Story of The Year – The Constant
Listen to I’m Alive:
Vampire Weekend – Contra
Listen to Cousins:
Yeasayer – Odd Blood
Listen to Ambling Alp:
Singles
O.A.R. – Shattered
Listen:
With SXSW approaching I figured I would make a special installment of “Where to ear near venues.”
Ahh SXSW…a week filled with booze, music, movies and overall debauchery. Usually during this time you will fill your bellies with BBQ and other junk food for free at parties and showcases. However, usually at some point in the week you’ll want something a little ahem..different, or it’ll be 2 am and your options will be limited. Also, if you’re like me and are generally there during the film portion of the festival, there aren’t as many parties as there are come music time therefore meaning need real food. Below are only some of the places you can eat at during the festival. There’s definitely far more food options than listed below but these are just a few that I’ve personally been to that are still up and running…
Iron Cactus
606 Trinity St
Austin, TX 78701
http://www.ironcactus.com
I came here the first year I attended SXSW back in 2007. What caught my attention was their queso. Either I was just really hungry or Iron Cactus has been having an off year on their queso ever since because I feel like it’s never been the same. Anyhoo it’s a great place to stop in and have some Tex-Mex, queso and their cactus margarita. Plus it’s right in the thick of 6th street and the Convention Center so easy access to all nearby locales. It’s pretty mellow during the film time but during music expect it to be busy at all hours. Also, make sure there’s no private party already when you decide to go. It’s mid-level pricing so with food and drink expect to spend close to $15 per person.
Champions
300 E 4th St
Austin, TX 78701
www.championsaustin.com
Located directly in front of the convention center, Champions is the equivalent of a TGIFridays. They have just about anything All-American. I’ve gone here just for appetizers before movie screenings and for salads when my body desperately needed greens after too much consumption of overall crap. It’s close and convenient and doesn’t cost too much. It’s nice for a little lunch spot during the week.
Stubb’s BBQ
801 Red River St
Austin, TX 78701
http://www.stubbsaustin.com/
Even though you’ll be having BBQ-a-plenty at grab some at Stubb’s while you’re watching a show. It serves as restaurant and venue. If you really want you can try and grab a seat inside and have a full sit down menu or you can try your hand outside over by the stage at one of the stands with a BBQ pulled pork or beef sandwich w/some potato chips and a beer. Stand and eat while you watch. You’ll spend around 8-10 bucks at minimum depending on all you get and remember to tip.
Iron Works BBQ
100 Red River St
Austin, TX 78701
www.ironworksbbq.com
Iron Works is on the other side of the Convention Center facing away from downtown. Apparently this place is the bees knees as it’s a favorite of the former presidents Bush as well worthy enough of a feature on Food Network courtesy of Rachel Ray. It looks like a big picnic with the set up but just inside. Get away from the hustle and bustle of 4th and sit here and get some good ‘ol BBQ. You order by the pound, get a couple of sides and of course plenty of sauce at the tables.
Old Pecan Street Cafe
310 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78701
http://www.oldpecanstcafe.com
Obviously located on 6th it’s a little French style bistro and almost unassuming. At first glance you think this place is 1. expensive and 2. too frou-frouy when it comes to food. The menu was rather unappealing to us just for a quick lunch but someone tipped us off that they actually have a lunch-time special where you can get a normal burger and fries for about $10 or so. You just have to ask.
Paradise Cafe
401 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78798
www.paradiseonsixth.com
Came here for lunch my first year at SXSW. It was very eh but it’s an option for sandwiches and what not. The plus is it’s very affordable you can get entrees and pasta dishes for under $10.
The Hideout Theatre & Coffeehouse
617 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
http://www.hideouttheatre.com/
This particular Hideout is located next to the Paramount theatre on Congress. It’s more intended when you’re over there to see a film but if you find yourself crossing Congress’ path, stop in here for some coffee or a sandwich. It’s a refreshing and relatively inexpensive option for food.
