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

TX to TN

FlixBus revives affordable route from Houston to Memphis via New Orleans

Photo courtesy of FlixBus

FlixBus is now cruising from Texas to Tennessee.

Traveling from Texas to Tennessee is about to get a lot easier, more affordable, and more scenic. Budget-friendly bus service FlixBus will relaunch its Houston-Memphis route later this month, with service starting Thursday, August 27.

FlixBus is the largest intercity bus network that offers passengers affordable and comfortable travel across 1,800 destinations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The signature lime green buses come with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating with extra legroom. Passengers can bring one carry-on and one stowed luggage for their trips.

The Houston-to-Memphis route will depart from 605 Gray St. in Midtown, and arrive at Memphis Bus Station at 3033 Airways Blvd. Travel times might vary depending on the number of stops, traffic, and other circumstances, but will generally be 14.5 hours long.

The seven stops along the Houston-Memphis route are:

Lake Charles (Lakepoint): 750 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601
Lafayette (Louisiana): 1701 N University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70507
Baton Rouge Bus Station: 1253 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802
New Orleans Bus Station: 1001 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70113
Hattiesburg: 6635 US-49 S, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Meridian Bus Stop: 1901 Front St., Meridian, MI 39301
Batesville (Terza One Stop Shop): 22023 MS-6, Batesville, MI 38606

The route will operate five days a week with an extended daily service in November to accommodate Thanksgiving holiday demand. Fares for the route start at $88.98 per passenger per way.

Another travel route from Texas to Tennessee
In addition to the return of the Houston-Memphis route, FlixBus just launched its first-ever direct route connecting Dallas to Nashville, with departures running five days a week.

Departures will be from the Dallas Bus Station at 9755 Harry Hines Blvd., and arrive at Nashville Bus Station at 709 Rep John Lewis Way South. Travel times will generally be between 11.5-14.5 hours.

The Dallas-Nashville route will also offer direct access to other travel hubs, including:

Sulphur Springs (travel center): 1600 W. Shannon Rd., Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
Texarkana (travel stop): 4020 S. Lake Dr., Texarkana, TX 75501
Memphis Bus Station: 3033 Airways Blvd., Memphis, TN 38131

The new Texas-Tennessee routes expand FlixBus' network across the South while offering travelers cost-effective and comfortable transportation to "major business, entertainment, and cultural destinations while providing access to smaller communities along the way."

"The South continues to see increasing demand for affordable, convenient ways to travel between major cities," Flix North America head of communications Karina Frayter said in a statement. "As more travelers look for alternatives to driving or flying, we're expanding our network to make it easier to reach the destinations that matter most, whether you’re traveling for school or work, visiting friends and family, or taking a vacation."

Passengers can book tickets for all destinations via FlixBus.com and the FlixBus app.

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