catering

Hey there folks, fall is in the air and that can only mean one thing…Race Day is near!  I’ve been fortunate to say that I’ve been able to experience every year of Formula 1 racing in Austin since the inception back in 2012. The only year the race was absent was during the pandemic back in 2020. If you’ve never been to a Formula 1 race, hold onto your hats because it is quite the international spectacle. Whether it’s Ferrari, Aston Martin, Redbull,  McLaren or any other favorite team, you’re sure to get a glimpse of the most amazing motor sport event the world over, and we’re lucky to have it right here in our own backyard! Let’s take some time to explore Circuit of the Americas as well as the city I call home.

What to expect at Formula 1 Austin, TX

The race weekend spans the 17th thru the 19th of October. The Circuit of the Americas is the only Formula 1 purpose built circuit in the United States. On October 21st of 2012, Mario Andretti completed the first ceremonial lap in his Lotus 79, the same car he drove in 1978 to become the last American World Drivers’ Champion. Since then, the track has hosted 

Formula 1, MOTO GP, Indy Car, NASCAR, Rallycross, LeMans races and a plethora of other motor sport events. Friday is the least busy of the three days hosting practice sessions, sprint qualifying sessions for Formula 1 cars as well as qualifying sessions for the historic race cars that race on Saturday. Saturday offers Porsche qualifying sessions as well as race 1, the F1 sprint race, and more F1 qualifying sessions. Finally on Sunday, you can enjoy the final Porsche race with the culmination of the weekend’s main event, the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. Finally, if you are a music fan, be sure to check out KYGO on Friday’s after race concert, Garth Brooks for the Saturday post events concert, and Turnpike Troubadours after the big race on Sunday.For a bit more of a high flying adventure, check out the 251 foot COTA Observation Tower for a bird’s eye view of the circuit, the new zip line or one of the amusement park rides recently added. Don’t forget about the numerous bands playing sets around the venue as well as Lucha Libre Wrestling for a change of pace!

If this is your first trip to COTA, keep in mind that it’s a massive venue! Unlike other circuits around the world where you are relegated to your seating section, at COTA, you can explore a vast amount of the track and relax in general admission areas on the grass…and don’t worry, there are plenty of clean restroom facilities if necessary. 

Circuit of the Americas Food and Drink options:

Just because the Formula 1 cars are the focus of the weekend, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a plethora of culinary delights as well as cool libations while you are at the circuit. While Mexican and BBQ are the de rigueur, Asian, pizza, burgers, Jamaican, Indian, Brazilian, Cuban, Laotian, Cajun/Creole, Thai, Korean and Soul food are also readily available to satisfy your cravings for international flavors. 

Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken is one of my faves, while Kababeque offers lamb and beef gyros or a falafel wrap that are both tasty and filling. If sweets are in order, Amy’s ice cream and Casey’s New Orleans Sno-balls are a must to cool things down a bit. Cookies, donuts and coffee or kettle corn are also great snacky food to enjoy between meals.

If libations are your go-to for race day, there are many options including beer, wine, cocktails and even daiquiris! Maui Wowi even goes as far as offering alcoholic smoothies, how’s that sound on a warm Texas race day?

Pre and post options:

If you’d like to start your day with a traditional Austin grab-n-go breakfast, hit up one of the many breakfast taco joints in the city. Tamale House East is a fourth generation staple on the East side while Joe’s Bakery and Coffee Shop was honored in 2023 as a James Beard Foundation’s Classic Restaurants. For lunch, if you are skipping one of the days at the track, check out LORO…the Asian/Texas smokehouse is the brainchild of Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole, two of Austin’s premier chefs…without a doubt, one of my faves…and Happy Hour is 2-5…sweet!

Thoughts on staying comfy:

While race weekend can be a bit of sensory overload, don’t let Mother Nature add to that. Here is a list of items that may offer some solace with regards to the weather here in central Texas…

• Sun screen (for obvious reasons)
• Wide brimmed hat  (ditto)
• Small foldable parasol for shade (no shame in a bit of hand held shade…or to keep you a bit dry)
• Refillable water bottle (hydration stations are often available)
• Lightweight shorts, shirt, comfy shoes…(you’ll be doing lots of walking potentially!)
• Cell service can be a bit sketchy at the track so keep that in mind…texting is a better option and make sure your tickets are in your phone’s wallet!

