La Cantera Resort & Spa will host Gingerbread Decorating Parties to benefit SA YOUTH. Photo: La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.
La Cantera Resort & Spa is having Gingerbread Decorating Parties this month at the San Gabriel Meeting Room to benefit SA YOUTH and children and adults can both participate in this sweet event. La Cantera Resort will provide the home-made, ready to assemble house and resort Pastry Chefs will offer decorating tips while guests provide the creativity. These decorating parties are set for Thursday, December 6 from 7p.m. to 9p.m. and Saturdays, December 8, 15 and 22 from 10a.m. to 1p.m. (La Cantera Resort & Spa, 2018)
Gingerbread Houses are $50 each and may be reserved by calling (210) 558-2247 or emailing the recreation department. Ten dollars from every Gingerbread House purchased will benefit SA YOUTH. SA YOUTH’s mission is to develop the character, strengths, talents and skills of San Antonio’s high-risk urban youth through fun, safe experiences, positive learning environments and holistic programs that inspire everyone to fulfill their potential personally and in the community. More information holiday events is available online.
La Cantera Resort & Spa
San Gabriel Meeting Room
16641 La Cantera Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 558-6500
Krause’s Café will host a fundraiser on Sunday to benefit area veterans and their families. Photo:Krause’s Café, used with permission.
This Sunday November 11, Krause’s Cafe and Biergarten will honor Ben H. Dorcy III and local veterans by hosting ‘Benefit for the Brave.’ The evening will be filled with live musical performances, including Cody Canada, Kevin Galloway and more and will run from 5p.m. to 9p.m. Family and friends can enjoy a Sunday evening filled with German food, music and family fun. Tickets start at $25 and are available online. All proceeds will benefit the New Braunfels Area Community Fund and Canada/Kelly Veteran’s Fund which supports and aids Comal County veterans and their family members in need. (Krause’s Café and Biergarten, 2018)
During the event, active military and vets with ID can take advantage of $15 tickets at the door and half off food.
Krause’s Café is a New Braunfels historic restaurant that opened in 1938 and ran successfully until 1995. Recently it reopened and while keeping true to the original traditions it now has a ‘biergarten,’ live music and more. The menu reflects its German heritage and South Texas flavors while offering over 70 beers that include local, regional and international options as well as cocktails and wines on tap.
Krause’s Café & Biergarten
186 S. Castell Ave.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Garrison Brothers Distillery will host a fundraiser for Admiral Nimitz Foundation on Saturday November 10 at the distillery in Hye, Texas. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
To observe Veterans Day and to honor those who have served, Garrison Brothers Distillery will partner with several neighboring businesses for ‘Red, White, and Bourbon,’ a day-long celebration on Saturday November 10. This collaborative event is aimed at raising funds for the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Garrison Brothers’ own Mike Walsh will trumpet Reveille to kick off the event at 9:30a.m. and blow Taps at 5p.m. to conclude the event. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids ages 3 to 12, $10 for Admiral Nimitz Foundation members and $5 for veterans. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2018)
The event will take place at Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas where guests will be able to enjoy craft beer from Family Business Beer Co., hamburgers from Fischer & Weiser, tacos from Tubby’s Ice House and a variety of red and white wines from William Chris Vineyards, Grape Creek Vineyards, Cicada Cellars and Hye Meadow Winery. 100% of sales from beer, wine, and food will go directly to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Habana Cowboy will also be on site with a mobile cigar lounge and Complete Culture Custom T-Shirts will debut an exclusive Red, White and Bourbon branded tee.
The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) and provides additional development funding for the National Museum of the Pacific War, a museum dedicated to telling the human story of WWII in the Pacific. Since 1971, the Foundation has built a well-established and respected institution, which annually welcomes more than 100,000 visitors, including 15,000 middle and high school students from across the state.
Distillery Director Jason Paul Brand (AKA Rev) will give tank tours of the ranch atop the Nimitz’s 76-year old M31A Stuart Tank for a $10 donation to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and patrons can dip their own red, white and blue wax bottles at the gift shop. A portion of proceeds from the sale of each bottle will also be donated to the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. The museum will also have living history displays set up showcasing WWII weapons and equipment.
