Subject:

Christina Uticone

  • Blogs

    January 31, 2013

    Houston's 10 Most Romantic Restaurants: Start Planning Your Valentine's Day Dinner Now

    In case you hadn't heard, Valentine's Day falls on a Thursday this year. And in next week's print edition, our own Christina Uticone will have a round-up of all the Valentine's Day dinner deals and special menus you can shake a dozen roses at. This is not that round-up. There are 10 types of people ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 28, 2013

    5 Houston Chefs We Want to See on Chopped

    Chopped has to be one of the best culinary competition shows on TV, today. It's filled with excitement as contestants from all over the country open up a basket full of mystery ingredients that you (and probably the competitors) would never put together in a dish. The four selected chefs for each e ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 21, 2012

    The Rest of the Best: Houston's Top 10 Salads

    We've come a long way from the days when salads were considered simply "rabbit food" or fare for picky girls attempting to slim down. I often anticipate a salad in a restaurant as much as I do the main course thanks to the extra attention that many restaurants pay their leafy greens. And just as fre ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 14, 2012

    I Don't Like Sandra Lee, Except For When I Do, PLUS! Three Semi-Homemade Things I Made Up

    Not to get all Sam Brown-on-Guy Fieri on you guys, but Sandra Lee bugs me a little. In the past, she did not bug me -- in fact, my first attempts in the kitchen were prompted at least in part by her recipes. (I didn't start cooking until I was 30. Seriously.) I found her "semi-homemade" concept of ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 10, 2012

    Getting Addicted to the Infernal Curry Chicken at Jenni's Noodle House

    Monday nights are generally the most challenging at my house when it comes to dinner. We love to kick off our week with a meal prepared by someone else, but restaurants love to close on Mondays. Last week was an absolute nightmare of circumstances -- deadlines, illnesses, thrown-out backs, presentat ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 2, 2012

    Pizza Hut Appeases Disgruntled Fans with Limited Release of Cheesy Bites Pizza

    "Just. Can't." So went fellow EOW blogger Christina Uticone's response to my post about the exclusive release of Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza in the UK, Pizza Hut's latest creation. She wasn't alone, either. But apparently, according to a press contact at Pizza Hut, "American pizza fans are furiou ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 14, 2012

    Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs

    OC Weekly: In response to our response to his original post (how meta) on the five most influential American cities in Mexican cuisine, the OC Weekly's Gustavo Arellano admits that Houston has been influential in the development of Mexican cuisine. Just not in the ways that you're thinking. Delicio ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 7, 2012

    Sundae Sundays: St. Patrick's Day Sundae

    Well, I couldn't let the holiday of my homeland go by and not mark it with a sundae. While some local scoop shops are offering St. Paddy's ice creams, nary an establishment near me is proffering a full-fledged themed sundae. The closest thing I found, sadly, is the McDonald's Shamrock Shake, whic ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 27, 2012

    Fast Times: McDonald's Shamrock Shake and Chicken McBites

    Photos by Christina Uticone​When is the last time you had a Shamrock Shake? Until now, for me, it was at least 18 years -- not since high school. I wonder -- did Shamrock Shakes always taste like this, or have they gotten worse? The color was alarming. When I saw the "mint green" shake pourin ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 6, 2012

    Cocktails and Bites at Papi Tino's in Austin

    Photos by Christina UticoneDon't let the pink fool you, there's substance in the Devil's Bowtie.​Aren't your favorite places to eat and drink almost always the ones you stumble onto--or into--when you're wandering around without a plan? Last weekend my husband whisked me away (literally whiske ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 25, 2012

    Fast Times: My Fit Foods

    Photos by Christina UticoneLuis' Fit Migas​The results of a recent cholesterol check had me driving straight past the drive-thru and searching for fast food that wouldn't stop my heart. Enter My Fit Foods. It wasn't just my sky-high lipid levels; I also needed to reboot my New Year's "clean ea ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 18, 2012

    Fast Times: McDonald's Under 300 Menu

    When I see a McDonald's commercial I don't exactly stop everything I'm doing and pay close attention, but I couldn't help but take notice of their recent attempt to brand "Egg McMuffin" as a descriptor for "the best" of something. The ad features various people describing things as "the Egg McMuffin ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 12, 2012

