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Nach-Yo Ordinary Tequila Tasting

10/22/2020

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Wine and Food Week fans will be happy to hear that the show will still go on. Events this year will look a little different and be spread out over the next few months instead of happening all in one week. First up is the Nach-Yo Ordinary Tequila Tasting on October 29, followed by the Wine Walk on November 12.
This year's nacho and tequila tasting will take place at The Woodlands Country Club The Palmer Course on October 29 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 each and available online at wineandfoodweek.com. Guests will be served an individual gourmet nacho box which includes fajita meat, cheese, jalapenos and all the toppings prepared by Chef De La Cruz of The Woodlands Country Club. Chef Kevin Mason of Mason's Creative Catering will be serving tequila lime shrimp nacho bites.
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Special guest appearance by Tom Nall, Master Distiller and owner of Republic Tequila.
Always wanted to know more about tequila and mezcal? Now's your chance. Industry experts will be available throughout the evening to guide and educate guests about all things tequila. There will be live music and tequila/mezcal tastings served both neat and batched.
In attendance will be Tom Nall, Master Distiller and owner of Republic Tequila. After leaving his successful Wick Fowler's Two Alarm Chili business behind, Nall set out to create a tequila that would represent the spirit of Texas. In 2017, Nall added a new spirit to his portfolio with Republic Whiskey, a bold bourbon blend.
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Plenty of Tequila and Mezcal will be available throughout the night.
Covid-19 protocols and procedures will be in place to help ensure the safety of all guests.
  • All events will have a limited number of guests. The total amount will be determined in collaboration with local authorities
  • Eliminate lines at check-in to assure social distancing is maintained
  • Expanding the layout to encourage social distancing between guests
  • Plastic table coverings will be used, rather than fabric, so that the table coverings can be wiped down every 15 minutes or less as needed
Ticket holders will be asked to self-evaluate before coming to the event. Should they meet any of the following guidelines, they are asked not to attend the event
  • Should a ticket holder have a fever (>100.4 degrees), cough or shortness of breath
  • Should a ticket holder have been on a cruise or traveled internationally in the previous 14 days
  • Should a ticket holder have had close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (in the prior 14 days) or are currently in close contact with someone who is showing signs of COVID-19
  • Should a ticket holder show symptoms of COVID-19 in the previous 14 days before the event even without a positive test
​During the event we ask the following of each guest:
  • Leave events if you begin to have symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; before eating; and after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • We kindly require that all guests follow social distancing guidelines and any directional signage or ground displays to keep the appropriate social distance.
  • Handshakes and “high-fives” are often exchanged at events, and these can be ways in which COVID-19 can be transmitted from person to person. Elbows or thumbs up are encouraged to greet neighbors and friends.
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World Gin Day

6/11/2020

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World Gin Day is June 13 and I've partnered with Still Austin Gin to share one of my favorite summer cocktails - Bees Knees. Located in Austin, this local distillery is making a Texas Rye Gin that's perfect for sipping or mixing. Texas grains are milled, fermented and then steeped with over 10 botanicals including juniper berries, coriander, cinnamon, elderflower, citrus peels, tarragon and allspice berries.
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A Bees Knees is the perfect summer drink.
A Bees Knees cocktail is super simple with only three ingredients - gin, honey and lemon juice. For this cocktail I used 1.5 oz Still Austin Gin, 1 oz lemon juice and .5 oz honey syrup. (Note: depending on the tartness of the lemon juice more honey syrup may be added.) Place ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled coup glass or a rocks glass with a square ice cube. Garnish with a sprig of lemon thyme and a dehydrated lemon slice.
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Dehydrated lemon slices make a beautiful garnish.
Still Austin Gin is available at Spec's, Total Wine and Twin Liquors. Or if you're in the Austin area,  stop by the distillery for a tasting and tour.
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Discover the Wonders of Pavia

1/22/2020

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The Statue of Minerva, located near the center of Pavia, was created by Italian sculptor Francesco Messina. Photo by Da'Stylish Foodie.
One of my favorite places to visit is Italy. The first time I visited was also my very first time traveling to Europe. Being cautious, I chose to visit the major cities of Rome, Florence and Venice. It was a wonderful experience and I have no regrets, but now I know sometimes the road less traveled can be far more rewarding.

