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.

Full Belly Cafe and Bar is now open to the public

pecanpiefrenchtoast — Pecan Pie French Toast. Photo: Full Belly Cafe and Bar, used with permission.

Full Belly Cafe and Bar, a fresh new dining concept by local hospitality veterans Blade Haddock and James Moore, is now open to the public, serving a menu of hearty, seasonal American cuisine with a global spin for breakfast with lunch, weekend brunch and dinner service rolling out shortly. Following the announcement of the project last month, San Antonio’s culinary community has eagerly awaited the addition of a new, chef-forward dining destination. (Full Belly Cafe and Bar, 2020)

The restaurant has undergone extensive remodeling to achieve an eclectic, highly artistic look and feel that harkens back to the late 60s and early 70s design eras. Upon entering the space, guests will notice floor-to-ceiling custom wooden shelving along the front wall, accenting the entrance with modern, 3D geometric patterns. Hand-blown glass fixtures by Jenny Garcia of Garcia Glass, a local three generation female owned glassblowing studio, are featured throughout the space.

With a seating capacity for 80 people inside and plans to revamp a covered patio that will seat an additional 50 people outdoors, Full Belly Cafe and Bar is welcoming diners to enjoy a chef-crafted opening menu that features dishes including Pecan Pie French Toast and Eggs Benny with Espresso Rubbed Pork Belly, Red Eye Gravy and Hollandaise on House Crumpet. When lunch begins, there will be a Bulgogi style Beef Cheek Sandwich with Vinegar Slaw, Herb Salad and Golden Beet Aioli as well as a Fried Paté Sandwich and Confit Duck and Spinach Salad.

In addition to the evolving menu of seasonal American cuisine, freshly baked pastries and a specialty coffee menu are designed to make Full Belly a go-to for morning fuel. Whether dining in or grabbing to-go, on any given day patrons will find delicious goodies made by Pastry Chef Deanna Lansing including her signature “Belly Puffs”, which are a cross between a croissant and a cream puff filled with mascarpone Chantilly cream, along with other gourmet donuts, breakfast hand pies and breads from scratch.

Full Belly Cafe and Bar is now open for the following services:

Tuesday, February 11 through Saturday, February 15 – Open for breakfast from 7a.m. to 10:30a.m.
Sunday, February 16 – Closed
Monday, February 17 through Friday, February 21 – Open for breakfast and lunch from 7a.m. to 3p.m.
Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23 – Closed
Starting February 24, full hours will be 7a.m. to 3p.m. Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch, 5p.m. to 10p.m. Tuesday to Saturday for dinner, and 8a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday and Sunday for brunch. Late night hours and happy hour will roll out the first week of March.

Founded by veteran restaurateurs Blade Haddock and James Moore, Full Belly Cafe and Bar is a contemporary American restaurant with a global spin located in San Antonio. Embracing its motto to “Feed your Soul. Fill your Belly.” Full Belly offers a variety of hearty, seasonal dishes alongside an extensive chef influenced bar program and specialty coffee menu for a complete all-day dining experience.

Full Belly Cafe and Bar
427 N. Loop 1604 West #202
San Antonio, TX 78232

Win a Whatawedding for this Valentine’s Day

Attention die-hard Whataburger fans: the fast food chain announced last week that from now until Sunday February 2, couples can enter to win the chance to tie the knot or renew their vows on Valentine’s Day at a Whataburger restaurant in six cities across Texas with all costs covered, excluding travel. As an added bonus, one of these couples will also receive a cash prize of $5,000 for a dream honeymoon. (Whataburger, 2020)

Cities where couples can win a Whataburger wedding or renewal ceremony:

San Antonio
College Station
Corpus Christi
Houston
Grand Prairie
Fort Worth

The ultimate Whatawedding includes:

Whataburger meal (couples get to order their favorite off the menu)
Photographer
Select number of guests
Orange and white decorations
Officiant

The winning couple in Corpus Christi will receive all of the above plus an upgraded floral package and video package. A select number of couples will receive a renewal ceremony at each location that includes the Whatawedding details. To enter, couples can visit Whataburger online and fill out the request form which includes name, phone number, email, their preferred city, whether they are looking to get married or renew their vows, picture of the couple and a 500 word of less essay on their love story and why they want to get married at Whataburger.

