Monday, April 18

Kona Ice Invites You To Chill Out

In celebration of National Chill Out Day (a.k.a. Tax Day), the Kona Ice shaved-ice truck will be handing out free cups of tropical shaved ice to help people cool down and chill out. You'll find the truck at Mytiburger, 2211 West 43rd, from noon to 2 p.m.

The Tables Have Turned at Southern Goods

Tonight at Southern Goods, 632 West 19th, the tables will turn dramatically; that is, the front of the house will become the back of the house, and vice versa! The chefs will become the servers, and the managers and bartenders will become the chefs, including creating their own menus. This event involves more than just the staff of Southern Goods; some of the Houston's most beloved chefs will be there, too. No reservations are required, and a portion of the proceeds will be given to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Greater Houston. Check out the Facebook event for more details.

Coffee Sourcing Class at Blacksmith

What goes into selecting a coffee for a competition like the U.S. Barista Championship? You'll find out this and more about both the buying process and the barista competition circuit during this 7 p.m. class at Blacksmith, 1018 Westheimer. Tickets are $80 and can be purchased on the Blacksmith website.

Brindisi!: Beer and Belting at Saint Arnold

Houston-based Prima Volta, a nonprofit that aims to create and perform new art, is hosting an evening of song at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, 2000 Lyons. Admission is $20 and includes a concert by some of Houston's best up-and-coming performers and composers, plus two hours' worth of unlimited beer. (Yes, you read that correctly.) The show begins at 7 p.m., and you can find more details and purchase tickets on the Prima Volta website.

Tuesday, April 19

Big Eyed Fish's Black-Out Dinner

A few times each year, Megan Adams of Big Eyed Fish, at 908 Henderson, puts on a few blackout dinners; as in, you'll eat a four-course meal in total darkness. Seatings are at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and cost is $75 per person without alcoholic beverages, or $90 per person with two drinks. If you can't make it on Tuesday, the same dinner will take place on Wednesday. Check out the restaurant's website for more details, and make your reservations by calling 713-714-8367.

HAYOP Series at Boheme

Filipino chef Yana Gilbuena continues her two-month kitchen residency at Boheme Cafe & Wine Bar, 307 Fairview, this week. Each Tuesday from now until the end of May, she'll be taking over the kitchen at Boheme for a snout-to-tail menu that uses almost every part of locally sourced meats. While this event was originally à la carte, it is now a prix fixe menu with two seatings, one at 6:30 p.m. and one at 8:30 p.m. The cost is $65 per person, and you can call 713-529-1099 for reservations and details.

Wednesday, April 20

Pasaporte Mexico at  Central Market

From today through May 3, Central Market at 3815 Westheimer will be celebrating all things Mexican; namely, of course, food and wine. The opening ceremony is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and includes traditional Mexican dancing and light bites, and, on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., there will be a Noche de Fiesta with cooking demonstrations by Hugo Ortega, live music, dancing and samples of street foods and products from Mexico in front of the store.

An Australia Wine Affair

Head to Kris French Bistro, 7070 Allensby, to enjoy an evening of Australian food and wine with guest speaker and master sommelier Gillian Ballance, plus wines from Treasury Wine Estates. The dinner and discussion begins at 5:30 p.m. and costs $79 per person. Call 713-358-5068 for reservations.

NICE Wine Dinner

Ryan Levy and Ian Eastveld, both Houstonians, are the winemakers behind NICE Wines, and they're hosting an all-NICE wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella. The fare includes Alaskan halibut with saffron risotto and peas, rabbit roulade with mushrooms and garden herbs, and buffalo flank steak with creamed spinach and hollandaise. Cost is $110 per person, and reservations can be made by emailing Marc at Rainbow Lodge.

Celebrate with Antojitos Cooking Class

Join chef and cookbook author Margarita Carrillo Arronte at 6:30 p.m. at Central Market, 3815 Westheimer, and learn how to make a wide variety of Mexican appetizers and pair each of them with Mexican wines and beers. The offerings include tomato and pumpkin seed dip, stuffed plantain croquettes and masa cakes. Her book, Mexico, The Cookbook, will be available for purchase at the class, and the author will sign copies after the class. Cost is $65 per person, and you can reserve your spot on the C.M. website.

