We’ve been named one of Houstonia’s Best Neighborhood bars in Downtown Houston!
Touted as “Best Bar for Drinking Before Grocery Shopping,” we invite you pop-in and unwind before (or after) hitting the aisles. You can always count on finding a refreshing beer or wine special and appetizers to make your shopping more exciting during our weekday Happy Hour, every Monday through Friday from 2-7PM.
“Come as you are to this no-frills joint located inside the beloved Phoenicia Specialty Foods market. Though it otherwise has all the atmosphere of your local Starbucks, the bar feels buzzy when a DJ or live band hits the stage, which is often, and gets packed when there’s a concert or a basketball game at nearby Toyota Center. As a bonus, pretty much every wine on offer pairs well with the store’s flaky baklava. Just saying.”
GO TEXAN is more than just boots and barbecue. It’s a state of mind. From February 23-27, Phoenicia Specialty Foods and MKT BAR are celebrating the finest foods in Texas like the Hogtied Hamburger, complete with smoked gouda and ranch dressing or the MKT Frito Pie that’s got a nice little kick to it. Cool down some of that Texas spice with a Michelada or take a spin on the Buffalo Bayou Beer flight. And because everything’s sweeter in Texas, save room for our Mile High Key Lime Pie.
MKT BAR is country music headquarters during GO TEXAN week, showcasing the best in local music from many of Houston’s most talented musicians. It’s live music and grub with a country kick from February 23-27.
Between our great grub and toe-tapping country music, there’s simply no other place to GO TEXAN this February.
MKT BAR GO TEXAN MUSIC & GRUB NIGHTS OFFERINGS Available Tuesday, February 23 – Saturday, February 27 at MKT BAR. The regular MKT BAR dinner menu will also be available.
– MKT Frito Pie with Haig’s Chili – ground chuck steak with onions, roasted peppers, fava beans and chickpeas $8
– ½ BBQ Rotisserie Chicken with MKT potato salad and spicy fried okra $12.99
– Hogtied Hamburger – ground chuck with smoked gouda, ranch dressing, tomato and bacon on challah bun with za’atar fries $12.99
– Brined and Grilled Pork Chop with MKT potato salad and spicy fried okra $16.99
Thursday, February 25
Vinyl Ranch – Classic Country DJs, 5-8PM
Max Flinn Band – Honky Tonk Outlaw Classic Country, 8-11PM
Friday, February, 26
Vinyl Ranch – Classic Country DJs, 6-9PM
Skrla Steel Trio – Country & Western Swing, 9PM-12AM
PHOENICIA SPECIALTY FOODS GO TEXAN WEEK IN-STORE SPECIALS Available during the month of February
You can always take the taste of Texas home with you, too. Stroll on over to the butcher shop and pick up our Peppercorn Rubbed Pork Tenderloin, Phoenicia Bratwurst and Garlic & Herb Sausage on a stick and Cayenne Cheddar Burgers. Two-step your way into the market for a variety of local items like pickles, barbecue rubs and sweet Texas treats.
Bakery
– Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding
– Rodeo-themed cookies
Butcher Shop Offerings
– Peppercorn Rubbed Pork Tenderloin
– Phoenicia Bratwurst and Garlic & Herb Sausage on a stick
– Cayenne Cheddar Burgers
Grocery
– Rodeo Beer: Karbach Rodeo Clown Double IPA, Southern Star Pine Belt Pale Ale
– Local Honeys: Honeycraft Honey, Stroop Farms Wildflower Honey
– Coffee and Wine: Phoenicia Coffee House Texas Doodle Coffee Beans,Chisholm Trail Texas Wines,
– Pickles: Yee Haw Hot Damn Dills/No Frills Dills, Bravado Spice Chili & Garlic, Smither Family Relish, Talk of Texas Okra Pickles
– Rubs/Sausages/BBQ Tools: Van Ruehling Rubs, Salt Lick Dry Rubs, Bob Tallman’s Steakhouse and All Around Rubs, Chappell Hill Sausages, Pinces de Barbecue Tongs and Spatula
– Sweet Texas Treats by Sinfull Bakery, Lady Lavender Confections, Wackym’s Cookies, Big Lil’ Fudge, Sweets by Belen Alfajores
– Cookbooks with a Texas Twist: Houston’s Top 100 Food Trucks, Houston Small Plates & Sips, The Ultimate Food Lover’s Guide to Houston
Reality is a mental labyrinth / ignorance, its linear beast. When ignorance fuels destruction / history, strategically repeats. Awareness of awareness / elevates the dreamer from its sleep. Dare to dream awake / encourage memory beyond illusionary feats. If knowledge is power / grant wisdom to reign supreme. Unearth your history / from this labyrinth we dream. Ye are stars / reality sets free. Love is the path / imagination has its doors / transformation, your key.
