Austin is very blessed to have an abundance of craft beer options, and it has grown incredibly since I first wrote about my love of craft beer in 2012. Back then, it was easy to have a goal of visiting all the breweries. Now, I consistently have at least 10 breweries to visit because new breweries are always opening. It’s a great problem to have. This list has 62 Austin brewery locations!

Must-Visit Breweries in Austin

Ok, now you’re thinking, 62 breweries?! I only need one or two recommendations! Let me narrow it down for you with a quick list.

• Jester King Brewery – Known for its beautiful acres of land and its farmhouse and barrel-aged ales. GOAT? Yes, they have goats!
• Austin Beerworks – Known for its artistic cans and fun beers
• Pinthouse – If you love IPAs and pizza. They have multiple locations
• Meanwhile Brewing – Hill Country vibes in the city and has the best selection of food trucks
• Austin Beer Garden Brewing (AGBG) – They won best brewpub three years in a row at the Great American Beer Festival along with multiple awards for their beers
• Zilker Brewing Company – I’m consistently impressed with the number of beers they release. IPA lovers should try Heavenly Daze.

Austin Brewery Crawls

You can join a brewery tour company for your beer shindig, but to be entirely in control of where we go, when we go, etc., and make it as affordable as possible, I suggest renting a bus or finding a designated driver. You can easily hop to a few breweries to try out their beers.

In the brew-borhood of North Austin, you’ll find five breweries in a two-mile radius.

In the Hill Country, Jester King Brewery, Beerburg Brewing, and Last Stand Brewing Company are all on Fitzhugh Road and very close to each other.

In South Austin, you’ll find proximity between Meanwhile Brewing, Independence Brewing Co, and Pinthouse. Across I-35, St. Elmo Brewing Company, (512) Brewing Company, and Vacancy Brewing are within walking distance.

I also recommend the Red Line Brewery Tour by taking the Capital MetroRail to visit different areas. There are six rail stops that will get you to eight breweries. The stops are usually two or three blocks away. Here’s the list:

• Kramer Station: Circle Brewing Company and Hopsquad Brewing Co
• Crestview Station: Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery
• Highland Station: The Brewtorium Brewery & Kitchen
• MLK Station: Oddwood Ales
• Plaza Saltillo Station: Zilker Brewing Company and Lazarus Brewing
• Downtown Station: Central District Brewing

Below, the breweries are divided by area, and at the bottom of this post is a handy map of all the Austin breweries. Having a food option is important for breweries and I’ve noted if a brewery has a permanent food truck or an in-house kitchen.

I’ve included an * for my favorites/recommendations in each area.

Please check brewery websites and social media accounts before visiting for the most current updates and hours!

North Austin Breweries

I’m slightly biased because the North Austin Breweries are the closest to where I live – this is my favorite area for a brewery crawl. These breweries also have solid food trucks!

1. *Austin Beerworks
Address: 3009 Industrial Terrace, Austin, TX 78758
Website: http://austinbeerworks.com/
Food: Can-tina (In-house taco truck)

2. Celis Brewery
Address: 10001 Metric Blvd. Austin, Texas 78758
Website: https://www.celisbeers.com/
Food: Backdraft Pizzeria (pizza)

3. *Hopsquad Brewing Co
Address: 2307 Kramer Ln, Austin, TX 78758
Website: http://hopsquad.com/
Food: Dough Squad

4. *Big Country Organic Brewing Co
Address: 2400 Patterson Industrial Dr, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Website: https://www.bigcountrytaproom.com/
Food: In-house kitchen for burgers, tacos, wings

Central/Downtown Austin Breweries

This is my second favorite area to visit for breweries. Zilker Brewing Company and Lazarus Brewing Co. are within walking distance from each other on East 6th and both have solid beers.

1. Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches
Address: 3220 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
Website: https://www.batchatx.com/
Food: kolaches and klobasneks

2. Black Star Co-op
Address: 7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752
Website: https://blackstar.coop/
Food: In-house burgers and snacks

3. Blue Owl Brewing
Address: 2400 E Cesar Chavez St #300, Austin, TX 78702
Website: http://blueowlbrewing.com/
Food: across the street from La Barbecue

4. The Brewtorium
Address: 6015 Dillard Cir A, Austin, TX 78752
Website: http://thebrewtorium.com/
Food: In-house kitchen with German-inspired snacks

5. Central District Brewing
Address: 417 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
Website: http://centraldistrictbrewing.com/

6. Central Machine Works Brewery
Address: 4824 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Website: https://www.cmwbrewery.com/
Food: In-house sandwiches and pizza

7. Hi Sign Brewing
Address: 730 Shady Ln, Austin, TX 78702
Website: http://www.hisignbrewing.com/
Food: Burro Cheese Kitchen (grilled cheese)

8. Holdout Brewing
Address: 1208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78703
Website: https://holdoutbrewing.com/
Food: In-house burgers

9. *Lazarus Brewing Company
Address: 1902 E 6th St, Austin TX 78702 and 4803 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
Website: http://www.lazarusbrewing.com/
Food: In-house tacos and Mexican

10. *Oddwood Ales
Address: 3108 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
Website: https://www.oddwoodales.com/
Food: In-house pizza

11. *Pinthouse
Address: 4729 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
Website: https://pinthousepizza.com/
Food: In-house pizza

12. Southern Heights Brewing Co.
Address: 6014 Techni Center Dr, Ste 2-101, Austin, TX 78721
Website: http://www.southernheightsbrewing.com/

13. The Stay Put
Address: 73 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
Website: https://www.stayputbrewery.com/
Food: Nearby food trailers on Rainey St

14. *Zilker Brewing Co.
Address: 1701 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Website: http://www.zilkerbeer.com/
Food: Spicy Boys Chicken (fried chicken and Thai)

West Austin Breweries

1. Infamous Brewing Company
Address: 4602 Weletka Dr, Austin, TX 78734
Website: http://www.infamousbrewing.com/
Food: In-house snacks

2. Oasis Texas Brewing Company
Address: 6550 Comanche Trail #301, Austin, TX 78732
Website: http://otxbc.com/
Food: In-house burgers and salads

Hill Country Breweries

This area on West 290 is popping up with breweries like wildfire! These breweries are located in Dripping Springs, Driftwood, and Cedar Valley. With plenty of land out here, there’s a lot of room to build a brewery setup and create a destination for guests to enjoy the Hill Country. You’ll find many breweries on Fitzhugh Road.

