Real Estate Photographer in Dripping Springs, TX

A new spot off U.S. 290 in Dripping Springs brings a family-friendly dining option to the Texas Hill Country.

AUSTIN, Texas — If you live in Dripping Springs, you know exactly what a vespa rossa, or red wasp, can do. But this Vespa Rossa is one you want to encounter.

It’s not a stretch to say this new Italian restaurant off U.S. 290 is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. And it’s all thanks to owners Daniel Brooks and Ryan Samson – the creative minds behind Austin favorites like Licha's Cantina, Chapulín Cantina and Vespaio Restaurant.

“I think what's special about our relationship is that we really see eye to eye with everything,” Samson said.

“All of our ideas, we seem to just bounce off each other and the chemistry works,” Brooks said.

So does the menu.

The restaurant's wood-fired pizzas range in flavors from hot honey salami to smoked chicken pesto. The pastas are made in-house from scratch, and if you're really hungry, you can try a serving of the chicken parmesan.

Brooks says they're always working the smoker.

“We are using some Texas smoking techniques and incorporating them into our fresh pastas and Italian recipes," he said.

The chefs smoke the brisket that goes onto the pizzas and into the ravioli. Brooks' favorite dish is the pork belly porchetta sandwich.

“We put a pinwheel of the smoked porchetta, honey dijon mustard, some arugula, caramelized onions and provolone cheese. Every bite is a delicious one," he said.

Samson says the restaurant sources its proteins and flour from local farms. For example, the wagyu beef that goes into the smashburger and Bolognese come from Peeler Ranch in Bastrop.

Whether you’re stopping in for a pizza, settling in for a full dinner or bellying up to the bar to grab a frozen limoncello margarita, Vespa Rossa is shaping up to be Dripping Springs’ newest go-to hangout.

Vespa Rossa is located at 3779 U.S. 290 in Dripping Springs. It's open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is also offering Christmas dinner specials that are enough to feed six to eight people.

The Texas high school football season is deep into the playoffs with only eight teams left in each division. As part of the American-Statesman’s weekly coverage, our team of sports editor Rich Tijerina, reporters Rick Cantu and Colby Gordon and contributor Jay Plotkin are sharing our weekly picks of the remaining games involving teams in the Austin area. Gordon this week will go into detail on the three matchups that include Lake Travis, Dripping Springs, Vandegrift and Llano.

Be sure to check statesman.com this weekend for coverage of regional final playoff Central Texas high school football action.

High school football: Top playoff games in the Austin area

To no one’s surprise, the Cavaliers defense has dominated in the Class 6A Division I playoffs. It hasn’t given up more than 200 yards to a starting offense. And while San Antonio Johnson will be the best team Lake Travis has faced since Westlake in Week 9, the result should be similar. The Jaguars are undefeated, but Lake Travis is on another level. Expect the Cavs to excel on both sides of the ball.

Gordon’s prediction: Lake Travis 38, S.A. Johnson 12

It’s the biggest game of the year for the Austin area when these two perennial powers meet for a Class 6A Division II regional title. The Alamodome should see a crowd of more than 5,000 as two strong fan bases travel south. The coaching battle between Dripping Springs’ Galen Zimmerman and Vandegrift’s Drew Sanders will be fun to watch. But the difference in this game should be the Tigers' offense. It may not explode like it did in Week 1 during a 41-14 win in the first matchup between these teams, but when healthy, it’s arguably the best in Central Texas. Vandegrift’s state title defense comes to an end here.

Gordon’s prediction: Dripping Springs 24, Vandegrift 10

Outside of its Week 4 loss to Jarrell, Llano hasn’t been challenged this season. And it doesn’t seem the Yellowjackets will face much resistance here, either. Expect Llano to advance to the Class 3A Division I semifinals.

Gordon’s pick: Llano 38, Edna 6

Last week: Cantu 8-1, Plotkin 7-2, Gordon 5-4, Tijerina 5-4

The season: T1. Cantu 159-44, T1. Plotkin 159-44, 3. Gordon 149-55 (-10), 4. Tijerina 137-67 (-22)

Regional finals playoff picks

Lake Travis vs. San Antonio Johnson: Lake Travis — Gordon, Cantu, Plotkin, Tijerina; S.A. Johnson — None

Dripping Springs vs. Vandegrift: Dripping Springs — Gordon, Cantu, Plotkin, Tijerina; Vandegrift — None

Llano vs. Edna: Llano — Gordon, Cantu, Plotkin, Tijerina; Edna — None

At the midway point of the Texas high school state football playoffs, the Austin area has been carried by Class 6A teams. While most Central Texas teams have been eliminated, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs and Vandegrift have reached one of their goals by playing into December. The most intriguing matchup this week pits defending Class 6A Division II state champion Vandegrift against red-hot Dripping Springs. This will be a rematch of the season opener, a 41-14 win for the Tigers on Aug. 29.

Player of the week: Chase Ames

The Dripping Springs quarterback was perfect in a 45-14 regional semifinal win over Medina Valley, completing all 18 of his passes for 318 yards and six touchdowns. A junior in his first season as the starter, Ames has had a tremendous year, throwing 45 touchdowns while averaging 259 passing yards a game.