Les Vins de Vienne Wine Dinner at Backstreet Cafe

Yves Cuilleron and François Villard, two of the three founders of Les Vins de Vienne winery in the Rhone region of France, will join the attendees of this 7 p.m. wine dinner at Backstreet Cafe, 1103 South Shepherd, to discuss their wines. These will, of course, be served alongside top-notch fare, such as duck leg confit with Swiss chard and vegetable cassoulet, as well as tourchon of lamb with creamed spinach and roasted rutabaga. Cost is $115 per person, and reservations can be made by emailing the café.

Thursday, April 21

Etude Winery Dinner at Ouisie's

Winemaker Jon Priest will introduce the five wines from Etude Winery in Napa that will accompany this 6:30 p.m. dinner at Ouisie's Table, 3939 San Felipe. There will be five courses of food as well, such as sautéed shrimp and scallops with cilantro curry and wild rice, seared ostrich fillet with sweet potato strips, and venison back strap with root vegetable gratin and apricot chile glace. Reservations are $75 per person and can be made by calling 713-528-2264.

Friday, April 22

Exodus at Genesis

Celebrate the Passover with this elegant Passover Seder, or feast, led by Rabbi Yossi and Esty Zaklikofsky at 8 p.m. at Genesis Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 5427 Bissonnet. There will be an international kosher wine selection, an explanation of the Seder ritual, readings in English and Hebrew, and, of course, excellent Passover fare. You need not have a prior understanding of the Seder to take part. Cost is $125 for adults and $32 for children ages four to 12. Make your reservations on The Shul of Bellaire website.

Saturday, April 23

Throwdown Texas Burger & Beer Fest

Join our own Phaedra Cook and other celebrity judges as they seek out the best burger among a dozen competing local restaurants, including Fielding's Wood Grill, Crescent Moon and Ruggles Green. There will also be food trucks, vendors, live music and plenty of beer, plus activities for the wee ones. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive in Spring. Visit the festival website for details and tickets. General admission is $20, V.I.P. tickets are $54.

Earth-Friendly Wine Tasting

Celebrate Earth Day (albeit a tad belatedly) at French Country Wines, 2433 Bartlett, with the wine boutique's free weekly wine tasting from noon to 6 p.m. This week's six featured wines are all created with sustainable agriculture methods and are certified organic to help you get into the environment-saving spirit.

Exploring The Foods Of Mexico With Arnaldo Richards

Join chef Arnaldo Richards of Pico's for this 5 p.m. cooking class at Central Market, 3815 Westheimer. He'll teach attendees about the seven regions of Mexican cuisine and how to make one dish from each region, such as beef tips and bacon in tomato-chipotle sauce from the north and marinated Gulf red snapper fillet charbroiled over banana leaves from the south. Registration is $70 per person and can be completed on the Central Market website.

Sunday, April 24

Sunday Bloody Sunday, presented by Houstonia Magazine

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., GreenStreet at 1201 Fannin will become home to a massive brunch party that includes a mimosa bar, coffee from Caffe Bene, b pop popsicles, beer from Buffalo Bayou Brewery, micheladas, live music, games and a massive Bloody Mary competition. There will also be unlimited brunch eats from Beaver's, Edgar's Hermano, Hungry's, Kitchen 713, Lowbrow, Rico's, Roost and Triniti. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Crawfish and Brews Party at 8th Wonder

Join the mudbug party at 8th Wonder Brewery, 2202 Dallas, and enjoy two things that go together perfectly: crawfish and beer. Your $30 pre-sale ticket will get you two pounds of crawfish, three beer tokens and a commemorative glass, plus access to live music, games and the 8th Wonder Hop Up Market. The party goes from noon to 7 p.m., and you can purchase your tickets on the event website.

Bands on the Bayou

Every Sunday from now through May 29 (except Mother's Day), the patio at Brenner's on the Bayou, 1 Birdsall, will transform into a backyard party on the bayou, complete with brews, bands and bites, including drink specials. Live music will be provided by a different band each week from 3 to 6 p.m.; this week features Bad Boyfriend.