Santos Guerrero’s compositions blend inter-dimensional time/space narratives to create surrealist landscapes, often centered around anti-form line compositions. He employs a vast range of techniques from oil-based, acrylic, industrial and aerosol paints to avant-garde forms involving various forms of medium-applications, all with a keen eye for the emotive power of color.
The opening reception on February 19th from 8PM-midnight features a music line-up including Wonky Powers recording artist George West and deejay FREDster with special guest, multi-platinum music producer The ARE, whose credits include work for LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Houston’s own K-OTIX, whose latest album features cover art by Guerrero.
In honor of the artist’s hometown of Monterrey, Mexico a Santos-inspired ceviche and michelada will be available for purchase at the opening reception.
Opening Reception: Friday, February 19, 2016, 8PM-midnight Exhibition On View: February 19 – April 17, 2016
Opening Reception Music Line-up
8:30-9:30PM – The ARE
9:45-10:45PM – George West
11PM-Midnight FREDster
All artwork will be available for purchase and the artist will be in attendance at the opening reception.
A member of the Phoenicia team for 21 years, Ruth has seen a lot of changes in the store during that time. She started at Arpi’s Deli and has worked in many of the departments at Phoenicia. She eventually made her way to manager of the hot grill, where she is happiest. While Ruth has worked with so many great people, her favorite will always be Richard Willis. She loved working with Richard and was sad when he moved to the Phoenicia Downtown location. Ruth feels a family bond with her teammates and considers them her “work family.” Also feeling a bond with customers, Ruth has been their acquaintance for many years, often seeing kids grow up and bringing in their own children!
Ruth grew up in Mexico and remained there after her brothers had moved to Houston. She dreamed of coming to Houston and was so excited when she finally had a chance to move here, right away she began working as a cashier in a Mexican Café but she longed for more. She knew someone who was working at Phoenicia and they were very happy, they talked about their job in the most positive ways and it made her really want a job here but she wasn’t confident in her cooking or her language skills and was afraid it was going to be a challenge. When she finally applied, her desire to work was evident and she was hired, it was her dream come true! Ruth was excited in her new position and went to school to study and learn so she could be a stronger member of the Phoenicia Team.
Though different cultures and languages can sometimes be difficult, Ruth really tries to connect with customers. She is sympathetic to language boundaries and will often use her version of sign language to direct or satisfy a customer’s needs. In her wildest dreams she never thought she would learn so many customs! One thing she notes is that every country and nationality can agree on one thing…delicious food! She laughs as she says that everyone loves Shawarma! Shawarma was the first food she tried at Arpi’s. It is the healthiest sandwich. She smiles sheepishly as she said that on her second day she saw falafel and thought “What is that?!?” she nibbled a bite and fell in love with them! Her love of food is contagious and she wants everyone to share her passion. If she notices that people seem hesitant to try a shawarma she will describe it in ways they may relate to, in fact she often describes it like a burrito! And even though Ruth has worked here for so many years she NEVER gets tired of eating Shawarma!
Ruth dreams have been realized with a city and a job that she loves and she feels it just gets better and better. Ruth loves creating foods and is especially proud of the soup she makes for the hot grille menu, and she positively beams when she says, “I am proud of the job and I am happiest when Mr. Bob is happy!”
Ruth’s eyes sparkle and her smile is huge as she talks about Phoenicia. “Something holds you here”, she comments earnestly. The Tcholakian Family, the customers, her co-workers and Mr. Bob… they make you feel special.
Come experience the food and atmosphere that dreams are made of here, at Phoenicia!
On December 31st, MKT BAR is ringing in 2016 with a New Year’s Eve Soul Celebration with the live funky sounds of Jordan “Chili Sauce” Donald saxophone and vocoder extraordinaire and DJ Tempty. Delicious MKT BAR bites will be on hand throughout the night, and at midnight, guests can expect Hill Country Chicken & Waffles and artisan pizza paired with a champagne toast. VIP tables will be available and include champagne bottle service, and New Year’s Eve party favors. Ages 18 and up.
COST:
Pre-sale tickets are available for purchase onlineuntil December 31st at 6PM.
VIP Table Pricing (purchased online, in advance only, priced per table, doesn’t include general admission)
• 2-3 seat table (1 bottle of bubbles and New Year’s Eve party favors): $100
• 2-4 seat table (1 bottle of bubbles and New Year’s Eve party favors): $100
• 5-8 seat table (2 bottles of bubbles and New Year’s Eve party favors): $200
• 9-12 seat table (3 bottles of bubbles and New Year’s Eve party favors): $300
Please note: VIP Table guests must also purchase general admission tickets separately.