    Taste Test Marathon: The Power Bar Challenge

    Photos by Christina Uticone​With the Chevron Houston Marathon looming, running and fueling and hydrating are trending topics online and off. My preferred workout fuel is actual food, although I've been known to supplement with a bar or a shake along the way when short on time. Generally I save ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 2, 2012

    Game On! Go Wild at Rainbow Lodge

    Photo by Christina UticoneGrilled North American Elk Chop, Sweet Potato Mash, Wilted Spinach, Berry Sauce ($45)​Our trip to Rainbow Lodge began with a gift certificate we received as a wedding gift ... in 2009. A thoughtful friend from New York did her research and said this seemed like the pe ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 12, 2011

    Fast Times: Whataburger Chicken Strips Salad

    Photo by Christina UticoneFind a tomato, win a prize.​I'm experiencing a serious case of fast food burger fatigue -- it was only a matter of time. Looking for something on the light(er) side of fast food, I zipped through the drive-thru at Whataburger recently and ordered a Chicken Strips Sala ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 9, 2011

    Wine & Truffle Dinner at Valentino Vin Bar

    Photos by Christina UticoneDolcetto d'Alba​As if a wine hangover weren't bad enough, did you know you can actually get a truffle hangover? I woke up with one after five luscious courses of food at the recent Truffle & Wine dinner held at Valentino. Who can resist a hook like white truffles -- ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 5, 2011

    Fast Times: Montrose H-E-B a la Carte Sushi Bar

    My grocery store of choice is H-E-B, and my go-to store since moving to Houston has been the Buffalo Speedway location -- a little out of the way, considering my Museum District home base, but makes sense when you factor in my Saturday-morning shopping trifecta: Urban Harvest Farmers' Market, H-E-B ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 30, 2011

    Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs

    2 Dine For: New food blog alert! You can now catch our own Christina Uticone over at new Houston food blog 2 Dine For (don't worry; she's still writing for EOW, too), where she and fellow writer Joshua Payne are tag-teaming Houston's restaurants and providing He Said, She Said-style reviews after ea ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 29, 2011

    Fast Times: Texas Smashburger

    Photos by Christina Uticone​When I stopped into Smashburger on Buffalo Speedway I was only looking for a little snack -- some fried pickles, or some veggie frites to tide me over until dinner. Unfortunately, the line was quite long, giving me ample time to peruse the short-but-tempting menu, a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 29, 2011

    Comment of the Day: The Sacrilege of Ketchup on a Burger

    Here on Eating Our Words, the commenters absolutely make the blog, and our Comment of the Day honors the best of the bunch. Every day, we read you guys and pick the commenter, or commenters, who made us laugh, cry, salivate over something delicious, or think about things in a new way. In return, w ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 14, 2011

    Fast Times: Hunan Village Chinese Takeout

    Photos by Christina UticoneOrange you glad you ordered chicken?​I'm not sure if everyone will agree that Chinese takeout is "fast food," but it falls well within that category at my house. We don't really have a "go-to" takeout place here in Houston, so when my husband and I were rifling throu ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 7, 2011

    Fast Times: Einstein Bros. Bagels Santa Fe Wrap

    Photo by Christina Uticone​I love eating fast food for breakfast more than any other meal. I feel like it gives me a leg up on the calorie situation -- since I'm eating it early, I have all day to work off as much of the junk food as I can. During the two years I have lived in Houston I've dri ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 31, 2011

    Fast Times: Chik-Fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Club

    Photo by Christina Uticone​Lately I'm not sure which came first, the chicken or the egg--in which "the chicken" is my insatiable craving for hamburgers and "the egg" is Fast Times. Either way, I had to give myself a break this week and actually eat, uh, chicken. A girl can only eat so many ham ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 25, 2011

    Comment of the Day: We're in Purgatory

    ​Here on Eating Our Words, the commenters absolutely make the blog, and our Comment of the Day honors the best of the bunch. Every day, we read you guys and pick the commenter, or commenters, who made us laugh, cry, salivate over something delicious, or think about things in a new way. In re ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 24, 2011

    Wendy's New! Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburger

    Photo by Christina UticoneStill hip to be square?​Thanks to the magic of DVR I don't watch a lot of commercials, so I have only been vaguely aware of the new ad campaign Wendy's has going on for its new "Dave's Hot 'N Juicy" cheeseburgers. I had to ask the interweb what was so new about these ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 24, 2011