1. 12 Fox Beer Co
Address: 4700 W Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: https://12foxbeer.com/
Food: In-house barbecue

2. Acopon Brewing Co
Address: 211 W. Mercer St., Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: http://www.acoponbrewing.com/

3. Bell Springs Brewing Company
Address: 3700 Bell Springs Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: https://www.bellspringsbrewing.com/
Food: In-house snacks and sandwiches

4. Family Business Beer Company
Address: 19510 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: https://familybusinessbeerco.com/
Food: In-house pizza truck

5. Fitzhugh Brewing
Address: 15435 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: https://www.fitzhughbrewing.com/
Food: In-house bar food, pizza, salads

6. Ghost Note Brewing
Address: 23663 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: https://www.ghostnotebrewing.com/
Food: Betty Mae’s Gulf Coast Kitchen (seafood, cajun/creole)

7. Hitmaker Brewing Company
Address: 11160 Circle Dr, Austin, TX 78736
Website: https://www.hitmakerbrewing.com/

8. *Jester King Brewery
Address: 13187 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, TX 78736
Website: http://jesterkingbrewery.com/
Food: In-house pizza

9. Last Stand Brewery
Note: they also have a location in South Austin
Address: 12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78737
Website: http://www.laststandbrewing.com/
Food: In-house sandwiches, bar food

10. Suds Monkey
Address: 1032 Canyon Bend Dr, Ste A, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: https://sudsmonkeybrew.com/
Food: In-house pizza

11. Twisted X Brewing Company
Address: 23455 W RR 150, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Website: https://www.twistedxbrewing.com/

12. Vista Brewing
Address: 13551 Ranch to Market Rd 150, Driftwood, TX 78619
Website: https://vistabrewingtx.com/
Food: In-house snacks and sandwiches

South Austin Breweries

1. (512) Brewing Company
Address: 407 Radam Ln, Austin, TX 78745
Website: http://www.512brewing.com/

2. The ABGB (Austin Beer Garden Brewing)
Address: 1305 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704
Website: https://theabgb.com/
Food: In-house pizza and sandwiches

3. Hi Sign Brewing
Address: 730 Shady Ln, Austin, TX 78702
Website: http://www.hisignbrewing.com/
Food: Burro Cheese Kitchen (grilled cheese)

4. Independence Brewing Co.
Address: 3913 Todd Ln #607, Austin, TX 78744
Website: http://independencebrewing.com/
Food: Hajima Street Kitchen (Korean)

5. Last Stand Brewing
Note: they also have a location outside of Austin, listed under Hill Country
Address: 7601 S Congress, Building 6, Austin, TX 78745
Website: https://www.laststandbrewing.com/
Food: In-house kitchen serving bar snacks

6. *Live Oak Brewing Company
Address: 1615 Crozier Ln, Del Valle, TX 78617
Website: http://liveoakbrewing.com/
Food: The Black Forest (German comfort food)

7. *Meanwhile Brewing
Address: 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
Website: https://www.meanwhilebeer.com/
Food: Besame (ice cream), Distant Relatives (barbecue), Pueblo Viejo (tacos), Side Eye Pie (pizza), Songbird (sandwich/salad)

8. Nomadic Beerworks
Address: 3804 Woodbury Dr, Suite A, Austin, TX 78704
Website: https://www.nomadicbeerworks.com/
Food: In-house panini sandwiches

9. *Pinthouse
Address: 4236 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 and 2201 E Ben White Blvd, Austin, Texas 78741
Website: https://pinthousepizza.com/
Food: In-house pizza

10. *St. Elmo Brewing Company
Address: 440 E St Elmo Rd G-2, Austin, TX 78745
Website: http://www.stelmobrewing.com/
Food: Spicy Boys Chicken (fried chicken and Thai)

11. Vacancy Brewing
Address: 415 E St Elmo Rd 1-D2, Austin, TX 78745
Website: https://vacancybrewing.com/
Food: SXSE Food Co (Southeast Asian) – See Chef’s Tasting here

North Austin Suburb Breweries

Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Taylor, Georgetown – they like beer too! I have a few left to visit in this area, but so far my favorites are Bluebonnet Beer Company and Rentsch Brewery.

1. Barking Armadillo Brewing
Address: 507 River Bend, Georgetown, TX 78628
Website: https://barkingarmadillo.com/
Food: Rotating food trucks

2. *Bluebonnet Beer Company
Address: 1700 Bryant Dr #107, Round Rock, TX 78664
Website: https://bluebonnetbeerco.com/
Food: Rotating food trucks

3. Bull Creek Brewing
Address: 7100 FM 3405, Liberty Hill, TX 78642
Website: http://www.bullcreekbrewing.com/

4. *Pinthouse
Address: 2800 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock, TX 78681
Website: https://pinthousepizza.com/
Food: In-house pizza

5. Red Horn Coffee House and Brewing Co
Address: 13010 W Parmer Ln #800, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Website: https://redhornbrew.com/
Food: In-house sandwiches

6. *Rentsch Brewery
Address: 2500 NE Inner Loop Ste 3105, Georgetown, TX 78626
Website: https://rentschbrewery.com/
Food: Rotating food trucks

7. San Gabriel River Brewery
Address: 500 Chaparral Dr, Liberty Hill, TX 78641
Website: http://www.sangabrielriverbrewery.com/home

8. Slackers Brewing Co
Address: 12233 Ranch Rd 620 N #204, Austin, TX 78750
Website: https://slackersbrewing.com/
Food: In-house sandwiches and snacks

9. Strange Land Brewery
Address: 2500 NE Inner Loop, Georgetown, TX 78626 (they share a location with Rentsch Brewery)
Website: https://strangelandbrewery.com/

10. Texas Beer Co.
Address: 201 N Main St, Taylor, TX 76574
Website: https://www.texasbeerco.com/

11. Whitestone Brewery
Address: 601 E Whitestone Blvd, Suite #500, Cedar Park, TX 78613 and 15390 W State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill, Building 2 & 3, TX 78642
Website: http://www.whitestonebrewery.com/
Food: Van’s Damn Tasty Tacos & Ronburguesas (tacos and burgers)

Austin Brewery Map

Use this Austin brewery guide to find a brewery near you!

