A couple weeks ago I was invited to dine at Trento and share my experience. I’m always up for some casual Italian and found their mostly gluten-free offerings interesting. I started with a red sangria while I perused the menu. It was icy cold and not too sweet, just the way I like it.

The focaccia was served with a smooth eggplant caponata, which was sweetened with raisins.

Next up were the PEI Mussels, and they were unlike any others I’ve ever had. Steamed in white wine with mint pesto, these were so fresh and bright. My favorite dish of the night. The portion is large and would be satisfying all on its own for dinner. We sopped up the minty broth with thick, crusty bread.

Next, they brought out an antipasta covered with meats, cheeses and pickled vegetables. It would be more than enough for a large group to share.

Next was a simple Caprese Salad, that beautiful classic that delights everyone. Fresh basil, ripe tomatoes, lush mozzarella drizzled with a hint of good olive oil. What more do you need?

Following, was a rich gnocchi that was topped with slow roasted pork, peas, oyster mushrooms, and parmigiano. I’ve never had gnocchi dressed this way. It was so hearty. Comfort food! All the pastas at Trento are made from scratch.

For a tasty side, Trento brought out their brussels sprouts, which again, were unlike any I’ve ever tasted. Topped with pecorino, bacon, and apple, they were crispy, salty, and sweet. I may add apple to my own version of spicy sprouts at home. It provided a nice crunchy contrast.

Our final savory dish was a halibut special and it was fresh and light…but dieters beware the mountain of delicious crispy potatoes underneath. The generous portion of fish had a lovely citrusy broth underneath and the veggies tied it all together. Halibut is one of my favorite fishes and this take was very nice. If you find yourself at Trento on a night where they are serving halibut as a special, order the halibut.

A few bites of a chocolate dessert  (whose name I can’t recall) was a sweet ending to a sweet evening. The service was attentive and friendly, with our knowledgeable server describing each dish accurately and pointing out her own favorite items. The decor was casual, clean and welcoming. Suitably dark.

I will certainly be returning for happy hour, which is Monday through Friday, 3 to 7. I’ll definitely be ordering the mussels!

Check out this guest post from Lani Rosales, Chief Operating Officer of AGBeat, renowned business and tech writer, and queen mother of Austin’s coolest monthly networking event, BASHH. 

Moving. The very word sends shudders down the spines of slobs and obsessive compulsives everywhere. The mere thought of organizing, packing, taping, labeling, carrying, loading, unloading, cutting, unpacking, and organizing is enough to make anyone’s head feel like it’s full of angry honey badgers.

My husband and I recently decided to move apartments, and it was a task filled to the brim with procrastination, and most days, I opted to dig through Pinterest for tips on moving instead of actually doing the work of moving.

During my quest, I procrastinated even more by spending time on Facebook asking if anyone had packing supplies or tips or hell, if anyone would just come do this for me. That’s when I heard about Bronko Box, these plastic totes that could be delivered right to my door in bulk, they are essentially rented for a week or two (however long it takes you to pack/move), then they pick them up when you’re done. Sign me up!

When Bo at Bronko Box arrived with “tons of totes” as we started calling them, they came in both large and small, and I was immediately struck by how clean they were – I expected banged up, crookedy, scratched-up plastic totes, but no, they even smelled like new plastic and office supplies. Mmm, office supply smell….

I wanted to build a fort out of them on our giant patio, but I was told that we were moving in three days and I hadn’t touched a thing, so I better get started. No fort. Okay.

So I started pulling everything off of the walls and out of the closets, and everything I had learned on Pinterest flew out of my brain faster than a kid can down three pixie stix. That’s fast.

With what our family is calling the “Bronko Box method,” I would pull one box off of the stack, fill it, close the top (and no ridiculous tape, btw), stack it on the previously filled box, slap a sticker on it with the room name and DONE. They all stacked together on a dolly and went right on and off the truck.

The biggest surprise to us is that the fact that there was a difinitive date they were picking the boxes up, we had to unpack – no living from boxes for weeks. We’re pretty OCD about unpacking, but this really pushed us to not be lazy, and we needed it, given that my husband and I work 15 to 18 hour days.

Bo came back, zipped the boxes out, and they were gone. I was a little sad when they left.

Reserving them and working with the company was easy as pie, and the prices were reasonable. The only suggestion I have is that they need to hand a flyer to people when they drop boxes off that give tips like “don’t cram solid gold bars in here, they’ll be too heavy,” and organization tips like “divide boxes out per room so you don’t run out” or “place heavy stuff on the bottom,” or whatever more eloquent advice the experts have.

Next time you’re packing, do what grocery stores and gas stations have done for decades and skip the boxes and non-biodegradable packing materials that kill the environment – just order some Bronko Boxes. We won’t be using traditional packing boxes or materials again. Ever.

