilk pancakes while I opted for one of the weekend breakfast specials: pouched eggs on an English muffin with a side of hash browns.
Pouched eggs. Photo by Joshua Avelar.
Red River Cafe’s menu gets pretty diverse and creative come lunch time. It has a great burger selection complete with the always-excellent option of avocado as a topping. Customers at Red River Cafe can also enjoy a selection of chicken and fish dishes as well. Another friend of mine ordered a spicy chicken sandwich with a side of fries.
Spicy chicken sandwich with fries. Photo by Joshua Avelar.
In all its simplicity, Red River Cafe still maintains a great environment of unique characteristics that make it a great dining experience in Austin. Its free WiFi is always nice considering its close proximity to the UT campus. Its outdoor patio makes a great way to enjoy the Austin weather and the place is very dog-friendly.
Eat Cetera 