Ned and Jodi Elliot, owners of Foreign & Domestic Food & Drink
Following the success of their first-ever bake sale last week, neighborhood eatery Foreign & Domestic will continue hosting a bake sale most Saturdays. The weekly bake sales begin at 10am, and will last until the last of the goods has been sold. And, psst, a word to the wise: be sure to get there early, as their first bake sale sold out by 11:15am! Join the F&D mailing list to find out in advance what small treats to expect.
This week’s bake sale items include cinnamon rolls, turtle brownies, chocolate chip pecan skillet cookies, carrot cake slices, chocolate cupcakes with caramel buttercream, chocolate trifle, plain croissants, bacon and gruyere croissants, roasted vegetable and feta croissants, tomato and herb danishes, strawberry and cream cheese buttercups, sausage and onion quiche, whole buttermilk pies, and black pepper and gruyere popovers. How gourmet for a bake sale!
Starting this Friday, F&D will begin serving their new picnic menu option each evening for dinner. This chef”s menu will feature four courses – three savory, one sweet – for just $34 per person. Wine pairings may be added for just $12, and will include a glass with every course. The dishes on the Picnic Menu will change often, and will be different from the items on our regular menu. Please note that the entire table must choose this option for dinner. While the Picnic Menu itself will not be vegetarian, F&D can definitely create some vegetarian options as needed!
From the design of the restaurant to the seasonal and frequently changing menu, owners Ned and Jodi Elliot have developed a neighborhood eatery that encompasses their passion for bringing inventive culinary creations to the table in an accessible yet sophisticated way.
Chef and Owner Ned Elliott grew up gardening in a home where food played an integral role in daily life. Ned was raised by two women, his mothers Sandra and Linda, who shared their love of gardening, cooking, and baking with him. Sandra, the cook, taught Ned about the importance of fresh ingredients. From Linda, the baker, Ned learned patience. Both taught him that life should be about continuous learning, a philosophy that was reinforced by Chef Ducasse and his mentor, Chef Doug Psaltis.
“My mantra is attention to detail,” says Elliott. “Chef Psaltis instilled this in me and it is an important part of how we define Foreign & Domestic.”
It was at the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in 1999 that Ned met his future wife, Jodi. Eager to further his career outside of his schooling, Ned left the CIA and began staging at various restaurants in New York City, eventually landing a job at Tabla Restaurant. He continued building an impressive resume as he worked for such prestigious New York restaurants as the Essex House under Chef Alain Ducasse, Picholine, Country, and was on the opening team at Thomas Keller’s Per Se.
Pastry chef and owner Jodi Elliot’s love of baking developed at an early age in the kitchen with her grandmother, affectionately called “Meme.” A picky eater, but a sweets lover, Jodi enjoyed the playfulness and nostalgia that went along with baking. With the encouragement of her mother, she started her pastry career at age 16 at a local café in San Antonio.
“I was lucky to find my passion early on even before I knew what a pastry chef was,” comments Jodi.
Following her high school graduation, Jodi attended the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, where she met Ned. While earning her culinary degree, Jodi worked at Gramercy Tavern under highly-acclaimed Pastry Chef Claudia Fleming. After graduating from the CIA in 2001, Jodi moved to London and took a position at the Savoy Hotel. After a year in London, she returned to New York and continued her culinary career at such heralded restaurants as Bouley, Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria, and Michael Symon’s Parea. It was during Jodi’s time as the Pastry Chef at Parea that the restaurant earned a two-star review from the New York Times.
Ned and Jodi got married in New York City in 2003 and moved to Portland, Oregon a few years later to settle down and start a family. Together, they both worked at Genoa and helped open The Nines Hotel. Upon the birth of their daughter, Billie Van, in 2008, they realized they wanted to be closer to family, and Austin’s warm weather and emerging food scene was an enticing draw. Ned and Jodi moved to Austin in May 2009 and opened Foreign & Domestic Food & Drink in May 2010.
Call for a reservation or just walk in to sit at their vibrant bar. Enjoy hand-mixed champagne and even beer cocktails or their extensive wine list. Call (512)459-1010 for reservations. This innovative fine dining restaurant meets neighborhood eatery can be found at 306 East 53rd Street.
