TOUR DE FORKS

I try never to do more than one foodie post per week, nor talk about a restaurant I just mentioned recently, but I'm afraid it just can't be helped. You see, last night we returned to Cafe Malta over in south Austin, thanks to a very generous Christmas certificate from two of our kiddos which needed to be spent. However, this time, it was for a whole different experience! You see, twice a month, on the first and third Tuesday evenings, they set aside their usual menus and take those lucky few who managed to nab reservations on a Tour de Forks.

Cafe Malta is a Mediterranean restaurant, so on these special evenings they feature a menu from a different region each time. Thanks to the popularity of the Mediterranean diet, you are probably wondering "How many different ways can they serve veggies, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and lean protein." Well, you'd be amazed. For one thing, did you realize there are 22 different Mediterranean countries -- from Albania and Algeria to Tunisia and Turkey -- with dozens of regions in every one, each having their own special way of preparing the local bounty? Last night we were transported to Abruzzo, a region in central Italy.

As you can see, there are always two menu options -- the meaty one and the vegetarian one. John ordered meaty, of course, and I ordered the other, then we swapped bites of each course, so we got to try a bit of everything!

Aperitif

The aperitif -- made with brandy, orange liqueur, red wine, fennel, clove and soda -- was awfully pretty, but a bit too much for a non-drinker like me. Fortunately, they just happen to serve one of my favorite dry rosés, so I opted for a glass of that instead.

Firsts:

John's Grilled Lamb Appetizer

My Caramelized Onion Bruschetta

Seconds:

My Soup With Dandelion Greens -- So Bitter!

John's Pork 'n Beans Soup

Thirds:

John's Roasted Pork Shoulder Over Polenta

My Housemade Pasta With Porcini Mushroom Sauce

Finale:

Almond Cake Coated With Dark Chocolate

So. Did we moan and swoon over every single bite? Well, no (those bitter dandelion greens!). That would be unrealistic expectations.

But, did we have a grand adventure? Why yes, we did indeed!

A FUNKADELIC WEEKEND

 

Churro Waffles

It began with a Saturday morning meetup with all the kiddos, at The Funkadelic Brunch in the Sunset Valley area of Austin. The Funkadelic may look like a "fast food" joint when you enter, but believe me, it's not. It serves locally sourced, made from scratch comfort brunch cuisine from all around the world, so be prepared for a bit of a wait, and tables that are packed with people. Been longing to try Ebleskiver? Here's your chance!

The next day Hubby and I enticed son-in-law Nate's folks, who recently moved back to Austin, to come down our way for lunch and an afternoon of browsing the Wimberley Arts Fest, where we ran into our favorite funky friends, Fiber Woman and her Glass-Blowing Hubby.

The Muses may have to re-christen Fiber Woman, as she seems to have found a new passion -- making gorgeous enameled jewelry!

When we first started going to these art fests, they were held down in the center of town and you had to be shuttled there from an offsite parking area. Same was true when they outgrew that space and moved to the parking area of the Blue Hole Park. Both were hotter 'n hades when the sun was out. When the event outgrew that space as well, they moved it to Rio Bonito at Waters Point -- a lovely private resort and event center which got wiped out in the epic Memorial Day Flood, but which is finally back in business and the absolutely perfect spot for this event, with plenty of on-site parking and gobs of blessed shade!

The Music Tent

Baby Trees

The only thing missing? The thick rows of massive, several-hundred-year-old Cypress trees that used to line the banks of this river.

It still hurts to look at it, and remember.

CALVIN'S BIG ART ADVENTURE

Daughter Alexis was driving down Brodie Lane in Austin recently, just around the corner from her house, when she noticed that something new was going in where a Montessori school used to be -- a place called Figment Creative Labs -- Where Imagination Runs Wild. Lex went straight to her computer when she got home, to see what she could find out about them, and that's how we ended up taking Calvin on his biggest adventure yet!

BUBBLES!

Apparently this used to be called Wee Warhols, and got its start when owner Amber Scardino's friends were so impressed with all the fun things she was doing with her own kids that they offered to pay her if she would let their kids join in on the fun. So, she started doing some art camps and classes there at her own home, including her Mommy & Me program for toddlers, which focuses on process art -- art which is done sheerly for the joy you experience in the doing of it, with no regard for the finished product.