    Leftovers (Put an Egg on It)

    Photos by Christina UticoneI make leftovers delicious again by breathing new yolk into them.​​I am the leftover-eater at my house, by virtue of being The One Who Works From Home. My husband always says he is going to bring his lunch to work; he promises every time he cooks for six for ju ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 17, 2011

    Fast Times: Bodegas Taco Shop

    Photo by Christina Uticone​When our 11-year old-nephew visited us last year, we showed him the town. We took him to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, an Astros game, we went swimming for hours on end, and we ate at a half-dozen restaurants. At the end of the trip we asked Zach what he lik ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 3, 2011

    Fast Times Snack Attack: Starbucks Cheese & Fruit Bistro Box

    Photo by Christina Uticone​Bad planning and Houston traffic led to my latest Fast Times adventure. I had a full day of meetings and errands planned out, and I knew I would be gone for hours. I have been on quite the health kick lately, so I even brown-bagged some healthy snacks: fruits, veggie ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 30, 2011

    Vegetarian Day is October 1, Celebrate with a Burger!

    Omnivores, grab your favorite herbivore and head to The Counter. The Washington Ave. burger joint, as well as the Woodlands location, will be celebrating Vegetarian Day on Saturday, October 1, with their "Veg Out at The Counter" promotion. Customers will receive a complimentary mini veggie burger wi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 26, 2011

    Fast Times: Burger King California WHOPPER®

    Christina UticoneFlame broiled burgers? Now that's a whopper.​When I saw the commercial for the new Burger King California WHOPPER I thought: "Hey, I like guacamole! And hey, I think I used to like WHOPPERS, too!" And since my last experience at Burger King had been so surprisingly positive, I ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 19, 2011

    Comfort Food for Fall: Dad's Greens and Beans

    Photos: Christina Uticone​My comfort food kick culminated last week with a batch of greens and beans. I love this most simple soup, which is so easy to make because I almost always have the ingredients on hand. In the winter, everyone's grandpa or dad had a pot of greens and beans simmering on ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 15, 2011

    Yoga Fuel: Kraftsmen Garden at Kraftsmen Bakery

    Christina Uticone​Lately my life has been like a country song. My dog needed extensive, expensive surgery; I had to cancel a long-planned trip home to New York; my husband left me on our anniversary. (Don't worry, he's coming back -- just a business trip.) Just as I was wrapping up a tough wee ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 13, 2011

    Fast Times: Whataburger Banana Pie and Banana Milkshake

    Photos: Christina Uticone​Even though my last attempt at enjoying a limited-time-only Whataburger milkshake didn't thrill me, I had to return to try out their new Banana Shake. Bananas are serious comfort food for me, and after a particularly tough week I thought I deserved some serious (and f ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 6, 2011

    Comment of the Day

    ​Today Christina Uticone shared what her friends have to say about which foods are the best for the munchies. Commenter Jack made his own suggestion: "Dirty" anything from Zilla Street Eats. What doesn't taste better topped with crushed cheetos or cheesy fries? It's true - Zilla's fare doe ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 1, 2011

    Restaurant Week Sneak Peek: Philippe

    Christina UticoneSweet rock baby shrimp salad​Houston Restaurant Week is better than Christmas -- there, I said it. Last year my husband and I went crazy trying new restaurants, finding many of our favorites through the Restaurant Week event. This is the gift that keeps on giving (and I'm coun ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 1, 2011

    Redefining the Restaurant CINQ at La Colombe d'Or

    Photos: Christina Uticone & Joshua PayneCaprese Salad at CINQ​Since my husband and I moved to Houston, every time we've driven by La Colombe d'Or Hotel, I've said, "We really have to check that place out sometime." When I ask a Houston native about the restaurant, they always say, "Oh yeah! I ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 1, 2011

    Comment of the Day

    ​Today Christina Uticone tried the Houston Restaurant Week menu at Philippe, sampling a dish of grilled skate wing and leading an anonymous commenter to wonder: When did skate wing become popular to serve in restaurants? I've noticed it popping up a lot lately. I know restaurants used to pa ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 26, 2011

