All You Can Eat 

News and notes from the San Antonio food scene

In the age of meetups and Outfoxed premieres, house parties are an intimate way to organize politically. The Organic Consumers Association is encouraging food activists to host house parties in September to view a new documentary, The Future of Food, by Deborah Koons Garcia.

The documentary investigates and critiques the issue of genetically engineered foods and crops, and includes interviews with farmers who oppose the technology.

The OCA's goal is to sponsor 300 simultaneous house parties in September. To host a party, send a $25 donation and the OCA will send you the documentary, a house party manual, and a guide on how to establish GE-Free zones in your area. For more information, call Ryan Zinn at Ryan@OrganicConsumers.org or call 415-271-6833.

Recently opened: Il Panino Café, 1201 N. Loop 1604, Suite 115, offers dozens of Italian sandwiches, salads, pastries, cocktails, beer, and coffee. Entrée prices range from $5.50-$13.50. For more information, call 764-1511.

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar, 5860 DeZavala, features sweet and teriyaki sauces for their wing selection, as well as Thai, hot barbeque, and blazin' sauce. Other menu choices include finger foods such as the three-cheese quesadilla, salads, burgers, sandwiches, wrappers, desserts, martinis, and margaritas. Hours: Monday-Saturday from 11am-2am and Sunday from 11am-1am. For more information call 694-9464.

Compiled by: Marlene Jasso

A culinary pot pourri

Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?

The San Antonio Botanical Garden heats things up a notch with a celebration of peppers on Saturday, September 11 from 10am-2pm. The party celebrates "all things pepper" with cooking demonstrations, food tasting, growing tips, kids' activities, a plant sale, and a horticulture seminar. Admission is $5 adults, $2 children, and $3 students, military, and senior citizens. Info: 829-5100 or www.sabot.org.

Poaching allowed

This month, L'Etoile, 6106 Broadway, hosts a Lobster Festival, for which the chefs will prepare lobster in several ways, including stuffed with jumbo lump crab meat, or cooked out of the shell, sautéed, and flambéed with cognac and served on a bed of baby vegetables with lobster sauce. Hours: Lunch, Monday-Saturday, 11:30am-2:30pm; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 5:30-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 5:30-11pm; and Sunday, 5-9:30 pm.

Be the hostess with the mostest

Central Market is offering a class in "Easy Entertaining: Impressive Recipes with Little Effort," on September 10 from 6:30-9pm. Cost is $45. Central Market is located at 4821 Broadway; for more information call 368-8617.

Winter comfort

On September 9, the San Antonio Herb Society hosts Master Herbalist and Nutritionist Carol-lee Fisher, who will present "Healthy Soups and Comfort Food for Fall and Winter." The free presentation will be held at 7pm at the San Antonio Garden Center, Funston and North New Braunfels. For more information call 826-6860.

Compiled by: Nicole Chavez and Marlene Jasso