Brasserie Mon Chou Chou opening December 7 at the Pearl

Raclette & Baguette at Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, coming to the Pearl this month. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

Pearl is excited to announce Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, a new restaurant launching at the property. The new restaurant will feature quintessential French comfort food that showcases simple, earthy, flavorful dishes from regions throughout France. Brasseries are more informal than upscale French restaurants, serving full dinner options, but also allowing for a more casual atmosphere of just wine, oysters, cheese plates, and more. “Mon Chou Chou” is a French term of endearment that roughly translates to “sweetie” or “darling.” Brasserie will exemplify a laid back and comfortable atmosphere that serves as a welcome environment for guests at Pearl. (Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, 2020)

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou will be led by French born Executive Chef Laurent Réa, who formerly served as the Executive Chef at Andrew Weismann’s Signature. The new restaurant is a concept by Chef Réa and Southerleigh Hospitality Group partners Jerome Serot, Philippe Placé, and Chef Jeff Balfour. Réa, Placé and Serot all hail from France, but did not meet until they all ended up in San Antonio in 2001. Nineteen years of friendship later, they have joined forces to bring the comforts and flavors of their native France to Pearl. Brasserie Mon Chou Chou will initially open for dine-in service only, with curbside/takeout and delivery coming later.

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou will open to the public on Monday, December 7, 2020 at 3p.m. Walk ups will be accepted as capacity allows so reservations are highly encouraged. Business hours: Monday – Saturday: 3p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: Closed. Mon Chou Chou is located near the entrance to Hotel Emma at 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 2, Suite 2104, San Antonio, TX 78215.

During the era of COVID-19, Mon Chou Chou will be taking all the necessary precautions to make sure the experience is safe for both staff and guests—including additional sanitizing, frequent hand washing, mandatory masks for guests, associates, and operators, socially-distant tables, temperature checks of employees, regular COVID-19 testing of employees, upgraded HVAC filtration system, and hand sanitizer stations throughout.

Pearl, located north of downtown San Antonio, provides a unique experience as a top culinary and cultural destination. The mixed-use space features retail, dining, picturesque green spaces, paseos riverside amphitheater, and the third campus of The Culinary Institute of America. As a former brewery operating from 1883 to 2001, Pearl reflects a vivid past while embracing the future with environmentally sustainable buildings mixed with historic architecture.

Based in San Antonio, Texas, Southerleigh Hospitality Group is an independent fully integrated restaurant and hospitality company, owning and managing various restaurants and food concepts such as Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery, Southerleigh Brewery, Southerleigh Haute South and Brasserie Mon Chou Chou. Southerleigh Hospitality Group is a strong group of foodies who are obsessed with connecting people with savory, comfort, flavorful food experiences. With an unwavering passion for palette tantalizing menus, the restaurants serve up decadent cuisine along with distinguished hand-crafted beers for food lovers abound. The friendly neighborhood gathering places make every visit an unforgettably fun social dining experience.

Celebrate National Taco Day at Taco Cabana

Taco Cabana is offering $1 tacos in celebration of National Taco Day. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.

This weekend, in celebration of National Taco Day, Taco Cabana is offering a selection of its popular tacos for only $1. This offer is valid on Sunday, October 4, 2020 only. Guests can enjoy their choice of the classic bean and cheese, shredded chicken or ground beef tacos this weekend. $1 tacos are available in restaurant, drive-thru, via mobile order through the MyTC! App and for curbside pick-up. (Taco Cabana, 2020)

Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRGI), was founded in 1978. The brand specializes in Tex-Mex-inspired food including fajitas, quesadillas, flautas, enchiladas, burritos, tacos, flour tortillas and a selection of made-from-scratch salsas and sauces. Restaurants feature open-display cooking, a selection of beer and tequila margaritas, patio dining and drive-thru windows. As of Jan. 1, 2020, Taco Cabana operates 146 company-owned restaurants in Texas.

Taco Cabana introduces Mexican-style tortas to menu

This addition to the menu is at participating Taco Cabana locations only. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.

Taco Cabana is excited to announce three new menu items coming to its locations throughout Texas. Beginning today, Wednesday September 2, 2020, the popular restaurant chain is now offering a Mango-Habanero Pulled Pork Torta for the first time in the company’s 42-year history. In addition, guests can enjoy the Mango-Habanero Pulled Pork in a taco or cabana bowl. (Taco Cabana, 2020)

Taco Cabana is launching the popular Mexican sandwich platform with the Mango-Habanero Pulled Pork Torta. The torta’s traditional build includes refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes and Taco Cabana’s chipotle crema. The taco is filled with Mango-Habanero Pulled Pork and topped with lettuce, tomatoes and chipotle crema. The cabana bowl includes Mango-Habanero Pulled Pork, refried beans, rice, lettuce, shredded cheese, chipotle crema and pico de gallo. New menu items will be available in participating Texas locations in Austin, San Antonio, DFW, Houston and El Paso.

