The Leader • Saturday, April 18, 2020 • Page 1B
Zuvie’s Brews
By Adam Zuvanich
Deliver some help to local craft brewers
J
ohn Holler knows what he’s doing is illegal, and he keeps doing it anyway. Because if he weren’t delivering beer to his loyal customers, he wouldn’t be doing any business at all. Holler, the founder and owner of Holler Brewing Co. at 2206 Edwards St., said his operation is mostly in “hibernation.� The local craft brewery has stopped production and furloughed its dozen or so employees, and it’s not opening its doors for to-go sales – which all breweries in Texas are allowed to do during the social distancing restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s breweries are not allowed to deliver beer to customers, but that’s what Holler has been doing. He said he’s taking 50 orders per week from regulars and, while wearing a protective mask and gloves, making personal deliveries of canned beer on Fridays. Holler said he knows all of his delivery customers and know they are of legal drinking age. If they appeared to be younger than 30, he said he would ask for identification. “I’m not comfortable setting up a shop and having customers leave their houses and come and congregate, and I’m not comfortable sending employees in to run it,� Holler said. “So the one way we can move product safely, to minimize contact and have as few people involved as possible, is this delivery. To us, it’s just an extremely practical and at this point necessary thing for us to do. “I wish it were completely above board and legal,� he added. “But at this time, I have no choice but to do it anyway.� COVID-19 has been a buzzkill for the craft beer industry, much like it has for many other businesses. Houston and Harris County ordered the temporary closure of bars, restaurant dining rooms and taprooms on March 17 in an attempt to limit public gatherings and slow the spread of COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Representatives of four area breweries said their sales have significantly decreased during the last month. So they’ve been forced to adapt in an attempt to stay afloat – by reducing their staffs, operating hours and/or beer production, by making their products more accessible to customers or, in Holler’s case, by bending the rules. “I think right now, the key to staying alive is keeping it interesting and having a presence on social media,� said co-owner Shayn Robinson of New Magnolia Brewing Co., which opened Nov. 22 at 1616 Bevis St. and had to postpone its grand opening event that was scheduled for April 4. Although its sales have decreased by about half, according to Robinson, he said New Magnolia has actually gained customers during the last month because it’s in a residential area with lots of foot traffic. The same advantage applies to some other local breweries, including Eureka Heights Brew Co. at 941 W. 18th St. Eureka Heights has set up a drive-through operation in front of its taproom, and co-owner Casey Motes said it’s also benefitted from distribution agreements with grocery stores and liquor stores, which for the most part are conducting business as usual. Eureka Heights also has been utilizing its lighthearted personality and creative names and can designs. The Heights brewery released a new IPA this week called “What Day Is It?� in reference to the disorienting nature of the Houston area’s stayat-home order. Eureka Heights also has continued its Wednesday night trivia events by holding them virtually on Facebook Live. “They can still do something fun for half an hour,� Motes said of his customers. “They can get a break and almost pretend like they’re out with some friends hanging out.� Because Eureka Heights fans cannot actually congregate in the taproom, Motes said the business has suffered financially. The closure of bars and dining rooms also has had an impact, See Adapting P. 2B
Photo from Instagram John Holler, owner of Holler Brewing Co. in Sawyer Yards, has been delivering beer to 50 regular customers every Friday.
Porch Parties
Area winery encourages socializing from afar By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Social distancing guidelines have made it hard to really connect with anyone outside of your home. But it doesn’t mean you can’t. “Front Porch Fridays� is a Houston-wide initiative created by the co-owners of Mutiny Wine Room, 1124 Usener St., to help foster a sense of community by getting people outside every Friday at 6 p.m. Mark Ellenberger and Emily Trout are encouraging people to connect with neighbors while staying on their own porches, thereby complying with social distancing guidelines. “After Houston put the social distancing protocols in place, I was driving through the Heights on a beautiful day and noticed that no one was outside on their porches,� Trout said. Having lived in the Heights since 1997, Trout has always had a porch to enjoy. It occurred to her that from people’s front porches, they could chat with one another from afar. This weekly socializing from a distance is designed to turn everyone’s mind to something more positive. “Everyone is so focused on the bad news right now that it’s important to take a step away from the TV and screens and find something to enjoy and make you smile,� Trout said. For Trout, there is no substitute for connecting with other people. “We’re all in this together, and it’s not great, but sitting inside
Mark Ellenberger, left, and Emily Trout are the co-owners of Mutiny Wine Room.
