‘Tis the season for holiday cheer, and these fun and tasty December culinary happenings.
Also in December 2018
Top 9 Plays & Arts Performances
Happening This Week
This month brings plenty of festive fun, from family-friendly brunches with Mr. Claus himself to a beer-fueled Christmas with Krampus wrestling smackdown.
It also sees the return of events like the Tamale Festival and Tomball Christmas Market, plus one way to eat good and give back. Check out the cheeriest food and drink events this December.
Top 12 Food & Drink Events This Month: December 2018
- Bobotie for Blankets at Peli Peli | Through Friday, December 21 – Peli Peli will be running a blanket drive for Houston’s homeless, “Bobotie for Blankets,” throughout the month. Anyone who donates a used or new blanket will receive a complimentary bobotie appetizer (the restaurant’s most popular) through Friday, December 21. Stop by any fine-dining location (Galleria, Vintage Park, Cinco Ranch) to drop off your blanket, and Peli Peli will then drop them off at shelters around Houston who need them. Gloves and socks will also be accepted. Times vary.
- Brunch with Santa at Brennan’s of Houston | Saturday, December 1 – Brennan’s of Houston is hosting a special brunch with Santa, featuring a two-course meal with a dessert bar, photos with Santa, a keepsake ornament for the adults and an interactive ornament for children. Brunch costs TBD for adults (but it will include one mimosa) and $35 per child, and the includes a biscuit, muffin, choice of starter, entree, and dessert. Reservations are required and seating is limited. 9:30am to 1pm.
- Brunch with Santa at MKT Bar at Phoenicia Specialty Foods | Saturday, December 1 | FREE – Bring the whole gang to this festive family event at MKT Bar. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting and taking photos with the lil’ ones (free entry) and guests can expect yule-tide brunch specials (think gingerbread chicken and waffles), children’s holiday cookie decorating kits, classic holiday cartoons on the big screen, and the Operation: Stocking Stuffer Toy Drive with a truck from the Houston Fire Department. The event is open to the public and admission is free, with an option to purchase food. 11am to 3pm.
- Tamale Festival at Guadalupe Plaza Park | Saturday, December 1 – Kick off tamale season with this festive food and musical showcase. Now in a new, bigger location, festival-goers can expect a tamale eating contest, live music, and plenty of food and drink vendors offering tamales, festival eats, and Tex-Mex favorites. Tickets are $10, with Director’s Club tickets available for $75. Kids 12 and under can get in for free with a paid adult admission. Noon to 8pm.
- 4th Annual Christmas with Krampus Smackdown at Eureka Heights Brew Co | Saturday, December 1 | No Cover – The Houston Zombie Walk’s final event of the year is its annual Christmas with Krampus event, a family-friendly fest featuring holiday-themed wrestling bouts, food trucks, vendors, holiday photos with Santa and Krampus, and a silent auction, raffle, and bake sale, all alongside brews from Eureka Heights Brew Co. The event is open to the public, with $5 donations (cash or card) kindly requested. 1pm to 5pm.
- Arnot-Roberts Wine Dinner at The Pass & Provisions | Tuesday, December 4 – The team at The Pass has been able to procure a few bottles of the sought-after Arnot-Roberts wine, what many would consider to be some of the best in the world; and instead of cellaring them, The Pass will be pairing the wines with a multi-course meal at a special Absentee Wine Dinner. Tickets are $175 per person. 7pm to 10pm.
- Thursday Pop-Up with Chef Becky Masson at Glitter Karaoke | Thursday, December 6 – Glitter Karaoke will host Fluff Bake Bar’s Rebecca Masson (aka the Sugar Fairy) for a festive holiday rendition of its Thursday Night Pop-Up chef series. 8pm to 2am.
- Tomball German Christmas Market & Festival at Old Town Tomball | Friday, December 7 through Sunday, December 9 | No Cover – Bring the entire family for a Texas-style Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market), where you’ll find 200+ vendors, live music and dancing, a wine petting zoo, street performers, and antiques. Of course, there will also be plenty of great bites and beverages, from festival fare to traditional German food and drink like dark Dunkles Bier, warm cups of Glühwein, brats, strudels, Christmas stollen, and kennel corn. Times vary.
- Holiday on 19th Street | Friday, December 7 | FREE – Stroll along 19th street to get your holiday shopping done early at Holiday on 19th, where you’ll find in-store specials and cocktails, and live music along the way, from shops like We Olive & Wine Bar and Manready Mercantile to eateries including Harold’s Tap Room and Boomtown Coffee. 6pm to 10pm.
- Beers & Cheers Holiday Market at Saint Arnold Brewing Company | Sunday, December 9 | No Cover – Sip Saint Arnold brews as you shop a holiday pop-up market, featuring local vendors and artisans and unique gift ideas. The family-friendly event will also feature live music, eats from Saint A, root beer floats for the kiddos, ugly sweaters on sale, and a gift-wrapping station. 11am to 4pm.
- Thursday Night Take Over at Fluff Bake Bar | Thursday, December 13 – Fluff Bake Bar owner Rebecca Masson continues her monthly “Thursday Night Take Over” dinner series, with this month’s guest chef to be announced. Each month, the guest chef will create a menu of three to four items available a la carte and Masson will create a special dessert to compliment the menu, with optional wine pairings and specialty beer from Saint Arnold. No tickets or reservations are required, but four “chef’s table” seats will be available for purchase each month. Ten percent of all proceeds will benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry program. 6pm to 9pm.
- Saint Arnold Naughty List Tap Takeover at Conservatory | Friday, December 21 | No Cover – Saint Arnold will be taking over 32 taps at the third annual Saint Arnold Naughty List event at Conservatory. Sip crafty brews like the Hogmobile (Art Car aged in Whistlepig whiskey barrels), the Raspberry Bounce (Nitro Raspberry AF aged in Whistlepig whiskey barrels with vanilla beans), and the Double Virgin Monk (a bourbon barrel-aged quad with double cherries). 11am to midnight.
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