The Austin cookbook: recipes and stories from deep in the heart of Texas

The story of Austin's food scene hinges on two things: first, and most obvious, the deep traditions of Texas cooking.

This means barbecue, of course, but it also means tacos, Tex-Mex, 19th century German and Czech immigrants, Southern cuisine in general, a touch of Cajun, and, more recently, Vietnamese influences.

This book captures the city's hotter-than-hot food scene, tracking Austin's growth from a city that didn't have a chef that could promote its own music festival to a city that has two food festivals, national critical acclaim, and what some have called the best barbecue in the country. Organised chronologically, each chapter opens with an essay that details the famed restaurants and characters of that time period.

Also included are the recipes for the iconic dishes and drinks, ranging from Southern soul food, avocado margaritas, 'bowls of red' chilli, Tex-Mex tacos, and more.