Celebrate the weekend with Houston’s best food and drink happenings.
Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings:
Saturday–Monday
2800 Kirby
Pondicheri is ushering in the Festival of Lights with a festive Diwali Thali, available in-house from October 18 to October 20. For $28 (vegetarian), $32 (chicken) or $35 (lamb), enjoy a platter featuring 7-Vegetable Stew, Rajma Chaat, Carrot Paratha, Fresh Fruit, Besan Mithai, and a choice of Paneer Kebab, Chicken Kebab or Lamb Kebab.
Katy Wine Festival – Texas Wine Showcase at Smith Ranch
Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.
25440 Beckendorff
The Katy Wine Festival returns for an afternoon showcase packed with Texas pours, chef bites, and live music. Guests can sample from a lineup of local wineries and restaurants while supporting the Brookwood Community, which benefits adults with disabilities. Expect plenty of sips, good eats, and a laid-back crowd of wine lovers. Tickets start at $65 for general admission.
Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m.
401 Franklin
Hit Houston’s coolest Skylawn for its first-ever Oktoberfest, featuring beer from local and national breweries like Karbach, Eureka Heights and Sierra Nevada, plus stein-hoisting contests, live polka, a costume competition and plenty of German-inspired bites. The 21+ is free to attend.
Saturday, 7 to 11:30 p.m.
908 Henderson
Houston beverage industry vet Ashley Bell celebrates the grand opening of her new Old Sixth Ward bar, The Bell and Crane, 908 Henderson. Featuring quality cocktails, nostalgic ‘90s-inspired snacks and a laid-back dive bar vibe, the opening party kicks off at 7 p.m. with live DJ beats and bbq bites from Henderson & Kane. Entry is free, with VIP tickets to elevate the experience with a custom bbq plate, three cocktails, reserved seating, a 10 percent off coupon and swag.
New Magnolia Brewing and Mutiny in the Heights team up for a fall-friendly celebration of brews, bites, and good times as guests enjoy a guided beer tasting led by owner Shayn Robinson. Sip through four standout brews paired with seasonal bites, then stick around for a live patio set from Taylor Marberry at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, or $45 with early access, a full pint and a New Magnolia koozie. Seating begins at 3 p.m. (resy.com)
SAN FRANCISCO, October 16, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– Armstrong, the San-Francisco-based robotics company building general-purpose robots for restaurant kitchens, today announced it has raised $12 million in funding to date from leading investors including Lerer Hippeau, Bloomberg Beta, Next Play Ventures, Transmedia Capital, and WestWave Capital.
Founded by Axel Hansen and Jonah Varon, who previously built and sold a company to LinkedIn, Armstrong is developing AI-powered robots to take on the hardest jobs in restaurant kitchens, starting with dishwashing.
Solving One of the Toughest Jobs in Restaurants
Dishwashing is the hardest job to keep filled in the kitchen. The average dishwasher stays only nine months, even at wages of $20 per hour in many states. Armstrong’s robots handle this constant, high-turnover work reliably and efficiently without changing how restaurants operate. This frees restaurant staff to focus on what matters most: delighting customers.
Deployed and Running 24/7
Armstrong already has multiple robots deployed in one of the nation’s largest full-service restaurant chains, where they operate 24 hours a day and collectively wash over one million dishes per year. Each new system installs in hours, works with standard commercial dish machines, and operates under a single monthly subscription that includes installation, operation, and maintenance.
AI-Powered Robots
The company’s robots use advanced neural networks trained on thousands of hours of real dishwashing data. With millimeter-level 3D perception, they can identify dishes in messy piles, grasp them reliably, and wash them to commercial standards.
While dishwashing is the first task, Armstrong’s platform is built for more. The same type of hardware and software can be extended to handle other kitchen tasks – from prep cooking in the morning to rolling silverware at night.
A Platform for the Kitchen of the Future
“Our vision is a general-purpose robot for restaurant kitchens,” said Axel Hansen, co-founder of Armstrong. “Dishwashing is just the start. The same kinds of robots that wash dishes today will cook, prep, and clean tomorrow.”
“Restaurants face enormous labor challenges,” said Gary Kagan, COO of Armstrong. “By building intelligent, adaptable robots that integrate seamlessly into existing kitchens, we can give operators a way to stay open, efficient, and profitable.”
About Armstrong
Armstrong builds intelligent robots for restaurant kitchens. Its robots are powered by AI trained on thousands of hours of dishwashing, enabling them to handle dishes in messy, unpredictable environments with commercial-grade reliability. The company is based in San Francisco.
Neighbor’s House, a popular downtown lunch cafe that developed a nighttime casual dinner following, will close Oct. 29 for family matters, owners Ashlee Pierce Cowan and Kyle Cowan wrote on Facebook.
Neighbor’s House opened in 2019 in the First on 7th building, a former bank tower at 500 W. Seventh St. near Burnett Park.
It offered groceries, lunch sandwiches, coffee and a rarity downtown: plenty of parking.
In a text message, Kyle Cowan said he and Ashlee are leaving the business to spend more time with parents.
“We have and always will be family-oriented and value our family both at home and the family we have built in Fort Worth,” Cowan wrote.
The interior of the Neighbors House restaurant in downtown Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
In the Facebook post, Neighbor’s House announced a “grand closing” week Oct. 27-29.
The restaurant has a 4.7 rating by diners on Google.com and a 4.5 rating on Yelp.com.
In 2024, it won a Star-Telegram “readers’ choice” online poll for staff and service.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
The Great American Beer Festival welcomed drinkers to Denver over the weekend to experience the best in craft beer and cider, and it turns out Colorado residents don’t have to travel far to sip the best suds the industry has to offer.
