Category: Community news

Taco Cabana celebrates 44th anniversary with opening of new restaurant

Taco Cabana’s new location now open at Babcock/Wurzbach is a new, contemporary restaurant conversion design. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.

In celebration of Taco Cabana’s 44th birthday on September 21, 2022, TC has announced the opening of its newest San Antonio, Texas location at 2403 Babcock Road (Babcock/Wurzbach). With the opening on Monday September 19, TC is proud to introduce an all-new prototype design for its latest restaurant conversion and opening in its hometown of San Antonio. The new restaurant features a modernized exterior design, updated color scheme, elevated décor elements including a dynamic lighting package, traditional TC designs, a prominent never-before-seen external Branding marquee, and more; all while remaining true to Taco Cabana’s Brand heritage. (Taco Cabana, 2022)

“It’s an exciting time for Taco Cabana,” said Ulyses Camacho, Taco Cabana’s Chief Operating Officer. “We’ve been working on a new modern TC conversion prototype design for more than a year now. It was important for us to retain TC heritage and tradition with our signature pink color, the use of papel and our iconic TC logo oval. To launch the design in our hometown of San Antonio and celebrate our birthday at the same time is such a great moment for the Brand.”

In addition to its popular menu of extensive Tex-Mex offerings and 12-flavor Margarita Headquarters, TC’s latest location will feature the return of Taco Cabana’s beloved salsa bar and new external branding featuring a cleaner pink TC logo oval. TC’s conversion design was done in partnership with Hospitality Design Group led by Robert L. Herbage. Kamron Loyd led the construction for the conversion design.

“We’re so proud to be celebrating our 44th birthday and honoring our TC heritage with this restaurant conversion opening.” –  Anil Yadav, Taco Cabana’s CEO.

The Babcock/Wurzbach location is now open for dine-in daily from 6a.m. to 10p.m.; for drive-thru Monday through Thursday from 6a.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 6a.m. to 2a.m.; with Happy Hour offerings from Sunday through Thursday from 4p.m. to 7p.m.

“This new conversion prototype design is just the beginning for Taco Cabana as we concentrate on our future,” added Yadav. “We look forward to bringing more TC innovation, creativity and surprises to our guests, including a new ground-up restaurant prototype design in 2023.”

TC’s menu offerings can be enjoyed in-restaurant, via online ordering for front counter and curbside pick-up, via drive-thru or mobile order when using the MY TC!® App or online.

Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of YTC Enterprises, LLC, was founded in 1978. The brand specializes in Tex-Mex-inspired food including enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas, tacos, flour tortillas and a selection of made-from-scratch salsas and sauces. Restaurants feature open-display cooking, a selection of bottled beer and signature tequila margaritas, patio dining, drive-thru windows, curbside pick-up, delivery and catering. As of September 19, 2022, Taco Cabana operates 144 company-owned restaurants in Texas.

Full Goods Diner at Pearl announces opening date

With an opening date set for Thursday, September 22, Full Goods Diner will be operating seven days a week and will offer breakfast and lunch service. Photo: Full Goods Diner, used with permission.

The owners behind successful Paperboy in Austin are excited to announce that Full Goods Diner will be opening to the public at Pearl on Thursday, September 22, 2022. The new diner is the product of San Antonio native and restaurateur Ryan Harms and chef Patrick Jackson of Paperboy in partnership with Potluck Hospitality. Beginning September 22, the restaurant will be open Monday through Sunday from 8a.m. to 3p.m. at 200 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX 78215. (Full Goods Diner, 2022)

Full Goods Diner will serve seasonally driven food made from scratch for breakfast and lunch with a menu consisting of comforting and familiar everyday food. Seasonal and local ingredients will be used to connect the restaurant to its central and south Texas roots with a blend of Mexican and American fare. Guests can expect to see menu items like handmade pastries, seasonal toasts, breakfast enchiladas, pancakes, sopes, carnitas tortas, hill country salads, and more.

