the hill country

i love this region in texas.
it's desert-y, there are hills upon hills, and the wind blows with the ferocity of a hurricane.

we hung around marble falls this morning and made the trek out to austin for dinner.

hands down.. best dinner i've ever had in texas.

the locale: olivia
2043 s. lamar, austin, texas.

the menu for the four of us:

bowl of fries, housemade ketchup, garlic aioli
north shore oysters, honey mignonette
tuna carpaccio, brown butter aioli, arugula, salmon roe
seared foie gras, brioche, figs

seared prosciutto-wrapped scallops, crisp corona beans, creamed farm cabbage, black truffle oil
blackberry-glazed pork belly, lentils, white beets (*winner of the evening*)
parmesan risotto, oyster mushrooms, white truffle oil

duck egg creme caramel

2007 elk cove - pinot noir, willamette valley, oregon


i'm going to have to say it's in my top three US meals of my lifetime.. and i love to eat well. every dish was spot on, every course was ultimately satisfying.
i would love to have a chef's tasting menu with wine pairings at this place. plus, the service was phenomenal. our waiter had a good sense of humor, was quick-witted, and very attentive without being noticeably in your face throughout the meal.

so yes, best restaurant in austin without question. and everything they use is from local farms; not to mention that their menu changes daily, based upon the chef's fancy.

it felt like i was back in portland.. but then again it was even better than portland.
i'm going to have to think of my top five or ten best meals of my lifetime. last night has piqued my interest in knowing what i consider the most pivotal eating sessions from my twenty-five years..

yes, i have a food crush.