On the menu this week: beer and doughnuts. Skip the uncertainty of trick-or-treating and head straight for a warm frosty goodie from Krispy Kreme. Participating locations (krispykreme.com) are busy minting little pumpkin-shaped, yeast-raised doughnuts with jack-o-lantern faces. Yum. Snarf ’em while they’re warm. Purchase a dozen (pun’kins or others) and get three free doughnut coupons. No costume required. Through October 31.
Chase those doughnuts with a micro-brew — the number and variety of which are about to increase thanks to BudCo Ltd. Yesterday the company unveiled 20-plus indies that will be shepherded to bars and fridges around Texas by its new Import Craft & Specialty Group, including the Chinese Harbin and organic Wild Hop Lager and Stone Mill Pale Ale, brewed by Anheuser-Busch.
Speaking of beer, the Current’s First Annual Ale Fest was a sudsy, polka-and-rock-infused success. More than 600 beer connoisseurs put away a few dozen kegs of Arrogant Bastard, Smithwick’s, Saison, Maridsous 8, and more. Mark your calendar for mid-October 2007, and in the meantime, enjoy some Ale Fest photos.
If you want to eat higher on the hog, toodle out I-10 West to Fredericksburg for a weekend of gemütlichkeit. Three events anchor the 16th Annual Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest: A Celebration of Texas Food and Wine, 7-9:30 p.m. Friday at the Navajo Grill; the Patron Brunch on Marktplatz, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday; and Brunch at the Cotton Gin, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday, but there’s plenty else to sip and see — more than 20 Lone Star wineries are participating, including local fave Becker Vineyards, Llano Estacado, and Messina Hof — for the $20 admission (under 21, $5; under 12, free). Fbgfoodandwinefest.com for more info and a complete schedule.
Get to know the grape a little better before you spend the weekend together — at Beeman’s wine classes. Two sessions remain in the fall schedule — led by sommelier Janet Easterling — but the small classes fill quickly and as of press time only one class had room: The curriculum addresses Washington, Oregon, and Canada on Thursday; $25 for tasting and snacks. Call Beeman’s, 698-5046, to register. Beeman’s Wine Spirits Gourmet is located at 23535 I-10 West.
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