ALL THE STARS IN AUSTIN All images courtesy The Michelin Guide Texas 2024. We feel no small amount of pride this week after watching Austin snag 9 of the state’s 17 Michelin stars. Another 15 restaurants received Bib Gormands, and 23 more were recommended, a designation described by Michelin’s Michael Ellis as “the sign of a chef using quality ingredients that are well cooked; simply a good meal ”. One of those on Michelin’s list is the Austin institution Jeffrey’s . Jeffrey’s, early 1980s, photo courtesy Johnny Guffey. A LITTLE BIT OF EUROPE Imagine if you will a bunch of shaggy free-thinkers churning out nouveau EuroTexan during an era when a steak dinner set you back $7.95, and no one was sure folks would pay that price. This was Jeffrey’s, and when it opened in 1975 parts of Clarksville still had unpaved roads. The menu was posted on a blackboard, and folks lined up along the sidewalk early to try snag one of the 40-odd seats. Jeffrey’s kitchen created a generation’s worth of culinary stars. The chefs behind Vespaio, El Alma, Asti, and Three Little Pigs all worked here, as did the husband-wife team behind Michelin star restaurant Bell’s in Los Alamos, California. Waterloo Records founder John Kunz was among those who worked the floor.  Starting in the spring of 1982 – for nine years – I was fortunate enough to first be a "bus unit" and soon after, a waiter at Jeffrey’s …this was also Waterloo Records ' first nine years of existence. Certainly tip income from Jeffrey's helped me oftentimes forego any Waterloo income in order to buy more music inventory in those early lean years. John Kunz, The Austin Chronicle, May 18, 2012. For much of Jeffrey’s 49-year history waiter Johnny Guffey commanded the floor, a north star if you will, and Wednesday he shared a few memories. Local restaurant group McGuire Moorman Hospitality purchased Jeffrey’s in 2013, overhauled the menu and renovated the building.  We're trying to be really respectful about what Jeffrey's means to people. It's skinned in fancy stuff, but what people pay for is to see talented people work at the highest level of their profession. Larry McGuire, Eater Austin, July 23, 2014 Johnny Guffey retired in 2016. He says you might run across him these days at Matt’s El Rancho, Fonda San Miguel, Joe’s Bakery, Cisco’s on Saturday morning and Luby’s on Thanksgiving Day. Johnny Guffey, with the portrait that hangs in the room he captained at Jeffrey’s. MICHELIN STAR CHEFS GIVE BACK Part of what’s special here is the connection between chefs and community. Take, for example, the 2024 Visit Austin Foundation Give Back Gig during National Travel & Tourism Week. Olamaie’s Amanda Turner and Hestia’s Paul Wenzel were paired with culinary students from Travis Early College High School to create new dishes. Videos produced by Arts+Labor, directed by Dylan Varella, edited by Jessie Auritt. WHAT TO DO ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO ARYLN STUDIO’S INVITE-ONLY 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION SATURDAY. Giveaway details here. Giveaway for Arlyn’s 40th Anniversary with a stacked all-day lineup. AUSTIN MICHELIN STAR HONOREES JESSE GRIFFITHS AND MICHAEL FOJTASEK AT THE TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL. 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM Saturday, November 16 Dai Due’s Jesse Griffiths discusses his new cookbook The Turkey Book with Olamaie’s Michael Fojtasek. And check out the rest of the schedule . THE LATINO COMEDY PROJECT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AT HYDE PARK THEATRE Thursday-Sunday, November 14-30 Tickets Here The Latino Comedy Project Next week, a deeper dive into Clarksville, a freedom colony settled by former slaves. On we go. Alan Berg, Publisher. *quotes and interviews occasionally edited for clarity. How are we doing? We want to hear from you. Take this quick survey and help us make Happy Heat better. Go see something, tell us about it, we’ll share more stories next week. Let’s build something together. We’d be forever grateful for your help, and an easy way to do so is by subscribing to the Happy Heat Substack. What comes in goes right back out in artist commissions and live shows. To which you’ll get to come! For the first 100 subscribers, we are offering 20% off forever. Get 20% off forever