The Mango-Habanero Pulled Pork Torta is available for $5.29 a la carte or $7.29 for a plate with rice and beans; the taco is available for $2.29 a la carte or $6.99 for a plate; the cabana bowl is $5.99. Guests can place orders for all their Taco Cabana favorites via the convenient drive-thru, or for curbside pickup or delivery. Orders of $10 or more placed online or the MYTC! App are eligible for free delivery.

“Tortas are a big part of Mexican food culture and we’re looking forward to putting our own TC spin on them with Mango-Habanero Pulled Pork. The new Torta, Taco and Cabana Bowl are going to be great additions to our menu and we’re looking forward to our guests getting a chance to try them. They each make a great complement to any of our 12 margarita flavors – each only $2 all day, every day.” – Rich Stockinger, Fiesta Restaurant Group President and CEO.

Celebrate National Dollar Day at Taco Cabana

This weekend, in celebration of National Dollar Day, Taco Cabana will offer its popular bean and cheese tacos for only $1. This offer is valid on Saturday, August 8, 2020 only. Guests can enjoy Taco Cabana’s iconic bean and cheese taco, without any limit on the number purchased, by using code Codedollarbc. (Taco Cabana, 2020)

In conjunction with Tax Free Weekend this Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 9,

Taco Cabana is also offering $5 off any purchase of $10 or more by using code Codetxfreewk. Offer excludes purchase of alcohol or gift cards.

Guests age 21 years or older are encouraged to pair their $1 bean and cheese taco or Tax Free Weekend purchases with one of Taco Cabana’s 12 signature $2 margarita flavor options. Join the fun of MargaritaPalooza with flavors such as Lime, Strawberry, Mango, Blue Curacao, Mangonada, Watermelon, and others. Guests have the option to add chamoy to their margaritas at no additional cost and Jose Cuervo tequila is available for a $2 additional cost.

Taco Cabana continues to sell Lime, Strawberry and Mango margaritas on-the-rocks by the gallon to-go for $34.99 and Blue Curacao for $36.99. Starting Saturday, August 8, guests can make their margarita gallon purchase a Jose Cuervo gallon for an additional $14.

These offers are valid at all Texas locations in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio and are available via online ordering, drive-thru, curbside pick-up and delivery. Alcohol delivery is only available in San Antonio. Dine-in service is not available at this time. Offers cannot be combined.

Local businesses offering Fourth of July deals

bakerylorrainejuly4 — Pre-orders start today for Fourth of July pies from Bakery Lorraine. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

With the Fourth of July around the corner, several businesses around the San Antonio area are offering special deals to help celebrate in style. Whether food or entertainment, Bakery Lorraine, EVO Entertainment, San Antonio Museum of Art and La Panaderia have something for everyone.

Bakery Lorraine:
This Fourth of July, Bakery Lorraine will have their famous Apple pie made with five different apple varieties and donning a lattice decor this holiday season. A new decadent, Chocolate Creme pie will also be available along with their traditional Buttermilk pie topped with fresh berries. This will make the perfect addition to any socially-distanced barbecue, virtual or home celebration. Pies are $26 each and available for pre-order starting on Thursday, June 25. Pre-orders can be done online or by calling the desired store. All pie orders must be placed by Tuesday, June 30, at midnight. Pickup in-store Friday (7/3) or Saturday (7/4). Available at all Bakery Lorraine locations in San Antonio and Austin. (Bakery Lorraine, 2020)

EVO Entertainment:
In celebration of Independence Day, EVO Entertainment will be offering their play on a buy-one-get-one special, where guests can get a free game card equaling their food & beverages purchases at EVO. For example, if a guest spends $20 in refreshments, they are eligible for a free $20 game card to play arcade style games with opportunities to win prizes. There is no cap on how much they can spend or receive for this Fourth of July special. The offer is valid on July 4, 2020 and is available at participating EVO locations in Schertz and Kyle. In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, EVO operates under strict protocols to keep guests and staff safe, including the sanitation of high-contact surfaces every 30 minutes. (EVO Entertainment, 2020)

