Dine on delicious dishes and enjoy our picks for the top food and drink events taking place around Houston in October 2020.
The weather may be cooling slightly, but this month’s lineup of culinary events is seriously hot. Houston will see the return of exciting annual events including Latin Restaurant Weeks, the heritage breed pig event Cochon555, and a weekend-long remix of the restaurant industry’s epic charitable event, Southern Smoke. And that’s just a taste of what’s to come.
Here’s everything you need to eat and drink this October:
Top 11 Food & Drink Events in Houston This Month: October 2020
- Latin Restaurant Weeks | Through Sunday, October 4 – The second annual Latin Restaurant Weeks continues its run during Houston Hispanic Heritage Month. The campaign puts a spotlight on Houston’s Latin-owned restaurants and bakeries, as well as chefs, bartenders, and caterers, with more than 25 restaurants around Greater Houston participating. Fixed price menus range from $15 to $50, with the roster of restaurants including Andes Cafe, Kokai Sushi, The Original Marini’s Empanada House and more.
- Saint Arnold Brewery presents Support Houston Pub Crawl: Part Two | Through Sunday, October 4 – Since Saint Arnold Brewery can’t host its neighborhood pub crawls at the moment, the brewery has put together a “Support Houston Pub Crawl” that you can conquer on your own. Print your Pub Crawl card or pick one up at the Beer Garden, then swing through at least six of the stops and grab a bite or a beer, to-go or to stay. After you collect your stamps, head to the Beer Garden for an Art Car IPA-style Pub Crawl glass or a Saint Arnold HOU pint glass.
- Carryout with Cochon555 | Through Sunday, October 4 – The annual heritage breed pig foodie event and culinary competition is going virtual across the nation this year, taking a stop in Houston this month. Local chefs will each be hosting a virtual Zoom dinner and creating a custom carry-out menu for one or two, with wine and spirit pairings to boot. $115 for one or $200 for two, with wine and cocktails. 6:30pm to 7:15pm nightly.
- Southern Smoke Weekend | Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4 – While sadly, the annual Southern Smoke Festival won’t be taking place this year due to COVID-19, the team behind it still has a fun weekend up their sleeves. On Friday, beer geeks can head to Hay Merchant to get a preview of Horseshoe Pilsner, Karbach’s newest beer collaboration with chefs Chris Shepherd of Underbelly Hospitality and Aaron Franklin of the legendary Franklin Barbecue. On Saturday, you can pick up a Southern Smoke-inspired ready-to-eat menu at Urban Harvest Farmers Market, with highlights including pulled pork and pickled onion kolaches, beer can chicken kits, banana pudding, and more. That same day from noon to 4pm, guests can hit up a Lamb/Chicken Roast on the Patio at One Fifth Mediterranean; or snag Brisket to Go from the Georgia James Meat Market (available for preorder now). On Sunday, UB Preserv brings back its signature brunch, with a couple of Southern Smoke specials—the Smoked McRib Pork Bun ($12 for 2 buns) and the boozy Shamrock Shake ($13). Lastly, Georgia James chef de cuisine Greg Peters will host a Grilling with Greg: Smoked Ribs Zoom Class at 1pm. The class will cover his secrets of smoking ribs, with other goodies including boudin, charred green bean Panzanella, tater tot casserole, a dozen assorted cookies and a six-pack of Karbach Horseshoe.
- “Big Tex” Burger at Rodeo Goat Ice House | Now through Sunday, October 4 – Rodeo Goat in EaDo is taking inspiration from the State Fair of Texas for its latest creation in the next round of their popular Burger Battle selections. The “Big Tex” burger is made with a 44 Farms all-beef patty, chicken fried mashed potato cake, bacon, fried onion ring and chorizo gravy, available during a limited run for $11.50. It faces off against the reigning Burger Battle champion, the “Hatch Me If You Can”, and each burger ordered up is a vote that might move it on to the next round of burger battles.
- French Left Bank Wine Dinner at Etoile Cuisine et Bar | Tuesday, October 13 – With travel limited right now, co-owner and chef Philippe Verpiand is inviting everyone to join him in traveling by sips instead of trips as he presents a lavish, four-course dinner paired with a fine selection of Left Bank wines. Guests can enjoy dishes including sea bass tartare, cassoulet de canard, côtes de boeuf with celery root mousseline and fall mushrooms, and nougat au fromage. $98 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required by calling 832-668-5808. 6:45pm.
- Old-Fashioned Week at Jonathan’s The Rub Memorial Green | Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 25 – Restaurants and bars across the country will be celebrating the Old Fashioned cocktail during Old-Fashioned Week, raising money to help many more thousands of hospitality workers whose lives have been seriously disrupted by the pandemic; and Jonathan’s The Rub Memorial Green will be pouring and donating for the ten-day cause. The restaurant will donate $1 of every Old Fashioned sold to a special fund set up and administered by Elijah Craig, with money raised in each community going to a local charitable service for hospitality workers.
- James Beard Foundation’s Taste of America Virtual Event | Sunday, October 18 – Lucille’s chef and owner Chris Williams will serve as a featured chef in James Beard Foundation’s Taste America, the national event celebrating local restaurant communities across the country. This year’s event will bring chefs and diners from 20 cities around the country together for a virtual communal dinner to support local independent restaurants, and Williams will represent Houston with a three-course menu that reflects the well-refined Southern cuisine with international infusions that he serves at his restaurant. Tickets are $150 (including wine and a whiskey tasting) and the three-course meal can be picked up on Sunday at Lucille’s. 7pm.
- Stay-At-Home Wine Dinner with Bistro 555 | Thursday, October 22 – Bistro 555, the remake of the former Bistro Provence, will host a three-course Stay-At-Home Rhone Valley Wine Dinner with Houston’s French Country Wines, and dish highlights including duck and cherry tomato flan, filet de boeuf in puff pastry, and triple chocolate fondant. $69, plus tax and gratuity. Curbside pick-up available day of the event. Virtual dinner and Zoom event begins at 7pm.
- $99 Wine & Dine for Two at Brennan’s of Houston | All month long – The Creole fine dining restaurant has extended its limited-time date night feature, the $99 Wine & Dine for Two, through the end of October. Included is a three-course prix-fixe menu for two and a bottle of wine (or four glasses) for $99. Choose from dishes such as Brennan’s sherry-splashed Turtle Soup, Blue Crab Cakes with sweet corn and leek cream, Grilled Filet Mignon with bone marrow bordelaise, Bananas Foster, and more.
- National Dessert Month at Kenny & Ziggy’s | All month long– Houston’s famed New York-style delicatessen is known for its larger than life eats, and that includes dessert. This October, K&Z will celebrate National Dessert Month by creating a series of new, off-the-menu cakes for $7.95 a slice (or available by the whole for $89.95 with two days notice, feeds 20). The first offer will be a Triple Threat Chocolate Cheesecake (October 1-10), followed by Hummingbird Cake (October 11-17), Toll House Cake (October 18-24), and finally, a giant Pumpkin Cheesecake through the month’s end. Slices can be ordered for pick-up or enjoyed during dine-in service.
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