• Blue = North Austin
• Green = Central/Downtown
• Red = South
• Purple = Hill Country
• Orange = West
• Yellow = North Austin Suburbs

What’s your favorite craft brewery in Austin?

Save this post for later!

The post Ultimate Austin Brewery Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

The food trailer regularly serves some popular dishes. Their beef crispy rice is a must-order and you can also order tacos, buns, and skewers.

We enjoyed the food truck, and we were excited to try out the Chef’s Table Tasting. Keep reading to learn more!

SXSE Food Co Chef’s Table Tasting

(SXSE was previously at 4th Tap Brewing in North Austin and this is where I tried the chef’s tasting.)

Dining at the Chef’s Table Tasting is a great way to experience Laotian culture. Chef Bob shares plenty of history, knowledge, and stories to give you a full experience. I learned a lot about Laos cuisine and the commentary added to the dinner experience.

We joined this Chef’s Table Tasting in May 2021 for Act IV, the fourth iteration. (The menu changes every act.) This menu was inspired by royal dining traditions. This was a beer-paired dinner (included in the price) and Chef Bob collaborates with 4th Tap brewers to pair his dishes perfectly. This is one of the most fun things about a paired tasting – the flavors of the beer enhance the food, bringing out different flavors.

Here are the seven courses of the tasting.

Glass Noodle Salad (Yum Nam Som Moo) paired with Soudcheck Crispy Boy

Long Bean Salad (Thum Mak Tua) paired with Colour Out of Space Kettle Sour

Lemongrass Pork Sausage (Sai Oua Singkha) paired with The Kolsch with No Name

Beef Stew (Ohr Lam Beef) paired with Can You Dig It Amber Ale

Khao Soi Mekong paired with Kung Fu Robot IPA

Duck Curry (Gang Phet Bpet) paired with Stay Gold Hoppy Pale Ale

Crepes & Ice Cream paired with Pop’s Dopplebock

You know I love my dessert, so the crepes and ice cream was one of my favorite dishes with its ube and pandan crepe layers and refreshing coconut ice cream.

My favorite savory dish was the beef stew with an incredibly light and flavorful broth. I also loved the duck curry.

How to Book SXSE Food Co’s Chef’s Table

Watch SXSE’s Instagram for announcements about when bookings will open. Book quickly because reservations will go fast! You’ll need to pay a $25 non-refundable deposit when you book your reservation and you can pay the remaining amount at the end of the dinner. The total cost is currently $95 per person.

Details for Your Visit

• Cuisine: Modern Laotian
• Ambiance: Relaxed, intimate
• Attire: Casual
• Reservation: Yes for Chef’s Table
• Groups: Yes
• Parking: Lot or street
• Tasting: 7 courses and beer-paired
• Cost: $95 per person

SXSE Food Co.
415 E St Elmo Rd, Austin, TX 78745
https://www.sxsefoodco.com/
Instagram | Facebook

Have you tried any tasting menus?

P.S. Looking for more great meals in Austin?

• Dining at Uroko, Austin’s Newest Japanese Restaurant
• Omakase Dining at Kemuri Tatsu-ya, Austin’s Izakaya
• Dining at Barley Swine, One of Austin’s Best Restaurants

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post SXSE Food Co Chef’s Table – Laotian Cuisine in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Dinner at Sway at The Domain
We were excited to visit Sway at Rock Rose at The Domain. We’ve been waiting for the restaurant to open since it was announced. Same design and feel as its original location on South 1st. We got the whole fried fish, though we were a little disappointed that it wasn’t as crispy as we’d like. We liked the soft-shell crab. It’s been a while since I got the Thai tea affogato and it did not disappoint! It’s easily one of my favorite desserts in town.

Brunch at First Watch
This chain restaurant recently opened a handful of locations in the Austin area, taking over locations of The Egg and I. We shared an eggs benedict and French toast, both solid!

Homemade Tacos
Enthusiasm for my cookbook challenge has simmered considerably but we’re still cooking most of our dinners at home. These were simple street-taco-style tacos with beef, onion, cilantro, lime, and salsa on corn tortillas.

Totchos at PDQ (Complimentary)
Top fried potato things with anything and I’m down! PDQ invited me in to try their new totchos and even though they gave me a complimentary meal, I almost licked the plate. The tater tots are topped with bacon, Fritos, scallions, queso, and ranch. I also tried their Thai chicken rice bowl, which was great also.

Craft Beer and Snacks at The Brewtorium
Propeller Head IPA was a good one at The Brewtorium and I’m glad I visited this place! I love their big, open space, and I bet it will be a happening place this summer. If you visit, come hungry because they’ve got a good menu too. We tried the pretzel with beer cheese along with their potato pot-stickers and brat pot-stickers. I’m definitely coming back for pizza and more beer!

Happy Hour at Academia (Complimentary)
Academia invited me in to check out their new bar on 4th Street. School-themed décor, including a file folder menu, are throughout the place. They have a strong cocktail program and with $5 happy hour drinks, who wouldn’t be a fan? Be sure to get the crab cakes!

Dinner at Julie’s Noodles
When Boyfriend suggests eating noodles, I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! We went to Julie’s Noodles for soup dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, and noodle soup. Surprisingly, the beef burrito, which was beef wrapped in a scallion pancake was the best thing we ate.

