Wine dinners are the thing this week, with offerings from Sclavos Wines of Greece, Caymus from Napa, and De Wetshof Estate of South Africa. One of Houston's most popular newcomers is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a blowout party, and a Bayou City favorite throws a fifth anniversary dinner with tequila. There's also a cooking class for those who want a little inspiration of how to create some of the city's best flavors at home.
Monday, July 22
Wine Dinner at Helen Greek Food and Wine
The restaurant's Rice Village location hosts an evening showcasing Sclavos Wines from Greece's Ionian Islands. Chef William Wright's five-course offerings include salt cod fritters with summer squash and almond garlic sauce paired with Sclavos' 2016 Alchemiste; a Cephalonian meat pie of beef, lamb, pork, cheese, phyllo crust, and marjoram accompanied by Sclavos' 2015 Efranor; and “pantespani” pound cake with Texas peaches paired with Sclavos' 2015 Orgion. The cost is $150 per person. To reserve, call 832-831-7133 or email the restaurant.
Wednesday, July 24
National Tequila Day
From 4 pm to midnight, La Grange is running drink specials to help celebrate the beloved spirit, including $1 off all tequila-based cocktails. There's also a $12 Casamigos tequila flight of Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo tequilas, and a $9 top-shelf Casamigos frozen margarita. Downtown's El Big Bad will host "Introductions are the New Black," a speed dating event that includes a tequila tasting. Find two drink specials at El Real Tex-Mex Cafe: the Mexican candy shot (Playa Real Tequila with fresh watermelon and pineapple juices, $5) and the watermelon-basil margarita (El Jimador Tequila with fresh watermelon, fresh basil, agave nectar, and lime juice, $7). Classic Tex-Mex restaurant Molina's will feature its signature frozen margaritas for just $6.50. Get a preview of Candente, the new Tex-Mex restaurant from the owners of The Pit Room, at The Patio at the Pit Room from 5-9 pm; menu selections include beef and chicken fajitas, chile con queso, and smoked cheese chile rellenos.
Far Niente Wine Tasting at Brennan's
From 6:30-8 pm, enjoy light bites and selections from the renowned Napa winery. The cost is $25 per person, and tickets can be purchased online.
Thursday, July 25
De Wetshof Estate Wine Dinner at Riel
The restaurant partners with Broadbent Selections and Johann de Wet to profile the Chardonnays of De Wetshof Estate, served with a multi-course meal prepared by chef Ryan Lachaine. Diners will get to try De Wetshof's Limestone Hill, Lesca, Bon Vallon, and Bataleur Chardonnays. Dinner starts at 5:30 pm, and tickets are $78 per person. To reserve a spot, email vanessa@rielhouston.com.
Anniversary Dinner at Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen
The Eldridge location of the popular Tex-Mex restaurant marks its fifth birthday with a special tequila dinner. The four-course meal features selections from Sylvia's mesquite-fired grill, such as quail, fajita steaks, and baby back ribs. All will be paired with a tequila or tequila-based cocktail, using Tres Generaciones and Código tequilas. Dinner begins at 5:30 pm, and the cost is $55 per person. Call 713-334-7295 to reserve a spot.
WhistlePig Dinner at Bayou & Bottle
The evening begins with a welcome reception in the Top Golf Swing Suite, before segueing into a four-course dinner with whiskey pairings. Menu highlights include Black Hill Farm suckling pig with nectarine-bourbon sauce served with WhistlePig’s 15 Year Straight Rye, as well as tastes of Farmstock Crop 2, 10 Year Rye, and 12 Year Rye. The cost for dinner is $120 per person, and seating is extremely limited. Dinner guests may also purchase The Boss Hogs Flight at a special price of $150, which includes limited edition top shelf ryes from the late master distiller Dave Pickerell, including The Independent (III), The Black Prince (IV), and The Spirit of Mauve (V). Dinner starts at 6:30 pm. To purchase tickets, call 713-652-6244.
