Day: August 28, 2021

JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa’s summer sendoff event

Labor Day weekend activities include a Wine Weekend Extravaganza and live music. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, used with permission.

Labor Day Weekend is right around the corner, and JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa is offering an exciting Wine Weekend Extravaganza alongside family-friendly activities for the whole family to enjoy as we say goodbye to summer. From a live concert to special wine tasting and dining options, the 5-day event will close out summer on a high note. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2021)

Across the resort’s 13,000 sprawling acres in the heart of Texas Hill Country, guests will be able to take part in— 

  • Wine Down Weekend: The three-night wine event centers around Jackson Family Wines, featuring exclusive tastings of the Cardinale, Lokoya, and Spire Collections in addition to meet and greets with the Jackson Family. Seasoned winemaker Chris Carpenter will be onsite to lead wine pairings with JL Bar’s exclusive dinners.
  • Music & Memories: On Saturday, September 4, rising Country/Americana artist William Beckmann will perform a private live concert at JL Bar’s Private FBO Hangar for the resort’s overnight guests.
  • Firework Food: JL Bar’s Chef Sergio has curated special menus for the weekend to pair seamlessly with select vintages of the Jackson Family Wines.
  • Make it an Extra-Long Weekend: The stunning Hill Country resort is offering an exclusive Labor Day package rate for couples ($4,995+) and individuals (3,295+), which allows visitors to take advantage of the resort’s fourth night free offer for those who would like to extend and arrive on Wednesday, September 1. Pricing includes all meals, pre-scheduled wine events, and a table for the William Beckmann concert. Holiday stays can be booked by calling 855-414-3337 or visiting JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa.
  • Hill Country Adventures: On top of all the holiday activities, the resort will be offering outdoor experiences including horseback riding and a horse psychology experience, off-road ATV adventures, a Putting/Chipping Green, and swimming. Guests can also partake in the resort’s Labor Day Weekend clay pigeon shooting contest for a chance to win a prize.  
William Beckmann – In The Dark

Hopdoddy Burger Bar’s Labor Day deals

Hopdoddy’s Labor Day deals are available for a limited time only. Photo: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, used with permission.

This Labor Day weekend, the nationally recognized burger joint, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, has several special deals for guests. From Thursday, September 2 through Monday, September 6, you can order Hopdoddy’s DIY Burger Kit and get one free 12-ounce bottle of Hop Sauce when using the code BOTTLED at checkout. The Hop Sauce is available in five flavors, like the Chipotle Aioli, Doddy Mayo and more. (Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2021)

If instead you are looking for a drink to celebrate on Labor Day, try Hopdoddy’s Roadie — a half-gallon bag of frozen house margarita made with fresh, hand-squeezed juice —  so you can enjoy and easily celebrate with friends. All Hopdoddy orders can be placed in-person at any Hopdoddy location or online for pickup.  

In 2010, four friends had a goal: to set a new standard for burger bars. Hopdoddy pushed the boundaries of what is expected by bringing together craft beer and unique burger concoctions – all with high-quality ingredients and even higher standards. With every purchase of a Goodnight Good Cause burger, a portion of the proceeds give back to Hopdoddy’s favorite community charitable organizations.

San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance’s inaugural Wine and Dine dinner

Acclaimed Chef Steve McHugh welcomes special guest Chef Todd Pulsinelli to support South Texas’ culinary community. Photo: google

Texas food lovers will have the opportunity to be entertained by some of the nation’s most acclaimed chefs as the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance (SAFWA) launches its celebrated Wine & Dine dinner series. James Beard Award nominee Steve McHugh will host special guest Chef Todd Pulsinelli for an Oktoberfest feast paying homage to San Antonio’s German heritage. Money raised will benefit the Alliance’s Culinary Grant Program in South Texas.  (San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, 2021)

“We are extremely excited and honored by the support of such an incredible Texas chef. With a lauded Louisiana chef added to the lineup, we are sure to have a memorable Wine & Dine dinner.” – Gina Burchenal, interim executive director of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance.

In the unique dinner format, attendees get an up-close-and-personal opportunity to understand each chef’s inspiration and culinary philosophy through specially designed menus expertly paired with top-tier wines and spirits. Previous Wine & Dine dinners held in Austin have featured culinary legends Jacques Pépin, Lidia Bastianich, Emeril Lagasse, and nationally acclaimed chefs Hugh Acheson, Aaron Franklin, Matthew Jennings, Alon Shaya, and more.

The exclusive dinner will take place on Sunday, September 19 at Cured, McHugh’s acclaimed restaurant located at the historic Pearl. Five-time James Beard-nominated Chef McHugh will collaborate with Chef Pulsinelli on five delectable courses.

Recognized by his peers as one of the Best Chefs America, Pulsinelli is a fixture of New Orleans’ hospitality community, with stints at Warbucks, The American Sector at the National World War II Museum, and August. His fresh take on classic Creole cooking is currently wowing guests at buzzy boutique hotel The Chloe.

Tickets are available now at San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance’s (SAFWA)  for $225 and include wine and beer pairings by acclaimed sommelier and TFWA board member Paula Rester-Salinas. The experience will kick off with a cocktail hour at 5:30p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30p.m.

Guests can also support the Alliance from September 18-October 3, two weeks of activations celebrating German culture at the historic Pearl. Lick Honest Ice Creams, Park Bar, and Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery will offer special treats or flights with a portion of the proceeds benefiting SAFWA.

All funds raised will benefit the host city’s culinary communities through SAFWA’s programming, including the Culinary Arts Career Conference for high school students and a unique grant program supporting culinary innovation and community giveback. As a continuation of its dynamic decade of success in supporting and cultivating Austin’s culinary businesses and nonprofits, the Austin Food & Wine Alliance (AFWA) expanded statewide in September 2020 to replicate its mission in Texas’ major cities, a move that will support pandemic recovery over the next several years. The newly formed Texas Food & Wine Alliance is the umbrella organization overseeing the AFWA, SAFWA, the Dallas Food & Wine Alliance, and the Houston Food & Wine Alliance.

The San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness, support, and innovation in the South Texas culinary community through grants, educational programming, and events. Guided by an all-volunteer board of directors and committees made up of culinary- and community-minded professionals, the Alliance’s commitment is to support, inspire, and showcase Texas and beyond through the power of our diverse culinary communities.