A few hours to kill on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in our State Capital did a number on my appetite. It was only around 4 PM and I felt famished! Anyone out for a casual stroll down Caesar Chavez in the heart of the 2nd Street District will have no trouble stumbling upon The Bonneville. It’s a genuine gem facing out (and directly across from) the banks of the Colorado River.
The Bonneville is chef owned and operated; an upscale casual, New American bistro run by the husband and wife team of Chris Hurley and Jennifer Costello. The charming couple are Boston transplants who’ve taken residence in this cozy little nook, where passerby’s and professionals alike converge in South Austin.
I began my early evening meal with a delightful salad off of their concise, albeit enticing menu. The dining options, much like many of the progressive, sustainable food spots popping up in Austin, vary according to the seasonality of the ingredients, as well as the inspiration of the chefs!
My first choice was something light — an appetizer portion of the Butter Lettuce Salad with crisp orchard apples, aged Vermont cheddar & shaved red onion, drizzled in a dreamy apple cider vinaigrette:
A liquid match practically made for these divine greens was the specialty cocktail aptly called Everything Nice.
True to its namesake, this über refreshing gin-based drink contained Tanqueray, Laird’s Applejack, Dolin Blanc vermouth, Orgeat syrup, unfiltered apple juice, Chinese 5 spice bitters, and fresh grated nutmeg for a pleasant pick-me-up the whole way through…
For the main course, I had my sights set on The Bonneville’s popular Chicken “Under a Brick” [above]. The presentation was minimalist (yet massive!) with a gorgeous whole chicken cooked to crispy perfection and served atop fresh bay roasted potatoes and grilled romaine heart in a superb ginger Chardonnay gastrique. I was a definite fan of this elevated comfort food, especially on such a whim!
Thanks again to the wonderful staff…Austin is such a friendly town. For more delicious recipes and fun food and wine pairing ideas, subscribe to my newsletter.
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