spring festival season

Raise a glass to these 8 can't-miss Houston food and wine events

Houston spring event season is rapidly drawing to a close. Before the summer swelter sets in, consider these options that support a charity, include a little road trip, give wine lovers the opportunity to stop and drink the rosés, or become immersed in a week of chef-driven food and wine. No matter what, Houston has people covered with events worth signing up for.

Celebrity Chefs Against Cancer
Wednesday, April 23
This annual event at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston draws 21 chefs from across the Houston area to raise money for Camp H-Town, a charitable organization dedicated to providing children with cancer an “urban camping trip” at the post downtown hotel. Participating restaurants include Balboa Surf Club, Bludorn, Brennan’s of Houston, Guard & Grace, Kriti Kitchen, Nobie’s, and Xochi. Tickets also include wine, beer, and cocktails. A silent auction offers trips, sports tickets, rare bottles of wine, and more. 6-9 pm. Tickets here.

Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry
Thursday, April 24
One of the country’s premier traveling culinary events for a cause returns to Houston’s Silver Street Studios, bringing together more than 40 of the city’s best chefs and restaurants to support No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger in America by the non-profit organization Share Our Strength. Along with delicious bites, guests can expect sips from celebrated winemakers, brewers, and bartenders, along with live music, raffles, interactive games, and cooking demos. This year’s co-chairs include Evelyn Garcia of Jūn, Leonardo Botello IV of Truth BBQ, Alba Huerta of Julep, Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar, and Ryan Pera of Coltivare — all of whom will be serving bites and sips. They’ll be joined by Uchi, The Original Ninfa’s, Perseid, Musaafer, Little Rey, ChópnBlock, BCN, Eunice, The Blind Goat, Phat Eatery, and many more. 6-9 pm. Tickets here.

Pink and White Party at Guard & Grace
Friday, April 25
Guard & Grace Houston is bringing back its Pink and White Party. This vibrant celebration invites Houstonians to sip, savor, and celebrate under a rosy-hued decorated outdoor tent, complete with a live string player to set the mood. Attendees will enjoy tastings of pink, white, and orange wines from 15-plus vendors with sommeliers guiding them through the flavors and pairings. Indulge in an array of curated light bites featuring a raw bar, artisanal charcuterie, signature small plates, and decadent desserts — including chef Troy Guard’s famous warm triple chocolate chip cookies. 4-7 pm.

Kemah Boardwalk Spring Wine Fest
Saturday, April 26
At this annual fest in Kemah, take in ocean breezes, water views, and premium wines from Sonoma County and Napa Valley, California. Attendees can expect live music on the plaza and 24 wineries pouring 72 wines to sample. Also included with ticketed wristbands are small bites from Landry’s Seafood, Saltgrass Steak House, Aquarium restaurant, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and the charcuterie tent. Participating wineries include Duckhorn Vineyards, Dry Creek Vineyard, Rodney Strong, Markham Vineyards, Pedroncelli Winery, Stags Leap Winery, Cakebread Cellars, and many more. 2-5 pm. Tickets and details here.

Brenner’s on the Bayou Wine Fest
Saturday, May 3
This year’s annual event on the picturesque grounds of Brenner’s on the Bayou is back with the theme “Derby Down the Bayou.” Along with award-winning wines from more than 10 wineries, food will be provided from these Landy’s restaurants: Brenner’s on the Bayou, Cadillac Bar, King Ranch Texas Kitchen, Willie G’s, Grotto, and a special dessert station from chef Eunice Grassa. Participating wineries include Jordan Winery, Jackson Family Wines, DAOU, Far Niente Wine Estates, Delamotte Champagne, Albert Bichot, and more. The breezy outdoor walk-around tasting includes live music and a Derby hat contest for prizes. Stick around and watch the Kentucky Derby at the Blue Bar at 6 pm. 2:30-5:30 pm. Tickets here.

Women of Wine Charities Sangria Throwdown!
Thursday, May 15
Sangria, the Spanish punch traditionally made with red wine, chopped fruit, and brandy, is a fun way to drink wine. That’s why the Women of Wine Charities have chosen it as the star drink in a creative competition between mixologists for Best Sangria benefitting the Houston Area Women’s Center. At the Throwdown, a panel of media judges will vote for the Judges’ Choice Awards, and guests will vote for the People’s Choice Award. This year’s competitors include Doris Metropolitan, Stella’s Wine Bar, El Meson, Nobie’s, The Library, Reata Cellars, Candelari’s, Guard and Grace, Pacha Nikkei, Lucille’s, Riel, MAD, and 13 Celsius. 6:30-9 pm at Mercedes-Benz Houston Greenway. Tickets include paella and sangria.

Respect the Rosé Under the Sea Prom Bash at Brennan’s
Saturday, May 17
For 2025, the Southern Smoke Foundation’s favorite theme party celebrates ‘80s prom nostalgia with a collaborative dinner at Brennan’s by notable chefs. Cooking with SSF co-founder Chris Shepherd will be Ryan Prewitt of Peche (New Orleans); Stephen Stryjewski of Link Restaurant Group (New Orleans), and Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman of Hog & Hominy (Memphis). A selection of rosés and other wines from Paradigm, Miner Family Wines, and Donelan Wines will be served. 6:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased here.

Wine & Food Week in The Woodlands
Wednesday, May 28-Saturday, May 31
Celebrating 21 years as one of the region’s top culinary events, Wine & Food Week returns with the theme “Crushing It!” Fan favorite events include Wine Around the World Wednesday; Sips, Suds & Savor, Friday night date night; and the all-new Crushing it with Cocktails, a spirited cocktail competition. The week culminates with the Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Ballroom, where acclaimed chefs compete for the coveted Chef of Chefs Award and a $5,000 cash prize. A portion of the ticket proceeds benefit charitable organizations such as The Woodlands Arts Council, New Danville, and the Montgomery County Food Bank. Visit the website for the full schedule including participants for each event and ticket options.