Tickets for entry are not included in the VIP Table price.
General Admission per person
$45 in advance; $55 at the door
New Year’s Day Brunch
Our popular Hill Country Chicken & Waffles is half off all day from 10AM-8PM.
Celebrate global customs and cuisines under one festive roof at Phoenicia Specialty Foods, Saturday, December 12th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at YUMMY! Wonderland. Bring the family to Phoenicia’s downtown location and enjoy a day full of food, crafts, live musical performances and shopping. Join the Houston Fire Department’s Operation Stocking Stuffer and celebrate the spirit of the season with a new, unwrapped toy to donate.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children (ages 4-12). Buffet-style brunch, house coffee and juice are included with the ticket price. Seating is first come, first served and brunch will be served from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
YUMMY! Food
The YUMMY! Wonderland buffet brunch features a delicious mix of global dishes served during the holidays, including:
Pomegranate Glazed Salmon
Moroccan Bastilla
Aleppo Roasted Potatoes
Falafel Spiced Hash Browns
Waffles with Cranberry Syrup
Assorted Quiche
Savory Pies
French Pastries & much more
YUMMY! Entertainment
Enjoy live holiday music and dance throughout the day by local performers representing the customs and cultures of the United States, Mexico, Latin America and Russia.
Talento Bilingüe de Houston
The Russian Cultural Center
Theatre Under the Stars’ Humphreys School of Musical Theater students
Awty International School’s International Choir
KINETIC, a fresh, new conductorless orchestra comprised of 16 string players led by Natalie Lin
FLY Dance Company
Houston Rockets games & giveaways, plus a possible appearance by mascot Clutch.
Pancho Claus, The Tex Mex Santa
YUMMY! Crafts
Let your creative side out to play! Families can create memories at hands-on crafting centers including:
Aurora Picture Show flip book craft
Young Makers activity station for making embossed holiday cards, hosted by Houston Makerspace
Cookie Decorating
YUMMY! Shopping
Find gifts with heart from The Community Cloth, a local organization selling artisanal hand-crafted products locally made by women who come from Afghanistab, Bhutan, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Myannar (Burma) and Sudan.
YUMMY! Holiday Wishes
What’s on your holiday wish list? Let Santa Claus know during the celebration. Santa speaks French and English and photo opportunities are available.
YUMMY! Wonderland Performance Schedule
9-11AM – Photo Booth with Santa
11-11:15AM – FLY Dance Company
11:15-11:25AM – The Russian Cultural Center presents Andrey
11:30-11:45AM – Theatre Under the Stars’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre
11:45AM-12PM – YUMMY! Prize Wheel Fun
12-12:15PM – Talento Bilingüe de Houston presents Ambassadors International Ballet Folklorico
12:15-12:30PM – Rosewood Thievz
12:30-1PM – Awty International School Children’s Choir
1-1:15PM – Theatre Under the Stars’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre
1:15-1:30PM – YUMMY! Prize Wheel Fun
1:30-1:45PM – Talento Bilingüe de Houston presents Pancho Claus
1:45-3PM – KINETIC The Conductorless Ensemble
Get ready for an evening of ghostly goodies and festive fun at MKT BAR on Saturday, October 31st from 7PM – 1AM. Nosh on spook-tacular snacks with party potions available at special prices. Partygoers are encouraged to dress up in their best costume for a chance to win prizes and be ready to dance the night away.
Get Your Ghoul On! Potions(available for purchase)
Vampire Blood – Port wine, cranberry & orange juice atop a scoop of Forest Berry gelato topped off with a splash of Topo Chico
Witches Brew Red Wine Sangria – Our spooky spin-off a traditional red wine sangria
Saint Arnold Pumpkinator
Other Treats(available for purchase)
Apple Taffy Gelato
Trick or Treat Candy Bar Crunch Gelato
Live Music
Wonky Power Records presents performances by George West, DJ Klandestino, and Mario Rodriguez 7-10pm
DJ Tempty 10pm-1am
Live Video Projections by Pablo Gimenez-Zapiola
Art Featured by Santos Guerrero aka TKNY
Costume Contest & Prizes
Tickets are available for purchase online.
$12 VIP admission includes light bites & festive fun.
General admission -free ticket- is to enjoy the festive fun.
Halloween-themed drink specials and desserts will be available for purchase.
Witness a collection of live music photography and portraits. “Shooting Stars” is a powerful exhibition from the past seven years, documenting national and international acts as well as the rise of Houston’s vibrant and emerging music scene.
