Christian Bowers – Page 130 – Austin Food Journal

Slow Food Gets Sexy

When I moved back to Austin in 2001, I attended my first Slow Food meeting. Not much came of it. I felt the desire to be a part an organization that I believed in, but the events, for me, were more labor then love. I couldn’t quite see the value in the dues. Fast forward to 2009. Much has changed in the Austin food scene and Slow Food seems to have gotten a second life. I have gone from “why should I join” to “I can’t believe I missed that event!”. Potlucks at Rain Lily Farm, Cheese-making demo’s (free), Chicken party at Shades of Green Farm, Slow Drink Happy Hour at Annies, Raw Talk & Tasting Fundraiser at Barr Mansion…

Porch Weather

The weather has finally broken and it’s safe to sit outside again without poaching yourself (braise?). The winner of the inaugural Best Austin Outdoor Food/Drink Porch With Rock Cage Things award goes to (drum roll)… Olivia! I wish I came up with this idea. What better to lean on during happy hour than seven hundred pounds of rock.

Setting Goals To Stay Focused

I have finally reached my all-time baking goal of baking a loaf of bread in the shape of the egg pod in the movie Alien. Yes! What’s next?

Secret Sauce

Here’s the problem I have with pizza sauces (or most tomato sauces in general). Long and slow is great, but it kills the bright tomato flavor. Simmer a sauce for three hours? You might as well just squeeze a tube of tomato paste on your pie.

Show Me Your Hands

Did you see Okervile River on Austin City Limits? Holy crap! They killed it! I dig how food and music are intertwined in Austin. Both are creative endeavors that are shared with others (minus that grilled cheese sandwich I made at midnight).

Frank’s Does Brunch

Frank’s has fired up their Sunday Brunch menu. And, true to form, they are keeping it simple and tasty for the downtown crowd. Below are a few of their offerings. The chicken and waffles thing still doesn’t work for me, but I’m all about Jalapeno hollandaise!