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Machete with beef fajita at Machetes Doña Leova food truck on North Lamar. (Sonia Garcia/Austonia)
As new food trends reach Austin, it seems that the bigger the better, and machetes are not an exception.
Stretching as long as 2 feet, a machete is essentially a deliciously huge quesadilla wrapped in a long sheet of corn masa and filled with cheese, different types of meat and various toppings. The size and appearance of the dish resemble its namesake, a machete blade.
Since the 1960s, machetes have been a popular dish in Mexico City. Luckily for us Texans, the giant quesadillas have reached the Austin food scene and are perfectly large enough to share with friends.
Here is where you can try machetes in Austin.
Machetes Doña Leova, 10600 N. Lamar Blvd.
Don't let this huge machete intimidate you. Machetes Doña Leova has all the proteins and toppings available to make the best flavorful machete. With pastor, beef, chicken, shrimp, vegetables and many other traditional Mexican meats, Austinites can try an authentic machete right on home turf. The food truck also offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas and gorditas if you're not up for the massive food challenge.
Authenticos Michoacanos, 4329 S. Congress Ave.
Authenticos Michoacanos is another location in Austin where you can find the traditional Mexico City dish of machetes. The food truck offers several different types of proteins such as beef, pork, chicken, suadero, pork carnitas, chorizo, campechano, tripa and chicharron. You can fill up your belly with delicious machetes, or other traditional staple foods such as tacos, gorditas, quesadillas all with fresh ingredients.
Casita Nicole Antojitos Mexicanos, 9618 Menchaca Road
Another food truck in the Austin machetes game, Casita Nicole Antojitos Mexicanos has over 18 ingredients to make machetes perfect for you. You have the option to order a mini version or the real deal, which is a 2 foot long machete. From fish and shrimp, to chicharrones and vegetables, the food truck has all the ingredients to make a machete for any food lover and more. You can also find Mexican burgers, burritos, sandwiches and more at Casita Nicole Antojitos Mexicanos.
Aparicio’s Cafe, 9310 Georgian Dr.
As far as giant food dishes go, Aparicio's has you covered. The food truck offers traditional machetes, but as most Austin places do, brings a fun and different twist to tradition. Aparicio's has seven different types of machetes: carne asada, pastor and pineapple, carnivore, pizza, hot Cheeto, barbecue chicken and philly cheese. The uniquely made machetes are original in size and filling in nature, so make sure you round up some friends before ordering.
Taqueria Casita Vizuet, 10014 N. Lamar Blvd.
Adding to the list of machetes in Austin, Taqueria Casita Vizuet has the gigantic quesadillas on deck. Located down the street from Machetes Dona Leova, the food truck competitor puts itself on the map with fresh ingredients and a list of traditional Mexican proteins and sauces.
Next: Explore Austin's BBQ scene
Meat, smoke and sauce: A guide to the best Austin barbeque
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Popular
Formula 1's United States Grand Prix will take place in Austin from Friday, October 29-Sunday, October 31 in Austin.
The weekend-long fest will have events stretching from Friday, Oct. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 31 for North America's premier Formula 1 race.
With three days of races, parades and more, it can be hard to know what to expect for an event that COTA chairman Bobby Epstein said would be "the biggest event on the planet this year."
Don't miss a beat:
But have no fear. Here's Austonia's complete guide to make sure your trip to the U.S. Grand Prix is out of this world:
What to bring
This is why you shouldn't have a hot mic in COTA Twitter HQ. #USGP pic.twitter.com/9PhcKAVJEe
— Circuit of The Americas (@COTA) October 25, 2018
While some may have bought tickets just for the big race, others are planning for a three-day fest of constant outdoor activity. For the foreigners and out-of-towners, October weather in Austin may not be quite what you expect—many joke that a Texas "fall" is near-nonexistent. Check the weather often to see what's in store.
Our prediction is that shorts or flowy pants/skirts, a short-sleeve shirt and a light jacket may suffice. If it looks like rain is on the horizon, don't forget a poncho and/or small umbrella as there isn't much coverage from the elements once you're there.
Regardless of weather, it's a safe bet to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and some bug spray as well. Other not-so-typical items to pack in your bag—which should be smaller than 12x12x20 inches—include earplugs for the big race, binoculars and your phone camera to capture those Ferraris at full-speed.
Depending on your seats, don't forget a folding chair, and to pack a sealed plastic water bottle if you can—it's the only type of food or drink that's permitted on the property.
Keep all tents/canopies, coolers and large umbrellas at home. Check out more on what not to bring here.
Make sure you've got your tickets and you're all set!
Parking
trying to get from your parking spot to your seat 15 minutes before the race starts pic.twitter.com/2ly2DDcUVU
— Circuit of The Americas (@COTA) February 8, 2021
COTA's notorious parking can be a doozy—F1 1 fan Kevin Andrew said he's spent two and a half hours in line for the venue's sprawling paved and grass lots.
If you're of the impatient sort, it may be smart to look for some early-bird treatment even before gates open at 7 a.m. Friday, 8 a.m. Saturday and 6:25 a.m. Sunday. Show up well before your first desired event starts, especially on Sunday.
Three-day tickets are already sold out (although you can find some from resellers), while one-day tickets start at $60. Click here to book a one-day ticket.
