JEAN’S KITCHEN Travaasa
Armed with a 167-year-old sourdough starter from his hometown of San Francisco, Chef Ben Baker creates dishes that marry local spice with pure creativity and passion. The Texas Grilled Bruschetta pulls area produce, mild jalapeno aioli and Wagyu beef together for an exciting build-your-own appetizer. A vegetarian mix of crimini mushrooms and tempeh are stuffed in a poblano that’s sure to heat up as temperatures rise, making diners thankful for the pineapple cilantro relish that cools the palate. The gluten-free Flourless Chipotle Chocolate Cake could be paired with a coffee indoors or a stout beer on the patio overlooking rolling hills. The Callebaut Chocolate yields to coffee, which is wonderfully overtaken by the subtle heat of chipotle in the end. You will be left to count the hours until breakfast, where vegans can delight in a polenta version of French toast dipped in pureed banana. Fill the day with yoga, meditation, or hiking and you will find something new to enjoy at Jean’s Kitchen.
TRIO Four Seasons
Freshen up in your room and come on down to TRIO to peruse the prix fixe early dinner menu. Begin with the Prince Edward Island mussels to share. They are prepared Spanish style with sherry, chorizo and almonds. Close your eyes and pick an entrée; you can’t go wrong. Chef Todd Duplechan’s commitment to cast iron cookery can be savored in his Dew Berry Farm Chicken. The skin is simply seasoned with thyme, lemon and brown butter; it is as crispy as the meat is tender. Try the smooth and nutty Texas Olive Oil Potato Puree; don’t mistake it for just mashed potatoes. Mark, the house sommelier, knows the ingredients list inside and out and loves to suggest wine pairings. You may enjoy a Texas wine with your local goat cheese cheesecake. The graham crust and burgundy plum compote sweeten up the tart goat cheese without masking the fresh clean flavor. Finish up and head out– scores of live music venues are just steps away.
COMMONROOM Kimber Modern
Stainless countertops. White mug. Find your morning fuel in the common area at the Kimber Modern. Choose an espresso beverage from the Franke European-style coffee system and pair it with homemade banana bread. Create your own fruit and yogurt parfait topped with local granola. Blue hammock. Glass fountain. An organic hardboiled egg with smoked serrano salt and cracked pepper will sustain you through coffee in the courtyard while plans are made to peruse South Congress. Come back to recharge and have a light happy hour nosh before heading back out to rediscover all that this city has to offer.
