Winter has finally arrived in Austin—and there’s no better way to stay warm than with a hot bowl of aromatic pho. Thankfully, the newly opened PhoNatic is serving up a menu chock full of Vietnamese classics, including the noodle soup that gave the restaurant its name. For the aficionado and the novice alike, PhoNatic offers a delicious journey eastward into the rich flavors of Vietnam.

Every foodie has his or her go-to recipe source, whether the inexhaustible archives of Epicurious or that trusty Alice Waters tome. Allow us to introduce the next great addition to your culinary arsenal: Cook Happy, an iPad app reviving the art of the cookbook with mouthwatering, step-by-step video illustrations for each recipe.

Sixth Street, once synonymous with late-night revelry, is becoming a culinary hotspot—and Chef Parind Vora is leading the charge. On his corner of Sixth and West Avenue, Chef Vora stands at the helm of two dining concepts: the resurrected icon that is Restaurant Jezebel and its upscale bar and grill counterpart, Bar Mirabeau.

The former needs no introduction, as it has remained a beloved institution—in memory, if not in brick and mortar—for the two years since the fire that claimed it. Though Jezebel may be reminiscent of renowned prix-fixe establishments like Le Bernardin or Per Se, Bar Mirabeau offers a warm and comfortable atmosphere, an inviting gem of downtown Austin.

Image Courtesy of Food Gal

It’s that time of year when we’re dusting the flour off our aprons and rolling up our sleeves in the kitchen. Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, which usually means a flurry of activity—the yams! The rolls! That mind-boggling twelve pounds of bird! But this year, some of Austin’s finest chefs are lending home cooks a hand and sharing tried and true recipes from around their family table. We’ve rounded up some sumptuous recipes from Chefs Andrew Wiseheart (Contigo), Jack Gilmore (Jack Allen’s Kitchen), Bryce Gilmore (Barley Swine) and Kyle McKinney (Barley Swine). This will be one Thanksgiving you won’t forget.

Central Market's Traditional Turkey Dinner

Foodies, ready your forks! This Thanksgiving, if you're looking to spend more time with your family and less time with your kitchen appliances, local businesses are providing Austinites with prepared, from-scratch options to take the guesswork out of a beautiful dinner. We rounded up local eateries who can help make your life easier and your Thanksgiving tastier.

Image courtesy of Mel's Meals

In today's accelerated world, Mel’s Meals has become a routine stop for busy Austinites trying to maintain their healthy lifestyles. Wanting to curb bad heating habits, Melissa Sterns, owner and visionary of Mel’s Meals, provides Austinites with healthy meal options that support a face-paced way of life. Mel’s Meals is introducing three new meals to their already extensive and palatable menu: the Arriba Lasagna, Coconut Tilapia and Veggie MelMuffin.

For the most part, I'm a pretty healthy eater, but there are so many good restaurants and bars in Austin that sometimes it's easy for things to get a little out of hand. I heard about the 21 Day Snap Commit Program from a friend who was an avid fan of Snap meals, and I thought it sounded like something I wanted to try. The last time I did something like this, it was the Master Cleanse, and I basically thought I was going to die because I was only drinking cayenne pepper juice for 10 days (just thinking about it makes me cringe). But when I heard about the Snap Challenge, I was sold from the beginning. I mean, who wouldn't want 5 tasty meals a day cooked and ready for you whenever you're hungry? The most you have to do is stick it in the microwave!

In the chocolate world, there are the European giants—Robert Linxe, Barry Callebaut, Michel Chaudun—the ones who stride across the earth, grand cru bar in hand, like gods. But recently, a new wave of chocolatiers has arrived, bringing the art of the confection stateside. Among them is Steven Lawrence, founder of the Austin-based Chocolate Makers Studio.

Pastry Chef Paloma Efron artfully combines her years of graphic design and a love for all things baked to create beautifully crafted cakes  at Coco Paloma Desserts.