The Good Guide: April in Austin

Hi, y’all! Jenny and Enrique from Vino Pour Favor here. April is one of the best weather months in Austin, isn’t it? Perhaps that’s why some of the biggest foodie events all year happen this month. If you don’t attend these types of events very often, now’s the best time to pick one from the list! To seal the deal, these events benefit great causes in the Austin community, so you can treat yourself AND others!

Photo: Austin Food + Wine Festival Facebook

Photo: Austin Food + Wine Festival Facebook

Here is your April foodie event roundup:

Live Fire!

Live Fire! is a beef-centric live-fire cooking event featuring the best in sizzling proteins and cooking craftsmanship along with wine, beer, and spirits tastings. Expect Live Fire! ¡Viva Mexico! to sizzle this year with a focus on interior Mexican Cuisine. 

This event benefits the Austin Food & Wine Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation in the Central Texas food, wine and spirits community through grants, educational programming and events. Grant recipients have included Keep Austin Fed, Urban Roots, Farmgrass, and more. Info: Thursday, April 5 / 7-9pm / Camp Mabry Tickets 

 

33rd Annual Rare & Fine Wine Auction

Enjoy selections from featured Winemaker Kirk Venge of Venge Vineyards as well as access to an impressive menu of wines for your table. Set in the JW Marriott Austin, this charity auction offers the opportunity to channel your passion for food and wine to better the health and well-being of the community.

Over the last 33 years, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas has donated $1.3 million back into the Central Texas community. In 2018 and beyond, WFFT is dedicated to providing direct financial support to sommeliers, chefs, and winemakers through scholarships, travel stipends, and professional development opportunities. Info: Saturday, April 7 / JW Marriott / Details


 

CultureMap Austin Tastemaker Awards

The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards are an annual celebration of talent in Austin and San Antonio's restaurant and bar community, as selected by their peers. CultureMap's mission is to shine a spotlight on the people making the city's restaurant scene special and honor their innovation, energy, and creativity. The swanky tasting event and awards ceremony celebrates the nominees and announces the winners.

This event benefits the Austin Food & Wine Alliance. Info: Thursday, April 12 / Fair Market Tickets

 

Photo: Waller Creek Conservancy Facebook

Photo: Waller Creek Conservancy Facebook

Waller Creek Pop-up Picnic

Come by car, bus, bike, or on foot, spread your blanket, and enjoy picnic baskets prepared by some of Austin’s best restaurants, including Franklin Barbecue, Uchiko, Easy Tiger, and Wu Chow. Or, bring your own basket and enjoy Palm Park while listening to great music, catching up with your friends, and watching the sun drop behind the city skyline.

All basket proceeds benefit The Waller Creek Conservancy, which plays a vital role in the preservation, redevelopment, and maintenance of the Waller Creek surrounding parks, nearby businesses, adjoining neighborhoods, and community at large.

Info: Saturday April 14 / Palm Park / Tickets

 

Texas Wine Revolution

Featuring 25+ Texas wineries, winemakers, and their 100% Texas grown Rosé, the afternoon will also include Rosé tastings, live music, local foods, educational seminars, interactive activities, plenty of picture opportunities, a silent auction, and picnic areas on the gorgeous property of Horseshoe Bay Resort. Celebrate and meet local wineries, winemakers, farmers, and chefs for an awakening and education of Real Texas Wine.

Texas Wine Revolution is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting consumer education and awareness of Texas grown wines.

Info: Sunday, April 22 / Horseshoe Bay Resort / Tickets

 

Dining Out For Life

With a list of over 70 restaurants, you can select a dining destination for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to help put food on someone else's table! Restaurants across Austin have committed to doing their part to strengthen the overall health of the community by pledging to donate a portion of the day's proceeds to fight HIV.

Dining Out For Life (DOFL) supports clients of the Helping Hands Food Bank and other programs of Aids Services of Austin. Info: Tuesday, April 24 / Various location / Details

 

UMLAUF Garden Party

Stroll through the Garden, enjoy select wines and tasty bites from Austin’s best and most iconic restaurants, dance to sounds of the Nash Hernandez Orchestra, or bid on the most unique and creative live and silent auction items offered.

