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    For adults only

    6 reasons why lemonade is better when it's boozy: Try these concoctions for adults only

    Marcy de Luna
    Aug 21, 2017 | 1:16 pm

    When summer temps are high, there's nothing better than a tall, cool glass of lemonade to sate your thirst—except for a tall, cool glass of lemonade with booze in it. You definitely won't find the citrusy drinks below at that kiddie stand down the block. Here are six adults-only lemonades to check out now. And one to try at home, too.

    Cajun Lemonade at Southern Goods
    Cozy Heights eatery Southern Goods keeps things hopping with its Cajun Lemonade, which involves vodka, dry gin liqueur, and lemon juice. Cajun seasoning and a splash of hot sauce bring the heat. The cooling, spicy flavors in this blend will have you hooked at first sip.
    632 West 19th St.; 346-980-8152

    Frozen Lemoncello at Pi Pizza
    The bar at Pi Pizza gets its right with the Frozen Lemoncello. The frosty beverage is made with lemon juice and simple syrup, and spiked with not just one but two kinds of booze: lemon vodka and Italian lemon-flavored liqueur. We'll definitely have another...and another.
    181 Heights Blvd.; 832-767-2433

    Bubbly Blonde at Hopdoddy
    Joining the menu of inventive burgers, frothy milkshakes, and ice-cold brews at Hopdoddy is the uber-refreshing Bubbly Blonde. Lemonade and orange juice combine for a citrusy one-two kick, while house-infused elderflower liqueur and sparkling wine make this a 21-and-over-only treat.
    Multiple locations.

    Rosemary Lemon Drop​ at ​Damian's Cucina Italiana
    Italian fare may be the hallmark of Damian’s in Midtown, but the Rosemary Lemon Drop​ also ranks. The stiff, juicy mix features rosemary muddled with white sugar and shaken with vodka, rosemary​-infused simple syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. A lemon-sugar rim on the glass adds a sweet finishing touch.
    3011 Smith St.; 713-522-0439

    Honey Lemon Smash at Grimaldi's Pizzeria
    Grimaldi's has launched a new roster of handcrafted cocktails to go along with its coal-fired, brick-oven pizzas and calzones. We’re partial to the Honey Lemon Smash: the drink is mixed with honey syrup, lemon juice, and plenty of bourbon for a knock-out thirst-quencher that will give you reason to linger, and order seconds.
    Multiple locations.

    Equipo Milano at The Pass and Provisions
    The Pass and Provisions in Montrose offers up a killer loaded lemonade, the Equipo Milano. Inspired by the classic the Arnold Palmer, the tangy creation starts with lemon juice and simple syrup. Iced tea is subbed out for a wine-based, cardoon-flavored amaro and dry gin, and a sparkling mineral water tops it all off. “This was executed in a Tom Collins format, which is essentially boozy lemonade. The sweeter amaro and the overall tartness of the citrus come together for a really refreshing drink,” says bar manager Stuart Humphries.
    807 Taft St.; 713-628-9020

    Equipo Milano recipe
    1.5 oz Cardamaro
    .5 oz dry gin
    1 oz lemon juice
    .5 oz simple syrup
    Shake all, then top with Topo Chico.

    We’re partial to the Honey Lemon Smash at Grimaldi's Pizzeria.

    Houston, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, Honey Lemon Smash, August 2017
    Courtesy photo
    We’re partial to the Honey Lemon Smash at Grimaldi's Pizzeria.
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    And the winners are...

    Houston restaurants have a historic night with 2 James Beard Award wins

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 15, 2026 | 9:03 pm
    2026 James Beard Awards
    Courtesy of HoustonFirst Corporation
    Houston was well-represented at the 2026 James Beard Awards

    Houston had a historic night at the James Beard Awards. Held on Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Two of Houston’s six finalists took home prizes for both national awards and Best Chef: Texas.

    They are:

    • Emerging Chef: Adrian Torres, Maximo
    • Best Chef Texas: Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, Jūn

    Houston’s other finalists were: June Rodil (March) for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service; Ope Amosu (ChòpnBlọk) for Best Chef: Texas; Agnes and Sherman for Best New Restaurant, and Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught (H-Town Restaurant Group) for Outstanding Restaurateur.

    Other Texas nominees included: Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Nicosi, San Antonio) and Maggie Huff (Lucia, Dallas) for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker and Mixtli in San Antonio for Outstanding Restaurant.

    The other nominees for Best Chef: Texas were: Scott Girling (Osteria il Muro in Denton), Gabe Padilla and Melissa Padilla, (Cafe Piro in Socorro), and Finn Walter (The Nicolett in Lubbock).

    James Beard Awards Lindsey Brown Chris Shepherd Southern Smoke Foundation Lindsey Brown, center, and Chris Shepherd, right, at the Impact Awards. Photo by Max Flatow

    In addition, the Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit that provides emergency assistance and mental health services to hospitality workers, received an Impact Award at a separate ceremony on Sunday, June 14.

    Tonight’s two wins firmly establish Houston as Texas’ premier culinary destination. They follow Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast in Spring winning Best Chef: Texas in 2025 and Benchawan Jabthong Painter (Street to Kitchen) winning the same category in 2023, meaning the city’s chefs have now won three of the last four awards in that category. Torres is only the second Houstonian to win a national award, following Southern-inspired cocktail bar Julep’s win for Outstanding Bar Program in 2022.

    Although he’s only 27 years old, Torres has frequently found himself in the national spotlight since took over as Maximo’s executive chef in 2025. Since then, he’s been named a Rising Star by StarChefs magazine, earned a Bib Gourmand designation for Maximo from the Michelin Guide, and won the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

    “I am proud to be the son of immigrants. I am proud to be an immigrant. And I am proud to be a DACA recipient,” Torres said to applause from the crowd of culinary professionals.

    “Tonight, the headline is that a brown kid from the Northside, raised by parents who sacrificed everything for the chance at a better life, is standing on this stage accepting one of the highest honors in this industry,” he added.

    James Beard Awards Evelyn Garcia Henry Lu Jun Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu won Best Chef: Texas.Photo by Casey Giltner

    After establishing themselves by serving casual fare at pop-ups and farmers markets, Garcia and Lu opened Jūn in 2023. Billed as a New Asian American restaurant, it features a wide-ranging menu that includes charred cabbage with tofu Caesar dressing, carrots with everything salsa matcha, and the signature fried chicken that’s seasoned with shrimp paste, ginger, and Thai chili. In 2025, they opened Third Place, a daytime concept in the Jūn space that showcases pop-ups from both established and up-and-coming chefs.

    Like Torres, Lu also celebrated his immigrant parents. “I want to thank our immigrant parents who lived the American dream and put us where we are today. They invested so much in us. Everything we are today is because of them,” he said.

    “Houston, I love you so so much,” Garcia said as she and Lu accepted their award. “Our amazing city is made from creatives from first generations like we are. It is a city of dreams and hopes. What has taught me anything with Jun is there’s room for everyone, there’s a space to tell our story, that it’s meant to be heard, and that there’s a reason why we’re here.”

    Considered the Oscars of the food world, the awards recognize excellence by chefs and other culinary professionals in a wide range of categories from Outstanding Chef to Best New Restaurant. In 2025, the James Beard Foundation added three new categories to recognize the beverage side of hospitality: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

    Winners must also have “demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” according to the organization’s website.

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