New Austin Asian Food Festival, and More A.M. Intel

— Austin is getting a new Asian food festival with the first-time Far East Fest in the fall. It’ll feature cuisines from Chinese to Indian to Thai to more from restaurants like Wu Chow, Thai Kun, Peached Tortilla, Dee Dee, Jenna’s Asian Kitchen, and others. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorites, as well as participate in an eating competition. The Greater Austin Asian American Chamber of Commerce is a community partner of the food festival. The event takes place at the Austin American-Statesman on South Congress on Sunday, October 1 from noon to 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $55.

— Rattle Creek Meat Co. is a new Austin-based traveling barbecue pop-up from former La Barbecue pitmaster Mat Gonzalez and former Bufalina pizza slinger Kelsey Small. They're traveling across the country with planned cooking events in Brooklyn, Nashville, and Los Angeles. Rattle’s barbecue approach is playful, resulting in items like chicken mole tortas and pork ribs glazed in serrano, ginger, and agave.

— Top Chef judge and cookbook author Gail Simmons is a fan of Olamaie’s biscuits

— Now that chef Philip Speer is busy with his own restaurant, Garage’s menu has changed from Asian-influenced to Italian aperitivo under new chef Tim Lane. Classic dishes with his twists include vitello tonnato made with raw ahi tuna and cured beef instead of cold veal, salmone mantecato made with salmon mousse wrapped in smoked salmon, and melons paired with Parma ham. Lead bartender Jayson Black added some new cocktails to compliment the menu, like the Coachwhip with matcha-infused gin and blueberry grenadine, and the Molto Buono, a Mai Tai mixed with grappa and what it calls Negroni caviar.

— La Condesa is hosting a pop-up dinner with Mexico City chefs Joaquin Cardoso and Sofia Cortina. Tickets for the seven-course meal are $95 with seatings from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, August 28. Drinks are available a la carte. The restaurant will add one of the dishes to its menu for that week, donating a portion of its sales to the Fresh Chefs Society.

— Sandwich shop Austin Daily Press is teaming up with next-door spot The Wheel for its bar menu. It’ll include some preview dishes from its upcoming East Cesar Chavez expansion, as well as favorite ones, like fried brussels sprouts, crispy pork belly, grilled queso fresco, and more. It’ll be available starting on Friday, September 1 starting at 5 p.m. every day.