and brooding about the state of the world only feeds our anxiety,� Trout said. “So, let’s do something about this and find a reason to focus on the positive.� To boost the concept and get people involved, Mutiny created a “Front Porch Package� that people could enjoy while hanging out on their porch. Each week the package will look different, but will include a special selection of meats and cheeses with suggested wine pairings. The wine pairings are separate from the package, but will be offered at a discounted rate. Whether or not you pick up a package from Mutiny, the winery is encouraging everyone to participate. As part of the initiative, Trout and Ellenberger are asking people to use the hashtag #FrontPorchFridays on their Instagram posts and tag or mention @MutinyWineRoom. From the pool
Photo by Jenn Duncan
Photo from Mutiny Wine Room The spread for “Front Porch Friday� includes meat, cheese, fruit and nuts.
of people using the hashtag, one winner will be chosen to receive a free bottle of wine from Mutiny. “Mark and I also purchased gift cards from local Heights restaurants and will award the cards to the houses on the block with the most houses participating in Front Porch Fridays,� Trout said. In order to determine the contest winners, Trout asks that participants email their address to
info@mutinywineroom.com or message Mutiny on its social media platforms during the 6 o’clock hour on Friday. “We tool around the neighborhood in a golf cart that our friend lends us and greet people and wave,� Trout said.  At the very least, Front Porch Fridays also serves as a reminder of what day of the week it is for those who just can’t keep track.
Great Friday: Cavatore servers split $1,000 tip By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The generosity of a customer made Good Friday especially enjoyable at Cavatore Italian Restaurant. Owner Federico Cavatore said a longtime customer, who asked to remain anonymous, left a $1,000 tip for a to-go order last Friday night. The tip was shared among the four servers who were working at the time and provided a morale boost for everyone at the family restaurant, located at 2120 Ella Blvd. “Everybody was elated. Every-
Photo from Facebook A customer recently left a $1,000 tip at Cavatore Italian Restaurant.
one was jumping up and down,� Cavatore said. “It changed the whole tempo.� Like restaurants all over the Houston area and beyond, the COVID-19 pandemic has put an economic strain on Cavatore. Since March 17, all restaurants in Houston and Harris County have been restricted to drive-through, delivery and carryout service in an attempt to minimize crowds, promote social distancing and slow the spread of the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus strain. Cavatore said to-go orders ac-
REVIEW:
Curbside burgers at their best at Heights hot spot Zarah Parker
counted for about one-third of the restaurant’s business before the pandemic. “Things are tough,� he said. Fortunately for fans of the neighborhood eatery, which opened more than 30 years ago, Cavatore said his restaurant is “not going anywhere.� The unusually large tip, which came on an order worth $19.49, strengthened the resolve of Cavatore’s employees. “We needed it,� Cavatore said. “It was something that did a lot for the morale of this staff.�
THE BOOK SCENE
Your neighborhood Bookstore
THE LEADER
Best Book Store
• New, Used and Collectibles • 713-869-6117 1820 W. 43rd St Houston TX, 77018 like us on Facebook
Managing Editor
We are all living in a strange new world under Harris County’s stay-athome, work safe order to help slow the spread of COVID-19. For me, one of the hardest things to give up has been dining out. Luckily, I can still support restaurants by picking up an order to-go. One place where I’ve twice picked up a curbside order is The Burger Joint. The reason I was keen to order again is that the burger was still plenty hot when I got home the first time. More impressive is that the milkshake I got with my second order was still thick. The first burger I had from The Burger Joint was the classic, which comes with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and mayo. I replaced the mayo with mustard and ketchup. Though sometimes I’ll get the condiments on the side so they don’t make the bun soggy on the trip home, I found that the burger held up well with all the ingredients staying between the buns. It was a simple burger that stood out in freshness, even while getting it to-go. I can definitely see why so many people were excited for the 2002 N. Shepherd Dr. location to open.
#1 SHIPLEY DO-NUTS IN HOUSTON Photo by Zarah Parker The BBQ Burger with french fries and a milkshake from The Burger Joint, 2002 N. Shepherd Dr.
The hand-cut fries, sprinkled with salt, were also an item I really enjoyed. Sometimes places make the mistake of putting an order of togo fries in Styrofoam, which makes the fries soggy. I was glad to see that wasn’t the case at The Burger Joint. My second time around in the curbside line, I picked up a BBQ Burger, fries (again, because I couldn’t resist) and a peanut butter milkshake with chocolate added. The BBQ burger came with lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, bacon, onion rings, cheddar and BBQ sauce. I got mine with no cheddar and the sauce on the side, because I didn’t want to ruin my burger if I didn’t end up liking the sauce. Trouble is, my side of sauce wasn’t See Burger Joint P. 2B
Tha you for making us Thank Number One again! BBest e Donuts/Kolaches
3410 Ella Blvd. at 34th St. (713) 682-4343
FREE DOZEN DONUT HOLES Buy a dozen donuts and get • 1 dozen donut holes FREE! ALL offers Good at Ella location only. One coupon per visit. Tax not included. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons.
HAVE YOU HAD THE BEST LATELY?