Boozy News

Hot mixologist to shake up the Washington Avenue scene with a new bar with BobbyHeugel ties

A peek inside Julep, coming to Washington Avenue in 2013.
Courtesy Photo
Alba Huerta has made a name for herself at Grand Prize Bar and Anvil Bar &Refuge; now she's opening her own space.
Courtesy Photo
Vintage details at Julep
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo

Whether you've seen her pouring drinks at Grand Prize Bar, running the show as GM at Anvil Bar & Refuge or shaking it for Houston as the national Speed Rack finals runner-up, there's no denying that Alba Huerta is one of the most skilled mixologists in town.

Now she's branching out to create her own bar, Julep, in the former Corkscrew/Sugarcane space on Washington Avenue, backed by Anvil's Bobby Heugel, Kevin Floyd and Michael Burnett.

"There’s just something special about a finely crafted classic mint julep that strikes a cord with people. It never fails to bring out a smile,” Huerta said in a press release.

Is Julep a great bar name or the best bar name ever?

Julep will feature an extensive bourbon selection and a menu of classic cocktails that "embraces Southern drinking culture," plus table service, a covered patio created from the current garage space, private event space and a "dynamic" food menu.

Huerta is planning an extensive build-out and restoration of the historic building, in keeping with the philosophy behind other Anvil-related projects, including Hay Merchant and the forthcoming Blacksmith coffee shop. With an opening set for January 2013, Huerta will be working with Heugel in the meantime to create a new catering operation for Anvil, which will offer cocktail service at events, weddings, and at pop-up bars on weekends at some of Houston's more interesting spaces.

Are you excited to see Huerta in her own space? And is Julep a great bar name or the best bar name ever?

unspecified

Nothing to Escoffier At

Houston has the third best culinary school in the country for 2025

Culinary Institute LeNotre/Facebook

Learn the secrets of French technique at the Culinary Institute LeNotre.

When people get good educations, the people around them usually benefit too. Sometimes you can feel it, but now Houstonians can taste it, with the local Culinary Institute LeNotretaking a top national ranking. The Houston campus was No. 3 on education review platform Niche's 2025 "Best Colleges for Culinary Arts in America" list, which included 131 schools in total.

Austin's Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts edged out the Houston school, snagging the No. 2 spot. The only other Texas college in the top 20 was the Texas State Technical College in Waco, which ranked No. 14 for its culinary program.

Students at the Culinary Institute LeNotre can choose from five main programs: three associates degrees in hospitality and restaurant management, culinary arts, and baking and pastry arts, as well as diplomas in the two culinary fields. Those with an interested in healthy eating can learn how to prepare meals designed to suit people with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Niche's in-depth ratings are coveted in more general arenas, like public universities, where the University of Texas scored in the top 10 for 2025. The more niche disciplines (ironic, yes) are a bit broader in their grading, but what's important is how they stack up relative to each other.

The Culinary Institute LeNotre received a strong A rating in safety as well as a B-plus for campus and student life. Its C-plus in diversity refers not just to racial diversity, but also students from other countries, out of state, from different economic backgrounds, and more. The student life category encompasses basically any aspect of attending the school, including parties and the surrounding area.

The academics and location categories both eked out a C-plus, which isn't bad looking at the other schools on the list.

While the value gets a dismal D-plus, the professors earn a strong B rating. That grade reflects student surveys, which are the highest weighted factor, along with salaries, the student-to-faculty ratio, and awards received by full-time faculty, among others.

The top 10 Best Colleges for Culinary Arts in America, according to Niche, are:

No. 1: Escoffier School of Culinary Arts — Boulder
No. 2: Escoffier School of Culinary Arts — Austin
No. 3: Culinary Institute Lenotre (Houston)
No. 4: Walnut Hill College (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
No. 5: Johnson & Wales University — Charlotte
No. 6: White Mountains Community College (Berlin, New Hampshire)
No. 7: Johnson & Wales University — Providence
No. 8: Helms College (Augusta, Georgia)
No. 9: Monroe College — Bronx, New Rochelle
No. 10: Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, New York)

The full list of 131 culinary programs is ranked at niche.com. More information on the Escoffier School is available at escoffier.edu.