green party

Huge vegan food fest plants new roots in meat-loving Houston

As any Houstonian knows, our city is a proud meat mecca, a capital of all things ’cue, choice cuts, and carne. So could a town that witnesses myriad barbecue bashes — not to mention a new steakhouse opening seemingly every month, support an annual vegan festival?

The founders of Vegandale Food Drink Festival say yes.

“We are expecting 8,000 to 10,000 vegan and vegan curious Houstonians, and people from all across Texas, to come out to our inaugural Houston Vegandale Food Drink Festival,” Eva Lampert, the festival’s spokesperson, tells CultureMap.

The first annual Houston fest will take place take place on Saturday, June 2, from 11 am-7 pm, at Sam Houston Park, with early bird tickets — starting at $10 — now on sale.

As CultureMap reported last year, Houston is just behind Austin as the most vegetarian-and-vegan-friendly city in the nation, and thus, Lampert says festival leaders are impressed by our city’s scene. “We have been drooling over the vegan options we’ve seen popping up in Houston,” she says. “Many people believe all the vegans are in other states, but we know that our festival will help continue proving that Houston is vegan-friendly, and then some.”

Already a hit in New York City, Chicago, and Toronto (organizers say more than 75,000 guests have attended across those three cities), the fast-growing festival aims to smash stereotypes of vegan food, by offering veganized comfort foods such as barbecue, burgers, mac n’ cheese, and brownie sundaes. Attendees can also expect craft beers on tap, wine, live music, and art installations.

Vegandale started on a Toronto street with a collective of vegan businesses, and has since evolved into the brand that’s now expanding across North America, “to show the world the ease and enjoyment of living without the use of animals,” says Lampert.

Time will tell how many Houstonians choose to go green at Vegandale, but Lampert says that the first it’s the start of a mission: “We want to celebrate Houston’s abundance of incredible vegan food and drink options, and to bring in exciting out of town vendors doing the same work of making sure everyone can enjoy great food without the use of animals.”

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The Vegandale Food Drink Festival runs from 11 am to 7 pm Saturday, June 2 at Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby St. Tickets start at $15.

Expect comfort foods such as stacked burgers.

Courtesy photo

Expect comfort foods such as stacked burgers.

festivals craft-beer event-planner burgers vegan barbecue

Anthony's song

Prolific Houston pizza chef fires up a new Italian restaurant in River Oaks

Courtesy of Anthony's New York Italian

Anthony's New York Italian is now open near Central Market.

One of Houston’s most prolific pizzaiolos has quietly opened a new restaurant in River Oaks. Anthony Russo, founder of Russo’s New York Pizzeria, has opened Anthony’s New York Italian in the former Pie Tap Pizza space at 3748 Westheimer.

While Russo is known primarily for his fast casual restaurants that sling New York-style pies, Anthony’s New York Italian is both more personal and more upscale. It takes inspiration from his Italian heritage — his father grew up in Naples and his mother grew up in Sicily — as well as Russo’s Italian Restaurant, the Galveston eatery his parents operated for almost 20 years.

“We had veal, lobster, Gulf snapper, a lot of nice, classic dishes. There’s where I grew up in the kitchen,” Russo tells CultureMap. “I was always around fine dining restaurants. My mom and dad used to bring in chefs from Italy. They were excellent chefs. That’s what we had in Galveston for 18 years.”

With Russo’s at more than 50 locations, the time felt right to open a more upscale concept. Partially inspired by New York restaurants such as Carbone and Quality Italian, Russo thinks Houstonians will appreciate his high-end take on Italian American fare.

The menu includes lobster fra diavolo, a 24-ounce prime porterhouse, bone-in veal parmesan, frutti di mare (shellfish with tomato sauce over pappardelle), and more. In addition, the dish utilize Italian olive oil that’s pressed by one of the chef’s friends. Anthony’s also makes all of its doughs, sauces, and sausage in house.

Of course, Russo is making pizza, too. They’re baked in imported Italian ovens using slightly different dough and sauce recipes — along with imported mozzarella and burrata — than his more casual restaurants.

And, no, Russo isn’t concerned that a pizzeria lasted less than a year in the space.

“I feel confident this location is going to be a killer for us. We make homemade pasta on site here, fresh from scratch.” he says. “We're bringing fresh lobster. We're bringing fresh clams. We got a nice veal chop. I mean, these are all chef-selected ingredients. I don't think anybody's doing that in town right now.”

The restaurant is still in such early days that it doesn’t have its own website or social media pages yet. For now, diners can follow Russo on Instagram for updates.

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Anthony's New York Italian is open for dinner Monday-Thursday beginning at 4 pm. It’s open for lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday beginning at 11 am. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

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