Shake Shack launches Classic Comfort Menu

shaketrio — Shake Shack’s Shake Trio. Photo: Shake Shack, used with permission.

In honor of the New Year, Shake Shack is launching its limited edition Classic Comfort Menu which will include a trio of shakes – Cookie Butter, Malted Milk Chocolate and Frozen Hot Chocolate – as well as an old favorite with an updated, Texas spin, The ShackMeister Burger. Exclusively available at the Texas Shacks, Shiner Bock-marinated crispy shallots will top the 100% Angus beef Burger. (Shake Shack, 2020)

The trio of shakes will be available from January 7 through March 16 and the ShackMeister Burger will be available from January 7 through March 31 at all Texas Shacks.

The award winning ShackMeister Burger, which was originally created in 2014 for South Beach Food and Wine Festival, was a spin-off of Shake Shack’s take on onion rings. A classic Shackburger topped with shallots marinated in Shiner Bock (exclusive to the Texas Shacks) and fried until crispy. The ShackMeister is the perfect combo of bitter and sweet. This is the first time the original ShackMeister Burger is making its return to U.S. menus. Pro tip: Looking for more shallots? You can add them to either your fries or dog at any Shack.

Classic Comfort Menu

Cookie Butter: vanilla frozen custard and cookie butter mixed and topped with whipped cream and cookie crumbles
Malted Milk Chocolate: chocolate frozen custard and Ghirardelli sweet cocoa powder mixed and topped with whipped cream, cocoa powder and miniature marshmallows
Frozen Hot Chocolate: vanilla and chocolate frozen custard malted and topped with whipped cream and crushed milk chocolate
ShackMeister Burger: Exclusive to Texas Shacks, Shiner Bock-marinated crispy shallots and ShackSauce will be placed on a 100% Angus beef cheeseburger – no added hormones or antibiotics, ever

Since 2004, Shake Shack’s mission is to Stand For Something Good^®, from its premium ingredients and caring hiring practices to its inspiring designs and deep community investment. With its fresh, simple, high-quality food at a great value, Shake Shack is a fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal. Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in NYC’s Madison Square Park, the company has expanded to more than 220 locations in 26 U.S. States and the District of Columbia, including more than 70 international locations across London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul and more.

Shake Shack
3003 Broadway St.
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 469-3732

Shake Shack
7427 San Pedro Ave. Suite 107
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 277-4770

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

Pluckers Wing Bar to host ‘Anti-Resolution’ special

pluckerslogo — Pluckers Wing Bar’s Anti-Resolution special will run from January 1 through January 6. Photo: Melissa Skorpil, used with permission.

Pluckers Wing Bar, Texas’ favorite sports bar and wing restaurant, is bringing back their Anti-Resolution special from Wednesday January 1 through Monday January 6, 2020 at ALL Pluckers locations. (Pluckers Wing Bar, 2019)

The Anti-Resolution special includes 50% off desserts and a $1 addition for salads. The extra dollar will be donated to Breakthrough Central Texas, an education nonprofit that creates a path to and through college for students from low-income communities. From sixth grade through to college, the organization offers out-of-school learning experiences, leadership skills and comprehensive advising to students. The organization makes a 12-year commitment to students and their families to guide them through the process of preparing for, enrolling in and completing college. The long-term model ensures the success of students and families from middle school to high school graduation to college diploma and beyond.

Owners Mark Greenberg, Dave Paul and Sean Greenberg opened their first Pluckers restaurant in Austin in 1995. Over the past 24 years, Pluckers Wing Bar has opened 25 locations, expanding to Baton Rouge, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Killeen, San Marcos and San Antonio. Pluckers is known for their signature wings and is consistently recognized as the best sports bar and chicken wing restaurant. They offer guests a fun, laid-back atmosphere where friends, family, and co-workers can enjoy a great meal and watch sports. Pluckers has been named in USA Today’s “Top Ten Wing Restaurants” and ESPN’s “Top 5 Sports Bar in North America,” along with being named one of “Austin’s Best Places to Work 2017” by the Austin Business Journal and Dallas Observer’s “Best Sports Bar.”

