• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Best New Year's Champagne

    The best New Year's Eve champagne: From cheap steals to bubbly big guns — and restaurants that honor them

    Davon D.E. Hatchett
    Dec 27, 2014 | 1:32 pm

    I have a confession to make: Over the course of the last three weeks I have sniffed, swirled and sipped more than 60 different brands and varietals of champagne and sparkling wine. Yes, you read that correctly: Six. Zero.

    Houston, I have a champagne problem.

    In any case, the good news is that my bubbly “problem” can become your New Year’s Eve champagne selecting solution. It seems that les Américains can a bit lost or intimidated when it comes to champagne and sparkling wine.

    What’s the difference between champagne and sparkling wine? What the heck does ‘extra dry’ mean? How do you figure out which wines actually taste ‘good’?

    While I don’t claim to be an expert (although I was recently referred to as a “walking wiki” on the subject), I’m definitely a bubbly-obsessed, sparkling wine enthusiast who is constantly seeking to learn and discover more. All of the aforementioned bubbly tasting and effervescent exploration I do expands my knowledge of trends, brands, varietals and styles, which in turn allows me to share those discoveries with fellow bubbly lovers. That’s right, I, ahem, selflessly do it all for you. Why?

    Well, 'tis the season of giving, no?

    Without further ado, here are my 15 drink picks for New Year’s Eve sipping:

    BUBBLY FOR BEGINNERS

    As I mentioned, many Americans typically don’t know a lot about champagne and sparkling wine in general, so for tipplers who are just starting to make a foray into sipping fizz, selecting which bottle(s) to drink can be downright daunting.

    Sipping bubbly should be fun and approachable so, for bubbly beginners, Proseccos are a great entry point sparkling wine style. Because of their drinkability and price, they are easy on both the palate and the wallet:

    • Adami Prosecco Garbel: A crisp, full-flavored sparkler with ripe peach, melon and balanced acidity. $15
    • Cupcake Prosecco: Light, refreshing and little bit drier than your normal Prosecco. Flavors include green melon, ripe peaches and citrus acidity. $12
    • La Marca Prosecco: I’m one of those people who believes bubbly isn’t just for special occasions, and La Marca is one of my “everyday” sips. $13
    • Zardetto Prosecco: Creamy, floral and fruity with a touch of sweetness. $13

    INTERMEDIATE IMBIBERS

    These picks are for the sippers who are ready to delve a little deeper into the world of bubbly.

    • 2009 Domaine Carneros Brut: This Napa Valley sparkling wine has deep and creamy flavors with aromas of sweet apples and vanilla. $30
    • Berlucchi Cuvee ’61 Brut: This one was a new-to-me option that enchanted me right away with a honeysuckle nose. Easy drinking with fresh baked bread on the palate and a hint of fruit sweetness. $20
    • Gloria Ferrer Brut Royale Cuvée: Flavors of nutty almonds and pears complemented by apricot and lemon on the nose. Good acidity $29
    • 2010 Schramsberg Blanc de Noir: Made of 100 percent pinot noir grapes, this one is a stunner. Blanc de Noir means “white from black” and the first sniff revealed pinot aromas of cherry and stone fruit. Soft tannins and silky finish. Yum. $40
    • Paul Goerg Blanc de Blanc: Lovely, long lasting bubbles with creamy citrus and pear flavors. This is a relatively new champagne, but I really love it. Adding it to my bubby arsenal! $41

    “HEY BIG SPENDER” BUBBLES

    For the seasoned champagne sipping veterans, these are a few of my favorites from the large, branded French champagne houses (Grand Marques). These are consistent crowd pleasers that you can be confident virtually everyone will be delighted to drink:

    • Ruinart Blanc de Blanc: I love the toasty notes of almonds intermingled with pineapple, a bit of green apple and lime blossoms. It finishes with honeyed minerality. Rich and delicious. One of my absolute favorites. $80
    • Cristal: This wine has attained a bit of a pop-culture status, but with good reason: It’s heavenly. Round and lush, it’s got tight, tiny and persistent bubbles with flavors of green apple, pear, peach and citrus. Really pleasurable drinking. $220
    • 2002 Pol Roger Blanc de Blanc: Aged for 9 years, this is sparkler with a bit of good minerality. Flavors of biscuits and crackers with an herbaceous finish, this is a clean, fresh sip. $115
    • 2005 Taittinger Brut Millésimé: aromatic floral notes on the nose followed by rich red apples with a nuance of yeast and lemon. Very supple on the palate. $85

    FOR THE CHAMPAGNE PURISTS

    There’s a trend in champagne right now towards lessening the sugar content (even in brut wines) called “low or no dosage.” No dosage means the wine has three grams or less of residual sugar per liter, while low dosage wines (also called Extra Brut,” which has half as much sugar as the already dry “brut” wines) have six grams or less of residual sugar.

    • Roederer Brut Nature: I attended a spectacular champagne dinner at L’Olivier recently where guests were able to try the coveted Brut Nature. It has pronounced acidity but is still soft and elegant. The sublime moment for me was taking a bite of the chef’s smoked salmon, crab and avocado mousse timbale, followed by a sip of the Brut Nature.

