William Chris Wine Company’s virtual wine and cooking event will take place on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Photo: William Chris Wine Company, used with permission.
Are you looking for new ways to expand your love of cooking and explore the world of wine-pairing? William Chris Wine Company (WCWC) is having a virtual wine tasting with WCWC owner Chris Brundrett and his wife Katharine taking place Thursday, July 28th at 7pm CT via Facebook and YouTube Live. (William Chris Wine Company (WCWC), 2022)
Get the full wine tasting experience (without the Texas heat) in the comfort of your own home. The tasting will invite viewers to cook an original recipe (sent via email once package is purchased) by WCWC’s Culinary Director Chef Skip, alongside Chris and Katharine Brundrett. In addition, viewers will also explore a variety of wines to pair one perfectly with the gourmet dish they have created. Sip, listen, and enjoy as they give an update on the current harvest, brag about their garden, and answer your questions about anything and everything Texas wine related. This virtual wine tasting is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about wine pairings with food — and maybe pick up some fun cooking tips along the way.
Guests can now purchase the curated Sip with Skip pack on their website to participate in the virtual wine tasting including the following:
2021 Blanc du Bois – Austin County
2021 Rosato – Grower Project
2019 Grenache – Friesen Vineyard
2017 Merlot – Robert Clay Vineyards
BONUS ALERT: The first 100 packs sold will receive a complimentary bottle of 1836 Texas Olive Oil. Tickets are available at the link provided here for $145. Add one bottle of wine and receive free shipping courtesy of WCWC.
William Chris Wine Company was founded in October 2020 by William Chris Vineyards’ Chris Brundrett and Lost Draw Cellars’ Andrew Sides. Built from a shared vision and set of core values, WCWC is the parent company of the William Chris Vineyards (est. 2008), Lost Draw Cellars (est. 2012), Skeleton Key (est. 2015), and Grower Project (est. 2015) brands, and is the leading producer of 100 percent Texas-grown wines in the Lone Star State.
2021 Rosato – Grower Project. Photo: William Chris Wine Company, used with permission.
The Bastille Day French Festival, sponsored by Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, will take place on Saturday July 16 with live French Gypsy Jazz music by Nashville artist Irenka. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Join us on Main Street at The Shops at La Cantera for a Bastille Day French Festival, sponsored by Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, 10a.m. to 8p.m., Saturday, July 16, 2022. More than 16 teams from San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston will compete in the Petanque “Bocci” Tournament. Enjoy $5 beer and wine and $5 small bites presented by San Antonio vendors including Sweet Paris; Sur La Table; Mon Chou Chou; Luciano Ristorante & Pizzeria, Tardif’s, and more. (Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, 2022)
French classic cars will be displayed with live French Gypsy Jazz music by Nashville artist, Irenka, from noon to 5p.m.
TEAM SIGN-UP – Petanque Tournament
Team of two is $40; each member will receive FREE French Festival T-Shirt, two bottles of water, two beverage tickets, and two crepes from Sweet Paris.
The top three teams will be awarded prizes. Payments can be made in advance and on site with cash or credit card. Register in advance by calling (832) 967.8396 or via email.
Register on site at 9:30a.m., booth on Main Street at The Shops at La Cantera. Tournament starts at 10a.m.
The Shops at La Cantera – Main Street 15900 La Cantera Parkway San Antonio, TX 78256
Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails is inside Hotel Contessa on the River Walk. Photo: Hotel Contessa, used with permission.
Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails is bringing a taste of Spain to San Antonio with its first ever Paella on the River Walk Patio event on Thursday, June 30 from 6p.m. to 9p.m. In addition to authentic paella and sangria, Ambler will host guests for a performance from world-renowned flamenco guitarist Randy Cordero. There will be three different types of paella available including game paella (quail, pork belly, rabbit, Spanish chorizo), seafood paella (shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops), and vegetarian paella (bell peppers, artichokes, asparagus, peas, okra, sweet potato, vegetarian stock). Live paella cooking presentations will start at 6:30p.m. Tickets are now available for purchase in two different options, VIP and General Admission, but both feature all-you-can-eat paella. (Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails, 2022)
VIP tickets are $100 per person and include: • All-you-can-eat paella • Complimentary valet parking • All you can (responsibly) drink Sangria during the event • Reserved table • Access to entertainment • Gift Bag • Ticket for Raffle for a 2 night stay and experience at Hotel Contessa • Designated VIP Badge
General Admission tickets are $50 per person and include: • All-you-can-eat paella • Complimentary valet parking • Welcome drink – sangria • Access to entertainment
Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails (Inside Hotel Contessa) 306 West Market Street San Antonio, TX 78205 River Walk level
Alpine Swim Club at Madeline Hotel & Residences. Photo: Madeline Hotel & Residences, used with permission.