“The National Museum of the Pacific War is a Texas treasure. We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a distinguished neighbor in our sister city of Fredericksburg. We’re excited to partner with Family Business Beer Co. to present Red, White, and Bourbon. They share our passion for honoring and appreciating those who have served.” – Dan Garrison, founder of Garrison Brothers Distillery
The next Whataburger “Oh Whata Night” will benefit Warren High School Band. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Whataburger periodically hosts events to help the community and its various schools. These events have ranged from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeño eating contests, drawings and raffles. This Wednesday October 17 from 5p.m. to 8p.m., Whataburger is hosting a fundraiser to benefit Warren High School Band. The public is invited to come and show their support by enjoying their favorite menu items and during the posted hours, Whataburger will donate 20 percent of the sales to the band. The first 100 guests will receive a free Whataburger prize. This Whata Night fundraiser will be at the posted location only. (Whataburger, 2018)
“Whataburger believes in investing in the communities we call home. We’re fortunate to have the most generous customers, and with their help, we’re so proud to support the Warren High School Band.” – Whataburger Director of Operations Tom Willet
Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger!” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” With over 700 locations across the country, Whataburger continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.
Whataburger
8319 State Hwy 151 (near Ingram Rd.)
San Antonio, TX 78245
(210) 521-1511
The fundraising brunch will be held on Sunday October 14. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Chefs for Chefs is rallying the culinary community to unite to raise funds for Samantha Flores, manager at Ramen Bar, who is known for her ‘’great heart.” While riding her bicycle on her way home near Loop 410 and Nacogdoches Road in the early morning hours of Friday September 7, she was injured by a hit-and-run driver. She remains hospitalized and her road to recovery will be long. As her medical bills mount, Chef Michael Sohocki decided to reach out to other Chefs, Culinaria and La Cantera Resort & Spa to rally the community for a benefit to raise funds. (Culinaria, 2018)
This fundraising event will take place on Sunday October 14 from 11a.m. to 2p.m. at Grille 254 at La Cantera Resort and will feature brunch bites from featured chefs along with brunch worthy beverages, a silent auction and complimentary live music by Finding Friday. Tickets are $50 and are available online or onsite the day of the event for $60. If unable to attend but interested in doing more, a donation option is available. For questions contact Culinaria at 210-822-9555.
Participating chefs:
Chef Micheal Sohocki, Restaurant Gwendolyn
Chef Bruce Auden, Biga on the Banks
Chef Jason Dady, Jason Dady Restaurant Group
Chef Johnny Hernandez, Grupo La Gloria and True Flavors Catering
Chef Giovanni Sliva, Grille 254
Chef Andrew Weissman, Signature Restaurant
“One of our own needs our help and it’s time to bring together some of San Antonio’s best chefs to raise funds and the spirits of our friend and colleague.” – Chef Michael Sohocki.
Grille 254 at La Cantera Resort & Spa
16441 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
Culinaria’s Chefs for Chefs provides assistance to chefs in their time of need. Every dollar raised is leveraged through health care and assistance for chefs during medical emergencies.
Chef John Brand to participate in Chefs Cycle. Photo: Hotel Emma, used with permission.
September is Hunger Action Month, a campaign designed to get the public mobilized to combat hunger. The month is dedicated to spreading the word and working together to find solutions. Chef John Brand of Hotel Emma is teaming up with No Kid Hungry from Tuesday September 25 through Thursday September 27 for Charlottesville’s Chefs Cycle. This event is an endurance fundraiser featuring award-winning chefs and members of the culinary community fighting hunger outside the kitchen. They will be completing a three-day, 300-mile ride while raising funds and awareness in support of No Kid Hungry. Chef Brand is seeking to raise $7,500 by the end of the event, which would help donate 75,000 meals for children in need. (Hotel Emma, 2018)
To help support the cause, last week Supper donated $10 from various lunch specials to Chefs Cycle. The public can make donations online to support Chef Brand’s goals
Chefs Cycle is a fundraising endurance event featuring award-winning chefs and members of the culinary community fighting hunger outside the kitchen. For the past three years, Chefs Cycle has engaged culinary talents who want to push their limits by completing a three-day, 300-mile ride while raising funds and awareness in support of No Kid Hungry. The spring 2018 ride took place in Santa Rosa, California with a goal of 275 chefs riding to help raise $2.4M, which translates into 24 million meals for kids facing hunger. The fall 2018 ride will take place in Charlottesville, Virginia in September.