Lucky for me, I was able to visit the province of Pavia as a guest of the Chamber of Commerce of Pavia. I instantly fell in love with the charming little towns, cobblestone roads and the welcoming people. If Italy is on your bucket list of travel destinations, then Pavia is worth a visit.
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Cobblestone streets of Pavia - beautiful to look at, hard to walk on! Photo by Jamie Alvear.
​The town of Pavia is about an hour drive from Milan or a 30-minute train ride from Milan Centrale. Pavia is located in the Lombardy region and known for agricultural products such as rice and wine. The three main areas within the province of Pavia are Pavese, Lomellina and Oltrepo (aptly named as it literally means across from the Po River). The main towns to visit are Voghera, Vigevano and of course, Pavia.
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The University of Pavia is one of the oldest universities in the world. Photo by Jamie Alvear.
​The best way to enjoy Pavia is by foot, but the city does have taxis as well as buses. Many monuments from Pavia’s Medieval past can be seen throughout town as well as a plethora of beautiful churches and cathedrals. The 15th century Cathedral of Pavia boasts the third largest duomo in Italy. The Visconti Castle and the University of Pavia are also worth visiting. I was particularly enthralled by the statue of Minerva by Italian sculptor Francesco Messina. She stands tall and strong guarding the city with her shield and wisdom. However, Pavian lore has it that students who stare her in the eyes will never graduate.
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Carnaroli is the king of rice. Photo by Jamie Alvear.
​The Lombardy region is famous for its cultivation of rice, especially Carnaroli (the king of rice) used for making delicious risottos. Sausage production is well-known in the area especially rich salami made from pork, duck and even goose. Restaurants typically serve farm-to-table cuisine and showcase products that are in season. Weekly farmer’s markets can be found around town and it’s a great way to peruse the local fare and gaze upon the myriad of colorful fruits and vegetables, stand in line for a taste of pancetta or grab a sample of fresh cheese.
​If you happen to travel to Pavia in the fall, make plans to attend Autunno Pavese. This long-running annual event is the largest food and wine showcase in the province. For four days, guests can sample the best culinary offerings of the region. There are seminars as well as a full-service restaurant offering a multi-course menu accompanied by Oltrepo wines for just 25 Euros.
There are many hotels to choose from in Pavia in varying price ranges, but you won’t find any big chains. I stayed in the Hotel Moderno, which was a lovely boutique hotel in close proximity to the train station and within walking distance of the town center. One thing to note for those that love their air-conditioning like I do, many European hotels either do not have A/C or turn it off after a certain time of year when the weather is cool.

The Chamber of Commerce of Pavia has developed an interactive website to help promote the rich heritage of Pavia. To learn more about this hidden gem visit, buonoasapersipavia.it
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Where To Celebrate Repeal Day In Houston

