Austin, TX

H-E-B reveals top 10 finalists for annual best Texas product showdown

Published

1 year ago

July 29, 2023

H-E-B reveals top 10 finalists for annual best Texas product showdown

Not that there aren’t harder things in life, but ordering catering can be needlessly intimidating. So is applying for a green card, but a former food truck owner from New Zealand has solved both. After winning the green card lottery, Peter Stewart mobilized and expanded his no-fuss, DIY catering business out of Auckland for the first time — to Austin, of all places.

Cater Station, a kit that easily scales from home to corporate use, landed in the Lone Star State about a month ago. According to the business’ marketing specialist, Adam McDonald, it’s like Uber Eats in that it only takes a few clicks and comes straight to the customer’s door. Once it’s handed off, the cardboard set-up means there’s no serving or cleanup staff, and the whole thing can be recycled after use.

“In Austin, a lot of … our competition still [uses] the big silver platters and people are serving you,” says McDonald. “We’re very different … If you want something that’s a bit nicer than ordering pizzas or fast food, come to us.”

It all started in the Roaming Dive, Stewart’s truck in Auckland, New Zealand (that now only exists as a tattoo on his leg). It was well-known for its American-inspired foods — enough that Stewart started feeling pressure to be everywhere at once. Instead of opening a second truck, he skipped straight to a large-scale solution: A catering business could hand-deliver the truck’s hits and feed hundreds of people at once.

But it didn’t skip the middle ground. The ordering is tiered by a number of people, starting at 10-15, scaling up to 20-25, and eventually breaking past 100. From browsing the options to pressing the checkout button, feeding 100 people takes eight clicks. It is exactly as simple as a to-go order for one.

The business blew up in New Zealand, and customers started to praise a benefit the team didn’t even mean to deliver. Because a bánh mì — one of the most popular offerings — obviously tastes better made fresh, the ingredients come separated into smaller trays. Not only do the customers get to customize their sandwiches by building them themselves, McDonald also found it’s a great chance to connect with others at the event.

“One of our customers described it to us as the ‘water cooler moment,’” says McDonald. “[Corporate clients] like getting Cater Station because it gets their team all together in one place, away from their desks, and they’re chatting and bonding. People use us for that, specifically.”

One customer review on Google brings the focus back to the food, as brilliant as the business is: “We used these guys to feed our team of 65. It was absolutely delicious! The team’s feedback is that it’s the best food we’ve had for lunch so far[.] (I’ve been there for nearly 4 years).”

Luckily for the company’s broad customer base, it puts together boxes for all kinds of needs from a simple taco lunch, to a kid’s party (a sundae-making station), to a wedding (a bundle with sliders, tacos, hot dogs, and desserts). One of the site’s FAQ’s reads, “We’re going on a boat!” So, it seems there really is something for any occasion.

So far there are no New Zealand specialties on the menu, but Cater Station does serve one very regional meal. Since it’s so hot in December when Kiwis celebrate Christmas, they often have a second holiday dinner in the colder months of July and August, when they can really get in the wintery spirit.

“Our Christmas kit is really popular,” says McDonald, laughing.

More information and links to order are available at caterstation.com.

Source link

Related Topics:Featured grocery stores Lists

Click to comment

Austin, TX

Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr. Named Semifinalist for Major Award

Published

4 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr. Named Semifinalist for Major Award

AUSTIN — Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is officially being recognized as one of the best at his position in college football.

Hill Jr. was announced as a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award Monday, joining a group of 14 other players. The Butkus Award is given annually to the best linebacker in college football.

Former Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford was also a semifinalist for the award last season.

Here’s the full list of semifinalists:

Jihaab Campbell, Alabama

Deontae Lawson, Alabama

Shaun Dolac, Buffalo

Barrett Carter, Clemson

Jalon Walker, Georgia

Aiden Fisher, Indiana

Jay Higgins, Iowa

Chandler Martin, Memphis

Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss

Sean Brown, N.C. State

Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

Shae Suiaunoa, Wyoming

This season, Hill Jr. has posted 28 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and one interception.

He was recently added to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the best defensive player in college football.

After the loss to Georgia, Hill Jr. said that the Longhorns are staying confident. They bounced back with a win over Vanderbilt before heading into the bye week.