Game balls

Merrik Bloomgren, Dripping Springs WR: Had 4 catches for 105 yards and 2 TDs in the win over Medina Valley

Carter Buck, Lake Travis DE: Had 4 sacks in a 45-7 playoff win over Laredo United

Luke Davis, Vandegrift LB: Had 8 solo tackles, 1 assist and 2 sacks in 24-7 win over San Marcos

Jack Devine, Regents QB: Was 17 of 28 for 257 yards and 3 TDs in a 49-35 loss to Fort Worth All Saints

Maverick Jacobs, Wimberley RB: Rushed for 129 yards and a TD in a 35-26 loss to Sinton

Noah McPeak, Weiss LB: 14 tackles, caused a fumble and blocked a punt in a 34-31 loss to Barbers Hill

Other notable performances

Hugo De La Vara Vasquez, Vandegrift DE: Harassed San Marcos with 6 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 QB pressures.

Cody Greenwood, Llano LB: Earned 10 tackles in a 31-7 win over Goliad.

Vann Hopping, Lake Travis RB: Rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown in the victory over United.

James Montgomery, Dripping Springs WR: Finished with 5 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown in the win over Medina Valley.

Cooper Reid, Dripping Springs WR: Arizona-State bound Tiger had 6 catches for 84 yards and 2 TDs against Medina Valley.

Jaxon Schad, Weiss QB: Contributed 102 passing yards and 2 touchdowns and rushed for 94 yards in the loss to Barber's Hill.

Vipers score three rushing touchdowns, part of a 20-0 scoring surge to reach the Class 6A Division II semifinals

The quarterfinal round of the playoff featured 19 rematches across the state of Texas.

One of them is another showdown of CenTex powers in Dripping Springs vs. Austin Vandegrift, the defending Class 6A Division II champs.

The two clash at 3 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the Alamodome.

Dripping Springs won the Week 1 meeting rather handily, 41-14.

Since then, Vandegrift (11-2) had won 11 of 12 and enter as winners of the past eight. That includes a 16-14 win against Austin Westlake in the bi-district round. Westlake was the Class 6A Division I runner-up last year.

Dripping Springs (12-1) have won five in a row heading into this game since a 14-7 loss to Austin Lake Travis, a Class 6A Division I semifinalist.

This is the Tigers’ third trip to the fourth round in the past four years. In 2023, they lost to Cibolo Steele and in 2022, fell to Vandegrift, 27-24.

That season, Vandegrift lost to DeSoto in the state championship game.

Dripping Springs vs. Austin Vandegrift: Live score, updates from Texas high school football playoffs

Dripping Springs gets the ball first

Tigers facing 3rd and 1 but 3 offensive lineman jump

4th and 6. 40 yard FG attempt

FIELD GOAL! Ian French makes it. 9:23 left in 1st. Dripping Springs 3, Vandegrift 0

Miles Teodecki with a first down run for the Vipers

Justin Moore with a first-down run on an end around for the Vipers. Ball at DS 44

Big play! Teodecki to Brock Chilton for a 27-yard gain. Ball at the 17.

Teodecki to Marshall Linenberger for a 13-yard gain. 1st and goal at the 5

TOUCHDOWN! Evan Williamson. 4-yard run. 5:10 left. PAT is blocked. Looks like Malachi Igharo for Dripping Springs. Vandegrift up 6-3. The sophomore got pulled up from the JV roster. He had 110 yards rushing and 94 yards receiving last week.

Vipers ball again and they are driving. Teodecki to Chilton good for about 20 yards

Moore for a 28-yard run on another end around

End of 1: Vandegrift 6, Dripping Springs 3

2nd Quarter

4th and 7 for Vandegrift at the 31. They are going for it

Teodecki runs and looks to have gotten it but a flag on the play

Call against Vipers. They will punt the ball now

Ames to Montgomery for what looked like a catch at first but it falls to ground. Dripping Springs to punt with 8:30 left

Pass interference on Dripping Springs coming up on a deep pass attempt to Chilton. Ball at Drippring Springs 45

4th and 1 coming up for the Vipers

Teodecki to Linenbarger for a first down. Ball at the 16-yard line now

TOUCHDOWN! Teodecki with a 1-yard keeper. 4:26 left. PAT is good. Vandegrift 13, Dripping Springs 3

TURNOVER! Chase Ritchie with an INT at the 30-yard line. 2:30 to go in the 2nd. Dripping Springs offense has struggled to do much. Long kickoff return set up the opening score. Since then, not much

TOUCHDOWN! Sam Brown with a 6-yard TD run. Big play was a throw by Teodecki to Chilton.

FIELD GOAL French with a 51-yard field goal for Tigers to close the first half. Vandegrift 20, Dripping Springs 6

HALFTIME: Vandegrift 20, Dripping Spring 6

3rd quarter

TOUCHDOWN! Ames throws a touchdown pass to Merrik Bloomgren. With 7:49 left, Dripping Springs pulls within a possession. Vandegrift 20, Dripping Springs 13

Big play! Ames to Merrik Bloomgren for 51 yards. Ball at the 20 yard line.