12/5/2019

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Celebrate Repeal Day with cocktails created by Not Too Sweet Ventures owners, Patrick Abalos and Justin Ware. Photo by Jamie Alvear
December 5, 1933 - otherwise known as Repeal Day, marked the end of the 13 years of Prohibition. The dark days were over and Americans were once again free to legally consume alcohol. In Houston, you can party like it's 1933 at these Repeal Day parties.
One Armed Scissor, 208 Travis
Owners of Not Too Sweet Ventures, Patrick Abalos and Justin Ware, will be holding their 2nd Annual Repeal Day Bar Takeover from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. with live Jazz music by The 3rd Rail Band. Expect a menu of modern classics and cocktails riffs with names inspired by Texas history.
The Oyster Bar at Prohibition, 1010 Prairie
Celebrate Repeal Day in style with Prohibition era costumes and music. There will cocktails featuring Bulleit and 50 cent raw Gulf oysters. The party starts at 4 p.m., but prime time will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Whiskey Cake, Multiple Locations
This annual Repeal Day party will feature $10 cocktails from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Starting at 9 p.m. drinks will only be $5! Save The Barrel whiskey flights will be offered for $19.33 and includes four pours of any Whiskey Cake barrel select whiskeys. Feel free to dress up in your favorite 20's attire and don't forget the speakeasy word of the night. Mention "Roosevelt" to your server and upgrade your Old Forester Old Fashioned to Woodford Reserve.
Prohibition Texas, 26420 Preston 
This speakeasy-style bar in Old Town Spring celebrates the Prohibition era everyday, but on Repeal Day they are putting on the swankiest party in town starting at 7 p.m. There will be live music, build your own Old Fashioned, Flapper Girl shots and $1.933 Well Drinks (1 per customer). Costumes are highly encouraged. 
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Zest In The west

9/19/2019

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The 12th Annual Zest in the West returns to Château Crystale, 2517 S. Gessner Rd., on Wednesday, October 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. This event brings together over 25 of West Houston's best chefs and restaurants in order to raise money and compete for the coveted "Best of Zest" Culinary Award. The decadent evening includes gourmet bites, over 150 wines, craft beer and three stages featuring live music. There will be a silent auction and wine pull with proceeds benefiting scholarships for the West Houston Leadership Institute.
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Sample culinary delights from over 25 West Houston chefs and restaurants.
​The 2019 Special “Guest of Zest” is Chef Marcus Paslay, the executive chef & owner of Piattello Italian Kitchen and Clay Pigeon in Fort Worth, Texas. Since opening his own restaurants, Paslay has garnered critical and commercial acclaim and has been featured in local and national media, including: CBS This Morning Saturday, Food & Wine, USA Today, Men’s Journal, Men’s Health, Good Day Fox 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Monthly, Fort Worth Texas Magazine, D Magazine and more.
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The VIP Luxury Lounge offers champagne flights and caviar.
Two ticket options are available for Zest in the West and can be purchased at: zestinthewest.com
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The Champagne Experience – 6 to 10 p.m.

Enjoy a VIP evening arriving first to “A Sparkling Affair” VIP reception hour being greeted with effervescent Piper Sonoma, passed hors d'oeuvres, a champagne bar and live music from Brenda Guy. The Grand Zesting opens at 7pm where guests will find 150+ fine wines, craft beer and culinary fare from West Houston's best restaurants. Unique experiences and items can be found at the West Houston Leadership Institute auction. Held in the Château Crystale courtyard and ballroom. Tickets $100.

Champagne & Caviar VVIP Experience – 6 to 10 p.m.
Champagne & Caviar guests enjoy all the elements offered in The Champagne Experience, but they also indulge at The Ultimate VIP Luxury Lounge which includes lounge seating, premium wine selections, caviar tastings and Champagne Flights, plus the Spirits Patio, presented by Tippit Dental, with premium spirits and the sultry sounds of live music by Gabe Montoya. Special Guest of Zest, internationally acclaimed Chef, Marcus Paslay will conduct a cooking presentation of his award-winning dishes in The Ultimate VIP Luxury Lounge. Tickets $200.
Zest in the West is a community celebration hosted by the Houston West Chamber of Commerce and produced by Food & Vine Time Productions. Since its inception, Zest in the West has raised nearly $300,000 to benefit the West Houston Leadership Institute and Houston West Chamber of Commerce.
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10th Annual Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival

