Food

A few days a week for almost six months out of the year, you’ll find a group of 30 Austin teens and adult volunteers working together to learn on a farm in East Austin. They're not just growing vegetables; they're developing leadership and job skills, and giving back to the community .

Although the growing season in Austin is really year-round, springtime makes the farmers markets more fun. The weather is nice, the variety of vegetables expands and during the season of rebirth, we get to connect with the people growing our food.

When trucks started selling tacos on the side of the road, few could’ve predicted that food trailers would be the captivating culinary item they are today. During South by Southwest, there’s seemingly a whole section of the Internet dedicated to making sure you know where to find them.

November 2011, late Sunday night on South Congress. This big guy with a strong personality comes out of a red food truck and tells me that he makes the best damn sandwich I will ever eat.

My first wake-up call that coffee in Austin had "leveled up" was a visit to Once Over in South Austin. I ordered a latte and was bewitched by the complexity of aromas and flavors that tickled my tastebuds. People will usually point to Seattle, Portland, Chicago and New York as the best cities for coffee, but I'm here to tell you that a few places in Austin are closing the gap.

The number of options for local, organic and sustainably grown food available here in Austin just continues to grow. We have farmers markets, locally stocked grocery stores, health-touting chains and other choices coming down the pipeline as well.

Have you ever been to Cisco's? I texted my friend Amy as we figured out our brunch plans a few Saturdays back.

No, she replied. Let's go there.