Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings, from a whisky extravaganza to an anniversary farm dinner:
Upstairs (the bar and lounge located on the second floor of Hungry's Rice Village), 2356 Rice, will be offering new specials beginning Monday, May 1. Highlights include Monday’s Mules and Martinis ($7 cocktails made with Ketel One available all day); Tuesday Steak Night ($16 for a 12-ounce Angus rib eye and hand-cut frites starting at 6 p.m.); UnWINEd Wednesday (any pizza is free with the purchase of any bottle of wine, available all day); Don't Mess with Texas Thursday ($4 Texas drafts and $7 cocktails with Texas-made whiskey, rum and vodka, available all day); and Fresh Mix Saturday (choose from a select list of top-shelf liquor to mix with seasonal fresh-squeezed juices for $10, available from 5 to 9 p.m).
The Whisky Extravaganza will be held at The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria, 2222 West Loop South, on Wednesday, May 3. Guests can join enthusiasts, participate in master classes, receive a special souvenir tasting glass to properly nose and sample from a selection of more than 100 whiskies and indulge in culinary pairings. Master classes will be held from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., with the tasting and dinner buffet from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $150, with reserved table seating for groups purchasing eight or more tickets offered for a discount at $135.
Bistro Provence, 13616 Memorial, will be hosting a pre-fall dinner featuring the wines of Alsace with Domaine Ruhlmann on Thursday, May 4, beginning at 7 p.m. The menu will feature dishes from the Alsace region (which blends French and German influences), with highlights including salmon quenelle on a bed of sauerkraut and Barry Farm pork shoulder, slow cooked with mustard and thyme. Cost is $68 per person, plus tax and gratuity, with a $30 deposit per person via Paypal required to confirm. For information or reservations, call 713-827-8008 or visit bistroprovence.us.
On Thursday, May 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Houston Galleria Macy's, 5135 West Alabama, will celebrate Asian Pacific American cuisine and culture with special guest and Top Chef winner Kristen Kish. Guests can enjoy a discussion with Kish, followed by a Korean night market reception that includes local Asian cuisine sampling, skin care tips, Korean art, music and social media tutorials. In addition, with any housewares or cookware purchase of $50 or more that day, guests will receive a limited-edition Macy’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month tote bag and cutting board, plus a photo opportunity with Kish.
To celebrate 44 years over two locations (the original opened in a converted building on Sunset Boulevard in 1973 before moving to its current location in 1995), Ouisie’s Table, 3939 San Felipe, will be offering Tuesday and Wednesday night specials from Tuesday, May 9, through Wednesday, May 31. The rotating blackboard specials will be taken from the original 1973 and 1995 menus, and just like last year, the menus will be offered at the original price. Watch out for classics like the $1.25 WWII Pimento Cheese, $3 Ouisie's Splendid Spud and $9 Bacon Wrapped Quail, filled with veal, prosciutto, herbs and apples and served with mashed sweet potatoes and toasted brioche.
Guests are invited to a Gradis’ciutta Wine Dinner at SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, 3029 Kirby, on Wednesday, May 10, at 7 p.m. The five-course meal ($99, plus tax and gratuity) features a curated selection of wines from the Collio region in Italy, with a seafood menu featuring East Coast oysters, yellowfin tuna, mussels, clams and lobster. Reservations required and space is limited. Call 713-521-3333.
On Saturday, May 13, Finca Tres Robles Farm, 257 North Greenwood, is celebrating its three-year anniversary with a multi-course farm dinner featuring local produce prepared by chef Jason Kerr, cold beer from Sigma Brewing Co., wine and dessert by Eat My Pralines. Live music will be provided by Cosme Guerrero, an East End norteño musician. The first privately operated farm within the 610 loop, this Second Ward spot strives to make sustainably grown fruits and vegetables accessible to individuals and families on the East Side. Farm tours will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with the dinner following at 7 p.m. and music and drinks until 10 p.m. Tickets are $65 each.