Austin Food & Wine Alliance gives first culinary grants

The Austin Food & Wine Alliance gave away its first grants at a recent event at the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center. Argus Cidery won a $10,000 grant to plant new apple varieties that are not grown in Texas in a test orchard in Dripping Springs. Tecolote Farm in Manor won a $5,000 grant to start a pilot program for heritage breed hogs as well as a subsidized community supported agriculture program for low-income families in Austin. Connally High School Culinary Arts program in Pflugerville won a $5,000 grant to produce a documentary film about the process of raising beef in Texas. The organization, which formed in 2011 as the beneficiary of the Austin Food & Wine Festival, has received proceeds from a number of other fundraisers, including their standalone Wine & Swine and Live Fire events and CultureMap’s Tastemaker Awards. Whole Foods Market, Maker’s Mark Bourbon and FreshPoint Produce have also donated directly to the alliance. On Jan. 17, the alliance will add another event to its lineup — a Wine & Dine Dinner Series, which kicks off with a dinner from Congress chef David Bull on the penthouse floor of the Austonian. Tickets to that dinner ($150) will go on sale at Austin Food Wine Alliance.org.