Alone, Together

'Six-Foot Social' uncorks a fun, at-home wine class for Houstonians

Six Foot Social Guy Stout Randall Pettit

Master sommelier Guy Stout and Randall Pettit of Alexander Valley Vineyards.

Courtesy of Food & Vine Time Productions

Large scale food festivals may not be feasible at this time of social distancing, but one of Houston's most experienced food event organizers has a new way for people to learn about wine. Food & Vine Time Productions — the company behind events such as Wine & Food Week in The Woodlands, the Katy Sip & Stroll, and the Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival in Galveston — has launched Six-Foot Social, an at-home wine education program.

Rather than go to an event venue to taste dozens of wines in the company of strangers, Six-Foot Social brings the tasting to a backyard, cul-de-sac, or driveway. A host partners with Food & Vine Time to organize an event. The group's staff evaluates the space, designates seating areas that are at least six feet apart, and provides a wine professional to lead the tasting.

"With the market being flooded by virtual everything, screen fatigue is a reality," Food & Vine Time co-founder Constance McDerby said in a statement. "Human nature craves community and the Six-Foot Social allows the communal experience safely."

In addition to complying with guidelines about maintaining physical separation, each Six-Foot Social event includes glassware, bottles of water, gloves for the presenters, and hand sanitizer. Costs start at $25 per person for groups of 12-40 (depending on the venue); a master sommelier can attend for an additional fee. Those interested in scheduling an event may email info@foodandvinetime.com for more information.

"I will admit that this is quite a different experience from hundreds of wines and dozens of restaurants being offered in large festival environments with live music and pop-up entertainment," McDerby said. "But, the core of the Food & Vine Time Productions’ mission is making wine approachable while helping people enjoy the learning journey and broaden their knowledge in the process."

wine news-you-can-eat

a spoonful of sugar

New Mexican eatery sweetens Houston with 150 spirits and bold flavors

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

A Dallas-based Mexican restaurant is coming to Houston. Mexican Sugar will open its first Houston location in Montrose this December.

Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, Mexican Sugar will occupy a two-story, 13,000-square-foot building. All that room offers seating for 375 as well as two private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. Both the upstairs and downstairs patios will have a view of nearby Buffalo Bayou Park.

Its part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, and Haywire, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened its first Houston-area location earlier this year. Mexican Sugar has three locations in the Dallas area: Plano, Las Colinas, and Uptown Dallas.

In a release, Mexican Sugar touts its use of seasonal ingredients. It also makes its tortillas by hand. Menu highlights include skirt steak, lobster fundido, and a bone-in pork chop. At brunch, look for options such as cajeta French toast, Benedictos Rancheros, and vanilla-cinnamon pancakes.

Agave fans will find plenty of choices courtesy of more the 150 tequilas and mezcals. They’re available in individual pours as well as in flights that allow customers to compare the flavors of the different spirits.

“Our goal is to create a dining experience that blends bold Mexican flavors with our signature style of hospitality that stays two steps ahead,” Justin Beam, Mexican Sugar’s director of operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to offer Houstonians an immersive Mexican experience in a fresh, light, and approachable way.”

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

news-you-can-eat openings mexican sugar