food

Ring in Al Fresco Season (Eventually) with Three New Patio Brunches

Ring in Al Fresco Season (Eventually) with Three New Patio Brunches

Spritzes at Tavola

WHILE FALL WEATHER might still be a couple of weeks away (boooo), Houston restaurants are rolling out new patio-friendly brunch menus just in time for al fresco season! From spritz carts to toast topped with caviar, these new brunches have it all for fall.

Tavola

Pancakes with Homemade Ricotta at Tavola

Every Sunday, be transported to the Italian coast with Tavola’s Brunch a Capri. This ultra-chic Post Oak hotspot has updated its patio with floral accents and the iconic colorful umbrellas that populate Capri’s coast as the backdrop for its boozy Sunday brunch — complete with a spritz cart and DJ. The food is equally as beautiful: The pancakes are topped with edible flowers, and gooey Nutella crepes are served with a mound of fresh strawberries. For an extra Italian twist, try the Buongiorno Negroni — it’s a carajillo meets a negroni and it’s delicious. Buon appetito!

Mandito's Tex-Mex

Brunch Spread at Mandito's (photo by Claire McNeal)

After partying at Armandos on a Thursday, the weekend calls for a more casual brunch at its sister restaurant Mandito's. The Bellaire outpost offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday on its colorful, family-friendly patio. The menu serves up classic Tex-Mex brunch dishes like Migas, Chilaquiles, Huevos a la Mexicana and breakfast tacos. Bloody Mary’s are served with vodka or tequila. And, speaking of tequila, the menu has five unique takes on the classic margarita. The cucumber-mint version has fresh cucumber and lemon juice, housemade mint syrup and a hibiscus-salt rim — healthy enough for brunch!

Best Regards

The patio vibe at Best Regards

Speaking of healthy, Best Regards has collaborated with Thrive Juices — the expanding juice bar that donates healthy meals to underserved zip codes in the Houston area — to create a fresh and unique brunch menu. Offerings include the Thrive Juice Acai Bowl topped with granola and coconut flakes, and the blueberry-lemon-oat-milk pancake stack. For the decadent eater, don’t miss the Summer Toast: It’s topped with garlic Greek yogurt, cucumber, grapefruit, orange and habanero — and a heaping scoop of caviar!

Food
promoted

Wellness Pro LeBrina Jackson on Gratitude at the Holidays: It’s a ‘Reset Button for my Mind’

Wellness Pro LeBrina Jackson on Gratitude at the Holidays: It’s a ‘Reset Button for my Mind’

LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

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the magazine

‘CityBook’ Remembers Photographer Jhane Hoang and Her Polished Portraits and Rich Fashion Spreads

Late photographer Jhane Hoang (center) and some of her subjects, including fashion models and musicians

WHEN JHANE HOANG died late last month after a quiet, private battle with cancer, Houston lost one of its most talented and exacting photographers — and my colleagues at CityBook and I lost a beloved contributor and friend.

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Art + Entertainment
parties

Billy Bob Thornton Helps Raise $1.3mil for Bryan Museum

Dave Rossman

John Bryan, Mary Jon Bryan, Billy Bob Thornton, J.P. Bryan

MORE THAN 500 guests gathered in Galveston for the Bryan Museum Gala, an evening that celebrated both the 10th anniversary of the museum and some of the most influential names in Texas oil and gas. Titled the Wildcatters Gala, the event honored Ernie H. Cockrell, Mary Ralph Lowe, Trevor Rees-Jones and the families of Eddy C. Scurlock and R.E. “Bob” Smith — all recognized for their legacy of leadership and philanthropy in the industry.

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Parties