Fun on Tap

It's all whiskey, all the time when HTX Whiskey Weekend returns this month

Texan whiskey lovers, it’s your time to shine. The second annual HTX Whiskey Weekend is returning at the end of April for an experience full of Texas libations, delectable meals, and spotlighted seminars by industry professionals. The weekend is led by Houston’s dynamic lifestyle hub City Place.

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect from the boozy lineup of events, happening April 28-29, 2023:

Chef’s Table Dinner
The first event kicks off on Friday with an exclusive four-course dinner in partnership with sustainability focused food group The Butcher’s Ball and Still Austin Whiskey.

Photo courtesy of City Place

There will be 11 Texas distilleries offering samples.

Expert pitmasters Robin Wong, Terry Wong, and Quy Hoang of Blood Brother’s BBQ will display their culinary skills while also showcasing a few surprises from their new concept Luloo’s Day and Night, spearheaded by chefs Arash Kharat and Alyssa Dole.

Tickets for the dinner are $185 per person and include a wine pairing. The menu will be shared closer to the event date.

The Seminar Series
Continue the libation celebration into Saturday with three talks by whiskey industry-leading professionals at the Houston City Place Marriott.

Whiskey aficionados and novices alike can enjoy an afternoon of cocktail mixology while experimenting with different flavor profiles.

The Seminar Series schedule is as follows:

11:00-11:45 am – Whiskey 101 with Rebecca Creek
1:00-2:15 pm – A Perfect Pour: Whiskey Cocktails Part I – Light and Refreshing
3:00-4:15 pm – A Perfect Pour: Whiskey Cocktails Part II – Stirred and Boozy

Tickets for each seminar are $35 per person.

A Taste of City Place
The Whiskey Weekend’s signature waterfront event, A Taste of City Place, will run from 12-6 pm on April 29. The afternoon will be chock full of whiskey tastings by 11 different distillers from around the state. An assortment of food samplings from Michelin-trained chef Dawn Sloan of Soul Taco will be provided from 12-4 pm.

If you need a break from the festivities, dip into the Take 5 Lounge at the Marriott and cool off with zero-proof cocktails and mocktails by Not Too Sweet. Live music performances will accentuate the atmosphere throughout the day.

Tickets for the premier event are $85 per person and include a whiskey tasting glass, whiskey and food samplings, and access to the Take 5 Lounge. Access to the lounge is on a first come, first serve basis due to limited seating.

Whiskey Under the Stars
The weekend wraps up with Whiskey Under the Stars, a casual sampling from Milam & Green and William Price accompanied by cigar rolling and live music. This finale event runs from 6-10 pm on April 29.

The featured distilleries
The Texan distillers that attendees can expect to see throughout the weekend include:

Blackland Distillery – Fort Worth
Clifford Distilling – Port Arthur
Devil’s River Whiskey – San Antonio
Gentle Ben – Alvin
Ironroot Republic Distillery – Denison
Milam & Greene Whiskey Distillery – Blanco
Modisett & Sons Distillery – Fredericksburg
Rebecca Creek – San Antonio
Still Austin – Austin
Texas Tail Distillery – Galveston
William Price Distillery – Houston

To check out the full schedule and grab your tickets, visit htxwhiskeyweekend.com.

htx whiskey weekend promoted drinks cocktails festivals concerts chefs

shining star

New chicken restaurant flies into Houston with 'gluten-friendly' tendies

Courtesy of Starbird

Starbird sells chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and more.

A local restaurant group is bringing a California-based chicken concept to Texas. Mac Haik Restaurant Group announced it has reached an agreement with Starbird to open locations in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

Founded in the San Francisco area in 2016, Starbird is a fast casual restaurant with 19 locations in California and Colorado. It serves fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, and salads that are made with chicken that’s “all-natural, never-frozen, antibiotic-free” and covered in a “gluten-friendly breading” that’s cooked fresh to order, according to a press release.

Pair them with sides such as cole slaw, french fries, crispy Thai Brussels sprouts, or elote. Diners can dip their tenders in 11 sauces, including Greek yogurt ranch, Thai herb aioli, honey mustard, honey chipotle bbq, and more.

Part of Mac Haik Enterprises Ltd, Mac Haik Restaurant Group operates a number of franchised restaurants, including breakfast concept First Watch Daytime Café, the Original ChopShop, and Due’ Cucina. It will open Kirkwood, an upscale supper club, later this spring in a West Houston office building that’s also owned by MHE.

“We evaluate opportunities through the lens of long-term brand relevance, not just unit growth,” MHRG COO Dan Anfinson said in a statement. “Starbird delivers a level of culinary quality and operational sophistication that we believe is still underserved in the premium fast-casual chicken category, particularly in Texas. The brand has a clear point of view and the systems to scale responsibly. That combination is rare, and we’re excited to introduce it thoughtfully across our markets.”

The company intends to open as many as 36 locations beginning in 2027, but MHRG is still in the process of securing specific locations. It will announce which city will be first to receive a Starbird at a later time.

“This agreement reflects the strength of our business model and the clarity of our long-term vision,” added Starbird CEO Greg Levin. “As we mark our 10th anniversary, this is shaping up to be our biggest year yet in terms of expansion. Texas is a critical market for us moving forward, and partnering with an experienced organization like Mac Haik Restaurant Group allows us to grow thoughtfully while staying true to what makes Starbird special.”

Courtesy of Starbird

Starbird sells chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and more.

openings news-you-can-eat starbird