Food news
4 things to know in San Antonio food right now: Dessert truck sweetens the Alamo City
Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.
Openings and reopenings
On July 11, Lina’s Treats and Cafe, a food truck offering classic and inventive frozen desserts, opened the first of many planned pop-ups in San Antonio. The husband and wife team behind Lina’s, Joana and Ismael “Smiley” Cabrales, say they decided to take a chance on the sweet shop after Ismael was let go from his job as a result of COVID-19. “Necessity drives creativity,” Ismael told KSAT.com. “If your back is against the wall, you have to be creative with what you do. So, we just started dreaming and this came up.” The operation’s unique homemade creations include sandia (watermelon, Tajin, and lime); mojito; and cold-brew shaved ices, among other Mexican-inspired treats. A company rep tells CultureMap the family is planning to keep Lina’s offerings seasonal, shifting to a menu of coffee drinks and baked goods during winter months. The next confirmed Lina’s pop up will take place at Wildhorse at Tasch Farms on July 30 followed by a stop at Steubig Ranch Community on August 13 (the family is currently planning to add more locations between these dates). Customers can stay up to date on pop-up dates, times, and locations on Lina’s Treats and Cafe’s Instagram page.
After taking a two-week hiatus for some “much-needed R&R,” renown Southern eatery Clementine reopened its doors this week. What did not return, however, was dine-in service. Beginning July 15, the restaurant shifted to an exclusively to-go model. “We remain committed to serving up some of the best damn food in the city,” said Clementine's husband-and-wife chef team, Elise and John Russ. As part of its shift to takeout only, Clementine’s ever-changing five-course “Feed Me” dinner option will be offered for $25 per person (before reopening, the option was $35). Full menus, which will be updated weekly, can be found on Clementine’s website. To-go orders can be placed by emailing hello@clementine-sa.com or calling 210-503-5121. Currently, the restaurant’s pickup times are 5-7:30 pm, Wednesday through Saturday.
Other news and notes
Farmhouse Delivery, an online marketplace offering fresh produce, pasture-raised meats, chef-curated meal kits, and more, is currently available for contactless delivery in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Farmhouse Delivery partners with a variety of farmers and ranchers, to bring unique offerings directly to your door. Farmhouse Delivery orders over $49.50 receive free delivery, and drivers also collect any packaging from prior deliveries to return to the warehouse for cleaning and reuse. Interested parties can sign up for delivery and shop the service’s online marketplace via the Farmhouse Delivery website.
Earlier this month, CultureMap reported on fast-food chain Taco Cabana’s rollout of 12 new $2 margarita options (an event the company branded “Margaritapalooza”). Last week, the company upped the ante by announcing that all San Antonio locations would also offer delivery of alcoholic beverages for the first time ever. Now, Alamo City diners exclusively can choose to add margaritas by the cup or by the double-gallon to their delivery order (for a $2 and $60 charge, respectively) when ordering online. Other drink options include a strawberry limeade made with Tito’s Vodka, a strawberry daiquiri, and bottles of domestic beer, in addition to non-alcoholic drinks such as frozen limeade and Sprite. Customers interested in learning more about specific delivery locations and ordering options can visit tacocabana.com. All alcoholic options will continue to be offered for dine-in and pickup with the purchase of food.
