"Eat Local Week" news and stories

Austin's unofficial motto, "Keep Austin Weird," should be changed to "Keep Austin Eating Local." It's a locavorism hot spot surrounded by the verdant Texas Hill Country. Restaurants like Olivia and Cipollina have made a name for themselves by supporting area farms and offering seasonal fare. Is it a stretch that there is an annual celebration of local foods? Surely not!

The festival, Eat Local Week, is a series of functions spearheaded by Edible Austin magazine, which aims to raise awareness of the abundant Central Texas victuals. For seven days (Dec. 5-12), folks sample eats from participating restaurants, can tour farms on bicycles and raise funds for Urban Roots, a youth charity. Herein, a recap of events.

Already event-goers have munched on grass-fed, beef-stuffed chard rolls at Eastside Cafe, duck eggs from Learning Pear and Loncito's lamb tacos at Tacodeli. "We are actively trying to expand eaters' palates to try things they might not have ever eaten before (like bacon-wrapped lamb heart at Olivia)," says Marla Camp, publisher of Edible Austin.