8/17/2019

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Labor Day marks the end of the summer for most people, but in Texas it means that it's time for the best craft beer festival in the U.S. This year marks the tenth anniversary for the Brewmasters festival at the Moody Gardens Hotel on Galveston Island. The three-day event offers beer lovers the chance to sample hundreds of the world's best brews including several "Taste It First" selections.
Reflecting on the past ten years, Clifton McDerby, Executive Director of Food & Vine Time Productions, Inc. said, "We were the first beer festival in the region and our goal was then and is now to offer an immersive learning and tasting experience. We think we've been successful in staying true to our original mission. Be the leader in craft beer education."
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The BrewHaHa Grand Tasting gives guests the opportunity to sample hundreds of the best beers.
The foam-filled festivities begin on Friday with the Nach-Yo Ordinary Tequila tasting from 7 to 10 p.m. Sample a range of high-quality tequilas while noshing on nachos. Tickets are $30. The fun continues on Saturday with the BrewHaHa Grand Tasting from 3 to 6:30 p.m.  In addition to hundreds of beer samples, guests can attend seminars and speak with experts in the Texas brewing industry. Tickets are $35. VIP tickets are $85 and include entry at 2 p.m., a private lounge area, light bites and premium samples.
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Sunday's Brew-B-Que features barbecue from Patrick Feges and Erin Smith of Feges BBQ.
The weekend comes to a close with Sunday's Brew-B-Que from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event features smokehouse specialties from the award-winning duo, Patrick Feges and Erin Smith of Feges BBQ. There will be live music and plenty of ice-cold brews. Tickets are $25 and include a barbecue plate with two meats and two sides as well as a punch card for six 2-oz pours of beer.
Make it a beer-tastic weekend by attending all three events. A Weekender  pass is available for $165 and the Moody Gardens Hotel is offering special hotel rates for Labor Day weekend. For more information and to purchase tickets visit BrewmastersBeerFest.com
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Häagen-Dazs Spirit Collection

7/19/2019

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Häagen-Dazs Spirit Collection is an indulgent boozy treat. Photo by Jamie Alvear.
Häagen-Dazs new indulgent Spirit Collection is the perfect boozy summer treat. I am a long time HD fan (me and Rocky Road go way back). When I heard that they had combined two of my favorite pastimes - drinking and eating ice cream, I was ecstatic. The collection consists of five ice cream flavors, a cookie square and a non-dairy option. Don't worry, you don't need to be 21 to buy it. The alcohol amount is below 0.5%, giving you all of the flavor without the buzz.
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Add your favorite bourbon for the perfect adult milkshake. Photo by Jamie Alvear.
According to flavor developer Aaron Butterworth, the flavors for the collection were carefully chosen to keep in line with Häagen-Dazs commitment to creating rich and indulging desserts. The ice cream is designed to be enjoyed on its own or paired with a cocktail. Bourbon was a natural pairing with vanilla and is showcased in both the Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle and the Bourbon Praline Pecan. The latter is great with an Old Fashioned, whereas I enjoyed the Vanilla Bean Truffle as a milkshake blended with more bourbon.
​Rum Tres Leches combines white rum ice cream with ribbons of dulce de leche and chunks of Tres Leches cake. When I think of indulgent, this flavor is what comes to mind. This ice cream was heavenly all on its own, but a little rum made it even better.
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Think it's too hot for an Irish coffee? These frosty options will change your mind. Photo by Jamie Alvear.
Häagen-Dazs Irish Cream is a long time fan favorite, but it has been elevated and reinvented into two new forms. The Irish Cream Brownie has Irish Cream infused ice cream with chocolate brownie pieces and a decadent fudge swirl. The Irish Cream Cookie Squares are my personal favorite with just the right amount of ice cream in a portable package. Both of these pair well with an Irish Coffee. 
I've loved chocolate stout ice cream since my first bite at Fat Cat Creamery, so I was very excited about Häagen-Dazs Stout Chocolate Pretzel Crunch. The malty flavor of the ice cream with a pop of fudge and a hint of salt from the pretzels was the perfect combination of flavors. I paired it with the equally indulgent 11 Below Negative Space Milk Stout. 
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The Amaretto Black Cherry is so creamy you'll forget it's non-dairy. Photo by Jamie Alvear.
The biggest surprise of the entire collection was the non-dairy Amaretto Black Cherry Almond Toffee. Black cherry jam and almond toffee pieces are folded into the creamy Amaretto-infused frozen dessert. "The special thing about our Häagen-Dazs non-dairy Amaretto Black Cherry Almond Toffee is that we use a rich and creamy almond butter base (not almond milk)," explains Butterworth. "We are able to achieve a super rich and creamy taste and mouthfeel that almost makes you forget you are eating non-dairy." Indeed it does. I found myself enjoying it way more than I expected, especially with a drizzle of Amaretto on top.
The Häagen-Dazs Spirit Collection is available at stores nationwide and retails for around $5.29. The ice cream comes in 14 oz. cartons and the cookie squares are sold in a 3 count package.
Disclosure: I am the spouse of a Nestle employee. Product was provided for me to sample, but all opinions and photos remain my own.
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Wine & Food Week Celebrates 15 Years

