Whataburger celebrates renovation of Windcrest location

In the past Whataburger has hosted events to help out the community and its various schools. On Thursday January 19 from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Whataburger will host a grand reopening celebration at its remodeled location in Windcrest. Renovations feature state of the art kitchen equipment, double drive-thru lanes and an upgraded dining room. The celebration will include an evening of games and giveaways including the popular Whataburger for a Year drawing where one customer’s name will be drawn to win the ultimate prize-a free Whataburger every week for a year. Magic 105.3 will be onsite and there will also be a photo booth, spin wheel, a balloon artist and a special appearance from Whataburger’s mascot Whataguy. (Whataburger, 2017)

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.” Since then 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 #298
8300 N IH 35 (near Walzem Road)
Windcrest, TX 78239
(210) 654-8664

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich back at Whataburger

whataburgerchickensandwich-jpg — The Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich is back for a limited time only at Whataburger. Photo courtesy of Whataburger, used with permission.

This week Whataburger announced the much anticipated return of their Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich. As of yesterday and for a limited time only, fans can enjoy their favorite sandwich which is layered with three crispy, all-white meat chicken strips, two slices of Monterey Jack cheese, creamy buttermilk ranch and topped off with Whataburger’s own Buffalo Sauce – all served on a toasted five-inch bun. (Whataburger, 2016)

New Year’s Eve show at Jazz, TX

jazztxdancing — Jazz, Tx at the Pearl is having a New Year’s Eve show this Saturday. Photo courtesy of Jazz, TX, used with permission.

The Pearl’s newest upscale music venue, Jazz, TX, is having a New Year’s Eve show featuring venue owner and musician Doc Watkins and his orchestra. Ticket price includes dancing, featured show by Doc Watkins and his Orchestra and a full dinner that includes prime rib, crab cakes, shrimp, parmesan risotto and braised kale. Beverages are not included but will be available for purchase. This is a black tie event with the early show starting at 6p.m. and the late show at 10p.m. Early show bar seating is $150 per person and $200 per person for reserved table seating. Late show bar seating is $150 per person (sold out) and $200 per person for reserved table seating. Tickets may be purchased online. (Jazz, TX, 2016)

Jazz, TX is owned and operated by renowned musician Brent “Doc” Watkins. It is located in the cellar of the Bottling House and hosts musical acts include jazz, blues, big band, Texas swing, salsa, conjunto and Americana including Doc Watkins. It is open from Tuesday through Saturday and aside from music guest can enjoy a wide variety of food, beverages, wine and spirits.

Jazz, TX
312 Pearl Pkwy, Suite 6001
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 332-9386

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Menus at Nao Latin Gastro Bar

Nao Latin Gastro Bar is a student-staffed restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America located at the Pearl. The menu features Latin American dishes rooted in tradition but reinvented using a variety of ingredients and techniques and includes seasonal and progressive Latin food. For guests who would rather eat out for the upcoming holidays Nao Latin Gastro Bar is having special Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve menus available. (Nao Latin Gastro Bar, 2016)

Nao Latin Gastro Bar will be open on Christmas Eve for brunch and dinner and will have the normal brunch menu available from 10a.m. to 3p.m. For dinner there will be a special four-course menu available for $40 per person. Dinner hours are from 5:30p.m. to 10p.m. and reservations can be made by phone at (210) 554-6484 or via Open Table. Guests will have a choice of arugula salad with goat cheese, fennel and apple or roasted squash soup with coconut milk, malagueta peppers and cashews followed by a choice of charred octopus served with Chilean pebble and celeriac, pork belly skewers with chicharrón, ají rojo, and cilantro or burrata and charbroiled beets with basil and orange. For the main course, there is a choice of hanger steak served with crispy fingerling potatoes, charred vegetables and chimichurri, Red Bird Farms roasted chicken served with white beans, lemon and peppers or the fresh Gulf catch served with charred vegetables, tomatoes stewed with capers, olives, onion and golden raisins. Dessert consists of a choice between Churros tossed in cinnamon sugar served with chocolate and dulce de leche sauces and fresh whipped cream or almond Panna Cotta with passion fruit curd, charred pineapple and lime zest.

For New Year’s Eve there will be a four-course dinner menu available from 5:30p.m. to 10p.m. which includes a glass of bubbly to ring in the New Year. Cost is $70 per person with an optional three-course wine pairing for $25 per person. Reservations can be made by phone at (210) 554-6484 or via Open Table. The menu begins with a choice of charred carrot salad with goat cheese, arugula, pepitas and chimichurri or roasted squash soup with coconut milk, malagueta peppers and cashews. It is followed by a choice of seared scallop with crispy fried oyster, ají amarillo, creamed leeks and spinach and sweety drop peppers, crispy pork belly with ají panca, green apple and pickled vegetables or burrata and charbroiled beets with basil and orange. The main course consists of a choice between veal chop with sunchoke, pebre and snap pea salad, duck confit served with tamarind, sweet potato and brussel sprouts or fresh Gulf catch with charred vegetables, tomatoes stewed with capers, olives, onion and golden raisins. Dessert consists of a choice between churros tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with spiced chocolate, stewed plantains and fresh whipped cream or almond Panna Cotta with passion fruit curd, charred pineapple and lime zest.