Courtesy of Guard & Grace

Guard & Grace's pink wine party happens this Friday.

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food news roundup

6 things to know in Houston food: Openings, a closing, and more

Photo by Madelynne Grace

Atlantic Ocean recently opened on Washington Avenue.

From an intimate new Italian restaurant in West U. to the surprise shutter of a Midtown pickleball venue, the Houston food scene moves pretty fast. Read on to find out how Winsome Prime is celebrating its anniversary, an Atlanta chef who just opened his first Houston restaurant, and an exciting new dinner series that’s bringing one of Austin’s best chefs to the Heights for a one-night-only meal.

Openings and closings

Osteria di Mercato has opened in West University Place. A sister concept to Mercato and Company, a gourmet grocer that opened last year, the 30-seat, dinner-only restaurant aims to serve traditional Italian fare in an intimate environment. The menu features dishes such as saffron arancini, tuna crudo with passion fruit chili sauce, fettuccine with braised rabbit, smoked ricotta and spinach agnoloti, swiss chard-stuffed quail.

Executive chef Mauricio Alvarado spent 16 years working for various Tony Vallone restaurants, including Ciao Bello, Vallone’s, and Tony’s. The Michelin Guide designated general manager Marco Thompson as Toronto’s sommelier of the year in 2023.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30-9:30 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Atlantic Ocean has opened in the former Passerella space at 6011 Washington Ave. Open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, the wide-ranging menu offers seafood dishes from around the globe.

Starters include cornmeal-crusted crab cake, chargrilled oysters, clams calabrese, and Moroccan lamb shots. Entrees offer similar diversity, ranging from blackened redfish and grilled branzino with chimichurri and citrus mojo to a soy-martinated ribeye and lobster pasta that’s made with butter-poached claw meat.

Chef-owner Virgil Harper is best known for Toast on Lenox, his acclaimed brunch concept in Atlanta. He’s joined in the kitchen by executive chef and partner Aliyah Watley.

"Atlantic Ocean was created to deliver a dining experience where every detail feels intentional, from the quality of the seafood to the warmth of the service and the atmosphere around you,” Harper said in a statement. “Houston’s dynamic food culture makes it the perfect home for this concept, and we’re excited to share a menu that respects seafood traditions while bringing a fresh, creative perspective."

Midtown pickleball bar Solarium has closed, according to its Instagram page. Opened in April 25, the bar transformed the former Holman Draft Hall space with six outdoor courts and five private rooms to watch the action.

Solarium was a joint venture between the Kirby Group and Rex Hospitality, the restaurant group owned by Astros pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. and his business partners, Juan Carlos de Aldecoa and Jimmy Doan. Earlier this year, Rex closed its Maven Coffee location in Sawyer Yards to concentrate on its wholesale business that sells coffee products such as cold brew concentrate.

Other news and notes

Zaranda, Hugo Ortega’s California-inspired restaurant in downtown, is now open Sunday. It will serve an a la carte brunch from 11 am-3 pm. Options include cornbread with Mandarin-honey butter; tostada de campechana with octopus, shrimp, raw oysters, cucumber, avocado, ancho-morita purée, Clamato, Maggi, soy, and olive oil; steak and eggs with refried beans, guacamole, salsa, and flour tortillas; Baja breakfast burrito with bacon, chorizo, scrambled eggs, potato, onion, salsa roja y verde, avocado, and cheese-crusted sobaquera; chilaquiles with shredded chicken, sunny-side-up eggs, totopos, salsa verde, crema, and housemade queso fresco; and more. It will also be open for dinner from 4-9 pm.

Winsome Prime is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a limited time menu. The three-course, $50, prix fixe menu includes choices such as chili-glazed shrimp, crab beignets, spinach and artichoke dip, kung pao pasta, and chicken royale. Upgrade to the signature Hawaiian ribeye — a nod to the location once being home to Houston’s — for $10. Choose one of three desserts to complete the meal.

Food events

Doke concepts will host a series of guest chef dinners in April, May, and June. Each evening will begin with champagne and hors d’oeuvres at Lazy Land. Diners will then be driven to The Green Room for a three-course dinner, followed by dessert cocktails and s’mores at Heights & Co. The lineup includes chefs recognized by the Michelin Guide and the most recent winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Texas.

April 15: Joseph Geiskopf, chef and co-owner of The On’ry, a traveling culinary concept based out of Houston, formerly of Ciel and Credence
April 29: Kevin Fink, chef and co-owner of Emmer and Rye Hospitality, which operates Michelin-recognized restaurants Emmer & Rye, Hestia, Isidore, and others.
May 13: Louis Maldonado, a former Top Chef contestant who held one Michelin star at Cortez restaurant in San Francisco.
May 26: Thomas Bille, chef-owner of Belly of the Beast in Spring and 2025 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Texas
June 10: To be announced
June 24: Ryan Lachine, executive chef of State of Grace, formerly chef-owner of Riel

Photo by Madelynne Grace

Atlantic Ocean recently opened on Washington Avenue.

“This dinner party series is designed to give our guests an upscale, unique dining experience while highlighting each of our restaurants' distinct personalities,” Doke Concepts owner Brian Doke said in a statement. “With the help of our incredible guest chefs, we’re confident we’re going to give our guests an unforgettable evening.

Tickets will be available via the Lazy Lane website.

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