San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA):
On Sunday, July 5 from Noon to 3p.m., the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) will host its Family Day See + Do, a free event for SAISD students and their families. A perfect addition to the holiday weekend, families will have an opportunity to meet Pegasus and other mythical animals as they explore the realms of fantasy in this no-contact, physically distanced family day. Families will have the opportunity to invent their own magical animal and draw it on scratch art paper, sculpt a multi-headed hydra and enjoy a self-paced scavenger hunt. The Family Day See + Do has been generously underwritten by the Charity Ball Association of San Antonio and the Faye L. and William L. Cowden Charitable Association. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2020)

La Panaderia:
The popular San Antonio bakery will be open to visitors this Fourth of July at both locations so guests can stop in and treat themselves to decadent pan dulce while taking a break from the heat. Guests can also enjoy signature menu items at each restaurant such as the La Panaderia Patty Melt, a unique twist on the Texas favorite. (La Panaderia, 2020)

Culinaria launches Restaurant Weeks To Go

culinariaglass — Culinaria has launched ‘Restaurant Weeks To Go’ to meet the needs of the community. Photo: Culinaria, used with permission.

This week, Culinaria launched ‘Restaurant Weeks To Go’ in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) measures restricting gatherings. Restaurants are adapting and evolving to best fit the needs of the dining community. During this time, it is important to stimulate the economy and a community which has put San Antonio on the national map as a culinary destination, named UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017, an honor shared by only two cities in the U.S. ‘Restaurant Weeks To Go’ will run indefinitely until they are assured that the COVID-19 crisis is behind us. (Culinaria, 2020)

Culinaria is also organizing a donation-based EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND to help restaurants on the financial brink, cover operating costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. A complete list of participating restaurants, menus and information on the Emergency Relief Fund is available online.

“Participating restaurants have $15 lunch, $30 dinner three-course prix-fixe menus, and some are also offering family meals. The mission of Culinaria has always been to promote San Antonio as a culinary destination, and, to support the restaurant and hospitality community when they need us in times of financial hardship or family emergencies, as they have been there for the community in times of hardship – natural disasters, flood and hurricane relief. So, we ask the community to give what you can to help restaurant owners keep their establishments operational. Donations are 100 percent tax deductible.” – Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge, president and CEO, Culinaria

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.

Twin Liquors biannual Dollar Sale

twinliquors20 — Twin Liquor’s 2020 Dollar Sale is this Thursday through Saturday. Photo: Twin Liquors, used with permission.

Twin Liquors, Central Texas’ fine wine and spirits retailer, is excited to announce its winter 2020 Dollar Sale, offering incredible deals on wine and spirits. This Dollar Sale is set for Thursday, February 27 through Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 10a.m. to 9p.m. at all 85+ Twin Liquors locations. It will feature incredible savings on wine and spirits 750 ml and larger. Prices will drop down to the absolute lowest plus a dollar. Shoppers can look forward to amazing prices on collectible wines, rare whiskies and other popular spirits. (Twin Liquors, 2020)

Highlights of the sale include:
Product (750ml)                                Retail            Dollar Sale          Price Savings
Suntory Toki Japanese Whiskey   $37.99           $29.00                   $8.99
Casamigos Blanco Tequila             $46.99          $35.53                   $11.46
Sazerac Rye Whiskey                      $27.99           $20.50                   $7.49

On Thursday, February 27, starting at 10a.m. shoppers at all Twin Liquors Marketplace locations can expect cocktails and complimentary breakfast tacos provided by Deep Eddy Vodka. Marketplace locations include: College Station Marketplace, Hancock Marketplace, South Lamar Marketplace and San Antonio Marketplace.

Twin Liquors Fine Wine & Spirits began in downtown Austin, Texas as one small store. Since then, it has developed into a successful “home-grown” Texas company that has a unique and well-respected reputation throughout the United States for having impeccable team members, outstanding customer service, conveniently located stores, extensive selections of fine wines and premium spirits from around the world and substantial community involvement. Twin Liquors currently operates 90+ neighborhood stores across central, south, and southeast Texas.