Garden Party proceeds benefit UMLAUF's world-class exhibitions and education programs, providing direct access to the arts for more than 50,000 visitors annually and free admission and tours to over 4,500 Central Texas school children to learn about the artistic legacy of Charles Umlauf through workshops, lectures, Kids Kraft, Camp UMLAUF, and collaborations with other local art and community organizations.

Info: Thursday, April 26 / UMLAUF Sculpture Garden / Details

 

Austin Food and Wine Festival

The 7th annual Austin Food & Wine Festival includes a chef lineup of local and nationally-recognized names, with over 40 culinary demos; beer, wine, and cocktail tastings; interactive fire pits; book signings; music; a Rock Your Taco competition; Sunday Gospel Brunch; and more. This event benefits the Austin Food & Wine Alliance.

Info: Friday, April 27 - Sunday, April 29 / Auditorium Shores & Fair Market / Tickets 

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Good Party ATX presents: Local Luau

Good Party_Local Luau.jpg

We're bringing the beach vibes back to Kitty Cohen's, this time during SXSW at the Good Party Local Luau. Featuring:

+ Flor de Caña Tiki drinks

+ Annie Ray photobooth

+ Octotillo Pop-up Shop

+ Bites by VEGG (it's a pork-free luau!)

+ Tropical tunes thanks to KUBE (playlist curated by GirlFriend ATX) 

Bring a cash donation for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and support Austin's music community! Invite friends on Facebook and RSVP here to tell us you're coming and stay up-to-date with Good Party ATX.

 

The Good Guide: February in Austin

Hi, y’all! Jenny with Vino Pour Favor here, with a little guest blog to round up a few ideas for Valentine’s Day and foodie events in Austin. All of these businesses and events give back to the community, so by supporting them you’ll help give back to good causes. And really, that’s this month of love is all about!

@wallace.the.goldendoodle via Instagram

@wallace.the.goldendoodle via Instagram

Bites & Drinks

Mealshare Restaurants

Mealshare partners with socially responsible Austin restaurants to help provide meals to youth in need through the Central Texas Food Bank. When you order a Mealshare item (look for their logo), the participating restaurant donates a meal to youth in need. Buy one meal, give one meal! Restaurants include Contigo, L’oca D’oro, Andiamo, El Naranjo, and more.

Antonelli’s Cheese

Antonelli’s hosts a range of cheese classes every month, and in February there are 13 of them covering topics from Chocolate and Cheese to Cider and Cheese (collab with Austin Eastciders) to a Love Stinks (stinky cheeses) Class on Valentine’s Day. When purchasing a class ticket, you can donate to February’s designated charity, which is B.I.G. Love Cancer Care, a volunteer based organization committed to providing basic necessities and personalized care to cancer kids and their families. 100% of those contributions will go directly to the nonprofit. Additionally, the February 28 class, Cheese 101: The Seven Styles of Cheese, benefits the nonprofit via a portion of ticket and retail sales. Antonelli's Cheese, 4220 Duval St.

La Patisserie

Purchase a Boss Babes Rose Macaron, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Boss Babes URL Digital Artist Residency - a program that places six women-identifying and non-binary visual artist’ work throughout Boss Babes productions. Special runs now through March. La Patisserie, 602 W Annie St // 7301 Burnet Rd, Ste 102

Still Austin Whiskey

For the entire month, $1 from each Daisy Pepper will benefit the American Heart Association. Still Austin Whiskey, 440 E St. Elmo Rd

Soup Peddler

Purchase “The Yellow Bike” smoothie (mango, coconut cream, pineapple, lime, raw turmeric, cilantro, organic chia, and organic maca) and 25% of proceeds benefit Austin Yellow Bike, a nonprofit organization that has been working for 20 years to get more bikes on the streets of Austin through operating community bike shops, teaching bike mechanics and maintenance, and acting as a local bike advocacy group. Soup Peddler, various locations.
 

TLC Austin via Facebook

TLC Austin via Facebook

Food Events

TLC Grand Opening Party

Thursday, February 8th: The newest addition to the Lamar Union will feature specials to celebrate their grand opening, including: $5 ½ dozen oyster platters, $5 rotating signature cocktail specials (10 cocktails on tap), live music by The Bruce Smith Band beginning at 5pm, and giveaways. 10% of all seafood boil proceeds will be donated to the Sustainable Food Center, whose mission it is to cultivate a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. TLC, 1100 S Lamar, Ste 1150.

