Cajun Food Truck Da Boot Po Boys Moves Into South Austin

Cajun Truck Relocation
Cajun food truck Da Boot Poboys moved into South Austin this week. It’s now parked at Radio Coffee & Beer on 4204 Menchaca Road as of September 1. The truck, from owner and chef Keisha Washington, is known for po’ boys with shrimp, crawfish, soft-shell crab, oysters, and more; as well as gumbo; turkey necks; chicken wings; and breakfast dishes with grits and eggs; among other items. It joins Thai truck Dee Dee and taco truck Veracruz All Natural. Radio is open for dine-in and takeout services. Da Boot had previously been located on 2207 East Cesar Chavez Street.

Turn Convention Center Expansion Funds Into Small Business Loans
Three Austin service industry folks and members of local nonprofit Good Works Austin — Italian restaurant L’Oca d’Oro co-owner and manager Adam Orman, hospitality industry services Genuine Article owner Brian Stubbs, and Crestview bar Violet Crown Clubhouse co-owner of the Mike Lavigne — are asking the City of Austin to use money intended for that Austin Convention Center expansion as loans and grants to help small businesses amid the pandemic. “Hundreds of Austin businesses can be saved and have little impact on future expansion plans,” as they wrote in their op-ed in the Austin Business Journal. “After all, what good is an expanded convention center without Austin restaurants and venues to visit and enjoy?”

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ’s Youngest Pitmaster
Austin Monthly spoke to Valentina Tex Mex BBQ’s youngest pitmaster, the 20 year-old Eliana Gutierrez. She started working at the food truck in 2017, she worked her way up from food runner to team manager, while always being drawn to the pits. Pitmaster and owner Miguel Vidal started training her himself this year, everything from butchering to plating trays. There are plans for her to eventually stage at other barbecue restaurants across the country, including Hometown Bar-Q-Que in New York.

New Vegan Burgers
There’s a new vegan burger truck courtesy of the Vegan Nom: Nom Burgers is now open as of August 22 at vegan food truck court on 2324 East Cesar Chavez. On deck are Impossible burger patties topped with vegan cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and its house sauce. Sides include fries, vegan queso, and fried pickle chips. There’s also a breakfast sandwich made with a vegan sausage patty and egg.

Cookies for Teachers Fundraiser
Cookie shop Teddy V. Patisserie is raising money to give away free cookies to 1,000 teachers this month. Owner Elisia Velasquez is asking for $3 donations through the website as part of the Cookies for Teachers initiative, and is aiming to deliver the cookies on Wednesday, September 9. Previously, the company offered a similar cookie gift to H-E-B employees in April.

New Casual Southern Restaurant in San Antonio
San Antonio brewery and restaurant Southerleigh Brewing Co. is turning that forthcoming casual fried chicken and biscuit restaurant into a more general casual Southern restaurant. Haute South will be found at 5822 Worth Parkway, Suite #111 in the Rim development in the northwest area of the city starting sometime in September with both dine-in and takeout services (with a curbside option). The menu will still feature fried chicken, as well as a full oyster bar, seafood platter, plus beer, cocktails, and wine.