Justin Timberlake Is a Fan of Terry Black’s BBQ’s Burnt Ends

Pop star Justin Timberlake shared that he had Austin barbecue during a recent concert in the city. While on stage at the Moody Center on May 31 and June 1, he talked about his meal at Terry Black’s BBQ. “If you see me moving kind of slow tonight, you have to blame that Terry Black’s,” he said. “Now, listen, you’re talking to a Memphis boy. Those burnt ends.” The Texas barbecue restaurant (with an Austin location on Barton Springs) shared a video of the banter on its Instagram.

One of the last times Timberlake performed in town — 2017 for F1 — he dined at Southern restaurant Olamaie.

Mochi doughnut coming attractions

Austin mochi doughnut bakery Mochinut ATX is opening a second location in the city. It’ll be found in the St. Johns neighborhood in the Linc development at 6406 North I-35, with an opening date not announced yet, but it should be “soon,” per its Instagram. The original Austin shop opened inside of Scofield Farms’ Asian supermarket Hana World Market in 2022.

Tracking Austin openings

A new cafe opened in East Austin this month. Prana Cafe debuted at 1623 East Seventh Street in the East Cesar Chavez neighborhood as of June 1. The menu is centered on what it describes as “holistic” dining, with smoothies, juices, toasts, panini, coffee, teas, and more. It took over the former El Chilito location, which had closed in early 2021.

Growing Japanese noodle soup chain Ramen Tatsu-ya opened its next new location in Round Rock this month. It debuted at the Rock Creek Plaza on 2132 North Mays Street, Suite 960 as of June 2.

North Austin cupcake bakery Cupprimo opened a second location in South Austin in May, as reported by Community Impact. The new East Oak Hill bakery is found at 4404 West William Cannon Drive, Suite N as of May 18, serving up cupcakes, coffee, and espresso-based drinks. The original bakery opened in 2008.

Reservations-only tiki bar opens walk-in bar

Also in Tatsu-ya news, the hospitality group turned the second floor of its South Austin tiki bar Tiki Tatsu-ya into a comparatively more casual walk-up bar on select days. The Retreat at the Nest opened at 1300 South Lamar Boulevard in the Zilker neighborhood as of June 3. On deck’s bar service and walk-in seating, its own cocktails such as a choose-your-own-rum-base daiquiri and the MARGHHH, a tiki take on margaritas with rum and a Sichuan pepper foam twist; as well as highballs, beers, and ciders. Food-wise, the menu focuses on snacks like the mochiko chicken wings, taro tots, and Spam sandwich. It’s open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to midnight. Tiki Tatsu-ya opened in 2021.

Texas farmers market changes

The Texas Farmers Market at Lakeline underwent a change in name and location. It’ll be known as the Texas Farmers’ Market at Bell, found within the same-named mixed-use development in Cedar Park. The new market made its debut on May 25. Its hours are Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Farmers market bagel stand hiatus

In related farmers market news, bagel shop David’s Doughie’s is temporarily closing up its stand at the new Texas Farmers Market at the Bell. This will be until they “can get properly staffed,” per the newsletter. The bagel bakery is still selling out of the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller on Sundays, as well as its East Austin food truck.

Culinary scholarship awardees

Women-in-food-and-drink-focused organization Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Austin chapter announced the winners of its annual scholarship and grants programs. This year’s awardees include gluten-free bakery Zucchini Kill founder and co-owner Cecelia Loessin, who will use the funds to get its Brutal Brownie and chocolate chip cookie mixes into stores; Evangeline Bundi, who wants to cook Kenyan foods professionally and will be mentored by the Coconut Cup; and many others.

Culinary business grant applications

Austin-based Mexican American food company Siete Family Foods opened up its Junto Fund for applications. It’s aimed at Latinx-owned food and drink businesses that have been around for at least two years and are based in America. The deadline is on Monday, July 1, and recipients will be announced starting on Sunday, September 15. The goal is to give away $300,000 in total.

And then the Wine & Food Foundation opened up its hospitality scholarships program for the summer. There are two applications: one for Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Art students for people in the Associate of Applied Science Degree Programs for Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts, with $2,500 scholarships. The second is for funds for any sort of hospitality education program. The deadline is Monday, July 15 with the recipients announced on Friday, August 30. The foundation is looking to give out $35,000 in total.

Austin food company gets national recognition

And speaking of Siete, the company was named as one of Food & Wine’s Game Changers this week. The write-up highlights the business’s family-grown roots led by siblings Veronica and Miguel Garza. who created gluten- and grain-free tortillas in 2011 and started the company in 2014.

National coverage of Texas barbecue

Also in Food & Wine-slash-Texas coverage, the magazine published a guide to barbecue in the state in late May. The features delves into the history and variety of Texas barbecue and its styles, as well as a ranked list of the best restaurants in the state. Number one is Austin’s La Barbecue; number two LeRoy & Lewis; and fourth is Southside Market & Barbeque (a mini-chain with an Austin location).

Chef shuffle

Hill Country New American restaurant Tillie’s has a new executive chef on the team. Meredith Shaffer, who was and will remain the resort’s executive banquets chef, started overseeing the kitchen as of late May.

Tracking Austin food events

Nonprofit Good Work Austin is celebrating its five-year anniversary with a bunch of food and drink fundraisers at its members this month. This includes pizzeria Bambino and Italian restaurant L’Oca d’Oro donating one dollar from every sale of a cocktail made with Tito’s Vodka (with the spirits company matching those funds); casual Texas restaurant Redbud Ice House doing the same with one dollar of every sale of its margarita made with Lalo tequila (where the company will also match); New Texan restaurant Dai Due with one dollar of its burger; casual New American restaurant Hillside Farmacy with two dollars from every wine bottle sale; brewery and American restaurant Central Machine Works with one dollar from every nonalcoholic cocktail; and finally frozen sweets spot Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs’ collaboration with coffee shop Epoch — tea snowballs — at the cafe sold on Saturday, June 22.

The East Cesar Chavez location of pizzeria and wine restaurant Bufalina is offering an oyster and riesling evening on Thursday, June 6. On deck will be oysters from seafood pop-up Austin Oyster Co., along with bottles and glasses of various rieslings, as well as special dishes.

Whiskey brand Monkey Shoulder and art gallery Secret Walls are co-hosting the Battle of the Bars between two Austin bars — Dumont’s Down Low and Murray’s Tavern — this week. It takes place on Thursday, June 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. at downtown venue the Riley. It’s free to RSVP.