Lunch at Noon
Have y’all visited the newly branded Noon yet? (It used to be Verts.) It’s like a Subway or Chipotle but with Mediterranean food. I like the concept but I’ve gone twice and both times some of my food was too salty. My dining mates liked it though so it was either my dish or my taste buds.

Brunch at Le Politique
I came here for the pastries! Added this delicious kouign amann to my blog list. My eggs benedict was all right. Have you eaten here for dinner? What’s your favorite dish here? I want to like this restaurant because the design is great but I’ll likely only pop into their bakery and grab some pastries to go.

Iced Chai at Merit Coffee
This coffee shop at Seaholm is from San Antonio and their location makes it a happening place. Janna and I sipped drinks outside and waited out a passing thunderstorm. My iced chai was good!

Austin Food Bloggers Alliance Happy Hour (Complimentary)
It’s been a while since I attended a happy hour! We have an awesome food bloggers group in Austin and we have monthly happy hours sponsored by restaurants and/or brands. This month, Lantana Hummus hosted us in their beautiful space and invited Rays Spirits, Mighty Swell, and Siete Foods to join us. It was a lovely evening outside and we got to try all the goodies. We even got to be a part of their user testing for their NEW line of fruit hummus coming out this fall!

Other Food Stuff

• Austin Chronicle released their First Plates awards of the year. This honors the best restaurants in town.
• James Beard Awards for 2018 were announced.
• Coming soon to the blog are my recommendations for what to eat and drink in Mexico City! Stay tuned.

What’s one thing (food/restaurant) I should try this month?

P.S. Want to see the best foodie events in Austin? Check out this list.

Keep up with my food adventures! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: May 2018 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Happy Hour at Yuyo
I couldn’t have started off the year better than with a fantastic first visit at Yuyo. It’s been a while since I’ve been excited and pleased with a new restaurant opening, and this new Peruvian restaurant on the east side is a shining star. How come? The staff exudes enthusiasm and expertise about Peruvian cuisine and the food has the chops to back up their enthusiasm. I would order every dish again. On our table: Yuquitas (fried yuca cheese sticks), Causa Nacional (kind of like chicken salad), Cebiche Clasico (love the addition of yuyo – seaweed), chifles (plantain chips), and ended with a Lucuma Sundae. There’s a reason why you keep hearing about this restaurant lately. It’s new and it’s the real deal.

Dinner at Mirchi
My first experience at Mirchi a few months ago had me giggling because we felt like fish out of water. The menu is a list of dishes with no descriptions, and the first time around, we had a hard time understanding our server, so we ended up picking some random dishes and got one dish that was way too spicy. But dang, the food was good. So, we went back. This time was a little less awkward since we knew what to expect. We also got a different server who was able to explain the dishes more. The food was fantastic again and we laughed saying, “remember the first time we came here and were so lost?” Adventures, guys. Live for the adventures. Oh, and if you come here, I recommend the roti and goat korma. If you’re not a fan of goat, they have other proteins to chose from on the menu.

Lunch at La Barbecue
Back when La Barbecue was a trailer… They moved to their brick-and-mortar spot inside Quickie Pickie not too long ago, and their barbecue is still top-notch. Brisket gets a lot of glory but if you’re looking for the good stuff, get the beef ribs. Because it is ginormous and delicious. I didn’t love the potato salad but the mac and cheese was piping hot melted cheese with pasta shells and I’m not sure you can go wrong there. But the meat is magic.

Brunch at Rapscallion (Dallas)
A quick weekend trip to Dallas in January included brunch at Rapscallion, a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try. I’m a fan of their sister restaurant Boulevardier in the Bishop Arts District. I went for the Smoked Chicken Hash plus a biscuit on the side. It wasn’t the best brunch ever but I enjoyed it. That biscuit was my favorite part.

Pastries at Village Baking Co. (Dallas)
I’m glad this bakery is not in Austin because I would definitely have a major problem. (Because I love pastries.) You’ll know you’ve come to the right place when you breathe in the comforting and captivating smells of baked goods as you walk in. Now, try not to buy one of everything. I’m a sucker for croissants and kouign amann, and they are fantastic. It’s going to be hard not to make this a regular spot when I visit Dallas!

Legacy Food Hall (Dallas) and Unlawful Assembly Brewing Company (Dallas)
Dallas got a new food hall and it’s beautiful. It’s next to a busy outdoor shopping mall, so it can be a little chaotic, but parking is free and somewhat plentiful if you don’t mind walking for it. This food hall has more than 30 food stalls, including some favorites like Monkey Noodle Company and Glazed Donuts, indoor and outdoor seating, AND a microbrewery at the very top. Veeeerry impressive. I liked my Blind Justice IPA.

Gelateria Gemelli
Here again. Not sad about it! Dark chocolate and salted caramel were a great combination.

HayleyCakes and Cookies
I’ve been following HayleyCakes and Cookies, an Austin bakery, on the IG for a while. Their cookies are so beautifully decorated! Well, lucky me, my friend Janna brought me a cookie and I scarfed it down and yes, it was everything I hoped and dreamed. So, if you need some custom cookies made or if you can swing by their shop out on 2222, check them out!

Pierogi at Austin Pierogi
I grew up eating and loving dumplings. They were the Chinese kind, but I know a dumpling and this is the kind of dumpling I didn’t know I wanted. A pierogi is a Polish dumpling and this one had potato and cheese, a winning combination. Find these at the farmers markets around town!

Circle Brewing Co. and Girl Scout Cookies
Circle Brewing hosted a beer and Girl Scout cookie pairing event and it was a hit! Their pairings were spot on. My friend Caitlin put together a beer and Girl Scout cookie pairing guide for you – enjoy!

Fareground
Austin jumped into the food hall fun with the opening of Fareground. It features a beautiful space, outdoor and indoor seating, a bar, and seven of Austin’s best restaurants. Pastries, tacos, cheese, and even sushi are available. Read more details here. As I mentioned in my Instagram post, I was frustrated by downtown parking. It’s good to know their parking garage is $3 for 30 minutes with validation, which is reasonable compared to the regular $7 for 30 minutes.