Pluckers Wing Bar
14881 IH-35 North
Selma, TX 78154

Pluckers Wing Bar
15651 I-10 W
San Antonio, TX 78249

New Year’s Day brunch at COVER 3

cover3chilaquiles — COVER 3 will have a New Year’s Day brunch from 11a.m. to 3p.m. Photo: COVER 3, used with permission.

COVER 3 will be ringing in 2020 with a New Year’s Day brunch- featuring food and beverage options sure to kick off the new year on a delicious, and lucky, note. (COVER 3, 2019) From 11a.m. to 3p.m. on New Year’s Day, all COVER 3 locations will offer revelers:

COVER 3’s signature U-Mix-It Bloody Mary & Bubbles Bar
Select menu featuring COVER 3’s most popular brunch items like Migas, Chilaquiles, Green Chile Breakfast Tacos, Tinga Chicken Breakfast Enchiladas and Chili & Eggs
Special “Southern Charm” lucky plate featuring old-fashioned Southern good luck charms like picked-and-pressed pork “short rib” for prosperity, black eyed peas with andouille sausage for luck and braised kale greens for wealth for $15.95

New Year Brunch:
Migas – classic style migas with queso blanco, Jack and Cheddar cheeses, served with refried black beans
Chilaquiles – fried corn tortillas served with roasted tomato salsa, topped with queso blanco, Jack and Cheddar cheeses, two eggs, sliced avocado and pico, served with refried black beans
Green chile beef breakfast enchiladas – corn tortillas stacked with green chile beef, Jack and Cheddar cheeses, Poblano carne sauce, topped with fried eggs
Tinga chicken breakfast enchiladas – corn tortillas stacked with Tinga chicken, Jack and Cheddar cheeses and garlic chipotle sauce, topped with fried eggs, Poblanos and onions
Chili and Eggs – Matt’s chili topped with two eggs, avocado, Jack and Cheddar cheeses, Cotija, pico, cilantro and tortilla strips

COVER 3 is the leading high-end sports bar and has previously been named to CNN’s list of “101 of the best sports bars in the U.S” as well as the “Best Sports Bar in the Central Region” by Sports Illustrated. Each location has enough TVs to give guests multiple options regarding which TV near their table is the most comfortable for their viewing pleasure. Serving upscale food, craft cocktails and high-end wines, COVER 3 remains elegant and stylish while giving guests the feeling they are enjoying the Super Bowl in their own private box.

COVER 3 San Antonio
1806 N 1604 W
San Antonio, TX 78248
(210) 479-9700

Pluckers Wing Bar to host Christmas Eve lunch for Boysville

Pluckers Wing Bar is excited to announce that they will spread holiday cheer by providing lunch for four families from Boysville at the Pluckers Selma location this Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24 from 10a.m. to noon. This year, employees from the Selma, Landmark and San Marcos locations will donate holiday gifts for children. (Pluckers Wing Bar, 2019)

Boysville is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide a safe family environment for children in need by providing food, shelter, clothing, medical services and education services. Boysville is able to provide the basic necessities needed to make the child feel safe and comfortable and teach them to become an active member of society.

Pluckers San Antonio
14881 Interstate 35 N
Selma, TX 78154

Owners Mark Greenberg, Dave Paul and Sean Greenberg opened their first Pluckers restaurant in Austin in 1995. Pluckers is known for their signature wings and is consistently recognized as the best sports bar and chicken wing restaurant. They offer guests a fun, laid-back atmosphere where friends, family, and co-workers can enjoy a great meal and watch sports. Pluckers has been named in USA Today’s “Top Ten Wing Restaurants” and ESPN’s “Top 5 Sports Bar in North America,” along with being named one of “Austin’s Best Places to Work 2017” by the Austin Business Journal and Dallas Observer’s “Best Sports Bar.”