Nao Latin Gastro Bar
312 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 554-6484

SweetFire Kitchen holiday menus

sweetfiremenus16 — SweetFire Kitchen at La Cantera Resort & Spa has special Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve menus available. Photo by Sweetfire Kitchen, used with permission.

Many venues around town are offering special Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve menus for guests who would prefer dining out. One of those is La Cantera Resort & Spa whose dining accommodations include SweetFire Kitchen. It is located on La Cantera Parkway and offers guests an authentic Texas experience. Guests can enjoy fine dining at SweetFire Kitchen either on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve. (SweetFire Kitchen, 2016)

On Christmas Eve there will be a ‘Twas the Night before Christmas menu from 5p.m. to 10p.m. Reservations can be made through open table or by contacting the concierge at (210) 558-6500. Reservations for eight or more can be made by contacting SweetFire Kitchen at (210) 558-2479. Appetizers include tossed winter greens, roasted butternut squash salad, roasted mushroom soup, baked Gulf oysters, Gulf crab cakes, house made pimento, ricotta, pepper jelly and garlic butter flatbread and wild mushroom flatbread. Main courses include crispy skin arctic char, Filet Mignon, Cider brined pork chop, whole wheat gnocchi, slow roasted prime rib and pan seared sea bass. There is a children’s buffet option for $25 and a dessert option for $15 per person.

The SweetFire Christmas Day Feast will be offered from 11a.m. to 8p.m. and is $65 for adults, $26 for children ages 5-12 and free for children under 4 years old. Reservations can be made by calling (210) 558-2479. The menu consist of a raw bar that includes items like California and spicy tuna rolls, a cheese and charcuterie station that has a selection of local and house made cheeses, a salad table with winter greens, quinoa and kale and wild rice, a carving station with turkey and prime rib, a sides station with broccoli gratin, roasted sweet potatoes, an action station that features made to order risotto and a bakeshop station.

The New Year’s Eve menu consists of action stations for $85 per person. It includes a raw bar with poached Gulf shrimp, Gulf oysters on the half shell and tuna ceviche, an antipasto bar with roasted tomato hummus, basil tomato tapenade and grilled asparagus, a chef’s carving station with smoked beef tenderloin and peppered duck, a winter salad station with warm Montrachet salad and beet and blue salad and a chocolate bar with warm chocolate mellow cake, chocolate tarts and salted caramel tarts.

La Cantera Resort & Spa
16641 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 558-6500

Christmas Specials in San Antonio

holidaymacarons16 — Holiday themed pastries at Bakery Lorraine include seasonal macarons. Photo by Christina Coker, used with permission.

Christmas is almost here and for anyone looking for ideas to celebrate the season there are holiday events and specials going on around town. Hotel Emma is having breakfast, lunch and dinner on Christmas Day, Bakery Lorraine is having special order opportunities for specialty large pies and seasonal macarons, Jazz, TX is having a special holiday show on Christmas Eve, Southerleigh has winter beer flavors, Paramour will have two holiday themed events and Hotel Contessa is offering a holiday brunch. Details on each is available online.

Supper at Hotel Emma will have breakfast, lunch and dinner available on Christmas Day. The menu will include a roasted lamb special with roasted garlic, spinach and parmesan potatoes, blistered carrots and salsa verde for $35 per person. Breakfast will be served from 7a.m. to 10a.m., lunch from 11a.m. to 2p.m. and dinner from 5p.m. to 8p.m. There will also be a special holiday cocktail (Joy to the Pearl) at Sternewirth for $12.

Bakery Lorraine is offering customers a chance to place and pick up orders of specialty large pies and seasonal macarons. Customers may place orders from now until Friday December 23 to pick up on Saturday December 24. Large pie flavors (9” for $26) include house roasted pumpkin pie, pecan pie, dutch apple pie and apple cranberry pie. Macaron holiday flavor packs (6pk for $12 or 12pk for $20) includes eggnog, hot cocoa, hot cinnamon, peppermint, caramel apple, gingerbread and raspberry.

Jazz, TX will have a special holiday show on Christmas Eve from 5p.m. to 12a.m. with happy hour and no cover from 5p.m. to 8p.m. The main act will perform from 8:30p.m. to 12a.m. and will include a $20 cover.

Southerleigh will feature new and returning winter beer flavors just in time for the holiday season. These flavors include Belgian Quad, Cranberry Collaboration Dorcol, Don’t Squeeze Me and Downtown Miss Brown. The restaurant will be open and taking reservations until 9p.m. with holiday themed specials available off the menu.

Paramour will be having two holiday themed events: “Winter is Here,” a holiday cocktail celebration on Wednesday December 21 and “Drinkmas,” an ugly sweater Christmas party on Friday December 23.

