Cafe Express LLC

Chef Chat, Part 3: Riccardo Palazzo-Giorgio of Hawthorn Makes His Own Pastas, Sausages, And Pie Crust

This is last part of a three-part chef chat series. If you missed our previous posts, you can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. This week, we chatted with Riccardo Palazzo-Giorgio, the executive chef and partner at Hawthorn in Upper Kirby, a restaurant that is literally a hidden gem because its phy ... More >>

Top 10 Soul-Destroying No. 1 Hits

I don't like these songs. I feel it's ridiculous that hundreds of thousands of people actually paid out money and drove them to the top of the Billboard charts. While they might not necessarily be the absolute worst examples of the lowest common denominator's purchasing power, they quickly came to m ... More >>

2012: The Year in Openings and Closings

Here it is. The wooly mammoth of a post that we provide to you as a public service every year. All of 2012's openings and closings, listed by month, without fanfare or commentary. This is just the nitty gritty of every single restaurant whose doors have shut or opened in the last 12 months. Enjoy. ... More >>

Small Plates the Right Way at 1252 Tapas

This past summer, long before he was raising Guy Fieri's frosted tip hackles, New York Times food critic Pete Wells was lashing out against the continuing "small plate" trend and its tendency -- as Wells put it -- to lend "the sensation of having eaten a delicious meal without feeling truly satisfie ... More >>

Hail Caesar Salad! 28th Annual My Table Magazine Caeser Salad Competition

What makes for a good caesar salad? Is it fresh, crunchy romaine lettuce? Are home-made, well-seasoned croutons the secret? Is it the perfect amount of lemon juice, olive oil, egg, garlic and pepper? Perhaps the quality and quantity of the parmesan cheese that tops it? Maybe it's the notorious ancho ... More >>

August 2012 Openings & Closings: Lucille's Lands in the Museum District and Dunkin Donuts Hits Houston Hard

Lucille's (5512 La Branch) had its soft opening earlier this week, and plans to host its grand opening on Monday, September 10. The restaurant is the latest addition to the food-starved Museum District, which recently saw the well-received Jade Stone Café open inside the Asia Society. Unlike the pa ... More >>

Flaming Young

Ten food-related words you need to stop misspelling

Openings & Closings: Ava Becomes Alto, Il Mulino Becomes 024 and Death Becomes Nga

Rumors had been swirling for the past few weeks that Ava Kitchen & Whiskey Bar -- one of the restaurants in the two-joint Schiller-Del Grande concept at West Ave -- would be closing soon. But instead of closing completely, the restaurant is moving in with its sister restaurant -- Alto Pizzeria -- up ... More >>

MFAH Fine Art Food Trucks Perk Up Lunch in the Museum District

When I first heard about the MFAH Fine Art Food Trucks program, I was extremely excited. As much as I love living in the Museum District, one of the huge drawbacks is the lack of variety when it comes to food choices. Sure, I can hop on a train and head downtown when the urge strikes, but there is ... More >>

Openings & Closings: October 2011

Coming soon: Free bitch-slaps for anyone who says, "Meet me at the Finn."​It's been a busy month for restaurant openings, closings, name changes and remodels. Hang onto your coffee cups -- we've got a lot of restaurant news to get through in one post. Openings: BlackFinn American Grille is c ... More >>

Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs

Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. 2995: Good news for 'cue lovers: Burns BBQ has not only reopened, it's already ... More >>

Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs

Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. Weapons Grade: I inadvertently started a Twitter "war" (side note: really?) Mon ... More >>

Obliviously Plump

Study reveals overweight women blissfully unaware

Chef Chat, Part 1: Robert Del Grande of RDG Bar Annie, Part 1

​EOW recently got to sit down with Robert Del Grande of RDG Bar Annie (plus a host of other restaurants around town -- The Grove, Café Express and two new ventures about to open at West Ave, just to name a few). Though we could have asked him how it felt to be one of the pioneering chefs du ... More >>

Becca Cason Thrash: Star Of CultureMap, Which Doesn't Mention She's Married To An Owner Of It

Lifestyles of the rich and semi-famous​In many ways, a recent post was a typical CultureMap item: headlined "Becca Cason Thrash, Scott McClelland, Gina Gaston & more share their living lean strategies," it was a hard(ly)-hitting look at the holiday diet tips of Houston's wealthy social types. ... More >>

Faces of Ife

"Dynasty and Divinity" gives us the art of ancient Nigeria.

Refreshments

Police Problems

Readers respond to problems at HCC.

Breakfast at Cafe Express

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt​Breakfast at Cafe Express might be one of the best-kept secrets in town...for now. Even though the breakfast menu launched a few months ago -- the efforts of Cafe Express' corporate chef Greg Martin finally come to fruition -- the crowds haven't yet found their wa ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 2: Ryan Pera of the Grove

​Yesterday, we started a conversation with Chef Ryan Pera of the Grove. As promised, today we finish it up, even asking him about a pesky rumor we'd heard and shamelessly questioning him about his personal life. Eating Our Words: We have heard a little rumor about the burger recipe at the Gro ... More >>

Health Department Roundup: Chain Gang Edition

This week we round up chain restaurants cited for health code violations. First up: Houston's own Café Express (1422 W. Gray). Who can resist its cornichon/roasted garlic/olive/crouton/caper bar? Amidst the overcooked chicken breasts and watery pasta entrées, the Café's delicious oddments bar of ... More >>

Downtown Attraction The Grove

A destination restaurant that only sometimes gets it right.

What Makes Cornbreadd Run

How the Houston rapper turned a near miss on MTV into a victory for himself — and his city

Places That Are Open -- Constantly Updated

Better Than Tarzan and Jane: The Grove Restaurant in Discovery Green

Two Faces of Mak Chin's

A new pan-Asian restaurant on Shepherd has a split personality

Butterball Run

Less Price, Less Spice

Two Mandola-family restaurants provide a lesson in what we're paying for when we eat out

Grande Plans

Houston's most famous chef talks about prostate cancer, turning 50 and what's next for Cafe Annie

Cafe Express

Globalization's McBacklash

Guatemala’s Pollo Campero has American fast-food franchises running scared

Luby's Has a Chef?

From haute cuisine to the LuAnn Platter, star chefs are moving on down the food chain

Non Mall Shopping Adventures

Shopping adventures

Best Condiments

Cafe Express

Best New Restaurant

Amazon Grill

Cheaper By The Bottle

Former Tasca chef uncorks a food and wine bar for those on a budget

The ABCs of DNA

Robert Del Grande

Get In Line

Bruce Molzan's Ruggles Cafe Bakery makes meals worth standing around for

Hot Plate

Café Express

Light Touch

MFA's Beck building stands like a fortress but caresses sunlight like a doting mother

Playing with Food

The Cordóa brothers share the last laugh with their deliciously silly Amazon Grill

Hot Plate

Night & Day

May 21 - 27, 1998

Static

Tacos with Ambition

Robert del Grande's Taco Milagro aims upmarket

Grown Up, Staying Up

Beat the Heat!

1996 Summer Guide

A Few Concessions

Soup to Fish

Conversion Experience