Pluckers is now taking orders for Super Bowl party food. Photo: Melissa Skorpil, used with permission.
With the Super Bowl coming up February 3, hosting a viewing party is hard work. Why not let Pluckers do all the cooking so everyone can relax and enjoy the big game in style? Beginning Sunday, January 27, Pluckers will be taking pre-orders for their entire menu for Game Day at ALL Texas locations. Orders will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis and all pre-orders will be taken online. (Pluckers Wing Bar, 2019)
Pluckers has all the great wing flavors, in addition to a few unique ones such as:
• Dr. Pepper
• Manganero: Mango + Habanero
• Ginger Peach Sriracha
• Spicy Mandarin
• Gochujang: a savory and sweet Korean BBQ sauce
Pluckers will begin accepting reservations on January 27 for guests who want to watch the game in-store at any Texas location. Reservations will be available for $10 per seat and guests must reserve the entire table. Guests can call their desired location to make a reservation which will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Savor opens on Tuesday January 22, 2019. Rendering courtesy of Clayton & Little, used with permission.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in San Antonio is excited to announce Savor, the brand new restaurant at Pearl, will open on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. The seasonal Modern American concept is based on the CIA’s curriculum, which teaches cuisines and techniques from around the world. The college’s world-class chefs and hospitality instructors will lead the students who will prepare and serve dinner as part of their associate degree studies. Upon graduation after this class, students may go on to pursue their bachelor’s degrees in management, culinary science, or applied food studies at the college’s New York campus. Savor is the newest member of the CIA Restaurant Group and will be open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. (The Culinary Institute of America, 2019)
Most menu items at Savor will be locally sourced and the CIA team relies on relationships with farmers and producers to create an array of fresh dishes. Savor’s menu style allows guests to build a customized three or four-course meal, including options such as honey-chili roasted chicken with fat rice and Asian lime; grilled Gulf shrimp with polenta, olives and tomato; and Berkshire pork schnitzel with a sunny egg, chamomile apple and red sauerkraut. The purpose of this menu format is to educate both students and patrons on various cuisines. CIA faculty overseeing SAVOR are Chef Uyen Pham and service instructor Samantha Fletcher.
The bar and lounge area will feature a menu of smaller and shareable plates such as caviar, potato, and soft egg with leeks and pumpkin seeds; roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts with toum garlic dip and chicken cracklings; and crisp-fried wings with miso-chili paste, pickled cucumber and toasted sesame. The beverage program will feature classic cocktails like a Negroni, a Manhattan and a dirty martini along with New World and Old-World wines and local favorite craft brews.
“We are thrilled to have Savor join the Pearl community. As a graduate of the CIA, I understand the hard work these students put in to make this a special experience for the guests, and I am excited the restaurant will bring flavors from all across the globe to our city.” – Shelley Grieshaber, culinary director for Pearl and previous director of education for the CIA in San Antonio
Savor
200 E Grayson St, Suite 117
San Antonio, TX 78215
COVER 3 will be participating in this year’s Restaurant Weeks. Photo: COVER 3, used with permission.
COVER 3 in San Antonio will be participating in Culinaria’s annual San Antonio Restaurant Week, which begins on Monday January 21 and will run through Saturday February 2, with a specially designed menu for the week. (COVER 3, 2019)
COVER 3 invites patrons to celebrate San Antonio Restaurant Week with their specially curated lunch and dinner menus. Guests can enjoy select lunch offerings like the Culinaria Salad featuring mixed greens, heirloom tomatoes, feta and oregano vinaigrette; the French Onion Truffle Burger, made with a half-pound Angus beef patty, with caramelized onions, roasted garlic and herb truffle aioli, gruyere cheese and crispy onions served on a brioche bun; and COVER 3’s Hot Chicken Sandwich, a hot honey glazed crispy chicken breast and signature slaw on a ciabatta bun. Dinner offerings include a delicious Braised Beef Short Rib made with a red wine demi-glace and served with a side of creamy garlic mashed potatoes and carrots; Texas Carbonara made of fettuccini noodles, pancetta and shallots in a spinach and parmesan cream sauce and topped with a soft-boiled egg; and the Mediterranean Grilled Salmon, served with vegetable couscous, roasted red peppers and olive vinaigrette.
