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Eater's MoW* Guide to Holiday Party Eats in Austin

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Mac 'n' Cheese, BBQ, Pulled Pork, and Chicken Parm photos via Shutterstock.
Every Man of the World* has a Heineken BeerTender®. After all, it lets you have the premium experience of pouring fresh Heineken draught beer right at home. It's probably the greatest gift in the world. Secretly, you'd love to buy one for yourself, but you can't. It's the holidays after all — buying yourself a gift looks selfish.

Until now. Introducing BeerFriender, a first of its kind Facebook application that matches you up with a like-minded stranger who's also in the market for a BeerTender®. Instead of buying BeerTenders for yourselves, the app makes it look like you bought them for each other. It’s going to change gift-giving as we know it.

Now that you are set with your BeerTender®, it’s obviously time to throw the perfect holiday party. Check out our list of Austin's best to-go-friendly food spots to accompany your home-poured draught.



1.) The Noble Pig: All Austin food lovers know of their sandwiches, but The Noble Pig caters as well. Want to impress your friends at home as much as you are in their shop? Easy. And with their charcuterie and deli counter opening just in time for the holidays, your life just got better.

2.) Antonelli's Cheese : Any good meal includes good cheese, and Antonelli's has the best. This Hyde Park gem not only has a top notch selection, but also the expert service to find the perfect one for your party.

3.) Dai Due: The best of the best in town for locally sourced meat and spreads for your party. Your friends should expect nothing less than this Farmers Market mainstay, but you better get 'em while they have some left.

4.) Austin Wine Merchant: Austin has many wonderful wine stores, but this one will serve you best when you want to impress. Sure you can grab some Burgundy or a Tempranillo, but this shop will find you what you need for your party.

5.) Bake Sale: Dessert. Dessert. Dessert. Don't skimp on the sweet stuff, and have a pastry chef make the perfect last course. Pies, macarons... Sweet perfection. Remember it's the last bite your guests will have.

6.) Whole Foods Market: This Austin original has everything. They are popular for a reason, but you know how to navigate the aisles of this one stop shop. There's never a bad option at Whole Foods.