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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Grocery Store Hours

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 22, 2020

It's the most wonderful time of the year, even if that year is 2020. While most of us are scaling back our holiday celebrations this year and focusing on our nearest and dearest, there are still items on our checklists that may be overlooked. This year, however, it's best to...

Get to cooking with the Enchilada Queen.

Houston Holiday Gifts for Foodies

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 17, 2020

It's getting down to the wire. Christmas Day is almost here and Hanukkah is almost over. If you're still scrambling to find a perfect gift for the foodie who has everything, we have a list of local businesses that can ease the stress of holiday shopping. We know foodie is...

Ring in the New Year with diver scallops and molten chocolate lava cake at CRU Food & Wine Bar.

Where to Dine Out On New Year’s Eve 2020, Plus Some NYD Hangover Cure Brunches

By Brooke Viggiano

Dec 16, 2020

These Houston restaurants are here to help you say "goodbye and good riddance!" to 2020 as you ring in 2021 with a special New Year's Eve meal (plus a few spots offering New Year's Day brunch): New Year's Eve a’Bouzy, 2300 Westheimer, 713-722-6899 Pop Champagne at this buzzy restaurant, which will be...

Six Great Non-Alcoholic Beers for Holiday Cheer

By Jesse Sendejas Jr.

Dec 15, 2020

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, Americans over 30 drank alcohol 14 percent more often this challenging year than in 2019. JAMA’s report on drinking during the COVID pandemic noted a 54 percent spike in national sales of alcohol one week late in March versus sales from...

Place your preorders for an epic feast from The Butcher Shop at B&B Butchers.

Where to Pre-Order Holiday Takeout in Houston This Christmas Eve and Day

By Brooke Viggiano

Dec 14, 2020

Don't feel like cooking this holiday? These Houston restaurants have you covered with takeout options (available for preorder) for Christmas Eve and/or Day. B&B Butchers & Restaurant, 1814 Washington, 832-767-4828 The Butcher Shop at B&B is offering a Holiday Take-Out Menu, which is available through January 1 and features ready-to-roast...

Festively decorated for the holidays, The Annie Cafe & Bar is offering its regular menu and a few chef specials this Christmas Eve.

Where to Dine Out in Houston on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2020

By Brooke Viggiano

Dec 8, 2020

Though the holidays may look a bit different this year, these Houston area restaurants are ready to welcome guests (with social distancing protocols, of course) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Christmas Eve The Annie Café & Bar, 1800 Post Oak, 713-804-1800 The festively decorated restaurant will be open for...

Shoppers search for the right-sized turkey.

Thanksgiving Grocery Store Hours 2020

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Nov 24, 2020

By now, most Houstonians have cemented their Thanksgiving plans. Some are opting for dinner with their pandemic pod while a few have made the decision to travel the roads or airways. Whatever the case, someone will forget the cranberry sauce or the marshmallows for the sweet potato casserole. We have...

Get $1 oysters during happy hour at Brennan's Courtyard Bar.

This Week in Houston Food Events: Feasts to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving

By Brooke Viggiano

Nov 23, 2020

Here's a look at this week's hottest culinary happenings: Monday-Tuesday Holiday Meal Express at Central Market Central Market, 3815 Westheimer, has opened its Holiday Meal Express for the season. Orders can be placed in-store, online at centralmarket.com/holiday or by calling 713-386-1785. Thanksgiving pre-orders can be placed now through Tuesday, November...

As Thanksgiving approaches, retailers struggle to predict consumer demand.

Follow the Turkeys: Retailers Face Unexpected Holiday Meat Demand and Supply Shortages

By Anna Ta

Nov 18, 2020

As COVID cases continue to spike, Harris County’s health officials have been stressing the dangers of the impending holiday celebrations that would bring together families and their germs. One way to know whether Houstonians are following health guidelines this Thanksgiving? Follow the turkeys. Turkey retailers are seeing lifts and drops...

Thanksgiving in the Time of COVID

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Nov 17, 2020

The year 2020 has not been an easy one. What began as a nightly news story about a virus in Wuhan, China became a crushing pandemic that so far has claimed over a million lives worldwide and nearly 250,000 Americans. It has destroyed families financially, mentally and emotionally. It was...

Orleans Seafood Kitchen is offering takeout turkey and all the trimmings.