    Fast Times: Chicken Soup and a BLT Sub with Avocado at Subway

    Photos: Christina UticoneMaybe I'm anthropomorphizing my sandwich, but is it grimacing at me?​The alternate title for this blog post was "Fast Times: Wasting a Perfectly Good Hangover at Subway." Hangovers and killer death flu situations are my go-to fast food days; something about the loads o ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 25, 2011

    Yoga Fuel: Everything Bars from Sinfull Bakery

    Photos: Christina UticoneYou are my Everything.​This is the kind of review I hesitate to write. I am a horribly selfish person, so I fear that giving props to this product will result in my having difficulty finding it, which in turn makes me want to keep it a secret. I'm torn! But I will grud ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 11, 2011

    Po'Boys and More at Antone's on T.C. Jester

    Photos by Christina UticoneAntone's dolmas are tightly rolled, and come with a refreshing little salad.​A recent invitation to Antone's Famous Po'Boys for a media tasting finally forced me out of my "I-only-eat-po'boys-at BB's" rut. The visit turned out to be full of surprises--and I don't jus ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 11, 2011

    Comment of the Day

    ​Today Christina Uticone, an admitted po'boy newbie, made a pit stop at the Antone's on T.C. Jester and quite a few people were quick to point out that this is not one of the original Antone's restaurants and many believe nothing more than a weak knockoff. Ahkhew took a slightly different appr ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 7, 2011

    Yoga Fuel: $5 Bowl of Oatmeal at Empire Café

    Christina Uticone​There is something about expensive oatmeal that just makes me cranky. Even steel-cut oats are relatively cheap -- and rolled oats are practically free -- so when I pay $5 for a bowl of oatmeal, no matter how delicious and no matter how fresh the fruit on top is, I am just kin ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 14, 2011

    Pico Benedict at Black Walnut Café, Rice Village

    Photos: Christina Uticone​Another Saturday morning, another last-minute decision for breakfast in Rice Village--this time my husband and I settled on Black Walnut Café. I had only dined there once, for one very lovely, delicious lunch last summer. This breakfast certainly left me wondering wh ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 13, 2011

    Comment of the Day

    ​Christina Uticone tried Whataburger's chicken club and pineapple shake, sending commenter Rgwalt into a kind of dream state: The grilled chicken sandwich topped with grilled peppers and onions is another limited time option, and it is fantastic.  I recommend getting it with jalapenos, also ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 9, 2011

    Summer Treat: Stuffed and Fried Zucchini Flowers

    Photos: Christina Uticone & Joshua Payne​I grew up in a small town in Upstate New York, with a significant Italian and Italian-American population. It wasn't until I was older that I realized many people don't consider a huge, steaming plate of linguine and white clam sauce a light snack on a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 6, 2011

    Searching for a Slice: Bombay Pizza Co.

    Photos by Christina UticoneThis looks suspiciously like a regular pepperoni pie. (Because it is.)​I've been hesitant to try the Bombay Pizza Co. (914 Main St.) in spite of some of the amazing reviews it's gotten. I love pizza, and I love the flavors of Indian food, but as I've written in the p ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 2, 2011

    Comment of the Day

    ​Christina Uticone made her first pilgrimage to MAM'S House of Ice and left the EOW community salivating. Wrote commenter Caroline: I love this place! Having lived in NO for five years, I can confirm it is definitely authentic, and so so so much better than a snocone! Plus, how can you beat $ ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 29, 2011

    Discount Dining

    Butternut Squash Soup​Like Christina Uticone, who rounds up food deals around town for Eating Our Words, I've signed up for every site I've come across, even Gaggle of Chicks, "where moms flock for great deals", and no, I am not a mom. I get about 15 emails daily with new deals and discounts a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 14, 2011

    Favorite Three: Desserts

    Tres leches from Samba Grille.​I asked my fellow food bloggers to choose their three favorite desserts in Houston. Let's take a look at what they said. Geri Maria Harris 1. Churros and Hot Chocolate from Hugo's 2. Flan from El Rey 3. 5 Nut Brownie from Hillstone (formerly Houston's) Geri's ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 7, 2011

    Favorite Three: Breakfast Spots

    New York Bagel & Coffee Shop.​Over the past few weeks, some readers have taken offense to certain Top 5 lists, and how they only reflect the opinions of the writer constructing each list. With the help of my fellow food bloggers, we'll now bring you a slightly different take on the Top 5s -- a ... More >>

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