Foodie News

All hail Phoenicia: Take a video tour of new specialty grocery store in downtownHouston

Is it too soon to declare Phoenicia inner loopers new favorite grocery store? After two-and-a-half years of planning and months of delays, Phoenicia Specialty Foods Downtown is finally open and it is awesome.

In the store's first hours on Monday, downtown residents and workers alike were wandering the aisles of sleek chrome shelving, perusing the olive bar, gazing at the beautiful pastry treats in the dessert cases and hanging out near the pita counter where hot and fluffy versions travel down from the second floor to be packaged and served.

The 100,000-square-foot emporium on Houston's west side has been culled to an efficient 28,000 square feet, mixing the global selection that Phoenicia is known for with staples for a neighborhood grocer. Co-owner Haig Tcholakian says the shelves are about 90 percent full but there are still more products to come.

And let's not forget the best part: the parking. The Phoenicia spaces on the second and third floor of One Park Place are easy to get to and clearly marked, with an elevator straight down into the store.

The store defintely has an urban feel, and manages to be full without feeling overwhelming.

There are the standards — Omaha meats, cheap vegetables, Blue Bell ice cream, and household products — plus all the extras that Phoenicia is known for.

Incredible spice aisle? Check.

Shelf full of honey varieties? You know it.

Don't even get me started on the olive oils.

And the fruit counters dont just have tangerines and Fuji apples — there are also quinces, persimmons and dates. There is a sizeable wine section and plenty of hard-to-find imports and specialty items, with the two-floors comprising 10,000 products from 50 countries.

The store is wrapped with a sleek seating area for those who want a meal. In addition to the salad and olive bars, there's a shawarma station with lamb, chicken and other meats ready to slice into gyros, plus prepared foods counters with faves like hummus and muhammara. Or follow the lead of one of Phoenicia's first customers on Monday and grab coffee and then hang out with your laptop and the free Wi-Fi.

For a more typical restaurant experience, Phoenicia also has a dedicated restaurant, coffeeshop and bar called MKT BAR. Offering pizza, sliders, coffee, a dozen beers on tap, wine and Trentino gelato in flavors like chocolate bacon that were specially made for Phoenicia. MKT BAR will have evening entertainment and stay open until 2 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday.

And let's not forget the best part: the parking. The Phoenicia spaces on the second and third floor of One Park Place are easy to get to and clearly marked, with an elevator straight down into the store. It's the best system of free parking in downtown Houston and easier than getting into and out of a crowded Starbucks parking lot.

Check out the video, above, for a first look at the completed Phoenicia downtown.

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cheers to that

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.

whiskey bourbon distilleries awards lists

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