It’s beginning to look a lot like winter (or at the very least, early fall) here in Houston; but this month’s culinary happenings are keeping things nice and toasty.
Also in December 2016
With holiday cheer in full effect, December has no shortage of fun and tasty festivities. There are ’tis the season events, from Breakfast with Santa to a Feast of the Seven Fishes, plus some fun activities that have absolutely nothing to do with the holidays but are cheerful, nonetheless. Here is everything you’ll want to be eating and drinking this month.
Top 12 Food & Drink Events to Hit in Houston this Month
- Five-Year Anniversary Specials at Roost | All month long – To celebrate Roost’s 5th birthday, chef and owner Kevin Naderi will be bringing back a few all-time favorites throughout the month of December. Diners can feast on dishes like crab cake niçoise with French bean salad, salt cod fritters with saffron aioli, sweet potato and quinoa stuffed poblano with mole braised greens, chicken n’ dumplings with French gnocchi and herb gravy, and spiced apple empanadas with lavender icing and apple cider sorbet. In addition, for three weeks from Thursday, December 1 to Wednesday, December 21, Roost will be offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $50, with $10 from each menu sold benefiting the featured charity that week (BEAR, The Beacon, and Houston Youth Symphony).
- Yummy! Wonderland International Festival & Brunch at Phoenicia | Saturday, December 3 | Free to Attend – This international holiday wonderland highlights art, music, and holiday traditions from around the globe. Snap a pic with Santa, enjoy holiday crafting, cookie decorating and wine pairing, and share the love by bringing a toy to donate to the Houston Fire Department’s Operation Stocking Stuffer. Yummy brunch options include Pantone French Toast, Turkish Menemen Scramble, Citrus Glazed Cornish Hen, and Breakfast Pizza. The event is open to the public and free of admission, with the option to purchase food. 9am to 2pm.
- Tamale Festival Houston at Navigation Esplanade | Saturday, December 3 – It’s tamale time. Kick off tamale season with this food and musical festival, featuring a tamale eating contest, festival eats and tamales, and Tex-Mex favorites from local restaurants, food trucks and pop-up kitchens, and a main stage filled with live music. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $20 day of, with 4-packs and Director’s Club options available. Noon to 10pm.
- Shipley’s 80th Birthday Bash at 8th Wonder Brewery | Saturday, December 3 | Free to Attend – Houston’s favorite donut shop is turning 80. To celebrate the milestone, Shipley’s is hosting a family-friendly birthday bash, featuring live music from The Tontons, and Shipley donuts, of course. The event is free, but you must RSVP. Choose the Shipley Do-Nuts option at checkout to get a limited edition Shipley and 8th Wonder pint glass. 5pm to 10pm.
- One-Year Anniversary at Bernadine’s | Sunday, December 4 – To honor its first birthday, Bernadine’s is throwing down a Cochon de Lait Celebration, featuring live music from Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band and a special menu from chef Graham Laborde. Feast on cochon de lait (whole roast suckling pig), shrimp and oysters, oyster stuffing, rice dressing and roasted sweet potatoes, and pies from pastry chef Julia Doran. There will also be face-painting, a pinata, and other kid-friendly activities. Cost is $35 pre-buy and $40 at the door. 4pm; food served at 5:30pm.
- Sierra Nevada Rare Beer Dinner at Underbelly | Sunday, December 4 – Kevin Floyd welcomes Sierra Nevada’s Brian Grossman, along with Sierra Nevada Taproom’s executive chef Jessie Massie and pastry chef Seth Massie, for this exciting beer dinner. While the menu is still being developed, the beers served include Celebration 3 Liter, Ovila Saison with Sage, Ovila Quad with Cherries and Barrel Aged Dry Hop Drops. Tickets are on sale for $100. 7pm.
- 2016 Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival at Old Town Tomball | Friday, December 9 through Sunday, December 11 | FREE to Attend – Bring the entire family for a Texas-style Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market), where you’ll find more than 175 vendors, live music and dancing, festival eats, and a whole lot of traditional German food and drink. Unwind with a dark Dunkles Bier or a warm cup of Glühwein as you stuff yourself with brats, strudels, Christmas stollen, and kennel corn. Friday 6pm to 10pm; Saturday 10am to 10pm; Sunday 10am to 6pm.
- Butchery Demo with Morgan and Andrew at Revival Market | Tuesday, December 13 – Learn how co-owner Morgan Weber and charcuterie Andrew Vaserfirer butcher a whole hog, head to tail. Guests will be treated to a selection of charcuterie upon arrival, a family-style dinner midway through the class, and a take-away selection of Revival salumi. BYOB is strongly encouraged. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased in-store, by calling 713-880-8463 or via email at [email protected]. 6:30pm to 9pm.
- Annual Chili Cookoff at Little Woodrow’s | Saturday, December 17 – Hit the Midtown Little Woody’s for cold weather, cold beer, bowl games, and bowls of hot chili. There will be plenty of chili to go around for everyone to taste, and with Christmas right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to whip out those Santa suits. 11am to 2am.
- A Full Hunky Dory Dinner at Hunky-Dory Tavern | Sunday, December 18 – Details are TBD, but the restaurant will be celebrating the season with a full on, cheerful holiday dinner. Check Facebook for updates. 5:30pm to 9pm.
- Saint Arnold’s Naughty List at Conservatory | Friday, December, 23 – It’s a Christmas miracle. Saint Arnold, Houston’s oldest craft brewery, will be taking over the taps—30 of them, to be exact—at Conservatory for one very special evening. 7pm.
- Feast of the Seven Fishes at Pass & Provisions | Saturday, December 24 – On the night before Christmas, the kitchen will prepare seven courses of seafood, with wine and beverage pairings available. Tickets are $125, plus tax and gratuity. Call 713-628-9020 (Choose option 2) to purchase tickets. 6pm.