I also said that you can get a better experience with the restaurants at their original location. These restaurants are some of the best in town and some of them (minus Antonelli’s and Easy Tiger) are essentially providing a different product here. It’s different when you sit down in a restaurant, order from a waiter, and get the full experience. Fareground is great if you want to try a bunch of bites from each place.

Pictured are shortrib salad from Henbit, bites from Ni-Kome, and pastries from Easy Tiger.

Craft Beer at Southern Heights Brewery
New brewery in Austin! I mentioned this brewery when I went to the Texas Craft Brewers Festival last September. Little did I know that it is IPA central! They have three of them on tap and my favorite in name and taste is ‘Dave’s not here, man.’ I like their desert chic vibes with the ombre décor. It reminds me a little of Zilker Brewing. Great addition on the east side. It’s looking more and more like craft breweries are minutes away from wherever you are in Austin.

Snacks at Mongers
If you like seafood and haven’t been to Mongers yet, this restaurant should be at the top of your list! I know I’ve talked about them before and with every visit, I like it more and more.

Fairweather Cider Co.
This cidery opened in December and I can’t get enough. They’ve got dry ciders that aren’t overly sweet and are constantly releasing new flavors. Get you some.

Food News

• I’m a fan of Chef’s Table, the Netflix show, so I’m excited to hear they are coming out with a new show focused on pastry! Hello, dessert heaven!
• Is this a once-in-a-lifetime dream party or what?! Justin Timberlake music and Rene Redzepi food.
• Chocolate extinction coming? Say it ain’t so!
• How much do some restaurants make off of meals? Not as much as you might think.

What’s one thing (food/restaurant) I should try this month?

P.S. Want to volunteer in Austin? Check out these culinary-related opportunities.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: January 2018 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Dinner at Be More Pacific
I was excited to try Filipino food at Be More Pacific! My friend Kathy and I split the veggie and tofu lumpia, pacit bihon with tofu, cheesy tots, and the halo halo. Have you ever had a halo halo (pronounced hollow hollow)? It’s a traditional Filipino dessert with shaved ice, condensed milk, and mix-ins like boiled sweet beans, jelly, and corn. I loved our whole meal, especially the noodles. They have a few more dishes I want to try so I’ll definitely be back!

Dinner at Emmer and Rye
I have no pictures to show from our second visit to Emmer and Rye but we had a great time celebrating our friend’s birthday. Again, the Johnny Cakes dish (on dim sum menu) was superb and they do a good job with their pastas. (Here’s recap of the first visit.)

Mochi and Beer
My beer blogger friend Caitlin had never had mochi before so we remedied that with a beer and mochi pairing at Whole Foods. Their mochi bar is convenient, though you need to choose six to make the price worth it.

Happy Hour at Toulouse (Complimentary Austin Food Bloggers Alliance Event)
Toulouse spoiled us food bloggers with all this delicious food! The new restaurant in Domain Northside is a French chain with locations in Dallas and Houston and is part of the Lombardi restaurant group, which also owns Taverna, an Italian restaurant. We tried all their bites on the happy hour menu: Croque-Monsieur, smoked salmon rilletes, spinach artichoke dip, steak tartare, and gougere and goat cheese boursin. Plus we got to try desserts: profiteroles, beignets, and fondant au chocolat. It was all delicious, and the croque-monsieur was my favorite savory dish while the fondant au chocolat had an addicting cappuccino sauce.

Pistachio Horchata at Tacodeli
We went to Tacodeli one weekend morning for breakfast (we might have had it three weekends in a row last month…) and I had to try this! Yum!

Craft Beer at Flying Man Brewing Co. and Lobster Rolls from Garbo’s
We visited a new Austin brewery, the closest one to us now! I’m a fan of their Air Racer IPA. Garbo’s food truck was there and I can’t stay away from their Maine lobster rolls.

2nd Annual Shellfishapalooza
I didn’t take many photos but I did have lots of fun! We hosted our 2nd Annual Shellfishapalooza, and the food was fantastic! Shrimp, snow crab, Dungeness crab, King crab, lobster tails. Potatoes and mushrooms. Crab and artichoke dip. Rice krispy treats and key lime pie. It was a feast! (See details about the first annual event here.)

SoCo Ginger Beer at the Farmers Market
Have y’all tried ginger beer or specifically SoCo’s Ginger Beer? They’re an Austin company that sells at farmers markets. I’m thinking I might need one of those big growlers to stock up for the week. They make flavors based on the season, and this flavor was prickly pear.

7th Annual Wine and Swine
One of my favorite foodie events in Austin is Wine and Swine. The afternoon weather was perfect and the food was delicious! My favorite bites were from Henbit and The Brewers Table, two restaurants that will be opening soon.

Dinner at Jang’s CHIMAC Cafe
There’s a new Korean fried chicken restaurant in town. I enjoyed the macho flavor, which has a bit of spice, and the yangyeom, which is sweet. Get the red if you want lots of spice but don’t double the spice like we did. It will literally make you cry.

Friendsgiving with StreetSmart Kitchen
My friend Sharon invited us over for an incredible spread of food. Our menu included: garlic cheese pull-apart bread, tuna deviled eggs, kale salad, beef burgundy, and pumpkin cheesecake cups. And of course it all looked delicious too! You can read all about our gathering and get the recipes over on her blog.

Other Great Foodie Things

• Did you see my post about Birradamare, an Italian craft brewery?
• My friend Jessica has a great gift guide for the foodie in your life.
• My parents have a persimmon tree so hopefully I can bring some back with me to try this persimmon quick bread recipe.
• These mini cranberry brie galettes from Mary Makes Good are so cute and I bet they’re delicious!
• This article about Austin’s food scene has got me saying EXACTLY! I understand that aesthetically-pleasing restaurants with interpreted recipes have their own audience but when their popularity means overshadowing the mom and pop shop with authentic recipes and a big story to tell, it makes me sad. Americanizing food might make the food more approachable, but it’s more responsible for me to get out of MY comfort zone and live a better story. So, it’s my promise and privilege to not only try restaurants that earn the buzz-worthy media mentions but the places that are working hard to tell the story of their culture.

