Zooey Deschanel and Pastry Chef Amanda Rockman Talk About Olive Oil

— Actress Zooey Deschanel and co-founder of organization the Farm Project visited with New Waterloo corporate executive pastry chef Amanda Rockman to talk about finding and using real extra-virgin olive oil for downtown French restaurant Le Politique’s olive oil custard. The dessert will be available at the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the weekdays in the fall.

— An Oregon-based developer is now offering $5 million for the Sam’s Bar-B-Que’s property on 2000 East 12th Street. Owner Brian Mays hasn’t accepted or rejected the offer yet. He revealed that he has been fielding many offers from people who want to buy the land earlier this summer and that the restaurant was struggling to stay afloat.

— The former pastry chef of Michelin-starred San Francisco restaurant Quince, Shawn Gawle, is now the executive pastry chef of the McGuire Moorman Hospitality group. The new hire was made just in time for the company’s upcoming transformation of Clarksville bakery Sweetish Hill into Swedish Hill Bakery, opening later this year. Gawle is joining director of baking and pastry Alex Manley and current executive pastry chef Jennifer Tucker. MMH partner Larry McGuire said the new bakery is intended to feel like Los Angeles restaurant Gjelina and New York bagel shop Russ & Daughters.

— Toronto chef Matty Matheson is hitting Austin next week as part of his current cookbook tour behind the simply titled A Cookbook, complete with food from Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ and drinks from Austin Eastciders and Topo Chico. For entry, people will have to buy the book at the Urban Outfitters’ space, which is available now. It takes place at Space 24 Twenty on Monday, October 15, from 6 to 9 p.m.