Bowling Alley Restaurant and Bar Offers Government Shutdown Special

Government Shutdown Deal
In light of the ongoing partial government shutdown, bowling alley/bar/restaurant Punch Bowl Social is offering 25% off everything to federal government employees until it’s over.

Celebrities Explore Austin Food
Comedians Ben Schwartz and Tom Middleditch were in Austin yesterday for their comedy show at the Paramount Theatre, and of course, they had to eat. Schwartz made an attempt at the Franklin Barbecue line right before it opened at 11 a.m., and failed. Instead, he went to La Barbecue, where he was satisfied. And then it turned out that cake shop Paper Route Bakery baked a special post-show cake for the comedy duo too.

Ping-Pong Chef Battle
Austin chefs are going to participate in a ping-pong battle benefitting the Austin Food & Wine Alliance at Spin Austin. Participating chefs include David Bull, Sarah Heard, Michael Fojtasek, Amanda Rockman, and many others. The final round will replace the ping-pong paddles with actual frying pans. People can attend the battle with advanced $35 tickets ($45 at the door), which includes games for themselves, two drink tickets, and entry in the raffle. $150 VIP tickets include dedicated tables, access to snack stations, and more drinks. Everything takes place on Sunday, February 17 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Restaurant Anniversary Special
The third anniversary of chef Bryce Gilmore’s higher-end restaurant Barley Swine at its current Burnet Road location is almost here (the restaurant itself has been around since 2010 when it opened on South Lamar). To celebrate, it’s offering $30 off its tasting menu (typically $95) from Tuesday, January 15 through Thursday, January 17.

More Taco Love
Another day, another national ode to Torchy’s Tacos, this time from BuzzFeed.