Austin Food Scene Gets Some National Exposure (Thanks to Paul Qui and Aaron Franklin)

I don't watch Top Chef on television, but my sister does.  When she described the chef from Austin who was her favorite contestant at the start of this past season, it sounded a lot like the guy behind one of my favorite food trailers in town, East Side King.  Turns out that it was indeed Paul Qui, Executive Chef at local sushi fave Uchiko and the man behind the East Side King trailers (there are three).  And after going to battle with fifteen other worthy contestants, Qui emerged victorious, making us proud here in Austin.  Especially those of us who've been lucky enough to sample his curry buns and meshi dishes.

"Poor Qui" Pork bun from East Side King (credit: foodieisthenewforty.blogspot.com)

Paul is now up for Best New Chef - Southwest in Food & Wine Magazine.  Click below to vote for Paul!  If you're in town for SXSW, you should definitely go check out one of his three trailers over on the cool east side.

On a similar note, Austin's Franklin BBQ and pit master Aaron Franklin have also been pulling in the accolades.  Every time someone writes about top BBQ joints, whether locally, state-wide or nationally, it seems like Franklin shows up.  But competing with French Laundry and Le Bernardin?  Well, last week, I saw this article in Yahoo listing the 20 Best Restaurants in American.  And there at #15, right between Jean-Georges and Mario Battali's Babbo, was Franklin BBQ.  "The brisket, with its peppery exterior, falls apart as you pick it up. The turkey is what presidentially pardoned birds aspire to. The sausage snaps loudly when you slice it, juice splashing out and up... You've heard the buzz. It's not hype. It really is that good."  The article also notes the giant lines that form before the joint even opens.  So be forewarned, SXSW hipsters:  If you want to sample some of Texas' finest smokes meats, plan wisely.

Assortment of smoked meats from Franklin BBQ (credit:  fcg-bbq.blogspot.com)

A lot of people have had Franklin's name etched on the trophy for top BBQ spot the next time Texas Monthly publishes its Top 50 list.  The return to Austin last year of John Mueller and his JMueller BBQ, which Texas Monthly chronicled in its February 2012 cover story, has added a bit of intra-town intrigue.  So has a recent glowing review on the Full Custom Gospel BBQ blog of a place out in Bryan called Fargo's Pit BBQ.  In other words, if you do happen to be in town for South by Southwest and are afraid of the lines at Franklin, there are options.