    The dryness of the wine perfectly complemented the richness of the salmon and avocado. It was a perfect pairing. This exclusive bubbly, made in partnership with designer extraordinaire Philippe Starck, can be really hard to get your hands on, but a little birdy told me that a few bottles have been spotted at Spec’s. $90

    • Champagne Jacquesson Cuvee 737 Extra Brut: Yes, yes, and yes again to this well-made wine. The number “737” denotes the number of times the champagne house has bottled wine since its inception in 1898, a very chic way of identification. As for flavors, it’s very dry but has plenty of fruit including pear, lemon and raspberry, making it well-balanced. It also has lovely rich floral notes on both the nose and palate which makes it super pleasurable to drink. $70

    EAT, DRINK & BE BUBBLY

    If you’re really a bubbly overachiever, why not go to a New Year's Eve dinner at a restaurant that loves sparkling wine and champagne as much as you do? In addition to having great food, these hot spots have incredible sparkling wine lists that are sure to accommodate your fizzy fix:

    L’Olivier: With an entire page of over 40 bubblies — including one of my boutique champagne house favorites Jean Lallement — L’Olivier definitely has my effervescent heart! Chef Olivier is featuring a palate-pleasing multi-option four-course menu that will pair perfectly with wine, especially the sparkling kind.

    Think goat cheese salad with pomegranate; butternut squash pasta with lobster; and truffle crusted sea bass with a Nutella brownie for your sweet tooth. Seatings are at 6:30 p.m. ($75) and 9 p.m. ($99), which includes live music and dancing.

    Vallone’s: The restaurant is hosting an open-seating, multi-course dinner with several choices per course. A well edited list of grand marque and boutique French champagnes; vintage sparkling wines; and non-vintage selections make for interesting options to pair with your meal. $95 per person.

    Backstreet Café: Chef Hugo Ortega is clearly a sparkling lover and connoisseur with close to 30 bottles of bubbly on the menu from all over the world. The New Year's Eve dinner is a $72 per person for four courses, with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. The menu also has some great options for vegetarians.

    You’re now fully equipped to raise a glass and bring in the New Year with a proper cork pop, pour, fizz, glass clink and sip. What will you be drinking in 2015?

    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.

    finally coming to H-Town

    Michelin-recognized Austin restaurant group reveals first Houston project

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 12, 2025 | 10:28 am
    Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group chef partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.
    Photo by Jessica Attie
    Emmer & Rye partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.

    One of Texas’ most lauded hospitality groups is finally coming to Houston. Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has claimed the former MF Lobster space in Autry Park for a new restaurant that will open in late 2025.

    At this time, Emmer & Rye isn’t providing any details about the restaurant, including its name or what kind of food it will serve. Given that the group serves everything from Caribbean food at Canje to Mediterranean fare at Ladino, it’s essentially impossible to predict how they’ll utilize the 2,200-square-foot, circular-shaped building.

    Known for concepts such as Hestia, a live restaurant in Austin that earned a Michelin star, and Emmer & Rye, the only Texas restaurant to earn a Michelin green star for sustainability, Emmer & Rye Hospitality operates restaurants in Austin and San Antonio, including Pullman Market, recently named by Robb Report as the No. 3 best new restaurant in America.

    Both chef-partners in the group, Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, have received prestigious Best New Chef awards from Food & Wine. Fink is a two-time James Beard Award finalist, and Bristol-Joseph earned a semifinalist nomination in 2023.

    Southern Smoke Festival 2022 Kevin Fink Tavel Bristol JosephKevin Fink, left, and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, right, at the 2022 Southern Smoke Festival. Photo by Emily Jaschke

    “We’ve had our eye on Houston — and specifically Autry Park — for quite some time,” Bristol-Joseph said in a statement. “When the opportunity to take over such a unique space came along, we couldn’t pass it up. Houston has such a vibrant and diverse culinary community, and we look forward to opening our doors and contributing to the city’s incredible culinary landscape.”

    Located near the intersection of Allen Parkway and Shepherd Drive, Autry Park is a 14-acre mixed-use development with apartments, office space, and shopping. Its restaurants include Annabelle Brasserie, Turner's Cut, Doko, and Bar Doko. In addition to the unnamed Emmer & Rye concept, it will soon welcome Mayahuel, a Mexico City-inspired concept from State Fare owners Culinary Khancepts and chef Luis Robledo Richards. Vegetable-forward restaurant Auden closed there earlier this year.

    As for MF Lobster, it closed on Tuesday, June 10, according to press materials. Owner Chris Kinjo has decided to focus on his other restaurants, including MF Sushi in the Museum District and Annam, a recent addition to Autry Park that serves elevated Vietnamese fare.

    “As much as we loved MF Lobster, it sat in an American dining genre that’s outside our natural wheelhouse,” Kinjo said. “We decided it made sense to sell the restaurant and concentrate on culinary ventures that reflect our Vietnamese and Japanese heritage.”

    chefsnews-you-can-eatopenings
    news/restaurants-bars
    Loading...