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Asti - Lobsterfest

7/22/2012

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I am originally from the east cost, and I think anyone else in town who is also from there would agree their isn't much in the way of good Italian food in Austin.  Since I moved here about 9 years ago the amount of decent Italian has increased dramatically, one of the places I do enjoy is Asti.

Once a year Asti does a 1 weekend Lobsterfest where they fly in Lobster fresh from Maine and cook various delicious Italian lobster dishes.  I missed this event last year so when I got the email this year I jumped on it.  

The menu was a 3 course dinner for 2 for about $100.  

The dinner started with a caprese salad for each person.  This dish is something I will never get tired of but I must say their tomatoes were delicious and I believe they make their mozzarella in house.   

Then for the main course you can get corn risotto with lobster or spaghetti fra diavolo with lobster (fra diavolo is just a spice red sauce).  We each ordered one so we could share. My favorite was the corn risotto the sweetness of the corn and creaminess of the risotto paired well with the lobster.  It also had some other yummy fresh veggie in it like zucchini one of my favorites. The other pasta dish was my husbands favorite.  They put a light sprinkle of breadcrumbs at the top that gave it a nice crunch to the bite but I found the spice was over powering the lobster a little and I would have preferred something with a little less kick. 

For desert they had watermelon granita, which is basically fancy Italian ice, perfect for the Texas summer heat.  The desert layered watermelon, shaved watermelon flavored ice, creme fraiche, and specs of mint.  Which all paired nicely together into a cool and refreshing desert. 

I hope to visit lobsterfest again next year and would recommend it to you all if you like Italian and lobster - it gets a phenomenal in my book!

http://www.astiaustin.com/ 
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Rating Scale

7/21/2012

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All of my comments on restaurants are based on my personal tastes and preferences, but I have decided to set a rating scale the restaurant review section of this website and it goes as follows from low to high:

I would rather go hungry - Food is a rather huge part of my entire life. For me to rather not eat anything then eat at this establishment says something.  
Fine -This comes from my husband asking me questions about what I think of a dish in front of the person who made it.  If I don't care much for it, but deem it edible, and he asks what I think I will say "it's fine."
Outstanding - My mother has a tendency to exaggerate things, to the point where I think almost every time I have had dinner with her in the past 5 years each meal has had some element that has been "outstanding," because of this I feel most people should translate this rating to mean average.
Phenomenal - This is another mamma original, this is the term she uses when something is better then outstanding.  I know what you are thinking -  What could be higher then outstanding?  Well phenomenal is that, at least in my family. Translation - above average.
Life Changing - This is the term I use for the best in class, it might not be the best in the world, but in my opinion it has the best of something in Austin.
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Mikado

2/21/2012

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This place has always been a sushi favorite of mine.  In the past year or so it changed owners and now the menu has a fresh face but still contains my old favorites.  The no longer have the same "special roll" each night. Their specials actually rotate in and out on a regular basis.  They also brought in some new cooked items for those not a fan of sushi (not that I can understand this at all).  Monday - Friday they have a great happy hour menu till 6 pm, which also is offered all day Sunday.

I recommend the Chorishi's fire roll, peppered tuna sushi, and tuna sashimi. 

If you haven't been in a while its worth a trip back.  
http://www.mikadoryotei.com/flash.html 
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Houndstooth

2/21/2012

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All I can say is this place changed how I thought of coffee.  My husband is mad at the person who told me about this place because I now spend so much money there. 

Things that make this place life changing - 
1. If you order coffee they brew your individual up on the spot - how more fresh can you get?
2. You can pick your type of espresso 
3. Espresso is ground fresh on the spot

4. All coffee is strong, rich, but never burned!

I could drink this every day if I could afford it.  Hands down my favorite coffee joint in town!
http://www.houndstoothcoffee.com/ 
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    Allison Tidbit

    I love to eat, coming from the northeast I have a love of Italian food, as opposed to your typical Texan who could eat Tex-Mex daily.

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