For those looking to beat the crowd and keep some change, shuttles will pick up from five locations around the city for $15 a day. An additional Park-N-Ride lot, Lot Q, will also allow guests to drop their cars off and take the shuttle to COTA. Click here for shuttle information.
Additional transportation amenities include a drop-off spot for limos, taxis and rideshare apps. Bicyclists will have access to showers in the GEICO Premium RV Lot.
Food, music and more
COTA will become a "World Fair"-esque fest full of local eats, live music and out-of-the-ordinary activities as part of the U.S. Grand Prix. (Circuit of the Americas)
Once you've entered those gates, the actual event will be a lot to take in. Anywhere from 300-350K people are expected to attend the big race, and fans are more excited than ever after nearly two years with no F1 in North America.
But just as fun as the big race—at least for more casual viewers—are the many attractions leading up to it.
Some highlights include performances from Twenty One Pilots and Billy Joel on Friday and Saturday, respectively, two races for the all-women's racing championship W Series and junior championship FIA Formula 4, NASCAR demos and a driver's parade on Sunday just before the race.
This is also a chance for Austin to entertain guests from far and wide—like a "World's Fair," as Andrews put it—and COTA will ensure that Austin remains on the map.
The "Live Music Capital of the World" will earn its rep with over 20 concerts across multiple stages on Saturday and Sunday. Highlights include Kool and the Gang and 15 Austin ensembles including The Ghost Wolves, Mobley and three-time Best of Austin winner DJ Chorizo Funk.
That Austin flair is well-represented in cuisine as well—expect over 30 dining options including local favorites Bao'd Up, Easy Tiger, Amy's Ice Cream and Tiny Pies scattered across the grounds. Check out the Taste of Texas section for local eats, the Biergarten for Bavarian beer, food and polka dancing, Lone Star Land for Austin's classic Chicken Shit Bingo and line dancing, and La Cantina for some Tex-Mex and a Selena tribute.
Still not satisfied? COTA's Onederland claims to host the best F1 General Admission lawn in the world and is packed with more than just amusement park rides. Expect the annual SPAMARAMA (yes, a Spam-themed festival,) axe throwing, the Major League Eating Championship and plenty of performers on stilts. Don't forget to ink a COTA-themed tattoo with an on-site tattoo artist as well.
Formula 1—a breakdown
Hamilton and Perez served up a treat with this mini battle 🍿#TurkishGP 🇹🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/jOTcurRWue
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 10, 2021
New to Formula 1? You're not alone—the sport has exploded in popularity in North America after gaining recognition from Netflix series "Drive To Survive." With a new track set to open in Miami, that growth will only continue.
Here's what you need to know to get caught up:
Formula 1 vehicles are arguably the fastest road-racing cars in the world. The open-wheeled single-seaters can reach top speeds around 215 miles per hour and all adhere to a "formula" set by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
Formula 1 is the top formula racing league in the world and consists of 20 drivers across 10 teams who compete in venues across North and South America, Central Asia and its native continent, Europe. F1 has existed in some form for over 70 years and features races on closed city streets as well as purpose-built racetracks like COTA.
The league is massively popular in Europe but has seen intermittent success in North America. The U.S. Grand Prix was first held in 1908 and flip-flopped across 10 different locales for 49 appearances over the next century, last spending seven years in Indianapolis from 2000-2007 before making a home in Austin in 2012.
This U.S. Grand Prix will be its 50th race and will be the 17th race of the season.
The Big Race—Hamilton v. Verstappen
Defending champion Lewis Hamilton is in for some stiff competition from a young Max Verstappen as they fight for the F1 Championship. (Mercedes-AFG Petronas F1 Team/Twitter) (Red Bull Racing/Twitter)
The league's 20 drivers have crisscrossed across the map through the season, adapting to locales across four continents with vastly different terrains. But one factor has remained constant—standouts Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have rarely left the leaderboard.
Just six points differentiate the two-star drivers with over a dozen races in—a margin low enough that the true winner may not be evident until the very end. With 262.5 points, Dutchman Verstappen holds the slight lead over Great Britain's Hamilton and both have over 1.5X the points of the next runner-up, Hamilton's teammate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton and Bottas make up Team Mercedes, the No.1 team in the league, while Verstappen and fifth-place Sergio Perez constitute second-place team Red Bull Racing Honda.
The evenly matched team, evenly-matched cars and neck-and-neck standings have brought forth a fan-fueled rivalry that F1 hasn't seen for quite some time.
This U.S. Grand Prix, much like the rest of the season, will be a testament of old vs. new. A 36-year-old Hamilton has taken home seven F1 championships, including a four-year dominance in the sport from 2017-2020, and has won on U.S. turf at COTA five times. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Verstappen was once the youngest F1 driver and youngest Grand Prix race winner ever and has since finished third for two consecutive years.
The heated rivalry has culminated in three dangerous crashes throughout the season, including one at the Italian Grand Prix Sept. 13. Grand Prix Drivers' Association chairman Alex Wurz said it is "very likely" that they will again.
That next crash site may or may not be at COTA, but the U.S. Grand Prix will still see the two titans clash once more as the season nears its end. Expect either or both to end at the top of the leaderboard, and make sure to bring up either name to a committed fan if you're looking for some sideline banter.
Other racers to look out for include Bottas as a likely third-place contender and some mid-race fun from Perez and fourth-place rival Lando Norris.
For a full weekend schedule click here. Happy COTA days!
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