The festival’s prestigious awards, which took place Saturday, are a testament to that. Colorado breweries and cideries made a phenomenal showing, collecting a total of 40 medals, 19 of which were gold. That is down slightly from last year’s haul of 41 medals, but the straight numbers don’t tell the full story.
In 2025, three different producers were honored as “brewery of the year” in their respective size categories – a huge honor considering more than 1,500 breweries and cidermakers entered this year’s competition. (The Denver Post did not include these accolades in the total medal count.)
“It was a great showing for Colorado’s craft breweries at the GABF awards ceremony. With three brewery of the year awards and 16 gold (beer) medals, Colorado craft breweries continue to prove that they consistently brew some of the best beers in the country,” Shawnee Adelson, executive director of the Colorado Brewer Guild, said in a statement. “The diversity of styles shows that breweries in Colorado can make exceptional beer for all types of palates.”
Westbound & Down Brewing Co. was the biggest company to earn the “brewery of the year” title, in the 5,001 to 15,000-barrel category, and it did so with six medals awarded to its IPAs and lagers. That includes three gold medals, one of which was in the West Coast IPA category, the competition’s second-most competitive. The brewery’s How the West Was Won IPA beat out 299 other entries to take the top of the podium.
As added icing on the cake, the company’s subsidiary Aspen Brewing Co. also garnered gold in the brand-new Mexican-style pale lager category with a beer called Casa Bonita. It doesn’t get more Colorado than that.
Denver’s River North Brewery was named “brewery of the year” in the 1,001 to 2,000-barrel size range after it collected two medals, both of them gold. And Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. in Golden, a mainstay at the GABF awards, took home the title in the 501 to 1,000-barrel size category with three total accolades.
Other notable standouts include Denver Beer Co. winning silver for its non-alcoholic Tangerine Cream ale; Our Mutual Friend Brewing Co. grabbing silver in the American-style IPA category; and Fritz Family Brewers landing atop the podium in the Pro-Am competition for a collaboration with homebrewer Christopher Owens of Longmont. Interesting, the now-defunct Banded Oak Brewing Co. in Denver also took home one bronze medal.
Local cideries Haykin Family Cider and Snow Capped Cider also made a commendable showing with a total of seven medals. They collectively swept the single-varietal cider category with Haykin Family Cider earning gold and bronze and Snow Capped Cider taking home silver.
This year, the Brewers Association gave out awards for the best beer packaging and branding. While Colorado didn’t officially win, we thought River North’s Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun, which won a gold medal in the coffee beer category, deserved an honorable mention.
See the full list of award-winning local beers below. You can find all the competition results at greatamericanbeerfestival.com.
Gold
American-Style Pale Ale – Parallel Pale, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette
Belgian-Style or French-Style Specialty Ale – River North White, River North Brewery, Denver
Coffee Beer – Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun, River North Brewery, Denver
Patrick O’Connell of the Inn at Little Washington is celebrating his 80th birthday this week. But the chef isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon.
Chef and Owner of The Inn at Little Washington, Patrick O’Connell speaks at RELAIS & CHATEAUX 60th Anniversary Guest Chef Dinner Launch at Consulate General of France on Oct. 1, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Relais & Chateaux)
Chef and Owner of The Inn at Little Washington, Patrick O’Connell speaks at RELAIS & CHATEAUX 60th Anniversary Guest Chef Dinner Launch at Consulate General of France on Oct. 1, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Relais & Chateaux)
Patrick O’Connell of the Inn at Little Washington cooks in and oversees a kitchen that’s welcomed presidents, kings and queens, as well as guests from all over the world.
The Virginia inn’s owner and chef is celebrating his 80th birthday this week. But big birthday aside, he’s not slowing down.
“In fact, I’m speeding up — seriously,” O’Connell said. “The idea is that we have such a strong team now, we have so much talent here, and we’ve acquired a certain gravitas as a hotel and the only three star restaurant south of New York, really, that we can do things we couldn’t do 20, even 15 years ago. So why not do them?”
Those projects involve a major expansion at the inn, including a spa with a new entrance for overnight guests.
“A new complex, and this is 10 additional rooms with an underground wine cellar, and the rear is gardens, and across the street is the spa,” O’Connell said as he showed WTOP reporter Brennan Haselton video overviewing the plans.
The inn has also made some recent upgrades O’Connell touted, including a two-bedroom suite in what used to be an old summer kitchen.
“It looks as if it’s always been there, which is the object in all of these projects,” O’Connell said. “People are loving it.”
The inn has also opened up an 11-acre industrial garden at the edge of town, growing about 15,000 pounds of produce in a season, O’Connell said.
Right as he reaches the personal milestone of turning 80, O’Connell is reflecting on his journey and writing a memoir, which will come out next year.
One pivotal moment in his life was landing his first job in a restaurant; at 15 years old, he worked at Mr. H’s Hamburgers in Clinton, Maryland.
“It was an era before McDonald’s, when neighborhood restaurants actually made everything — the coleslaw, the piccalilli, the tartar sauce — and you really learned how to cook,” O’Connell told WTOP.
That job set in motion a career in kitchens.
“They were hard core restaurant lifers in those places,” O’Connell said of Mr. H’s. “As soon as I walked in, I felt this is where I belonged. Parents were not happy, but those people were wonderful people, and that’s what crystallized my notion that I love restaurant people.”
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A Denver rotisserie chicken spot with a Boulder pedigree is closing this month after almost a decade in Lower Highland.
Brider, at 1644 Platte St., crafts roasted chicken sandwiches, salads, soups, polenta bowls and pastas from morning to 8 p.m. every day. It’ll close after lunch Oct. 23, according to a post on its Instagram page.
