La Dolce Vita was Austin’s first essential food festival. The benefit for AMOA Arthouse started out as a few coolers of wine and some local vendors. It now showcases dozens of wineries and most of the finest restaurants in town.
Jennifer Lingvai and Michelle Martinez
It lacks the international glamour of the Austin Food and Wine Festival and the weather security of similar processional events held inside local hotels.
Yet you can’t beat the food, especially if you arrive early. (Never arrive late.) And backers have lucked out year after year, just missing rain or worse.
Philip Olson and Julia Lorenz-Olson
It was muggy at Laguna Gloria, but far from intolerable.
We made several circuits of the festive booths and heard the most buzz about the lobster delicacies from Larry McGuire’s new seafood spot on West Sixth Street, Clark’s Oyster Bar, and the charred pork dipped in liquid chocolate from Dallas’ Dude, Sweet Chocolate, the brainchild of pastry chef Katherine Clapner, who formerly worked for Kevin Williamson.
Ryan Walker and Patrice Williams
Aptly enough, Williamson served as chairman for the outdoor benefit and McGuire was lead chef. Sometimes, it all works out that way. The $100,000 the fest nets for AMOA Arthouse helps support 600 classes for more than 5,000 art students.
Made another stop that night: Communities in Bloom party for Rainforest Partnership at the Commodore Perry Estate. Once again, this meticulously restored mansion did the trick, spinning a web of good feelings around the damp evening.
Selena Xie and Francisco Garcia
Partnership leader Niyanta Spelman spun a similar web around the group that provides alternative economies for rainforest residents in order to spare their environments.
Spelman is driven. That’s a good thing. The Partnership, now stretching across the country, is a very Austin thing.
And part of Austin’s outreach to the world.