At last year’s competition, RVK Architects’ “Chomping Our Way Out of Hunger” won Most Cans and the coveted People’s Choice. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Coming up in September, North Star Mall is hosting the 13th annual Canstruction® design/build competition. This is one of the San Antonio Food Bank’s SA Goes Orange for Hunger campaign events to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief. (North Star Mall, 2018)
After last year’s hurricane right before the building competition, San Antonio felt a collective responsibility to assist neighbors along the coastal region who were impacted and the city’s response was immediate and powerful. Canstruction® became even more important as the Food Bank warehouses were inundated with donations and the reserve supply of canned food generated by Canstruction® provided a later source of food as communities began to rebuild.
In the International Canstruction® Competition, a San Antonio team received the first-ever recognition when RVK Architects toy alligator structure entitled, “Chomping Our Way Out of Hunger” placed third among hundreds of entries. Locally, RVK’s creative Canstruction® garnered two awards – Most Cans and the coveted People’s Choice.
This year, ten teams representing the San Antonio chapters of The American Institute of Architects and the Society for Design Administration have registered to participate. Their work begins on Sunday, September 9 when they are given 12 hours to defy expectations, logic and gravity as they assemble giant sculptures using approximately 30,000 cans of food. The sculptures will remain on display throughout North Star Mall’s common areas during mall hours through Saturday, September 22.
The following day the supersized masterpieces will be judged at the Canopener awards ceremony where industry professionals and special guests will be in attendance. Teams will vie for award categories in Best Meal, Best Use of Labels, Structural Ingenuity, Best Original Design, Most Cans and Best Use of Orange. The public may also cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award to be announced on September 25, 2018. Voting instructions can be found at each structure during display at North Star Mall.
All canned goods used to create the unconventional art exhibits at North Star Mall will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank at the close of the competition. In 13 years, Canstruction® has donated more than 472,095 pounds of food. As the major supplier of food for the hungry in Southwest Texas, the San Antonio Food Bank helps provide food for about 58,000 individuals each week through a network of more than 530 partner agencies within a 16-county service area. Every donation, every SA Goes Orange for Hunger campaign button worn and every means of public outreach helps to fight hunger and feed hope.
Donations can be dropped off at the Food Bank warehouse from 8a.m. to 5p.m. or at the San Antonio City Council district offices. More than 58,000 people in Southwest Texas rely on the Food Bank’s network of programs and services each week and more than 74,000,000 hot meals are served annually and over half a million Southwest Texans are at risk of going hungry.
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
This Thursday April 19 at The Granary. Photo: The Granary ‘Cue & Brew, used with permission.
The Granary ‘Cue & Brew is getting into the Fiesta season with Cask & Canine this Thursday April 19 from 4:30p.m. to 10p.m. In partnership with Saint Arnold Brewing Co., they are hosting a pet adoption event with local animal rescue, San Antonio Humane Society. During this Fiesta Kick-Off event, guests can stop by the Granary to find a fur-ever friend or to enjoy a beer. The Granary will be tapping a special cask of Saint Arnold’s “Ale Wagger” and donating a portion from each cask sold to the San Antonio Humane Society. As passionate animal lovers, Saint Arnold’s “Ale Wagger” will also donate a portion to support local rescue organizations in the Houston area. “Ale Wagger” is a full malty body brown ale with hints of chocolate. (The Granary ‘Cue & Brew, 2018)
This event is free and open to the public with beer and food available for purchase. The San Antonio Humane Society will have dogs for adoption on site from 4:30p.m. t o 6:30p.m. and the event will run until 10p.m. The Granary and Saint Arnold will be handing out free Fiesta medals.
The Granary ‘Cue & Brew
602 Avenue A
San Antonio, TX 78215
Whataburger will be hosting two fundraisers this month to benefit local schools. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Whataburger periodically hosts events to help the community and its various schools. These events have ranged from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeño eating contests, drawings and raffles. This Tuesday April 12 from 4p.m. to 7p.m., Whataburger is hosting a fundraiser to benefit Aue Elementary and on Tuesday April 17 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. to benefit Burbank High School Band. The public is invited to come and show their support by enjoying their favorite menu items and during the posted hours, Whataburger will donate 20 percent of the sales to the students. At the April 17 fundraiser, attendees will have a chance to win “Whataburger For a Year” – where one customer’s name will be drawn to win the prize, a free Whataburger each week for an entire year. These Whata Night fundraisers will be at the posted locations only. (Whataburger, 2018)
Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.
Whataburger – to benefit Aue Elementary
25111 W. Interstate 10
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 698-5485
Whataburger – to benefit Burbank High School Band
4720 Interstate Hwy 35 S.
San Antonio, TX 78211
(210) 924-2118
SA Examiner 