where to party on derby day

11 Houston restaurants and bars run for the roses with Kentucky Derby parties

Houston’s restaurants and bars are celebrating the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby in style. Held this Saturday, May 4, the events include a wine festival, costume contests, and the chance to take a picture with a horse.

Time to break out the seersucker and find the biggest, fanciest hat available. Here are the best derby happenings in Houston.

Backstreet Cafe
Pre-party for the race with a Derby-themed brunch at the River Oaks staple. Look for drink specials featuring Maker’s Mark and a special board that includes deviled eggs, pimento cheese, cucumber sandwiches, hot chicken biscuit sandwich, and fried green tomatoes with crab remoulade. A prize will be awarded for best hat.

Brasserie 19
At the restaurant’s annual hat party, the see-and-be-seen crowd will don their finest Derby wear in hopes of winning a champagne brunch for six. Call 713-524-1919 for reservations.

Brenner’s on the Bayou
Held from 2:30-5:30 pm, the restaurant’s annual Wine Fest features 18 wineries pouring more than 40 wines. The roster includes: Revana Family Vineyards, Copper Cane Wine & Provisions, Wagner Family Wines, Santa Margherita NA, Vineyard Brands. In between sips, attendees will find bites from eight Landry’s restaurants, including Grotto, King Ranch Texas Kitchen, and Willie G’s. Three people will prizes in the Derby Big Hat Contest. Tickets are priced at $150 for general admission or $250 for VIP that allows entry at 1:30 pm.

Daily Gather
For its celebration, the CityCentre restaurant will be serving Derby-themed cocktails alongside light bites and prizes for best outfit and best hat. Held from 4-7 pm, the restaurant will show the race on a big screen. Tickets cost $65.

Federal Grill
All five locations of the whiskey-fueled comfort food restaurant will celebrate with Woodford Reserve mint julep specials, live music, and a contest with prizes for the best dressed man, woman, couple, and best hat.

Heights Bier Garten
Beginning at 11:30 am, the popular patio bar will host an all-day bash with drink specials, themed photo booths, games, and live music. A best dressed contest takes place at 6:30 pm.

Julep
The award-winning, Southern-inspired cocktail bar goes all out for Derby Day. Held from 1-6 pm, its annual party features live music, multiple bars, and decorations that include 5,000 fresh cut flowers. Guest chef Michelle Wallace will serve bites throughout the day. $25.

Loch Bar
Customers who show up in Derby attire will receive a complimentary cocktail. All of the restaurant’s TVs will show the race.

Permission Whiskey
Owner Peter Nolan honors his Kentucky roots with one of Houston’s biggest Derby bashes. Held from 1 pm until 2 am, the party features live bluegrass, a DJ inside, and a jazz vocalist at James, the bar’s member’s only speakeasy. In addition, look for multiple ice sculptures, photo with an actual horse, and a cigar roller. Plus, the best dressed man and woman will win a fantastic prize.

Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House
Down in San Leon, the restaurant will have a rose wall for photos, a DJ, drink specials, and a wine basket prize for the best dressed. Attendees who pick the winning horse will also be entered into a raffle for a Pier 6 gift card. 4 pm.

Rockhouse Southern Kitchen
Billed as Houston’s largest Derby party, restaurateur Rob Wright celebrates the day with DJs, cocktails, and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear their finest Derby attire. 3 pm.

Photo by Marco Torres

Julep goes all out for Derby Day.

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H-E-B names 3 innovative Houston food companies among 'Texas Best'

H-E-B Quest for Texas Best Hive Food Co.

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

Hive Food Co. is known for its infused honey.

After months of pouring over video submissions, H-E-B is entering the final leg of its annual grocery games. The San Antonio-based supermarket chain has narrowed down the finalists for its annual Quest for Texas Best competition, including three from Houston.

Ten innovative Texas entrepreneurs were chosen from a record-breaking 978 entries representing more than 500 companies spread across the Lone Star State.

Now in its 13th year, the contest asks Texas small businesses to put their best foot forward for the chance to win a combined $100,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to be stocked on H-E-B shelves. Since the competition's beginning, the grocer has discovered more than 1,000 unique products, many of which have become literal household names.

“Quest for Texas Best is more than a competition; it is a launchpad for Texas entrepreneurs,” said James Harris, senior director of diversity & inclusion and supplier diversity for H‑E‑B, in a release. “H‑E‑B began as a small business, and we know firsthand how powerful the right opportunity can be.”

This year, the San Antonio and Houston regions were at the head of the pack with three finalist nods each. But the entrepreneurs hailed from all over the state — from border town Roma to Fort Worth suburb Haltom City. The top 10 hopefuls include:

Boerne — Coley’s Foods Inc., a frozen cookie dough company
Floresville — Dean & Peeler Meats, a beef producer known for its smoked Gouda sausage and Angus tallow
San Antonio — WFN Foods, maker of heat-and-serve taco fillings like beef barbacoa, pork carnitas, and carne guisada
Roma — In Your Smokin' Face, a spice company specializing in bold chile piquín and carne asada blends
Haltom City — Sol Dias, a gourmet paleta and Mexican ice cream company
Glenn Heights — Uncle Marc’s, a manufacturer of barbecue seasonings, rubs, and sauces
Houston — Doggie Express, a small-batch maker of decorated treats for canine celebrations
Houston — Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce, a saucy supplier branching out to Bloody Mary and margarita mixes
Houston — Hive Food Co., beekeepers known for gourmet infused honey
Bastrop — La Fregona, creators of a chile sauce for elotes and esquites

The final contenders will pitch their products on October 8 at H-E-B's headquarters in San Antonio, where judges will determine the top four winning products and award $50,000 to the Grand Prize winner and the "Texas Best" title — an honor that guarantees placement on H-E-B store shelves.

The first-place winner will receive $25,000, the second-place winner will receive $15,000, and the third-place winner will receive $10,000.

Since 2014, H-E-B has handed out nearly $2.75 million in prize money to Texas entrepreneurs. But Quest for Texas Best isn’t just about capital: the winners receive marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support to grow their brands. Fifty-five Texas small businesses that took part in the contest have achieved $1 million in sales and earned a commemorative H-E-B Million Dollar Club belt buckle.

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where to party on derby day

11 Houston restaurants and bars run for the roses with Kentucky Derby parties

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