Collaboration dinner at Pearl with guest chef from Madrid

dinnerseriesaug18 — The Intercambio Dinner Series with Chef Jorge Fernandez of Madrid, Spain will be on Wednesday, August 29. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

As part of Olé, San Antonio programming this summer, the Pearl invites exemplars of the Spanish culinary scene—from Michelin-starred to up-and-coming Market chefs—to participate in intercambios, exchanges, with Pearl counterparts. Chef Jeff Balfour of Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery is hosting a Spanish dinner paired with Southerleigh brews and Spoetzl Brewery’s special limited edition Olé brews with Chef Jorge Fernandez Rodríguez of Madrid, Spain on Wednesday August 29 at 6:30p.m. The dinner includes a welcome reception curated by Southerleigh’s Chef Jeff Balfour and a 5-course seated dinner by guest Chef Jorge Rodríguez. Tickets are $80 per person plus tax and gratuity and includes beer pairings. Reservations are limited and can be made by calling Southerleigh at (210) 455-5701. (Pearl, 2018)

Chef Jorge Fernández Rodríguez of Gastrochigre in Madrid focuses on the gastronomy of the Asturias region and aims to make high-end cuisine more accessible and available to the general public.

The special menu available for one night only will include:

Welcome Reception: menu by Chef Jeff Balfour includes Machacado tortilla, Summer squash terrine on pan tomate, Puffed egg with jamón, Mexican chorizo and gulf crab croquette, Bacalao Magdalena and Mini picadillo rellenos.
Beer Pairings by Spoetzl Brewery, makers of Shiner includes Las Canarias Ale and Tenerife Ale.

Seated Dinner: menu by Chef Jorge Fernández Rodríguez includes Sweet and sour pig ears salad, “Callos” (tripas) with kale kimchi, mushrooms and vermicelli noodles, Deep fried hoisin duck with spicy carrot hummus, Rice and beans Asturias style with saffron scented beef cheek, and Rice pudding with chocolate and stout beer.
Beer Pairings by Southerleigh Brewing Co. includes Blood orange lime infused kettle sour, Sake style rice beer, Honey orange cream ale, Russian imperial stout and Microlot Katz Coffee (non-alcoholic coffee to be served with dessert).
*Beer pairings subject to change depending on availability

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
136 East Grayson, Suite 120
San Antonio, TX 78215

San Antonio Food Trails coming soon

sweetfirekitchen — San Antonio Food Trails is a food destination guide for visitors and locals alike. Photo: SweetFire Kitchen, used with permission.

San Antonio is fast becoming a foodie destination for visitors as well as locals. Culinaria is teaming up with Visit San Antonio to create a flavorful and fun culinary adventure. ‘San Antonio Food Trails’ is a call for the city’s finest for Best Margaritas, Tacos and BBQ Joints. In September, Culinaria will unveil this new, delicious and exciting concept. The trails will be a categorized journey to restaurants that offer some of the region’s best local cuisine, as decided by a committee of leading local restaurateurs, foodies and culinary ambassadors. (Culinaria, 2018)

Chef Johnny Hernandez noted that most people use their smart phone to plan their visits to different cities. San Antonio Food Trails is designed to be a convenient way for the savvy travel planner to get the most out of their culinary adventure to the Alamo City, while also providing locals with a new way to explore the tastes of their community. “One of our target markets are visitors to San Antonio, so a central walkable tour in San Antonio would be ideal in the coming months after our initial trails are announced,” Chef Johnny Hernandez said.

The list of restaurants that make up the inaugural San Antonio Food Trails will be unveiled this fall. Trails will be divided into four categories: margaritas, BBQ, tacos and a non-judged “Where the Local Chefs Eat” section. Ten to 12 stops will be identified for each of the Food Trails.

To be considered for a designation on one of the recognized San Antonio Food Trails, the eatery must meet the following criteria:

Locally owned and located within Bexar County
Must make efforts to source locally, within 150 miles
Participate in city efforts to promote culinary events in San Antonio
Must be established as a business by designated city, county or state entities
Must have an active website and/or social media viewable to the public

To apply, visit Culinaria online and download an application.

Restaurants on the San Antonio Food Trails will be on a two-year rotation to give ample time for patrons to go on several “food crawls.” Explore, mix-and-match experiences and share your experiences. The San Antonio Food Trails are sure to be a conversation centerpiece for any lover of great local cuisine.

Culinaria is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to promoting San Antonio as a premier wine and food destination while fostering community growth and enrichment. Culinaria is a registered 501 c (3) tax-exempt organization. A volunteer board of directors who represent the community and guide the organization in its mission to champion the wine and food industries governs Culinaria.

“We feel San Antonio has a lot to offer. We wanted to make it easier for visitors and locals to get to these places they might have never visited otherwise.” – Celebrity Chef Johnny Hernandez, who is helping lead development of the San Antonio Food Trails.

