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Puli-Ra, the Indian-Texas food trailer from chef Deepa Shridhar, is on the move. It left its home at Still Austin Whiskey Co. last week, relocating to Texas Keeper Cider in Manchaca, Texas on Twin Creeks Road.
The move made sense since Shridhar and Texas Keeper Cider co-founder Lindsey Peebles are friends and have collaborated through the years in the form of pop-ups and dinners. They also run the Chix Brunch series along with Spun Ice Cream sisters Christina and Ashley Cheng. The Sunday pop-up meal benefitted various women-centric nonprofits like Planned Parenthood, Girls Start, and Girls Forward.
“We feel very akin in our values of food and beverage,” Shridhar told Eater. “We know each other so well, we can share a vision of what this partnership can mean for both of our businesses.”
“When crafting siders, the ability of the cider to pair well with foods is important to us,” said Peebles. “Deepa is constantly thinking about that with her food.”
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Puli-Ra’s seasonally driven, low country Indian-meets-Texas menu will change often and will make use of Texas Keeper’s cider when it can. Dishes will include naan croissants topped with saag (spinach) queso and cider-brined bacon, cider milk jam and biscuits, dirty chai-smoked brisket with cider chutney, cider hot sauce, cider-fermented pickles, and condiments.
Drinkable collaborations with the cidery include cider mimosa pitchers and cider-ritas, made with Puli-Ra syrups.
Shridhar and Peebles are also thinking about future events, such as the Brisket Fest for amateur chefs, and various supper clubs. The next Chix Brunch series takes place on Sunday, January 28, benefiting Posada Esperanza. It runs from noon to 4 p.m.
Shridhar originally opened bakery and farmers market stand Chaiwalla and supper club Anjore in 2014. She combined the ventures and changed the name to Puli-Ra last summer. Peebles, along with co-founders Brandon Wilde and head cidermaker Nick Doughty opened Texas Keeper Cider in 2013, and debuted the taproom in 2016.