Full Goods Diner
200 E. Grayson St.
San Antonio, TX 78215

Founded in 2022, Potluck Hospitality conceives, operates, manages, and partners on culinary and experiential brands in San Antonio, TX. Potluck Hospitality concepts include Best Quality Daughter, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, Carriqui, Food Hall at Bottling Dept., Ladino, and Stable Hall (coming 2023). Potluck’s team is made up of chefs, designers, strategists in culture-crafting, brand, and finance that all share a love of food and gathering. Potluck Hospitality’s name pays tribute to memorable experiences with great food, great music, and great company–where everyone has something to contribute. Being together, sharing meals, and communally experiencing music is elemental to what it means to be human.

Mediterranean Grill House Ladino to open next week

The new restaurant concept from Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group will open Monday September 19 in San Antonio. Photo: Ladino, used with permission.

Ladino, a Mediterranean Grill House celebrating Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisine, will open Monday, September 19, 2022. Brought to you by Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group and led by Executive Chef Berty Richter, Ladino will pay homage to Berty’s roots with a menu centered around the charcoal grill. The restaurant will be located in the Pearl at 200 E. Grayson St #100 and reservations are now open. (Ladino, 2022)

The name Ladino, was chosen because Berty wanted to showcase and share not only the cuisine he grew up in, but also the influences of the surrounding cultures and cuisines on his style of cooking and eating, sharing food, and the excitement of a bountiful and colorful table of delicious food.

“I grew up in Israel mainly with my mom’s side of the family that came from Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria. We spoke Ladino, a dialect of Spanish mixed with French, Italian, Greek and Turkish,” said Chef Berty Richter. “Large family gatherings and endless feasts were part of our daily lives and I’ve always dreamt of one day creating a concept that will pay homage to my family’s roots and culture. Naming this concept Ladino was the natural choice for me and is the realization of this dream.” 

Using a wood burning oven, Ladino’s menu features freshly made pita and other regional specialties accompanied by an abundance of dishes that are playful and bold including Coal Charred Eggplant Dip, Jerusalem Mix, Meat Dumplings in yogurt, and a modern take on Agristada, a traditional Sephardic fish in a lemony egg sauce. The dessert menu is inspired by the sweet and savory staples of the region with a modern touch. The beverage program highlights regional wines and spirits. 

The team worked with partner Rand Egbert on the design of the space. Egbert says, “Sephardic Jews have origins all over the Mediterranean with deep roots in North Africa, so much of the interior is influenced by Morocco and the Moorish culture of Spain during the time the Ladino language first came to be. The space is meant to be transportive and that is created through beautiful tile accents, handmade light fixtures, traditional patterns, and pops of color. ” 

This marks the seventh concept from Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group and the first venture into San Antonio. Other restaurants from the renowned restaurant group include Emmer & Rye, Hestia, Canje, Kalimotxo, Henbit and TLV. 

Ladino will be located at 200 E Grayson St #100, San Antonio, TX 78215 and is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5p.m. to 10p.m and Friday and Saturday from 5:30p.m. to 11p.m

Bakery Lorraine partners with San Antonio Philharmonic

For the month of September, Bakery Lorraine is donating a portion of all proceeds from their SA Phil Mocha Macaron to San Antonio Philharmonic. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

Bakery Lorraine, a local favorite and nationally recognized pastry shop, is partnering with the San Antonio Philharmonic through the entire month of September to donate a portion of all sales from their mocha macaron. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the organization whose mission it is to involve new audiences in the transformative power of music. Offer good at all Bakery Lorraine locations. (Bakery Lorraine, 2022)

The SA Phil Mocha Macaron will benefit the SA Philharmonic throughout the month of September. It will be sold as a single macaron priced at $2.65 or available to be included in their assortment boxes. Assortment boxes can be purchased in two different sizes, holding 6 macarons for $14.00 or 12 macarons for $26.00. The SA Phil Mocha Macaron will be available at all Bakery Lorraine locations in San Antonio for dine-in or to go. Portions of sales will be donated to the SA Philharmonic through September 30, 2022.