Bakery Lorraine introduces winter menu

blcheeseplate — Bakery Lorraine’s new winter menu includes the cheese plate. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

This holiday season, Bakery Lorraine introduces winter menu items perfect for the colder weather. These items include a new grilled cheese sandwich, a charcuterie plate, a croque madame sandwich and more. Bakery Lorraine is also inspiring holiday cheer with festive treats. The bakery is offering chocolate-covered gingerbread men and macaroons in multiple flavors including; Red Hot, Egg Nog, White Chocolate Peppermint, Angel Food, Hot Cocoa, Pistachio, Raspberry and Earl Grey. Customers can order in stores or online until December 19. (Macaroons: 6 for $13, 12 for $24, Special 20pk for $40) (Bakery Lorraine, 2019)

With locations at the Pearl and the Medical Center, Bakery Lorraine has rapidly become a San Antonio favorite and a nationally recognized pastry shop famous for its colorful macarons and exquisite French pastries. Owned by chefs Anne Ng, Jeremy Mandrell and operator Charlie Biedenharn, Bakery Lorraine was named one of the best new bakeries in the U.S. by Food & Wine and CNN’s Eatocracy blog, as well as one of the “13 Destination Bakeries” by Conde Nast Traveler. Bakery Lorraine offers handmade French pastries and macarons as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner items including its Greek Yogurt Parfait, the Quiche Lorraine, Turkey Pesto sandwich and an assortment of salads, soups and artisan sandwiches.

Bakery Lorraine
7338 Louis Pasteur Dr. Suite 201
San Antonio, TX 78229
(210) 303-0330

306 Pearl Pkwy, Suite 110
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 862-5582

17503 Cantera Pkwy #108
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 415-4066

2800 Broadway St.
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 212-4453

11600 Rock Rose Ste. 100
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 300-0300

Hopdoddy raises $100K for charities nationwide

hopdoddygoodcauseburger — Hopdoddy Burger Bar’s Goodnight/Good Cause burger. Photo: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, used with permission.

As part of the Hopdoddy Burger Bar mission, aiming to do what is right includes giving back to the community. With each Goodnight / Good Cause burger sold, Hopdoddy donates a portion of the proceeds to local charitable organizations. This year, Hopdoddy is proud to announce that the restaurant raised more than $100K for charities in Texas, Arizona, California, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Colorado. (Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2019)

Hopdoddy partnered on the Goodnight / Good Cause burger with the following charity organizations this year:

HAAM (Austin, TX)
Lone Star Paralysis (Austin, TX)
Millican Alliance (College Station, TX)
Make a Wish North Central Texas (Dallas, TX)
Periwinkle Foundation (Houston, TX)
Silver & Black Give Back (San Antonio, TX)
Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock (Phoenix, Arizona)
Surfrider Foundation (San Clemente, California)
Stax Music Academy (Memphis, TN)
W.O. Smith Music School (Nashville, TN)
Granville Community School, (Oklahoma City, OK)
Camp Courage (Denver, Colorado)

The Goodnight / Good Cause burger is available at all Hopdoddy locations and is made with Angus beef, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeños, caffeinated barbecue, Sassy Sauce, lettuce and tomato served on a fresh baked bun.

“As a team of some 1500+ team members, we at Hopdoddy are proud of the positive impact we make in our communities through our Goodnight / Good Cause partnerships. Since its inception in 2010 and with the continual support of our guests and team members, we have been able to contribute over $1,000,000 to local programs that do right. Hopdoddy remains steadfast in our commitment to ‘do right’ by continually evaluating the programs and people we support to ensure that we are truly living our mantra of ‘Best Today, Better Tomorrow’ and genuinely ‘doing right’ by those we are so fortunate to serve.” – Jeff Chandler, Hopdoddy CEO

Founded in Austin in 2010 by Guy Villavaso, Larry Foles and Chuck Smith, Hopdoddy Burger Bar is a nationally-recognized burger and beer joint. Hopdoddy stands out for its “from scratch” ethos and a menu that includes burgers, hand-cut Kennebec fries, farm fresh salads and handcrafter milkshakes. They also offer vegetarian menu items, including the newly launched Impossible Cheesesteak. Alongside its burgers Hopdoddy also carries a variety of local craft beers on tap, can and bottle and a has a full bar featuring regional spirits, house-made liqueurs and freshly squeezed juices. Named “The Best Burgers in America” by Food & Wine, Hopdoddy has locations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and California with more to come.

SA Examiner

Your Insider Source For Entertainment And Business Headlines

Category: Restaurant News