austin – Patio Weather

Fishwife + Fly By Jing cookbook event

A swinging sign that says “Welcome Fishwife & Fly By Jing 5-8.”

This weekend, First Light bookstore hosted a release party for the new Fishwife cookbook. Steph Steele of neighboring Tiny Grocer interviewed Fishwife founder Becca Millstein and Fly By Jing founder Jing Gao. Guests who RSVPed and bought a cookbook were also treated to snacks made with their products and delicious NA cocktails. I have never seen the inside of First Light so packed, although trivia night is so popular that quizzers will be sitting on the ground outside. Getting food required a litany of “I’m sorry!”s and even throwing away your trash meant elbowing perfectly innocent cafe customers waiting in line for wine. I’ve never been to a cookbook event at the bookstore before so I don’t know if they are all like this or if this one was particularly large because of SXSW. I showed up two minutes before the start time and I felt like I was the last to arrive. Luckily, I was still able to grab one of the swag bags available to early RSVPs.

Laid out on a table, the Fishwife Cookbook, a bottle of Fly by Jing, a cute tote back, stickers, and notepad shaped like a pink fish.

Bread and green beans peeping out of stripped fish cans. A paper sign says “Savory Chengdu Crunch Panzanella. Boiled egg, Albacore tuna, sourdough, cherry tomato, green bean, basil, and a lime, fish sauce and Chengdu Crunch dressing.”

The snacks were a panzanella and two different onigiri stuffed with Fishwife salmon or trout. The salad was my favorite though and I was eating it with my fingers. Fishwife is all about paying a premium for amazing illustrations that convince you that you want to eat tinned fish. Before Fishwife, I had grown up eating canned tuna but otherwise associated canned fish with Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats eating out of cans at the city dump. Eating this classy panzanella out of a fish can combined the two worlds of gourmet products and feeling like a cat having a snack on the street. The NA martini was sweeter than a normal martini and I hope that they add it to their normal cafe menu.

In a bookstore, a crowd watches as a panel of three women talk into a mic.

The founders discussed their origins, cultural connections, and challenges. I learned a lot about the logistics of packaging and shipping a small product! The entire audience gasped when Gao mentioned glass jars being shipped out in manila envelopes, but then she added, “wait, that’s not even the horror story I wanted to tell you about.” While Fishwife had to overcome the American aversion to tinned fish, Gao had to grapple with the “low-key and high-key racism” that Chinese food faces in the market. She was asked, “how can Chinese food be premium?” I am glad that they both persevered because the variety and quality of foods we have access to in our homes now is the best part of the 21st century.

Where to Eat on the Drag – Spring 2018

The Drag, the strip of Guadalupe that passes by the UT campus, has an unwarranted bad reputation in the Austin food world. Some of my favorite lunch spots are or were along the Drag, but few stay because of high rent and obscurity. Food carts pop up so unexpectedly that they don’t have time to get traction in the local food scene before they disappear again. Plus there are the challenges that come with the seasonal nature of the area. Either there are so many students that outsiders don’t want to bother stopping by or the students leave for the summer and there’s not enough business left to stay afloat. It’s harsh, and I feel lucky to work close by and be able to visit these restaurants while they exist.

As a Drag local, here are my recommendations for places to check out before they disappear:

Burrito Factory

I know it’s in the Dobie, but hear me out–the Burrito Factory is the best Tex-mex/Mexican in the area. Their salsa roja is actually spicy, they use rich creams and cheese, and they have tortas. TORTAS! That’s so rare around here, and when you can get one, for some reason it usually takes forever for them to make it. Burrito Factory delivers quality food with the speed of a mall food court restaurant, which it is.

China’s Family Restaurant

Eat here fast because nothing that moves into this location, behind the old Veggie Heaven spot, lasts long. China’s Family Restaurant is the newest attempt to make that spot successful. It’s definitely the best restaurant that will deliver to my north-central apartment. Yelp reviews concur that the way to go is the fish fillet in oil and the eggplant dish. Their American takeout style dishes aren’t as great, but meat-and-potatoes types really enjoy the Crispy Chicken. All dishes are served family style, so be prepared for monstrous portions.

bento plate — Veggie bento with fried tofu, rice, and vegetables

Song La

Song La is famous for their chicken bites with basil, but I love them for the amount of vegetables that they serve. You can even get a box of just their vegetables and rice for $5. The photo above is their veggie bento box which comes with rice, fried tofu, a slew of cooked and pickled vegetables, and two sauces. One is a kind of spicy mayo with honey while the other is Sichuan ma la chili oil.

The last time I visited, there was no covered seating. They do, however, validate parking in the University Co-op garage.

Arlo’s

I have been in love with Arlo’s for ages, so I squeed when I learned that they were taking over the Hole in the Wall restaurant spot. I have never had a veggie burger as great as theirs, and I’ve had fancy burgers, Impossible burgers, made-with-love burgers. Arlo’s is simply the best. I tricked my team into eating there recently and the omnivores ordered the Chipotle “Chicken” sandwich and loved it. I had chili mac and it was so rich and delicious. I had that battle with myself where I can’t possibly finish it in one sitting but it tastes so good that I really want to, so I keep pushing it away from me then pulling it back and eating it some more. So good. Plus they have tots. My kingdom for a fried potato.

The Pizza Press

The Pizza Press is a chain that lets you create a pizza with unlimited toppings of your choice. You want a vegan pie piled with veggies, topped with fresh herbs and a balsamic swirl? Done. Want to go the other route and use four types of cheese? Got it. If this doesn’t excite you, I really don’t know how I can help.

Busy Sisters Cakes in a Cup

I’ve been helping my friend beta taste a line of single-serving microwave cakes that she is making with her sister under the name Busy Sisters. Up until now, my favorite was the lemon, but she surprised me yesterday with a cookie and cream version that she made just for me. This concept is perfect for me because I will stay up late watching shows like Great British Bake Off and start to think that if I don’t immediately put a pastry in my mouth I will die. This has led to 11 p.m. trips to see where in Austin one can find nighttime tiramisu. The answer is “nowhere”. This lets me satisfy my pastry needs in under 2 minutes. I can’t wait until they start selling them commercially.