Hot Cheetos Elotes and Mangonadas Are Coming to South Lamar

Zero Degrees Opening in South Austin
Asian-Hispanic snack and drinks chain Zero Degrees finally announced the opening date of its forthcoming South Lamar location in the fall. It’s set to open at 4211 South Lamar Boulevard, Suite A3 on Monday, September 21. The chain is most known for its mangonada, a sweet, spicy, and salty mango slushie, made with fruit chunks, chamoy sauce, and Tajin seasoning. Other drinks include slushies such as the strawberry-lychee and spicy watermelon; colorful blended drinks in flavor combinations/ingredients such as the Thai tea with brulee and Oreos and the ube milkshake; plus teas, milk teas, and coffees. Foods and snacks include hot Cheetos elotes, fried foods (chicken wings, shrimp), carne asada fries, and more. In response to the pandemic, the shop is also offering family-size meal packs and half-gallons of selected drinks. Third-party deliveries (Postmaster, Uber Eats, DoorDash) should be available when it opens, too. This will be the California-based chain’s second Austin location, with the first already open in Cedar Park last fall.

Texans’ Unemployment Pandemic Checks
Texans receiving unemployment who have been affected by the pandemic will be eligible to receive an additional $300 per week, as part of President Donald Trump’s memorandum. These additional checks are to make up for the expired unemployment pandemic checks, which ended in June. The Texas Workforce Commission, the agency overseeing the state’s unemployment services, applied for the federal funding on August 20, and received approval the following day.

Kyle’s Street Name Situation
The City Council of Kyle, Texas had planned on renaming Rebel Drive to Fajita Street to honor local resident Juan Antonio Falcón — aka the Fajita King — who had died last December. The council decided to pause the potential change after other citizens expressed their discomfort with the new name. Abigail Silva started a petition opposing the change, writing that it “subjects the city to jokes and humiliation and does nothing to contribute or better our diverse and growing community.”

Silva continued: “As a Kyle citizen and Hispanic woman, I do not take my pride in my community and culture solely through enchiladas, tacos, and especially, fajitas. I do not think the renaming of Rebel Road, known for its connection to racial inequality, to Fajita Road is serving any meaningful purpose. To name a street after a piece of meat, in hopes of honoring its diversity, in fact, ignores many wonderful aspects, history, leaders, and culture of our community.”

The City Council is meeting on Tuesday, August 25 to discuss the street name change.

Biscuit Birthday
For Southern restaurant Olamaie’s sixth birthday, the downtown restaurant-turned-temporary-fast-casual-takeout spot is pulling a Willy Wonka stunt on Wednesday, August 26. As the shop prepares to make its 2,600th biscuit sandwich amid the pandemic, whoever purchases that lucky item will receive a free weekly biscuit sandwich in 2021. The winning sandwich will be adorned with gold. The winner has to post an image of said-biscuit on Instagram and tag the restaurant.

Virtual Hot Sauce Festival
The annual Hot Sauce Festival, hosted by the Chronicle, is taking place virtually this year. The live-streamed event will feature winner announcements, live music, cooking demonstrations (including from Camila Alves McConaughey and Tex-Mex restaurant Eldorado Cafe), and clps from the already-filmed judging portion and more. People will be able to purchase hot sauce tasting kits, featuring items from participating makers, as well as merchandise. A portion of all merchandise sales and portion of all tasting kit sales will go towards the Central Texas Food Bank. It takes place on Sunday, August 30 on the Chronicle’s Facebook page at 1 p.m.