ACL Lineup: The Food

It’s everywhere. ACL talk. Austin City Limits Music Festival is here again and this year it’s at a later weekend in October, buying time for cooler weather.  I am a live music fan and most certainly am primarily going for the music exploration experience, but that’s not to say that the first thing I email my friends about is the food lineup!

Olivia’s, famed for an entirely locally sourced menu, will have a few items.  Hudson’s on the Bend will again have their famous chicken cones.  Aquarelle, Bess Bistro, celebrity chef Tim Love of Lonesome Dove Bistro, the list goes on.  Notice that these are nice restaurants?  But there’s also good ole TexMex from Torchy’s Tacos, Garrido’s, and Guero’s.  Pizza from Mangias, BBQ from Salt Lick and Stubb’s, and other Austin old favorites like Kerbey Lane, Amy’s Ice Creams, and Hyde Park Bar & Grill.  There are healthy and/or vegetarian options available and not just veggie burgers!  A Thai veggie Australian pie from Boomerang’s, veggie wraps from Galaxy Cafe and Garrido’s, a tomato pie and a soy breakfast (i think) sausage from Kerbey Lane, artichoke hearts from Bess Bistro, and YES! truffled mac ‘n’ cheese from Lonesome Dove.

I’m just not completely happy with the lineup for one reason: where’s the naan, yaar?  Actually, how about some kachori, pani puri or a kathi roll? That would be my heaven.  Maybe one of these years…

But really, where else and what other music fest would you get such a variety of restaurant food that is all locally owned and not all fried?  I recently read a post of what food was available at the Texas State Fair.  It should be called the Texas State Fried Fair.  Fried Pop Tarts?  Not that anything is wrong with that (I would have tried it for sure, and I do have a sweet tooth), but it sure is nice to have a variety of food if you’re going to be at Zilker Park for 3 straight days.

I’m sure looking forward to chowing down, gorging, eating, and oh yeah, listening to music.