Jo’s 12th Annual Chili Cook-Off

Chili tasting and live music start at noon. All proceeds benefit Urban Roots, a non-profit using food and farming to empower youth and nourish community. Jo's Coffee, 1300 S. Congress Ave. Event details. 

2018 Farmshare Farmraiser: “Love is in the Share”

Enjoy a wild boar, plenty of vegetarian sides prepared by Austin chefs and local libations, all set to live music by the Barn Owls, an old-time square dance band. Chefs include those from Dai Due, Parkside, Trace Austin, Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Monument Cafe, Sawyer, Texas French Bread, and Curcuma. Beverage sponsors include the ABGB, Texas Keeper Cider, Austonian Spirits, and Tito's Vodka. Proceeds support Farmshare Austin's programs to train new organic farmers and improve access to affordable, healthy, fresh foods throughout the community. Saengerrunde Halle, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Tickets.

Wu Chow Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Dog

The restaurant will donate 100% of proceeds of their plush pandas ($10 ea) sold Feb. 16-Feb. 19 to Austin Pets Alive!. On Monday, Feb. 19, the Chinese New Year Party will have family-friendly festivities, including an Austin Pets Alive! Puppy Party from 5-7 pm. Wu Chow, 500 W 5th St, #168

Breakfast Bash benefiting No Kid Hungry Austin

Join Austin's finest chefs and mixologists for Breakfast Bash for No Kid Hungry, a new event supporting No Kid Hungry's work to make sure every kid starts the school day with a healthy breakfast. Chef Bryce Gilmore (Odd Duck, Barley Swine) and Pastry Chef Amanda Rockman (South Congress Hotel) have teamed up to curate more than 30 top chefs and bartenders, who will present tastes of their breakfast and brunch favorites. Fair Market, 1100 E 5th St. Tickets.

VEG OUT: A Pop Up Dinner

This event features a 4-course vegetarian meal by Chef Monique. A portion of proceeds will benefit Asian Family Support Services of Austin. Forthright, 35 Brazos St. Tickets.

Austin Entertains

The Junior League of Austin presents Austin Entertains, a culinary experience led by Austin’s greatest female chefs who are leading Austin’s culinary scene, with tastings, libations from local mixologists, and a live music showcase. All funds raised through this event will benefit The Junior League of Austin’s programs including FIT – Food in Tummies, Coats for Kids, and more than 36 local, community non-profits. Fair Market, 1100 E 5th St. Tickets.

Austin Oyster Festival

Oysters served raw, grilled, roasted and fried...alongside delicious seafood accompaniments, Bloody Marys, beer, wine and spirits...with a side of Cajun, Bluegrass, and "Newgrass" music. Event benefits Central Texas Food Bank. The Lawn at Seaholm, tickets. 

Toast & Roast

The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas partners with Texas Monthly for an exclusive tasting of their "Top Texas Wines of 2017" to celebrate and support Texas' growing wine industry. The Texas Wine of the Year will be announced and guests choose this year's Fan Favorite. Along with a sip and stroll tasting of the best Texas wines produced last year, renowned Texas chefs will prepare a farm to table feast. The WFFT invests in the wine and food community through education, appreciation, and enjoyment. Grant recipients have included Urban Roots, Central Texas Food Bank, Dell Children’s Medical Center, and more. Stonehouse Villa, 15110 Fm 150 W, Driftwood. Tickets.

Just Because...

Flyrite Lunch Money Fund

Did you know 55% of Austin students require assistance to purchase a school lunch? Support Austin ISD school lunches by using Flyrite Loyalty Points to donate or adding $1 to your next order at either Flyrite location. Every $3 that is donated helps ensure a child has a meal. Details.
For more foodie updates, follow Vino Pour Favor online and on Instagram.

@vinopourfavor via Instagram

@vinopourfavor via Instagram

Photo Gallery: Solar Saves Lives

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands at the Solar Saves Lives event on Sunday at St. Elmo Brewery! So many people donated (y'all rock!) and lots of furry friends showed up, too. As a reminder, Cam Solar matched all donations 100% and St. Elmo gave back $1 for every beer sold. Sunday was a good day. 

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