What you need to know about: Four Seasons Austin
City front with a resort backyard is the best way to describe the laid back sophistication that is the Four Seasons Hotel Austin. To leverage this location and reputation for exceptional food, TRIO held an exclusive culinary event, Out on the Lawn, celebrating National Seafood month. Scott Higby, Chef de Cuisine at TRIO crafted a menu to capture the look, feel and flavors of fall with the selection of fresh, seasonal catch and produce.
We knew were in for a treat when Chef Higby described the evening, “The sustainable menu is matched by the tranquil and natural setting of the Back Lawn overlooking Lady Bird Lake, allowing guests to connect with nature and support the farm-to-table movement.”
A string quartet “cover band” welcomed diners out to the lawn where we enjoyed starters of fresh oysters, Texas Gulf shrimp and serrano snapper ceviche. In keeping it local, the rockstar, thirty-something sommelier Mark Sayre brought in Duchman Family Winery featuring wine pairings to compliment each course. This Driftwood, Texas winery is best compared against Italian wines making the pairings with seafood even more enjoyable as we strolled on the expansive lawn bathed in the glow of lights strung from the massive oaks.
We made our way to the long table set for the family style dinner where platters of grilled redfish, branzino and grouper garnished with fine herbs, seared lemon and roasted garlic were generously shared up and down the table. We felt like wonderfully spoiled little kids when the savory fry basket arrived to the table featuring crab and corn fritters, calamari and fried oysters.
The conversation was light and the setting made mingling with our table guests easy and natural. As the plates were cleared, the final course was presented and this time we were thrilled it was not family style. A mason jar filled with hot, flaky apple cobbler topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Decadent on its own but almost sinful when paired with a basil infused limoncello. We don’t know how often these pop-up dinners on the lawn will occur, but we will definitely let you know when we hear of more. Until then, enjoy these photos from the evening.
Four Seasons Hotel Austin
98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 477-2377
fourseasons.com
