This week in dining

These are the 10 best food and drink events in Houston this week

Celebrations are the name of the game in our events line-up this week, complete with drink specials to mark the repeal of Prohibition, a grand opening for a local favorite, and an anniversary bash for one of Houston's beloved wine bars. Brunch with Santa demonstrates that holiday season offerings are kicking off.

Wednesday, December 4

Cupcakes with Mrs. Claus at CityPlace
Kids will get a kick out of this hands-on event on the plaza from 5 to 7 pm, where they can decorate cupcakes and hear Mrs. Claus tells tales about Santa’s Workshop. Kiddos can also write letters to Santa. Admission, which includes cupcakes by Ice Cupcakery, is free; hot cocoa and holiday goodies will be available for purchase.

Toni Tipton-Martin Dinner at Lucille's
The James Beard Award-winning author of Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking will be in town for a meet-and-greet that precedes a wine dinner, where chef Chris Williams will prepare dishes based on those in Jubilee. The meet-and-greet is at 5 pm in the restaurant's second-floor private room, where books, bites, and libations will be available for purchase. The wine dinner starts at 7 pm. Tickets ($120) include a copy of the cookbook. To make a reservation call 713-568-2505.

Thursday, December 5

Repeal Day cocktails at Whiskey Cake
Celebrate the day Prohibition was officially rolled back with a selection of 1930s cocktails, designed to make drinkers feel they've stumbled into a speakeasy. On the menu are an Old Fashioned, a Sazerac, a Manhattan and a 1933 made with Fords Gin, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, vanilla orgeat and fresh lemon Juice. Beginning at 11 am, they're available for $10, but at 9 pm, the price drops to $5. As a bonus, the restaurant's Save the Barrels Flight of barrel select whiskeys is $19.33 for the day. Guests that have this flight on their table at 5:32 p.m. (the time the amendment was signed) will receive a free Whiskey Cake.

2nd Annual Repeal Day Bar Takeover at One Armed Scissor
Patrick Abalos and Justin Ware, owners of Not Too Sweet Ventures and the upcoming bar, Night Shift, take over the drink-making while the 3rd Rail Band provides live jazz tunes. Guests can expect modern riffs on classic cocktails. The festivities run from 8 pm to midnight.

Friday, December 6

Lobster Friday at Bernie's Burger Bus
It's the last Lobster Friday of the year, so those who need their lobster rolls, lobster sliders, or lobster poutine better get in to one of the burger joint's four locations today. All menu items are market price, and amounts are limited. The early bird definitely gets the lobster.

Dresember Happy Hour at Eureka Heights Brewery
From 5:30 to 7:30 pm, guests can sample these local brews, as well as help raise funds to end human trafficking. The event is part of a month-long awareness campaign that combines fashion with activism, calling attention to this important issue.

13 at 13 Anniversary Party at 13 Celsius
The wine bar marks its 13th anniversary with a series of events that kick off tonight. The full listing of events and dates is here, but this evening begins with a launch party called The Exquisite Corpse. It features the unveiling of 13 interconnected murals, as well as tunes from DJ Sun. The party runs from 6 to 10 pm and admission is free, with drink tickets available for purchase for $5 each. Guests need one ticket for beer and two for wine. Advance $26 tickets are also available, which include four drink tickets, valid for select beer and wine. Purchase tickets online.

Saturday, December 7

Reveille Barbecue debut at Lone Pint Brewery
The barbecue spot hosts its grand opening in its new home, combining two things Texas love: local brews and local 'cue. The business developed a passionate following in its prior home, even earning a nod from Texas Monthly as one of the state's 25 best new barbecue joints. Now, it's got a new home. The grand opening begins at 11am.

Willow's Texas BBQ Pop-Up at Dan Electros
Beginning at 2 pm and running till it's sold out, Willow's brings menu favorites like brisket and sausage, plus its Tex-Mex-influenced sides to this Heights-area bar.

Sunday, December 8

Brunch with Santa at B.B. Italia
That "jolly old elf" will be available for photos and Christmas-list viewing as part of the restaurant's inaugural holiday brunch. Look for an extensive buffet with festive selections such as hot chocolate and cider bars, Christmas cookies, and more. The cost is $25 for kids and $45 for adults, which includes the brunch buffet and photos with Santa, along with a complimentary mimosa or bellini for adults. Reservations are required. Call 281-531-0696 to make one.

13 Celsius celebrates 13 years.

Photo by VJ Arizpe

13 Celsius celebrates 13 years.

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the slow life

Casual Houston coffee shop pokes into new Sawyer Yards location

Photo by Becca Wright

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Houston’s next Slowpokes is ready to make its debut. The coffee shop and cafe will open its eighth Houston-area location in Sawyer Yards this Friday, March 20 (1501 Silver St. Bldg. B).

As CultureMap reported in January, Slowpokes claimed the former Maven Coffee space when Maven decided to exit the cafe business to focus on coffee products such as its cold brew concentrate. Slowpokes owner Mazen Baltagi tells CultureMap that the cafe made some key changes to give the space the proper look and feel.

“The flow of the restaurant is different. We pulled the bar back from the front door. The point of sale location is different,” Baltagi says. “Aesthetically, we put our Slowpokes touches on with different tiles. The upholstery is different. The lighting is different. We added cedar wood and lowered the ceiling a little.”

Even though he swapped out Maven’s granite countertops, the initial feedback from friends has been that it still feels a little fancier than the typical Slowpokes build out.

“It looks a little more refined than our other locations, but that’s because the space was already beautiful. It definitely has a Slowpokes appeal to it,” Baltagi says.

While the decor may be a little more upscale, the food and drinks will be familiar to anyone who’s visited the cafe’s other locations. Slowpokes serves coffee, beer, and wine that are paired with a diverse food menu built around sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, and breakfast items. Those three beverages are represented by three mascots: a turtle named Mash (beer), a snail named Tasker Alexander (wine), and a sloth named Patches (coffee).

First opened in Garden Oaks in 2016 by owner Mazen Baltagi — a Houstonian hospitality veteran who’s a partner in establishments such as Christian’s Tailgate and Winsome Prime — the all-day concept has grown to locations at Levy Park in Upper Kirby, Spring Branch, and West University Place. It opened a location in the East End last year.

“When a good opportunity presents itself, sometimes things just end up working out how they’re supposed to,” Baltagi added in a statement. “We strive to create environments where people can gather over great coffee or wine, and we look forward to meeting all our new neighbors.”

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