Category: Culinary Events

The 9th Annual Rivertini competition

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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 9th 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: 1st place – $1,000 cash, 2nd place – $500 cash, 3rd 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 9th St
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 515-4555

CIA Bakery Café returns to Pearl

20160311_091608The 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

Cook Like a Texan Feast at Pearl Stable

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Cook Like a Texan Feast will be at the Pearl Stable on Sunday February 26.  Tickets are now on sale. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The December issue of Texas Monthly is devoted to essential cooking techniques every Texan needs to know and on Sunday February 26 from 6p.m. to 10p.m. it will come to life during Texas Monthly’s ‘Cook Like a Texan Feast’ at the Pearl Stable. It will be a culinary road trip featuring acclaimed Texas talent and will include a walk around tasting by renowned local chefs paired with interactive art, craft cocktails, beer and wine and a multi course seated dinner by master chefs. There will also be live music and a magical dessert presentation under the stars. Tickets to this event are now on sale, are priced at $145 and may be purchased online. (Texas Monthly, 2017)

This culinary journey will be hosted by Texas Monthly’s recently appointed Executive Vice President and Editor in Chief Tim Taliaferro and celebrated Restaurant Editor Patricia Sharpe. There will be a Q&A with the chefs and talent including: award-winning chefs Jeff Balfour of Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery, John Brand of Supper at Hotel Emma, Johnny Hernandez of La Gloria, Jeremy Mandrell and Anne Ng of Bakery Lorraine, Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s, Rene Ortiz of Launderette, Jesse Perez from Central Market and Tim Rattray of The Granary ‘Cue & Brew. Guests will also enjoy interactive art by international contemporary artist Cruz Ortiz, live music by artist Doc Watkins, owner of Jazz, TX, and an Infiniti lounge.

The evening will begin with a walk around tasting reception from 6p.m. to 7:30p.m. featuring Jeff Balfour, John Brand, Jesse Perez and Tim Rattray. Artist Cruz Ortiz will have his artwork and screen-printing on display. Outdoor live music will be by Doc Watkins. The feast will be from 7:30p.m to 9p.m. and is a special seated dinner and will include cuisine by Johnny Hernandez, Hugo Ortega and Rene Ortiz. Indoor music will be by Doc Watkins. The evening will end with a grand finale from 9p.m. to 10p.m and will be a magical dessert presentation from Jeremy Mandrell and Anne Ng of Bakery Lorraine.

Pearl Stable
312 Pearl Pkwy #2
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 212-953

‘Holiday Cooking with the Culinary Concierge’ at Hotel Emma

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Hotel Emma is holding a ‘Holiday Cooking with the Culinary Concierge’ event this month.  Photo by Sandra Cruz

Hotel Emma at the Pearl is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting ‘Holiday Cooking with the Culinary Concierge.’ Hotel guests and community members are invited to submit a favorite holiday dish for a chance to cook their dish alongside Hugh Daschbach, the Culinary Concierge at Hotel Emma. This event will be held on Wednesday December 21 from 5:30p.m. to 7p.m. inside the hotel’s Exhibition Kitchen. The winner will cook and share the winning recipe with the night’s guests. Anyone interested in participating can submit their recipes through the Facebook event page and the recipes with the most likes will be finalists for the big win. The winner will be announced on Friday December 16, 2016. (Hotel Emma, 2016)

Hotel Emma is located in the former Pearl Brewery which was built in 1894 and is named in honor of Emma Koehler, the wife of Pearl Brewery founder Otto Koehler. She kept the brewery going during prohibition after her husband passed away and saw it through its most successful years. The hotel was designed by award-winning firm Roman and Williams who are known for mixing historic and modern elements. They had the historic Pearl building as a starting point and created a beautiful structure that blends the old with the new, the industrial with the refined.

Hotel Emma
136 East Grayson
San Antonio, TX 78715
(210) 448-8300