our cover: Part 4 - FOOD FIGHT
Chef Extraordinaire
Aaron Austin
A
aron Austin,
the young execu-
tive chef at Vintage
Grill & Car Museum,
was named Parker
County Today Dessert
Chef of the Year for
2016-2017 in PCT’s
fundraising competi-
tion Sweet Charity &
Bachelorettes.
22
Then last month, Austin earned
the title of Entrée Chef of the Year in
PCT’s Boots, BBQ & Bachelors with
his spectacular version of chicken
and waffles, tender fried chicken
pieces and coleslaw in a waffle cone,
topped with a spicy sauce. He also
brought his award-winning bread
pudding, always a crowd pleaser.
A Parker County native, Aaron has
lived here for most of his 31 years,
leaving long enough to serve his
country.
“I was in the Army for eight
years,” he said. “I traveled all over
Iraq and Afghanistan.”
The consummate family man,
Austin is married to a nurse, and
together they have two children.
He worked in healthcare for
several years before he went to culi-
nary school to pursue a life-long
dream.
“Being a chef is a passion, not a
job,” he said. “I don’t feel like I am
going to work every day.”
His philosophy has served him
well in his career. “Never give up,”
he said. “I kind of got into the culi-
nary industry late after doing a job I
wasn’t into. It was something I had
always wanted to do, so I just went
for it.”
What he loves most about his
career is pleasing his diners.
(again)
“I love watching people smile
when you bring out their different
foods,” he said. “I love seeing their
enjoyment. My job is about making
other people happy.”
Dustin Deel, Aaron Austin, Austin Kinney
Photo by Megan Parks