A Toast to the Olympics

Houston bars and restaurants celebrate the Olympics with special drinks and dishes

For the past week, Americans have been glued to the TV watching the games of the 2016 Olympics. For the most part, people are watching the games at home, but maybe it’s time to break that habit and go out.

After all, some of Houston’s bars and restaurants have created dishes and drinks inspired by the games, and everyone knows that watching sports in a group is so much more than watching them alone. That’s why sports bars are so popular during football season.

As the games move into their second week of competition, here are a few options for watching the competitions while dining on Olympic-themed specials.

Revelry on Richmond
The Montrose sports bar has created a few cocktails that poke gentle fun at some of the controversies surrounding the Olympics. For example, the Phelps Bong Water combines tequila and creme de violettes with basil, lemon juice, and agave nectar to give drinkers a mellow, gold medal vibe, and the Russian HGH is a Moscow Mule made with their housemade ginger beer.

Best of all, going to Revelry means no waiting through NBC’s tape delays to see the results. It’s open for lunch and dinner everyday starting at 11 am.

Harold’s Tap Room
The recently-opened companion bar to the popular Heights restaurant offers both food and drink specials with an Olympics twist. Executive chef Antoine Ware took inspiration from a recent trip to Jamaica to create his version of jerk chicken that’s served with peas and rice. Bar manager Lauren Muse uses two different kinds of the popular Brazilian spirit cachaça in cocktails like After the Race (topped with a little whipped cream to celebrate achievement) and the On Your Mark.

Midtown Barbeque
The barbecue joint that combines the talents of chef Eric Aldis and pitmaster Brett Jackson has paired its Houston Restaurant Weeks lunch and dinner menus with three cocktails inspired by the games. The Gold Rush blends Texas whiskey with peach schnapps, orange juice, and lime juice; the Quick Silver starts with gin; and the multi-layer Freedom cocktail goes patriotic with red Grenadine, blue Curacao, and white vodka.

Tradição Brazilian Steakhouse
Speaking of HRW participants, this Brazilian steakhouse is offering a special addition to its HRW brunch menu ($20). Dine on feijoada, a traditional black bean stew made with pork belly, and collard greens called Couve. Slightly less adventurous eaters can stick to traditional American options like waffles and omelets, or pay $37 for a full selection of both brunch items and the rodizio meats.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
The Galleria-area steakhouses are each serving three cocktails inspired by the Games ($12 each). The Liquid Gold blends peach-raspberry Grand Marnier with Ginger Ale, the Silver Lining features St. Germain elderflower liqueur and prosecco, and the Bourbon & Bronze adds ginger-flavored Domaine de Canton to its namesake base spirit.

Oporto Fooding House & Wine
The Midtown restaurant celebrates the connections between Portugal and Brazil every Thursday with a special menu that features Caipirinha’s created by beverage director Samantha Porter. Try the Fever, which is made with Novo Fogo silver cachaça and served in a coconut. Of course, chef-owner Rick Di Virgilio’s menu always features specials that reward frequent visits.

Revelry on Richmond's Olympics-themed drinks poke gentle fun at the Games.

Courtesy photo

Revelry on Richmond's Olympics-themed drinks poke gentle fun at the Games.

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say hey to Hypsi

Houston chef's hip new Italian restaurant now open in Heights hotel

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

A new Italian restaurant is now open in the Heights. Located within the newly opened Hotel Daphne, Hypsi marks chef Terrence Gallivan’s return to professional cooking in Houston.

Known for his time as the co-execuive chef of The Pass and Provisions and owner of ElRo Pizza and Crudo, Gallivan brings strong culinary credentials to Hypsi. Although he isn’t known explicitly for Italian fare, he has significant experience making pizza, pasts, and other Italian-inspired dishes. After closing ElRo last year, the chef says that working for Bunkhouse Hotels, the Austin-based company that operates the Daphne, had a lot of appeal.

“My wife and I always made it a point to stop at their places whenever we’re in Austin. They know how to make cool stuff,” Gallivan says.

Hypsi’s menu includes updated takes on Italian fare begins with starters such as lamb meatballs, black truffle arancini, and Caesar salad. A selection of house-made pastas include squid ink radiatori with rock shrimp, butternut squash tortellini, and lumache with vodka sauce that gets a little heat from nduja. Entree choices include a roast chicken, pork Milanese, and roasted snapper with salsa verde.

The restaurant is also open for breakfast during the week and brunch on the weekends with items such as a panatone waffle, frittata, and breakfast sandwich. Lunch will follow in January.

“We took inspiration from tradition without being traditional,” Gallivan says. Later, he adds, “For me, it’s about balance. You try to please everybody. I want my mom to enjoy herself as much as a 25-year-old foodie. It’s important to hit as many marks as you can.”

One of the restaurant’s signatures will be the mozzarella cart that rolls through its dining room. Gallivan says he’s sourcing a mix of both American and imported Italian cheeses that will rotate every week or two. The cheese is served with a range of pickled fruit and vegetables, olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, focaccia, and more. Of course, seeing a cart immediately grabs diners’ attention, making them want whatever is on offer.

“That’s the beauty of carts,” Gallivan says. “It’s a fun thing to do. I think sometimes we get a little too serious in restaurants. It’s supposed to be fun. People are here to enjoy themselves.”

All that eating and drinking takes place in a dining room that’s inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies, according to press materials. Details include blueberry lava stone on the bar, vintage velvet chairs, and custom Carimate dining chairs by Vico Magistretti. An outdoor patio features brick pavers, mosaic tables, and sculptures.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

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