Eat well and do good

Houston-area Italian restaurants join global earthquake relief fundraiser

Tony Vallone uses housemade angel hair pasta in his all’Amatriciana.

Courtesy photo

Last month, a massive 6.2 magnitude earthquake devastated a number of towns located in the mountains approximately 85 miles east of Rome including Amatrice. Restaurants all over the world have responded by donating proceeds from their version of the town's signature dish, pasta all’Amatriciana, to earthquake relief efforts.

The dishes basic structure — typically a combination of tomatoes, Pecorino Romano cheese, and guanciale (smoked pig's jowl) — allows for creative interpretations. While bucatini pasta is the most traditional, subbing in other shapes allows for different textural components. Also, bucatini's long tubes can make for messy eating.

"Amatrice is one of my favorite places to visit," restaurateur Tony Vallone said in a statement. "It’s famous for its black truffles and its salumi. It’s also one of the most beautiful places in Italy. It breaks my heart to know that it was destroyed in the earthquake.”

All three of his restaurants, casual Ciao Bello, steakhouse Vallone's, and fine dining restaurant Tony's, will donate $2 to Red Cross Italy from each plate sold in September. Vallone's version of the dish uses housemade angel hair pasta along with guanciale and Pecorino.

Two inner loop restaurants are serving the classic version with bucatini. At Paulie's, the dish ($10 small/$17 full) comes with smoked bacon and enough red chili flakes to cause diners to sweat from its spicy kick. Although doing so offends purists, diners can cut the heat slightly by adding some of the restaurant's buttery shrimp to their order ($4 or $6). The casual, neighborhood restaurant will donate $1 from every plate sold to Red Cross Italy "until further notice," owner Paul Petronella wrote on Instagram.

At Giacomo's cibo e vino in River Oaks, chef-owner Lynette Hawkins has added buccatini all'Amatriciana ($17 or $20 with shrimp) as a month-long special and will donate $5 from every plate sold to earthquake relief efforts. Her version uses all-natural guanciale from Niman Ranch for a salty punch.

Also in Montrose, Divino chef-owner Patrick McCray is serving a milder, more classic all'Amatricana made with rigatoni ($20, $5 donation), but the restaurant will vary its pasta shape over the month of September. Ask sommelier Thomas Moesse to suggest a pairing from one of the city's strongest all-Italian wine lists.

Those who prefer pizza instead of pasta can still contribute to relief efforts. Arcodoro chef-owner Efisio Farris has created a Pizza Incanto (salami, porcini mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, split peas, pecorino) and will donate $5 from every $19 pizza sold during September to Red Cross Italy.

Know any other Italian restaurants donating to earthquake relief? Post them in the comments.

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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.

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