Amy’s Ice Cream
1012 W 6th St
Austin, TX 78703
http://www.amysicecreams.com
Amy’s to me is a Texas institution. I was first turned on by it from a Food Network special and then a friend of mine saw it on some Travel channel show. It was supposed to be a quirky experience for ice cream with the cashiers flipping ice cream up, around and upside down before it landed in your cup but it’s since mellowed out. Either way the closest Amy’s is next to the Waterloo Records where throughout the week there are performances. It’s a bit of a hike but if you can hop on a ‘dillo. They usually have quite a range of flavors apart from your normal run-of-the-mill. It’s also nice if you’re just looking for a cool sweet treat. May I recommend the Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream. It tastes like vanilla ice cream with cinnamon except there is no cinnamon in it. Odd ain’t it
Jim-Jims Water Ice
615 E 6th St
Ste A
Austin, TX 78701
http://www.jimjimswaterice.com/
Jim-Jim’s is located directly across from Emo’s and if you don’t look close enough you’ll miss it. If you can’t make it out to Amy’s come to this little stall right here and get yourself some shaved ice or normally what I get is some soft serve (Chocolate and Vanilla mix) in a cone. You get a lot for a little. The only drawback is this place closes real early so come looking for it after hours.
Alamo Drafthouse (various locations)
www.originalalamo.com
These are movie theaters. During the film portion of the festivals movies and documentaries are shown in the various drafthouses located through out Austin. The best part about them? They serve you food AND alcohol! That’s right eat, drink and be merry. When you grab a seat there’s menus you can peruse and servers that come up and down to take your orders. You can get pretty much whatever you want: pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wings you name it in a MOVIE THEATER. And it’s GOOD food. I personally go for the Green Chile Mac & Cheese (no surprise there). And they take cash or card
Various Food Carts:
If the place you want to eat is not open come 2 am or you don’t want to make the trek anywhere or your just plain drunk, Downtown Austin provides several food trucks around the area. Be careful though when they are the only things available at 2 am EVERYONE is in line but here are some to note:
Hot Dog Trucks
My guy is on 6th and Red River but there are several up and down 6th. Some serve hot dogs some serve sausages but all are good and inexpensive. The hot dog guy on 6th and Red River has a variety of different dogs to choose from — your regular beef frank in a bun to Chicago Style and even veggie and turkey franks. But remember Cash only.
Pizza/Mediterranean
If you go onto 7th and Trinity there is a Mediterranean cart (Kebabalicious I believe it’s called) as well as pizza take your pick. Mediterranean has got gyros and hummus plates and pizza has…well obviously pizza. Vegetarian and meat selections alike and again an affordable option
Ice Cream Man/Cupcake mobile
Ice Cream Man is actually FREE Ice Cream Trucks that stop at different locales around Downtown strictly during SXSW. They specially come out to give you FREE Ice Cream. That’s right FREE (have I mentioned it enough?). Just find a van, go up to it, and pick out what ice cream you want and BOOM! It’s yours.
Now the cupcake mobile I think is relatively new because I saw it for the first time last year and only that one time. But it pulled up next to Jim-Jim’s. They were selling Chocolate, Vanilla, Red Velvet and other assortments of single cupcakes for roughly 2-3 bucks each. Again cash only
Chains
There are a couple of chain restaurants at your disposal if you’d prefer to stick with something familiar
P.F. Changs
201 San Jacinto Boulevard
Austin, TX 78701
www.pfchangs.com
Yes I must admit I did eat here one year, but in my defense it was cause it was torrential downpour outside and we really didn’t want to have to think about where to eat. Located directly across from the Convention Center on San Jacinto It’s also probably the only Chinese food you’ll find around here.
Roy’s
340 E 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701
www.roysrestaurant.com/
I’ve never eaten at a Roy’s but it’s also directly across from the Convention Center and across from the Purevolume House located on 2nd. That’s the only reason I know it’s there…from waiting in line at the Purevolume house. This is also a very pricey option.
Jimmy Johns
515 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
http://jimmyjohns.com/
If you’re looking for sandwiches/subs then come here. It’s also open relatively late (although I don’t think until 2 am). It’s a little bit on the “off-beaten” path but that just means it won’t be crowded when you get there
Taco Cabana
517 W Mlk J
Austin, TX 78701
http://tacocabana.com/
Don’t hate. I love me some Taco Cabana. This particular location is over by UT which is where I normally stay during SXSW so it’s always a stop on the way in. Cheap Mexican food with a drive thru (but not ala Taco Bell these are sizeable portions) and a salsa bar. It’s also open late. If you’re Vegetarian or Vegan though be sure you pick black beans in whatever you get because TC definitely cooks their pinto beans in bacon fat.
