Box St. All Day

Located in the redeveloped Hemisfair, Box St. All Day serves contemporary brunch fare, including a strawberry cheesecake French toast and a sugary churro donut, both of which are available during Restaurant Weeks. While there’s plenty of seating indoors, the patio is extremely social media-friendly as it has a clear view of both Yanaguana Garden and the Tower of the Americas.

Find it: 623 Hemisfair Blvd., Suite 108, San Antonio, TX 78205; 210-476-5705

Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar

Established as a sister restaurant to the beloved Sichuan House, Dashi has forged its own path with its modern approach to Sichuan-style Chinese food and its stylish dining room that makes for an ideal date night. On Dashi’s Restaurant Weeks menu, you’ll find plenty of what the restaurant does best: garlicky cold noodles, spicy cumin beef, and magical fried rice with sausage and snow pea shoots.

Find it: 2895 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX 78232; 210-562-3343

Jardín

When it comes to beautiful locations, it’s hard to beat the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Fortunately for diners, Jardín is situated in the Carriage House on the lush property, providing a scenic backdrop for plates of pan-seared salmon and roasted chicken confit. For Restaurant Weeks, Jardín is serving both lunch and dinner selections with optional wine pairings at an additional cost.

Find it: 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, TX 78209; 210-338-5100

The Jerk Shack

Chef Nicola Blaque and her husband Cornelius Massey first opened The Jerk Shack on the city’s Westside in 2018. Since then, the restaurant, which specializes in Caribbean fusion cuisine, has become so successful that Blaque and her crew relocated to a larger, more accommodating location off Highway 151. The Jerk Shack is offering food flights for Restaurant Weeks, with a wide sampling of its regular menu, including an $18 protein flight that features the restaurant’s lauded jerk chicken.

Find it: 10234 TX-151 Suite 103, San Antonio, TX 78251; 210-776-7780

Krazy Katsu

In a world saturated with chicken sandwiches, Krazy Katsu does a great job of standing out with its signature Japanese-inspired panko breading and an assortment of Asian flavors. Try the Asian hot honey sandwich or the ichi bahn burger with a side of pickled cucumbers, and for dessert, treat yourself to some mochi ice cream. All are available on Katsu’s all-day Restaurant Weeks menu.

Find it: 5257 McCullough Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212; 210-254-9533

Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar

Since 2018, Meadow has served a seasonally rotating menu of elevated Texas Southern dishes, like Berkshire pork chops and a fried chicken sandwich served on freshly baked buns. For Restaurant Weeks, Meadow offers brunch, lunch, and dinner menus with expansive options for main courses, like Charleston gold rice risotto, blackened monkfish, and New York strip.

Find it: 555 W. Bitters Road, Suite 110, San Antonio, TX 78216; 210-481-4214

San Taco

Fairly new to the expansive San Antonio taco scene, San Taco is already making an impression with its traditional Mexican food prep and serveware that conjure a certain kind of delicious nostalgia. You can’t visit the restaurant without trying one of the quesadillas, and lucky for us, they’re included on San Taco’s Restaurant Weeks menu.

Find it: 114 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78201;

Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant & Market & Bakery

Sari-Sari has been expanding its brand in San Antonio in recent years, with a supper club, specialty markets, and a food truck selling delicious lumpia, pancit, and other Filipino favorites around the city. The flagship restaurant on Wurzbach is offering brunch, lunch, and two unique dinner menus for Restaurant Weeks.

Find it: 5700 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78238; 210-647-7274

Sichuan House

I do not say this lightly, but there might not be a better Chinese restaurant in San Antonio than Sichuan House. I preface this entry with this because the restaurant’s special menu has yet to be posted on the Culinaria Restaurant Weeks website. How can I recommend a menu I haven’t seen? Because everything Sichuan House makes is that good.

Find it: 3505 Wurzbach Road, Suite 103, San Antonio, TX 78238; 210-509-9999

"We really believe the level of education we are going to provide will supersede their concerns over time," said Anna ISD Superintendent Michael Comeaux said.