What’s the best thing you ate last month? Comment below!

P.S. Need a good gift idea? I recommend a cooking class! Check out this post for culinary class options.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: November 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Vodka and Sprite. That used to be my alcoholic drink of choice. In my usual ‘late bloomer’ fashion, I started drinking later than most of my college friends, and beer was never my first choice. Beer, the watery amber liquid that smelled and tasted unpleasant, had one job, and that was to fill red solo cups for beer pong or flip cup.

Fast forward to post-college and my discovery of craft breweries in Austin. I’ll admit, I was first attracted by the craft and the passion of the brewers, not the taste of beer, though it was different and much better than the first beers I had tasted in my life. I eventually found appreciation for the flavor of beer after visits and tastings at brewery after brewery. My go-to, favorite beers have shifted from light lagers to hoppy and smooth IPAs.

The past couple of years have propelled my love of craft beer to new heights. It was my first time attending the Texas Craft Brewers Festival, but I know it won’t be the last! The weather was great, though slightly warm, and the beer was tasty and plentiful.

Produced annually by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild since 2003, the Texas Craft Brewers Festival featured 65ish Texas breweries sharing at least two beers each. We see new Austin breweries popping up constantly, but the fest was a strong reminder that new craft beer is being brewed all over Texas. The area most notable to me was the suburbs of Houston. Dallas and Austin also had strong showings. I was glad to see Big Bend Brewing Co and Lone Pint Brewery, two of the more hard-to-get-to breweries we’ve visited, there also.

For about $30, each ticket provided eight three-ounce pours, 24 ounces total per TABC rules. You could buy eight more three-ounce pours for $5.

Some brewers had special tappings that were released at different times throughout the festival.

Next year, I won’t forget my snack necklace! As the maker and wearer of this necklace explained, bringing in outside food and drink is prohibited, but edible jewelry isn’t!

Even though I didn’t wear a snack necklace, I satisfied my munchies at the fest. The food vendors included Salt & Time Butcher Shop and Salumeria, Noble Sandwich Co., Oasis Texas Brewing Company, M’lady’s Bakery, Napa Flats Wood-Fired Kitchen Austin, YAPA Artisan Empanadas, Johnny Joe’s BBQ & Catering, and Leo’s Gorditas.

I aimed for breweries I hadn’t visited with beers I thought I would like. Many of those beers were in the Houston area. Here are a few of the beers I tried:

• Braman Brewing (Richmond) – Double Action (Double IPA)
• Brigadoon Brewery (Plantersville) – Green Ogre (Imperial IPA)
• Jester King Brewery (Austin) – Cherry Funk Metal (Sour Barrel-Aged Stout Refermented with Cherries)
• Lorelei Brewing (Corpus Christi) – Ephyra (Double IPA)
• Orf Brewing (Austin) – Oocheenama (Asian white ale)
• Southern Star Brewing (Conroe) – Mango Theory (Fruit IPA)
• TUPPS Brewery (McKinney) – For Ella (Double IPA)

The breweries represented areas all over Texas. The booths were arranged alphabetically, making them easier to find. The signs also listed the beers the brewery brought.

The fest was a great place to learn about new breweries. Southern Heights Brewing Co, a soon-to-open brewery in Austin, had a prime parking spot for their cute VW van outside the fest entrance.

The fest was also well-managed. Though the line to get in was long, it went through quickly. There were rarely lines at each brewery booth unless it was for a special tapping. There was plenty of space to walk and mingle and lots of areas with shade. Of course, there was live music in the center of the park. Water stations with cups were positioned around the festival.

It was a fun day to celebrate the Texas craft beer community and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

P.S. Want to plan an Austin craft brewery crawl? Check out this post!

The post Celebrating Craft Beer at Texas Craft Brewers Festival appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Summer time means lots of cold treats (mostly ice cream) and seafood! In August I went to one of my favorite foodie events in Austin, tried a famed burger, a new bbq trailer, and a new brewery!

Bites at Pay It Forward
The Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis event has been one of my favorite annual “sip and stroll” events in Austin. It benefits the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation and includes an A-list lineup of restaurants.

Soft Serve at Sweet Daze Dessert Bar (Dallas)
I didn’t try many new places on this month’s 24-hr trip to Dallas but we did wait in line for late-night soft serve at this buzz worthy ice cream shop. Sadly, they were out of their “designer donuts” but they had ube (purple yam) soft serve. It’s Insta-worthy for a good reason!

Ice Cream at Heritage Creamery (Waco)
We stopped in Waco for some ice cream when coming back from Dallas and happily enjoyed cookie crumble cones. SO GOOD. It’s going to be very hard not making this a regular stop on the Dallas/Austin road trip.

Fish Taco Tuesday at Quality Seafood
Quality Seafood has a wide selection of fish and Tuesdays means fish tacos. They weren’t my favorite but they were still good. I got two tacos – grilled shrimp and blackened black drum fish.

Thai-Style Ice Cream at Holla Mode
While Holla Mode has two locations, their 45th Street location only serves dairy-free coconut milk ice cream. I opted for Oreos and fresh strawberries. For now I like Ice Scrapers more but I’ll have to give a final word after I try Holla Mode’s dairy ice cream. [See this post for more of my favorite cold desserts in Austin.]

Beef Cheek Sandwich with Kimchi at LeRoy and Lewis
This dish was disappointingly a bust for me but the bite of my friend’s mac-and-cheese stuffed quail was great. I’m looking forward to giving them another try.

New England Seafood Bake at The Bonneville with Harpoon Brewery
I had such a fun time at this special event at The Bonneville with Harpoon Brewery! We ate clam chowder, clam steamers, whole lobster, and Boston Crème Pie paired with four of Harpoon Brewery’s beers. My favorite beer was the Camp Wannamango, a mango pale ale that was divine! Harpoon Brewery is from Boston, so it was fun trying their beers!

