With chef Fermin Núñez at the helm, the Austin restaurants Suerte and Este have racked up the awards. They’re both considered not just the best in Austin or Texas, but among the best in the nation, as picked by Bon Apetit, the New York Times, and Esquire. It’s a testament to Núñez’s idiosyncratic touch, stemming from his Torreon, Mexico hometown but filtered through his Austin experiences at Uchiko, La Condesa, and Launderette.
At both Suerte and Este, there’s a profound emphasis on local ingredients mixed with Mexican inspiration. [full disclosure: I’ve volunteered at Este’s community garden, which supplies both restaurants with herbs and veggies.] Now with Bar Toti among his repertoire, Núñez has a full range of kitchens to experiment with traditional Mexican cooking, seafood, and bar food.
This week on My KUTX, Núñez is our guest DJ. If you’ve ever wondered–like me–what the kitchen staff of a popular restaurant listens to as it prepares meal after meal for hungry customers, this is the guest DJ set for you. Plus, Núñez plays music that helped him envision Suerte before it opened; the Black Pumas live track that’s guided him these past few years; and more. Hear My KUTX on Saturday, November 18 at 6 p.m. or listen anytime right here.
Playlist:
- Control Machete – “Si Señor”
- Akil Ammar – “A Partir De Mañana” (feat. Miguel Contreras)
- Robot95 – “Love & Money” (feat. Akapellah)
- La Sonora Dinamita – “Se Me Perdió La Cadenita”
- Cumbia Drive – “This Love” (feat. Astros de Mendoza)
- Grupo Frontera – “El Amor De Su Vida” (feat. Grupo Firme)
- Maximiliano – “Breathless”
- Clemente Castillo – “Sonsonete”
- Wyclef Jean – “We Trying To Stay Alive” (feat. John Forte & Pras)
- Black Pumas – “Colors” (Live in Studio)
- Omar Montes – “Una y Mil Veces (Rumba)” (feat. C. Tangana)
- C. Tangana – “Los Tontos” (Live at NPR’s Tiny Desk) (feat. Kiko Veneno)
