this picnic totally rocks

Rockin' new girl-powered food and music fest stars Houston's top chefs

I'll have what she's having Underbelly pop-up chefs

Join the women of I'll Have What She's Having at a special fundraiser.

Photo by Carla Gomez

A Houston-based nonprofit will hold a fundraiser featuring some of the state's top culinary and musical talent. I'll Have What She's Having's Rock & Roll Picnic takes place at the Continental Club in Midtown this Sunday, June 5.

Intended to be an annual event, the Rock & Roll Picnic features food prepared by some of Houston's top chefs that's meant to be enjoyed while listening to music by female-led bands. Performers include Nobody’s Daughter of Girls Rock Houston, Katie Rushing, Dusty Santamaria, Calliope Musicals, and Austin psychedelic desert rockers Sheverb, according to a release.

The participating chefs consist of Top Chef alumni Evelyn Garcia and Sasha Grumman, multiple James Beard Award nominee Anita Jaisinghani (Pondicheri), Beaumont chef Monica Cobb, Chris Roy (Winnie's), and pastry chefs Julia Doran (Tiny Champions) and Alyssa Dole (Luloo's). Each chef is producing one dish that will be included in a tiffin that can be enjoyed at the event or taken to-go. Priced at $197.30 (more on that shortly), each meal is designed to feed two to four people.

Dishes include:

Monica Cobb - Texas Black Eyed Pea Caviar and Sweet Pepper Chow Chow
Sasha Grumman - Tomato, Watermelon, and Mozzarella salad
Chris Roy - Tasso and Pimento Cheese Rangoon
Anita Jaisinghani - Vegetable Biriyani
Evelyn Garcia - Vietnamese Chicken Salad with Sesame Crisps
Julia Doran - Sesame Cake with Roasted Strawberries
Alyssa Dole - Oatmeal Creme Pie

In addition to the concert and the tiffins, a silent auction will offer up private chef dinners, culinary creations, and other food-based delights.

Proceeds will benefit I'll Have What She's Having's 1973 Project, which provides funds to organizations that provide abortion services to Texans. The group initiated the project after the state passed its six-week abortion ban. Members of the organization joined Top Chef stars Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons at last year's Houston Women's March that protested the law.

The Continental Club's neighbors in the Mid-Main district are also contributing to the effort. Fashion designer Bonnie Kennimer is contributing a piece of the silent auction, and Double Trouble owner Robin Berwick has created a cocktail for the day whose proceeds will be donated to the organization. Winnie's, the nearby sandwich shop and cocktail bar, will donate a portion of proceeds from Sunday night's sales.

Tickets start at $25 to attend the concert. Tiffins, as noted above, cost $197.30 and do not include admission to the event. A VIP experience includes six tickets to the event, a reserved picnic table, two tiffins, drinks, and other perks. It is priced at $1,973.

news-you-can-eat fundraisers concerts

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.