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    New Dessert Restaurant

    Houston's new dessert restaurant shakes up the sweet scene with crazy flavors — and beer

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 28, 2014 | 3:35 pm

    Looking over the loaded pastry case at that newly opened Red Dessert Dive on Studewood, the options are sort of dizzying. Unlike the cupcake shops that sprouted up a couple years back, much more than sweets are on the menu.

    Is that bread made with smoked gouda, bacon and Karbach Weisse Versa beer? Are those kolaches filled with cream cheese, bacon and chives? Yes and yes.

    "We like to do everything a little bit differently," owner Jessica Lusk tells CultureMap. That ethos drives most of the choices at Red, where both sweet and savory bakery classics get a clever twist either from Lusk's recipes or from pastry chef Ashley Leonard, who joined the bakery after a stint at Hotel ZaZa (Update: Leonard is still at the ZaZa; she contributes to Red part time.).

    "I want people to come and hang out. It's family friendly, but you can still enjoy a beer."

    Although the bakery has been open only for a few days, things are "going well. We definitely have best sellers already," Lusk says. "Most people are interested in the weird stuff you don't see anywhere else."

    For example, the Debusker is an early hit. Named by Lusk's 7-year old cousin, the dessert combines a rich, chocolate brownie with an M&M cookie. The shop turns leftover croissants into bread pudding that's topped with a Texas bourbon caramel sauce. Chocolate chip cookies have an unusually rich flavor thanks to Valrhona chocolate and a sprinkling of high-quality fleur de sel.

    I took a box with a few items to go for the team at CultureMap to sample. We liked everything, with the Debusker and kolache emerging as particular favorites. Not many bakeries around town offer flavor combinations like that, and Red shows a lot of promise for being so new.

    As noted in a CultureMap article last November, Lusk trained as an architect before deciding to open to Red, and she designed the interior herself. It has a cozy feel, thanks to reclaimed wood accents, and lots of seating, thanks to a couple of bars with individual stools. While bakeries are traditionally retail, to-go affairs, Red offers a selection of local craft beer and wine as well as coffee from Heights favorite Boomtown, that encourages customers to sit for awhile.

    The idea is to mimic the atmosphere of a place like Onion Creek, Lusk says. "I want people to come and hang out. It's family friendly, but you can still enjoy a beer."

    For now, the hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, but Lusk says she'll extend them once she has her full selection of wine and beer in place. She notes that customers have been walking in close to closing time and she doesn't like to turn people away.

    Other choices include bread pudding, banana pudding and pre-made salads.

    4 Red Dessert Dive June 2014
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    Other choices include bread pudding, banana pudding and pre-made salads.
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    bela lugosi is thirsty

    New Houston cocktail bar blends Latin influences with Gothic vibes

    Brianna Griff
    May 30, 2025 | 9:41 am
    ​Botonica founder Alexis Mijares
    Photo by Angelique Cook-Cavazos
    Botonica founder Alexis Mijares is known for both the cocktail programs she has designed for Houston restaurants and her festive pop-ups: the Cursed Cauldron and Jingle Bell Bar.

    River Oaks welcomes a moody, Latin American cocktail bar with today’s official opening of Botonica. Located near the intersection of San Felipe Street and 610, the bar sits on the ground floor of SkyHouse River Oaks apartments at 2031 Westcreek Lane.

    \u200bBotonica founder Alexis Mijares
      

    Photo by Angelique Cook-Cavazos

    Botonica founder Alexis Mijares is known for both the cocktail programs she has designed for Houston restaurants and her festive pop-ups: the Cursed Cauldron and Jingle Bell Bar.

    Botonica founder and bartender Alexis Mijares is known for the cocktail programs she’s designed for Houston restaurants, as well as her festive pop-ups, the Cursed Cauldron and Jingle Bell Bar. The previously mobile pop-ups will have a home between Botonica’s walls.

    "Seeing how much people have loved and supported our holiday pop-ups (Cursed Cauldron and Jingle Bell Bar) was part of the fire behind the decision to bring Botonica to the community,” Mijares tells CultureMap. “They led me to the opportunity and ability to bring this permanent concept to life, and they now have a forever local home — a perfect setting as we work toward expanding them nationally!"

    Fans of the Cursed Cauldron’s gothic aesthetic will find similar details at Botonica, with its inky black walls, vintage fabrics, and carefully chosen decor pieces accentuated by lush plants. Mijares worked with her pop-up partner, Angelique Cook-Cavazos, to create the space.

    Botonica’s cocktail menu is as thoughtful as its design, divided into three distinct sections. The "House Menu" highlights seasonal creations made with Latin spirits and regional ingredients. La Huella Liquida (“The Liquid Footprint”) features more than 50 cocktails that trace Latin America’s global impact on drinking culture from the 17th century to the present day. El Camino de la Margarita is a study of the margarita’s evolution, from its debated origins to modern twists.

    “Drinks are how we tell our story,” Mijares said in a statement. “Botonica is our love letter to Latin America — through cocktails, culture, and connection. Everything we do is rooted in pride, intention, and Latin excellence.”

    Notable drinks include the Chamuyera, a decadent concoction of rum, coffee, banana, amaro, dulce de leche, and coconut. For a more fruit-forward option, there’s the Desert Dove, which combines Bolivian brandy with Ketel One, St. Germain, guava, grapefruit, lemon, and ginger beer. The menu also includes Latin wines, beers, and spirit-free options.

    "Houston is such a beautifully diverse city with over 3 million Latin residents, and growing, who are bringing various traditions and influences here,” Mijares says. “Curating a menu and space that celebrates the collection of cultures which make up the thriving Latin community was important to me because it’s reflective of my community and my team, who have Latin backgrounds spanning from Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Botonica celebrates what threads those cultures together but also highlights what makes them each unique, and the history that brings inspiration to our creations."

    That cultural reflection is also evident in the food menu. Patrons will discover small plates, such as caviar paired with chicharrones and masa blinis. Meanwhile, bacon-wrapped mini Sonoran hot dogs are topped with black beans, salsa verde, crema, and pico de gallo. Desserts include a Chocotaco made in-house and a spiced rum cake soaked in brown butter.

    Future plans include art installations from local Latin creatives, along with live performances of jazz, bossa nova, and burlesque. Botonica is open Tuesday through Thursday and on Sunday from 4 pm-12 am, Friday and Saturday from 4 pm-1 am, and closed on Monday.

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