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    Good Vibes

    Gift great food, wine, and times this holiday with these delicious ideas

    CultureMap Create
    Dec 13, 2023 | 4:30 pm

    One of the best parts about the holidays is the food and wine — and family and friends you get to enjoy it with.

    The Big Vibe Group keeps this spirit going all year long, but its restaurants get especially festive this time of year. Here's how to gift delicious experiences to be savored:

    Bottaio Wine Shop
    A new dimension has opened inside of Coppa Osteria, and wine lovers will cheer.

    Bottaio Wine Shop only stocks wines from small, boutique vineyards, about 90 percent of which qualify as biodynamic, natural, and/or organic wines.

    Even better, the retail wines are sold at 10-15 percent below the already low wine list price — that's a major steal. Bottles are also listed online and available for pick up, so just call ahead to order.

    Since you can never go wrong with a nice bottle of wine, pick up one (or several) for hosts and hostesses, colleagues, and friends.

    Bottaio Wine Shop holiday gifts

    Photo by Rebecca Wright Photography

    Wine is always the perfect gift.

    Dining together
    Whether you're planning the office holiday bash, a fun family get-together, or intimate dinner with close friends, consider private and group dining at The Big Vibe Group's restaurants.

    Each restaurant has to capacity to host a crowd — all you need to do is determine how many.

    Enjoy semi-private dining on the patios at Gratify, surrounded by lush greenery, bold wallpaper, and atmospheric hanging lights, or reserve the whole restaurant for an all-out experience.

    The Dough Room at Coppa Osteria comfortably fits 20 guests, while the Frida room at Flora can comfortably fit 40 seated and 50-60 cocktail-style. The interior offers stunning chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows for a truly unforgettable meal, or expand the guest count and rent the surrounding patio space.

    However long your guest count might be, you'll find the right fit at one of these restaurants.

    Gift cards
    You know what pairs really well with a bottle of wine from Bottaio Wine Shop, or even on its own? A gift card that can be used at any restaurant in The Big Vibe Group: Gratify Neighborhood Bistro, Coppa Osteria, Flora Mexican Kitchen, and Graffiti Raw.

    Plan brunch with a good friend, happy hour with coworkers, or date night with your special someone and give the gift of great food, wine and craft cocktails, and time together.

    Mucho merch
    Hats off to the holidays with The Big Vibe Group merchandise, which includes T-shirts, hats, and brass keychains. Allow three to five business days for shipping or pick up at one of the restaurants, and then get ready for year-round big vibes.

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    Buckle up

    Chicken fried lobster takes top prize at RodeoHouston carnival food awards

    Brianna McClane
    Mar 6, 2026 | 9:15 am
    Gold Buckle Foodie Awards
    Photo by Brianna McClane
    The Gold Buckle Foodie Awards highlights the food vendors found throughout the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

    Strolling the midway’s food stands at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is an annual treat for those who crave unique flavors and deep-fried indulgences. But even the most dedicated food-obsessed carnival go-er can feel overwhelmed while searching for the next bite among crowds dripping in western wear and the spinning, tinkling carnival rides.

    If the choices feel overwhelming, look for the bright yellow logo marking a Gold Buckle Foodie Award winner. Now in its 18th year, the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards brings together chefs, influencers, and members of the media to vote on which of the 18 submitted dishes top the charts. The categories hit all the Rodeo food necessities: Best Fried Food, Best Food-on-a-Stick, Best Classic Fair Food, Best Most Creative, Best New Flavor, and Best Dessert.

    Rousso’s Fat Bacon clinched awards in both Classic Fair Food and Best New Flavor. The Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries were a clear favorite amongst the judges, with the fair favorite drizzled in rich chocolate and pistachio cream, while the Bacon Jam Brisket Biscuit was greeted with cries of delight when the fluffy golden biscuits hit the table.

    The Finer Diner’s tangy Pork-King Luau Sliders and Waffle Chix’s hearty Strawberries & Cream Waffle Stick didn’t win gold but deserve a visit, according to this writer.

    Here are the 2026 Gold Buckle Foodie Awards winners.

    Best Fried Food

    • 1st Place: Chicken Fried Lobster – Darlin's Fried Chicken (RP130)
    • 2nd Place: Minneblueberry Pie – The Original Minneapple Pie (CD202)
    • 3rd Place: Deep Fried Edamame with Spicy Garlic Sauce – Asian Streetness (AR603)

    Best Food-on-a-Stick

    • 1st Place: K'boom K-Dog – Asian Streetness
    • 2nd Place: Bacon Cheeseburger Corn Dog – Pioneer Wagon
    • 3rd Place: Chicken Bacon Ranch Waffle Stick – Waffle Chix

    Classic Fair Food

    • 1st Place: Rousso's Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries – Rousso's Fat Bacon
    • 2nd Place: Pork-King Luau Sliders – The Finer Diner
    • 3rd Place: Loaded Cowboy Fries – Pioneer Wagon

    Most Creative Food

    • 1st Place: Brisket Cheese Curd Tacos – Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos
    • 2nd Place: Skillet Potato Melt... Plus! – Texas Sized Pizza / Burger and Chili Shack
    • 3rd Place: Loaded Cowboy Corn – Fields of Corn

    Best New Flavor

    • 1st Place: Bacon Jam Brisket Biscuit – Rousso's Fat Bacon
    • 2nd Place: Crunchy Sushi Balls – Asian Streetness
    • 3rd Place: Torta – Go Tejano Diner

    Best Dessert

    • 1st Place: Bacon Jam Beignets – Cajun Cowboy
    • 2nd Place: Chill & Thrill Delight – Mamacita’s
    • 3rd Place: Strawberries and Cream Waffle Stick – Waffle Chix

    Gold Buckle Foodie Awards

    Photo by Brianna McClane

    The Gold Buckle Foodie Awards highlights the food vendors found throughout the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

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