The post didn’t state why the fast-casual restaurant was closing. Brider owner Bryan Dayton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Dayton and chef Steve Redzikowski opened Brider in 2016 with two concepts under their belts: Oak at Fourteenth, a fine-dining restaurant in Boulder, and Acorn, which at one time was the flagship restaurant for The Source in Denver. Brider’s kitchen quickly drew raves for its eclectic fare, such as its Cajun shrimp sandwiches, quinoa salads and hearty meatballs and porchetta dishes.
Redzikowski was a semifinalist for best chef in the southwest region at the James Beard Awards in 2015 and a nominee for the category in 2017. He and Dayton closed Acorn following the outbreak of coronavirus in 2020.
Dayton still runs Half Eaten Cookie Hospitality, which also owns Corrida in Boulder and C Burger, with locations in Boulder and Englewood.
Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings:
Houston International Festival
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
2509 Alabama
The Houston International Festival brings together global flavors with live bands and DJ sets across multiple genres, family-friendly activities, cultural performances, pop-up art displays and an exclusive VIP section with premium seating. Tickets are $10 GA (free for kids) and $50 VIP.
2025 Pearland Beer Fest at Pearland Town Center
Saturday, 2 to 7 p.m. (1 p.m. VIP)
11200 Broadway
Hit up the 2025 Pearland Beer Fest for an afternoon of craft beer tasting, live music and local food vendors, with over 30 breweries participating. General admission wristbands include six samples, with VIP access offering early access and a VIP glass.
Expo Tequila & Mezcal Houston – Edición Especial Día de Muertos at Post Houston
Saturday, 3 to 9 p.m.
401 Franklin
This tequila and mezcal festival celebrates life and traditions with an immersive cultural experience in honor of the Day of the Dead. Guests can expect a variety of tequila and mezcal brands, live music, a Catrina contest and traditional altars. Tastings are included with your ticket purchase.
Tequila Fest Houston at The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park
Saturday, 3 to 10 p.m.
105 Sabine
Tequila fans can sip, savor, and celebrate their favorite drink at Tequila Fest Houston, where dozens of tequila and mezcal brands pour flights alongside street eats from local vendors. Live music, games, and a festive outdoor vibe make it a perfect Saturday afternoon and evening. Tickets start at $25 and the event is 21+ only.
Korean Festival Houston at Discovery Green
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
1500 McKinney Houston’s largest Korean cultural celebration returns for its 16th year, expanding to a two-day event at the beautiful Discovery Green. Enjoy a vibrant lineup of authentic Korean cuisine, K-pop performances, traditional Korean music, enriching experiences and family-friendly fun. Admission is free.
A Denver brewery known as a hub for the Latino community closed suddenly this week after city officials seized the property’s assets due to unpaid back taxes.
Raíces Brewing Co. in Lincoln Park owed $98,703 in sales and personal property taxes, according to a distraint warrant issued by the city. The business closed on Wednesday when the warrant was issued.
Brewery CEO José Beteta was not immediately available to comment on the circumstances, but a detailed goodbye note on Raíces’ website states the company had been working with the city for about a year to establish a payment plan for the taxes. The company blamed “a series of unexpected charges” issued by the city that it said are related to what’s called a business personal property tax. That’s essentially a tax on whatever assets a business owns.
The note alleged that Raices had “never received prior billing notices” and that all invoices dating back to 2019 “arrived together in 2024, already including years of interest and penalties — despite our lack of prior information.”
However, city spokesperson Laura Swartz said in a statement that the personal property taxes owed only amounted to $10,765, or about 10% of the business’s total outstanding balance. Raices owed nearly $69,000 in sales tax and about $30,000 for penalties and interest, she said.
“It’s unfortunate that this situation has gotten to this point. We want Denver’s businesses to succeed and that means offering the best customer service we can to them,” Swartz said. “Before issuing a warrant, we attempt to reach the business by phone, mail, email, and in person to both collect the sales tax and ensure they can continue to operate. As Raices has noted, the city has attempted to work with them for years, including on a payment plan that was not fulfilled.”
Opened in late 2019, Raíces Brewing Co. offered a welcome dash of diversity to Denver’s craft beer scene. Raíces means “roots” in Spanish, and the brewery quickly became a hotspot for events and traditions celebrating Latino culture. Its annual Suave Fest spotlighted Latin beer makers from across the country.
Raíces’ closure is notable because of its unique space in the community, and also because the beer was worth seeking out. In 2022, it won a silver medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championship for its Furia imperial red ale.
“Raíces Brewing Co. has always been more than a business – it has been a space of community, culture, and human connection. A meeting place where thousands of people celebrated their roots, their identity, and their diversity. We are profoundly proud to have built a place that served our people and the city of Denver with love, respect, and purpose,” the goodbye note says. “In times when the world often feels increasingly divided, spaces like this become essential.”
Another long-standing restaurant is dark on Camp Bowie Boulevard.
And it won’t be the last.
A 45-year-old Uncle Julio’s chain restaurant is under repair indefinitely after badly failing a city health inspection. but plans a future reopening party, a manager for the Irving-based company said this week.
Uncle Julio’s, 5301 Camp Bowie Blvd., is now remodeling along with Tommy’s Hamburgers, a 23-year fixture that burned in a May 9 fire at 5228 Camp Bowie Blvd.
One block east, the Bella Italia West restaurant at 5139 Camp Bowie Blvd. will move at the end of December after 37 years, founder Carlo Croci said Tuesday.
Bella Italia is losing its space amid talk of a new Merrick Street development involving a Colorado restaurant company.
Coconut flan was great at Uncle Julio’s in 2016, but it’s no longer on the menu. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Croci said all he knows is that “we will be somewhere …. I do not know where.”
Bella Italia West opened in 1988 after leaving a smaller Bella Italia in the Wedgwood neighborhood.
