Sandwiches for Southern Smoke

Houston's best food and drink talent star in new charity pop-up series

Winnie's Southern Smoke pop-up chicken sandwich

Sample this chicken thigh melt at Winnie's.

Courtesy of Winnie's

One of 2021's best new dining destinations has launched a charity pop-up series that's spicing up Monday nights. Winnie's, the sandwich shop and bar in Midtown, has invited some of Houston's top food and drink stars to participate in a new pop-up that raises money for the Southern Smoke Foundation.

Beginning Monday, January 24 and continuing through April 4, participants will collaborate with the Winnie's team on three featured cocktails and a special sandwich. Proceeds from sandwich sales will benefit Southern Smoke, the non-profit established by James Beard Award winner Chris Shepherd that provides cash assistance to hospitality workers in crisis situations.

“So many of our industry friends hang out at Winnie’s and talk to us about their favorite sandwiches that the idea just kind of evolved organically,” Winnie's general manager Tina Marie Brackett said in a statement. “As soon as we started reaching out to see if people were interested, the answer was an overwhelming yes and we had to start adding more dates.”

Shepherd headlines the roster of participants. It also includes some of the city's most prominent bartenders, CultureMap Tastemaker Award winners, and couples who may be working together behind the bar for the first time in years. Each pop-up runs from 8 pm until midnight.

Here's the full lineup:

January 24: Rich Bailey (Bacardi brand ambassador) and Linda Salinas (Beverage consultant and contributor to CultureMap's "What's Eric Eating" podcast)
January 31: Rebecca Burkhart (Johnny’s Gold Brick) and Justin Ware (Night Shift)
February 7: Alex Negranza (March) and Taylor Wright (Night Shift)
February 14: Lindsey Rae (Two Headed Dog)
February 21: Josh Alden (Reserve 101)
February 28: Westin Galleymore (Underbelly Hospitality) and Chris Shepherd
March 7: Lainey Collum (Monkey’s Tail) and Andy Mauer (Back Bar Project)
March 14: Mate Hartai (Tongue-Cut Sparrow) and Tommy Ho (Anvil)
March 21: Josh Jaramillo (Johnny’s Gold Brick) and Danny Rocha (Johnny's Gold Brick)
March 28: Robin Berwick (Double Trouble) and Peter Jahnke (Tongue-Cut Sparrow)
April 4: Julie Rodgers (True Anomaly Brewing) and Christopher Roy (Winnie’s)

For this week's kickoff, Salinas and Bailey will be serving three drinks that utilize rums from the Bacardi portfolio and syrups from Liquid Alchemist, the California-based company that employs Salinas as its Texas market manager. They are: Daiq Daddy Drake (Santa Teresa 1796, passion fruit, lime), Hot in Hurr (spiced whiskey and apple cider), and My ThirsTai (Santa Teresa 1799 Rum, Orgeat, orange, lime).

This week's sandwich special is called sandwich is called “Thicc Thighs Save Lives:” blackened chicken thigh melt with collard greens, french fries, pickled peppers, cheese, and Duke’s mayo on milk bread.

Next week, Ware and Burkart will pair three cocktails with a chicken parmesan sub topped with Ware's bacon-tomato gravy, garlic-thyme mayo, cherry pepper relish, and arugula. Other dishes and cocktails will be announced on Winnie's social media pages as their dates draw near.

Admittedly, Monday nights may not be ideal for fans of The Bachelor, but the quality of the food and drinks certainly justifies having a rose ceremony or two spoiled, right?

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Bowling over Houston

Gluten-free Austin restaurant picks River Oaks for first Houston store

Rendering of Honest Mary's in River Oaks

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

It will be a Houston homecoming for restauranteur Nelson Monteith with the fall 2025 debut of Honest Mary’s in River Oaks.

“It’s a joy and honor to bring a brand we’ve worked hard to create in Austin and finally be able to share that concept with friends and family in Houston,” Monteith said in a statement. “There’s a bit of built-in comfort in knowing there are folks here who are already fans of Honest Mary’s. They’ve been asking us for years to open a location in Houston, and now it’s happening.”

Located at 2047-A West Gray St., Honest Mary's will occupy the current La Madeleine space. It is not known at this time when La Madeleine will close, but construction on Honest Mary's is expected to begin in May 2025.

Monteith and his wife, Mary, launched Honest Mary’s in 2017 after embracing mindful eating to improve their health. Since then, the Austin-based eatery that describes itself as serving "life-giving fast food" has expanded to four locations, with the upcoming River Oaks spot marking its arrival in Houston.

“There’s healthy food, fresh food, and fast food,” he said. “We wanted to create something that fits into that sweet spot without sacrificing quality or convenience. The trend towards healthy eating and the reality of busy lifestyles aren’t slowing down. We offer a place that caters to both.”

At the center of Honest Mary’s menu are five signature bowls ranging from poke to vegetarian, including the smoky poblano ($10.25) that features a basmati rice base with fresh vegetables of wild arugula, sweet corn, and pickled onions in a creamy poblano sauce. Co-partner and chef Andrew Wiseheart, known for Austin’s Contigo and Ladybird Taco, leads the kitchen.

Honest Mary's menu features healthy, gluten-free bowls. Guests can choose from five signature bowls at Honest Mary's, or create their own.Courtesy of Honest Mary's

Diners can build their own bowls by selecting a base like quinoa, proteins including grilled chicken and tuna, and vegetables such as sweet potatoes. Pickled onions, cucumber salad, and avocado are among the topping selections, with sauces like lemon garlic and cashew-lime crema.

Scratch-made sipping broths round out the menu, with the chicken bone broth packed with celery, carrots, onions and parsley, or an umami-rich seaweed and mushroom broth.

A selection of house-made aguas frescas and teas, local craft beer, wine, kombucha, and organic cold-pressed juices will be available, as will Honest Mary’s popular almond butter cookies sweetened with maple syrup and topped with a sprinkle of Maldon salt.

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

With its fully gluten-free menu, Honest Mary’s caters to a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free. To align with Monteith’s dedication to nutrition, Honest Mary’s uses seed oils sparingly and prioritizes local and organic ingredients when possible.

“River Oaks Shopping Center has a unique blend of history and vibrant new concepts, making it the ideal home for us,” Monteith said. “We aim to be a neighborhood spot where people can enjoy delicious, healthy food.”

Lunden McGill and John Frazier of Baker Katz brokered the deal for the 2,200-square-foot space and additional patio with seating for 38 inside and 44 outside. Mark Odom Studio is responsible for architecture and design.

Honest Mary’s signature elements of terra cotta and blue tilework will be incorporated to provide consistency between all five locations, while Art Deco-inspired decor of lush greenery, warm wood tones and natural light will align the space with the River Oaks Shopping Center’s structure.

Takeaway, delivery, and dine-in will be provided daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

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