Houston's 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: A Whiskey Dinner, Margaritas & BBQ

Brooke Viggiano November 6, 2015 8:00AM

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3rd Annual Whiskey Dinner @ Brenner’s Steakhouse
Friday, 7 p.m.
10911 Katy

Area whiskey enthusiasts are invited to Brenner’s Steakhouse to enjoy a whiskey-fueled evening featuring five delectable courses matched with various types of the elixir. Enjoy pairings like honey-glazed duck with Bastille Whisky, New York strip and bone marrow béarnaise with Tullamore D.E.W. 10 year; and a chocolate ganache chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich with Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky. Admission for the event is $95 (plus service and tax) per person. Call 713-465-2901 for reservations.

Houston Cellar Classic Grand Tasting @ The Tasting Room-Uptown Park
Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.
1101 Uptown Park

This 12th annual wine tasting event gives guests the chance to sip and sample from a lineup of more than 100 different wines, including Antinori, Beringer, Bichot, Cakebread, Dom Perignon, Moët, and Nickel & Nickel. But that’s not all. You’ll also have the opportunity to taste stellar bites from local eateries before casting your vote for the People’s Choice award. Tickets are available for $75 for general admission and $200 for VIP.

Houston Margarita Festival @ Sam Houston Park
Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.
1000 Bagby

Are you ready to get wasted away again in Margaritaville? Now, at a more spacious location, festival-goers can expect an even bigger party, plus new events like the Margarita Competition. Tickets are available for advanced purchase for $25 (or $35 at the gate) and include entry, a complimentary margarita and a special cup for the first 10,000 guests. Group tickets and value passes are also available, with additional drink tickets available for purchase at the event ($6 to $8). Note: This event was scheduled for Saturday but was postponed to Sunday because of the rain.

Houston BBQ Throwdown @ Saint Arnold Brewery
Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
2000 Lyons

This inaugural BBQ Throwdown – put on by The Houston Barbecue Festival and Saint Arnold Brewing – features pitmasters from Blood Bros. BBQ, Brooks’ Place BBQ, The Brisket House, Corkscrew BBQ, Feges BBQ, Pappa Charlie’s Barbeque, The Pit Room, Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue, Ray's BBQ Shack and Roegel’s BBQ, and more. Get a taste as they compete to create the next great barbecue dish that represents Houston-style barbecue. Tickets are available for $55 and include smoky samples from all the participants.

11th International Risotto Festival @ The Houston Design Center
Sunday, 2 to 6 p.m.
7026 Old Katy

One of Houston’s finest gourmet food festivals is back for its 11th year. The gourmet strolling event includes an afternoon of delicious Italian wines, samplings of antipasti and tastings of all risotto entries from some of Houston's hottest chefs – including Charles Clark of Ibiza Food & Wine Bar, Ricky Cruz of Grotto and Carlos Ramos of Latin Bites. Enjoy it all alongside Italian music and entertainment, an exotic car display, activities for kids and designer showroom tours. And joining the judges in this year’s blind tasting is celebrity chef and cookbook author Rocco DiSpirito. Tickets are available for $75 ($125 for VIP). Children under 12 are free. This year’s culinary Risotto Festival will benefit The Scarlett Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research.