Culinaria Restaurant Weeks is back with more eateries in neighboring Boerne and New Braunfels, as well San Antonio hot spots. Participating restaurants in the Tri-County area will offer special three-course prix-fixe menus: $25 Breakfast/Brunch, $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 or let it serve as the catalyst to reconnect with friends, family or co-workers.
The best advice to anyone participating in Restaurant Week is to plan. Full details on participating restaurants, including Restaurant Weeks menus can be found online. While reservations are not required, they are encouraged, as walk-in service cannot be guaranteed. Culinaria is continually expanding. Additional participating restaurants are added weekly, as well as new events throughout the year.
Bakery Lorraine’s special offer for furloughed federal employees starts Tuesday January 15. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.
Bakery Lorraine has a special offer for furloughed federal employees. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday January 15 through the end of the government shutdown, furloughed employees can receive a free coffee and breakfast pastry with a government ID. This offer is available all day at all Bakery Lorraine locations in San Antonio and Austin.
Bakery Lorraine is a San Antonio favorite and 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. The bakery serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with items like the breakfast parfait, the quiche Lorraine, chicken potpie, an assortment of salads and soups and artisan sandwiches. Bakery Lorraine also has an artisan donuts concept, Maybelle’s Donuts, located inside The Bottling Department at Pearl, San Antonio’s first food hall. Bakery Lorraine has three San Antonio locations, including one in the Historic Pearl district, San Antonio’s Medical Center, San Antonio’s RIM shopping center and one location in Austin in the Rock Rose district at Domain NORTHSIDE.
SAVOR is coming to the Pearl this January. Photo: Clayton & Little, used with permission.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in San Antonio is excited to announce SAVOR, a brand-new restaurant coming to Pearl this January. The seasonal Modern-American concept is based on the CIA’s curriculum which teaches cuisines and techniques from around the world. The college’s world-class chefs and hospitality instructors will lead the students, who will prepare and serve dinner as part of their associate degree studies. Upon graduation after this class, students may go on to pursue their bachelor’s degrees in management, culinary science or applied food studies at the college’s New York campus. SAVOR is the newest member of the CIA Restaurant Group. (The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio, 2018)
Before students join SAVOR, they have studied the cuisines and cultures of the Americas, Asia, the Mediterranean and Europe. Most menu items at SAVOR will be locally sourced and the CIA team relies on relationships with farmers and producers to create an array of fresh dishes. SAVOR’s menu style allows guests to build a customized three or four-course meal, including options such as honey-chili roasted chicken with fat rice and Asian lime; grilled Gulf shrimp with polenta, olives, and tomato; and Berkshire pork schnitzel with a sunny egg, chamomile apple and red sauerkraut. The purpose of this menu format is to educate both students and patrons on various cuisines. CIA faculty overseeing SAVOR are Chef Uyen Pham and service instructor Samantha Fletcher.
The bar and lounge area will feature a menu of smaller and shareable plates such as caviar, potato and soft egg with leeks and pumpkin seeds; roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts with toum garlic dip and chicken cracklings; and crisp-fried wings with miso-chili paste, pickled cucumber and toasted sesame. The beverage program will feature classic cocktails like a Negroni, a Manhattan and a dirty martini along with New World and Old-World wines and local favorite craft brews. The restaurant will be open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
SAVOR’s 2,500 square feet and 62-seat layout ensures that the ingredients, learning and great food are the focal points of the restaurant. Clayton & Little are the lead architects on this project and designed the modern industrial interior to highlight the open kitchen.
“We are thrilled to have SAVOR join the Pearl community. As a graduate of the CIA, I understand the hard work these students put in to make this a special experience for the guests, and I am excited the restaurant will bring flavors from all across the globe to our city.” – Shelley Grieshaber, culinary director for Pearl and previously director of education for the CIA in San Antonio.
SAVOR
200 E Grayson St., Suite #117
San Antonio, TX 78215
The New Year’s Day Brunch at COVER 3 includes the Migas, among other delicious selections. Photo: Kirsten Kaiser, used with permission.