At the time, that corner at Camp Bowie and Merrick Street was considered a star-crossed location. Seven consecutive restaurants had failed.
In a 1988 Star-Telegram interview, Croci said: “I’m not going to worry about why other people didn’t make it. I think I can.”
A platinum swirl, one of Uncle Julio’s original signature drinks, seen in 2019 at a Durham, North Carolina location. Juli Leonard Raleigh News & Observer archives
At the time, frozen margaritas were still a new phenomenon. The frozen margarita machine was invented in 1971 at Mariano’s in Dallas.
Uncle Julio’s originally opened in Dallas as a North Texas venture for former managers from Houston-based Pappasito’s. That company had not yet come to the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
Since then, Uncle Julio’s has gone through several hands and a foreclosure.
It now has restaurants in 12 states and belongs to Sun Holdings, the Dallas-based parent of Freebirds World Burrito and Taco Bueno.
In the Sept. 19 city visit, inspectors found food storage and handling problems at the restaurant along with major structural problems.
Sewage was running through the dining patio into a city storm drain, according to the city report.
Inspectors counted 43 demerits out of a possible 100.
A new manager wrote in an email this week that the company is giving the restaurant some “much-needed love.”
The restaurant’s voice mail message promises a grand reopening party that “the Fort Worth community will never forget.”
Other locations remain open at 9201 North Freeway in north Fort Worth, 150 E. Interstate 20 in Arlington and 1301 William D. Tate Ave. in Grapevine.
Tommy’s Hamburger Grill at 5228 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth was damaged by a fire Friday morning, May 9. Shelly Seymour Special to the Star-Telegram
Tommy’s Hamburger Grill is expected to reopen by year’s end.
A nearby location remains open at 1736 Mall Circle, along with a second location at 2455 Forest Park Blvd.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
A server shares the no-brainer questions that guests ask her at work. One couple’s response to her offer of an outside seat makes viewers shake their heads in disbelief.
In a video with over 122,000 views, TikToker Frida (@fridafridayyyy) says that she doesn’t believe there are “no stupid questions” after working in the restaurant industry. She shares several bizarre interactions that she had during her last six-hour shift.
What ‘stupid questions’ did guests ask the server?
“When asked, ‘Do you want to sit outside?’ they said, ‘Are there bugs outside?”” she recounts, squinting her eyes in confusion. “Bugs do live outside,” she responds.
She says she seated another table in the shade on the patio of the restaurant. They ask her, “I know we’re seated in the shade but is the sun going to move?”
The TikToker shows a stunned reaction to the obvious question.
“The sun does do that. The sun does move,” she says.
However, she says the last interaction of her shift was her “favorite.”
“We weren’t that busy, so this couple asked to be seated kind of away from people, which is fine,” she says. “And then they said, ‘If you guys get busy, you’re still not going to seat anybody next to us, right?’”
She says she was shocked by the request and told the couple that she had to fill the empty tables if it got busy.
“If you wanted somewhere more private, maybe take it to go. I don’t know what to tell you,” she jokes.
The caption reads, “Let’s just think before we speak maybe…”
How did other servers react to her customer interactions?
In the comments section, other servers say that the TikToker’s experience is common. They share the weird questions their own guests have asked them.
“My fav is ‘is it hot outside’ Like uhh did you just not walk in the door from the outside!?!” one says.
“‘Does the cheeseburger come with cheese’ COMPLETELY SERIOUS,” another writes.
“Today this guy came in and said he had an order to go I asked him wha he order so I could go check if his order was ready. He looked at me straight in the eye and said ‘food.’ I was waiting for him to laugh or something and he told me ‘well are you going to go check on my order?’ I then said sir I need to know what u order. Then he rolled his eyes and cuss me out saying he didn’t know what he ordered,” a third server shares.
“Saturday, a server had to cancel the filet her table ordered because he thought it was fish & he didn’t eat meat,” a fourth adds.
A bartender reviews her receipts at the end of the night to figure out how much patrons tipped her. She calls out one guest for an inappropriate attempt to hit on her.
In a video with over 53,000 views, TikToker Gabriella Masseran (@gabriellamasseran) stands behind the bar, holding one crinkled receipt.
“Here’s what we’re not going to do: come in here and stalk me and then write, ‘I’d rather tip you a dinner,”” she says, reading a note one man left on his receipt.
She insists that she’d rather take the $2 tip on the beer he purchased at the bar.
“I’d much rather have $2 to go towards my Starbucks,” she says.
Masseran says the man also ordered a Shirley Temple and “pretended to talk to [her] security guard” while staring at her for four hours.
What do other bartenders think about the receipt message?
In the comments, many male viewers joke about the bartender’s response to the receipt. However, other service workers say harassment is a real issue at their workplace.
According to a 2014 survey by ROC United that was reported by Eater, up to 90% of women restaurant workers report being harassed by customers while on the job.
“I’m also a bartender. I’ve had a few out pocket events this week & It’s only Friday morning…,” one shares.
“I was a delivery driver for nearly 4 years and constantly got dudes not tipping then tryna text me later for a date or whateva,” another says.
“I used to be a manager / bartender at a college town bar / restaurant for about 3 years. We employed plenty of college kids whom were looking for extra spending money while they went to school. The amount of creepy guys (young and old) that did this type of thing to our female servers and bartenders was wild,” a third writes.
What did viewers think of the receipt pick-up line?
Others criticize the man for not leaving a tip if he wanted to hit on the bartender.
“It’s always the ones who don’t tip that leave their number and expect a date,” a commenter remarks.
“One time a girl left her number on a 20 dollar bill. Maybe he should have tried that instead,” another suggests.
“So guys, if you’re gonna shoot your shot. Tip 300% of the bill, then slide in your number and wait. Bunch of amateurs these days,” a third viewer says.