There is no place quite like Telluride, Colorado in the summer. The historic mining town offers a lifetime’s worth of outdoor activities, from hiking, bicycle trails and fishing to camping, natural mineral hot springs and stunning scenery. (Madeline Hotel & Residences, 2022)
This 4th of July weekend, Telluride’s only Forbes five-star resort, Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection, is hosting their Second Annual Alpine Cookout on July 2. Celebrating the spirit of Southwestern cuisine, the event will draw visiting culinary icons such as Salt Lake City celebrity Chef Viet Pham, Texas all-star Chef Dean Fearing, Phoenix famed chef Mark Tarbell and Santa Fe legend Mark Kiffin, who will collaborate with the resort’s Executive Chef Bill Greenwood on a specially curated menu, including Chef Pham’s famed Pretty Bird signature hot chicken sandwich.
The luxury mountain retreat is also debuting a new one-of-a-kind adventure just in time for the long holiday week. Soar and Raft with Red Tail Flights and embark on a unique experience to explore Telluride by air and water. See Moab, Canyonlands, and Arches National Park from above and raft through the famed Westwater Canyon. The day begins with a private scenic flight from Telluride Airport over national parks to a thrilling rafting trip on Westwater Canyon, which is rated “The West’s Best Short Whitewater Trips” by National Geographic. The Madeline culinary team will provide a delicious chef-prepared picnic.
Additionally, the Wellness Oasis Poolside Pop-up with Free People Movement and Telluride Yoga Festival is taking place Thursday June 23, Friday June 24, and Saturday June 25. It promises to be an immersive wellness journey as Madeline’s Alpine Swim Club transforms into the wellness oasis of your dreams.
The Peach Truck will be making stops at EVO’s Schertz and Kyle locations. Photo: Peach Truck, used with permission.
Summer has finally arrived, which means the beloved Peach Truck is making its way back to EVO Entertainment with stops at EVO’s Schertz and Kyle locations. Pickups of delicious, hand-picked peaches and Georgia pecans will be available at both locations by pre-order only, and orders must be placed five days prior to the tour stops. Pickups will take place at EVO Kyle from 9a.m. to 10a.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 and at EVO Schertz from 2:30p.m. to 4p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 and from 8a.m.to 9a.m.on Friday,July 22, 2022. (EVO Entertainment, 2022)
After grabbing a box or two of the best peaches around, movie lovers can kick back in one of EVO’s luxury recliners and enjoy the latest summer blockbusters. To sweeten the deal, anyone who purchases a box of peaches or products from The Peach Truck will also receive a complimentary 30-minute game card to redeem at EVO Schertz or EVO Kyle.
EVO Entertainment Group is an Austin based out-of-home entertainment operator made up from several innovative brands including EVO Entertainment, EVO Cinemas, and EVO Concerts. Since its launch in 2014, EVO has gained a reputation as a leader in innovation, as well as one of the fastest growing independent cinema circuits in the country.
Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk is hosting the first of a one-of-a-kind quarterly dinner series with partner Soular Therapy on Thursday, June 9, 2022. The special, six-course Sensory Dinner will be led by the hotel’s fantastic executive chef, Robert Cantu, and each course will be paired with a scent from Soular Therapy, a San Antonio based luxury fragrance company. Engaging all five senses, this immersive dinner will be creative, abstract, and executed beautifully. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2022)
The cocktail hour will begin at 7:30p.m. and then guests will be seated in a square format on the terrace of The Moon’s Daughters and will be welcomed by avant-garde music of instrumental drums and chimes at 8p.m. Between each of the six courses, guests will be given a specialty washcloth saturated in a different scent to set the stage for the next dish. This multisensory experience of smell, sight, hearing, touch and taste will occur outside during sunset, and guests will be guided through the dinner by a spiritual escort, promising an unforgettable night.