Bakery Lorraine is a San Antonio favorite and nationally recognized pastry shop famous for its colorful macarons and exquisite French pastries. Owned by chefs Anne Ng, Jeremy Mandrell, and operator Charlie Biedenharn, Bakery Lorraine was named one of the best new bakeries in the U.S. by Food & Wine as well as one of the “13 Destination Bakeries” by Conde Nast Traveler. Bakery Lorraine serves handmade French pastries and macarons using the finest ingredients. The bakery serves an all-day menu including items like its Croque Madame, the quiche Lorraine, an assortment of salads and soups and artisan sandwiches. Bakery Lorraine has four locations in San Antonio including one in the Historic Pearl district, one in the Medical Center, one in the RIM shopping center, and one inside The DoSeum. Bakery Lorraine also has an Austin location at the Domain NORTHSIDE.

 

Best Quality Daughter to host fundraiser for reproductive rights

Best Quality Daughter is partnering with New Orleans’ Turkey and the Wolf to host Good Trouble in Little China on September 11, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Best Quality Daughter is excited to announce that they will be hosting a house party, Good Trouble in Little China, to raise funds for reproductive rights in Texas and Louisiana. Guest Chef Mason Hereford from Turkey and the Wolf in New Orleans joins Chef Jennifer Hwa Dobertin for a special menu at Best Quality Daughter for one night only on Sunday, September 11, 2022 from 7p.m. to 11p.m. The party and fundraising event will benefit Planned Parenthood South Texas and Lift Louisiana with proceeds being split 50/50. This is not a seated dinner, so unfortunately dietary restrictions and food allergies are unable to be accommodated. (Best Quality Daughter, 2022)

Three dishes are being curated by both Chef Hereford, a recent Iron Chef alum, and Chef Dobertin, along with house made cocktails. Chef Hereford’s menu includes collard melts and deviled eggs with crispy chicken skin, while Chef Dobertin’s items include wagyu scallion pancake sandwiches and chorizo and egg dumplings. Drinks served will include house cocktails such as Aide and Abet and Purple Texas, along with a beer from Kunstler Brewing called The Morning After Pils.

Tickets are available for a donation of $150 through Eventbrite and include drinks and food. Guests must be 21+ to attend. 

Good Trouble in Little China is sponsored by Annie’s Petite Treats, Back Bar Project, El Dorado Rum, Farm to Table, Kunstler Brewing, Mezcal Amaras, Peeler Farms, Potluck Hospitality, Rambler Sparkling Water, Jamie Stolarski and Sarah Fox.

Best Quality Daughter
602 Avenue A
San Antonio, TX 78215

Best Quality Daughter is a restaurant by Chef Jennifer Dobbertin that opened at Pearl in November of 2020. Pioneering New Asian-American Cuisine, the restaurant experience is a reflection of Dobbertin’s travels and the comfort food of her youth as a second-generation Chinese American. A warm, fun, and gorgeous environment serves as a culinary beacon to locals and travelers alike.

Celebrate Labor Day at Commodore Perry Estate

Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection is having several events this long Labor Day weekend. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection is celebrating the beginning of the end of hot summer days with a weekend full of music, Longhorn football and lots of delicious sips and bites. (Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, 2022)

Holiday weekend highlights:

  • KUTX Presents Walker Lukens (Friday, September 2): Guests can kick off the holiday weekend with a performance at the Estate’s historic Chapel with Walker Lukens, in partnership with Austin public radio station 98.9 FM KUTX, home to the Austin Music Experience. This is the first in a five-part series, each performance will help raise funds in support of HAAM Day.
  • Gameday Brunch at the Estate (Saturday, September 3): Wake up and gather with friends and family on game day for the resort’s delicious Saturday brunch at the Mansion, complete with lawn games and pre-game drink specials, such as mimosa bars, shaken carajillos, local beer buckets, and more.
  • Prometheus Pizza Pop-Up (Sunday, September 4): Fredericksburg pizza phenoms, Prometheus Pizza, is coming to the Estate for an all-day pizza party this Labor Day Weekend. Relax and indulge in a variety of their delicious pies – with classic pizza parlor creations from Chef Bradley and Chef Susana, such as garlic knots, the perfect Caesar salad and tasty cannoli. Members also have the option to do takeaway (pizza and wine only).

