This week in dining

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

The week's events feature a grand opening celebration, the return of an epic whiskey party, and a taco and wine happy hour. Diners can also grab 50-cent kolaches from the Kolache Shoppe and take part in a couple of chef and cocktail takeovers.

Tuesday, February 4

Taco and Friends at Politan Row
This pop-up event invites talented local to put their spin on tacos, to be added to Politan Row vendor Cochinita and Co.'s menu for the day. Today's installment features the creative stylings of Tipping Point owner David Rodriguez, who will be serving carnitas paired with a mezcal paloma, 11 am to 10 pm.

Wednesday, February 5

50th anniversary 50-cent kolaches at Kolache Shoppe
The local favorite marks its golden anniversary on April 1. But guests can get in on the celebration on the first Wednesday of each month in 2020, with small sausage, small sausage and cheese, peach, and cream cheese kolaches available for $0.50 at both the Greenway Plaza and Heights locations, while supplies last. There's also a special blueberries and cream kolache available today.

Wine and Taco Happy Hour at Hugo's
Jesse Bates of Oregon's Trisaetum Winery teams up with sommelier Sean Beck to lead this tasting which features a flight of grilled fish, wild mushroom and beef tacos, along with a sampling of four Trisaetum's Pinot Noirs, including the 2017 Willamette Valley and the 2015 Coast Ridge Pinot from the Yamhill-Carlton region. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 pm. Tickets are $34 per person and can be ordered here.

Thursday, February 6

JuiceLand Grand Opening
The juicery's newest spot is at 1709 Dryden Rd., and today's grand opening features specials like half-off drinks all day, the chance to win a JuiceLand tumbler, half-off of JuiceLand purchases in 2020, and more. Doors open at 7 am.

Dave Phinney Wine Dinner at Piatto
The winemaker renowned for his "Locations" series has hand-selected wines to pair with selections from Piatto's menu. Courses include spaghetti Bolognese paired with Locations "I" from Italy and a pork chop Milanese paired with Locations "TX" Texas red blend. The cost is $59 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 713-871-9722.

Saturday, February 8

Wine and chocolate tasting at French Country Wines
Stop in from Noon to 6 pm for this free wine tasting that pairs a variety of red, white, and sparkling wines, with samples of an equal number of chocolates and chocolate treats.

5th Annual Houston Whiskey Social at The Citidel
The yearly bash starts at 6 pm, featuring more than 400 whiskies and spirits from around the world, along with select single barrel offerings and fine food to match. Look for selections from Glenfiddich, Laphroaig, Woodford Reserve, Elijah Craig, Macallan, and more. General admission tickets are $90 per person and include entry from 6 to 9 pm, gourmet hors d'oevres while they last, access to a masterclass and a tasting glass to sample the night's selections. Those who buy a $140 VIP ticket can enter at 5 pm, in addition to tasting from a Limited Edition list, and a VIP swag bag. Buy tickets online.

Sunday, February 9

Booze Can Sunday at Riel
The monthly event, named after the Canadian slang for a nightclub or bar, is a casual, fun afternoon of food, drink, and art. Guest chefs Erin Smith and Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ will provide menu selections, while art work from Be Someone, Franky Cardona, W3r3 On3, Robert Hodge, Donkeemom, and Noke will be on display. There's music by DJ Seek and specialty cocktails by Riel bar manager Derek P. Brown. Festivities kick off at 3 pm.

Jim Buchanan Kitchen Takeover at Wooster's Garden
The pitmaster, who recently closed his restaurant Buck's in Galveston, will serve his signature smoked meats alongside sides prepared by Kirby Group chef Brandon Silva. One and two meat combo plates will be available with brisket, pork ribs, or pulled pork paired with braised collard greens, potato salad, fried okra, cole slaw, and pimento cheese. Buchanan's signature brisket grilled cheese will also be available, 3 pm to 8 pm (or sell out).

Kindred Takeover at Two Headed Dog
Krisan Fromm and David Kinsey from San Diego cocktail bar Kindred turn up in H-Town, bringing with them their heavy metal soundtrack and creative cocktails. The partying happens from 9 pm to 2 am, with vegan food available from Somos Semillas Vegan Kitchen.

Get $0.50 kolaches on Wednesday.

Photo by Carla Gomez

Get $0.50 kolaches on Wednesday.

news-you-can-eat

Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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