Austin-based charity Water To Thrive raises funds to build water wells in rural Africa. In their five-year existence, they have funded over 230 water projects providing water to 100,000 people. To promote the organization and to raise funds, the group is launching "Chef's Table Austin." The project is a two week auction of large multi-course meals at some of Austin's finest restaurants. While an invite-only event at The Austonian will kick off the bidding tonight, they're not leaving out the rest of the city - foodies can head to ChefsTableAustin.org to bid on one of the many dinners available. more ›

2011 was a banner year for David Bull and his Congress Austin concept. Less than three months after opening, the restaurant vaulted from hot newcomer to king of the mountain status after receiving the Austin American-Stateman's first five-star review in several years. The crowds arrived, and more praise followed. Texas Monthly named it the "best place to eat right now." Celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel, Rachael Ray, and Billy Gibbons were spotted catching late-night meals. The New York Times and Wine Spectator both suggested that tourists make it a point to stop by. And so it went. Aside from a few benefit dinners and food festival events, Chef Bull and his ace team mostly spent the year with their noses to the grindstone, tweaking the Congress, Second, and Bar Congress menus and working to meet the huge number of covers that came in. more ›

2011 was a banner year for David Bull and his Congress Austin concept. Less than three months after opening, the restaurant vaulted from hot newcomer to king of the mountain status after receiving the Austin American-Stateman's first five-star review in several years. The crowds arrived, and more praise followed. Texas Monthly named it the "best place to eat right now." Celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel, Rachael Ray, and Billy Gibbons were spotted catching late-night meals. The New York Times and Wine Spectator both suggested that tourists make it a point to stop by. And so it went. Aside from a few benefit dinners and food festival events, Chef Bull and his ace team mostly spent the year with their noses to the grindstone, tweaking the Congress, Second, and Bar Congress menus and working to meet the huge number of covers that came in. Earlier this month, we called Chef Bull during a rare week off to ask for his thoughts on the launch of Congress, the state of Austin dining, and what the restaurants have in store for us in 2012. more ›

On May 30, AT&T Conference Center Assistant Food & Beverage Director Daniel Curtis suffered a terrible diving accident which left him with a severe spinal cord injury. Curtis is paralyzed and facing ongoing medical expenses and an extended rehabilitation period. To help with the significant costs involved, Mr. Curtis' current employer Chef Josh Watkins and his former one Chef David Bull have enlisted some of Austin's best culinary talent to co-host a dinner benefit next Wednesday. more ›

If you're a functioning (or aspiring) voluptuary, head with us to next weekend's Sunday Fair. It culminates the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival, and promises to be a pleasure-filled event.

This year, the Fair is being held downtown, on the grounds of the Mexican American Cultural Center, from 1pm-5pm. Tickets cost $45, but designated driver tickets are only $30. more ›

If you've been down Congress Avenue this fall, you've likely noticed a great deal of activity in the ground floor of The Austonian. While there's a small Caffé Medici in there as well, the focus of all the hard work is the ambitious new pair of restaurants from former Driskill Grill and Bolla chef David Bull. more ›

As executive chef at Austin's Driskill Grill, Bull was nominated for Best New Chef Southwest by the James Beard Foundation, and his restaurant topped the Statesman rankings for three years in a row. During that time, Bull also made a celebrated appearance on the television show Iron Chef America, cooking secret ingredient wild boar against celebrity chef Bobby Flay. more ›