“How is he NOT gonna do the courteous thing then ask you out?? You’re working!” a fourth asks.
Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings:
Original Greek Festival at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
3511 Yoakum
The iconic Original Greek Festival is back with a weekend full of Mediterranean eats, live music, dancing and family fun. Festival-goers can load up on Greek specialties like souvlaki, spanakopita, pastitsio, dolmades, baklava and loukoumades. Expect cultural performances, church tours and plenty of Greek wines to wash it all down. Tickets are $10 at the gate and kids under 12 get in free.
Karbachtoberfest at Karbach Brewing Co.
Friday–Sunday
2032 Karbach
It’s the final weekend of Karbachtoberfest, Karbach’s beloved Bavarian celebration that takes over the brewery for Oktoberfest-style fun. Pop by for live music, stein-hoisting contests, bratwurst tosses, wiener dog races, seasonal Karbachtoberfest brew, German food, bingo, giveaways and family-friendly fun. The fun is free and open to the public.
Houston Food Fest at Midtown Park
Saturday, 2 to 10 p.m.
2811 Travis
Hit this food fest to find more than 70 vendors, from local trucks and pitmasters to ice cream slingers global street-food setups. There’s also a live music stage, dancing and family-friendly vibes all day long. Tickets are $6+ in advance and kids 8 and under get in free.
Southern Smoke Festival at Discovery Green
Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m. (3 p.m. VIP)
1500 McKinney
One of Houston’s most epic fundraisers, Southern Smoke Festival 2025, returns to Houston’s Discovery Green for an unforgettable evening celebrating food, drink and culture. Guests can expect over 85 top chefs, beverage professionals, live music, world-class food and drink offerings, cooking demos and more. This year’s highlighted chefs include Nicolas Vera and Stephanie Velasquez of Casaema, Aaron Bludorn, Rodney Scott and Cheetie Kumar, among others. General admission tickets are $225 and include all food, drinks and entertainment, with VIP tickets for $550.
H-E-B Wine Walk at The Woodlands Resort
Saturday, 4 to 7 p.m.
2301 North Millbend
The 21st annual H-E-B Wine Walk hits The Woodlands for an evening of indulgence. Guests can sip through more than 50 wine tasting tents, plus enjoy 40 craft beers and dozens of culinary offerings from top local restaurants and chefs. Tickets start at $79 for general admission.
“When Israel went to war, we put on Israel stickers and started to support some of the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]. I would say that was when I was like, ‘Let’s be courageous,’” De Luca said. “But with Charlie, we had hosted him. We had met him. We’ve met Erika,” she added, referring to Kirk’s wife.
DeLuca said she didn’t even think it “could be controversial.”
“Maybe it’s my ignorance,” she said. “It didn’t even cross my mind that somebody could have some sort of issue with somebody being murdered.”
Invita Café’s decision to honor Charlie Kirk sparked controversy before generating overwhelming community backing.(Juliann Ford)
De Luca printed round white stickers with the words “Thank you, Charlie Kirk” and “We Love You” written on them.
“We’ve supported him for many, many years,” she said — but baristas told her the café’s phones were ringing off the hook with people saying “horrible and horrific things.”
“We ended up having to shut down our Google page and Yelp page because we were getting an insane amount of one-star reviews,” De Luca said.
She said what kept her calm was her San Diego community and her church, Awaken, which “showed up” a few days later.
Coffee shop owner Sarah De Luca told Fox News Digital she’s supported Charlie Kirk for “many, many years.”(Rebecca Noble/AFP via Getty Images; Sara De Luca)
“I was actually tearing [up] because I was like, ‘Where did these people come from?’ We went 312% up in sales,” De Luca said. “We were flooded with righteous people just showing up, supporting us, defending us. They were defending Charlie. Obviously, we all were.”
DeLuca said her small boutique coffee shop was soon packed with people waiting 30 to 45 minutes in line.
“We didn’t have any haters show up,” she said. “It was only the righteous showing up – just God-fearing people who are like, ‘Thank you for what you’re doing. Charlie would be proud.’”
The support came not just from her community but from across the nation, she said.
“We didn’t have any haters show up. It was only the righteous showing up,” said De Luca about the traffic in her shop.(Sara De Luca)
“We had somebody from Georgia call and say, ‘Can I just give you $500 and buy the next 100 drinks?’ Somebody walked in and left $300 and just walked out.”
Invita Café opened nine years ago, inspired by De Luca’s Italian family.
“The idea was to kind of create a space where the espresso is the magnet that unites people, and it brings the community together and brings the traditions that I grew up with here to California,” she said.
Invita Café, inspired by De Luca’s Italian family, is about bringing the community and traditions together, she said.(Sara De Luca)
De Luca said she believes “God is so behind all of this.”
“This is insane. But I think Charlie would have been proud.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Houston’s dining scene is serving up specials for the cause. From pink cocktails to sweet treats, local restaurants and bars are offering specials that help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research and support.
Here’s where you can sip, snack and show some love this October:
All October, Pico’s is honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its Two Dine for $69 experience. Guests enjoy a specially curated three-course menu for two, featuring authentic Mexican flavors, and $4 from each menu purchased is donated to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to support cancer research and patient care. Celebrate with great food and a cause that matters.
All month long, the “Pink Lady Oyster” special is $4 per oyster, paired with Veuve de Vernay Brut Rosé by the glass ($9) or bottle ($35). A portion of all Pink Lady Oyster sales is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
October means $1 from every glass of rosé or rosé sake at Azumi goes directly to local nonprofit The Rose and its work to provide screening and treatment options for both insured and uninsured patients.