Hotel Contessa will be having a holiday brunch on Sunday December 25 from 11a.m. to 2:30p.m. and reservations are required. Cost is $55 per person, $20 for children ages 6 to 13 with children under 5 free.

‘Breakfast with Santa’ at Rainforest Cafe

‘Rainforest Cafe: A Wild Place to Shop and Eat’ in downtown San Antonio is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events this month. Dates for these events are Saturday December 10, Saturday December 17, Sunday December 18 and Friday December 23 from 8a.m. to 10a.m. Children and families are invited to spend a morning with Cha! Cha! and Santa during a special event that features traditional breakfast favorites. It will also include fun, family friendly activities, raffles, prizes, sweet treats, a photo with Santa and a special discount at the retail store. Guests may purchase tickets online to ensure a place at the table with Santa (Rain Forest Cafe, 2016)

Rainforest Cafe – River Walk
110 East Crockett
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 277-6300

Small Business Saturday at Frank

frankmakersmarket — Frank Maker’s Market will be this Saturday November 26 in celebration of Small Business Saturday. Photo courtesy of Frank, used with permission.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 as way to encourage people across the country to support small businesses in their community. According to American Express, last year more than 88 million people turned out to show their support. It takes place every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and this year it falls on November 26, 2016. In celebration of Small Business Saturday Frank, in Southtown, is hosting a Maker’s Market from 1p.m. to 8p.m.

Frank is located in the heart of Southtown and is the place to go for homemade sausages, sides and cocktails all served in a refurnished church. Local small business owners, makers and vendors will be getting together at Frank to offer guests a unique option for holiday shopping. Products on sale will include one of a kind ceramic pieces by Guten Co., natural, organic non-toxic bath and body products from Boyd’s, Texas-inspired apparel from Alamo Outdoor Co and many more. Music will be provided by Southtown Vinyl with food and cocktails specials created by Frank.

Frank
1150 S Alamo St
San Antonio, TX 78210
(210) 265-5292

A Night at the Pearl with Château Palmer

hotelemma2-pg — High Street Wine Company and Hotel Emma will be hosting ‘A Night at the Pearl with Chateau Palmer’ this Thursday November 17, 2016. Photo by Sandra Cruz

This Thursday November 17 High Street Wine Company and Hotel Emma will be hosting “A Night at the Pearl with Château Palmer” from 6:30p.m. to 9:30p.m. Château Palmer is a winery located in the Margaux appellation d’origine contrôlèe of the Bordeaux region of France and produces some of the best wines in the region. Two of these wines include Château Palmer and Alter Ego, both known for their fineness and deep aromatic complexity. The night will consist of three events at three different locations at the Pearl. It will include Sommelier Scott Ota from High Street Wine Co and Culinary Concierge Hugh Daschbach from Hotel Emma with Jean-Louis Carbonnier, the Director for the Americas at Château Palmer. The cost is $325 per person, all inclusive and RSVPs should be made with Scott Ota at scott@highstreetwine.com or by calling (210) 908-9144. (Hotel Emma, 2016)

The schedule for the night starts at 6:30p.m. with a Wine & Cheese course at High Street Wine Co, Supper at Hotel Emma. Jean-Louis Carbonnier will provide guests with valuable information about Château Palmer, the vineyard, the region and the history of Bordeaux. At 7:30p.m. guests will be able to enjoy a dinner at Supper American Eatery’s Private Dining Room where chef John Brand will serve a family style meal paired with some of Château Palmer’s best wine offerings. The evening will end with Dessert at Pearl Amphitheatre at 9p.m. There will be dessert and entertainment in the Pearl Amphitheater overlooking the Museum Reach of the Riverwalk.

Hotel Emma is located in the former Pearl Brewery which was built in 1894 and is named in honor of Emma Koehler, the wife of Pearl Brewery founder Otto Koehler. She kept the brewery going during prohibition after her husband passed away and saw it through its most successful years. The hotel was designed by award-winning firm Roman and Williams who are known for mixing historic and modern elements. They had the historic Pearl building as a starting point and created a beautiful structure that blends the old with the new, the industrial with the refined.

Pearl
303 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78715
(210) 212-7260

Military Appreciation Night at Whataburger

In the past Whataburger has hosted events to help out the community and surrounding schools. These events have ranged from “Oh! Whata Nights” to jalapeno eating contests, drawings and raffles. On Wednesday November 16 from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Whataburger is having a ‘Military Appreciation Night’event to celebrate the men and women of the military. The public is invited to come and show their support and attendees with a military ID will be able to enjoy a free Whataburger with the purchase of a medium order of fries and drink. This event will include the popular Whataburger for a Year drawing where one customer’s name will be drawn to win the ultimate prize-a free Whataburger every week for a year. There will also be a photo booth, a spin wheel with prizes and a balloon artist. (Whataburger, 2016)

Whataburger #1026
1134 Pat Booker Rd (near Stonegate Drive)
Universal City, TX 78148
(210) 566-4350

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