Food Briefs: Oklahoma Wine Walk, Great Pretenders Mocktail Mix-Off, Yokozuna, Awards for Excellence and more

Wine Walk

Norman’s Oklahoma Wine Walk returns for its fourth year 1-6 p.m. Saturday at Brookhaven Village, 3700 W. Robinson St.

New this year is a Bloody Mary Brunch 10:30 a.m.-noon with early access to wineries and breweries noon-1 p.m. Tickets are $25-$30 and include 15 tasting tickets and a commemorative glass.

VIP tickets are $50-$55 and include 15 tasting tickets, a ticket for a large taste of wine, a commemorative glass and entry to the VIP tent with reserved seating and hors d’oeuvres. Bloody Mary Brunch tickets are $30 and may only be purchased along with Wine Walk tickets.

The event features Oklahoma wineries and breweries Brio Cellars, Deep Branch Winery, Land Run Vineyards and Winery, Legends Vineyard & Winery, Native Spirits Winery, Pecan Creek Winery, Put a Cork In It Winery, StableRidge Vineyards, Summerside Vineyards Winery & Meadery, Tidewater Winery, Turner Me On Wines, Vernost Wine Co., Wakefield Winery, Waters Edge Winery, Wildhorse Canyon Farms, Woods & Waters Winery & Vineyard and Yippee Ay-O-K Winery as well as beer-makers 405 Brewing Co. and Black Mesa Brewing Company.

Visit oklahomawinewalk.com or call 405-232-6552.

Life-saving libations

AAA Oklahoma helps keep car wrecks from happening with its annual Great Pretenders Mocktail Mix-Off event.

AAA offers serious money for original, alcohol-free mocktail recipes. They must also have a name, have clear preparation directions and be made of readily available ingredients.

First prize is $1,000, second prize is $700 and third prize is $300.

Area bartenders will recreate the concoctions during a hands-on competition 1-2 p.m. Tuesday at Oklahoma City-County Health Department, 2600 NE 63rd St.

Contestant recipes and the names of their bars or restaurants will be included in the brochure, which is distributed throughout the state and online in time for holiday parties.

Contact AAA Oklahoma Vice President Chuck Mai at 405-760-6007 or [email protected] for more information.

Sumo style

Tulsa-based McNellie’s Group recently opened Yokozuna in Chisholm Creek, its first Oklahoma City location of the popular Green Country pan-Asian restaurant.

It marks the fifth McNellie’s Group concept in the metro, including James E. McNellie’s Public House, McNellie’s The Abner Ale House, Fassler Hall and Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge.

Yokozuna, 13230 Pawnee Drive, Suite 100, joins Republic Gastropub, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar and Topgolf in the Chisholm Creek mixed-use business development.

Though mostly known for sushi, Yokozuna’s menu also features cooked entrees like ramen, pad thai, pork belly tacos and a strip steak with wasabi butter.

In addition to a main dining room, sushi bar and patio that seats 200, the restaurant has a private room for up to 45 guests and is adding a rooftop deck.

Visit yokozunasushi.com or call 405-500-1020.

Awarding excellence

The Asia Society of Oklahoma, Inc. hosts its 28th annual Awards for Excellence banquet 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel, 1 N. Broadway Ave., to give scholarships to deserving students and recognize outstanding members of the community.

The scholarship program is funded by proceeds from its Taste of Asia event, which was held in August.

“The money we make at Taste of Asia goes straight to high school and college students who win the essay competition,” said Ira Burrough, Asia Society vice president.

Tickets are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight and include a 6 p.m. reception and 7 p.m. dinner.

During the banquet event, society members present awards for civic leadership, corporate support, member organizations and Outstanding Individual Member. For tickets, call Hossein Sarjeh-Payma at 918-853-1929. Visit aso-okc.org.

Food Briefs: Oklahoma Wine Walk, Great Pretenders Mocktail Mix-Off, Yokozuna, Awards for Excellence and more
Garett Fisbeck
Kristy Jennins, owner, at Urban Tea House, Wednesday, May 11, 2016.

Steep fall

After seven years in business, Urban Teahouse closed its original location, 7518 N. May Ave., on Oct. 29.

“It was a very hard decision, but I really believe it’s the right move and will free us up to do more growth in different areas of Oklahoma City,” said owner Kristy Jennings.

A year after opening her second store at 519 NW 23rd St., Jennings said the company’s future actually looks quite promising as she looks to expand her business to include online sales and create a monthly subscription service in time for holiday gift buying.

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