Christmas has come and gone and with the new year around the corner, San Antonians are looking for things to do on New Year’s Eve and New Years Day. Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Bar, Hotel Emma’s Sternewirth, The Esquire Tavern, Downstairs at The Esquire, COVER 3 and Pluckers Wing Bar have special events planned for anyone looking to celebrate in style. From parties the night before to New Year’s Day brunch, there is something for everyone. (Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Bar, Hotel Emma’s Sternewirth, The Esquire Tavern, Downstairs at The Esquire, COVER 3, Pluckers Wing Bar, 2018)
Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Barwill host a pre-fixe New Year’s Eve Dinner on Monday, December 31 from 5p.m. to 10p.m. Reservations will be required for the dinner with pricing at $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. A wine pairing option is available for an additional $35. The dinner menu will consist of five courses with options that include Dean + Peeler Beef Carpaccio with pickled cauliflower, red onion and salsa verde, Texas Citrus Salad with arugula and crispy shallots, Gulf Coast Flounder with Barton Springs Mill barely, grill kale and champagne caper butter, Chocolate Ganache Tart with Texas pecan crumble and dried cherry puree and more.
Hotel Emma’sSternewirth will have a New Year’s Eve celebration to ring in the New Year with style. The party will kick off at 9p.m. and run until 2a.m. A classic black and white theme will be set for the night and guests are encouraged to dress accordingly. There will be a $25 cover that includes festive party favors and an evening of live Latin Jazz by Henry Brun. Guests who have booked rooms receive two complimentary admissions per room.
The Esquire Tavern & Downstairs at The Esquire will be ringing in 2019 on New Year’s Eve in style with a complimentary sparkling wine toast at midnight and offering $20 off of all bottles of sparkling wine for the night, including Downstairs’ extensive grower Champagne list. Reservations are available and recommended for both venues.
COVER 3 invites patrons to celebrate the first day of 2019 with their classic brunch. From 11a.m.to 3p.m. on Tuesday January 1, guests can enjoy select brunch items including Chilaquiles, Migas, Green Chile Beef Breakfast Enchiladas and Chicken Tinga Breakfast Enchiladas. Brunch will also feature COVER 3’s beloved U-Mix-It Bloody Mary & Bubbles Bar. The Bubbles Bar is a standalone station featuring four make-your-own mimosa options with cranberry, orange, grapefruit, peach nectar and pomegranate flavors as well as fresh fruit and juices; the Bloody Mary Bar offers a selection of mixes and condiments ranging from Applewood Smoked Bacon, House-Pickled Veggies, Jalapeños, Stuffed Olives and more.
Pluckers Wing Bar has a new way to celebrate New Year’s resolutions and is excited to announce the first ever Anti-Resolution event taking place on January 1 through January 6 at all locations. The Anti-Resolution specials include 50% off desserts and $1 addition on price for salads. The extra dollar will be donated to the Firefly Fund, a Texas nonprofit with a primary goal to finance the acceleration of research needed to find a cure for Niemann-Pick Type C1 (NPC1). NPC1 is a rare disease that is estimated to affect only 1 in 150,000 people. NPC1 belongs to a larger group of more than 50 disorders known as lysosomal storage disorders. Patients with the disease are unable to make functional NPC1 protein which results in cell death and leads to irreversible organ damage, including brain damage.
This year’s End Credits beer is a German Chocolate Cake Stout from Independence Brewing Co., available now through December 31. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.
At the beginning of this month, Independence Brewing Co and Alamo Drafthouse announced the 2018 edition of a holiday beer that has become a seasonal favorite among Alamo Drafthouse patrons; a yearly release called End Credits. The recipe for End Credits changes with each release and this year’s version is a German Chocolate Cake Stout. There is still a chance to try this year’s End Credits, as it is available now through December 31 at all 20 Alamo Drafthouse locations in Texas and both Alamo Drafthouse locations in Denver. (Independence Brewing Co., 2018)
This year’s recipe, German Chocolate Cake Stout, was inspired by the Alamo Drafthouse staff’s collective sweet tooth. According to Independence’s head brewer, Brannon Radicke, the beer’s driving flavor is layers of chocolate and cocoa with hints of toasted coconut in the aroma and taste. The malt bill and addition of lactose gave the brew a touch of sugariness, which balanced out the mild bitterness of cocoa and hops. End Credits has an ABV of 6.5% and a medium body that is not too heavy. Radicke describes it as “more cakelike than syrupy.” A fitting description for a beer emulating a decadent dessert.