ANNA, Texas — The Anna Independent School District is now one of the largest school districts in North Texas to experiment with a four-day school week.

Classes will be scheduled from Monday to Thursday and also includes Friday "Boot Camp" days for students needing extra instruction for state testing.

"You're either the leader or the follower. If you're the follower you spend two or three years trying to catch up what other people do," said Anna ISD Superintendent Michael Comeaux. "The main focus has got to be the success of the kids."

This fast-growing district has been talking about the four-day week for nearly two years. The board unanimously decided to move to the model after undertaking a series of studies and surveys.

The district told WFAA that surveys of the plan returned from parents indicated a 72% approval of the plan and 87% approval from educators

It's a big move for the smaller district with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. It certainly has come with some detractors on social media who say the plan will adversely affect families with "working parents" and "low income" families.

The district said that the public had ample opportunities to share their opinions on the matter in December and January.

"We really believe the level of education we are going to provide will supersede their concerns over time," said Comeaux.

The Monday-Thursday schedule does mean families will have to make some decisions about Fridays, especially families who have working parents. The superintendent told WFAA that this is the reason the district moved quickly to make a decision in order to give families enough time to plan before the August start time.

"Parents have been calling last week. Yesterday, a lot of parents were anxious about where the kids will go," said Rachael Gadi, who is with AnnaKids Academy, a local daycare center. Gadi said she already has a waiting list for Fridays.

The district said that it has had conversations with the YMCA to offer day care services on Fridays for families interested in service. WFAA reached out to the YMCA and is awaiting a response.

For Comeaux, the other hope is this plan will attract and retain educators who want a more flexible schedule. The superintendent said educators rarely ever have the time to schedule appointments and the like, which results in most taking Fridays off.

"I've got to have the highest quality staff members I can attract and retain and we believe this is one way," the superintendent said.

The district said it will add about 35 minutes to each day and a full extra week on the backend.

Students like junior Karleigh Redwine don't know how to feel yet but said a free Friday could help.

"I have a job already so I will be able to work more than I already do," said Redwine, who balances school, sports and work.

The superintendent told WFAA that the three-year pilot program was never about cost-cutting. Comeaux said the district will re-evaluate if the model works by seeing if test scores remain high and if more teachers are retained.

The Los Angeles-Based Dessert Waffle & Ice Cream Concept Celebrates its Grand Opening with Giveaway of Swag Bag Merchandise to the First 100 Customers

McAllen, TX (RestaurantNews.com) The Dolly Llama, the waffle and artisanal ice cream destination known for its insane and over-the-top desserts, will celebrate its Grand Opening and further expansion in Texas with its upcoming opening in McAllen. Located at 7600 North 10th St, #800 L, within the Trenton Crossing Shopping Center alongside Target, Marshalls, Hobby Lobby and Petsmart, The Dolly Llama’s newest location will debut on Saturday, March 4th with a community-focused Grand Opening celebration! Beginning at 12pm, the first 100 guests will receive a free The Dolly Llama swag bag of merchandise! Throughout the day, guests can also enter to win giveaways and raffles for fun prizes!

“We are ecstatic to be bringing The Dolly Llama’s delicious waffles and dessert concoctions to the city of McAllen!,” said Anna Gomez and Deborah Rios, co-franchisees of the Dolly Llama McAllen. “Within the Valley, people venture to McAllen to shop and eat, so we thought bringing a new type of concept to the area would be a perfect fit for the community and for us! Both of us have lived in the Hidalgo County area for over a decade, but we’ve known each other for over 13 years. We knew we wanted to start a franchise together that fit our fun lifestyle, and once we found The Dolly Llama, the rest was history! We were instantly drawn to the fun and energetic atmosphere of The Dolly Llama after flying to LA to try the concept. Now here we are, preparing to finally open our own franchise that we instantly fell in love with from the beginning! We truly hope the locals, families and friends of McAllen love The Dolly Llama desserts as much as we do! Our favorites would have to be a warm OG Liege waffle with vanilla ice cream and an assortment of toppings (Anna) or the classic Dolly’s Dream (Deborah), but guests will just have to come down to the Grand Opening to find their own favorite!”

