Two Austin Bars Nab Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Award Nominations

— Two Austin bars finally made the nomination list for Tales of the Cocktail’s awards portion, the Spirited Awards. Downtown cocktail bar Roosevelt Room was nominated under the best American high volume cocktail bar category, and Central East Austin neighborhood spot Nickel City was nominated best new American cocktail bar. The winners will be announced on Saturday, July 21.

— Looks like decadent doughnut shop Gourdough’s is looking to expand. First, it’s looking to open a food truck at 1903 East Riverside Drive. Then it seems like Gourdough’s co-owners Ryan Palmer and Paula Walker are bringing the doughnuts to San Antonio, taking over Tex-Mex restaurant La Paloma Riverwalk Parilla Grill in San Antonio. They applied for TABC permits for the 215 Losoya Street address, for the first San Antonio location of the doughnut restaurant. A Facebook post indicates it will open in the fall.

— Members of the Lanier High School’s barbecue team were inspired to build their own pit, modeled on Aaron Franklin’s ones after the pitmaster led the students on a tour of the Franklin Barbecue.

— According to the Texas Workforce Commission, there was an increased number of jobs in the leisure/hospitality/food and beverage services this past spring.