Burger at Café No Se
I love a juicy burger! This one at Café No Se did not disappoint! I also love the pastries here. Kouign amann is my go-to but the croissants are great too.

Breakfast at Elizabeth St. Café
Speaking of pastries, I also love them at Elizabeth St. Café. On this occasion, I tried the ham and gruyere croissant and it is now easily my go-to dish. I liked their version of the beignet also.

Happy Hour at Chicon
For August’s Austin Food Blogger Alliance Happy Hour, we met up at Chicon. They spoiled us with complimentary drinks and an array of snacks, including charred avocado with pickled beet mayo and kale kurikake, carrot hummus, smoked trout dip, and Szechuan chicken wings. I want to go back for a full plate of charred avocado!

Homemade Rum Cake
Ever since Boyfriend came back from the Bahamas with a souvenir rum cake and I got a taste of that deliciousness, I’ve been dreaming about rum cake. Well, I finally made it! And it was AMAZING! MOIST.

Pizza at Little Deli & Pizza
It’s been a while since I’ve been there but now I can’t believe it’s been so long because it is fantastic! I enjoyed a slice of pepperoni and mushroom, a Greek salad, and a shortbread cookie. Nomnomnom. I would say it’s a best-kept secret, especially since it’s tucked into the neighborhood but everyone in the neighborhood knows how good it is; it was packed!

Craft Beers at Hi Sign Brewing
Surprisingly, the IPAs weren’t my absolute favorite on the day we visited Hi Sign Brewing. It was viciously hot outside, so the Blonde Ale was more my speed. They do have a strong double IPA and a fruited blonde ale. They also have wall art by one of my favorite Austin artists, Mike Johnston. Yes, Jay-Z as an astronaut.

Lunch at Clark’s Oyster Bar
We popped into Clark’s one weekend while we were in the neighborhood. It was around 3 pm, a weird hour for food, but it was packed! Since only their cold menu was available, we enjoyed fresh oysters, ceviche, and beef tartare, all very good! If you like seafood, you should give this place a try.

Mochi Bar at Whole Foods
Is this a dream or what?! Whole Foods in Austin now has a mochi bar where you can fill up a container and pay per ball. Yep, it’s as good as it sounds. For those unfamiliar, mochi ice cream is a glutinous flour wrapped around ice cream. The outside is a bit chewy. My favorite flavors were pineapple coconut, strawberry, and green tea. I also tried salted caramel and vanilla.

Lunch at Pizzeria Sorellina
This heirloom tomato dish changed my life! It’s got coconut “stracciatella” cheese, green coriander vinaigrette, and shaved serrano chili. The tomato flavors were vibrant and strong, and I never thought tomatoes could taste this way. We also tried a margherita pizza and the panna cotta with marinated watermelon. That heirloom tomato salad though. I would travel for that!

Try any new restaurants lately? Have a recipe I should try? Comment below!

P.S. What’s on your food bucket list? Check out what some of my favorite foodies had to say.

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: August 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

March was a low-key month, but I managed to go to two breweries and try a food truck I haven’t been to yet. I also celebrated the re-opening of a bakery! Read on for more details.

Sweet Treats at Kellie’s Baking Co
After fixes from last year’s flood were finally completed, Kellie’s Baking Co. now has an open storefront! This cute bakery on Burnet Road is such a happy place with a colorful paper flower wall and furniture. Of course, if the store doesn’t brighten your day, the amazing baked goods definitely will! I was so excited to go to their re-opening party and tried many of their treats! You can’t go wrong with any of them but I especially liked the stuffed cookies.

Dinner at Thai Spoon (Round Rock)
It’s easier to choose a place to eat in Round Rock because there are limited choices. But we found Thai Spoon late on a weekend when we were craving Thai food. First, the service is horrible. We walked in and stood at the door for a while before someone noticed and told us to sit wherever we liked. Service to our table was slow throughout the experience. But the food came out hot and fast. We enjoyed the papaya salad, pad Thai, Tom Kha Soup, and chicken potstickers.

Craft Beer Austin Beerworks and Lobster Rolls from Dock and Roll
A great idea for a rainy weekend afternoon is to visit a brewery! We finally saw Austin Beerworks’ new expanded space and it looks good! My favorite beer this visit was the Essential IPA and Stranger Friends was close behind. We were excited to see the Dock and Roll food trailer there and we got lobster rolls and fried mushrooms for lunch. The Maine Event is their roll with mayo while Connecticut is only lemon-butter and seasoning. Yum! How do you like your lobster roll?

Pastry Tart by Megpies
In my BE Conference goodie bag, I got a sample from Megpies and it was so tasty! Have you ever tried these? The company is from New York and they started selling nationally at Starbucks last year.

Yardbird (Chicken Sandwich) at Greenhouse Craft Food
Another Round Rock restaurant: we tried Greenhouse Craft Food. I had the Yardbird, a chicken sandwich with honey chipotle sauce and a side of sweet potato fries. It was a little messy but filling and flavorful. They have a good variety of sandwiches here.

Café Scramble at Café No Se
The great thing about SXSW is that it brings in friends who don’t live in Austin. My previous intern requested someplace “basic” for breakfast and what’s more basic than Insta-worthy decor and avocado toast? Though we both ended up getting the café scramble, we enjoyed being in the picturesque restaurant!

Beer at Oskar Blues Brewery
Finally visited Oskar Blues Brewery’s new Austin location! This place is huge and they are finally brewing more beer in their Austin location instead of bringing it from Colorado. The Imperial IPA is really good!

Lemongrass Beef Vermicelli Bowl at PhoNatic
I’ve been dreaming about the vermicelli bowl I had in Nashville in January, so I stopped by PhoNatic for a quick dinner. It wasn’t as good as that dreamy bowl but still very good!

All the Crawfish
Of course, I’m happily getting my fill of crawfish! Did you see my post about our Crawfish Boil?