Autism Treatment Center to host Going to the Dogs event

Going to the Dogs dog adoption and dog shopping event is this Saturday August 27, 2022. Photo: Autism Treatment Center San Antonio

On Saturday, August 27 from 9a.m.- 1p.m., “Going to the Dogs,” the Autism Treatment Center (ATC) will host a dog adoption and dog-related shopping event. (Autism Treatment Center, 2022)

Event details:

  • Pet adoptions by: Austin Boxer Rescue and Lucky Spot Dog Rescue
  • Dog-themed décor and t-shirts by Autism Treatment Center Adult Services
  • Healthy Homemade Doggie Treats by Love Puppy Bakery
  • Handmade bandanas and bowties by Their Beautiful Voice
  • Pet sketches by artists

Location: Autism Treatment Center,15911 Nacogdoches Rd., Building 2, San Antonio, TX  78247

Event summary:

  • Whether you are looking for a dog to adopt or just want to shop for the one you have, “Going to the Dogs” has it all. You and your pooch are invited to join the fun at the Autism Treatment Center on Saturday, August 27 from 9a.m. to 1p.m. for this inside event.  Austin Boxer Rescue and Lucky Spot Dog Rescue will have a selection of dogs available for adoption. Austin Boxer Rescue is an affiliate of Lonestar Boxer Rescue, which serves all of Texas and the Austin chapter is the one that serves San Antonio.
  • You can also shop for healthy homemade dog treats and dog-themed gifts, décor, and clothing from partnering vendors. Be sure to bring a photo if you would like to get a custom sketch of your furry best friend.
  • Everyone is invited to visit with dogs that are available for adoption and shop for a variety of dog-related items: healthy homemade dog treats; doggie bandanas and bowties; and dog-themed gifts, home décor, and T-shirts made by adults with autism. We will also have an artist doing custom pet sketches. 
  • Whether you are looking for a dog to adopt or just want to shop for the one you already have, “Going to the Dogs” has it all.    

Why ATC is partnering with the rescue groups:

  • Dogs have a special way of making our lives better.  Everyone can benefit from their unconditional love and companionship and this is especially true for children and adults with autism.
  • That’s why the Autism Treatment Center is partnering with Austin Boxer Rescue and Lucky Spot Dog Rescue for “Going to the Dogs”, a sensory-friendly, pet-friendly adoption and shopping event at our facility on Nacogdoches Rd. on Saturday, August 27th.
  • The adults in ATC’s weekday program have created some dog-related products on sale. The clothing is bandanas and bowties for dogs and T-shirts for people. 
  • In addition, through the weekday program, they also have created wreaths, terrariums, home décor and customize items such as cups, bags, and T-shirts as part of their independent living and live skills training. 

Immersive Van Gogh San Antonio launches yoga series

Immersive Van Gogh San Antonio is launching a new Immersive Yoga series under The Starry Night beginning Saturday August 20, 2022. Photo: Michael Brosilow, used with permission.

Lighthouse Immersive, producers of the original Immersive Van Gogh exhibition, is partnering with America’s favorite kefir company, Lifeway Foods (Nasdaq: LWAY), to bring San Antonio yoga under The Starry Night. Beginning Saturday, August 20, patrons of all fitness levels can sign up for Lifeway Kefir Immersive Yoga. The classes will be led by a certified yoga instructor and will take place inside Lighthouse ArtSpace San Antonio (221 Burleson St.). (Lighthouse Immersive, 2022)

Called “a welcome shock to the senses” that is “like leaving the universe” by Insider, people of all fitness levels are welcome to enroll in the 35-min flow yoga. All classes take place within the multi-sensory and all-encompassing Immersive Van Gogh experience. Each workout is designed to challenge the body and inspire the mind; choreographed in harmony with the music, sounds, light and moving images from Van Gogh’s vast catalog of masterpieces. After class, participants are invited to stay and experience the art exhibition around them. All Lifeway Kefir Immersive Yoga participants will receive a nutritious Lifeway Kefir snack, packed with probiotics and probiotics to nourish their microbiome and to recover from their yoga session. 