6/3/2019

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Wine & Food Week in The Woodlands, is one of my favorite times of the year. Running June 3 - 9, this week long culinary celebration has events for every taste and budget. Take a stroll through Market Street with your friends while sipping wine and noshing on bites or get glamorous for the Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase. Here's a quick guide to some of the week's must attend events.
It's A Guy Thing, June 4 from 7 - 9 p.m.
​Enjoy the perfect guys night out with big bold wines, craft beer and man grub from featured restaurants like Kirby’s, the Silver Whisk, JJ Watt’s personal Chef, Kobe Beef and more. Sit down for a shoeshine, puff on a cigar or soak in the live music. Meet Master Sommelier and 2018 Wine Wizard, Guy Stout and Master of wine and founder of MyVinoType.com, Tim Hanni. Tickets are $30 per person. 
Dirt-y Talk Seminar, June 5 at 5:30 p.m.
This structured wine tasting with Oregon Wine Person of the Year, Rudy Marchesi of Montinore Estates takes place at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. Learn about Biodynamic and organic farming, and sustainable wine making. Guests will also get a tasting profile done by Tim Hanni author of “Why You Like the Wines You Like.”  Tickets are $45 per person.
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The HEB Wine Walk features wine, bites and local vendors as you stroll through Market Street.
HEB Wine Walk, June 6 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
​Market Street rolls out the red carpet for the H-E-B Wine Walk with savory bites, wine and craft beer and live music by Mango Punch in Market Street’s Central Park. Features include a craft beer garden, VIP room, H-E-B Anchor areas, GOYA Food’s Chef Pantry and over 25+ food tasting stations. Tickets start at $40. VIP tickets are $75 per person. VIP tickets include early entry, specialty wines and a private tasting area.
Sips, Suds & Tacos, June 7 from 6 - 9 p.m.
​​It’s a taco take-down where tacos of all shapes and sizes are served up with all the fixings and one taco takes all the glory and the trophy. Over 20 top contenders will compete in the challenge and there will be plenty of suds to wash them down with. Grab your friends and get the weekend started at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. Tickets are $30 per person.  
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Indulge in elegant bites and hundreds of wines at Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase.
The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase, June 8 from 7 – 10 p.m.
The last night of Wine & Food Week ends with the ultimate wine and food tasting featuring hundreds of wines and more than 60 culinary teams from the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America all in one elegant ballroom vying for the title of GOYA Foods Chef of Chefs. Hall of Fame lifetime achievement inductees and Houston icons Michael Cordúa, and Carmelo Mauro will return to see who takes the coveted trophy and $5,000 cash prize. Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $125 per person.
Visit WineandFoodWeek.com to purchase tickets and see exclusive hotel deals. Make it a staycation and enjoy all the Wine & Food Week events!​
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Wine & Food Week 2019

5/20/2019

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Wine and Food Week returns this June for the 15th year. The week long celebration takes place June 3 - 9, in The Woodlands, Texas. The culinary extravaganza, under the direction of Food & Vine Time Productions, celebrates master chefs, wine makers and wine experts. Events during the week include seminars, dinners, wine tastings, casual events and the glamorous Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting and Chef Showcase.