San Antonio Burger Week 2020 to benefit San Antonio Food Bank

foodbanklogo — San Antonio Burger Week will take place from February 21 through March 1 to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. Photo: Google

Beginning Friday February 21 through March 1, San Antonio Burger Week, in partnership with HeartBrand Beef and benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank, will pay homage to America’s original sweetheart: the hamburger. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2020)

During the second annual San Antonio Burger Week, more than 30 San Antonio eateries will offer $5 and $8 specialty burgers, with a portion of each plate benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank. Participating restaurants include Armadillo’s Texas Burgers, Babe’s Old Fashioned Food, Benjie’s Munch, Biff Buxby’s Burgers, Big Lou’s Burgers & BBQ, Big’z Burger Joint, Broadway 5050, Burger Boy, Burgerteca, Charlie Brown’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Cheesy Jane’s, Chris Madrid’s, Chunky’s Burgers, The Cove, Cover 3, Hopdoddy’s, Johnny Rocket’s at River Center, Mark’s Outing, OrderUp, Papa’s Burgers, Sam’s Burger Joint, Slider Provider, Southtown 101,The Lion & Rose, The Well, Tributary at the Marriott, Tripoli’s Mediterranean Grill and Zinc.

San Antonio Burger Week aims to entice locals to explore new restaurants across San Antonio’s vast culinary landscape. Specialty burgers will range from cheeseburgers to bacon burgers, to veggie burgers and everything in between. Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of special drink pairings and sides and to punch their SA Burger Week Passport for a chance to win prizes. More information, including updates, passport and participating restaurants is available online and on Instagram.

The San Antonio Food Bank takes pride in fighting hunger, feeding hope in their 16 county service area. They believe that no child should go to bed hungry, adults should not have to choose between a hot meal and utilities, nor a senior sacrifice medical care for the sake of a meal. Founded in 1980, The San Antonio Food Bank has quickly grown to serve 58,000 individuals a week in one of the largest service areas in Texas. Their focus is for clients to have food for today but to also have the resources to be self-sufficient in the future.

Culinaria Restaurant Weeks is back

Entering its 11^th year, Culinaria Restaurant Weeks, from January 20 through February 1, 2020, is back with eateries in San Antonio and neighboring counties. Participating restaurants will offer special three-course prix-fixe menus: $15 lunch, and $35/$45 dinner. Guests can expect some restaurants to offer additional course options as well as wine, cocktail and beer pairings. This is the perfect opportunity to try out a new restaurant that has been top of mind or let it serve as the catalyst to reconnect with friends, family or co-workers. (Culinaria, 2019)

The best advice to anyone participating in Restaurant Week is to plan. Full details on participating restaurants, including Restaurant Weeks menus, are available online. Reservations are not required but are encouraged as walk-in service cannot be guaranteed.

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.

Culinaria has been promoting San Antonio as a premier destination for culinary, beverage and hospitality to an international audience, while also serving as a resource for educational opportunities in those fields. Events that make up Culinaria include Restaurant Weeks, a 5k Wine Run, the Wine + Food Festival and the Hallowine Run as well as smaller events and several community partner events throughout the year. Culinaria is continually expanding and additional participating restaurants are added weekly, as well as new events throughout the year.

Accolades:
Most Popular Food and Wine Festival – Vanity Fair, 2011
Top 10 American Food Festivals – The Telegraph 2016
Best Food & Wine Event in Texas – Essence 2017
Best Food and Wine Festival to Visit – Readers Digest, 2018

“San Antonio is a hub for great dining hotspots and Restaurant Weeks presents the ultimate opportunity for local residents and visitors to discover new culinary delights. It also generates enthusiasm within our diverse culinary community and extends another opportunity for Chefs to showcase the variety of food and flavors that define San Antonio and neighboring cities.” – Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge, president/CEO, Culinaria

Annual New Year’s Day black-eyed pea cook-off at William Chris Vineyards

wcvblackeyedpea — William Chris Vineyards will be hosting their annual New Year’s Day Party that will feature a black-eyed pea cook-off. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

William Chris Vineyards will be hosting their Annual New Year’s Day Party featuring a distinctly southern family-friendly Black Eyed Pea Cook-Off at the vineyard in Hye, Texas on Wednesday, January 1 from 1p.m. to 4p.m. The ticket price for general admission is $25 and will include a New Year’s toast for adults, plenty of black eyed peas, one vote to cast for your favorite dish and live music provided by Trace of Gold. (William Chris Vineyards, 2019)

Think you have what it takes to compete for the title of William Chris’ Black Eyed Pea Champion? The cook-off is $40 per entry for a team of two – entrants must prepare a dish at home using Black Eyed Peas with enough to provide 300 samples to attendees; the dish must be ready by set-up time at 12p.m. on January 1. Prizes for the top three teams include: 1st place will receive $500 + case of WCV wine; 2nd place will receive $200 + 6 bottles of WCV; and 3rd place will receive $50 + 2 bottles of WCV wine.

William Chris Vineyards
10352 U.S. Highway 290
Hye, TX 78635

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