Disclosure: Bronko Box provided their services free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

There’s something romantic about a hotel restaurant. The chic bars, the reserved service and envelope-pushing menus are exciting. I like to pop in before or after an event when I’m dressed up to prolong those fancy nights. When I was invited to Finn & Porter for a wine dinner recently, I was thrilled, as I hadn’t been yet.

Attached to the Hilton, the decor is urban sophisticated in that way that feels not quite modern and not quite old fashioned. It felt familiar and comfortable, the way hotels often feel. Our group was in a private room and we made ourselves at home right away.

The special guest of the evening was Kyle Janzen from Bacio Divino Cellars. I was lucky to be seated next to Kyle, and in between him fielding questions about grapes and blends and Napa Valley restaurants, we chatted about migrant workers, his crazy travel schedule, and what it was like growing up on a vineyard.

But it wasn’t all talk. We ate an incredible meal, each course painstakingly created to be perfectly paired with its wine counterpart. The first course was an open layered ravioli with veal shank, razor clams, and pickled hon shimeji mushrooms. Nothing reminds me of home like clams and these were perfectly cooked. I don’t think I’ve ever had pickled mushrooms. Their piquant bite was a nice contrast to the velvety sheets of homemade pasta. The Pazzo was a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon and was rosy, fruity and delicious.

The second course was straight out of Paris and it captured my heart. A tender cornish hen breast was served with a deconstructed Lyonnaise salad. It was served with Lucie, a clean Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

Course three brought Pot-Au-Feu, again deconstructed. The short rib was accompanied by baby spring vegetables, bone marrow, and beef consommé. Served with their eponymous label, Bacio Divino translates to “the divine kiss.” And the pairing was indeed divine.

Desert was another revelation. Goat cheese cake, caramel glass and black garlic ice cream. Wow! What a flavor combination. As a notorious fearer of too much garlic, I can say that this ice cream was the perfect balance of sweet with the hint of garlicky warmth we all love.

The wine pairing was the extra bold (and extra expensive) single vineyard Janzen. It was a special treat and the perfect way to cap off a lovely evening. Chef Peter Maffei outdid himself. Stop by Finn & Porter and check out what this fantastic chef from Queens is doing.

Everyone has a few go-to, no brainer meals that they default to on those busy days. For us, fish is the default. It’s quick, easy, healthy, and I always keep a few pieces in the freezer. My default veggies are either asparagus or Brussels sprouts. When I make sprouts I put an Asian spin on the dish. It’s one of our favorite things to eat, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Start with a pound of sprouts. Cut off the bottom core and remove the outer leaves. They’ll look like this:

Cut in half and mix with 1 TB olive oil.

Season however you like. I use a little salt, pepper, and plenty of red pepper flakes. Then put in a 400 degree oven on a baking sheet and stir every ten minutes. They will crisp up nice and brown.

The sprouts will take about 30 minutes to cook. At the 20 minute mark, lower the oven to 350° and bake your fish accordingly. Obviously you want to give more time to thicker cuts than thin fillets. I often use salmon or trout, but occasionally I’ll roast shrimp, tilapia or something else. Whatever’s on sale. I season the fish with a spice blend and a dusting of cayenne pepper and sesame seeds.

We’ll eat the fish right on top of the sprouts in a bowl with chopsticks. Want some carbs? Make a spicy packet of ramen and drain most of the water so it’s not a soup. I use kimchi ramen from the Asian market and it is HOT! Top with Sriracha for a fiery dinner.

What’s your favorite go-to meal?

I’m a firm believer that New Orleans can be achieved anywhere. It’s so much more than a city. It’s a smell. It’s a sound. It’s a taste. It’s a feeling. New Orleans is a state of mind. And Saturday night on the Whole Foods plaza, a little part of Austin became New Orleans.

John Besh’s Lüke on the Riverwalk  hosted a lovely evening and the chefs trekked all the way from San Antonio to Austin to cook for us. Proceeds from the night went to the John Besh Foundation which provides culinary scholarships to at-risk youth. My favorite part of the night was when one of the chefs personally thanked each table for coming. She told us she was the first-ever recipient of a John Besh scholarship and told us about the many doors that have opened for her since graduating culinary school.

The food was, in a word, incredible. For two hours, oysters were being continually shucked without pause, and I did my part to keep up. I enjoyed them raw and grilled. The shrimp boil, crawfish pasta, and other dishes were all made tastier by the sweet, sweet sounds of the Urban Achievers Brass Band. I’ve been stalking this band for about a year, so it was good to finally see them in person.

I didn’t make it to Jazz Fest this year, but I felt like a piece of it made it to me.

I signed up with a group of friends to volunteer for the Food & Wine Festival. Volunteering gives a great behind-the-scenes peek at the action, not to mention a free pass into the festival. Of course, there’s some work involved, but it was well worth it.

