Dessert always follows the meal. (Or, if you’re me, it happens throughout the day). It’s the sweet note you end on and often your final takeaway from the meal. I’d like to recap the entertaining related aspects of the seminar I hosted yesterday– I was blown away by the local business participation and the sampling of industries represented in the room. For example, we had a pottery artist attend, from whom I learned about a great event that’s held in Austin each year called Art of the Pot, which includes a pottery studio tour. We also met Rhea from Rhea’s ice Cream in San Marcos, and Lauren, Brentley, and Bob from Go Local Austin, who help us get discounts at local businesses around town. Ms. Lisa, who filmed the event represented Yoga Yoga, which provides recreational exercise to yogis across the city. We had Michelle, the Executive Director of Better Bites of Austin, which is a food and spirits makers association here in Austin that supports many of the local food and snack producers we all know an love. And then, there was Chef Tyson Cole.

Tyson, of renowned Uchi and Uchiko,  shared his thoughts about going local with meaning, rather than for the sake of just going local, and the importance of using local ingredients, while focusing on quality and consistency. He also referenced a book called Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business, which mentions a concept called ‘enlightened hospitality.’ I agree with Tyson, that people should feel at home in your home, or in local business, and his ‘obsession with hospitality’ is contagious, and in my opinion, spot on and crucial to success.

And then there was Lauren Hubele from Bona Dea Baking Company. She was such a dynamic speaker and we were fascinated to hear about her company’s transition from bread baking to making artisan gluten free products. I love her story because it really captures the idea that your customers and community can drive your direction as a company, and because Lauren was in tune with the wants and needs of Austin, she was able to deliver exceptional products that are very much in demand.

All in all, I am overwhelmed by the love for local entertaining in Austin and I look forward to future events where we can continue to bring together many of the people who are making our city more local and more fun!

Thank you to City of Austin’s Small Business Development Program, Austin Monthly, Go Local Austin, Bone Dea Baking Co., Uchi, Scholz Beer Garten, and Videographer Lisa  for being a part of such a fabulous evening of local learning.