Lots to Celebrate

Central Market celebrates AAPI and Pride months with live online cooking classes

To celebrate May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and June as Pride Month, Central Market is hosting a series of virtual cooking school classes featuring the stories and recipes of notable chefs and makers.

Here's who you'll be learning from in May, and what signature dishes they'll be preparing for you live:

David Chang is a restaurateur, author, podcaster and television personality. He is the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group.

Cook along with him on May 12 and make roasted mushroom salad and marinated hanger steak.

Ozlem Warren is a cookbook author and culinary instructor passionate about the cuisine of her homeland, Turkey. She has been teaching in Turkey, England, Jordan, and the USA for more than 10 years, and is the force behind Ozlem's Turkish Table.

On May 22, learn how to make karniyarik (stuffed eggplant with ground meat and vegetables), cacik (cucumber and yogurt dip with dried mint), and cevizli kuru kayisi tatlisi (dried baked apricots with walnuts).

Chef Kenji Lopez-Alt is the managing culinary director of Serious Eats, author of the James Beard Award-nominated column The Food Lab, and a columnist for Cooking Light.

During this live online class on May 27, you'll learn how to make kung pao chicken plus cucumber and dill salad with yogurt and chili oil.

And here's the lineup for June:

On June 9, make light, summery, vegetable-forward dishes with Joe Yonan, such as crispy ginger and garlic, ceci e pepe (a version of cacio e pepe without cheese), and no-bake chocolate oak cookies.

New York Times staff writer and cooking show host Eric Kim will show you how to cook cheesy corn and ranch pizza with black pepper-honey and gochujang chocolate lava cakes on June 17.

James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Virginia Willis has stuffed chicken breasts with chevre and spinach, tomato and walnut salad, and peaches and cream with almond cookies on the menu for June 23.

Learn from Ozlem Warren, David Chang, and Kenji Lopez-Alt in May.

Photo courtesy of Central Market

Learn from Ozlem Warren, David Chang, and Kenji Lopez-Alt in May.

promoted chefs

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.