15 Reasons Not To Miss Wine & Food Week

  1. ​You love food and wine.  Need we say more?  Boasting over 100 chefs in attendance and hundreds of wines including the Wine Enthusiast 2018 Winemaker of the Year Wine Star Award winner, Adam Mettler from Michael David Winery, and the Oregon Wine Press Person of the Year, Rudy Marchesi of Montinore Estate who will do a seminar on organic/biodynamic farming, your taste buds and Instagram feed will thank you. 
  2. Meet a giant in the wine industry, Houston icon and Master Sommelier, and Wine Wizard 2018 Guy Stout, at It’s a Guy Thing, Tuesday, June 4 from 7 – 9 p.m. Guy is one of only 215 Master Sommeliers (MS) in the world and one of the first in America. Big bold wines, craft beer to satisfy every taste and delicious man grub from featured restaurants. Sit down for a shoe shine, puff on a cigar, soak in the live music and enjoy the perfect guys night out. Tickets are $30 per person.  
  3. Informal strolling and sipping are more your speed.  Market Street, The Woodlands, rolls out the red carpet for the H-E-B Wine Walk June 6 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. with savory bites, wine and craft beer and live music by Mango Punch.  It’s the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Tickets start at $40, with an early bird of $35 expiring on March 15.
  4. You love exclusive tastings.  Both the H-E-B Wine Walk and The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase offer a VIP experience with keepsake glass; a who’s who of special wine offerings and some great WOW elements.
  5. Exotic flavors make you happy.  You’re in good company with former Bravo TV’S Top Chef contender Ron Duprat who’ll be cooking up a signature dish combining his rich Caribbean heritage flavors with French Accents at the Grand Tasting.  Chef Ron Duprat is best known as one of the top competitors on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” and now resides in New York as a private Chef.  Huffington Post recognized him as one of the 10 Black Chefs That Are Changing the Food World.  His larger than life personality will be on full display Saturday June 8 during the Grand Tasting.
  6. You can’t make it to the Caribbean this summer.  No worries.  It’s coming to you.  Meet two of the Caribbean’s top chefs.  Erwin Husken, Owner and Executive Chef of Screaming Eagle, and Chef and Owner Urvin Croes of The Kitchen Table by White ranked as TripAdvisor #1 Caribbean fine dining traveler’s choice. Both chefs will be featured at the Grand Tasting event on Saturday June 8, as well as in the Aruba Culinary Center booth on the Wine Walk on Thursday, June 6. 
  7. You are dying to know what your wine says about you.  Rub elbows with Wine Wizard 2013 Tim Hanni, one of the first two resident Americans to successfully complete the examination and earn the title Master of Wine. He is a Certified Wine Educator accredited by the Society of Wine Educators and co-founder and Chief Advocate of MyVinotype, which helps people understand what kind of wines they like to drink.  Find out “Why You Like the Wines You Like” as written by Hanni and have your tongue painted blue to reveal your taste buds.  
  8. A tastemaker yourself, you want to be ahead of the curve on trends.  Catch up with the “15 Fresh Faces” making their mark on the culinary scene.  Unveiling the list bit by bit to keep you guessing.
  9. You love sports celebrities who’ve made a difference on and off the field.  Meet Jarvis Green Wine Wizard 2011 and former NFL superstar, two-time Superbowl Champion and owner of Oceans 97, whose shrimp and shrimp products reflect Green’s commitment to locally sourced and natural products. Green has become a leader in educating people about the health benefits of a diet rich in fresh and natural ingredients. Oceans 97 will be featured at “It’s a Guy Thing” and the Grand Tasting with some pop-up tastings in between.
  10. Ladies that lunch - that’s you.  Ladies of the Vine Tasting, Luncheon & Panel Discussion, held Friday, June 7 from 12 noon – 3 p.m. at The Club at Carlton Woods, is an elegant affair featuring prominent women in the wine industry. Tickets are $85 per person.  The event sells out every year, so don’t wait!
  11. You want to eat like a first family.  Meet former White House Executive Chef John Moeller, Wizard Gourmet from 2014, who presided over the White House kitchen during President George W. Bush’s second term. He served in the White House from September of 1992 until 2005—one of the longest tenured chefs across three Administrations. Moeller said, “One of my greatest satisfactions as a chef is presenting a first-class meal and seeing the enjoyment that it brings to the diners and the goodwill and friendship that it promotes.” Chef Moeller has detailed his journey and White House experience in a book, Dining at the White House—From the President’s Table to Yours. During his tenure, he helped create and prepare meals for the First Families, for world leaders like Tony Blair and Nelson Mandela, for famous guests like Julia Child and Sophia Loren, and for holiday parties and trips to Camp David.
  12. Chef of Chefs Hall of Fame lifetime achievement inductees and Houston icons Michael Cordúa, and Carmelo Mauro will return to see who takes the coveted Goya Chef of Chefs Trophy and $5,000 cash prize this year during The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase.
  13. The word taco may mean “light lunch,” but to you, taco time is all the time.  Taco day reigns supreme.  Don’t miss Sips, Suds & Tacos Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m.   It’s a taco take-down where tacos of all shapes and sizes are served up with all the fixings and one taco takes all the glory and the quirky taco trophy.  Tickets are $30.  Grab some friends and wind down the week with a fiesta!
  14. Unleash your inner food critic.  Get ready to be put that foodie prowess to practice and be wowed.  The Wine Rendezvous Grand Tasting & Chef Showcase features more than 60 major culinary talent from the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America all in one elegant ballroom vying for the title of Chef of Chefs with its coveted trophy and $5,000 cash prize. This is foodie heaven.  Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $125 per person.
  15. You like to give back.  Supporting Wine & Food Week helps several charitable organizations such as New Danville; The Woodlands Arts Council, Montgomery County Food Bank; just to name a few.  Food & Vine Time Productions has raised well over a million dollars through various channels for local charities over the years. 
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2nd Annual Kolache Factory 5K Challenge

