Cocktails

Cultural Feast: Shaken or Stirred? The Chemistry and History of the Cocktail

Bartender Chat: Nathan Wells of Beaver's

​This week, we paid a visit to Beaver's to meet bartender Nathan, or "Dollar Wells," as he's called. It was pretty dead at 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday as I sat at the bar, beautifully littered with several rocks glasses filled with different-colored concoctions. Nathan tells me they're making some la ... More >>

The Caipirinha: Straight Outta Rio

​When he texts from Brazil, my brother Robert usually mentions the caipirinha he is enjoying at the moment. I didn't know if it was actually a great cocktail, or just one of those "Ha ha, I'm on the beach at Ipanema and you're not!" sort of things. I was wary; my research indicated cachaça- ... More >>

Winter Spiced Margarita at Ninfa's on Navigation

​I'm choosing to believe that my decision to try out the new drinks at Ninfa's on Navigation last week is proof positive that I am clairvoyant. How else can you explain the fact that I tried the new Winter-Spiced Margarita last week, right before it was mentioned in a post about National Marga ... More >>

Houston's Top 11 Margaritas for National Margarita Day

Photo by Eric HesterThe winter spiced margarita at Ninfa's on Navigation.​Tomorrow is National Margarita Day. (Yes, much like International Hot & Spicy Food Day, it's a thing.) And although it'll be cloudy most of the day tomorrow, the sun should come out right around happy hour time, and wit ... More >>

Brugal Rum Saves the V-Day

​I was offered an opportunity to attend a Plain White T's concert at the House of Blues . One of the sponsors was Brugal Rum. I accepted the assignment in about a millisecond--for a couple of reasons. One, I like rum. Two, I'm in my thirties, married, and have two young children. Trans ... More >>

Republic's Jalapeno-Lime Spirit Blend: Make Your Own Spicy Margarita at Home

​Love it or hate it, I happen to like Chuy's quite a bit. Even when the line is long, even when it's full of screaming children and drunk college students. Just grab a seat at the bar and suddenly both the wait and the commotion are distant memories in the face of a New Mexican martini with ja ... More >>

Super Strong Margaritas at Tepatitlan

Photo by ChuckumentaryEven Chewie would be on the floor after a few of these bad boys.​A friend whose advice is usually beyond reproach recommended that I head to Tepatitlan (55454 Southwest Freeway, 713-349-9681) for a good, old-fashioned Tex-Mex dinner as soon as I had the chance. He claimed ... More >>

Brunch at Pappasito's Cantina

​I found myself eating brunch at Pappasito's Cantina (2536 Richmond) on a Sunday. The menu has an entree called the Especialidad Pappasito's, which is supposed to serve two, but since they are only charging half price on Sundays right now, I decided to get the whole thing for myself.

Vintage Cocktails: The Mighty Manhattan

Flickr user ilmungo​Though I'm a fan of pre-Prohibition cocktails, I'm woefully uneducated in the ways of bourbon. So I turned to Chris Morris, master distiller at Woodford Reserve, who schooled me in the history of one of America's oldest drinks, the Manhattan. Woodford Reserve is sponsoring ... More >>

Branch Water Tavern's Ramble

Flickr user ilmungo​Though I'm a fan of pre-Prohibition cocktails, I'm woefully uneducated in the ways of bourbon. So I turned to Chris Morris, master distiller at Woodford Reserve, who schooled me in the history of one of America's oldest drinks, the Manhattan. Woodford Reserve is sponsoring ... More >>

Sunny Cocktails at Shade

​The Heights is often associated with being dry, although plenty of area restaurants from casual (Onion Creek) to high-end (Zelko Bistro) have fabulous beer and wine selections. Adding to the mix is the lovely cocktail menu at Shade (250 W. 19th, 713-863-7500). General manager Rachel Loil tel ... More >>

Mini-Tinis and Mini Pizzas at Caffe Bello

The bianca pizzetta.​Happy hour at Caffe Bello draws all types, from the two gay men on my left last week who were in search of a good cigar bar to the older, well-dressed couple who were quizzing the bartender about where he'd worked in the past over a bottle of white. "You look so familiar, ... More >>

FEAST'S CAMPARI AND SODA

The bianca pizzetta.​Happy hour at Caffe Bello draws all types, from the two gay men on my left last week who were in search of a good cigar bar to the older, well-dressed couple who were quizzing the bartender about where he'd worked in the past over a bottle of white. "You look so familiar, ... More >>

Trevisio Touts a Texas-Sized Happy Hour

Photo by bhamsandwichAll this and more can be yours...​A common complaint of Medical Center denizens -- whether they're in the area to work, to receive treatment or to visit someone in one of the maze-like hospitals -- is that there are very few decent places to eat and drink. (You thought we ... More >>

