Community Involvement « Austin Food Journal

A Torrid Affair

I would accept an invitation to watch the okra grow at Springdale Farm. So, I jumped at the chance to attend an A Torrid Affair dinner there (one of many more to come). Great food, perfect setting and for all the right reasons.

Austin, Texas based charity supperclub A TORRID AFFAIR has announced plans for its inaugural dinner event, set for Monday, September 26 on the beautiful grounds of East Austin’s Springdale Farm (755 Springdale Road). The brainchild of Péché executive chef Jason Dodge and former Péché mixologist Michael Menley, A TORRID AFFAIR’s mission is to raise money for the Dell Children’s Medical Center through the hosting of intimate dining events in Austin while increasing awareness of the benefits of local, sustainable agriculture.

Bringing together the best chefs and mixologists in Austin to create its one-of-a-kind dinner menus and pairing each course with a specialty cocktail — each created using only the freshest local, farm-to-table ingredients and Texas spirits — A TORRID AFFAIR delivers a unified dining and cocktail experience fusing passion and purpose. Guests will enjoy the finest quality and creativity in the dishes and cocktails presented by A TORRID AFFAIR and the supperclub’s commitment to providing both A-level service and personal interaction with the very creators of the original menus will result in an unparalleled dining adventure.

The September 26 A TORRID AFFAIR launch will feature a wonderful menu of paired courses conceived and designed by both Dodge and Menley, while future ATA supperclub events will highlight the talents of chefs and mixologists such as Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine and Chauncy James of The East Side Show Room.

A Torrid Affair : September 26th, 7:30 - 11:30pm : Get Tickets

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Quality Pizza Hangs in the Balance

Cross-country pedaler, pizza slinger and professional beard model Sean Robinson had his bike stolen today. This is significant for a few reasons: It’s his only means of transportation (he pedaled to Austin from NYC), he runs the oven at Bola Pizza on Saturday SFC Downtown Farmers Market, and lastly, you just don’t steal a dude’s bike.

STOLEN BIKE ALERT AUSTIN TX!!!! Black Schwinn World Sport. 10 speed Black bag under seat. Sticker says “I Ride Bikes to Look Good Naked!” Taken Mon afternoon from Springdale and Bolm Rd. If you see it lock it up and let us know!

DM us on Twitter @bolapizza or @atxfoodjournal

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Events Calendar: Farmers Market Break

Farmers Market’s will be closed this Saturday for the holiday. Still need a fix? Head over to the SFC Farmers Market at the Triangle today. It’s a jumbo. Many of the downtown vendors will be in attendance. It should be twice the size of the normal market.

SFC Farmers Market at the Triangle: Wednesday’s 3 - 7pm

For more local happenings, check out our Events Page

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2010 Reheated: Antonelli’s Cheese Shop

Yes, there was a time when the Antonelli’s Cheese Shop didn’t exist. It was in 2009 (I know it’s hard to imagine). Easily the best Austin food story of 2010, John and Kendall have brought a razor sharp cheese focus to the forefront of the foodie scene. And, we are better eaters for it.

The Cheese Shop has had a ripple effect in menus across town. In an age when the Dessert Menu used to laugh at the Cheese Course, Fromage is making a comeback (check out Deegans’ pairings at Jeffrey’s).

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Sustainable Food Policy Board: Special Meeting

Special meeting (and location) today of the Sustainable Food Policy Board to address hot food at the farmers’ markets. Today’s topics include:

• Update on farmers’ market permits and issues by Paula McDermott
• Update on urban agriculture ordinance and process by Margaret Russell and Daphne Richards
• Update on irrigation water rate/meter fee waiver by Rusty Coburn
• Travis County Jail field trip update by Dick Pierce
• Discuss proposed meeting dates for Calendar year 2011

Sustainable Food Policy Board - Special Meeting: 12:30pm Tuesday Nov. 9th, 2010
Palm Square Building, room 2307, 100 I-35 Austin, TX

For more local happenings, check our Events Calendar

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Feeding the Monster

Did you see the NY Times article on Dairy Management? They are a non-profit organization that is an off-shoot of the Federal Department of Agriculture that was formed to help promote the dairy industry. Apparently, they are the group that paid for Domino’s Pizza’s new “made with real cheese” pizzas and funded the massive advertising blitz that we are currently being assaulted with.

I’m on the fence about weather the government should be supporting the dairy industry, but I do know one thing. If Dairy Management is going to be handing out money, it should be going to CKC Farms, Pure Luck Dairy and the Antonelli’s Cheese Shop and not fueling the mass production of shitty pizza.

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