Tickets are $380 and can be purchased here. Menu highlights include Scallop Crudo, Garlic Gnudi with Lobster, Black Squid Ink Poached Octopus, Crispy Braised Venison Shank, and more.
Chef and music line up includes Ashley Christensen, Fermin Nunez, Chris Shepherd, Joe Beddia, Chris Bianco, Superchunk, Shannon and the Clams, DJ Jazzy Jeff with DJ Mel, and more. Photo: Hot Luck Fest, used with permission.
Hot Luck Fest is officially back and returning to Austin this Memorial Day Weekend, May 26 – 29. Founded by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Guerilla Suit principal and Mohawk owner James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland, Hot Luck feels more like a family get-together and a backyard cookout than just another big music and food festival. It brings together some of Aaron’s favorite chefs, cooks, and musicians from all over the country and beyond. Individual tickets and weekend passes for the four-day fest are available online. (Hot Luck Fest, 2022)
“Super stoked that we’re able to bring Hot Luck back this year. I’ve invited a whole lot of my homies to come down to Austin to cook,” said Aaron Franklin. “We’ve all been through a lot in the last year and a half, and it’s going to be fun to all get together and catch up, and help our friends at Southern Smoke, who continue to serve our industry unfailingly.”
The Hot Luck weekend means fun food events by day, featuring some of the most talented chefs in the world making food and serving good times at beloved Austin-area venues. At night, the focus shifts to music as guests can experience Austin nightlife with shows at some of Austin’s most iconic clubs, including Mohawk and Antone’s. This year, Hot Luck is excited to welcome Superchunk, Shannon and The Clams, DJ Jazzy Jeff with DJ Mel, Cam Cole, Joe Marcinek Band featuring George Porter Jr., (of The Meters) and more.
Hot Luck and the Southern Smoke Foundation are joining forces in a forward-looking partnership focused on helping folks in our industry when they need it most. To that end, the Hot Luck team announced recently that Southern Smoke will become the charity beneficiary of the Hot Luck festival.
Whether you want to attend every event for four days straight with the Whole Enchilada Pass or come check out one food or music event, Hot Luck has got you covered. Ticket prices for music shows start at only $10.
The 2022 events and chef lineup is as follows:
THURSDAY, MAY 26
The Giddy Up: Mohawk
Guests can expect to taste some of the best pies (among other things) gathered together in one place (plus tasty treats from Whole Foods and Christina Tosi’s Milk Bar). If you are into high-quality pizza, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and heroic excess in general, look no further than The Giddy Up event at Mohawk in downtown Austin. Presented by YETI and Whole Foods Market and with DJ Mel on the decks to get things started.
This event is from 6p.m. to 9p.m. and is accessible only via the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package. No individual tickets are available for this industry event. DJ Jazzy Jeff will follow immediately after the food event. Individual tickets for DJ Jazzy Jeff (with DJ Mel continuing) will be available at the door at 9p.m. Early entry for Whole Enchilada buyers is at 5:30p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 27
Hi, How Are You?: Franklin Barbecue
Welcome to Hot Luck ’22, and for a lot of you, welcome to Austin. Join us for our extravagant East Side backyard get-together featuring Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue — famous for the longest lines in the history of lunch. We will eat, drink, and hoot with the chefs and culinary nerds behind all this prandial extravagance. All are welcome. Presented by our friends at Creekstone Farms.
SATURDAY, MAY 28
Al Fuego: Wild Onion Ranch
What happens when the masters of flame and forge gather together on a Texas ranch to sacrifice sparks unto the heavens? The answer is Al Fuego, Hot Luck’s celebration of live-action, flame-fueled cooking styles that run the gamut. A place where we ask chefs to utilize fire as inspiration and where chefs use all types of cooking contraptions, Al Fuego is an obsessively imagined and passionately executed showcase of the most inspiring food on the planet. If you ever wonder what chefs cook for their friends in their backyard, this is the shindig for you. Boots optional. Koozies required.
This event is from 7p.m.–10p.m. and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package who can get in early at 6:30. Individual tickets are also available.
TICKETS
The Whole Enchilada Ticket Package: $500 for adults, $150 for ages 12-20; $75 for 12 and under, and $1,000 for family (two adults and two kids).
