ATX FOOD NEWS | Eating our way through Austin, one delicious bite at a time.

Blenders and Bowls

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Kay Marley-Dilworth

Take a half hour to visit to Blenders and Bowls Cafe inside Wanderlust LIVE and I promise you, it will not be your last visit. The frosty cold deliciousness served up in either a cup (smoothie) or a bowl is packed with flavor and, as an added bonus, the açaí, fresh fruit, and other toppings ensure you are eating healthfully. This is serious stuff, folks. I was hooked at first bowl. In fact, writing this post is creating a crave so intense, I know I’ll have to drop by for a fix of first rate antioxidants disguised as dessert. Or breakfast. Or lunch.

Blenders and Bowls benefits from a few 15 minute free parking spots outside the Wanderlust LIVE studio on 4th & Brazos, but it is well worth throwing some quarters into a meter spot to go in and take your time choosing from the various combination of fruits and toppings, all with the amazing-for-you açaí berry. I recommend The O.G., a blend of organic açaí, strawberry, banana and apple juice, topped with hemp granola (yes, indeedy, Austin, hemp granola), sliced strawberries and bananas, with a drizzle of Round Rock honey. The blend of açaí, fruit and juice is sorbet-like, tart and tangy, and perfect for Austin’s summer heat.

If you’re jonesing for a sweet treat, why not dip a spoon into something yummy and good for you? Nutritionally dense, these smoothies and bowls are about 300-450 calories and will nourish your body in ways a pint of ice cream can’t even begin to touch.

Parking tip: On the weekends, score free parking in the lot behind Wanderlust LIVE.

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Categories: Breakfast, Downtown Dining, Lunch | Tags: açaí, smoothies | Comments Off

Swift’s Attic

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Kay Marley-Dilworth

I vow to never eat edamame again, unless it is from Swift’s Attic. I should have known, based on the team of culinary magicians and owners behind this charming Congress Avenue restaurant, that anything I ordered would be fantastic. I’m used to imaginative food. I’ve grown to expect to be wowed by Austin’s food scene. But even the most jaded of palates will be happily re-awakened by a simple bowl of charred edamame, shiny with chile oil, that comes with a side of sea salt and unflavored Pop Rocks.

The skeptic will eye this plate and wonder if the addition of a retro candy is nothing more than a desperate, overreaching statement of the trend toward unusual food pairings. Hang on to your hat, honey, because the skeptic will be converted to the gospel of Swift’s Attic. The charred edamame and chile oil alone is a beautiful thing, but dip into the salt and Pop Rocks and prepare for (wait for it) an explosion of savory delight. The unflavored candy adds a 3D texture to the earthy, spice of the edamame. You can’t go wrong with delicious fun!

Categories: Dinner, Downtown Dining, Happy Hour, Late Night Eats, Lunch, SXSW | Tags: dinner, edamame, happy hour, lunch, Pop Rocks | 1 Comment

Mel’s Meals

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Kay Marley-Dilworth

I have pre-conceived notions of what healthy food tastes like, of the inevitable blandness and the business of eating just because you have to feed your body instead of rejoicing in the sublime taste of foods. After inviting me to try a sampling of their menu items, Mel’s Meals knocked me off my high horse and onto my plump bottom with their assortment of meals-to-go. Packed with taste, sensible portion size and affordable, Mel’s Meals changed my point of view on healthy eating.

My favorite entree is the Turkey Burger, with bits of feta and serrano in the patty. Turkey burger patties are often the dowdy second cousin to our first choice of juicy, fatty beef, but this patty satisfied my carnivorous craving with full frontal flavor. Served with a whole wheat bun, lettuce, tomato, onion and a packet of mustard, this entree is a lean 405 calories with 14g of fat. Compare that to a Whopper from Burger King, which is 670 calories and 38g of fat, then run (it burns more calories) to Mel’s for your turkey burger!

A fantastic option for dinner is the Sirloin with Roasted Vegetables, lightly flavored with rosemary and garlic. My picture doesn’t do this entree justice, as I had only half the serving of steak on the plate. If you need a healthy, stick-to-your-ribs meal, this is it. This entree is available in two sizes and the larger tops out at 520 calories and 17g of fat. Perfect for a “meat and potatoes” man who is trying to lose weight or to maintain his physique.

Pizza lovers are not left out at Mel’s Meals. The Chicken Pesto Pizza is infinitely better than any of its frozen counterparts in the healthier eating section at the grocery store, and is made fresh daily. This pizza has a burst of pesto flavor, onions, mushrooms, chicken and mozzarella. A little tip, though, instead of following the microwave directions, heat this in your oven for a crispy crust.

Because their foods are prepared without salt, the meals do come with instructions to season seasonably. The only entree that fell flat for me in seasoning was the Kung Pao Chicken, to which I added a healthy squirt of sriracha. It may be that I simply prefer more heat than most.

I didn’t look around enough when I picked up my meals, or I would’ve certainly added the Protein Peanut Butter Balls to my bag. I tried these when a friend dropped by after lunch one day and I’m hooked. I shamelessly ate all of her leftover dessert.

The idea for Mel’s Meals was born when Mel, a veteran of the Austin restaurant world, became disillusioned with the unreasonably large portion sizes she saw delivered to tables day after day. The focus of her business is to create healthy, portion-perfect, tasty meals. As a bonus, Mel blogs about healthful eating, handing out tips and dispelling the mysteries of the Paleo diet plan, and more. Mel’s Meals loyal fans can also subscribe to her newsletter. Find her meals at three locations: downtown Austin, Lakeway and Round Rock, or sign up for delivery. Your waistline and taste buds will love you.