Kinetic Sand + Ice Cream Scoops

A Sequin Board Which Changes Colors When You Run Your Hand In Either Direction

We just happened to get in on the very last M&M session before she shuts down for the BIG MOVE, and Calvin ended up having the whole place to himself, with Amber's undivided attention!

The Potions Lab, where you get to play with vinegar and baking soda and food coloring!

It's Hammer Time!

An Inclined "Race Track" With A Bucketful of Vehicles

OH WOW! Train Tracks! I Love Train Tracks!

Making Muffins and Cakes

Calvin's very favorite station of all? The confetti egg stomp...

especially since, instead of getting the usual 3 or 4 eggs, she let him do the whole carton! (No one can resist the way he says "One more time?") Afterwards he got to drizzle glue on a piece of paper and scatter the confetti all over it (and the bottom of his shoes). There was also a masterpiece created with paint, paper, fly swatters and plungers!

The only bad part? Trying to get him to leave! Not even the promise of pizza with Papa could console him.

Check out this video to see what all is in store at the new location when it opens in June, and be sure to share it with anyone you know in S. Austin who has kids!

A COLOR MAD WEEKEND

It started with an uber-fun wedding over in Fredericksburg, where we got to hang out with old friends from our Indonesia days -- some we still see on a semi-regular basis, and the wonderful surprise meetup with a couple we hadn't seen since we left there almost 25 years ago!

She's not a flower "girl", she's a flower QUEEN!

Apparently, the bride is a bit of a popcorn fanatic. Hence the fabulous "Popcorn Bar" they had set up out on the porch when we arrived at the wonderful Hill Country venue where the reception was held.

So Many Choices!

The sunglasses all said "A REEH (pronounced ray) of sunshine."

The groom is the son of our Aggie-Ranching-Friends the Reeh's. We met way back when we were all living in Kingsville and Dan was fresh out of A&M, then we sorta followed one another to Houston, west Texas, Indonesia and, eventually, back to the Hill Country. They took great delight in the fact that our very own son turned redcoat and chose A&M over UT. Now we can delight in the fact that their son has married a big city girl who graduated from UT's law school. Payback!

It seems my sister, hubby and I aren't the only ones who think Junior Mints and popcorn make the perfect pair!

Since this wedding fell on the same evening as our monthly dinner club meet up, our foodie friends were kind enough to change this month's food frenzie to a Sunday morning get together at Blue Dahlia Bistro's newest location, on the square in San Marcos. We are so glad they did! We've been there once before, when they first opened, but had no idea that they too had a secret garden. What better place for a Sunday brunch on a perfect spring day?

And the food? Oh my! 

Blueberry Blintzes with a Lavender Bellini (which tasted waaaay better than anyone expected!)

The Best Coq au Vin I've Ever Had

The perfect end to a perfect weekend!

WHIMSICAL ART

Remember the funky outdoor shop I showed you recently -- the one selling old carnival ride seats as garden furniture? It's owned by local yodeling musician Jill Jones, who used to have a similar shop called By The Bridge, until it got swept away in one of our epic floods. We are so glad to have her back in business, because you just never know what you will find there. It was Hubby who stopped dead in his tracks when we walked past this time, and this is what caught his eye.

Why was he so fascinated with this stuff? Well, turns out it's all made from parts you find in gas turbines -- a subject my hubby just happens to be a bit of an expert on! Where on earth does she find this stuff?

And, while we're on the subject of whimsical art, this is what's happenin' in the bedroodio right now.

I'm doing a class on-line with one of my favorite watercolor artists, Danielle Donaldson. It's called Wild Blue Yonder!

First we practiced painting skies and clouds and rainbows...

then we tried our hand at whimsical birds -- some painted, some cut from paper, and some a combination of both.

Up next, paper airplanes! Then we will do a final masterpiece including all of the above. Normally I would get all sad and mopey when a fun class is coming to an end, but not when I have this to look forward to...

Danielle's new book that just came out, chock full of lots more fun projects just like these!

 What about you? Anything fun and whimsical going on in your neck of the woods?