The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce on March 18 gave Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" a "small business champion" trophy in the shape of a brisket rib. Kimmel last week endorsed multiple Austin restaurants during tapings of his late-night show, which was filmed at The Long Center for the second-consecutive year. The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce on March 18 gave Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" a "small business champion" trophy in the shape of a brisket rib. Kimmel last week endorsed multiple Austin restaurants during tapings of his late-night show, which was filmed at The Long Center for the second-consecutive year.[/caption]

Among all the celebrities to visit Austin during the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference last week, none may have covered more ground than Jimmy Kimmel.

The host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” taped his March 16-20 shows at The Long Center for the Performing Arts. During each taping, Kimmel showcased the city by endorsing the many restaurants he frequented while visiting Austin. The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce honored Kimmel last week as a “small business champion” for his patronage and promotion of Austin’s eateries. “We’re all so excited to have you (and your charming and humorous musings) back in Austin,” said Mike Berman, the chamber’s senior vice president of communications and strategy, in a letter sent March 18 to Kimmel. “We are grateful for the spotlight you shine on the many great small businesses in our region.” The honor included a custom brisket rib trophy, which Kimmel was later seen—as pictured to the right—attempting to eat during his last day of filming in Austin. In total, the ABC late-night host gained 9 pounds during his trip to Austin, Kimmel claimed during his March 2 show back at Los Angeles where the show is typically filmed. One business particularly benefited from Kimmel’s Austin appearance, according to the chamber. Cheez Zee American Bistro, a West Austin restaurant known for its baked goods, added a banana creme pie to its menu in anticipation of Kimmel coming to town. They even sent him a sample, prompting Kimmel to reply with his own endorsement via Twitter. “Not only did the camera crew come back for dinner at our restaurant the next night and took another pie back for [Kimmel], but we sold five times as much banana creme pie as any other dessert following Jimmy’s tweet,” Cheez Zee owner Sharon Watkins said in a statement to the chamber.