#afba

DP William Ruto presides over the opening of the 2018 Edition of the African Bar Association annual conference at the KICC

H.E. William Ruto Joined by CJ David Maraga, AG Paul Kihara, Governor Mike Sonko and AfBA President, Barrister Hannibal Uwaifo during 2018 #AFBA.|PHOTO |COURTESY

DP William Ruto has today presided over the opening of the 2018 Edition of the African Bar Association annual conference at the KICC. He was joined by CJ David Maraga, AG Paul Kihara, Governor Mike Sonko and AfBA President, Barrister…

Titaya's is back and better than ever! After more than a year of eager anticipation, Titaya's has reopened with a more modern interior and expanded menu. Prepare for a long wait, even if you arrive early. Austinites love Titaya's, and those of us who were die-hard fans before the remodel happily waited up to two hours for some of the best Thai food in the city. I expected some hiccups, as they just reopened, and the only issue we had was that our main course was slow out of the kitchen. Appetizers and desserts were timely, though. Our waitress was wonderful and kept us informed along the way. We never had empty water glasses and she was friendly and helpful with the menu. 

A few things to keep in mind when you go:

Be patient and don't expect to have a "quick bite" here

Go for it all; get an appetizer (or two), try several types of entrees, dessert is a must!

Listen to your server, they know their stuff

Beer and wine is available and they have a decent list. Corkage is $15/bottle for BYOB

Try something different, you'll likely be surprised

I'm so glad I went into the new Titaya's with an open mind and a very empty stomach. I had such a great experience, was happily stuffed, and I can't wait to go back soon!

What to order: Items we had that I can recommend are: Appetizers - Sweet Corn and Taro Fritters (addicting!), and the Shrimp Leafy Rolls (add sriracha to the peanut sauce, you'll be glad you did) Entrees - Pad See Eiw and the Gang Masamum Gai. The Pad See Eiw has Chinese broccoli in it which is such an underrated vegetable. The Masamum curry is the best example of this curry I've ever had. Desserts - We tried the two desserts available, Black Rice Pudding with Coconut Milk and Lychee, and Pandan Coconut Panna Cotta. Both were outstanding. The rice pudding is served warm, and the panna cotta comes with an amazing ginger tuile. 

Our neighbors at the next table ordered the Tom-Kha soup and it smelled heavenly! Our waitress recommended a few items for us try next time: Larb Sake and the Duck Noodle Soup. You better believe I'll be ordering all of those on my next visit.

Titaya's Thai Cuisine 5501 North Lamar Blvd., Ste C101 Austin, TX 78751 512.458.1792

Hours Of Operation: Tuesday - Friday 11am-2:30pm, 5:00pm-10:00pm; Saturday - Sunday 12:00pm - 3:30pm, 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Closed Mondays

Takes reservations: No WiFi: No Website: http://www.titayasthaicuisine.com/ 

Sweet Corn and Taro Fritters

Shrimp Leafy Rolls

Pad See Eiw

Gang Masamum Gai

Black Rice Pudding with Coconut Milk and Lychee 

Oh Summermoon coffee, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: 1) Wood fire roasted coffee, 2) Moon Milk, 3) Moon Milk. Oh, and did I mention Moon Milk? Seriously, Summermoon has my favorite cup of coffee, hands down. The wood roasting brings flavors out in the beans I've never tasted. Their brewed coffee is rich and smooth; it's almost creamy on its own. The espresso is bold and earthy with chocolate flavors. And then there is the beloved moon milk. Moon milk is their homemade all dairy add-in for your coffee or espresso. The moon milk is sweet, creamy, and addicting. It complements the wood fired brew perfectly. 

Beyond their delicious coffee and espresso drinks, Summermoon is a locally-owned family-run business. It makes me like them even more. They support other local businesses and sell a variety of baked goods, snacks, and healthy meals. The zucchini bread they sell is my favorite. Summermoon recently remodeled their interior so it's very work friendly. Individual desks and comfy chairs make it a great place for solitary contemplation or an intimate conversation. Their outside deck is the perfect place to gather with friends for an intellectual debate over a perfect cup. 

What to order:  My favorite drink is the Halfmoon Latte. It's bold, creamy, but not too sweet. You also can't go wrong with their brewed coffee. Just add moon milk to your taste. During the warmer months I recommend the Wintermoon. When I was last in they now have moon pops; moon milk frozen treats. How awesome is that?! 

Summermoon Coffee Bar 3115 1st St S, Suite 1B Austin, TX 78704  512.804.1665

Hours Of Operation: Monday-Friday 6 AM - 12 AM, Saturday 8 AM - 10 PM, Sunday 8 AM - 8 PM

Takes reservations: No WiFi: Yes Website: http://www.woodfiredcoffee.com/ 

The sun goes down, the stars come out.

- Sharmaine Trinos (Behind the scene, Almohada Bolsa latest photoshoot, UPLB)