Mark your calendars because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary events:
Betty White Tributes
Betty White, one of America’s most beloved comedians and actresses, died of natural causes on December 31, 2021, just weeks shy of her 100th birthday on January 17. Americans were preparing to celebrate with her, but now it will be done in her memory.
In honor of the TV star’s life and commitment to animals, select Houston restaurants and bars are offering specials to raise money for animal rescues and human rights organizations.
Angel Share, 924 Congress, will offer an all-day happy hour on Jan. 17, featuring half-price drafts, wells, and wine by the glass with hot dogs and fries, two of White’s favorite foods. There will also be special Betty White Drink Yo Face cocktails made with vodka, White’s liquor of choice.
Angel Share chooses a new charity to support each month, and in February it chose local animal welfare groups, including the Houston BARC Foundation, Emancipet, El Gato Charities and Pup Squad.
Raise a toast to Dolly’s 76th birthday at Angel Share.
Photo by Claudia Casbarian
Then, on Wednesday, January 19, the bar, which features Dolly Parton artwork by Kati Ozanic of Yak Werks, will celebrate another America’s sweetheart, Dolly Parton. Known for her beautiful, heartbreaking songs and her involvement in raising children and researching vaccines, Parton fans can drink on her birthday at Angel Share with a half of a rose all day.
Etoile Kitchen and Bar, 1101-11 Uptown Park Boulevard, had already set aside the month of January to raise funds for the Rescued Pets Movement with a special prix fixe dinner. In honor of White on his 100th birthday, owner/chef Philippe Verpiand and his wife Monica Bui have pledged to double the donation on January 17 by donating $14 for each special prix fixe menu. sold that day. The four-course dinner is $65 per person, plus tax and tip.
Joining Etoile in raising funds for the Rescued Pets Movement that day will be Ember & Greens, 9403B Katy Freeway. The restaurant will donate 5% of its January 17 lunch and dinner sales to animal rescue, plus 5% of sales from its parallel company, Lola & Baxter, its own brand of healthy dog food and treats.
Billy F Gibbons and Alex Padilla show off the new po’boy.
Photo by Becca Wright
Antone’s Famous Po’Boys continues its original H-Town campaign with a signature sandwich in honor of its 60th anniversary by rolling out the Billy F Gibbons Whisker Bomb Po’Boy on January 17 at its two TC Jester and San Felipe locations. The sandwich is a collaboration between ZZ Top vocalist and guitarist Billy F Gibbons and Antone executive chef Alex Padilla.
The po’boy is made with buttermilk fried green tomatoes, harissa, chipotle mayonnaise, goat cheese, a mix of spices and arugula, plus Billy F Gibbons’ Whisker Bomb Have Mercy sauce. . It will be available until June 1 for $9.95. Proceeds from the sale of the sandwich will go to the Clifford Antone Foundation, an Austin organization dedicated to preserving music culture and community by caring for elders and investing in youth.
Bowl and Barrel, 797 Sorella Court, is offering a $10 Kid’s Bowl special on Monday, January 17. It includes one hour of bowling plus rental shoes, a meal and a drink for children 12 and under.
Oyster season is still here and Houston’s Brennan’s, 3300 Smith, is celebrating bivalves with a Sip and Slurp event, Jan. 18 from 4-7 p.m. Guests can sip bubbles and sip raw or grilled oysters in the courtyard. There is a contingency plan in case of bad weather. Tickets are $45 and include oysters and bubbles selected by Brennan’s Wine Guy, Rich Carter.
Head to the bar and order a martini with your best British accent.
Photo by Kirsten Gilliam
For those who imagine themselves suave and debonair in the James Bond way or who simply love the glamorous life, Doris Metropolitan, 2815 S. Shepherd, is hosting a Bond-themed black-tie affair on January 20 from 8:30 p.m. There will be photo ops, ice sculptures, goody bags and specialty cocktails for purchase at this upscale and chic Israeli steakhouse.
There is no cover charge but reservations are encouraged through Resy. Cocktail dresses and tuxedos are also encouraged.
Forget foot lengths, we want five dollar margaritas.
Photo by James Coreas
The Rustic has two locations in Houston and both offer a daily happy hour from 3-6 p.m. That’s right, every day. This means that people who work hard during the week and can’t make it to the very short happy weekday hours in town can take advantage of the weekend food and drink specials. The restaurant, bar, and live music venue offer homemade $5 margaritas, frozen or on ice. There are also $5 bar bites: meatballs, deviled eggs or queso, hot or cold.
For those with a bit more time to spare, her Legendary Rustic Rita is only $9 for happy hour. It is made with Osadia Blanco and includes a Mango Patron Citronge Popsicle. The mango treat alone is $3.
The Rustic also offers zero-proof fizzy soda mocktails such as the Desert Pear Spritz, Hibiscus Mockarita, and Winter Sunshine for $3.95. They are available at its downtown location, 1121 Uptown Park, and at its downtown location, 1836 Polk.
Feges BBQ goes all pork with happy hour.
Photo by Julie Soefer
Feges BBQ at Spring Branch, 8217 Long Point, just launched a generous happy hour that runs Tuesday through Saturday from 3-6 p.m. Customers can enjoy select wines for half price and select beers for $3. However, the best part is that the family restaurant offers happy hour prices of $10 on its barbecue quesadilla, minced brisket sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, smoked turkey salad sandwich and its rib tips. The $10 happy hour deal also includes the Half Size Whole Pork Plate which is Carolina-style whole pork with cracklin, mop sauce and charred coleslaw, all sitting on bread. corn with pork fat. You had us on cracklin’ and then took us all the way with pork fat cornbread.
URBE’s new Plato de Botanas offers a variety of street food bites.
Photo by Paula Murphy
URBE, 1101 Uptown Park Boulevard, has added a few new dinner menu items, including its Plato de Botanas, a sharing platter that offers a good sampling of Hugo Ortega’s Mexican street food with taquitos, gorditas, quesaditas, elotitos, grenache and salsa. He also added other bites like Ostiones Callejeros, half a dozen roasted oysters in Valentina’s butter with pickled vegetables, and Costillas de Peurco, a dish of wood-roasted pork ribs in salsa verde.
Camarones a la Diabla, spicy prawns in adobo, is a new addition to the entrees menu and guests can indulge in a delicious spicy Sangrita, made with spicy tomato juice, lime, mezcal and Dos XX to accompany their meals.
Adobo Shrimp can be added to the Spicy Sangrita for an additional charge.
Photo by Paula Murphy
The restaurant also offers a happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday with $2 off select wines, beers, and cocktails. It also has a good selection of happy hour bar bites, including new ones like Camarones Enchilados and a happy hour version of Plato de Botanas.