Chipotle (multiple locations)
I’m not a fan of Chipotle but if you are just know there are a couple locations one over on campus and one on Congress next to the Paramount Theatre.
McCormick & Schmick’s
401 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
If you’re able the best time to stop in is during Happy Hour. You can get burger and fries for half the price and the entire bar menu is 50% off.
Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
Fun Indie-pop from Florida. I expect these guys to be huge very soon. They’re already generating a big buzz for SXSW.
Listen to Swim (To Reach The End):
Dash & Will – Up In Something
These are 2 19-year old girls from Australia, neither of them are named Dash or Will but they make good poppy rock music and play guitars ala The Veronicas but unlike The Veronicas, I actually like listening to Dash & Will. CD is currently unavailable in the US.
Listen to Out Of Control:
Singles
Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
A little bit of an “oldie” and this one here is the extended CD version as opposed to the 7″ version so a lot of filler at the beginning of the track. But once it gets into it, it’s typical Death Cab.
Listen:
The Script – Breakeven
Cause when a heart breaks it don’t breakeven… how emo…
Listen:
The Superbowl has to be pretty much my favorite sporting event of the year. Usually I’m hosting the party and usually I try to make food that represents the cities each participating team is from. This year however, Superbowl also happen to land on my brother’s 24th birthday. So I decided to combine my traditional method of cooking by way of cities plus what my brother wanted to eat for this bday to make this years goodies. Now I liked both teams but I personally was rooting for the Colts. Peyton Manning has been one of my favorite athletes ever since HE was in college. However, when I tried to research Indianapolis cuisine I didn’t really find a lot. So, sorry Indy but you weren’t totally represented at my party. New Orleans was a lot easier. I love Cajun and Creole cooking so I tried to pick a couple of super simple and not overfilling foods to nosh on…
Andouille Sausage Sandwich
- 1 package cooked Andouille sausage
- 1/2 cup Spicy Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 cup onions sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced green peppers
- 1/2 cup sliced red peppers
- 1/2 tbsp butter or margarine
- 4 sets of potato buns (or any buns of your choice)
Heat a pan on medium-high heat. Melt tablespoon of butter. Add peppers and onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes. I added the Andouille Sausage into the pan with the peppers and onion to heat up and allow any run off from the juice of the sausage to go straight into the pan.
Lightly toast buns in the toaster oven. Once everything is heated, remove from heat. Spread Dijon mustard generously on top bun. Take each sausage and slice into 4ths (so that you get 4 pieces of sausage from one sausage). Lay each slice of sausage flat side down onto bottom bun. Top with sauteed peppers and onion. Place top bun onto sausage and onions and enjoy. Super easy!
Green Chile Cheese Fries
- 1 package frozen french fries
- 1 can mild diced green chiles
- 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese mix (or you can use a combo of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack etc.) – soy cheese for vegans
- salt and pepper to taste
- sour cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet or pan with foil. Lay out frozen fries onto foil. Cook fries for about 10-12 minutes according to package instructions in oven. Once fries are cooked or nearly cooked remove. Hit warm fries with some salt and pepper. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of cheese blend over fries. Sprinkle diced green chiles evenly over fries. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and place back in oven. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until all cheese is fully melted. Remove from oven and allow to sit for a minute or so. Use a spatula to serve fries into dishes. Dollop a little sour cream on top and enjoy.
Buffalo Mac ‘n Cheese
– 1 box of elbow macaroni
1/4 cup diced celery
- 1 cup diced chicken (I used Tyson grilled chicken strips)
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
-1 tsp white pepper
-1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter or margarine
- 1 tbsp flour
- water
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup crumbled bleu cheese (optional)
Bring a pot of water to boil. Add salt to the water. Drop in elbow macaroni and cook for 7-9 minutes or until the macaroni is al dente. Once macaroni is finished cooking, drain and set aside.