“Lifeway is eager to reintroduce our yoga program in partnership with Lighthouse Immersive. Our company motto, ‘Love Your Guts,’ is emblematic of the need for us to take care of our wellness every single day. A balanced gut microbiome positively influences our mental health, and vice versa. By engaging in the practice of yoga, surrounding ourselves with incredible art, and nourishing the gut with kefir, an ancient probiotic superfood, this unique collaboration is a great way to strengthen the mind-gut connection. Now more than ever, we hope to bring joy to our community with this once-in-a-lifetime immersive wellness experience that intersects movement, sound, art, and light.” – Julie Smolyansky, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lifeway Foods.

Classes are scheduled as follows:

• Saturday, August 20: 8:30a.m.
• Sunday, August 21: 10:30a.m.
• Saturday, August 27: 8:30a.m.
• Sunday, August 28: 10:30a.m.
• Saturday, September 3: 8:30a.m.
• Sunday, September 4: 10:30a.m.
• Saturday, September 10: 9:30a.m.
• Sunday, September 11: 9:30a.m.
• Saturday, September 17: 9:30a.m.
• Sunday, September 18: 9:30a.m.
• Saturday, September 24: 9:30a.m.
• Sunday, September 25: 9:30a.m.

Admission is $59.99 per person/per class and includes the yoga class experience as well as the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition. Tickets are on-sale now. Guests should arrive dressed for classes and should bring their own yoga mats.

Creative director and Italian film producer Massimiliano Siccardi designed Immersive Van Gogh with original, mood-setting music by Italian multimedia composer Luca Longobardi, who provided a score that combines experimental electronic music with pure, ethereal and simple-seeming piano. Vittorio Guidotti is the Art Director. Wander through entrancing moving images highlighting brushstrokes, detail and color of some of Van Gogh’s most famous works of art. The exhibition includes monumental depictions of Mangeurs de pommes de terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), Nuit étoilée (Starry Night, 1889), Les Tournesols (Sunflowers, 1888), La Chambre à coucher (The Bedroom, 1889), and so much more. 

Lifeway Foods, Inc., which has been recognized as one of Forbes’ Best Small Companies, is America’s leading supplier of the probiotic, fermented beverage known as kefir. In addition to its line of drinkable kefir, the company also produces cheese, probiotic oat milk, and a ProBugs line for kids. Lifeway’s tart and tangy fermented dairy products are now sold across the United States, Mexico, Ireland, France and the United Kingdom.

Tucker’s Kozy Korner announces updated menu

New menu offerings include Vietnamese coffees, pho, Texas barbecue plates, Southern comfort food and more. The Eastside joint will also be launching weekend brunch pop-ups with guest chefs. Photo: txtroulblemaker, used with permission.

Tucker’s Kozy Korner is excited to announce a complete menu revamp and updated hours with new offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The bar is working with local chefs to develop distinctive food offerings for each of its services so the breakfast, lunch, and dinner experiences are all unique. The Eastside joint will also collaborate with guest chefs on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch pop-ups. The new food offerings will be available starting on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. (Tucker’s Kozy Korner, 2022)

Breakfast offerings include Vietnamese soups with beef, chicken and vegetable options, allowing guests to also add eggs, steamed vegetables, tofu, and more. Guests can also enjoy the beloved breakfast taco, with options like brisket and egg, bacon and egg, and more. Unique coffee offerings include Vietnamese Egg Coffee (pour over coffee with egg and milk custard) and Vietnamese iced coffee. 

Local San Antonian Chef Jenny Nguyen developed the Vietnamese menu items. Originally from Vietnam, Jenny came to Texas and worked jobs in various industries while quietly selling her fare on the side to friends. Her menu inspiration comes from her background growing up in Vietnam and adding a little Texas twist. Partnering with Daniels Family Barbecue, Jenny’s soups and phos include Daniels’ famous brisket, chicken and ribs.

