Dai Due Chef Receives Austin Culinary Grant Award

— The Austin Food & Wine Alliance awarded its culinary grants for the year this week. Recipients included Barton Springs Mill, the Multicultural Refugee Coalition, Foodways Texas, Bee Tree Farm & Dairy (which received not one, but two grants), and others. Dai Due owner/chef Jesse Griffiths received the Willie Nelson’s Luck Texas Grant as well. In total, the organization gave away $60,000.

— Local distillery Still Austin Whiskey Co. is adding bourbon to its repertoire. The whiskey distillery is planning on releasing bourbon whiskey sometime in Spring 2019, made with Texas corn, rye, and barley. Currently, Still’s booze lineup includes gin, and assorted other whiskeys from new-make to spicy.

— Rideshare app Lyft determined Austin’s popular destinations this year with its Lyftie Awards. For bars, it was East Austin spot Whisler’s, brunch restaurant was South Congress Cafe, and late night dining was Kerbey Lane Cafe.

— Rock Rock might let bars and restaurants serve alcohol until 2 a.m. (instead of the current midnight Sunday through Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday cut-off times), if the Round Rock City Council approves of the ordinance with a final vote later this month.