Comfort Food Views, Inn Cahoots Debuts, Fresh Tequila Cues, Dosas On the Loose, and More as Our Long Hot Summer Continues

Here’s some of what's happening in Austin's culinary scene – as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings.

Personal stories about comfort food will be presented by Color Arc Productions, live at Austin Cinemaker Space

Yes, citizen, it’s your “Food News Buffet” for the third week of July.

You know what’s underrated? Comfort food. But what exactly does “comfort food” mean, right? Coming up on Saturday, July 29, at Austin Cinemaker Space (2200 Tillery), seven local storytellers will share autobiographical tales inspired by that theme in this live, culinary exploration from Color Arc Productions, featuring performances by Addie Broyles, Nell Carroll, Vyasar Ganesan, Tien Hoang, Brunell Sherman Knox, Max Langert, and Yola Lu. Bonus: The evening starts off with drinks, snacks, and music by DJ LadyRoxoxo …

Looking for a rollicking good time? You might wanna be in cahoots with Inn Cahoots (1209 E. Sixth), the recently completed hospitality compound that covers most of a city block and is home to the first-ever hotel designed specifically for group travel, with three public bars, two large gardens with performance stages, and a food truck lot. Founder Kristen Carson’s big deal of a big place opens with a big celebration this very weekend, kicking off with Austin’s official Women's World Cup Pep Rally on Fri., July 21, 5-8pm, and continuing throughout the weekend, with live music DJ sets, and all manner of fun Downtown …

Or … how about some early-morning grape-harvesting action, you hands-on activity lover, you? The Vineyard at Camp Lucy (3509 Creek Road, in Dripping Springs) welcomes all to participate in their annual grape harvest on Fri., July 21. Guests are encouraged to arrive at 5:45am for a complimentary breakfast, followed by the harvest at 6:15am (ending around 10am, because hot af). Your oenophilic hosts will hook you up with a pair of grapevine clippers for the harvest, and you’ll head home with a bottle of Camp Lucy’s signature wine …

Last week we told you about the tequila-pairing dinner from Lalo Tequila and De Nada Cantina. This week – because the hotter the weather, the greater the desire for tequila, is our logic – we’re telling you about the Tres Agaves dinner at the Hajimaleki Brothers’ acclaimed Keepers (5701 W. Slaughter) restaurant on National Tequila Day: Mon., July 24. The spirited feast includes grilled ribeye and red snapper, is capped by (omg) tangerine chocolate flan, and will of course be accompanied by four fresh Tres Agave cocktails. Getcher tickets ($75) right here.

Everybody’s favorite Uncle Nicky – the primo Italian deli spot in Hyde Park, right next to Antonelli’s Cheese Shop – is doing so well they’ll be opening a second location this fall – at 2121 S. Lamar. Tell you what: With the Asian smokehouse of Loro, and Black Sheep Lodge’s outdoor beer garden, and the caffeinated hangout of Patika, and the wine-centric haute cuisine of Aviary all within easy walking distance, that particular patch of South Lamar is quickly becoming one of our city’s best dining destinations …

Let’s see – what else, what else? Foxtrot, the modern convenience-store brand, is opening its newest Austin location, at 206 W. Second – in City Hall, no less! – on Sat., July 22 … Wax Myrtle’s, that excellent dining-and-relaxing spot in the Thompson Hotel (506 San Jacinto), is (we reckon) nodding to Radio Coffee & Beer’s recent summertime flex as they offer mini frozen margs, Lonestar drafts, and paletas for three bucks apiece on every day the temperature’s forecasted to be above 100 degrees … if you ever wanted to grok why dosas – Indian pancakes made with fermented rice batter, served with a variety of fillings and sauces – are so coveted, we’ll recommend the Dosapalooza that celebrates the Dosa Shack (5000 Burnet Rd.) food truck’s first anniversary, coming up July 24-30, with all kinds of treats. Bonus: The entire menu is vegetarian and gluten-free … culinary freelancer Haris Qureshi profiles that Rosé Gosé restaurant on Airport Boulevard … longtime reporter Rod Machen looks (and eats) into Kareem El-Ghayesh’s KG BBQ, but does he like what he finds? … Sonya Cote and Calibrate Wellness are hosting a Delta-8-infused dinner at the acclaimed chef’s Bastrop joint on Thu., July 20 …

Garbo's lets you grab Barbie's pink buns

WUXTRY! You know everything’s gone Barbie up in this burg, much as it has everywhere else – huzzah for the power of pop-culture media crossovers and publicity tie-ins and such, right? Well. Here, we’ll just make note that Austin’s top seabug-monger, Garbo’s Maine Lobster (626 N. Lamar), is getting in on the ladydoll action by offering a limited supply of Barbie Lobster Rolls, Thu.-Sat., July 20-22, created using specially made pink buns from EasyTiger, edible glitter, and edible flowers. Yes, citizen, they’re not just for Ken’s ken – soon enough you, too, will be able to get your hands on Barbie’s pink buns!

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and, no matter where you go, don’t forget the sunscreen.