“After seeing such success at our Dallas location, we knew that it was inevitable to be expanding further into the Texas market,” said The Dolly Llama co-founder Eric Shomof. “Upon meeting Anna and Deborah, their passion for building this franchise stood out and I have no doubt that this duo will bring in the crowd. With Anna’s background in banking and Deborah’s background as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, I’m confident that the brand will be successful in this market and attract guests from around the state. We can’t wait to celebrate the grand opening with the McAllen community and offer up a whole day of giveaways, because who doesn’t love free swag with some ice cream?!”

The Dolly Llama was designed to be a modern dessert shop where all guests can enjoy hand-crafted waffles and ice cream in a cool, hip and fun environment. The concept’s success can be, in part, attributed to its innovative and artisanal menu, but also the unique experience of visiting The Dolly Llama locations is what makes the shops a beloved destination for locals and tourists alike. The currently open seven locations in Los Angeles, Dallas, Jacksonville (Ponte Vedra Beach), Las Vegas and Orlando (Winter Garden) share an unparalleled aesthetic flair and insta-worthy design featuring eye-catching signage, our iconic llama and “wanted” llama prints along the walls, which the franchised locations will also mirror.

The brand prides itself on offering authentic European flavors and techniques, such as Belgian waffles using traditional methods, and the Hong Kong Bubble Waffle prepared with a special batter that produces a unique crispy and custard-like texture. The two unique waffle styles — OG Liege Waffle, Bubble Waffle — are the base of the interactive menu of ‘Top Picks’ waffle and ice cream desserts, ice cream waffle sandwiches, and a ‘Build Your Own’ menu, where customers are encouraged to “go nuts” with unlimited toppings resulting in endless flavor possibilities and combinations. Signature Shakes are another over-the-top brand staple.

The Dolly Llama currently operates three locations in greater Los Angeles, one location in Dallas, one location in Jacksonville (Ponte Vedra Beach), one location in Las Vegas and one location in Orlando (Winter Garden). The McAllen location is the second location to open as part of the concept’s rapid expansion plan in Texas, and has plans to open two stores in Houston (Shenandoah and Pearland) within the next month. The Dolly Llama McAllen location will be open Sunday – Thursday from 12pm – 10pm and Friday – Saturday from 12pm – 12am.

For more information about franchising with The Dolly Llama visit https://thedollyllamaus.com/franchise/. To stay up to date with The Dolly Llama news and announcements follow the brand on Instagram @thedollyllama_us and Facebook @TheDollyLlamaUS.

About The Dolly Llama

The Dolly Llama was founded by real estate leader, Eric Shomof and Samuel Baroux, an acclaimed European entrepreneur and restaurateur who wanted to bring his passion for food and dessert to the states. The name was inspired by a real llama Baroux encountered on a farm in the South of France, and pays homage to his home country. Since its inception in 2017, The Dolly Llama has dominated LA’s waffle scene with its own unique take on the Bubble Waffle, Hong Kong’s #1 street food in addition to Dolly Llama Shakes, and OG Waffles, and aims to prove that all waffles don’t need syrup. In 2020, The Dolly Llama announced that it was taking the unique and exciting brand nationwide by way of franchising and has currently sold 50 units in major media markets across the country. The Dolly Llama currently operates locations in Downtown Los Angeles (611 S. Spring St), Koreatown (273 S. Western Ave), Sherman Oaks (14545 Ventura Blvd), Dallas (2817 Howell St Suite 210), Ponte Vedra Beach (830 A1A N #16), Las Vegas (4632 S Maryland Pkwy #12) and Winter Garden (3279 Daniels Rd Suite 106). For more information visit https://www.thedollyllamaus.com/ and for franchising information and opportunities, visit https://thedollyllamaus.com/franchise/.

El Remedio Sushi Y Mariscos

As seen on their Instagram, the newly opened El Remedio brick-and-mortar is always serving up something good to great fanfare. The birria restaurant recently added bright red heart-shaped platters for lovers to share a spread of tacos or sushi. For Valentine's Day dinner guests, El Remedio will also have live mariachis.