In a sauce pan begin making your cheese sauce. Heat pan on medium-high heat. Add margarine or butter and allow to melt fully before adding flour. Once you add flour, use a whisk to make sure all flour is incorporated with the melted butter. Add milk Turn the heat to low and allow milk to heat up for about a minute or so. After about a minute or so return heat to medium and add cheddar cheese. Whisk to quickly melt. Add buffalo sauce and whisk. Add celery and cook for 2-3 minutes to soften. Then add chicken.
Add the macaroni directly to the sauce pot Fold in macaroni with cheese and celery until it is fully incorporated. Add salt and pepper. Serve into dishes and top with crumbled bleu cheese (I hate bleu cheese but if you like it I imagine you’d want to do this)
Fried Okra w/Quick Remoulade
- 1/4 pound fresh okra, rinsed, tops and ends removed
- 1 cup tempura batter
- water
- Cajun seasoning
- oil for frying
- salt to taste
Remoulade
- 1/4 cup prepared horseradish
- 2 1/2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Add oil to a frying pan and put the heat on medium-high.
Follow instructions for tempura using water to create a thick batter. Add cajun seasoning to batter. Cut okra into quarter-inch pieces. To test oil drop a small dot of batter into the oil. If the batter immediately comes up and starts frying, the oil is ready. If it drops towards the bottom of the pan then it still needs a few more minutes to heat up. Once oil is ready, dip okra into tempura batter by the handful (just so it’s easier for you to handle). Slowly drop battered okra into frying pan. Allow to fry for about a minute or until the outside is a golden brown. Remove fried okra from pan with a slotted spoon and place onto a paper-lined bowl. Hit the hot okra with a little bit of salt on top.
Repeat with remaining okra.
For remoulade, in a bowl combine all ingredients until fully incorporated and you get a nice light orangey color in the mix. Serve alongside fried okra for dipping.
Red Velvet Cheesecake
This was my own choice to serve as the “birthday cake” for my brother. I love red-velvet anything and I’d had a craving for Stephanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. If anyone has eaten it there then they know that the cheesecake comes layered much like many of Junior’s famous cheesecakes in New York. It was going to be quite the task for me because I’ve never made a layered cake before let alone 3 layers of 2 different kinds of cakes. But I knew if I could get anywhere near the results of The Cheesecake Factory and even better, Junior’s then it was a challenge I was wholeheartedly willing to accept. I started the night before by making the cheesecake so it would have several hours to refrigerate overnight…
Crustless Cheesecake
- 3 packages of 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
- 3 eggs (egg substitute which is what I used and it came out just like normal cheesecake)
- 1 cup sugar or sugar substitute
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- pinch of salt
- Springform pan (imperative!)
Like the ingredients suggest, a spring form pan is imperative to make the cheesecake, ESPECIALLY since we are making it crustless.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a mixing bowl add cream cheese. Using a mixer, begin slowly mixing cream cheese together. Add sugar and continue to mix until fluffy. Add eggs or egg substitute and continue beating. Once all ingredients are incorporated add salt, lemon juice and vanilla one by one. Once everything is mixed scrape down all sides of the bowl to make sure everything has been mixed.
Spray your spring form pan with non-stick spray. Pour cheesecake batter into pan. Make sure it’s even in pan otherwise when you try to layer when preparing the cake you will get a lopsided cake. Place pan in oven and cook for about 40-45 minutes or until the cake passes the toothpick test.
Once cheesecake is done, remove from oven and allow to cool for about 30 minutes. Use a knife to just cut around the outer edge of the cake just to ensure that it doesn’t stick to the sides. Do not remove cake from pan. Place cake directly into fridge and allow to sit over night. I didn’t put any plastic wrap or foil over the pan because I didn’t want to run the risk of any leftover heat escaping the pan and causing condensation as a result onto the cake.
Red Velvet Cake
- 1 box red velvet cake mix
- 1 egg (or egg substitute according to cake directions)
- 1/3 cup oil (according to box instructions
- round cake pan same size as your spring form
Again the pan is imperative here. You want to make sure your cake pan is the same size as your spring form so you don’t have an uneven cake. Obviously you will want to refer before you make either cake so be sure you check before you go through the trouble of baking.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
In a bowl combine red velvet cake mix, egg, and oil. Use a mixer to mix all ingredients and create a smooth batter. Spray your cake pan with nonstick spray. Pour cake batter into pan and once again make sure it’s all even.