My Best Kept Secret…Shhh! If you forget your parasol, or don’t have tickets in a shaded area, there are two bridges that can offer a bit of shade. These two areas are popular with shade seekers and are first come/first served. They are located between turns 15 and 16 as well as just before turn 3. 

Info for members of your party choosing not to attend the race:

While race day can be an exciting prospect for race fans, some guests might not be interested in the buzz, noise and crowds associated with this event…so how about checking out some of Texas’ Hill Country breweries, wineries or distilleries with a private tour? Here are some suggestions to check out:

Breweries: 

• Twelve Fox offers Belgian style beers made by veterans who spent time in Belgium and Germany and figured, why not…let’s learn to make Belgian style beers while we’re here?
• Twisted X offers an array of fine, small batch, craft beers.
• Vista Brewing is a 21 acre venue that offers a brewery, tasting room, farm and apiary.

Wineries:

• Bell Springs offers reds, whites, roses and beers and allows you to step out of the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the Texas Hill Country
• Duchman Family Winery offers 100% Texas grapes to produce 100% Texas wines to enjoy on our beautiful grounds
• Driftwood Estates has been featured in Wine Spectator’s 10 Best Wine Tour Destinations with spectacular hill top views overlooking our vineyards

Distilleries:

• Desert Door Sotol Company offers a unique libation whose roots literally are only found in the Hill Country of Texas and the deep Southwest United States. Relax in our desert-modern tasting room with a fireplace, comfy couches, patio and cool merch store.
• Dripping Springs Distillery is the original Hill Country Distillery featuring award winning vodkas, gins and bourbons.

To truly get immersed in the libation scene only found in the Texas Hill Country, consider booking a private tour of 2-3 of these destinations with me and let’s check out what makes my neck of the woods so spectacular!

Most folks around the country have the typical four season:Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.  Winter is what most folks do while waiting for spring, spring lends itself to a renewal, summer, oh the lazy days of summer, while fall signals the coming of  the holidays.  Well where I come from, things are a bit different.  How you may ask?  Well, as with most things in Louisiana, our seasons revolve around food!  Let’s start with winter, or as many Louisianians call it, OYSTER SEASON, a time to imbibe on those salty delicacies that most folks just can’t get enough of…fried, grilled, stuffed, raw…need I go on?  Next on the calendar, we have CRAWFISH SEASON, that time of year that Louisianians hearts go ‘aflutter! Many think this phenom is known as spring fever, nope, crawfish fever…boiled, fried, etouffee, pies…get the hint?!  As the heat rises and summer sets in, we move into GULF SHRIMP SEASON…I think Bubba Gump best summed this season up, “Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.”  Well said my friend, I’ll have one of each!  Next up, as the waters stay warm, early fall is BLUE CRAB SEASON, ahh, how those white, glorious nuggets of rich deliciousness make us swoon…Oh Behave! And finally, as late fall fades into early winter, my favorite season of all, GUMBO SEASON…a time of year when all of the jewels aforementioned above can be swirled so lovingly into a cacophony of sheer culinary genius!  So I impart this decree to all of  you, “Break out  the gumbo pot, your favorite roux spoon and let the love making begin, gumbo love making that is, after all, a brilliant pot of gumbo is a labor or love!

NOLA Kitchen Celebrates 5 Years!

Back in 2001, when I opened my first venture, Chef Du Jour, I gave up the steady pay, insurance and full time lifestyle to pursue a dream of operating my own business.  Was it scary, Hell Yes! Was it hard, Oh Yea!  But I had to know if the dream was more fulfilling than the dollar.  And the answer is a resounding YES!  I am fortunate to have a skill that can’t be outsourced, and am blessed to have been able to grow up in South Louisiana, where one of the greatest cuisines was born.  The decision afforded me the chance to watch my son grow from his first days to the present, spend more time with my wife than most culinarians can only dream of, and make enough of  those dollars to live a happy lifestyle.  Upon our arrival in Austin, I could only think of one thing, how to get that dream back up and running…so I did it again, gave up all the “knowns” and dove back in…and haven’t looked back since.  Still scary and still hard, but wouldn’t trade it for the world.  Thank you to all who have helped me keep this  dream alive and support what I do, for when you have a passion, sometimes that’s all you feel you know.  To Lori and Jake, I only wish we could do it all over again, once wasn’t nearly enough!