Try any new restaurants lately? Give me your recommendation!
Have a recipe I should try? Comment below!

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: March 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

After January’s conscious effort of not eating out, it went out the window in February. We indulged in trying new Austin breweries, tried a pop-up restaurant, and ate with friends. While it looks like a lot of eating out, I will say they were quality eats and drinks, and for all the meals not listed here, we ate in.

Cupcakes, Ice Cream, and Cookies at Sprinkles
Austin got a Sprinkles! This Los Angeles cupcake shop is now at The Domain. Hello, 24/7 cupcake ATM! At their pre-open party, I tried a cupcake sundae with salty caramel cake and rocky road ice cream. Delish! I also had the oatmeal cookie and the maple bacon cupcake. All good stuff, so go check it out.

Short Ribs at Carnal
Carnal is a pop-up restaurant at Parlor & Yard and all the way from New York. The guys are barbecue enthusiasts, so it was so delicious tasting their offerings. The slow cooked short rib with bone marrow was my hands-down favorite. So juicy and tender. We also tried the two-day pork shoulder, whole roasted lamb breast, fried sweetbreads, and grilled cauliflower.

Craft Beer at Thousand Oaks Brewing
I visited a newer nano brewery in Cedar Park called Thousand Oaks Brewing. (They took over Twisted X Brewing’s old spot.) They have a great pale ale and IPA. You can find them on tap at Alamo Drafthouse or go visit their brewery!

Super Bowl Eats
Not only is it fun to see the hoopla of the most-watched TV event in the U.S., but Super Bowl means all the best food! We did skillet LOADED nachos (grilled beef, refried beans, cheese, guacamole, pico, jalapenos, sour cream) and grilled crab legs. Our stomachs weren’t happy by the end of the night but it make our mouths happy.

Lunch at Wu Chow
I finally visited Wu Chow after many occasions of tasting their soup dumplings at pre-opening events. The Gong Bao Chicken (organic chicken thigh, spicy sauce, peanuts, local bell peppers) and the Sichuan Braised Eggplant were amazing! I loved all the different flavors and the meal was satisfying but not heavy.

Maine Lobster Roll at Garbo’s
It’s so good but it’s so dang small, especially if you split a bunch of plates with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. But with the fries, it’s a good portion for dinner.

Craft Beer at Twisted X Brewing Co.
Crossed this brewery off the list! The Later Days (IPA – Session) was my favorite. Hoppy yet smooth. They also have an interesting, smokey beer called Ale-ternative Facts. The outdoor patio is great and they had live music!

Craft Beer at Jester King Brewery
It’s been a while since I’ve drank Jester King beers. The Super Ultramega Hyperforce (Saison/Farmhouse Ale) was my favorite with the Estival Dichotomous close behind. Even on a cloudy day, it was nice being out there.

Torchy’s Tacos
Breakfast tacos are the perfect way to start a day!

Craft Beer at Live Oak Brewing Company
Live Oak was the first brewery I visited when it was a small brewery in central, east Austin. Now they’ve expanded to a huge piece of land close to the airport. In fact, you get the joy of watching airplanes fly right above your head while sitting in their outdoor space. It’s been years since I first tried craft beer and it was interesting to find my tastebuds have shifted me from liking their signature Primus to their Liberation IPA. I definitely love my hops!

Pastrami Plate at Pieous
HECK YES. I wish I could eat this all the time. (Pieous, can you please move closer?) Their pastrami is AMAZING. It’s something you put in your mouth and close your eyes as you savor the flavors. Combined with the pickles and mustard, it’s perfection. You need to try this.

Craft Beer at Lazarus Brewery
I was so surprised about this brewery and excited to be there. I loved their IPA, double IPA, and Saison. They also have a pretty tap room and plentiful patio, which will be perfect for the nicer weather we’re getting.

Bao at Heo Eatery
There’s a new Vietnamese eatery in town! The restaurant is trendy and a tad more expensive than other Vietnamese restaurants (banh mi for $10 each). I tried two of their baos (small buns), each $4. I loved the pork belly one but the beef one was a bit dry. This was my first visit, so I want to come back and try their rice boxes, as this is what is getting the best reviews.

Craft Beer at Bluebonnet Beer Company
For now, this is one of the closest breweries to me and while the brewery is small, its beers are exciting and they’ve developed many loyal fans based on the packed place. I had the double IPA (10%!) called the Immortal Ten Winchester and would gladly drink it again.

Brunch at June’s
June’s is a cute, little restaurant on South Congress. I went for brunch with my friend MJ, and we split the Café Breakfast and had June’s Punch cocktails. The breakfast plate was simple and satisfying, though I thought it was a little expensive for $16: sunny side up eggs, ham, Gruyere, English muffin, and marmalade. June’s Punch is one of their signature cocktails and has rum, brandy, absinthe, clarified milk, green tea, spices, and pandan. It tastes as interesting as it sounds!

Home-Cooked Eats
With my goal of slow cooking two new recipes a month we tried this Tom Kha Gai Soup (recipe needed more spice!) and a Korean Beef recipe (perfect and eaten with Jasmine rice!). Both are on the “would make again” list.

Austin Food Blogger Alliance 2017 City Guide
The 2017 City Guide to the best eats in Austin is now live! These are put together by Austin bloggers. I contributed three guides, so please check them out!

• Best North Austin Restaurants
• Best Pastries in Austin
• Best Cupcakes in Austin

Recommendations from Austin Bloggers and Media

• My friend Yulia of The Foodie Miles tried Franklin’s BBQ. Check out her experience here.
• I have yet to try new Chinese restaurant Old Thousand but I enjoyed this review in the Austin Chronicle.
• My friend Caitlin of Big World, Small Girl wrote about all the booze producers to visit in Dripping Springs.
• My friend Kelsey of So Much Life gave a first look at new donut shop Bougie’s Donuts and Coffee.

Try any new restaurants lately? Give me your recommendation!
Have a recipe I should try? Comment below!

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: February 2017 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.