Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival Media Launch

Guess what y’all? Miss Smart* has become a member of the “Austin Media.”

*And apparently has become known as “Miss Smart” in some twittering circles. Literally, there was a moment I gave my card to someone and she said, “Oh, so YOU are Miss Smart!” Who knew? But I am happy to be welcomed into this fine group, even if only by the PR people planning events for the Texas Hill Country Food & Wine Festival….something I was already excited to know existed (raise your hand if you too have always wanted to go to the respective South Beach & Aspen festivals due to an obsession with Top Chef…), but am even MORE excited about now that I have seen the program, sampled some of the offerings, and witnessed the unveiling of the new logo:…which I was happy to bear in temporary tattoo-form on my now-more-bad-a**-than-be-forearm.^

^Did you see the Wheel of Fortune “Before and After” move I just pulled there?This year, the event is being sponsored by Whole Foods (my home away from home it seems like lately)……and is four days of food and wine events, ranging from burger & beef seminars to Maker’s Mark cocktail competitions, sake & sushi panel tastings to a lesson on “rogue cookery” with Australian Andrew Dwyer. I learned all of this from the mysterious, unmarked brown envelopes they distributed……but if I marry a foodie, my wedding invitations are totally going to have the silverware hole-punch too.

P.S. Whoever designed this flower arrangement, please also be on call for the day when (if?) I get married. Thank you.The sign of any great event is being greeted by fresh fruit, right? [I mean, aside from the opportunity to be branded.*]

*Tattooed. Temporarily. Whatever.
The US Pear Board (they DO exist…) is a sponsor this year…and I happily took one [fine...two] of those beauties home in my purse. Also smuggled out of the venue?One of each of the delicious Austin Cake Ball(s) represented at the event. [The owner saw me stash them in my bag. I don't care. Embarrassment is a waste of time.]

Italian Cream (above), Pumpkin Spice, and Salted Caramel (below)Check out the beautiful new tins! [Will YOU be my valentine, Mr. Cake Ball?]

From ten feet away, I saw a sign beckoning me with the word: prosecco.
I happily answered the call. I may have also had a sip of this delicious cabernet something or other. [I was mostly enamored with the label.]While sampling (and/or drinking full glasses of) wine, we were treated to small bites of such delicacies as this Cashew Creme Brulee with Cappucino Foam from Congress…

…whose executive chef (David Bull)……gave one of two cooking demonstrations of the night.He made Spanish Mackerel with fresh Goat’s Milk Ricotta, Black-Radish Potato Salad, and a Piquillo Pepper & Tangerine Honey Glaze.

Hello, yumminess! I know, because there were passed tasting plates.Goat ricotta cheese? YES, PLEASE.

The second cooking demonstration came from Josh Watkins, executive chef at The Carillon, who was not only ADORABLE…

…but made two of the best dishes of the night. First up? The demo-ed Miso-Marinated Wild Sea Bass with Ginger-Carrot Reduction & Wilted Spinach…and also maitake mushrooms (which he taught us means “dancing mushrooms”—precious, truly…).The above shot is of the tasting plates that were passed…since no one remembered to give him fancy china on which to plate the demo-ed dish…he substituted some sliced daikon.Chef Josh also made these “adult Jello shots” made with muscadet, grapes, and a little teeny-tiny ball of goat cheese.
In between cooking demos, there was a buffet of deliciousness from which to sample (all made my Whole Foods Market catering—will you ALSO be on call should I ever find the future Mr. Smart?), including Herbed Cheese Straws……Blue Corn Cups with Roasted Trout (mmmmm…)….…Mini Brijoles (flank steak with breadcrumbs and marinara)……and a Red & Golden Beet Salad with Walnuts (and horrific lighting…sorry!)I put together a nice little plate for myself.And promptly acted like a small child, yet again…making a complete mess of my press kit.And then, of course, there was the Texas Two (or more)-Sip Blind Tasting.
This flight of four sets of paired wines was intended to help us all overcome lingering prejudice against Texas wine (of which I had none to begin with….but I was happy to imbibe nonetheless).
And God Bless Texas, yet again, because I chose the Texas wines every time.

So who’s packing their boots and coming to town from March 31-April 3 for the TX Hill Country Food & Wine Festival? Tickets go on sale today!

You can always stay with me. We’ll set up a cot in The Smart Kitchen or something…;)