Trish Badger is a Houston-based photographer whose career is built upon an extensive range of portrait, music, commercial and event photography. She has been capturing live music in venues large and small for the past seven years. Her keen eye behind the lens and passion for music have given her the opportunity to document some of the world’s most prestigious musicians, while at the same time being an outspoken champion for Houston’s music scene.
All artwork will be available for purchase. Exhibition organized by Jonathan Bietler.
OPENING RECEPTION: Meet the artist on Thursday, September 24, 2015, 7:30-10:30PM
EXHIBITION: September 24 – November 29, 2015
COST: Free admission. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Noemi came to Houston four years ago after living in Waller Texas, a very small town, northwest of Houston. She moved here to be closer to her aunts whom were living here and she hoped a bigger city might provide more opportunities for her 8-year old son. As she began looking for places to work, she came to Phoenicia excited about interacting with different people and cultures; it was hard at first because the food and customs were new to her but after being at Phoenicia over a year, it felt like home. While moving to a large city can be overwhelming, working at Phoenicia provides the comforts that she had living in a small town; regular customers, a warm-homey atmosphere and people who really care about each other. It took a while to reach that comfort level, the customers and their customs were very different from what she was used to but she found it was easier when she identified things that made them the same. Noemi smiles when she thinks about how similar cultures and food are; the pita often reminds her of tortillas from her home country and we laughed as we talked about how many of our wonderful breads, tortillas and pitas are used in lieu a fork and knife!
Noemi is a wonderful ambassador for customers who aren’t familiar with Mediterranean food; her first suggestion to a timid palate is our delicious hummus with fresh pita bread or flat breads with cheese- you can’t go wrong! Noemi always encourages people to try food, she tells them, “When you try it you like it!” You will often find her sampling her favorites like Baklava, Turkish delight, pita bread and the famous Zorab’s Italian Spices with olive oil and yummy fresh bread to very appreciative customers! With so many YUMMY choices at Phoenicia she asks herself daily, “What am I going to eat?” The answer is often Chicken Shawarma and with her favorite bakery a scrumptious fresh fruit tart.
As a manager at Phoenicia she enjoys teaching and managing people to be their best and she flourishes under the responsibility that it brings, she is eager to learn new things and her passion for Phoenicia is always evident, it even spills over to her young son…next to visiting the zoo, her son who would rather come visit Phoenicia than do anything! He visits often and you can be sure he is a good boy with a bright future!
Noemi is very impressed with the wedding cakes that they make in the bakery, she was always afraid of taking big special orders but now it is second nature to her. She attributes much of her confidence to working with Don, he is a great baker and a very kind, understanding teacher, with his gentle guidance she is learning so much and simply having him there makes things easier. While she struggled keeping things neat and organized, as they remodeled the bakery, the outcome was well worth it…the ice cream cakes that Phoenicia now offers in the bakery area are delicious and strawberry cake is her favorite!
Your travels may take you around the globe, but when you are at Phoenicia you are a part of our family and you can bet that Noemi is working hard to make sure Phoenicia is your home away from home!
MKT Stand-up Showcase First Sundays through Summer June 7 | July 5 | August 2 7 – 8:30PM FREE
What’s the best way to put Houston comedy on the map? Give comedians the tools they need to make it big. Throw in a few seasoned professionals and you’ve got a night of laughs in the bag.
Hosted by award-winning comic Barry Laminack, this free, monthly showcase features a rotating cast of local comedians bringing their best work to the stage to be recorded in front of a live audience (you!). It’s your chance support our city’s growing comedy scene—all while enjoying specials on our unique selection of craft beers and artisan pizzas.
$3 pints | $16 pitchers | $5 off pizza
August 2
Hosted by Barry Laminack
Featuring
– Dale Cheesman
– Dusti Rhodes
– Bob Biggerstaff
– Kristin Lindner
– Jaffer Khan
– Chase Durousseau
The MKT Stand-up Showcase series culminates with The BETA Bracket, BETA Theater’s audience-judged stand-up comedy competition which kicks off in the fall. To make event-goers laugh, 10 hometown comics will go toe-to-toe in 5, 10 and eventually 20-minute sets for a chance to advance and ultimately claim $100, $500 or $2,000 in winnings.
MKT BAR’s comedy events are brought to you by BETA Theater, whose mission is to incubate world-class talent right here in Houston. Learn more at betatheater.com.
YUMMY! Holiday Decorating Class Reservation Form
Kids YUMMY! Food Classes Reservation Form
Kids YUMMY! Summer Cooking Classes Reservation Form