Summer Chef Collaboration Dinner Series at The Granary

granarydinner — The next dinner in The Granary’s Summer Chef Collaboration Dinner Series is this Sunday July 22. Photo: Robert J Lerma, used with permission.

The Granary’s Summer Chef Collaboration Dinner Series continues this Sunday July 22 at 6:30p.m. with the second dinner in the series. The three-part dinner series will focus on collaborative menus with nationally and internationally ranked chefs from various culinary backgrounds. This Sunday, The Granary ‘Cue & Brew’s Chef and owner Tim Rattray partners with Charleston Chef BJ Dennis for a Southern smoke potluck style dinner. Chef Dennis is known for hosting several pop-up dinners, especially in Charleston, where he incorporates Gullah Geechee cooking, a style of cuisine from the culture of the descendants of West African slaves who settled on the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. (The Granary ‘Cue & Brew, 2018)

Sunday’s dinner menu features below and more:

Smoked goat with suya spice
BBQ ribs with pineapple bbq sauce
Okra and smoked sausage purloo (rice)
Gullah red rice
Crab seasoning boil corn with crab roe butter
Stewed summer greens with smoked ham hocks
Hog head hash and rice
Cucumber salad

Cost is $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are limited and can be bought online. The Granary has previously partnered with John Tesar of Knife Dallas in June and the final dinner is scheduled for August with acclaimed Chef Bo Bech of Geist in Copenhagen.

The Granary ‘Cue & Brew
602 Avenue A
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 228-0124

Texas Taco Showdown new addition to Culinaria

culinaria18 — The Texas Taco Showdown is a new addition to the popular Culinaria Wine + Food Festival coming up next week at La Cantera Resort & Spa. Photo: Culinaria, used with permission.

The Culinaria Wine + Food Festival is coming up next week from Thursday May 17 through Sunday May 20 and among the new additions to the festival this year is the Texas Taco Showdown. Also new to the festival are pop-up restaurants and the opportunity for guests to mix and mingle with up-and-coming chefs. (Culinaria, 2018)

The Texas Taco Showdown will take place on Saturday May 19 when thirty chefs from across the Lone Star State will descend on La Cantera Resort & Spa in the heart of the Texas Hill Country to take part of this exciting new competition. On the line are bragging rights and the chance to take home the title of taco champion. The Texas Taco Showdown is set for 12 noon to 5p.m. and will be divided into three categories: Modern, Classic and the ever-popular Breakfast Tacos. A panel of ten celebrity judges featuring chefs, media personalities and foodies will make the final determination about who earns the Top Taco titles.

The Texas Taco Showdown is just one of many new activities that Culinaria has planned for this year. For example, guests will be able to mingle with up-and-coming chefs working alongside executive chefs from the city’s top restaurants on Friday night at the Texas Grand Tasting.

Restaurants currently signed up to participate in the pop-up restaurants are Grayze on Grayson Street, La Cantera Resort & Spa, Baklovah Bakery and Pasha Mediterranean Grill. Pasha will offer a Hookah lounge, a pop-up bakery featuring baklava and a food truck.

Culinary education remains a major part of the festival and will feature cooking and wine demonstrations. The Lone Star State’s most delicious resource –Gulf Coast shrimp – will be featured at a station sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Guests will be able to quench their thirst at the Wine Garden, the Beer Lounge or at the Yes Way Rosé Lounge.

The Burgers, BBQ & Beer event returns on Sunday when Chefs will set up grill stations for a backyard barbecue like no other. Expect exotic burger offerings featuring wild game alongside sumptuous beefy favorites as chefs go bun-to-bun to earn the top burger title. New this year is a fry station for French fries and onion rings for burger pairings. Guests will also can enjoy the Culinary District happening in and around Burgers, BBQ & Beer. This will provide festival-goers with ample opportunity to have access to tasty seminars, demos, wine, cocktails and shopping at the Culinary District with pop up restaurants, a variety of experiential hospitality and more; culminating to make Burgers, BBQ & Beer a Texas-sized experience of astonishing culinary and beverage proportions.

Culinaria was created to highlight San Antonio’s passion for food and to spotlight the city as a premiere food and wine destination. In the beginning, it was just a weekend of food and wine on the Riverwalk. Now it has expanded to include events as diverse a food competition and a barbeque extravaganza.

