This week in dining

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

Mama Ninfa's Tacos y Tortas Pastor Tacos

Tacos and tortas unwrap at Understory food hall's grand opening.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

A new bakery has popped up, and it's touting a menu of allergy-friendly ingredients. Awesome Bites throws a grand-opening bash Saturday, August 17.

But well before that, there's plenty of other fun, including a terrific steak deal for National Filet Mignon Day and a wild mash-up at Glitter Karaoke. The week also brings anniversary parties at Eureka Heights and Grand Prize Bar.

Monday, August 12, to Sunday, August 18

Understory Grand Opening Festivities
The eagerly anticipated downtown food hall celebrates its official debut with a week full of events and specials. Located at the downtown tunnel level of Bank of America Tower, the activities include cocktail and food pairings with the Silver Lining bar and restaurants such as Mona Fresh Italian and Mama Ninfa's Tacos y Tortas, pop-up shops and trivia on Thursday, reverse happy hour on Friday, and a latte art competition on Saturday night. See the website for a full schedule.

Tuesday, August 13

National Filet Mignon Day
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has a special three-course dinner starting at $55. It includes a salad with lemon-balsamic vinaigrette; an 8-ounce filet mignon over sautéed spinach; and a choice of dessert. Diners can opt for filet and crab legs or filet and asparagus for the same price. Other steak options are available at an upcharge.

Over at Brennan's, diners looking to mark the "holiday" can get a Creole-spiced filet with seared King Trumpet mushrooms, farmer’s baby carrots, green tomato-shallot jam, and housemade Worcestershire sauce for $42.

Thursday, August 15

Welcome to the Neighborhood Party at Poitín
The restaurant rolls out the welcome mat for Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. and chef Arash Kharat — opening this fall in a nearby part of Sawyer Yards — with an event that includes pizza, char-grilled oysters, fried chicken, Buffalo Bayou beer samples, music, and fun. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased at the door. The party kicks off at 5 pm.

Blood Bros. and Riel Pop-Up at Glitter Karaoke
This epic mash-up features killer 'cue from Blood Bros., backed with menu selections from Riel chef Ryan Lachine, all set to the Midtown bar's signature soundtrack. Partying starts at 8 pm.

Saturday, August 17

Grand Opening at Awesome Bites
The allergy-friendly bakery opens its doors today with a celebration featuring a host of homemade treats and deals. Check out the Super Muffins — made with no added sugar and a full serving of fruits or veggies — or the vegan N’ice Cream with a choice to add a gluten-free, vegan waffle cone. The first 20 customers to spend $30 or more will receive free tote bag and T-shirt. From opening to noon, anyone who spends $10 or more gets free Boomtown drip coffee. All day long, customers who purchase a dozen Super Muffins get two free, and there are hourly gift card drawings. Awesome Bites opens at 8 am.

Eureka Heights Third Anniversary Celebration
Mark the milestone with a party at the local craft brewery. Guests can purchase a "Fancy Pants" ticket that includes early admission from 10 am to noon with open taps on their regular beers, an Open Teku Anniversary Glass, Stun Gravy bourbon barrel-aged Barleywine can release, breakfast tacos from Tacos A Go Go, a piece of the birthday cake, and a flight of Stun Gun that's been aged in different bourbon barrels ($65, tickets).

Regular pants admission is free with a high five and gives guests access to 25 beers on tap, Korean-inspired barbecue from chef Daniel Ajtai of Yong and Justin Catrett Family BBQ, and piñata smashing, thanks to Piñatas by Chi. Music and other fun abounds.

Aberfeldy Scotch Whisky Honey Bee Day at the JW Marriott Downtown
Check out the Shortbread Sweet Tea (Aberfeldy 12-Year-Old, Texas tea, and local Houston honey) served with a shortbread cookie made with more local honey. The cocktail is $14, and for every drink purchased, Aberfeldy will donate 12 bees in the customer’s name to hives at local bee conservancies, such as Houston's Seeds of the Soil. The drink is available through the end of the month.

