This Week In Dining

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Houston this week

Beard Papa's begins serving cream puffs on Saturday.

Courtesy photo

For adventurous diners and drinkers, this week's round up offers a host of options to sample new libations and try new dishes. From small events to full-scale festivals, there's dining fun for all.

Through June 30
Restaurants for Refugees across Houston
This month, eight Bayou City restaurants are offering a special dish, with proceeds benefiting World Refugee Day Houston. Among those participating, the Heights' A 2nd Cup is offering Melonaid, Bellaire's Dandelion Cafe has biscuits and gravy, Decatur Bar & Pop-Up Factory has green curry, and Grand Prize Bar has a Hurricane. Stop by any participating restaurant or bar, purchase the featured dish or drink and help support refugees in Houston.

Monday, June 17
Chefs in the Field Tomato Tribute at Hope Farms
This Recipe for Success party showcases the more than two dozen types of tomatoes grown at Hope Farms, Recipe for Success' urban plot in the Sunnyside neighborhood. The three-course dinner features selections from Dylan Murray of Local Foods and Benjy’s, Ben McPherson of BOH Pasta & Pizza, and Troy Guard of the soon-to-open Guard and Grace steakhouse. The evening kicks off at 6:30 with a cocktail hour in the Chefs’ Garden where guests can enjoy a tomato tasting and sip on craft cocktails made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, before sitting down to a dinner. The cost for the cocktail hour and tomato tasting is $75 per person, the seated dinner is $250, and tickets for both may be purchased online.

Tuesday, June 18
Street Food and Tequila Celebration at Caracol
From 6-8 pm, discover the Tequila region of Mexico at this event, which features craft cocktails created by Sean Beck and the bar teams at Hugo's, Caracol and Xochi, as well as Jalisco street food favorites from Chef Hugo Ortega. Look for tacos, a ceviche bar, mole dishes, and more. The cost is $75 per person, and tickets can be purchased online.

Wednesday, June 19
Glenlivet Whiskey Dinner at Weights + Measures
This four-course dinner pairs dishes from chefs Fernando Rios and Richard Kaplan with a sampling from Glenlivet's extensive portfolio. Selections include a wood-grilled curly endive salad with roasted corn and cherry tomatoes, housemade labneh, toasted marcona almonds, and house aged balsamic dressing accompanied by the Glenlivet 15 year old, and a rack of lamb with shishito pepper ragu and horseradish compound butter smashed potatoes accompanied by the Glenlivet 18 year old. Tickets are $100 per person, and dinner starts at 6 pm.

Friday, June 21
Summer Fete de la Musique Menu at Bistro Provence
In France, the start of summer arrives with music festivals. Here in Houston, Bistro Provence offers a take on the traditional celebration with an a la carte menu with each item named after famous musical works, composers, or performers. Choose from selections such as Consommé Bizet, a clear, chicken consommé slightly thickened with a little tapioca and garnished with chicken quenelles and chervil and tarragon, created for —and named after— composer Georges Bizet; or Tournedos Rossini (roasted hind saddle of lamb with foie gras), created for the composer Gioachino Rossini. Pair them with a bottle of Fazioli Cotes de Provence from Chateau la Mascaronne, named for one of the modern world’s most famous piano builders.

Saturday, June 22
Grand Opening at Beard Papa's Chinatown
The largest outpost of the uber-popular Japanese cream puff purveyor in the United States will open its doors beginning at 10 am. The grand opening event will include promotional offers such as a free tote bag for the first 25 customers to purchase a dozen or more puffs and one original flavor puff for free after buying five puffs. Goes until midnight or when the puffs run out.

Summer Solstice Block Party at Yauatcha
Upscale Chinese restaurant Yauatcha and hip boutique The Webster join forces to celebrate summer with bar bites and cocktails from 5-8 pm. Also in the lineup are a DJ and giveaways, as well as 15 percent off regular menu items during the event. It’s complimentary to attend, and everyone is welcome to be part of the summertime festivities.

West African Fest at Finca Tres Robles
From 6-9 pm, be part of a party that benefits GambiaRising, a scholarship program focused on girls' education in The Gambia. There will be food, plus African drumming and dancing. The event is free, but contributions are appreciated.

Sunday, June 23
Toasted Coconut Popup at the Penny Whistle Pub
Nobie's Martin Stayer hosts a pig roast while bar director Sarah Troxell will take over the Penny Whistle's bar, previewing some of her tiki drinks to come at the soon-to-open Toasted Coconut. The event is from 4-8 pm and the $30 ticket includes an appetizer, pig, and sides. Drinks are extra, natch. Those who only wish to check out the cocktails don't need to purchase a food ticket. A small amount of food tickets will be available at the door, but purchasing online in advance is preferable.

Think Tacos Benefit for Houston Food Finder at Heights Bier Garten
Readers who love food know that Houston Food Finder, the independent publication run by Phaedra Cook, is as asset to covering Houston's food scene. It was in danger of going under and a GoFundMe campaign was launched last week to help save it. The benefit, from 6-8 pm, brings Candido Serrano’s great Mexican food truck to the Heights and all of the profits go to support Houston Food Finder.

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