La Cantera Resort & Spa
16641 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 558-6500

Tickets now on sale for Park & Palate in Dallas

P1000825 — Tickets for the third annual Park & Palate culinary event in Dallas are now on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for the third annual Park & Palate in Dallas. This is one of the hottest culinary fundraising events of the year and it is taking place on Friday October 13 and Saturday October 14, 2017. Klyde Warren Park will be hosting the fundraiser, themed “Pillars and Protégés, and it is a celebration of notable chefs, master sommeliers, wineries, breweries and spirits. It will highlight well-known and up-and-coming chefs from Texas and around the country. Scheduled events include a Grand Taste, an evening concert and Down to the Roots, an exclusive fundraising night for sponsors, underwriters and donors. Tickets to the Grand Taste, which is open to the public, are now on sale online at an early bird price of $60. Regular price for these tickets will be $75. (Park & Palate, 2017)

Park & Palate will be two days of culinary creativity beginning on October 13 with Down to the Roots. The fundraiser will feature culinary pillars Dean Fearing, the night’s host, Kent Rathburn, Hugo Ortega, Jason Dady, Tyson Cole, Jon Bonnell and Becky Mason. Each of them will be paired with a rising chef of their choice, who they have mentored in the past, and will create a dish to be named the favorite by guest judges. The winners will receive a pair of custom Lucchese Bootmaker boots. At previous Park & Palate events, The Grand Taste is a tasting feast that included more than 30 chefs and 30 wineries. The chefs, sommeliers, mixologists and brewers present live cooking demonstrations and cooking tips. More details on the activities will be available in the coming weeks.

Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Dallas, TX 75201

Chef Series event at Jazz, TX with Chef Danny Orta

jazzsign — The next Chef Series will take place on Tuesday May 16 with Guest Chef Danny Orta. Photo: Jazz, TX, used with permission.

On Tuesday May 16 Jazz, TX will continue its Chef Series event with Guest Chef Danny Orta and a Japanese inspired menu. This event is limited to 30 guests and tickets are available online for $125 per person. Ticket includes a pre-fixe menu for two including gratuity, tax, cocktails and a cover fee if guests wish to stay and enjoy the 8:30p.m. show of The Doc Watkins Quartet featuring Jonathan Card. Dinner will be from 6p.m. to 8p.m. and the show will be from 8:30p.m. to 11:30p.m. The menu will consist of five specialty courses including oysters, potato salad, lump crab meat, dry braised beef rib, seared scallop and milk honey with dry ice and caramel honeycomb for dessert. Paired with the food will be Japanese spirits including Shōchū, Sake and Japanese Whiskey from the bar. (Jazz, TX, 2017)

Jazz, TX is the Pearl’s newest upscale music venue owned and operated by renowned musician Brent “Doc” Watkins. It is in the cellar of the Bottling House and hosts musical acts ranging from jazz to blues, big band, Texas swing, salsa, conjunto and Americana including Doc Watkins. Business hours are Tuesday through Saturday and aside from music, guests can enjoy a wide variety of food, beverages, wine and spirits.

Jazz, TX
312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6 Suite 6001
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 332-9386

‘Taste the South’ at Central Market

Central Market will be having their ‘Taste the South’ food festival from May 17 to May 30, 2017. Photo: Central Market, used with permission.

This month Central Market brings deep Southern cuisine to Austin during “Taste the South,” a two-week celebration of all things Southern from Wednesday May 17 to Tuesday May 30, 2017. The specialty grocery retailers will bring classic and modern Southern cuisine and wine to customers across the state during this food festival where they will be able to enjoy home grown cuisines from Virginia, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. Some of these dishes include tomato pie, southern biscuits, Mississippi mud pies, green tomatoes and collard greens. More information is found online. (Central Market, 2017)

San Antonio events include:

Friday May 19 at 6:30p.m. – Taste the South dinner with Chef Martha Foose. Price is $75 per person or $130 for two. Guests will be able to enjoy her Southern cooking family-style and the menu includes carrot and mint chutney toasts, chicken thighs with dumplings and deviled tomatoes.
Thursday May 25 at 6:30p.m. – Bon Appetit, Ya’ll with Chef Virginia Willis. Price is $70. Chef Virginia Wills will teach guests how to add French flair to Southern food while staying true to her down-home roots. Menu includes field pea and butterbean salad with toasted cornbread crumble, stone ground grits with fresh corn and sweet onion and meringue baskets with berries and old fashioned boiled custard.

Central Market cooking classes available:

The Southern Grill on Monday May 22 at 6:30p.m. for $65 where guests will spend an evening exploring the delights of a meal centered around utilizing a grill pan.
Couples Cook: A Southern Meal on Friday May 26 at 6:30p.m. for $125 per couple where they will learn to create modern versions of Southern classics and how to pair them with wines from Virginia.
A Southern Steakhouse on Tuesday May 30 at 6:30p.m. for $65 where guests will prepare pork chops with seasonal vegetables and fruits all done Southern style.

