A very special guest is coming to town on Monday, November 4. Edouard Moueix, of the Moueix family (owner of several Right Bank chateaux in Bordeaux and Dominus Estate in Napa Valley), will be in Houston for fewer than two days, but has made sure to stop by Philippe for the Philippe Wine Dinner featuring five courses paired with great vintages. The menu includes items such as duck en croute "pot pie" with first winter truffles, Texas quail with huckleberries and Camargue rice (from the South of France), and a Houston Dairymaids cheese course paired with 1990 Magdelaine, a wine from the Moueix cellar. Reserve your spot at this dinner with a wine legend for $155. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a Champagne Roederer reception with canapes.
Head to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on Monday, November 4, or Monday, November 11, for a delightful pop-up dining experience, Cafe Vienna, and exclusive admittance to Koloman Moser: Designing Modern Vienna, 1897-1907. Each of these Mondays (when the museum is normally closed) will have seatings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for $55 (MFAH members) and $65 (nonmembers). The pop-up begins with coffee, wine and small bites inside a cafe designed by Punita Valambhia Interiors, with collaboration from Decorative Center Houston. After enjoying the food inside the cafe, guests will be taken on a tour of the Koloma Moser exhibit led by curators Cindi Strauss and Marissa Hershon. The exhibit includes 200 objects (furniture, jewelry, textiles, prints and architectural interior designs) from the Viennese artist and designer.
The holiday season is officially under way. Learn how to entertain guests with special holiday cocktails and drinks by attending the Mixology 101 class at The Palm on Friday, November 8, at 6 p.m. The two-hour class costs $75 per person and includes food and cocktail pairings. You will learn how to make three specialty cocktails: Lavender Patch, a vodka-based cocktail mixed with lavender syrup, fresh crushed mint, lemon and pineapple juice, and a sugared rim; Elijah's Orchard Prime, an Elijah Craig 12-year Bourbon with fresh crushed apple, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice, and a cinnamon sugar rim; and The Palm Prairie Sling, a vodka-based cocktail mixed with Domaine de Canton Ginger liquer, Heering Cherry Liqueur, lemon juice and bitters, served on the rocks with a flamed orange peel. Throughout the evening you will learn how to make each drink, sample them and pair them with small bites from The Palm, including beef tenderloin carpaccio, prosciutto, chive and ricotta crostini, and roasted butternut squash and goat cheese turnovers.
Houston Beer Week begins on Saturday, November 9, and will be celebrated through the 16th. Each day, The Hay Merchant will offer beer classes and dinners, and will sell a special beer on tap from local breweries. Start the week with the tapping of a Dry Hop Cask of Lone Pint Yellow Rose at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 9. And ladies, this one is for you: Purchase a ticket for Ladies That Lager, to be held on Sunday, November 10. It's the first session of Kevin Floyd's new series for women interested in learning more about beer. For $45, you will sample beers, munch on some snacks and learn the basics of brew. In addition, Saint Arnold will take over all five casks at Hay Merchant on Monday, November 11, with its Endeavour, Oktoberfest, Christmas Ale, Pumpkinator and Icon Gold labels. It's the first time that all five of Saint Arnold's casks will be available at the same time in one place - don't miss this event. The rest of the week includes special tappings from Goose Island, on Tuesday, November 12, Braumeister and Ballast Point, on Thursday, November 14, and Firestone Walker, on Friday, November 15. Enjoy a Narwhal Ice Cream Float with Cloud 10 Creamery's bourbon ice cream for $7 on Saturday, November 16, as well.
Reserve your spot at La Balance Cuisine for the Evening in Bordeaux wine dinner, featuring selections from French Country Wines on Monday, November 11. Each seat at the dinner costs $95 and includes six courses. Brandon Johnson is the guest of honor for the evening; he is the export sales manager for Chateau Anthonic. Chef Jose Manuel Hernandez begins the meal with squash, foie gras and brioche, served with Petit Bichon Blanc from Chateau Bichon Cassignols - Graves 2011. Next, the chef will serve lobster with leeks and potato, paired with Chateau Bichon Cassignol Blanc - Graves 2012. The third course consists of mushroom, black truffle and gruyere crepes, paired with Chateau Beard - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2008, followed by a plate of pork belly with eggplant and succotash, paired with Chateau Le Breuil Renaissance Cuvee l'Excellence - Medoc 2009. The final savory course will be a ribeye with salsify, chanterelles and sage, paired with Chateau Anthonic - Moulis-en-Medoc 2009. Chef Hernandez will conclude the evening with a chocolate, hazelnut and banana dessert, served with Chateau Rives-Blanques Lagremas d'Aur - Limoux 2006.