All October, HiFi — the vinyl listening cocktail lounge inside The Finn — is raising a glass for a cause with the Rose Warrior cocktail ($10). Made with vodka, fresh lime juice, house-made hibiscus simple syrup, and carbonated hibiscus soda, $2 from each drink is donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
All through October, J-Bar-M Barbecue is serving up a pink Texas-sized cinnamon roll in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of proceeds from the sweet treat will be donated to The Rose – Breast Center of Excellence.
Kazzan Ramen & Bar is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its specialty cocktail, By Any Other Name. Crafted with Nikka Coffey Gin, rose syrup, shikuwasa citrus, liqueur de pamplemousse, sparkling wine and strawberry, $1 from every drink sold benefits The Rose.
Throughout October, Little Woodrow’s hosts “Pink Party” nights at all its Greater Houston locations. Expect drink specials (like Pink Whitney lemonade vodka) and fundraising raffles, with the proceeds benefiting The Rose.
This October, Liberty Kitchen is serving up Pink Lady Oysters ($4 each) and Veuve de Vernay Brut Rosé ($9/glass, $35/bottle) as part of a special menu supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. A portion of proceeds from every Pink Lady sale goes directly to life-saving breast cancer research.
All October, The Spot is raising a glass for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its Pink Panther cocktail.
Tago, 1120 Dennis Tago is mixing up pink for a purpose this October with its French Kiss cocktail: Prosecco, Grey Goose, Chambord, lime and pear. For every order, 25 percent of proceeds are donated to The Rose.
One spoonful of chili crisp is all it takes to understand why this condiment has found a spot on tables far and wide. It’s not just hot oil. It’s a salty, spicy umami bomb that boosts flavor in everything it touches.
Chili crisp, which has long been a staple in Asian cuisines, comes in lots of styles and has a fun range of flavor profiles, but in general, it’s a jar of toasted and roasted chilis, onion, garlic and other seasonings. Some include popular ingredients in Asian foods such as seaweed, while others bump up umami with mushrooms, fermented soy, yeast and, quite often, MSG.
No matter the mix, a well made chili crisp is huge flavor on a spoon. Drizzle it on eggs, slather it on a burger, stir it into noodles, spoon it on top of rice, vegetables, fish, meats. It’s also great as a dip for dumplings, a topping for pizza or a substitute for that salty packet of powder in packaged ramen.
While chili crisp is common in Mexican, Japanese, Indian and other Asian cuisines, it originated in the Sichuan region of China, home of the iconic Lao Gan Ma brand, which features a picture of the brand’s founder, Tao Huabi, on the label.
Great chili crisp is rich and complex, filling the mouth with so much deliciousness that it’s addictive. Chili is always present and plentiful, but the best jars of chili crisp always include multiple layers of tasty and interesting flavors. Note that the ratio of oil to crispy bits isn’t a good measure of quality, as the oil itself should be packed with the same flavors as the crispy bits.
Bad chili crisp is a sloppy, oily mess that’s made with no attention to flavor. Flavorless or underprocessed ingredients result in a jar that delivers heat but little else. The worst are so salty that they are guaranteed to ruin food on contact.
Here are details on the jars of chili crisp that will disappear overnight, and the salty, single-note potions that are likely to languish in the fridge for years. Nutrition info refers to 1 tablespoon.
S & B Umami Topping Crunchy Garlic
Fans of garlic will love this Japanese brand that’s so delicious it’s hard to stop at one spoonful. Both the chilis and the slices of garlic are crispy and plentiful. A bigger jar would be a great improvement. Note that the product we tried includes almond; in 2026, nuts will be removed from the recipe. 110 calories, 10.5 grams fat, 270 milligrams sodium. $7.99 for 3.88 ounces at Safeway. (4 stars)
Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp
This hits so many notes in a single bite: It’s sweet, salty, rich and has lots of crunchy bits. When shopping for this iconic brand, be sure not to confuse it with Lao Gan Ma Red Chili in Oil, which is in the same jar, but has a green stripe. The latter is OK but is more chewy than crisp, and not nearly as tasty. 110 calories, 10 grams fat, 190 milligrams sodium, 1 gran protein. $5.22 for 7.41 ounces at Walmart. (4 stars)
Momofuku Chili Crunch
This pricey, sweet-salty mix is slightly sweet and bursting with flavor. The inclusion of seaweed gives it a fishy note that would work especially well in Asian dishes. 105 calories, 10.5 grams fat, 120 milligrams sodium. $12.49 for 5.5 ounces at Whole Foods. Note that this one can be found at Costco. (3 1/2 stars)
Fly by Jing Original Sichuan Chili Crisp
While this brand is more oily than most, it delivers a blast of flavor thanks to super caramelized shallots and garlic, lots of soy and a dash of mushroom powder. It’s important to know that this has a slight bitter note. 90 calories, 9 grams fat, 195 milligrams sodium. $9.23 for 6 ounces at Whole Foods. (3 stars)
Lee Kum Kee Chiu Chow Style Chili Crisp Oil
While this is too oily and salty, it delivers a kick of rich flavor. Just be sure to use it sparingly, and think of it as a substitute for salt. 100 calories, 10 grams fat, 410 milligrams sodium. $5.99 for 7.2 ounces at Safeway. (2 stars)
Chuan Lao Hui Red Oil Chili
Fennel and star anise add unexpected, complex flavor notes to this sesame-forward oil. It has a pungent perfume aroma that people will either love or hate. 119 calories, 13 grams fat, 118 milligrams sodium. $3.69 for 7.05 ounces at 99 Ranch. (2 stars)
Signature Select Garlic Chili Crunch Oil
Good crunch and big toasty onion flavor are a plus, it lacks the authentic flavor of freshly roasted ingredients. Better infusing would also be a huge improvement. 120 calories, 11 grams fat, 130 milligrams sodium. $4.99 for 7.05 ounces at Safeway. (1 1/2 stars)
Spice World Chili Onion Crunch
Tough bits and and a hit of unexpected sweetness make this an unfortunate jar. The bitter note and a pinch of curry secure its spot near the bottom of the list. 103 calories, 9 grams fat, 108 milligrams sodium, 1 g protein. $2.99 for 6 ounces at Target. (1 stars)
Trader Joe’s Crunchy Chili Onion
While this is a fine condiment, it could be far better. The chili bits are perfectly crisp, but the onions are so underroasted that they are overpowering. Save this oil to use in cooked dishes 100 calories, 10 grams fat, 150 milligrams sodium. $4.49 for 6 ounces. (1 star)
Spicy King Spicy Chili Oil
This decidedly hot, pickle-like oil is extra bright and extra spicy. Sadly, it leaves a chemical aftertaste, and there are occasional dried soybeans in the mix that are so hard that they could break a tooth. 100 calories, 10 grams fat, 190 milligrams sodium, 1 gram protein. $3.49 for 9.23 ounces at 99 Ranch. (1/2 star)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-Off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.
