Flavors of the Month: February 2019

Austin restaurants and dishes are featured in my monthly Flavors of the Month posts. Check out this post for recommendations!

Khao Soi at Sap’s
This is one of my favorite noodle dishes and Thai food is always a good choice. We happened to be in the area or otherwise we wouldn’t go all the way to South Austin for Thai food. Will’s tom kha gai was good too!

Homemade Super Bowl Eats
The Super Bowl game is an excuse to eat all the unhealthy food. For us that was buffalo chicken dip. We also had deviled eggs and guacamole. The game, half-time show, and commercials were pretty lackluster, but the food was good!

Cocktails at Treaty Oak Distilling (Complimentary)
Did you see my feature about the whiskey cocktail class at Treaty Oak Distilling? I love that place!

Snacks and Drinks at Domo Alley Gato Tatsu-ya
Curious about this new, buzzworthy restaurant, some friends and I decided to check it out. Mostly outside and stylized after Japanese street bars, it’s a cute, photo-worthy intimate space. The food is actually made in a food truck in the back. After ordering at the bar, we luckily snagged a table. We got the beef curry and coo coo wings, both good but I didn’t think it was at the level of Ramen Tatsu-ya and Kemuri Tatsu-ya, its sister restaurants. Our friend said the ban ban dog was good, so I’ll definitely try that when I’m back.

Dinner at Barley Swine
How’s this for a casual Thursday dinner? Happy hour means select dishes are half off and cocktails are $7, which is excellent. The shitake dumplings are consistently one of my favorite dishes. I also loved the tostada, beet panzanella, and beef bavette. Have you ever eaten at Barley Swine?

Noodle Boxes at Woko Loco (Complimentary)
This new fast-casual restaurant invited me in to try their Asian-inspired custom bowls and salads. After choosing all your desired ingredients, it’s then cooked in a wok by induction. I went for noodles with beef and plenty of veggies and I added an egg. This definitely satisfied my noodle craving! I love that they have so many options. Their positive environment is a reflection of their company culture and desire to serve with kindness. They’re now open in the Mueller area, so go give them a try!

Dinner at Spicy Boys
There’s a new food truck in town! One of my favorites, Soursop, has a new place called Spicy Boys, located outside Zilker Brewing Co. The chicken sandwich, fried chicken wings, and dessert roti were all great! I can’t wait to try more from the menu.

Beer and Snacks at The Brewtorium
In conjunction with the opening of Hopscotch next door, I went to try the Glitter Beer at The Brewtorium. I also grabbed some potstickers. If you go to The Brewtorium, I recommend their pizza.

Dinner at Beirut
This Lebanese food truck at the Domain has been on to-try list for a long time and we finally made it happen. I had the shawarma fries while Will had the shawarma plate with two sides. We also got hummus on the side. I was a little disappointed by the meal but can’t put my finger on why. I think I was expecting more flavors. I would try a gyro next time.

Dumplings and more at Fat Dragon (Complimentary)
After hearing so much about this Asian restaurant in Northwest Austin, I was excited to try it with a few of my foodie friends. All the soup dumplings please! They were so good, even the chocolate soup dumplings I was skeptical about at first. Fat Dragon’s menu is extensive and I definitely want to come back and try more!

Cocktails at Nickel City and Food from Delray Café
The cocktails at Nickel City are top-notch, especially their tiki drinks. I loved the Saturn. We also indulged in chili cheese fries and wings from their truck Delray Café, which you can order at the bar. The wing sauce was very off but the mix of chili cheese is one of those ugly delicious combinations that is so satisfying. I wish I had gotten a coney dog! (Hi, yes, I loved hot dogs as a kid and still do. *shrug*)

Keto Baking Class with Chef Vanessa Musi
I met my friend Chef Vanessa Musi through Austin Food Blogger Alliance and have been meaning to try one of her free baking classes. She is a healthier baking expert and hosted a keto baking class. Keto is a high-fat, low-carb diet that is good for lower sugar intake, which Vanessa strives to follow for health reasons.

We made things grain-free (nut flours instead), sugar-free (Lakanto Sweetener instead), and dairy-free! We made blueberry lemon muffins, berry mousse, bread rolls, and cauliflower rice – all so delicious if you can believe it. Healthier options CAN taste good, and I can’t wait to try making these in my kitchen. If you’re interested, follow her on Facebook to be notified of future classes. PLUS she is working on opening a cooking school in Austin, so stay tuned!

Dinner at Gabrielas
If only the weather hadn’t been cold and rainy so we could enjoy Gabrielas great patio! Nevertheless, my friend Janna and I enjoyed dinner inside the smaller, cozy part of their restaurant. I liked their pastor tacos, chips, and salsa flight. I do want to come back and try their margarita flight and some different dishes.