this week in dining

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

Thanks to Houston's diverse culinary landscape, each week brings a fresh and full buffet of food and drink experiences. To help food fans stay up to date, we’ve rounded up the 10 best events, including a gumbo beer bash, a Texas taco fest, and A-list chefs at Hope Farms.

Tuesday, April 2

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day at Ouisie’s Table
Ouisie’s Table recreates your school-lunch favorite with three finger sandwiches. One will be traditional with peanut butter and jelly. One will be toasted with peanut butter and fruit preserves and one will be grilled with peanut butter and Nutella. The three-way dish is available at lunch only for $17.

Thursday, April 4

Thursday Pop-Up with Caryian Haines at Glitter
Glitter Karaoke hosts culinary industry veteran Caryian Haines, cooking up special goodies from 8 pm to 2 am. Haines has been tearing it up in the kitchen over at Belle Station, so Glitter wanted to get in on the action. Admission into Glitter is free, but be prepared to buy drinks and food. And don’t be surprised if the vibe is so fun guests find themselves up there on stage, getting their superstar on.

Friday, April 5

Street Food: Little Kitchen HTX at Home Sweet Farm
Head out to Brenham for this two-night celebration of farm-inspired street food. Chef Jason Kerr (seen on Chopped) and Becca Reyenga Kerr of Little Kitchen HTX lend their signature style to the menu. The festivities run from 6-10 pm Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, April 6

Pokeworks Galleria grand opening
The popular poke spot launches its fourth Houston location by the Galleria with an all-day party. Pokeworks will be giving away prizes throughout the day, as well as offering buy-one, get-one deals on poke bowls, salads, and burritos. Saturday’s hours are 11 am to 10 pm.

2019 Annual Gumbo and Brew Fest at Henderson Heights
Henderson Heights hosts this annual bash featuring all-you-can-eat gumbo, which diners can wash down with their choice of libations. Tickets are $25, and include the party atmosphere, the gumbo, five drink tickets for use at any of the 15 craft breweries, and a judging coin you can use to vote on your favorite gumbo. The event is from 2-5 pm, and you can get tickets here.

Annual Spring Wine Festival at Brenner’s on the Bayou
Wine aficionados will love being able to sample cuisine from Houston's top chefs and award-winning wines from around the country at this annual event, now in its 10th year. From 4-7 pm (with VIP access that starts at 3 pm), stroll Brenner’s beautiful grounds, sipping wines from The Prisoner, Hahn Family Vineyards, Constellation Brands, J Lohr, Alexander Valley Vineyards, and Dry Creek Vineywards, among many more.

General admission is $89 in advance and $99 at the door. VIP passes, which come with early entry and access to the VIP Lounge, featuring selections from Moët Hennessy and Cakebread Cellars, as well as chef-crafted cuisine from Grotto Downtown and Brenner’s Steakhouse are $150 per person. Tickets may be purchased online.

Sausage Wars at Spindletap Brewery
(Update: This event has sold out.) Houston can always use another chef competition. Check out this one at Spindletap Brewery, which features links from 10 of Texas’ best barbecue spots and pitmasters. Early admission tickets are gone, but general admission allows access to the event from 6-9:30 pm, and the entry price includes sausage samples, live entertainment, and two beers.

Sunday, April 7

Tacos Over Texas at the Original Ninfa’s
(Update: Due to weather concerns, this event has been rescheduled for May 19.) The chef-driven competition is back for its second year at the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation from 1-4 pm, with proceeds benefitting the Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund. Honoring the legacy of “Mama Ninfa” Laurenzo, chefs from across Houston, offer their best version of tacos inspired by Mama Ninfa. Participants include Chris Shepherd’s One Fifth Houston, Ronnie Killen’s Killen's TMX, Ryan Lachaine’s Riel, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, La Calle Tacos and Poitín, along with Chopped champion Chef Roshni Gurnani, and Chef Jamie Zelko of Zelko Concepts.

