By Holly Jackson

Contributing Writer

Fall beckons in the first food tasting of the social season with the annual Flavors of the Town, and more than 350 philanthropic foodies gathered at the Hyatt Regency Austin to benefit the Busby Foundation.

Hosted by well-respected food critic Rob Balon for the past three years, the event featured restaurants hand-selected by him. Balon, a Westbank resident, has reviewed restaurants for eight years on KLBJ-AM 590 radio as the local Roving Gourmet and recently on ABC’s KVUE-TV. He blogs on diningoutwithrobbalon.com about openings, closings, events, news and his top 20 lists.

The participating food establishments were Botticelli’s, Chez Zee, Creek Road Café, Driskill Grill, The Grill at Rough Hollow, Iron Cactus, McCormick & Schmick’s, Moonshine, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Salvation Pizza, Silver & Stone Restaurant and SWB – Southwest Bistro.

The Big Circle TX band played festive live music. Partygoers also enjoyed a silent auction of Hyatt Hotel stays across the country, an autographed guitar by Kelly Willis, Bruce and Charlie Robison and dining at the Westbank’s The Grove Wine Bar and Kitchen.

The live auction was led by Texas Auctioneers Association’s Hall of Famer Jim Sample. The largest bids were on Austin City Limits Music Festival VIP passes, a skeet shoot for 10 hunters at the TC Bar Ranch and tickets to the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas.

“Tonight was another successful fundraiser,” said Chris Valentine, Busby Foundation director. “We are appreciative of Rob Balon as our emcee again and these top restaurants that shared tasty samples. Moreover, we brought the community together to support families struggling with ALS.”

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive, usually fatal condition caused by cell degeneration in the central nervous system, which controls voluntary muscle movement.

The Busby Foundation’s goal is to bring people and resources together to help families face ALS with dignity and strength. The nonprofit was created in 2001 by friends and colleagues of the late Bo Busby to honor his life and legacy. He courageously fought ALS, while providing assistance to less fortunate ALS patients. In that spirit, the foundation serves Central Texas families touched by this tragic ailment.

For further information, visit www.busbyals.org.

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