There is a universally accepted truth in today’s America: Those with flawless taste who know Caramel deLites (née Samoas) are the reigning champion of Girl Scout Cookies, and those who are wrong.
But the ardent annual cookie pushers have a new challenger. The Girl Scouts of America just dropped Exploremores, a “rocky road” ice cream-inspired confection. I scored an invite to the VIP reveal party in Irvine on Thursday, Sept. 25 where I got an exclusive first-taste to see if the newbie was a threat to the reigning champ or just a glorified Tagalong.
Girls Scouts of Orange County CEO Vikki Shepp described the Exploremores as a “rocky road-inspired sandwich cookie” with a creamy filling that “evokes those flavors of almond, chocolate and marshmallow.” She would know; Shepp was on the innovation committee that spent three years developing the new cookie.
The rookie cookie is a chocolate sandwich one with a sweet, chocolate-hued filling. Unlike the crumbly texture of an Oreo (from which the Exploremores take clear inspiration), the first bite delivered a pleasingly soft and slightly chewy texture, along with a subtle hint of marshmallow. It’s a pleasant, borderline nostalgic taste that’s hard not to like.
The “rocky road” inspiration, however, comes up a bit short. The almond note, either in textural or extract forms (Girls Scout’s official copy states that the cookies feature a “toasted almond-flavored crème”), was nearly absent, lost beneath the chocolate and sugar. If you’re looking for a true rocky road experience, you won’t find a crystal-clear interpretation here. But it’s still a rather tasty cookie that, if you squint hard enough, might evoke a scenic journey on the road of rockiness.
Does it dethrone the Caramel deLite? Alas, no. That would be a herculean task. Even Thin Mints (preferably frozen, of course), the obvious second-place contender can’t beat the trifecta of caramel, coconut and milk chocolate. (OK, fine: According to Shepp, Thin Mints are still the top seller, with Caramel deLite a “close second.”) But, sure, what with its creamy filling and pleasant chew, I’d safely put Exploremores up there with the best.
The event itself was a testament to the Girl Scout mission, a tradition as venerable as the cookies they sell. The sale of cookies started as a grassroots effort in 1917 when the cookies, usually simple sugar cookies, were originally home-baked by troop members with moms volunteering as advisers. This at-home fundraiser has since evolved into today’s program, which, while teaching girls entrepreneurial skills, helps fund activities and service projects.
Tayva Veal, a Girl Scouts Ambassador, holds up a box of Exploremores. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rows of desserts topped with Girl Scout Cookies. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Boxes of the new Girl Scout Cookies Exploremores. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Up close and personal with a handful of Exploremores. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Tayva Veal, a Girl Scouts Ambassador, holds up a box of Exploremores. (Photo by Brock Keeling, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Girl Scouts sell roughly around 200 million boxes each year, according to a 2023 NPR report, with an estimated 700,000 Girl Scouts participating.
The cookie unveiling, fittingly, was held at Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine, a not-for-profit restaurant. Owner Natalia Austin, a onetime Girl Scout from Laguna Beach, shared her own memories with the organization, like developing deep friendships at meetings to singing songs and baking bread on a stick at camp.
The room, filled with special guests, including Michelin-star restaurateur Yassmin Sarmadi (who also declared Caramel deLites as her favorite, yet another sign of superior taste), was treated to seemingly endless rows of Girl Scout cookie-themed desserts.
The evening’s highlight, however, was 16-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador Tayva Veal from troop 2898 in Lake Forest. Veal shared how the organization taught her to “lead with compassion,” a lesson that helped in her recent heroic actions. Shepp announced that Veal earned the rare Girl Scout Saving Award, an accolade reserved for monumental acts of bravery; Veal, along with her mother, helped save the life of a Sand City Beach fisherman who lost his footing and collapsed, pulling him ashore.
Exploremore is a solid, sweet cookie contender that will be available when Girl Scout Cookie season arrives in Orange County. Online direct shipping and presale orders start Jan. 6. Cookie in-hand sales happen from Jan 25 through March 15. Visit cookiesoc.org to find out when the fierce cookie plugs go live in your area.
McDonald’s is bringing back its iconic Monopoly game in the United States on Oct. 6, 2025, for the first time since the infamous “McMillions” scam, which saw $24 million in prizes stolen by an insider and his criminal network. This fan-favorite promotion returns after nearly 10 years away, having been shelved following the exposure of one of the biggest frauds in corporate marketing history.