John Gross and others from the Alamo Drafthouse crew joined Radicke and his team at the Independence brewery in South Austin to help brew the beer. Together, they hand-toasted 300 pounds of raw coconut on a flat top griddle. It took five days, five hours each day. The 2018 release of End Credits is special for another reason: it will be the first-ever Independence brew to be sold in Denver, making this recipe the company’s official debut in The Centennial State. Colorado is now the third state that Independence Brewing Co. beer is sold, rounding out an already incredibly successful year for the brewery.
Independence’s End Credits German Chocolate Cake Stout is now available on draft at all 20 Alamo Drafthouse locations in Texas and at both Drafthouse locations in Denver. The seasonal brew is also available at select restaurants and bars in both states.
“This evolving series of limited-release holiday beers from Independence has become an annual end of year cinematic tradition for Alamo Drafthouse. We think highly of everything the brewery puts out and savor every drop of the limited releases while we can.”- John Gross, Alamo Drafthouse’s Director of National Beer Promotions.
Culinaria Restaurant Weeks celebrates ten years of culinary events. Photo: Culinaria, used with permission.
Culinaria celebrates the best of food through events featuring gourmet creations paired with elegant wines for extravagant tastings prepared by San Antonio’s best chefs, guest chefs and global and local wineries. 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. (Culinaria, 2018)
Entering its 10th year, Culinaria Restaurant Weeks, January 21 through February 2, is back with more eateries in neighboring Boerne and New Braunfels, as well San Antonio hot spots. Participating restaurants in the Tri-County area will offer special three-course prix-fixe menus: $25 Breakfast/Brunch, $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.
The best advice to anyone participating in Restaurant Week is to plan. Full details on participating restaurants, including Restaurant Weeks menus can be found online. While reservations are not required, they are encouraged, as walk-in service cannot be guaranteed. Culinaria is continually expanding. Additional participating restaurants are added weekly, as well as new events throughout the year.
As a non-profit organization, 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 Week, a 5k Wine & Beer Run, the Wine + Food Festival and the Hallowine Run as well as smaller events with several community partner events.
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 mecca for great dining and Restaurant Weeks presents a fabulous opportunity for local residents and visitors to discover new dining hot spots. It also generates excitement for the diverse culinary scene and the variety of food options that define San Antonio and neighboring cities” Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge, president/CEO, Culinaria.
Pluckers is hosting a holiday lunch this Saturday for families of Boysville. Photo: Pluckers, used with permission.
In the spirit of the holiday season, local businesses often give back to the community by hosting events, volunteering and giving out gifts. Pluckers Wing Bar is excited to announce that they will spread holiday cheer by providing lunch for families from Boysville at the Pluckers Selma location on Saturday, December 22 at 12p.m. This year, employees from the Selma, San Marcos and Oak Hill locations will donate holiday gifts for children who attend the holiday lunch. (Pluckers Wing Bar, 2018)
Boysville is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide a safe family environment for children in need by offering 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 part of society.
Owners Mark Greenberg, Dave Paul, and Sean Greenberg, 2017 Ernst and Young Central Texas Entrepreneurs of the Year, opened their first Pluckers restaurant in Austin in 1995. Pluckers is known for its famous wings served with a choice of more than 20 homemade sauces. It has the perfect combination of homemade food and atmosphere for sports fans to keep up with their favorite sports teams and games. Offering 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” in 2017 and 2018 by the Austin Business Journal and Dallas Observer’s “Best Sports Bar.”
Pluckers San Antonio
14881 Interstate 35 N
Selma, TX 78154
Bakery Lorraine has gingerbread macarons available. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.