Hot Luck is offering a limited opportunity to experience the full weekend of the fourth annual Hot Luck food and music festival. Enjoy main events, music shows and more. Come hang with chefs, mingle with the industry and enjoy the most intimate festival experience available. For a behind-the-scenes look into Hot Luck, look no further. Limited to a handful of (really) lucky folks.
The Whole Enchilada Ticket Package includes:
The Giddy Up — Thursday night industry welcome party (only available with Whole Enchilada Pass)
Hi, How Are You? at Franklin Barbecue — Main event Friday evening with early entry
Al Fuego at Wild Onion Ranch — Main event Saturday evening with early entry
The Whole Enchilada Pass is the only way into the industry kickoff Giddy Up at Mohawk and offers access to every music show
As always, Whole Enchilada passes as well as industry passes can be picked up at the YETI Austin Flagship on Thursday, May 26 where Luis ‘Beto’ Robledo from Cuantos Tacos will be cooking. There will be a window early on the 27 to pick up passes there too.
Hot Luck would like to thank its partners, YETI, Whole Foods Market, Goldbelly, Karbach Brewing Co., Knob Creek, Hornitos, VANS, Creekstone Farms, Tillamook, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, KeVita, Performance Food Group, Fernet, Vital Farms, Rambler Sparkling Water, Big Green Egg, Johnnie Walker, American Lamb Board, Oatly, Desert Door, Tabasco, Montinore Estate Wine, Minamoto Foods, Genji Sake, William Chris Vineyards, Medici Roasting, Spiritless, LoLo, Alaska Seafood, Thaan Charcoal, Jacobsen’s Salt Co., Rock Sound Rum, JuiceLand & Music Water.
Fairmont Austin continues to be Hot Luck’s preferred accommodations partner, along with Austin Motel, Hotel Magdalena, South Congress Hotel, East Austin Hotel, Hotel Van Zandt, The Carpenter Hotel, Hotel San Jose, Hotel Saint Cecilia, and Hotel Ella.
Hot Luck is a food and live music gathering in Austin, Texas, brought together by James Beard Award–winner Aaron Franklin, Guerilla Suit principal James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland. Hot Luck is inspired by friendly tailgates, family reunions, get-togethers, and potlucks of our past and present. It is a fun, chef-driven celebration of fire, food, music and camaraderie. An a la carte, eat-with-your-fingers picnic and party experience that highlights open-pit feats of culinary know-how and music in your ears that is as thoughtfully curated as the food on your plate. Come hungry, thirsty, and bring your dancin’ boots.
San Antonio’s top indie chefs celebrate global cuisine with launch of Sunset Series this Sunday May 22,sd 2022. Photo: San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance.
Some of San Antonio’s most talented chefs will heat up Cherrity Bar for the launch of the Sunset Series on Sunday, May 22, 4p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets for the sure-to-sell-out event are up for grabs for $45. All funds raised will support San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance’s (SAFWA) unique grant program for culinary innovation and community giveback. (San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, 2022)
Inspired by the night markets popular throughout Asia, the Sunset Series is a regular program of evening bazaars showcasing the inclusivity of San Antonio’s food scene. The intimate backyard setting of Cherrity Bar (302 Montana St.) will allow guests to mingle with some of Alamo City’s hottest chefs and hear the personal stories behind the fare.
Each edition will have a new global theme highlighting emerging and independent chefs. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Sunset Series will kick off with a tribute to the diverse flavors of Asian cuisine.
More than just an occasion to share some of the region’s most exhilarating food, the new Sunset Series aligns with the Alliance’s mission of fostering awareness and innovation in Texas culinary communities. Granting the next generation of culinary talent a platform is near and dear to Ernie Bradley, chef and partner of Cherrity Bar.
“Our mission is to support our community in every way possible. Giving up-and-coming and independent chefs a chance to challenge themselves and showcase their skills is a natural extension of what Cherrity Bar already does for charity organizations, artists, and musicians. Without these people, our community does not grow.” – Ernie Bradley
Bradley’s team will throw down with John Constantino and Chris Christal of Howdy, Kuya!, James Canter of Guerilla Gourmet, Nari Hodges of Ooyoo Pan, culinary expert Hugh Daschbach, sought-after personal chef Katrina Cailao, and Heather Larican-Rejino of Your Sassy Chef. Larican-Rejino received an honorablementionat the 2021 San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance’s grant awards.
