Houston's new food festival

Mary J. Blige, Marcus Samuelson, Bun B, and a host of Houston stars headline hot new food and music festival

A new festival is uniting some of the country’s top Black chefs, beverage professionals, artists, and musicians for a two-day celebration of food, drinks, art, and music. The Honeyland Festival will take place November 11-12, 2023.

Held at Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land, Honeyland is being produced by top talent agency IMG and event production company Live Nation Entertainment. The two entertainment giants have recruited superstar chef Marcus Samuelson, Uncle Nearest Whiskey CEO Fawn Weaver, and Houston artist Tobe Nwigwe to serve the event as the food curator, beverage curator, and Houston ambassador, respectively.

Headliners for the music festival include Mary J. Blige, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, along with Miguel, Jazmine Sullivan, Tems, and more. Houston will be well represented by performers including DJ Mr. Rogers, Dende, Lenora, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Tobe Nwigwe, and others. See the full lineup below.

On the culinary side, headliners include Lucille’s Hospitality Group founder chef and James Beard Award finalist Chris Williams, Top Chef finalist Dawn Burrell, Houston hip hop legend and Trill Burgers co-founder Bun B, Top Chef star Tiffany Derry, and Serigne Mbaye, the New Orleans chef who earned a 2023 James Beard Award finalist nomination for his restaurant Dakar NOLA. See the full lineup below.

“Trill Burgers and I are proud to be a part of Honeyland,” Bun B said in a statement. “It’s so important that we take the time to celebrate Black food, drink, and music, and acknowledge the impact we’ve had on American culture. To do this in the city that I reside in and call home makes it that much more special.”

Pre-sale tickets are on sale now. Prices start at $150 (plus a $30 fee) for general admission. VIP passes are priced at $525 (plus a $101 fee) and come with perks such as parking, lounges, viewing areas, and a merchandise credit. Those who want the ultimate experience may opt for the platinum package, which is priced at $975 (plus a $187 fee). General on-sale begins Friday, July 21.

“Whether you’re looking to taste a sample from one of your favorite rising chefs, or looking to have a conversation about breaking into the food and beverage industry as a Black entrepreneur, there will be something for every Honeylander to enjoy,” IMG vice president Staci Hallmon added. “Through food, music, and local partnerships, Honeyland will build a cultural movement that will inspire many.”

Musicians

Chlöe
Coco Jones
DJ Mr. Rogers
Spinall
Dende
Houston All-Stars (Scarface, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Z-Ro, and Lil Keke)
Inayah
Jae Murphy
Jazmine Sullivan
Kiotti & Keisha Nicole
Lenora
Lucky Daye
Mary J. Blige
Miguel
Tay Powers
Tems
Tobe Nwigwe

Chefs and Culinary Personalities

Amaris Jones
Angela Yee
Brandon “Big B The Chef” Tiffith
Bun B’s Trill Burgers
Chris Williams
Dawn Burrell
Earn Your Leisure
Ghetto Gastro
Indy Officinalis
Kardea Brown
Kavachi Ukegbu
Keisha Griggs
Prince Lobo
Serigne Mbaye
Shawn Osbey
Steve Rogers
Tabitha Brown
Tiffany Derry

Beverage Specialists

Andra AJ Johnson
Drink Champs
Ian Burrell
Jackie Summers
Jermaine Stone
Josh Davis
Keyatta Mincey Parker
Marcus Baskerville
McBride Sisters
Saeed "Hawk" House
Tiffanie Barriere

Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

Mary J. Blige will headline the Honeyland Festival

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.