Head of the Class

BB's Tex-Orleans scores an A+ with back-to-school time-saving specials

Shrimp and crab boil at BB's Tex-Orleans

Get the Shrimp and Crab Boil for less in September.

Photo courtesy of BB's Tex-Orleans

Now that the kids are back in school, who wouldn't welcome a little help at dinner time? BB's Tex-Orleans is there for you any night of the week with its "to-geaux" Family Pack, which feeds four to five people and takes a major chore off your plate.

The Family Pack includes:

16 fried chicken tenders
a quart of mac & cheese
a quart of the green bean medley
six pieces of garlic bread
an assortment of dipping sauces
choice of one large salad: house, house Caesar, or Mad Hatter (no protein)

And the best part is that you get all this for only $39.99.

If your brood is more in the mood for a boil, the Shrimp and Crab Boil Experiences are currently discounted to $59.99, for both dine-in and to-go. That's a savings of more than $40!

The Shrimp and Crab Boil Experience includes:

one pound of boiled shrimp
two clusters of Dungeness crab
two clusters of snow crab
two corn
four potatoes
a pineapple sausage link
a garlic sausage link
green beans
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
two eggs
butter and dipping sauce

Both the Family Pack and special pricing on the Shrimp and Crab Boil Experiences are available through September 30 at all BB's Tex-Orleans locations.

When you've made it through the week and want to celebrate the weekend, head to the BB's Tex-Orleans Montrose location for an amazing round of brunch specials.

On Sundays you can score:

Frozen peach bellinis for $6
Mimosas for $3
Juice carafe (your choice of OJ, cranberry, pineapple) with a bottle of sparkling wine for $25
Sparkling wine (brut, rosé, and Moscato) for $20 a bottle
Traditional margaritas for $5 and flavored for $5.50

Dig into these brunch deals for a limited time beginning September 3, on Sundays only from 10:30 am-3 pm, only at the Montrose location.

BB's Tex-Orleans is a Cajun eatery with a unique Texas twist. It has 12 Houston-area locations — find your nearest restaurant here.

dinner families promoted

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