Friday, July 26
8th Wonder Collabor8tion Dinner at Poitín Bar & Kitchen
Chef Dominick Lee has created a four-course menu paired with some of the EaDo brewery's most popular beers. Courses include passed appetizers (Andouille Corn-Dogs with Comeback Sauce, Shrimp Toast Marinated with Creole Mustard Glaze) paired with Haterade Gose, marinated tomato salad paired with People’s Champ - Kristalweizen, and family-style main dishes (deep-fried yard bird, braised rabbit, and pot roast with sides) paired with both a cream ale and a helles lager. Tickets, $58 plus tax and tip, are available at poitinhouston.com by selecting a reservation for 5:30 pm.
Date Night Cooking Class at Brennan's
Discover recipes highlighting great Gulf Coast ingredients at this installment of the popular summer series. Tonight's class focuses on shrimp, and includes a reception, cooking demonstration by executive chef Joe Cervantez, and a seated three-course menu of barbecue shrimp shortcake, Gulf shrimp etouffée and (shrimp-free) bourbon-glazed peaches, pecan granola, and chantilly cream. The class takes place from 6:30-9 pm, and costs $150.00 per couple, plus tax and gratuity.
Caymus Wine Dinner at Federal American Grill
Guests can sample several of the Napa winery's selections, along with a three-course dinner that includes samples of four wines. There's even a surprise tasting to end the evening. Tickets are $140 per person, plus tax and gratuity. To purchase tickets, call 713-863-7777.
Saturday, July 27
Whisky Flights at Jonathan's the Rub
The Memorial Green location marks National Scotch Whisky Day with three special flights, available from open to close. The Macallan Flight is a 12-year Sherry, a 14-year triple cask, and a 17-year fine oak, for $48. The Balvenie Flight is a 12-year single malt, a 14-year Caribbean, and a 17-year double cask, selling for $32. A Japanese Flight of Yamazaki 12-year, Nikka Coffee, and Suntory Toki costs $25.
Creme Brûlée Day at Bistro Provence
Diners can begin and end their meals with versions of iconic dessert at this casual chic Memorial restaurant. To begin, there's the foie gras crème brûlée appetizer, similarly made only with rich foie gras, instead of custard, available for $12. And at the end of the meal, opt for the restaurant's honey-alvender crème brûlée, complete with its brittle top crust of caramelized sugar, for $8.
Lone Star Spotlight Dinner at Morton's Grill
Starting with a happy hour at 6 pm, this five-course dinner showcases the creations of Pedernales Cellars Winery, Garrison Brothers Bourbon Distillery, and Saint Arnold Brewing Co. paired with red meat selections, such as filet mignon tartare, eye of ribeye carpaccio, 44 Farms beef & barley consommé, and 44 Farms braised beef shank. The cost is $100 per person, and reservations may be made by calling the restaurant at 832-585-0794.
Sunday, July 28
Indigo Anniversary Block Party
To mark turning one, the Trinity Gardens spot is throwing a big bash, complete with a cookout spread and epic domino tournament. Chef Jonny Rhodes is joined by executive chef Fermín Nuñez from masa-obsessed Austin restaurant Suerte, who's bringing along his signature handmade tacos and salsas to augment Indigo's African-infused soul food. Tickets are $35 per person, and portions of the day's sales will go back to the community Indigo calls home. Purchase tickets online.
Bayou & Bottle will host a WhistlePig dinner on Thursday.
The miso caramel sundae at Balboa Surf ClubCourtesy of Western Addition
The buttermilk sundae at CredenceCourtesy of Credence
Pistachio soft serve at ElRo Pizzeria and CrudoCourtesy of ElRo Pizzeria and Crudo
il Braco's Italian sundae with olive oilCourtesy of Western Addition
Katami's sundae is made with Japanese shaved iceCourtesy of Katami
La Lucha's soft serve sundaeCourtesy of La Lucha
The Marigold Club's sundae cartPhoto by Zach Horst
Medium Rare's hot fudge sundaePhoto by Alex Staniloff
The Annie sundae at The Annie Cafe and BarPhoto Kirsten Gilliam
The Pit Room's Memorial location has a dessert bar to create sundaes. Photo by Alex Montoya
The coffee ice cream sundae at Tiny ChampionsCourtesy of Tiny Champions
The turtle brownie sundae at Turner'sPhoto by Brian Kennedy