Find it: 5018 Research Drive, Suite 104, San Antonio, TX 78240

Ay Que Rico

The Westside food truck has heart-shaped trays of tacos available for pre-order, with a pick-up window of 4 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14. Orders can be placed by calling Ay Que Rico's catering line at 210-780-9225.

Find it: 8103 Marbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78227

Righteous Tacos

The Converse taco vendor is selling heart-shaped taco boxes available for pick-up for $55. The boxes include 25 tacos, onions, lime, cilantro, and salsa. Orders can be placed by calling 210-331-0555.

Find it: 3947 Freudenburg Road, Converse, TX 78109

Mi Corazon Street Tacos

Mi Corazon is offering heart-shaped mini taco platters for Valentine's Day, with pick up and delivery options available. Orders include 25 mini street tacos with toppings and salsas for $60. Place your orders by calling or texting 210-962-5700.

Find it: 308 N. Presa St., San Antonio, TX 78205

Angels Mexican Haven

Get a mini taco heart box from Angels with a selection of asada, al pastor, and beef or chicken fajita tacos to choose from. Heart boxes come with 10 mini tacos with grilled onions, cilantro, an eight-ounce serving of charro beans, two Jarritos, and two cookie packs for $30.

Find it: 2302 E. Commerce St., San Antonio, TX 78203

Home Team Hot Dogs

The food truck and pop-up is offering a heart-shaped box for delivery around San Antonio. The box includes eight mini asada steak tacos topped with cilantro, onion, Cotija cheese, lime, two salsas, and a radish rose for $40. Upgrade to a combo and get all of the above plus two cokes and two cups of charro beans for a total of $50. Prices may vary depending on distance, and orders can be placed by call or text at 210-350-8636.

Find it: Every first Saturday of the month at Helotes Marketplace,14391 Riggs Road, Helotes, TX 78023

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A warning to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country: more than two dozen people across five states face federal charges for allegedly selling fake nursing diplomas to thousands of people.

Four defendants : Simon Itaman, Anna Itaman, Ludnie Jean, and Serge Jean are from Harris County, and investigators believe there could be more people working illegally as nurses.

On Wednesday, in a press conference, the US Department of Justice said Operation Nightingale found that the scheme peddled more than $100 million over several years. The operation was named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

This is highly concerning to federal investigators, who say someone who is not properly trained and certified can pose a risk to their patients. They believe they know who those responsible are and are working to track them down.

"When we talk about a nurse's education and credentials, 'shortcut' is not a word we want to use," Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said.

Federal investigators said one of the ways they were tipped off about the fraudulent plot was when the Florida state auditing process discovered poor passing rates at three nursing schools. They allege the executives at these schools sold at least 7,600 fake diplomas at about $15,000 each.

These fake degrees allow aspiring nurses to skip hours of clinical training, qualifying them to sit for the national nursing board exam with the potential of putting patients' health and safety at risk.

The Justice Department said these students never completed the necessary courses and clinicals.

"When we take an injured son or daughter to a hospital emergency room, we don't expect, really cannot imagine, that the licensed practical nurse or registered nurse treating our child took a shortcut around educational and licensing requirements," Lapointe remarked.

The sweeping enforcement action spanned five states: Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Two of the related entities listed in the case are in northwest Houston. One is Nursing Bridges Institute, owned by the Itamans. The other is Jean's NCLEX Review LLC, owned by the Jeans. Court documents state the Jeans worked for the Itamans before opening up their own business.

Attempts for comment from these defendants, who face up to 20 years in prison, have been unsuccessful. Federal investigators said they are now working with licensing boards in each state to make sure anyone who got a fraudulent diploma can no longer provide care.

"To date, we have not learned of nor uncovered any evidence of patient harm stemming from these individuals potentially providing services to patients," Special Agent Omar Perez Aybar with US Department of Health & Human Services said.

To read more about this case, read the full release on the US Department of Justice's website.