3/2/2019

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The Kolache Factory 5K Challenge returns to Houston for a second year. The event will take place on Saturday, March 9 in the Energy Corridor. Participants have a choice of three entry options and will be rewarded with free kolaches and a celebratory Saint Arnold beer at the finish line. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM). Sign up fees range from $39.75 to $44.75 and will go up as the race date gets closer.
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All racers will get sausage and cheese kolaches at the finish line.

Challenges and Prizes

Racers have a choice of three different 5K options - Challenge, Casual or Virtual. In the "Challenge", participants must eat three sausage and cheese kolaches at the 1.5 mile mark and then complete the rest of the race in 90 minutes or less. A $100 Kolache Factory gift card will be awarded to the fastest male and female. Racers in the "Casual" 5K will eat one kolache at the 1.5 mile mark and enjoy the rest at the finish line. The fastest male and female in this category will also receive a $100 gift card. The last option (and my favorite), is the "Virtual" 5K. Kolache enthusiasts can sleep, earn their swag, donate to a great cause and eat some delicious kolaches at a later time. 
Young runners (ages 12 and under) can enter the "Kolache Kids" Fun Run 1K. One parent per child may participate for free. There will be activities for participating kids at the start/finish line between 8 and 10 a.m.
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Apple, cherry and peach kolaches.
Kolache Factory was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Katy, Texas. Founders John and Jerri Banks identified the need for a high quality breakfast that could be eaten "on the run" and the rest is history.

For race information including sign up, bib pick up times, start time and course map, visit runsignup.com.
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    About the Author

    I like eating, traveling, and enjoying liquid libations. I'm all about great wines, signature cocktails, and local brews.

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