WHERE CELEBRITY CHEFS GOT THEIR GRUB ON IN AUSTIN

I've been working on my list of places where I want to eat when I visit Austin, Texas.  In my search of where to go, I stumbled upon a blog that highlighted some of the places where Food Network Celebrity Chefs have eaten in Austin, and I just had to add the restaurants to my list too.  Those of you who know me, know I love Giada De Laurentiis and have the loved the places I've tried that she's been to, so Austin is no different.  So, here's where Celebrity Chefs got their grub on in Austin, and where I'll be getting my grub on too!

1- Amy's Ice Cream
1012 W. 6th Street Austin, TX 78703
(512) 480-0673
These ice cream stands are all over Austin, and they're supposed to be famous!  Their ice creams are made fresh and are super creamy according to what I've read.  They feature more than 300 rotating flavors.  When Giada went to one she tried the Texas Dirt Cake which is chocolate cheesecake ice cream filled with oreo cookie chunks.  Sounds good to me!

2- South Congress Cafe
1600 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704
(512) 447-3905
This place is fun and young, sleek and modern and is supposed to be good for either brunch or lunch.  Giada also checked this place out.  The menu is full of yummy things like Carrot Cake French Toast made with homemade carrot cake.

3- Jeffrey's of Austin
1204 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-5584
This is an upscale restaurant with equally upscale food.  Jeffrey's has become an institution since it opened in 1976, and is one of the first fine dining establishments in Austin.  Their signature dish is Crispy Oysters. They've been on the menu for over 30 years.  Giada had them and said they are fabulous!

4- Casino El Camino
517 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701
(512) 469-9330
Guy Fieri headed to this spot for some of the best burgers in town, which weigh in at 12 ounces each.  He had the buffalo burger which is coated in wing sauce and topped with blue cheese.  If you like heat, I've heard you should try the Amarillo burger which comes with fresh roasted serrano chiles and cilantro mayo.

5- Green Mesquite
1400 Barton Springs Road, Austin TX 78704
(512) 479-0485
Guy Fieri checks out this barbecue joint which uses only green mesquite wood or young wood for cooking.  The owner swears by it for giving the meat the best and most consistent flavor.  They've got everything from brisket and beef to pork ribs and pulled pork and even smoked turkey and tacos on the menu.

6- Flip Happy Crepes
400 Jessie Street Austin, TX 78704
(512) 552-9034
On The Best Things I Ever Ate, Beau MacMillan shares his sweet-tooth favorite: Nutella Strawberry Banana Crepes from this trailer, where every crepe is cooked to order.

7- Magnolia Cafe
(512) 478-8645
2304 Lake Austin Boulevard Austin, TX 78703
Guy Fieri tries this spot which is open 24/7.  They have everything on the menu from pancakes to omelets to jambalaya to quesadillas to anything else you could possibly be craving.

8- Maria's Taco Express
2529 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-0261
This taco place has been around for 12+ years.  He orders the Pollo Guisado, which is like barbecue chicken in an enchilada.

9- TRIO at Four Seasons Hotel
98 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701
(512) 685-8300
Giada heads here for the best bat-watching in the city (it's supposed to be one of the things you must do in Austin- watch a million bats emerge from under the South Congress Bridge at dusk).  She has a Batini Black cocktail which is a mix of Texas' Tito Vodka, blue curaçao, blackberries, grapefruit juice and champagne.

GUEST POST: THINGS TO DO IN ATX

(We have a guest post to share with ya'll today!  This one comes from Logan Baker from Blog Content Guild.  Logan is from Austin.  He enjoys jet setting, and his favorite trip was when he went to Japan and ate monkfish liver!  Thanks for sharing about your hometown with us Logan!)

This year, Austin, Texas has been on the top of more than a few best cities lists. People who live in Austin have the opportunity to enjoy city life and the outdoors in equal parts. Austin’s growing tech industry has attracted people from all over the world to the city. Austin is not only a great place to live. It’s also a great place to visit. There’s never a shortage of things to do in ATX (as it’s lovingly called by locals). If you’re planning on taking a trip to Austin in the near future, you should check out the following three attractions:

1. Lady Bird Lake – This gorgeous lake is smack dab in the middle of all the action in Austin. If you go canoeing on Lady Bird Lake or hiking around the lake, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of Austin’s beautiful downtown skyline. Here’s one view of Austin’s skyline from Lady Bird Lake:

2. SoCo – SoCo refers to a section of South Congress Avenue in Austin that starts near St. Edward’s University and ends at the Congress Bridge, which connects the SoCo area and downtown. SoCo is famous for its boutique and specialty shops as well as its restaurants. If you want to buy some products or clothing that have a special Austin flair to them, SoCo is the place to go. Here’s what the area looks like from a car:

3. The Food in General – The food in Austin is phenomenal. This is probably because there are so many locally owned eateries in the city that use fresh, delicious ingredients. If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, you have to go to Matt’s El Rancho, one of the city’s most famous Mexican restaurants. If you’re craving some quick food, you can walk up to one of the many food trucks in the city and grab a bite to eat. And if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, you have to check out Amy’s Ice Creams, a local, independently owned ice cream chain that is well loved for its Mexican vanilla ice cream. Here’s a shot of Amy’s:

There’s a lot to do in Austin, so you definitely won’t be bored when you visit there. Be sure to check out Lady Bird Lake, SoCo, and Amy’s Ice Cream when you get a chance. You’ll be happy you did!