Happy Hour Scene: Voice

Photos by Paul Knight​The Place: Voice Lounge at Hotel Icon220 Main St. 832-667-4470www.hotelicon.comThe Hours: The "Traditional Happy Hour" at Voice runs on Fridays 4-7 p.m., but drink specials also are offered on Wednesdays 4-7 p.m., and Thursdays, for the "legal community," 4-9 p.m.The De ... More >>

Beer Booze: Cervesa Preparada

Melissa Fleming / FOOD & WINEThe cocktail was served with a green salad and a croquette of headcheese.​Internationally famous mixologist Claire Smith was in town last week for a one-night-only cocktail pairing dinner at Reef. If you aren't familiar with Smith and her unusual approach to cockta ... More >>

Bartender Chat: Lindsay Heffron of Stella Solla

The San Remo. ​We've read a lot about Bryan Caswell and his new venture, Stella Sola. But, what you may not know is that in addition to the Texas-Tuscan food, Stella Sola has a sleek, modern bar with a unique cocktail menu. Mixologist Bobby Heugel of Anvil Bar & Refuge designed the eclectic me ... More >>

Bartender Chat - Nick Leone of Komodo's

​It has officially been two years and two weeks since Nick Leone moved to Houston. He's not really a big-city type of guy, but he moved here after the economy in Florida started going downhill. "For a big city, Houston is a great town with really friendly people," Leone told us. You don't have ... More >>

BODEGAS TACO SHOP'S HIBISCUS MARGARITA ON THE ROCKS

​It has officially been two years and two weeks since Nick Leone moved to Houston. He's not really a big-city type of guy, but he moved here after the economy in Florida started going downhill. "For a big city, Houston is a great town with really friendly people," Leone told us. You don't have ... More >>

A Chat with Karen Racine of Absinthe Brasserie

​Walk into Absinthe, and it's almost guaranteed that Karen Racine will be pouring your drink. Karen, or at least someone she's related to. "I actually own the bar going on six years. My sister and I own this, and she and my brother-in-law own Bowl. We have a staff of five, and it's all pretty ... More >>

A Chat with Norman Daughtery of Bailey's American Grille

Photo by Sarah Rufka​To watch Norman Daughtery make a martini is a beautiful thing. The head bartender at Bailey's American Grille in Seabrook, he pours his ingredients slowly and precisely before furiously going to town with the cocktail shaker, whipping the ingredients until the strong drink ... More >>

A Chat with Shon Kyto of Kata Robata

Photo by Sarah Rufka"What's your signature drink?" It's a fairly inane question, but it's one Shon Kyto thinks about a lot. He's the manager of Kata Robata, but after seven years serving drinks at Azuma, the bar is still his baby. He shows me the cork-bound drinks menu with not a little pride. "Peop ... More >>

Where Are We Eating?

Although plenty of restaurants (and probably even shopping malls, nail salons and dentist's offices) in Houston serve the ubiquitous margarita, this place is special for a few reasons. Can you figure out where we're eating this week just from the margarita below? And bonus points to the lucky per ... More >>

Whiskey A-Go-Go at Poison Girl

Ever since acclaimed mixologist Bobby Heugel left Beaver's earlier this year, Houston has been eagerly awaiting the opening of his very own bar, Anvil, located on a precarious curve along Westheimer in Montrose.  Alongside Heugel's very unique creations (which are fresh, modern takes ... More >>

T'AFIA'S BLO-JITO

Ever since acclaimed mixologist Bobby Heugel left Beaver's earlier this year, Houston has been eagerly awaiting the opening of his very own bar, Anvil, located on a precarious curve along Westheimer in Montrose.  Alongside Heugel's very unique creations (which are fresh, modern takes ... More >>

¡Party en el Patio!

A shaggy taco shack gets a makeover and starts serving margaritas under the stars

Frozen Mojito

The Flat

Wrestling with Gourmet Tex-Mex

Don't let the upscale decor at the new Cyclone Anaya's trick you into ordering the lobster enchiladas

We're All Gonna Die

So you might as well rock out with XBXRX

Best Martini

So you might as well rock out with XBXRX

Best Mojito

So you might as well rock out with XBXRX

Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz

Drink's Bull Blaster

A Toast to Julia and Paul

Muldoon's Himalaya Sunrise

Hemingway's Favorite Libation

Bossa's Mojito

Stirred and Shaken

The Davenport's Costa Rican martini

Stirred and Shaken

Lucinda's Hornitos Margarita

Stirred and Shaken

Angelika's Blue Angel

Some Sugars Added

Speaking off the toque: Richard Hazzard

Stirred and Shaken

Cafe Perrier's Pernod martini

Stirred and Shaken

La Griglia's champagne cocktail

Stirred and Shaken

Canyon Cafe's candy-corn margarita

Stirred and Shaken

Carrabba's Apple Martini

Booze in a Blender

El Meson's Orange Margarita

Best Martini

The Twister, The Remington Grill

Booze in a Blender

Pico's Top Shelf Margarita

Wake-up Call

Ragin Cajun Daiquiri

Nutty Rita

Truluck's Italian Margarita

Dish

Quantifying Happy Hour