Central Market
4821 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 368-8600

Austin Food + Wine Festival in April

The sixth annual Austin Food + Wine Festival returns in April for three days of tastings and food demonstrations featuring local talent and celebrity culinary stars. It all takes place from Friday April 28 through Sunday April 30, 2017. Festival sponsors include FOOD & WINE, Republic National Distributing, Barilla, Toyota and KitchenAid. A full list of participating chefs and beverage talent, detailed festival information and ticket information is available online and all attendees must be 21 and older. (Austin Food + Wine Festival, 2017)

The All-In ticket is $625 per person and includes Saturday and Sunday Festival access, access to over 40 culinary demos and beer, wine and cocktail tasting sessions, access to the Fire Pits, all-day access to the Grand Taste Pavilion including the Chef Showcase, access to a special Sunday Gospel Brunch by The Warrior Gospel Band, Tim Love’s Hands-On Grilling Demo access for Saturday or Sunday and entrance to evening events including Friday night’s Lone Star Nights and Saturday night’s Rock Your Taco.

The Weekender ticket is $250 per person and includes Saturday and Sunday Festival access, access to over 40 culinary demos and beer, wine and cocktail tasting sessions, access to the Fire Pits, all-day access to the Grand Taste Pavilion including the Chef Showcase and a special Sunday Gospel Brunch by The Warrior Gospel Band.

There will also be a contest/giveaway in which one lucky winner will get to join award-winning chef and author Hugh Acheson on stage during his cooking demo as his Sous Chef. Prizes include an Austin Food + Wine Festival apron, a signed copy of his “A New Turn In The South” cookbook and an opportunity to assist Hugh, a world-renowned chef, restaurateur and James Beard award-winning cookbook author, while getting the ultimate hands-on lesson. Information on this unique opportunity is available online.

Auditorium Shores
800 W Riverside Dr
Austin, TX
(512) 974-6700

The 9th Annual Rivertini competition

rivertini17 — The 9th Annual Rivertini competition is March 23, 2017. Deadline to register is midnight tonight. Photo: google

The San Antonio River Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to continue to bring recreation, public art and educational opportunities along the San Antonio River expansions. In partnership with U.S. Bartender’s Guild San Antonio they are hosting the 9^th Annual Rivertini, a premier cocktail competition. It will take place on Thursday March 23 from 6p.m. to 8:30p.m. at the Wyndham Garden Riverwalk – Museum Reach. Bartender registration and recipe submission deadline is 11:59p.m. on Tuesday February 28, 2017. Prizes include: 1^st place – $1,000 cash, 2^nd place – $500 cash, 3^rd place – $250 cash, People’s Choice – $500 HEB gift card. There will be an after party at the Brooklynite for participating bartenders. (San Antonio River Foundation, 2017)

Guests will be able to sample cocktails from San Antonio’s top bars and restaurants as they the bartenders compete for cash prizes. It will be an evening by the River on the Museum Reach with music by JJ Lopez and hors d’oeuvres provided by Bourbon Street Seafood Kitchen. A panel of industry judges will choose the winner for top drink and guests will choose the People’s Choice cocktail. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $125 for VIP admission and are available online. This event will benefit the San Antonio River Foundation’s continuing efforts to bring dynamic contemporary art to the Museum and Mission Reaches for the public to enjoy.

Wyndham Garden Riverwalk – Museum Reach
103 9^th St
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 515-4555

CIA Bakery Café returns to Pearl

20160311_091608 The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio recently announced the return of the popular CIA Bakery Café to Pearl. For nine weeks starting on Monday February 13 and running until Wednesday April 12 the pop-up café will offer a variety of signature sweet and savory bakery items, new creations, specialty coffee and tea and daily aguas frescas. This pop up Bakery Café was created to give visitors an exciting dining experience while giving students the experience of working in a bakery. It is the most important course for the CIA baking and pastry arts majors graduating in April with their AAS degrees. Students will work in both the front and back of house at the café under the direction of Chef Dubernard, Chef Patrick Clark and Instructor Amandy Carranza. (CIA Bakery Café, 2017)

Business hours will be Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch from 8a.m. to 2p.m. and will have patio and interior seating. The menu will rotate and will feature house-made soups, salads, sandwiches and lunch specials. Pastry selections will include house-made pastries, bagels, breakfast breads, cookies, breads and desserts. Favorite dishes return, including the Chocolate XS Cake, Opera, Alfajores and White Chocolate Banana Tarts, along with the “Best Breakfast Sandwich Ever” and a reincarnation of the House-Cured Bacon Mac and Cheese. New items for this year include Chocolate Truffles and select healthy items.

The Culinary Institute of America was founded in 1946 as is the world’s premiere culinary college. It is an independent, not for profit facility that offers associates degrees in the culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. Students can also earn bachelor’s degrees in management, culinary science and applied food studies. With campuses in New York, California, Texas and Singapore it trains thousands of students that are bound for the foodservice and hospitality industry.

CIA Bakery Café
312 Pearl Pkwy, Ste 2102 – entrance located off Karnes Street
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 554-6464

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Category: Culinary Events