Place pan in oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until cake passes toothpick test. Once the cake is finished remove from oven and allow it to cool completely for about a half hour.
Layering the Cake
Remove cheesecake from fridge. Once your red-velvet cake is completely cooled, CAREFULLY remove it from the pan. The easiest way I found to do this was to place a large serving dish on top of the pan and then flip the pan over.
Now here’s where you have to be precise, the the bottom side up, carefully take a large sharp knife, gently put one hand on top of the cake, and with your other hand, cut the cake in half horizontally. Now, this part was definitely not my brightest moment but in the end everything turned out ok so no worries here. Once your knife comes through to the other side, carefully lift the top cut part of the cake, and place it on your serving dish flat bottom side down. Now don’t worry if you have bits of cake fall off here and there. You can do what I did and use it as topping.
Here’s where you may be asking what about the frosting? You can easily make your own but for time’s sake I bought 2 containers of Betty Croker’s Rich & Creamy Cream Cheese frosting.
Take a spatula (or if you have a pastry froster that’s a plus, I know I have one somewhere in my kitchen but I scoured everywhere and I couldn’t find it so I just used a spatula), and frost the outside and top of your cut cake until it is completely covered.
Next step is your cheesecake. Open the spring form pan. Using a spatula, gently lift your cheesecake from the bottom of the pan, and place on top of your first layer of frosted cake. Frost the outside and top of your cheesecake.
Next step, take the second part of your red velvet cake and place it on top of your cheesecake, the smooth side (or un-cut side) up. Frost the side and top of second layer of cake. Then like i said, any cake that had crumbled in the process I crumbled up and sprinkled it on top.
Place cake in fridge for about an hour. When ready, remove from fridge, cut and serve.
Lucky for me this cake was every bit delicious as I hoped it would be and thankfully not too sweet despite all the frosting.
Not Pictured: “New Orleans Hurricane”
Not pictured cause my family and friends are drunks and consumed it all. I came across this drink since I’m not exactly a mixologist on some bar website. Nowadays putting together the words New Orleans and Hurricanes isn’t exactly PC. SO! I’m changing the name of it to the Drew Breeze (ha ha get it?)
- dark rum
- light rum
- pineapple juice
- orange juice
- lime juice
- grenadine syrup (or I think any fruity syrup will do personally)
- sugar
- ice
Now I don’t have any proportions why? Cause when it comes to alcoholic drinks you can put however much of whatever you want into it. Looking to get drunk? Obviously add more rum. Don’t want to get drunk? Then add more juice it’s entirely up to you. Taste it and test it.
Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and serve in tall glasses and drink up.
Hockey – Mind Chaos
I discovered Hockey before going to SXSW in 2009 and fortunately I was able to catch one of their sets while I was out there. They are a fun put-you-in-a-good-mood kind of band and their new album Mind Chaos personifies just that.
Listen to Work:
Singles
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat The Devil’s Tattoo
It’s been a little while since BRMC has put out an original record but this is the first track off their latest effort Beat The Devil’s Tattoo. I’ve heard the entire record and while this may just be the title track I can assure you the other songs are just as great if not greater.
Listen to Beat The Devil’s Tattoo:
Train – Hey Soul Sister
I’m not much of a Train fan but this song just makes you want to jingle your keys in your coat pocket and sing-along.
Listen to Hey Soul Sister:
Neon Trees – Animal
I’m currently obsessed with this track because well how could you not be. It says D-A-N-C-E all over it. They opened for The Killers not too long ago but I don’t care for The Killers so therefore I’m looking forward to catching the band at this year’s SXSW.
Listen to Animal:
Common – Universal Mind Control
This is an oldie but a goodie. Makes me want to do the electric slide across my kitchen floor.
Listen to Universal Mind Control:
Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying
I don’t even remember the last time I watched American Idol but I guess this dude won the last one. Doesn’t really matter to me I just like the song think it can be inspiring and it’s damn catchy.
Listen to Live Like We’re Dying:
|
