this weekend in dining

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

Even the hint of cooler weather has prompted a wave of food events that are all happening this weekend.

Are things back to “normal?” Of course not, but many people are feeling comfortable enough to venture out — masks on, of course — for a little socially distant revelry. Read on for details on a po’boy pop-up, two different voter registration drives, and where to dunk some of Houston’s most popular chefs.

Friday, September 25

Alpasión wine dinner at Weights + Measures
The Midtown restaurant will serve a four-course meal that includes tiger shrimp empanadas and pan-seared beef tenderloin paired with Alpasión’s Chardonnay, Grand Reserve Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Grand Reserve Malbec. Call 713-654-1970 for reservations for the $75 meal, 6:30 pm.

Peace Maker Po-Boy Pop-Up at Natachee's Supper 'n' Punch
Chefs Graham Laborde and Chris Roy have reunited to serve the celebrated Peacemaker Po’boy from the late, great Bernadine’s. They’ll have a few other specials, including a beef birria po’boy and a Nashville Hot Mushroom Po’boy, alongside cocktails created by Johnny’s Gold Bricks. Pre-orders are live, which means this event will sell out, 4-8 pm.

National Bakery Day at Three Brothers Bakery
All three location will celebrate both the food holiday and Three Brothers’ 71st anniversary with 71-cent cookies, excluding fancy cookies like hamantaschen, gingerbread, dipped decorated, and lady fingers. In-store only while supplies last.

National Lobster Day at McCormick & Schmick's
The Landry’s owned seafood concept will offer a special lobster and shrimp roll with clam chowder and fries for $20.

National Quesadilla Day at Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
Both locations of the Tex-Mex favorite will celebrate the day with a flight of quesadillas – one chicken, one beef, and one spinach – for $12. Dine-in only.

Saturday, September 26

The Bake Happening Pop-Up at Revival Market
Pastry chef Andrea de Gortari will sell Halloween-themed cookies, banana crumb cake, salted rye chocolate chip cookies, and other sweet treats at The Heights favorite from 9 am - 2 pm (or sold out).

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Sep 21, 2020 at 9:33am PDT

Voter Registration Drive at Eighteen36
The Upper Kirby patio bar will feature 8th Wonder’s Procrastinator IPA with gift cards and swag on both Saturday and Sunday from 3 pm - midnight. Those who haven’t registered to vote may do so before it’s too late.

Voter Registration Drive at La Grange
Not that the Montrose patio bar would ever advocate for one presidential candidate over another, but when the Saturday night promotion features blue margaritas priced at $2 and red margaritas priced at $20, it seems safe to draw your own conclusions. In addition, La Grange’s new beef birria tacos will be $7.50, which is $1 less than normal, 5 - 8 pm.

Sunday, September 27

Farmers Market Anniversary Party at Heights Mercantile
In addition to the ability to shop over 40 vendors in a relaxed, outdoor environment, the market will celebrate its first anniversary with music by DJ Chaney — spinning from the roof of his party van. A dunking booth for chefs such as Erin Smith (Feges BBQ), Tony Luhrman (El Topo), and Nick Wong (UB Preserv) will raise money for I’ll Have What She’s Having, the local non-profit focused on women’s health, 9 am - 1 pm.

The Peace Maker Po'boy pop-up takes place Friday.

Courtesy of Peace Maker

The Peace Maker Po'boy pop-up takes place Friday.

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J.J.'s hot takes

Texans legend J.J. Watt drops 'controversial' crawfish take on soccer podcast

Courtesy of FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee

J.J. Watt discussed Houston's food scene on Men in Blazers.

“If you’re checking your watch, I’m on food talk now, so we’re going to be awhile.”

With that comment, former Houston Texans star and future Pro Football Hall of Famer J.J. Watt launched into an epic tribute to Houston’s dynamic food scene. Speaking with host Roger Bennett on the globally-renown soccer podcast Men in Blazers, Watt spent about 15 minutes introducing the show’s audience to many of the cuisines and restaurants that Houstonians love.

“When you look at this singular city, at Houston, what is it in your mind that makes it great — that the world is going to see this summer,” Bennett asks at approximately the 1:45 mark.

“Food,” Watt replies. “Truthfully, we have great, great food. I have always said that Houston is one of the most underrated food cities in the world. People that come here are going to get fatter.”

Encouraged by Bennett to “go deeper” into the topic, Watt offered more than 20 suggestions for restaurants to try. They included:

Breakfast tacos at Island Grill and Pappas Bar-B-Q
Barbecue at Killen’s Barbecue
Burgers at Becks Prime, The Burger Joint, and Killen’s Burgers
Seafood at Pappadeaux

Watt told an entertaining anecdote about Trill Burgers, the smash burger concept from Houston hip-hop legend Bun B.

“Trill Burgers, they put something in there that can’t be legal,” Watt quipped. “I’ve talked to Bun B. It’s like crack, okay? He gave me one of those burgers. When I came back from the Ring of Honor at the Texans, they put Trill Burgers in our suite. There were six, and there were 12 people in the suite. I had four of them. Everyone else had to fight over two burgers.”

Asked about crawfish, Watt dropped an opinion that he acknowledged would be controversial. “You’re not going to like,” he told the 300-person, sold-out crowd.

“That’s a lot of work. Then they tell you to suck the head. I’ll be honest. Didn’t do a lot for me,” Watt stated. “Look at this [points to himself]. The amount of crawfish you have to break and eat. When they dump it all out, I have to have my own 9-foot table. Nobody has the time to break that many crawfish open and suck the heads on every one.”

Watt appeared on the show as part of its Houston episode that marked 99 days until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Houston Rockets icon and Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon also appeared on the show, which was recorded at Rice University.

Houston will host seven matches from June 14 - July 4, including five in the group stage and one each in the round of 32 and the round of 16. Find more details about the tournament and local celebrations at the official FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee website.

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