The chefs will spotlight Asia’s staggering contribution to global cuisine with traditional and unconventional takes on the theme.
The menu includes:
Chefs John Constantino & Chris Christal of Howdy, Kuya! Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Filipino Fried Rice
Chef James Canter of Guerilla Gourmet Jap Chae: Potato Starch Noodles with Mesquite-Smoked Tofu, Korean Cowboy Q Sauce, Vegetables, & Sesame
Chef Heather Larican-Rejino of Your Sassy Chef Pancit Noodles with Chicken Adobo & Pinay Pico
Chef Katrina Cailao Sans Rival: Traditional Filipino Cake with Cashew Meringue & French Buttercream
Chef Nari Hodges Assorted Japanese Macarons
“We are delighted to salute the diverse cuisines of Asia at our inaugural Sunset Series,” says Erika White, executive director of the Alliance. “The chefs have truly wowed us with their creative dishes and support of the local food community.”
Sunset Series attendees will be greeted by a welcome cocktail to keep the event spirited. Guests will also be able to sample fine spirits and beer. Additional drinks will be available for purchase.
Proceeds from the signature tasting event will help SAFWA give back to the local culinary community through a vibrant grant program for chefs, farmers, artisan producers, and nonprofits by funding projects focused on culinary innovation and community giveback. The organization debuted its grant program in 2021 by funding $17,000 in local culinary projects.
Under the Texas Food & Wine Alliance umbrella, 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.
San Antonio Museum of Art’s Photography Workshop: The Visualization of Identity with local artist Mari Hernandez will be held on Saturday April 23, 2022. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.
In support of Wendy Red Star’s “A Scratch on the Earth” exhibit, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is hosting two interactive events encouraging self-discovery and worldly exploration. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2022)
Travel inward at SAMA’s Photography Workshop: The Visualization of Identity with local artist Mari Hernandez on Saturday, April 23, from 1p.m. – 4p.m. Guests will be given the knowledge and space to contemplate their identities and histories to create a portrait of self, a theme seen frequently throughout Red Star’s current work on display. Participants are asked to bring their phone with a working camera, a tripod and any personal objects such as clothing and props they would like to include in their portrait. After drawing connections to the provided artworks, participants can execute their vision on the grounds of the San Antonio Museum of Art. Tickets are available for purchase here starting at $50 for members and $60 for non-members.
On Friday, April 29 from 5:30p.m. – 7p.m., art and culinary experiences converge at SAMA’s River Pavilion for a culinary journey with Chef Rebe Mariposa. This special interactive exhibition introduces duos to a personal connection to the land through food and native ingredients. Participants will create their own delicious amaranth polenta accompanied by various other natively-grown ingredients such as mesquite, juniper berries, pecans, and chile pequin. Participants will end the night with an understanding of the correlation between access to food and the knowledge of how to use wild ingredients to create meals. Tickets are available for purchase here, and prices are based on attendance for two, starting at $50 for members and $60 for non-members.
Hopdoddy margaritas. Photo: Hopdoddy, used with permission.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar is ready for 4/20 this year. The nationally recognized burger bar wants to celebrate the holiday by offering some unique menu items for a limited time only. (Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2022)
Burger and pizza lovers can satisfy their cravings with the Hopdoddy Pizza Supreme Burger – a Certified Piedmontese beef patty under yet another patty made of house-made, fried mozzarella and red chili flakes, all topped with sauteed peppers, onions, pomodoro sauce, and a sausage mushroom oregano mayonnaise. Not enough? Enjoy it with the restaurant’s Garlic Bread Fries, which are hand-cut and tossed with fresh garlic and parmesan cheese, then down it all with Hopdoddy’s Creamsicle Shake made with Orange Crush and vanilla custard.
The best part: Get free delivery with the purchase of all three items, which will only be available on 4/20 while supplies last. All Hopdoddy orders can be placed in-person at any Hopdoddy location or online for pickup.
Hopdoddy’s Happy Hour just came back in time for spring and summer.
HOPDODDY HOPPY HOUR:
Monday – Friday from 3p.m. – 6p.m.
All Hopdoddy Locations:
Menu Options: (Dine-in)
$5 Schooners
Any draft beer
House margaritas (frozen or on the rocks)
Draft cocktails (paloma, mule, and seasonal options)
SA Examiner 