This week in dining

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Houston this week

BCK's patio officially opens this week.

Photo by Nick Scurfield

The marquee event this week is the inaugural Iron Bartender competition at Backstreet Cafe. An epic evening of food and drink, the party to benefit the Periwinkle Foundation is a definite must-do on the social calendar. It joins another terrific party, this one hosted by Edible Houston magazine. Others may prefer an opportunity to eat healthy food and help Trees for Houston. Get out there to eat, drink, and help good causes.

Monday, September 9

Trees for Houston fundraiser at Bellagreen
Houston diners love to eat, and they love to help great causes. They can do both Monday, September 9, at all three of Bellagreen's Bayou City locations. From 11 am to 9 pm, dine-in guests who use the secret phrase “Houston is bella” get 50 percent off their meal with a donation of $5 or more to Trees for Houston.

Wednesday, September 11

Free Entrees for First Responders at Shell Shack
From 11 am to 1 am, in honor of 9/11, Houston's Shell Shack location at the corner of Washington and Sawyer is offering a free non-shellfish entree to all first responders who show valid ID.

Iron Bartender Finals at Backstreet Cafe
Building on the success of the popular Iron Sommelier competition, the inaugural Iron Bartender event brings together the best of Houston bartenders for an evening of epic food and drinks. The event offers passed bites; fried chicken; a popsicle cart; and barbecue from Roegels, Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue, and Reveille. Grey Goose has a Mule Bar, and Hendrick's is heading up the Summer Solstice Bar. Also joining the fun are Patron, Mezcal Breyente, and Monkey Shoulder.

VIP tickets are sold out, but for $75 per person, attendees get access to the featured cocktail bars, food stations, passed bites, and a bourbon and barbecue tent that features whole hog prepared by Roegels. Best of all, the event benefits The Periwinkle Foundation. The celebration kicks off at 6 pm.

Maker's Mark Patio Launch Party at BCK
The Heights spot officially opens it 500-square-foot patio with this event featuring $2 Buffalo Bayou beers, $5 Maker's Mark cocktails, patio games, Maker's Mark giveaways, and more. The new space seats 24 people and offers lounge seating, pub cocktail tables, and swings. Bonus: it's dog friendly.

Friday, September 13

Wine Dinner and Art Show at Potente
Taft McWorther Art and Duchman Family Winery pair up for this five-course dinner that gives every attendee an original painting commemorating the event. Tickets are $179 per person and can be purchased by calling 713-237-1515.

Saturday, September 14

Death by Tex-Mex vol. 3 at Light Years
Two of the city's most-exciting barbecue pop-ups, JQ's Tex-Mex Barbecue and Vietnamese-influenced Khoi Barbecue, will collaborate at this one-day-only event. The menu includes brisket bánh mì torta, beef cheek phở, beef fajita rice bowl, bò lá lốt sausage, and brisket tamales (prices vary by item). Service begins at noon; expect it to sell out quickly.

Sunday, September 15

Edible Magazine 2019 Local Hero Awards at Winter Street Studios
This live awards ceremony lauds the men and women of H-Town who've made the city a great place to eat, drink, and live, as selected by the publication's readers. The evening features local bites, brews, and booze from all the 2019 finalists, as well as wine and live music. A $30 general admission ticket comes with drinks, bites, and a raffle ticket for killer prizes. For $50, the VIP package includes everything general admission brings, plus five extra raffle tickets, gifts from the finalists, early entry, and the option to hang with winners at Poitín Bar & Kitchen after the event. Tickets are available online.

news-you-can-eat

Bernadine's Revived?

Houston chef takes flight with new Gulf Coast seafood spot in the Heights

Southern Smoke Festival 2022 Graham Laborde Paige Gallaspy Laborde

Photo by Emily Jaschke

undefined

Everything old is new again for Graham Laborde. The chef, a co-owner of Midtown sandwich favorite Winnie’s, will open a new, Gulf Coast-inspired seafood restaurant in the Heights called Little Bird.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because Laborde once led Bernadine’s, a “love letter” to Gulf Coast cuisine that operated in the Heights from 2015 until 2017. While Little Bird is a distinct restaurant with its own identity, diners with a long enough memory will certainly see some commonalities between the two restaurants.

“I’m a firm believer in playing to my strengths, I don’t think any of the cooking I’ve done either at Bernadine’s or Winnie’s or Little Bird, which you’ll soon see, does anything but play to my strengths,” Laborde tells CultureMap. You can’t change who you are. This is the cuisine I know and love. It’s what I’m best at. I’m excited to do it.”

Laborde has claimed the former Flying Fish/The Kid space (1815 N. Durham) for Little Bird, which is just around the corner from where Bernadine’s used to be (it’s now Star Rover). Plans call for about 150 seats, private dining rooms, and an air-conditioned patio. Details include a hand-carved wooden oyster bar and a mural by Houston artists Whitney Garrett-Yarbrough and Dayle Booth.

The menu is still under development, but don’t be surprised if at least a couple of Bernadine’s dishes show up. “I’ve grown a lot over the last 10 years. I think that my style, my palate has grown a lot, too. The menu is a work in progress, but I’m excited to hammer it out,” he says.

Adding to the “getting the band back together” vibe are some of the people helping Laborde bring Little Bird to life. Julia Doran, who served as Bernadine’s pastry chef before a length stint at Nancy’s Hustle and Tiny Champions, is consulting on the dessert program. Chelsea Thomas, formerly Bernadine’s assistant general manager, will serve as general manager at the new restaurant (full disclosure: Thomas is a regular contributor to CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast). Bartender Justin Ware, director of operations for Winnie’s, Johnny’s Gold Brick, and Starduster Lounge, will oversee Little Bird’s beverage offerings.

The chef is excited to be back in the Heights, a neighborhood he knows well.

“I first moved to the Heights straight from New Orleans. I noticed Heights Blvd had a middle ground. It made the transition so much easier,” Laborde says. “I’ve lived in the Heights and Garden Oaks for 16 years. It’s my home. I’m thrilled to be back here.”

news-you-can-eat openings the-heights chefs