After a pause for holiday festivities, Houston’s restaurants, bars, and other organizations are back to hosting a lively roster of food events. January’s top options include a meal featuring some of the city’s top chefs, a brisket class, and the opportunity to eat haggis while drinking Scotch.
Now through January 31
30th Anniversary Specials at Gringo's Mexican Kitchen
All 15 locations of the popular Tex-Mex restaurant will serve a throwback menu in honor of the first location that opened in Pearland on January 11, 1993. Special menu items include the Sombrero combination plate (bean chalupa, cheese enchilada, beef enchilada, and queso chip), Fajitas Rancheros, and more.
Tuesday, January 17
Perfect 10 Gala at Brennan’s of Houston
Local restaurant publication Houston Food Finder has gathering a who’s-who of chefs, sommeliers, and bartenders for this Mardi Gras-themed dinner. The VIP welcoming reception features five bites by chefs David Skinner (eculent), Niki Vongthong (Hidden Omakase), Alex Au-Yeung (Phat Eatery), James Beard Award winner Hugo Ortega, and CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winner Benchawan Painter (Street to Kitchen). The six-course dinner includes dishes by Chris Roy (Winnie’s), Mark Holley (Davis St.), and Vanarin Kuch (Koffeteria). Tickets cost $185 for general admission and $245 for VIP.
Betty White Birthday Bash at Angel Share
Downtown’s charity bar will throw a special party in honor of the beloved late actress. Get happy hour pricing ($5 wells, $5 drafts, and $5 shot specials) from 4-7 pm plus $15 bottles of sparkling while they last. Patrons can also sip the Drink yo’ Face, a vodka-based cocktail with an image of White.
Drink Betty White's face at Angel Share.Photo by Taylor Hall
Wednesday, January 18
Brisket 101 at R-C Ranch
Learn to trim, prep, rub, and cook the signature meat of Texas barbecue during this class at the butcher shop that’s part of the Houston Farmers Market. Pitmaster Jeremy “JJ” Jeffers, owner of J Bar J Texas Pit BBQ in Brookshire and a partner in Alex Bregman’s Breggy Bomb, will share tips on wood smoke profiles, temperatures, timing, wrapping, slicing, and serving. The class also includes brisket samples, sandwiches, and the opportunity to purchase a R-C Ranch wagyu brisket for the discounted price of $75. Tickets, $100, are available online.
Saturday, January 21
Bobby Burns Supper at The Art of Cellaring
Chef Richard Knight (Feast, Hunky Dory) and sommelier Sean Beck (formerly with H-Town Restaurant Group) have teamed up for this dinner celebrating the life of the legendary Scottish poet who authored “Address to a Haggis.” The four-course menu includes the iconic dish along with cock-a-leekie soup and cranachan, a dessert made with toasted oats, fresh berries, and whipped cream. Beck’s pairings include wines and Compass Box whisky. Tickets, $88, are available by emailing seanpoursmagic@gmail.com.
Thursday, January 26
Bourbon, Bison & Brims dinner at Rainbow Lodge
The fine dining restaurant welcomes Rodeo season with this wild game dinner that features free-range meats and wild-caught seafood sourced from Beck & Bulow in Santa Fe, NM. Chef Mark Schmidt’s menu will include New Mexico bison, wagyu beef, wild-caught Alaskan sablefish, sustainable caviar, and North American elk. Festive Western attire is encouraged, $195.