Area restaurants and bars are having Christmas specials to make the season merrier. More details are available online. (Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar, Bakery Lorraine, Krause’s Café, Supper at Hotel Emma, Esquire Tavern, 2018)
MEADOW NEIGHBORHOOD EATERY + BAR
This Sunday December 23 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. is the final Santa Brunch. It will feature holiday cocktails including hot toddies, bourbon eggnog, peppermint Irish coffee and cranberry mimosas that pair perfectly with brunch staples at Meadow. Parents can enjoy brunch while the kids enjoy a special visit from Santa Claus for pictures. There will also be sugar cookies for the kids to decorate while they wait. All images will be sent by email and can be used for holiday cards, printing and more. Images with Santa are free with a brunch reservation.
Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and Bar will host a pre-fixe Christmas Eve Dinner on Monday, December 24 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. Reservations will be required for Christmas Eve Dinner with pricing at $39 per person plus tax and gratuity. The dinner menu will have several options that include Fried Chicken with braised greens, chow chow and hot sauce honey, Striped Bass with hoppin’ John, grilled bok choy and radish, Eight Layer Chocolate Cake with candied orange and Montenegro and more. There will also be a children’s menu available.
Meadow will have a full Christmas meal available for order. The meal feeds 10 people for $135 and includes a honey baked ham dinner, roasted Brussel sprouts with dried cherries and pecans, mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, Texas mushroom gratin and Bread Box dinner rolls. Orders can be placed now until Thursday, December 20. Pick up will be Monday, December 24. Meadow will be closed on Christmas Day.
BAKERY LORRAINE
Will have pies, Buche de Noels and limited-edition holiday-themed macaron boxes available for order at all of their locations across the city and in Austin. Inside the Buche de Noels are a vanilla mousse, cherry compote and a chocolate sponge soaked with kirsch syrup. This is by special order only for $45 and are now available for pickup. The pies will be $26 each and customers are able to place orders now through Thursday, December 20. Pick up day will be Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve. There will be additional pies for sale that Wednesday on a first come first serve basis. Bakery Lorraine will also have newly released, house-made jams that make excellent stocking stuffers. They are priced at $6 each and flavors include Raspberry Hibiscus and Spiced Mango and Guava.
KRAUSE’S CAFE
Jolly ‘Krause Klaus’ will visit Krause’s Café throughout the month of December and prices for getting a picture taken with Santa are $10 and $5 for reprints. Bring the family and enjoy a German platter while getting Christmas photos done. Families can enjoy a taste of Germany with the Munich Platter which features pork belly, pork shank, chicken schnitzel, assorted sausages, sauerkraut, red cabbage and dunkel reduction (serves up to six, $70). For a German-Texan twist, groups can try the Solms Platter of grilled quail, tenderloin skewers, kartoffel poppers, assorted sausages, barbecue shrimp and brussels sprouts (serves up to six, $85). Krause’s Café also recently launched hot winter drinks for adults including a Hot Toddy, German Glühwein (mulled wine), Salted Caramel and Cream, Spiked Hot Chocolate and more. Homemade hot chocolate for the children is now available too.
SUPPER AT HOTEL EMMA
Will host a Christmas Eve dinner featuring a whole bronzino special, available from 5p.m. to 10p.m. Chef John Brand has curated an exclusive menu that highlights the silver-skinned, European fish. Holiday inspired sides will accompany the Bronzino, creating a unique Christmas Eve dish.
ESQUIRE TAVERN/DOWNSTAIRS AT ESQUIRE
Guests can experience a very traditional Egg Nog whipped up by the folks behind The Esquire in San Antonio based upon a recipe which dates to the 1700s. It was common to prepare Egg Nog well in advance of consumption of holiday libations and this year’s Egg Nog was made in November. Esquire’s Egg Nog will have rested for a little over a month developing complexity before guests can get their hands on it, beginning on December 18 while supplies last and available at both The Esquire Tavern and Downstairs at The Esquire. This classic Egg Nog uses Paul Beau VS Cognac, Four Roses Bourbon, El Dorado Demerara Rum, milk, cream, sugar and eggs and it is spiced with cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg.
Esquire Tavern’s cocktail menu features other festive cocktail choices like a traditional Hot Toddy. A staple for cold weather and the holidays, Esquire’s Hot Toddy is $9; cozy up with the spirit of choice: apple brandy, bourbon whiskey, or esquire rum blend no. 9 with honey, lemon, allspice; served warm.
SA Examiner 