Master Chef Charles Daniels, known as Mr. Daniels, has been in the barbecue business for more than thirty years with his wife, Michelle. They have served up authentic pit barbecue and soulful dishes out of his Eastside San Antonio kitchen since the late 1980s. Mr. Daniels developed Tucker’s Kozy Korner’s menu to include breakfast tacos in the morning and traditional barbecue plates for lunch including brisket, chicken, or ribs served with side options like coleslaw, potato salad, borracho beans, green beans or cornbread. During lunch service, Chef Jenny’s pho options of beef, chicken or vegetable will also be available. 

Tucker’s Kozy Korner dinner menu is in partnership with Sweet Yams, an Eastside cafe offering a healthy menu with organic, gluten-free, and vegan options. Sweet Yams program at Tucker’s, called “Loretta’s Finest Southern Fried Chicken,” includes Southern fried chicken wings or chicken breast, with side options including garlic mashed potatoes, organic steamed vegetables, Southern red beans, and more. 

Hours of operation for Tucker’s Kozy Korner are:

• Closed on Mondays
• Tuesday – Thursday: 7a.m – 11p.m. (bar open entire time, kitchen hours below)
   o Breakfast: 7a.m. – 10:30a.m.
   o Lunch: 11:30a.m. – 2p.m.
   o Dinner: 5p.m. – 9:30p.m.
Bar remains open until 11p.m.
• Friday: 7a.m. – 2a.m. (bar open entire time, kitchen hours below)
   o Breakfast: 7a.m. – 10:30a.m.
   o Lunch: 11:30a.m. – 2p.m.
   o Dinner: 5p.m. – 9:30p.m.
Bar remains open until 2a.m.
• Saturday: 11a.m. – 2a.m. (bar open entire time, kitchen hours below)
   o Brunch pop-ups by special guest chefs: 11a.m. – 3p.m.
Bar remains open until 2a.m.
• Sunday: 11a.m. – 3p.m.
   o Brunch pop-ups by special guest chefs: 11a.m. – 3p.m.

Lifestyle store Saint Bernard announces San Antonio location

The retailer will open officially to the public in September and will host a grand opening event on September 8, 2022. Store includes lounge areas with complimentary local draft beer, wine, coffee and espresso service. Photo: Saint Bernard, used with permission.

Dallas-based lifestyle store, Saint Bernard, will open its first San Antonio location in Alamo Heights next month. The 14,000 square foot retail space will open in the shops at Lincoln Heights at 999 E Basse Rd. Suite 157, San Antonio, TX 78209. The store will open for business in September and will host a public grand opening event on Thursday, September 8 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. The first 50 shoppers to arrive will receive a complimentary gift. The grand opening event will also include hors d’oeuvres and drinks, music by DJ Steven Lee Moya and more. (Saint Bernard, 2022)

Saint Bernard is a family owned business that first opened its doors in 1978 after being inspired by the finest ski shops throughout Europe. The store, which sells high-quality skiing equipment, select sporting accessories and clothing, is based out of Dallas, but has expanded across the state with stores in Southlake and Houston. In addition to its brick and mortar locations, Saint Bernard has an online store that is open 24/7 for shoppers anywhere in the United States.

Unique to the Saint Bernard shopping experience, guests can also take advantage of the lounge areas in the store that include complimentary local draft beer, wine, coffee, and espresso service during operating hours.

Shoppers can expect to see brands like Peter Millar, ON, Greyson, LoveShack Fancy, Faherty, Johnnie-O, Hunter Bell, Frame and Citizens of Humanity carried at the new store. See here for other Saint Bernard store locations.

Saint Bernard’s hours of operations will be Monday – Saturday from 10a.m. to 8p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6p.m.

OVER 40 YEARS STRONG.
St. Bernard is the destination for all things ski, après ski, swim and casual designer apparel. Initially founded in 1978 by Anne and Wes Goyer to provide customers with an accessible full-service ski shop carrying top industry brands, Saint Bernard has evolved into a lifestyle. With stores located in Southlake, Houston and the Dallas flagship, located in Inwood Village. St. Bernard offers a carefully curated selection ranging from higher-end fashion to everyday gifts and décor. As a family-run business, Saint Bernard is proud to call its customers friends and to be your neighborhood store. Whether you are getting ready to hit the slopes, planning a beach vacation, or in need of a wardrobe refresh, Saint Bernard wants to be your first stop.