Founded in 1977, the Austin Chapter today has about 65 members who enjoy twelve events each year. Usually 35 to 40 will attend a particular event which is a nice group given the small size of many of Austin’s better restaurants.

The Austin Chapter offers diversity in its events, especially in its dining venues. We are interested in introducing chefs and their new restaurants, such as Garrido’s and Braise, to our membership. Our members always enjoy old favorites like Hudson’s on the Bend where Chef Jeff Blank creates masterful Texas game dishes, the always innovative and delectable Jeffrey’s, Austin’s finest French restaurant Aquarelle, and the venerable Austin Club housed in Austin’s historic opera house. In the spirit of Austin’s motto, “Keep Austin Weird,” we are not above a delightful evening featuring Texas barbeque or a pit- roasted pig!

Our event hosts strive for unique menus degustation so that we can taste several small dishes that are not on a restaurant’s regular menu. Wines are carefully paired with the cuisine. Depending on a venue’s cellar, we may request that a special wine be provided by a particular wine merchant. We occasionally have a vintner’s dinner or a tasting from a member’s cellar. We are very proud to be able to provide wines for select events from our own fledgling cellar.

In the past, our activities have included:

gourmet restaurant dinners;
wine tastings, including blind tastings;
gourmet weekends in Seattle, New Orleans, Houston and San Antonio;
visits to Texas Hill Country vineyards such as Stonehouse Vineyards and Spicewood Vineyards;
cooking demonstrations followed by dinner;
wine and food events at members’ homes;
our formal holiday gala.

We always welcome new ideas for events.

The Society encourages inter-branching. In June 2007, Austin members traveled to Seattle and joined the new branch there for its inaugural dinner at Canlis, then recently selected by Gourmet as one of the top 50 restaurants in the country. We began the weekend with a seafood dinner along the harbor and ended with a tour of wineries near Seattle and dinner at Café Juanita, another one of Gourmet’s top 50.

Since 2001, we have had weekend events in Houston at the invitation of that branch; gourmet dining in San Antonio at Biga on the Banks and Silo; and two trips to New Orleans. For the first in 2001, we dined at Antoine’s, Cuvée, and Emerill’s Delmonico. In Spring 2008, we had a "John Besh" Weekend where we enjoyed fabulous meals at three of his New Orleans area restaurants: August, La Provence and Lüke.

The Austin Chapter welcomes guest-members from other branches, at least on a space available basis. If you plan to visit the Austin area and wish to attend an event or need restaurant recommendations, please contact us.

Membership in the Austin Chapter is by invitation only. All branches are autonomous in terms of membership qualifications. For details, please contact us.