In between serving Manhattans and making sure the wine stations were clean, we tasted our way through the festival. I would have liked to catch more of the chef demos, but there’s always next year.

There were tons of great wines to sample along with lots of local liquors and a small selection of beer. I stuck to water because it was too hot and I was “on the clock” most of the time. But certainly most people came to drink. My two tips for next year’s festival goers: sunscreen and designated drivers.

The Austin Food and Wine Festival was last weekend and it meant for a whirlwind of foodie activities and social events. My next three posts will be devoted to some yummy photos, although none of them do the weekend justice.

Buick hosted a kick-off event at Paggi House, treating us to dinner and festival passes. It was a lovely night filled with old and new friends. And plenty of wine.

I had a butter lettuce salad with Asian pears, Maytag blue cheese and Marcona almonds. The other option was a tomato, watermelon and feta gazpacho.

We were treated to a cold smoke demonstration for our second course. The friseé and rabbit confit were sealed in a jar with smoke from a little pistol. When we opened our jars we were treated to a light, smoky flavor. The hearty friseé held up perfectly.

Creative ordering at our table let us sample both entrees offerings, NY strip and sea scallops. My favorite was the kimchi cauliflower served with the steak. Everything is better with kimchi.

The warm miso chocolate brownie and crème brûlée were the perfect end to a fun evening.

Thanks for a lovely evening and Rock Your Taco passes, Buick!

I am crazy about whitening my teeth. For a good portion of the year you’ll find me lisping my way through whitening strips. So when Influenster approached me with a Vox Box that included whitening products I did cartwheels all over my living room.

Influenster sends new products to trendsetters to try out. They encourage people to Tweet and Instagram their thoughts, generating a little buzz for these new products. I’m choosing to blog about it.

There wasn’t just teeth whitening stuff in my package. It was a whole bunch of goodies.

That’s a pretty awesome thing to get in the mail, right? So here’s my quick impressions of the contents.

• Colgate Optic White Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Toothbrush. I can definitely see the whitening effects. The taste of both the paste and mouthwash are fine, not overly strong. The toothbrush is of good quality and I imagine most people would love it. I’m an electric toothbrush user, so these old-fashioned manual brushes never leave me feeling quite as polished.
• Nectresse sweetener. Very pleasant. It’s made from monk fruit and has a light, pleasant taste. Not overly sweet. I normally use half a packet of stevia in my coffee, so this is not much different.
• Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer. I was unsure of this one. Lotion that you spray on? Turns out it was my favorite thing in the box. I will happily use up this can. I don’t know if I’ll buy it again, but it’s pretty convenient. That commercial where the girl sprays it on and gets dressed in ten seconds? Accurate.
• Dickinson’s Oil Controlling Towelettes. These are large sheets soaked in witch hazel. When I say large, I mean you could share one with three other people. They are HUGE. I think these will come in handy this summer. Like a mini-shower. Frankly, everyone in Texas should buy these because as soon as it gets hot out, y’all stink.
• BelVita Breakfast Biscuits. Somewhere between a cookie and a granola bar. Very tasty. Mr. Betty wants more!

Last weekend was the Alamo Drafthouse Off-Centered Film Festival, a celebration of film, hip-hop, and beer. So, pretty much all the best stuff in the world. What’s that? Cheese? Oh, yeah there was some cheese, too. At the VIP party at 400 Rabbits.

Antonelli’s Cheese provided the perfect cheese and chocolate pairings for the decadent Dogfish Head beers being passed around.

We sipped 75 Minute IPA, Burton Baton, and Theobroma while living it up with Dogfish Head founder and CEO, Sam Calagione. Now, Sam is American beer royalty and Mr. Betty and his sister were somewhat starstruck. (Watch Beer Wars to see Sam in all his brewing glory.)

He bought us each a Dogfish Head Indian Brown before heading into the theater to introduce the films. We opted to stay and party to the ill spins of Miss Manners. I am a huge Miss Manners fan and her Hip Hop Hooray show on KOOP. She provides thirst-quenching beats in the Austin hip hop desert and I love her. Haven’t listened yet? Get on it, yo.

While some of us rolled in all casual in our sweet kicks and massive hoop earrings, some attendees really got into the hip hop spirit.

Word.

Wow! Two posts in a row where Mad Betty is featured on podcasts. This was recorded several months ago, but ramen is hotter than ever in Austin so it went up at a good time.

Enjoy the Find Dining podcast, which is a national show featuring food news in various cities. My interview was over the phone and I discussed Ramen Tatsu-ya which was only open for about three months at the time. Since then the ramen scene has exploded and I was able to write a whole City Guide post on the trend. And already my guide is out of date since Daruma Ramen opened a few weeks ago. Quite the topical bowl of noodles!

So please enjoy the Find Dining show on Mystery Meet. And check out some other cities while you are there!