SnackTime With Jen— Greek Goddess, October 18th

Welcome to my newest feature, SnackTime With Jen. This midweek morsel is a small taste of something fun. Topics range from food (of course) to fashion, amusing little discoveries both locally and abroad, and a variety of interesting intel too tempting not to share. So let’s get snacking…

I had the good fortune of visiting Austin, Texas recently for business and discovered a gorgeous indoor/outdoor Mediterranean restaurant that had so many delicious offerings that I wisely brought along two industry peeps just to sample a variety of the savory dishes and sweet desserts. Based on the menu, I had a feeling that Aba might be Little Black Book-Worthy so with big smiles and excitement, Carol and Hernan were kind enough to let the “phone eat first” by allowing me take snaps before we dug in.

We started with the Whipped Feta with crushed pistachio, aleppo, olive oil, and lemon zest. We couldn’t get over the perfect saltiness of the soft, creamy feta with crunchy toppings and the warm, seasoned pita accompaniment. It was a wow! Next we sampled the Crispy Short Rib with Hummus that had grilled onions, and sherry, and sat upon a rich beef jus. More pita was used to swipe through this amazing delicacy. Our apps were rounded out by the Yellowtail sashimi. Resting in a shallow bath of Texas citrus, jalapeño, and shards of scattered crispy rice, these delicate curls were simple yet outstanding.

For our main course we each had a single Kebab seasoned with olive oil and lemon that was accompanied by a just-picked tomato cucumber salad, basmati rice, grilled red onions and sweet peppers, and a ramekin of aromatic zhoug for dipping. We added the Crispy Potatoes for the table that had mizithra, rosemary, and a silky-smooth scallion crema sidecar. Every single thing we ordered was super fresh and delicious.

If you know me, you know that I usually prep my guests beforehand that we are having dessert and this meal was no exception. We sampled a trio of sweets including the Chocolate Chocolate Cake that had isot chili, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream, the Halva with roasted grapes, Marcona almonds, and a wonderful little date bar, and the most gigantic scoop of sharable Lemon Meringue Frozen Greek Yogurt that had a tangy lemon curd drizzle and zesty lemon flakes.

All three were tasty and exciting but the standout of the day, the dish that we all couldn’t stop raving about was the Greek Goddess herself, the zesty lemon yogurt. It was the coolness of the texture, plus the tang of the topping, and the balance of the flavors that made us fall in love. It was so refreshing yet sweet. We scooped up every last creamy swirl.

Aba creates an amazing atmosphere for guests to relax, share, and enjoy. I loved it so much that I returned a few days later with Sari, Janey, and Shelly to double down on the same exact menu! Thank goodness they loved it as well.

This exceptional restaurant should be on your list if you find yourself in the Austin area anytime soon. Jen’s Little Black Book loves to support women and this Greek Goddess is certainly one worth celebrating.

I’m dishing it out each week in my newest feature, SnackTime With Jen cause everyone I know just loooves a little snack. Especially me.