Bread Ball

Might I take a moment to step away from my typical post topics and speak to another form of culinary appreciation... playing with one's food.

Last night as I began to toss a three-week old neglected loaf of bread into the trash, my husband had an epiphany. An epiphany that only can be described as sheer brilliance and can be summed up in two words: Baguette Baseball.

So out we went to our neighborhood community lawn to test out our new makeshift bat. I took my stance, Lane pitched a perfect throw, and one swing was all it took! The loaf exploded into a thousand bread bits and we in turn erupted into laughter and smiles.

Despite missing the "prime" of this baguette, I'd say I still got my $1.59's worth.

Lone Star Tipsy Pig

By pure fortune and happenstance, I recently stumbled upon an article about Bryce Gilmore, a local chef cooking up the next great bite here in the heart of Texas. Next great bite? I was intrigued... 

Coining him "the next Tyson Cole," (which in Austin-speak might as well be Tom Colicchio or Thomas Keller, mind you!), the article focused on Gilmore's new feat, winning the coveted title of one of Food and Wine magazine's Best New Chefs of 2011. And that's where my mouth began to water.

Gilmore's latest endeavor is called Barley Swine. Situated at the cross-section of Hipster and Urban Chic (South Lamar), the restaurant serves up a sophisticated menu  to the tune of a down home barnyard feel. Heavy on the pork (he warned you in the name), each plate is perfection. The menu offers small plates, suggesting three per person. I love this concept, which allows me to sample a smattering of deliciousness without feeling regret if one bite isn't quite up to par. But rest assured everything most certainly was. 

Left: Grilled carrot salad, goat feta, almond brown butter

Right: Roasted beets, fingerling potatoes, blue cheese, caraway

Mmm... Jerk rubbed pork belly, grilled sweet potato, kale salad.

To die for. Hazelnut chocolate crunch, caramel pudding, honey-nut nougat.

 My next stop will be The Odd Duck, Gilmore's original food trailer, which I hear is still serving up the best pork belly in town. If the adage holds true that nothing's as good as the original, I'll be in heaven.