Italian Festival Preview

At the Houston Italian Festival, it takes a village to make 15,000 meatballs

At 9 a.m. on a recent rainy Sunday morning, 75 people gathered at a Midtown bakery. Their mission: Turn over 920 pounds of beef into 15,000 meatballs to serve at the 35th annual Italian Festival that begins Thursday night on the campus of St. Thomas University. It was a culmination of a three-day process that includes preparing all the spices on day one and mixing it together with the meat on day two.

Meatballs are one of the many food items available at the festival. Other options include spaghetti, eggplant parmesan, artichokes, Sicilian pizza, cannoli and more. The vast majority are made by volunteers, although some of the more complicated dishes, such as chicken marsala, are made by a local restaurant.

It's that commitment to hand-crafted quality that has made the Italian Festival such a hit and organizers are determined to build on that success this year. The Taste of Italy pavilion will offer a variety of food-related activities. On Thursday and Friday, a tasting event called Bites of Italy features a variety of Italian products. On Saturday and Sunday cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and more will fill the plaza where the festival takes place. One highlight will be a demonstration by Rossella Rago of the Food Network show Cooking with Nona.

Of course, there are lots of other activities. Both adults and kids can stomp grapes. An adult bocce competition and an Italian movie festival are on the busy festival schedule. Other events on the main stage include musical and dance performances.

Go out, eat some food, drink some wine and support the Italian Cultural & Community Center this weekend.

The 35th annual Italian Festival takes place October 10 - 13 at the University of St. Thomas. Hours are: Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free on Thursday and until 4 p.m. on Friday, $8 for adults after that. Children 12 and under are free.

Festival organizers lead the meatball making for the 35th annual Italian Festival.

12 Houston Italian Festival meatball making October 2013

Photo by Eric Sandler

Festival organizers lead the meatball making for the 35th annual Italian Festival.

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dine by the vines

Exclusive Texas Hill Country winery restaurant named best in the world

Stout's Signature restaurant at Grape Creek Vineyards in Fredericksburg

Photo courtesy of Grape Creek Vineyards

Stout's Signature is Grape Creek's members-only restaurant, but a small number of reservations will be offered to non-members.

The Hill Country has no shortage of vineyards and wineries that serve bites with their vintages, but only one Fredericksburg vineyard boasts a restaurant that measures up against the best in the world.

The industry experts at Wine Enthusiast have declared Stout's Signature at Grape Creek Vineyards one of the 57 best destination restaurants in the world. It's the only Texas restaurant to make the cut.

The new honor also elevates Grape Creek Vineyards' reputation as one of the best wineries in the Hill Country region, and its tasting tours are also recognized among the best in the country.

Stout's is a hidden gem restaurant where patrons can enjoy Hill Country-inspired cuisine with their wine tastings, from light bites to a hearty meal, all while the sprawling Grape Creek vineyard beckons from beyond the tables.

Signature dinner dishes like the tenderloin bolognese and meatballs made with veal, pork, and ground beef are must-try picks, but Wine Enthusiast reserves the most praise for its weekend brunch.

"[Stout's] boasts the region’s best Sunday brunch, with tables laden with dishes like Bourbon shrimp and grits with homemade andouille sausage and a breakfast burger with egg, bacon, and avocado," Wine Enthusiast wrote. "A mini pancake stack for the table is a must. Pair it with their Cabernet Trois, a bold blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Ruby Cabernet."

Wine tasting at Grape Creek Vineyards Pair a pour with an app or an entree.Photo courtesy of Grape Creek Vineyards

Stout's has traditionally been a members-only institution for the Grape Creek Wine Club, but non-members now have a chance to dine at the exclusive restaurant. A limited number of Friday and Saturday evening dinner reservations will be offered to the public after the winery's regular closing at 5:30 pm.

"Stout's Signature has always felt like one of our best-kept secrets, and we wanted to give more people the chance to experience it, especially after being named one of the best winery restaurants in the world by Wine Enthusiast this summer," said Heath Family Brands CEO and founder Brian Heath.

Stout's Signature is located at 10587 US-290 in Fredericksburg. Non-member reservation availability is limited, and can be booked by calling 830-644-2710, opt. 3, or online via heathfamilybrands.com.

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