Sunday, August 18

Back-to-School Party at UB Preserv
Mark the the end of summer as chef Nick Wong adds a twist to the regular dim sum brunch service by roasting a Cuban-style whole hog outside. The menu includes teriyaki chicken wings, bacon sausage and tomato kebabs, Spam musubi, kumpia, Dr Pepper ribs, pretzel Jello, papaya salad, and deviled eggs. UB Preserv’s general manager Katy Brittain will be taking over the bar and serving up frozen piña coladas with a Big Red floater. Guests are encouraged to wear their finest Hawaiian attire. Reservations can be made online.

Anniversary Party at Grand Prize Bar
The popular Montrose spot is turning nine, and marks the occasion with drink specials, music, and more. Guest bartenders and other shenanigans will make it a night to remember.

news-you-can-eat

86 the Beyond Patties

Hopdoddy nixes plant-based substitutes with move towards regenerative meats

Photo courtesy of Hopdoddy Burger Bar

"Regenerative meats" are from real animals, not a lab.

Hearty Austin-based chain Hopdoddy Burger Bar has unveiled a new lineup of regenerative burgers that are supposed to be better for the planet and the consumer.

The term ‘regenerative burger’ could cause a few head-scratches: Some may think of lab-grown or 3D-printed meat, while others think of plant-based alternatives but it’s neither. It is grass-fed meat, sourced a bit differently. "Regenerative farming" is a term used to describe farming and grazing practices that claim to restore and rebuild degraded soil, resulting in better-quality air and water.

Hopdoddy’s vice president of culinary Matt Schweitzer explained that it all began with with a sense of obligation to do better as a brand for the consumers and the ecosystem.

“We felt like we could really take a stand and look to move our entire supply chain in a regenerative fashion, so we could really be proud of the work we’ve done and we could hopefully leave the animals, the farmers, the ranchers, the native grasslands, and our planet a better place than before we started,” says Schweitzer.

The new menu items include the "Roosevelt Burger" with grass-fed regenerative bison; the "Nashville Hot Sandwich" with regenerative raised chicken; the "Regenerative Royale," which is a play on a classic double quarter-pounder with cheese; the "Mother Nature" with grass-fed regenerative beef; and the "Buffalo Bill" also uses regenerative bison, but appears not to be grass-fed.

The five burgers are available at all Hopdoddy locations nationwide. The beef and bison are sourced from Texas-based regenerative company Force of Nature, while the chicken is from Cooks Venture.

With this launch, Hopdoddy removes all plant-based meat substitutes from its menu, significantly reducing the options for vegans and vegetarians. The company felt the ingredients and ethos of the alternative meats — describing some such as Beyond Meats as "falsely advertised" regarding nutrition in a press release — no longer aligned with its values and mission. However, the house-made veggie patty remains on the signature "El Bandito" burger.

Schweitzer says the regenerative burgers have received positive feedback, as people are excited to know where their food comes from, how it gets to their table, and what type of impact it causes. Regarding the future of regenerative meat, he says there is no doubt it could become mainstream soon.

“I think the flavor profile, the eating experience, the story, the mission, the purpose, really speaks for itself," says Schweitzer. "So, I really think it’s a matter of time until 'regenerative' is talked about in the same way that 'organic,' or 'sustainable,' or those type of buzzwords are talked about."

To further show its commitment to regenerative agriculture, Hopdoddy is also one of the sponsors of Common Ground, a documentary about the pioneers of the regenerative movement, premiering October 4 in Austin. The "uplifting" film, according to a release, features well-known actors Laura Dern, Rosario Dawson, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, and Donald Glover, emphasizing that this motley crew does share one thing in common: a strong belief in regenerative agriculture.

For more information about the new regenerative burgers, visit hopdoddy.com.

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