New Master Sommelier

Camerata's wine guy breaks through; Houston has a new Master Sommelier

Camerata and Tiffany Watch Launch David Keck

Camerata's David Keck is a Master Sommelier.

Photo by Fulton Davenport / PWL Studio

One of Houston's most well-regarded wine professionals has earned a coveted title. Camerata wine director David Keck attained the title of Master Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers on Wednesday.

As chronicled in the documentary Somm, achieving the title is a painstaking process. Candidates must pass rigorous tests that demonstrate their knowledge of wine theory, service, and the dreaded blind tasting. Overall, fewer than 250 people around the world have obtained the title, and, as of today, only eight work in Texas.

Congratulations @CamerataHouston on your new #MasterSommelier! David Keck @yrmom_safoodie passed the #MSDiplomaExam today!

— Master Sommelier US (@MasterSommUS) May 18, 2016

Keck becomes Houston's second Master Sommelier, after Guy Stout of wine distribution company Glazer's. While Stout does teach classes occasionally, Keck interacts with the public almost daily, and his desire to learn as much as possible about wine has helped both diners and peers.

CultureMap has contacted Keck to learn more about what his achievement means for him both personally and professionally but has yet to receive a response (he's probably celebrating). In the meantime, he did offer some thoughts last September about the state of Houston's wine community as the restaurant scene has exploded over the past five years.

"We're needing more wine professionals," Keck said. "I think we have more support (from customers) than we have wine lists to support our guests. More often than not, I have guests asking where they can go to drink, and the list is still pretty short, unfortunately. I think anybody in the wine business would agree with that. I'm not in any way disparaging my colleagues. I think there are wonderful lists and wonderful people in town. We just have a lot of freaking clients. We have a lot of guests in Houston who are looking for every independent restaurant to have a well-currated list, and we're not there, yet. It's cool. We have a lot of opportunity."

With Keck's achievement and a number of sommeliers working their way up the ranks, the situation looks poised to improve, and Houston wine lovers will be the happy beneficiaries.

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bring on barnaby's

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

Courtesy of Barnaby's Cafe

Barnaby's Cafe is coming to the Stomping Grounds this fall.

Earlier this week, real estate developer Bryan Danna promised “big news…very soon” about a new tenant for the former LuLoo’s Day & Night space at his Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks. That news is that Houston favorite Barnaby’s Cafe has claimed the space for a new location that will open later this year.

When a Barnaby’s decal appear on the restaurant’s door a couple of days ago, news of the restaurant’s imminent arrival spread quickly on social media. It will be Barnaby’s tenth location, joining outposts in Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights, and more.

The restaurant will occupy a 2,250-square-foot space at the Stomping Grounds. It will offer a to-go window for people hanging out in the development’s green space as well as a gated, dog-friendly patio. Houston artist Roberto Cervantes will contribute works to the restaurant’s interior.

Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Jeff Gale, Barnaby’s is known for its wide-ranging and affordable menu of classic American fare, including salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, and dinner entrees. Customer favorites include the Lebanese chicken fattoush salad, chipotle black bean burger, baby back ribs, and green eggs, which are scrambled with spinach and artichoke hearts. Dogs can snack on a special “puppy menu” of ground beef, sliced chicken breast, or scrambled eggs over brown rice.

Stomping Grounds green space A to-go window will expedite orders for people in the Stomping Grounds' green space.Courtesy of Stomping Grounds

“Bringing Barnaby’s to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest has been on my wish list for more than a decade, so I’m incredibly grateful that Jeff Gale and his team saw Stomping Grounds as the right fit,” Danna said in a statement. “Jeff and I go back to his first Heights location, which was one of Barnaby’s first big moves north of Montrose, and I have always respected what he and his longtime team have built. Thirty years in the restaurant business is a serious accomplishment. You do not make it that long unless you know how to take care of people, build loyalty, and become part of the neighborhood.”

When it opens this fall, Barnaby’s will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It will join other restaurants at the Stomping Grounds, including Fat Cat Creamery, Tex-Mex restaurant La Mex, Bollo Woodfired Pizza, casual sushi restaurant Himari, Little Sister Cake Shop, and High Five Mini Bar. Earlier this week, casual Vietnamese restaurant Pho Prime announced that it had claimed the space formerly occupied by The Pho Fix for a new location that will also open this fall.

news-you-can-eat openings stomping grounds barnaby's cafe