Foodie Giveaway

It's definitely time for a giveaway folks, I have so many things to celebrate. My dear friend Allyson delivered Jack Thomas on Saturday evening and I couldn't be more excited for them. Woo Hoo, you did it girl!

I'm also just getting back into town from an overnight in Frisco, Texas where I was able to celebrate the engagement of a dear friend from college. And here's a shout out to the Bat Girls who made the party so much fun. You chicks rock and I can't wait to hang out with each of you in November at Holly's wedding in Mexico.

I returned to Austin Sunday around noon, just in time to crawl on the couch and snuggle under Jim's arm to watch football. I'm learning to be excited about football, but I was more happy to be home in his arms more than anything. Good to be home, with the dogs laying on either side of me, with small piles of laundry separated on the kitchen floor waiting to be washed and dried, with ESPN or some form of sports on TV, where I can go without makeup, wear my hair in a bun, and fall asleep under a blanket on the couch. There simply is no place like home.

Speaking of cool places, if you live in the Austin area then you must take note of a new (new to me) restaurant near Mopac and Lake Austin Blvd. I met some friends at Fabi + Rosi to enjoy their special Restaurant Week menu. The restaurant is tucked away in a neighborhood, where Zoot used to be located. It's adorably decorated in black and white (my fav) with crystal accents everywhere, although don't let me lead you to believe this is a stuffy place - extremely comfortable, a relaxed elegance.  For $25 per person you could choose one selection from the menu below:

Appetizers (choose one)

PORK BELLY
On a bed of spinach with walnuts, apples, and Blue de Aveurne

WILD ARRUGULA
With overnight tomatoes and shaved parmesan

HOUSE MADE CHICKEN LIVER PATÈ
Gewuertztraminer gelee and cornishons

Entrées (choose one)
JAEGER SCHNITZEL and SPATZLE
Local farm raised pork loin, German pasta, creamy wild mushroom sauce

LEMON VERBENA RAVIOLI
Hand made raviolis filled with a ricotta and herb blend, served in a light prosecco sauce topped with crawfish tails

BEEF TENDERLOIN
Truffled potato soufflé, chilled haricotes verts tomato salad

Desserts (choose one)
BELGIUM CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
TONKA BEAN CRÈME BRULEE
BEE STING CAKE
 
What would you have chosen? There were five of us eating together so I was lucky enough to taste everything except for the Wild Arugula Salad. The pork belly was very good, although I was slightly disappointed in the portion sizes. I left stuffed, so I hate to sound like a piggy (pun intended) but I was expecting to receive a slice of pork belly slightly smaller than a deck of cards with all the layers of melty deliciousness. Instead I received two slivers the size of a stick of gum that I thought may have been overcooked. I have to say the meat paired excellently with the Stryker Chardonnay that we were drinking. My favorite entree was the Lemon Verbena Ravioli and favorite side was the Truffled Potato Souffle - they were to die for. The Bee Sting Cake was great too, the almonds and honey atop the sponge cake tasted like a sweet brittle and then the bottom layer was a vanilla custard. oh yum...
 
Okay, enough of me going on and on about what I consumed at dinner tonight. In honor of my friend Allyson who gave birth to a sweet baby boy who I'm dying to meet, in honor of my friend Holly who is getting married in November, in honor of the Bat Girls who are super fun but frankly need to learn how to take a shot, and in honor of my new restaurant find and the deliciousness that they served to me tonight....
 

I'm giving away this cute gift basket which is stuffed with some neat chocolates, decadent cookies and some fun snacks. It's tied with a black and white ribbon too, which reminds me of Fabi + Rosi.

To enter yourself into the giveaway simply leave a comment on this post and let me know what you are celebrating this week. Brag a bit, on you or a friend or family member. We all have something to celebrate, even if it is that you simply remembered to brush your teeth before you ran out of the house this morning. Thank God I keep an emergency kit in my desk drawer with backup toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.

One entry per person. Contest entry time ends on Tuesday, September 22 at 11:00 PM central time. I will select one entry using the random integer generator and the winner will be announced Wednesday morning along with my new favorite hamburger recipe. Ohhh, I can't wait to read what exciting news you have to share!