From a picnic in the park to a global street food carnival, here’s a look at this weekend's best culinary happenings:
Opening Day Picnic in the Park at Evelyn’s Park
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4400 Bellaire
Evelyn’s Park opening day features art in the park, a kids zone with hula hoops, corn hole, face painting and more, a Snap Kitchen healthy food and juice zone, farmers market, food truck zone and
The Ivy & James zone, where guests can pick up picnic basket lunches, sample the menu and enjoy the beer garden.
Taste of the Islands Chef-Led Tour
Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
Meeting at Central Market, 3815 Westheimer
Travis Lenig of
Field & Tides, Kate McLean of
Tony's and chef Mark Parmley will be leading guests on a unique tour, riding the Wave to Houston haunts with island groove. The exact details and restaurant destinations will be kept secret until you arrive.
Tickets are $185 per person and include the tour, transportation eats, water and beer, and a swag bag and filled with awesome H-Town goodies. Space is limited.
5th Anniversary Street Food Carnival at Underbelly
Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
1100 Westheimer
After weather concerns a few weeks back, this Montrose favorite is finally ready to celebrate five years of “reppin’ Houston with love.” The fun-filled street carnival will offer street foods from around the globe, with Southern barbecue brisket, Mexican
discada tacos, Indian
vindaloo pani puri, Korean-style whole hog
ssam and Vietnamese
banh trang tron (shrimp and rice paper salad), plus complimentary popcorn, cotton candy and sno-cones. Guests can also expect carnival games including ring toss, balloon darts, a dunk tank featuring Underbelly managers and a Chris Shepherd hug booth.
Tickets are $45 and include five food tickets and three game tickets (kids under 12 are free).
Meatball Brawl at Damian’s Cucina Italiana
Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
3011 Smith
Meatball fans are invited to enjoy an afternoon of wine tastings, musical entertainment and a lineup of innovative meatball dishes. Top local talent, including chefs like Mark Holley of
Holley’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Richard Kaplan of
Weights & Measures and chef Alexandre Scarafile of
Sud Italia, will compete for Most Traditional Meatball, Most Creative and People’s Choice honors.
Tickets are $55 per person and include food and wine sampling. In honor of the late Frankie Mandola, the event will benefit his charity, the
Texas Italian-American Sports Foundation, which raises money for scholarships for local athletes.
Sunday Supper Series Launch at State of Grace
Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m.
3258 Westheimer
This weekend, State of Grace launches its new Sunday Supper menu, replacing its normal dinner menu with family-style communal dining experience reminiscent of small-town cafes in Texas. The rotating menu ($29 per person) has been designed so that each guest chooses a meat, and each table will select three sides. Tables will also get butter biscuits and shaved country ham, a market vegetable salad and dessert. The first supper features chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, blackened Texas redfish, venison and bacon meatball, Gulf Oyster stew or T-Bone à la Hoffbreau (+$10) as the meat options, and macaroni and cheese, rice dressing, whipped potatoes, greens, squash and spring onion casserole, parsley’d egg noodles, crispy brussels sprouts, and broccoli salad as the sides.