They join an impressive roster that includes host The Original Ninfa’s — a 2019 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant – El Tiempo, Laurenzo’s Restaurant, Tony Mandola’s Gulf Coast Kitchen, Cafe Annie, Gatlin's BBQ, Tout Suite, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Grace's on Kirby, Mia's Table, Christian's Tailgate Bar & Grill, Elliot’s Table, and chefs David and Michael Cordúa. Guests will enjoy unlimited taco samples, live music, and can bid on silent auction items. General admission is $40. VIP tickets are available for $200 and include early admission at noon, plus an open bar for beer and margaritas in the VIP seating area. Buy tickets online.

Urban Harvest Sunday Supper at Kiran’s
Six of Houston’s finest chefs pull out all the stops for this fundraising dinner benefitting Urban Harvest. Kiran Verma of Kiran’s, Drake Leonards of Eunice, David Cordúa of Yum DMC, Dominick Lee of Poitín, Martin Stayer of Nobies, and Jody Stevens of Jodycakes will partner with local farmers to create imaginative dishes using fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Individual tickets are $150, and supper kicks off at 6 pm.

Chefs in the Field Earth Day Supper at Hope Farms
Recipe for Success Foundation hosts this evening featuring farm-fresh produce and a menu showcasing the best of locally sourced food prepared by some of Houston’s finest chefs, including Rakesh Nayak of Common Bond, Jeff Auld of On The Kirb, and Kevin Naderi of Roost. Start off the evening with “the Garden Party,” a special Earth Day cocktail created by Treaty Oak Distillery.

Guests can also explore the farm and watch the chefs preparing dinner over live fire, before moving to the Gathering Barn for the seated three-course dinner. The event starts at 6:30 pm, and tickets for cocktails and light bites are $75 per person; the seated three-course dinner is $250 per person, and 100 percent of ticket sales benefit Recipe for Success.

Raise a glass at Brenner's.

barbecue breweries openings news-you-can-eat

cheers to that

Texas bourbon named one of 2024's top 10 whiskies

Still Austin Whiskey Co. Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey

Still Austin Whiskey Co./Facebook

Now if only we could snag a bottle...as a Christmas gift, of course.

Three cheers for Still Austin Whiskey Co.! The distillery's Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey was recognized as one of Whisky Advocate'sTop 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of 2024.

Every year, Whisky Advocate's expert panelists rank hundreds of whiskies based on their quality, availability, value for the price, and "X-factor," meaning an excitement-inducing component like a unique flavor or an innovative idea. An international panel also reviews contenders through several blind taste tests without knowing each whisky's producer, origin, age, or price.

The magazine ranked Still Austin's five-year Red Corn Bourbon No. 7 on the list with a prestigious score of 94 points. The Red Corn whiskey, which was released in June 2024, has mash bill consisting of 36 percent Jimmy Red corn, 34 percent white corn, 25 percent rye, and 5 percent barley.

According to panelist Shane English, tasting notes start big and bold with cracked pepper, dusty leather, and cocktail cherries, before moving on to a palate of chile pepper, caramel, and buttery cornbread.

"Each sip is electric — the pepper gives this whiskey a zing balanced by poundcake and glazed doughnuts," English said. "Charred oak fades to chocolate, coffee, and pecan pie on the finish."

Still Austin had the only Texas product on the list, which was fitting given the brand's recent boasting that it could match any Kentucky Bourbon. As a game day stunt when the Texas Longhorns played the Kentucky Wildcats in November, Still Austin refilled empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles with its own Cask Strength Bourbon for just $1.

When the brand isn't playfully antagonizing Kentucky fans, its Red Corn Bourbon sells for a retail price of $85 per 750-milliliter bottle, falling nearly in the middle of the price category out of all 20 bourbons on the list, with eight others priced for less.

For additional context, none of the top five bourbons fall under a $100 price tag. In fact, the most expensive bottle on the 2024 list is the Angel's Envy 2023 Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon, which ranked No. 12 and retails for $230 per bottle.

"Our top 20 whiskies represent a curated collection that deserves your attention. Each whisky on the list stands out for its superb taste, representing the pinnacle of a year filled with remarkable tastings," said executive editor David Fleming in a release. "This list features whiskies offering exceptional value, leaders in their respective styles, and superbly made expressions that are well worth seeking out."

Whiskey Advocate's 2024 Whiskey of the Year is Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength Scotch Single Malt, which earned 95 points and retails for $165 a bottle.

whiskey bourbon distilleries awards lists