Dropped by Daisies Cafe on Hancock Dr. in Austin, Texas (where else) yesterday. The door was locked and I was told a huge inventory of goods had arrived and the cafe, temporarily closed, would re-open on Wed., March 13. Will try Daisies and report in a future blog post.
Meanwhile, crossed Hancock and entered epicerie a smart new restaurant with a non-English name, and the first "e" in "epicerie" has an accent mark just above. I just looked up "epicerie" in the French-English dictionary and it means...grocer's (shop), greengrocer's; groceries; grocery trade, greengrocery trade. The brightly lit restaurant has an appropriate name; you can buy cheeses and food items to take out, deli style. The name, though exotic and difficult to pronounce, with that awkward piss sound in the second syllable, should not discourage the monolingual. I never studied French but can see this place follows the French tradition for gastronomical quality. The interior has intimate dimensions and an immaculate but still friendly feel. Prices are not cheap, but you pay for quality, again in the French style. My companion got the cheeseburger ($10.95) and I ordered the cured salmon sandwich ($11.95). Both our dishes were scrumptious and we enjoyed the draft beer du jour, a hoppy IPA.
The staff at epicerie is friendly and well-informed. Katy, at the counter, answered my questions about cheeses with humor and a nice welcoming quality. And "welcoming" is the key word. French waiters may be intimidating, but this is friendly Austin after all, and epicerie follows in our user-friendly style. From the little outdoor dining area, a cheerful, sunlight and private space, to the L-shaped counter where customers order meals and buy deli take-out, epicerie adds some of the sparkle of Paris to the LoBu (Lower Burnet) neighborhood. The City of Lights has the Champ-Elysees but we have Burnet Road,...yes Ilsa, we'll always have Burnet Rd..
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