Opening alert

Texas chef uncorks inspired new food truck at Hill Country winery

What's the only thing better than sipping wine in a beautiful Hill Country setting? Sipping wine and feasting on chef-prepared bites.

With temps warming and spring springing, Wine for the People and C.L. Butaud are announcing an addition to their celebrated tasting room: Brucie, a new food truck from chef and owner Barclay Stratton. Beginning Friday, March 19, Brucie — described as "part Aussie brunch café, part 'cave a’Vin'" — will officially open at the Texas AVA Tasting Room with a menu of elevated, wine-friendly dishes.

According to a release, the dishes have been thoughtfully crafted to pair specifically with Randy Hester and Rae Wilson’s wines. The pair, who own C.L. Butaud and Wine for the People, respectively, opened their joint concept in December 2020 in the former Argus Cidery space at 12345 Pauls Valley Rd. in far West Austin

Brucie will operate the same hours as the tasting room, with a menu broken into three parts: Brunchy Things, Dîner, and Apéro, with dishes "designed to share or be eaten with your hands with the addition of a few larger plates."

The concept is the first solo project for Stratton, who spent time working in big-name restaurants in Austin and Nashville, and has also been chef de partie at New York City's famed Blue Hill.

A Beaumont native, Stratton uses his travels abroad as inspiration for the menu, which includes highlights such as Toad in a Hole with fondue and truffle honey; crab rangoon with burrata and a sweet and sour sauce; and a Gulf fish tostada with avocado, nori, and garlic, and more.

Patrons who book a wine tasting may also preorder a cheese and charcuterie plate, which is created with meats from The Salumeria, conveniently located next door. Plates will be rounded out with a rotating selection of cheeses, as well as snacks such as whipped ricotta and lardo served with fresh sourdough, notes a release.

For those who prefer to grab a snack and a glass wine to the full tasting experience, there will be a dedicated space especially for a casual bite near the trailer.

As part of the launch, Stratton has launched a Kickstarter to help make his dream a reality. As of press time, the project has raised more than $20,000 of its $25,000 goal.

Grilled romaine hearts.

Photo by Heather Gallagher

Grilled romaine hearts.

openings wine food-trucks

HAUTE PROPERTIES

Southern Living picks Texas Hill Country as location of 2026 Idea House

Southern Living Idea House Fredericksburg

Rendering by Jon Messer.

Southern Living Idea House will be open for tours beginning September 18.

Whether Texas is part of the South may still be an open question, but Southern Living is settling the debate with a big investment. The Birmingham, Alabama-based lifestyle magazine will build its newest Idea House in the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg.

For more than 35 years, Southern Living has drafted Southern builders, architects, and designers to build new homes that not only showcase the latest innovations in home design but are the epitomes of Southern style. This year, the magazine chose Fredericksburg's Friedën community, a 130-acre development featuring parks, nature trails, and lakes.

"We're excited to call Fredericksburg home for the year and to celebrate the distinct character of the Texas Hill Country,” says editor-in-chief Sid Evans in a release. “Surrounded by rolling hills and wide-open views, this home reflects the region's natural beauty and the relaxed spirit of the Lone Star State."

The design of the versatile home proves the modern farmhouse trend still has some legs. Southern Living’s designers update the look by ditching whitewashed everything for a more contemporary color palette that blends in with the Hill Country’s natural landscape. Floor-to-ceiling windows further “dissolve the boundaries” between the interior and the great outdoors.

To bring their vision to life, Southern Living drafted a local team, including builder Kurk Homes, architect Andrew Bray of Mustard Architects, landscape designer Melissa Gerstle, and interior designers Jean Liu, Marcus Mohon, and Paloma Contreras. But real estate gawkers will have to wait to see most of the details. The house won’t be unveiled until September 18, when public tours open and the October issue hits stands.

Southern Living, however, did tease a few details, saying the home is being built for “multi-generational” living with sustainable products and appliances, a motor court entry, and a private casita. No doubt, interior design buffs will also find inspiration in the decor's bold choices. Last year’s Idea House in Virginia mixed in everything from garden florals and African mudcloth to animal prints and kitchsy cottagecore art.

The Idea House will be open to the public for tours from September 18 through December 20, 2026. Tickets will be available beginning in April, with a portion of the proceeds supporting area charities. After the open house, the home will be available for sale at an undisclosed price.

homes home design interior design fredericksburg hill country southern living