ACL Food Rocks
Thanks to my client, AT&T I was lucky enough to attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival for the second year in a row. I saw some great bands including Fleet Foxes, Jose Gonzalez, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Spiritualized, John Fogerty, and Robert Plant/Alison Krauss. My favorite show by far was Plant and Krauss who gave a virtuosic, entrancing, sexy performance that included a wonderful band along with special guest T-Bone Burnett.
The food vendors at ACL include low-end versions of the best Austin has to offer including Aquarelle, Hudson’s on the Bend, Saba Blue Water Grill, Roy’s, and Vespaio. The most buzzed about food at the festival was the Hudson’s on the Bend Chicken Cone. On my way to Zilker Park, I received a text message from AT&T saying that Sweet Leaf Tea was offering a free drink to all who ask between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. We arrived at their booth just in time — it was 12:57 — so I started the day with a slightly frozen and refreshing Mint & Honey Green Tea.
By the time I went to see John Fogerty, a little more than 5 hours later, I noticed that the Chicken Cones had about 1/2 the amount of chicken that mine did. An hour or so later, Hudson’s sold out. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for those who still haven’t experienced a Chicken Cone that chef Jeff Blank (wearing a cowboy hat and pictured behind me and to the left) has some extras back in his freezer for tomorrow. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long wait until next year!