Bad snap leads to 8 yard loss for the Tigers

Dripping Springs missed a field goal with 3:18 left Ball at the 29-yard line for Vandegrift

TURNOVER! Dripping fumbles punt return. Thomas Foote picks it up at the 6. 49 seconds left in the third.

End of 3rd Vandegrift 20, Dripping Springs 13

4th quarter

4th and goal coming up for the Vipers when play resumes

TOUCHDOWN! Teodecki to Brock Chilton for a score. 11:55 left. Vandegrift 27, Dripping Springs 13

INTERCEPTION! Luke Davis jumps the route 9:04 left Vandegrift gets the ball back

TOUCHDOWN! Ames to James Montgomery for 48 yards. 5:36 left. Vandegrift 27, Dripping Springs 20

Big play! Teodecki with a pump fake and scrambles for a first down. Ball at the 39-yard line now. 4:46 left. Wide open side of the field.

Moore comes up with first down run on 3rd down. 3:03 to go. Clocking bleeding in a hurry for the Tigers, who haven’t been able to stop the last two third downs

Dripping Springs calls a timeout with 2:44 left

Dripping Springs calls a timeout with 2:37 to go

3rd and 1 coming up

Moore with another first down run for the Vipers. That should be about It to lock up the win

Two minute timeout coming

Final timeout for Dripping Springs. 3rd and 8 coming up with 1:55 left

4th and 7 and Vandegrift punts. Ball at the 1 yard line

1:01 left

One play left. 4 seconds left. 76 yards from the end zone

Vandegrift calls a timeout

A completion and then a few laterals and Parker Davis gets an interception.

FINAL: Vandegrift 27, Dripping Springs 20

RECAP

Austin Vandegrift returned to the state semifinals after scoring 20 unanswered points to set the stage for a 27-20 win on Saturday.

The Vipers turned two turnovers into 14 points, incidentally the same number of points they had in the first showdown, a Week 1 loss.

Miles Teodecki, who led the Vipers to the state title last year, ran for a touchdown and passed for one as well. The Vipers ran for three touchdowns.

The Tigers rallied late and pulled with a score in the third quarter. However, a fumble turned into 7 quick points for the Vipers early in the fourth.

Chase Ames threw another touchdown pass to pull the Tigers within 27-20, but the defense couldn't get a stop. The time the Tigers got the ball back, they had no times out and had to go 99 yards in 1 minute.

SAN ANTONIO — Add Dripping Springs' Chase Ames to the short list of the best high school football quarterbacks in Central Texas.

The Tigers junior was nothing short of sensational — some might say perfect — in a 45-14 victory over Medina Valley in a Class 6A DII regional semifinal playoff game Friday at the Farris Athletic Complex. He completed all 18 of his pass attempts for 318 yards and six touchdowns, easily his best performance of the season.

MORE: What are we thankful for? Austin-area athletes give their love, thanks

Dripping Springs (12-1) will face Vandegrift (11-2) at 3 p.m. next Saturday at the Alamodome in the regional finals.

Here are some observations from Friday's game.

Spreading the ball around to his playmakers

Considering it was an overcast and windy day in San Antonio, Ames' masterpiece was brilliant. Not only did he hit short and medium-range passes, he also found time to connect on a few deep routes to a pack of talented Tiger receivers who made tough catches all afternoon. Arizona State-bound Cooper Reid hauled in six grabs for 84 yards and two touchdowns, Merrik Bloomgren had four catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns and James Montgomery had five catches for 115 yards and one score. All three are seniors.

Dripping Springs scored on its first seven offensive possessions and finished with 483 yards, 356 through the air.

"I'm grateful to be here and I'm grateful for my teammates and how good they are as playmakers," Ames said. "I try to spread the ball to all of them."

Friday's maestro, though, was Ames.

"I think he's a dog, man," said Reid, who has come on strong from an early-season shoulder injury. "Coming in or coming out, he's working as hard as he can each and every day."

Dripping Springs coach Galen Zimmerman showed mercy by taking his quarterback out with 11 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the game. Ames' final pass was a 42-yard touchdown strike to Reid.

"I'm looking forward to the next game," Ames said. "December football is really fun."

Zimmerman was impressed by Ames' perfect passing game.

"That's hard to do against air sometimes," he said. "We push it down the field too with some post routes and some go-routes. He was throwing against the wind and with the wind."

Coach predicted Dripping Springs would excel in 2025

Back in August, about an hour before Dripping Springs opened the season with a 41-14 win over defending Class 6A DII state champion Vandegrift, Zimmerman told the American-Statesman that "a lot of people are underestimating us this year."

Obviously, he knew this team was special. Its only loss was a 14-7 decision in mid-October to Lake Travis.

What makes this team special?

"We have a coaching staff and kids who like spending time together," Zimmerman said before walking out of the stadium Friday. "We've got a really good senior class. We've got athletic kids, but the team chemistry between all the players and the coaches is something neat to watch from a head coaching perspective."