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Qui

3/16/2015

2 Comments

 
qui austin
My husband and I have been obsessed with the culinary stylings of Chef Paul Qui since he was making amazing and innovative dishes at Uchiko. Watching him go through Top Chef and were confident from the beginning that he would be the winner. After easily wrapping up that competition he proceeded to open this amazing little gem and we have been delighted on our numerous visits to Qui (and that is apparently pronounced /kē/). The restaurant originally started as a standard, “choose your own adventure” menu but it has since morephed into a what's fresh today, best of the best. Now when you go (and do make reservations, they fill up fast!) you have just two options; a choice of a Standard (aka Carnivorous) or Vegetarian tasting menu of roughly seven courses at a set- and I feel VERY reasonable for what you get- price. They also offer a “beverage pairing” which I highly recommend, they get it right. Every beverage perfectly complements the course and adds yet another layer of complexity.  Since we just went this past Friday and did the Carnivorous menu (with beverage pairing… of course!) I snuck some photos of my amazing grub and wanted to post a play by play of the greatness.

I actually had one of the "best bites" of my life here a few months back and want to make sure I specifically call it out as well. They had amazing Amberjack sliced sashimi style that they brought to the table with smoking, red hot chunk of binchotan (a white oak I believe) that they rested directly on the wood for the briefest of moments before pulling it off and setting it carefully in a squid ink/sumiso (type of sweet miso vinegar sauce). AMAZING. We ordered a second round of it. They had something similar last week, and it was really-really good... but WOW, the Amberjack... that sauce... mmm...

The Menu (3.13.15)

course: 
marcona almond, shaved lardo, piperrada, smoked trout roe, gazpacho

beverage: 
virtue sidra de nava, michigan, US, NV

thoughts:
Tasty with nice rich flavors, beautiful presentation
qui austin

course:
yellowtail crudo, roasted pistachios, tomato, cucumber, "yoshi-dashi"

beverage:
jules taylor gruner veltliner, marlborough, NZ, 2013

thoughts:
Nice, fresh, refreshing. Perfect for the first Spring-like day of the year! The fish was amazing 
qui austin

course:
fried chicken, smoked oyster aioli, sal de gusano, egg yolk custard

beverage:
hitachino nest white ale, ibaraki, JP

thoughts:
I loved the egg yolk custard and it was by far my husbands favorite dish and it was delicious but honestly was too rich for me. 
qui austin

course:
hamachi seared on binchotan, midorizu, flowers

beverage:
hanzell "sebella", chardonnay, sonoma, CA, 2013

thoughts:
This is the "seared on a red hot log" dish. I can't describe how amazing that oak smoked flavor is, it just isn't right for anything to be that delicious.
qui austin

course:
pork blood, maitake, sunchoke, brussel sprout, red onion, henbit

beverage:
cleto chiarli lambrusco, emilia-romagna, IT, NV

thoughts:
My husband really liked this dish but to be honest is wasn't my favorite
qui austin

course:
texas wagyu shortrib, tamarind, wasabi, coffee bean

beverage:
famille perrin cotes du rhone reserve, grenache, syrah, rhone valley, FR, 2012

thoughts:
This was a delicious little chunk of steak, slow cooked and fork tender. The little unexpected punch of wasabi on top made the dish.

qui austin

course:
coconut fig caramel, goat milk ice cream, coffee cashew semifreddo

beverage:
von honsebrouch kasteel rouge, ingelmunster, BEL

thoughts:
tasty little dessert, the caramel was super tasty and the texture of the semifreddo was decadently silkey
qui austin

Check out their website!
qui
http://quiaustin.com/
(512) 436-9626
1600 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78702
2 Comments

Noble Sandwiches - Burnet

1/25/2015

1 Comment

 
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When we lived in Cedar Park we went to the Noble Pig (now renamed to Noble Sandwiches) on RR620 for lunch pretty regularly but haven't been since we moved to South Austin a year ago. We just realized there is a Noble Sandwiches on Burnet close to the triangle so headed up there to check it out. It is just as great as the original and the interior is a beautiful, sleek industrial/cottage feel. I wish I had gotten a picture of the decor, it was really nice.

On to the food, we got a few half sandwiches so we could try a few things We had a Duck Pastrami Ruben sandwich (on bacon bread... excuse me while I wipe the drool off the keyboard), Knuckle Sandwich and the Noble Pig on challah. 

The smoked duck pastrami is extremely tender with a wonderful smokey flavor, and -according to my husband- it is "super tastie-fied." But really, I think the house made pickles and bread really make their sandwiches, it is all fresh made, light, fluffy and flavorful. The level of pride they put into making something generally thought of as being "simple" is really the secret. Everything they serve is fresh and handmade by them, and it is all delicious. 

Check out their menu here!
Noble Sandwich Co.
noblesandwiches.com
(512) 666-5124
4805 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756

1 Comment

Ramen Tatsu-Ya South Lamar

1/21/2015

3 Comments

 
Ramen Tatsu Ya South
I have been waiting patiently (or not so patiently!) for the South Austin Ramen Tatsu-Ya since one of the nice waitresses at the North location let it slip a year ago that they were opening one up MUCH closer to me.

