Downtown French Restaurant Reopens With a New Look and Menu

— Downtown French restaurant Le Politique is now reopened after temporarily shuttering for renovations and a menu revamp. Newer dishes include roasted chicken with oyster mushrooms, pommes puree, and cognac cream; green lentil soup; and carrot gnocchi with curry butter.

— 11-year-old Austinite Madison Totaro is competing in Food Network’s food competition show Kids Baking Championship when the series returns next year on Monday, January 7. The ten episodes will consist of various baking challenges, from bacon cupcakes, unusual tarts, and monkey bread volcanoes. All of the children will be mentored by actress and celebrity cookbook author Valerie Bertinelli and pastry chef and Ace of Cakes star Duff Goldman.

— Pecan Springs/Springdale taco trailer Taqueria Mi Trailita is closed from now through Friday, December 7 for repairs and upgrades.

— Italian sandwich shop La Matta is now serving breakfast. There are two different morning paninis available, one with an egg white omelet, spinach, zucchini, basil, and a bunch of cheese; the other with a regular omelet, potatoes, mortadella, and cheese. It’s available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekdays, and until 4 p.m. on the weekends. Because of the breakfast addition, the shop isn’t offering happy hour anymore.

— Austin meat expert Jess Pryles is now a spokesperson for Lone Star Brewing Company. She will talk about live-fire cooking and beer through recipe releases, events, and the such.