Where to Dine Out (or Take-Out) in Houston on Thanksgiving Day 2020

By Brooke Viggiano

Nov 2, 2020

Restaurants across Houston are looking forward to giving you a break this Thanksgiving, whether that means you are skipping the dirty dishes and enjoying a socially-distanced meal out or scoring an epic takeout feast for you and yours. Here is where to dine out (or in) in Houston this Thanksgiving...

Night owls are invited to UB Preserv After Dark for late-night food and drink every Thursday.

Upcoming Houston Food Events: Late-Night Eats at UPB After Dark

By Brooke Viggiano

Oct 15, 2020

Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: UB Preserv, 1609 Westheimer, is launching its UBP After Dark today, providing late-night food and drinks to post-shift restaurant industry workers and anyone else who wants something tasty after 10 p.m. The limited menu will run...

Fat Cat team member and recent Culinary Institute Lenotre graduate, Tony Lopez, is showing off his burger skills at the shop this Saturday.

Houston's 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: A Burger and Shake Pop-Up at Fat Cat Creamery

By Brooke Viggiano

Oct 9, 2020

This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Burger and Shake Pop-Up at Fat Cat Creamery Saturday, noon until sellout 1901 North Shepherd The cult favorite ice cream shop is hosting a Burger and Shake Pop-Up boasting the culinary...

Xin Chao has a large patio for outside dining.

Openings and Closings: Xin Chao Debuts, Katz's Deli Opens in the Heights

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Oct 2, 2020

Xin Chao, 2310 Decatur, softly opened September 25 in the Sawyer Heights area. The modern Vietnamese restaurant comes from Christine Ha, Tony J. Nguyen and John Suh. Ha is best known as " The Blind Chef" who won the third season of Master Chef in 2012. She and husband Suh...

Milkshakes at Sweet Paris are Instagram-worthy.

Openings and Closings: Molina's Fulshear Opens, Sweet Paris Sugar Land Soon

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Sep 4, 2020

Molina's Cantina, 6300 FM1463, opened September 3 in Fulshear. This is the third location for the Tex-Mex empire which began with Raul Molina's first Mexican restaurant in 1941. For nearly eight decades, it has been owned and operated by the Molina family with Raul and Mary Molina's grandsons Ricardo, Raul...

The Rustic blends country cuisine with Texas flavors.

Openings and Closings: The Rustic is Coming Uptown, Hay Merchant Reopens [Updated]

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jul 3, 2020

Since March 17, our Openings and Closings column has been a mix of closures, both temporary and permanent, reopenings and a few openings. As Texas reopened, we saw some restaurants jump right back in the water while others dipped in a toe or two. Others still remained unconvinced and continued...

Jax Grill will be offering BOGO entrees this Independence Day.

This Week in Houston Food Events: Get BOGO Burgers and More This Fourth of July

By Brooke Viggiano

Jun 29, 2020

Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, score 50 cent kolaches and celebrate the Fourth of July...

Guard and Grace makes Memorial Day posh.

Memorial Day Specials at Houston Restaurants [UPDATED]

By Lorretta Ruggiero

May 21, 2020

This weekend will see a number of restaurants, bars and breweries opening for the first time since the pandemic began in March. With Phase Two of the Reopening of Texas, restaurants can increase capacity to 50 percent and bars are now allowed to open with a 25 percent cap. Memorial...

Mutiny Wine Room can bring some elegance to your quarantine.

Openings and Closings: We're Still Standing

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Apr 10, 2020

The hospitality industry is still struggling to adapt to the COVID-19 restrictions and reinvent itself, at least for the short term, in order to make it through this crisis. Unfortunately for the bars and nightclubs, there aren't many options. For local restaurants and markets, however, the looser laws on alcohol...

The Peeps are not practicing social distancing.

Passover and Easter: Holy Week Under Quarantine

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Apr 8, 2020

Passover begins Wednesday April 8 at sundown for those of the Jewish faith. Palm Sunday was this past weekend and for many Christians, it begins the holiest week of the year. Ramadan starts April 23 this year for Muslims. Whether you are a believer or not, being on shutdown during...

Holiday Food and Drink

Best Crawfish in Houston: We Guar-an-tee

Mardi Gras in a Pandemic: Dine In, Take Out or Stay Home

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