I am an Asian soup junkie, and Ramen tops my list of must haves, and I would say Ramen Tatsu-Ya is the most amazing Ramen I've had. I love the stuff. It is like liquid crack. With an egg in it.

So, now that I've already said how crazy I am about this place I was SOO excited when I found out they are doing a soft opening before they are "Open-Open" next week. Probably no need to say, but we were THERE as soon as I knew it was an option. 

The South Austin location was honestly a little classier and I don't think it'll be as noisy as the North location, I love that they took the feel of their North restaurant and took it up a notch design wise. Every one there was so nice and helpful and the food was 100% as amazing as what I've come to expect from Tatsu-Ya. 

I always get the #2 (Tonkotsu Sho-Yu -Tonkotsu broth with special blend of soy sauce, chashu, ajitama egg, menma bamboo, crushed peppercorns, scallions and nori.) with an extra Ajitama (egg) and a spicy bomb

But my husband gets the #1 (Tonkotsu Original - Creamy pork bone soup with chashu, ajitama egg, wood ear mushroom and scallions) with extra chashu pork and the corn bomb.

Ramen Tatsu-Ya
They are both always amazing. I highly reccomend this spot. It is amazing! Oh, but you probably want to get there early, the North location gets a line around the building starting about 6:15, so try to beat the crowd!
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
3 Comments

Porter Gastro Pub

6/10/2014

0 Comments

 
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We have been driving by Porter Gastro Pub heading to one restaurant or another several times and always say "we need to check that out!" Well this was the day! It is a very cool vibe and folks had dogs on the patio (I am a sucker for anything dog friendly). The inside was a cool industrial zibe that I loved.

Looking over the menu there were so many great sounding things! We ended up going with the list below and the Pork Belly Slider, Oxtail Croquette and Country Pate were all so flipping great! The Pork Belly Slider is a "small plate" and was only one so we had to share, I really wish we had gotten more because I could have stuffed myself on just that. 

The Oxtail Croquette  was crazy good... I can't explain it... just do it! We talked to the chef and if I remember right he said they braise it crazy long in wine. SOOO tasty

I am a big fan of pate, and their country pate was a really nice pate and I would definitely get it again, but the big WOW for me was the homemade pumpernickel bread. Carb Crack.

Picture
We tried:

PORK BELLY SLIDER
  • PINEAPPLE, JALAPENO, CILANTRO


OXTAIL CROQUETTES
  • DIJONNAISE


COUNTRY PATE
  • HOUSE MUSTARD, CORNICHON PICKLES, CHARRED BREAD

PARMESAN RISOTTO BALLS
  • SICILIAN MARINARA, HERB RICOTTA

BANGERS AND MASH
Picture
Picture
Picture
3715 SOUTH 1ST 
SUITE A 
AUSTIN, 78704



* Photos from Porter Gastro Pub FacebookPage
0 Comments

Swoop House Supper Friends- Fowl Play

6/7/2014

0 Comments

 
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Swoop Facebook page
Swoop Supper Friend Website

This weekend I had my second visit to Swoop House for their Fowl Play meal. It was AMAZING. It was duck heaven. 

If you haven't been to Swoop House, let me start by saying... It isn't a standard, walk in and sit down restaurant. They have scheduled events, where they have a specific chef plan a meal, then they sell seats for that specific event in advance. So you never get the same thing. It is a really great concept and makes it a lot of fun.

Onto Fowl Play... While everything was ridiculously good, I have to make a shout out for the Seared Duck Breast dish, it was so incredible and the cauliflower was beyond divine. My other big call out was the Smoked Duck & Julienned Roots appetizer, I have never had anything like it. The duck had this nice smokey, almost bacon like flavor to it and the crunchy interior with the kick of the vinaigrette was to die for.

In addition to the food, the house is adorable, and it is such a beautiful setting to spend a relaxing evening!

By Chef Jason Carroll

Passed Hors D’Oeuvres 
 Duck Liver Mousse, Pickled Peach, Chives, Crostini
Smoked Duck & Julienned Roots, Miso Vinaigrette
Fried Green Tomato, Duck Prosciutto



Gold Beet and Baby Carrot Salad,
Herbed Chevre, Texas Grapefruit, Cracklin', Grapefruit Yogurt Dressing



Seared Duck Breast
Panisee, Roasted Cauliflower, Almond Sauce



Rabbit "Cassoulet"
Rabbit Saddle, Confit & Sausage, Bacon,
Creamer Peas, Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs



Duck Egg Cake
Blackberry Curd, Honeyed Mascarpone
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Hors D'Oeuvres
Picture
Gold Beet and Baby Carrot Salad
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Seared Duck Breast
Picture
Duck Egg Cake
*Photos from Swoop Facebook page

Supper Friends at the SWOOP House
3012 Gonzales Street
Austin, TX 78762
0 Comments

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