The Monopoly promotion, introduced in 1987, became a marketing phenomenon, offering customers the chance to win prizes ranging from free meals to houses, cars, and million-dollar cash jackpots. However, from 1989 to 2001, the game was marred by a vast conspiracy led by Jerome P. Jacobson, a security officer who managed the distribution of winning pieces. Jacobson, known as “Uncle Jerry,” systematically stole high-value game pieces and distributed them to a network that included family, friends, and mob associates, costing McDonald’s $24 million and cheating regular customers out of major prizes. The FBI eventually uncovered the scam in 2001, as chronicled in HBO’s 2020 documentary series McMillion$.
In response to the scandal, McDonald’s fired its marketing agency and replaced the Monopoly game with other promotions, including Game Time Gold for U.S. stores after 2015. The return of Monopoly in 2025 comes with extensive security upgrades: Customers will now collect and redeem both physical peel-off stickers and digital pieces, but all pieces must be scanned and tracked through the McDonald’s app, where new safeguards and independent audits are in place.
Players can win a range of prizes, including:
$1 million cash
A 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
One million American Airlines miles
Dream vacations
$10,000 Lowe’s shopping sprees
More than 30 menu items feature game pieces, and using the app provides both bonus chances and an easier way to track rewards. Preregistering in the app offers customers additional reward points and chances to play.
The return is both a nostalgia play and a strategic sales push for McDonald’s. Recent months have seen the company regain momentum in U.S. sales with movie tie-ins and new menu items. Analysts suggest the Monopoly comeback could reconnect lapsed customers and strengthen brand loyalty, while also testing whether enhanced security can erase the memory of one of corporate America’s most notorious scams.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Apply for an invitation.
After Starbucks announced it would be shutting hundreds of stores, its website is listing dozens in the Bay Area as being closed as of Sunday, Sept. 28.
To check if a store is on the closure list, go to the Starbucks store locator online, find your desired outlet and click the information icon to check whether it will be open beyond this week.
As of Sept. 26, the following stores were slated for a Sept. 28 closure:
Kalaya, Friday Saturday Sunday and Royal Sushi & Izakaya were recognized among the best in North America by a group of 300 chefs, restaurateurs, journalists and gourmets.
Kalaya ranked seventh on the 50 Best brand’s inaugural list of “North America’s 50 Best Restaurants,” which evaluated restaurants in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Friday Saturday Sunday ranked 16th and Royal Sushi & Izakaya was 32nd. Kalaya’s owner Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon was named North America’s best female chef.
The 50 Best list is published by the United Kingdom media company William Reed, which is known for publishing annual editions of the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants.” Restaurants from Mexico, Central America and a few Caribbean countries, including Cuba and the Dominican Republic, are included in the company’s list of “Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants.”
Kalaya was recognized for its “imaginative Thai cooking with reams of charisma” and ability to elevate Thai food to an upscale dining experience in its luxe warehouse in Fishtown. Its $98 tom yum soup, bird-shaped dumplings and tamarind-glazed pork chop stood out to the experts who compiled 50 Best’s list, but Suntaranon particularly drew their praise.
“As beautiful and evocative as Kalaya’s ambiance is, the most luminous part of it is Suntaranon herself,” 50 Best’s entry reads. “She’s the charisma magnet that powers the whole restaurant, as comfortable handling a searing hot wok as a Birkin bag, she understands hospitality is about making guests feel special.”
Suntaranon spent three decades as a flight attendant before opening the first iteration of Kalaya in 2019 in a small space in the Italian Market. She was 50 at the time and named the restaurant after her mother, who sold curry pastes while raising Suntaranon in southern Thailand.
Within its first year, Kalaya won theJames Beard Awardfor best new restaurant. This year, it was named a James Beard semifinalist for outstanding restaurant. Suntaranon also was named to the Time100 list, garnering praise for her “wild, whimsical” nature.
“Kalaya is a place where every detail is deeply personal,” Suntaranon said in a statement. “I named the restaurant after my mother. This restaurant was built with love and pride to preserve the flavors and memories of my childhood. I’m so grateful to my team and partners who work tirelessly to deepen their understanding of Southern Thai food and culture and, in turn, share that passion with guests.”
Friday Saturday Sunday, an American restaurant in Rittenhouse, was lauded for its infusion of classic French technique with African diaspora influences and for its Lovers Bar’s “extraordinary” cocktail menu. Earlier this year, head bartender Paul MacDonald was named among the most innovative bartenders in the country by Wine Enthusiast.
Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Queen Village, was recognized for its casual but energetic atmosphere and nigrini entrees prepared with “texturizing knifework as fine as calligraphy.”
A new CAVA site will start serving customers at 636 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Friday, September 26. This marks the chain’s first venture into Detroit, with a 3,000-square-foot space ready to welcome diners, as per Yahoo.
The Detroit site features dine-in seating, as well as quick pickup spots for online orders. Diners may mix and match ingredients for bowls and pitas, creating up to 17 billion different meal options. Just this month, they added chicken shawarma to their menu.
“We were delighted by the way the Canton community embraced our first Michigan restaurant this summer,” said Jeff Gaul, Chief Development Officer of CAVA. “As we grow across the Midwest, we’re excited to welcome Detroit to our table to experience the bold flavors of our high-quality meals and Mediterranean hospitality while living out our mission to bring heart, health, and humanity to food.”
With 400 sites across 28 states and Washington, D.C., CAVA aims to reach 1,000 spots within seven years. Their push into Michigan shows their commitment to Midwest growth.
The site kicked off with a Community Day on September 24. This event backed Food Rescue US – Detroit, with CAVA matching local gifts up to $1,000. Such matching efforts have topped $1 million in hunger relief since 2019.
Staff training meals went straight to local groups instead of waste bins. This smart practice started nationwide in fall 2023 as CAVA opened more sites.
The site will run with 25 to 40 staff members. Each gets perks like paid leave, health care, early wages, free food, and mental wellness support.
Doors will open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day. More Michigan sites are in the works for this year.