“Nobody wants to lose but we’re gonna look at the film, we’re gonna get better,” Hill Jr. “Our heads are up. We’re not gonna just be sad and look all disappointed. We’re happy and we’re gonna get better and look at the film. We needed this, I feel like we need some adversity and it’s gonna be good to see how we bounce back next week.”

No. 5 Texas and Florida will kick off from Austin on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ABC.

Join the Community:

Subscribe to our YouTube Page HERE

You can follow us for future coverage by subscribing to our newsletter here. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @LonghornsCountryOnSI & follow us on Twitter at @LonghornsSI

Other Texas Longhorns News:

MORE: SEC Rooting Guide For Texas Longhorns During Bye Week

MORE: Carolina Panthers Debut Could Be on Horizon For Texas Ex Jonathon Brooks

MORE: Steve Sarkisian ‘Really Proud’ of Texas Longhorns TE Gunnar Helm

MORE: ‘Very Mature:’ Texas WR DeAndre Moore Jr. Continues to Fill Jordan Whittington Role

MORE: Texas Longhorns Rise in AP Top 25 Poll

Source link

Austin, TX

Vote and vibe: Where to toast (or mope) at 2024 election night watch parties in Austin

Published

12 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Vote and vibe: Where to toast (or mope) at 2024 election night watch parties in Austin

Whether you’re ready for a celebration, dreading the results or eager for the election cycle to be over, it’s best not to spend election night 2024 alone. Several Austin venues will host watch parties with food, friends and foes as you get ready for the results Tuesday.

Hold hands and cross fingers at Hotel Vegas and Volstead’s watch party

Need a strong pregame for the results? The adjacent East Austin bars are teaming up to host a joint watch party with themed cocktails served all night.

Guests can watch the results roll in on big screens on the patio. There will also be televised analysis inside Volstead Lounge. Enjoy live DJs, election night games and tacos from El Borracho Tacos starting at 5 p.m.

The party is free to attend. Guests can RSVP on Facebook.

Down some patriotic shots at Star Bar’s Texas-style watch party

The West Austin bar will host a free election night watch party, Texas-style. Customers can catch election updates from open to close and snag limited-edition Quinn-Arch buttons ($3) and hats ($20) touting University of Texas quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Election results will be shown on TVs across the bar.

Enjoy some blue and red jello shots as well as pizza from VIA 313.

The party will start at 4 p.m. and run until close at 2 a.m. No ticket or RSVP is needed for the event. More information is at starbartexas.com.

Ride the emotional roller coaster at Cheer Up Charlie’s election night carnival

Cheer Up’s is bringing the Election Day feel to the Red River Cultural District. The election night extravaganza will include drag and stand-up comedy shows, tarot and astrology readings, and a petting zoo for voters needing some animal comfort.

Want to dance it out? There will be live DJs. Voters can also eat their feelings. A bake sale will be happening, alongside a sock and blanket drive for the unhoused.

The party will run from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased online.

Watch the results at Travis County Republicans’ election night party

Voters are invited to swing by and catch the election results with fellow Republicans in Travis County. National news as well as the county clerk’s website will be monitored for key races. Candidates and local leaders are also expected to deliver remarks. There will also be surprise guests throughout the evening.

The event will run from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Guests must register online to get the address for the event. Security officers will check photo IDs for entrance.

Join the Travis County Democratic Party at the Driskill

Democrats from across the county will watch the election results unfold at the historic Driskill hotel. Attendees will get a chance to rub elbows with some elected officials and candidates. Who better to share the suspense with than the folks on the ballot?

The watch party will happen from 7 to 11 p.m.

Interested in attending? You can register for the event online.

Source link

Austin, TX

Texas high school football 2024: Central Texas week 10 rankings

Published

20 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Texas high school football 2024: Central Texas week 10 rankings

AUSTIN, Texas – The tenth week of the 2024 Texas high school football season is in the books.

Check out our rankings for the tenth week of the season, which featured matchups like Bowie vs Austin High, Taylor vs LBJ, Cedar Park vs Leander, Lake Belton vs Georgetown , and the FOX 7 Game of the Week, Bastrop vs Pflugerville .

View the highlights and scores for Week 10 here.