Subject:

Food and Cooking

  • Blogs

    January 23, 2012

    There's No Killing the Zombie Banh Mi at Cafe TH

    Photos by GroovehouseJohn McIntyre attacked his Zombie banh mi with all he had, but it wouldn't die.​"I'm ready to start eating," muttered a nervous-looking John McIntyre, a senior linebacker for the University of Houston, as he waited for the 22-inch Zombie banh mi to land in front of him at ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 23, 2012

    Must Like Texas Wine: The Wine Slinger Chronicles, a New Guide to Texas Wines

    Photo by Jeremy ParzenLeading Texas wine authority Russ Kane (left) and his wife Delia love meatballs. That's Russ with Coppa executive chef Brandi Key. Russ has called Brandi's meatballs "the best in town."​It seems inevitable that the authors of the two guides to the wines of Texas have name ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 23, 2012

    Best Thing I Ever Ate: Dips

    Photo by Beaver'sIt sounds so wrong but it feels so right.​I've been exploring The Best Things I Ever Ate around town. This time, I was on the hunt for Houston's best dips: creamy avocado ranch, Buffalo chicken, spinach and artichoke - you name it, I've tried it. All while looking for the city ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 24, 2012

    DEFCON Dining: Xuco Xicana, Plus: Have You Seen This Dog?

    Photo by Nicholas L. HallOne of the best bites in Houston.​Dining out with children is an exercise in situational awareness. Each experience is unique, with different variables leading to different possible outcomes, DEFCON-like in their escalating threat levels. Keen observation, forward plan ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 25, 2012

    Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs

    Eater Houston: Reports of Red Onion's imminent demise were confirmed this week when the cafe closed its final location last week. To add insult to injury, employees were reporting that instead of focusing on saving the restaurant, chef/owner Rafael Galindo was instead focused on filming and pitching ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 25, 2012

    Riverwalk Eats: A Day in Downtown San Antonio

    Photo by Brooke ViggianoNote to self: Prickly pears are bright-pink.​My fiance Dave and I took our first trip to San Antonio over the weekend to celebrate our birthdays (we're a day and a year apart -- luckily, I can take solace in the fact that the old man will always be one year older than m ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 25, 2012

    Tasting Notes: This Week in Wine Blogs

    Image via Vine Sleuth Uncorked.Things get steamy over at Vine Sleuth Uncorked with a "Date Night" wine pairing recommendation.​Bear on Wine: We've been having a blast following Texas wine legend Bear Dalton's new blog, Bear on Wine. This week he weighs in with some of his insights into cork d ... More >>

  • Dining

    January 26, 2012

    Mac and More

    This spot started out serving its namesake dish and nothing else. Expanding the menu was a good idea.

  • Culture

    January 26, 2012

    MasterMinds 2012

    This year's winners have art, passion and history on their side. And now they'll also each have a check for $2,000.

  • Blogs

    January 25, 2012

    Chef Chat, Part 1: Roberto Castre of Latin Bites Cafe

    Photo by Mai PhamExecutive Chef Roberto Castre of Latin Bites Cafe​Today, Latin Bites Cafe, the tiny seven-table Peruvian restaurant that received critical acclaim during its one year, five month reign in the Houston's warehouse district, is having its grand re-opening to the public in its bra ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 25, 2012

    The Rise of Single-Dish Restaurants in America

    Photo by Troy FieldsJus' Mac does mostly mac, and mostly does it well.​Like it or leave it, restaurants specializing in macaroni and cheese -- that ultimate "white people comfort food," as my baffled brown friends call it -- are becoming increasingly popular across the United States. From Conn ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 25, 2012

    The Worst Groupon Ad Ever?

    50 percent off sandwiches with a "vise-like grip"!​"My mom sent me this today," began the email from my co-worker, which he'd simply titled "How NOT To Write a Groupon Description." "She says the place is really terrific," he continued, "but this description...I mean..." The Groupon ad, for ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 26, 2012

    Chef Chat, Part 2: Roberto Castre of Latin Bites Cafe, On Opening His Restaurant After Kidney Donation Surgery

    Photos by Mai PhamExecutive Chef Roberto Castre of Latin Bites Cafe​Yesterday, we talked to Latin Bites' Executive Chef and Owner Roberto Castre about his long and winding road to settling in Houston. Today, he tells us the story of how Latin Bites came into being. EOW: You, your sister Rita ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 27, 2012

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

    Does that burger have Fritos and refried beans on top? Yes. Welcome to Texas.​For the next 20 weeks, we'll be rounding up the runners-up to our 2011 Best of Houston® winners. In many categories, picking each year's winner is no easy task. We'll be spotlighting 20 of those categories, in which ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 27, 2012

    Bartender Chat: Eddie of Julia's Bistro

    ​After passing by many times on the way to or from Big Top or Continental Club, I finally hopped the Metro to visit Julia's, the Latin-fusion bistro at the corner of Main and West Alabama. It was 5 p.m. on Tuesday when I walked through the vibrant dining room, grabbed a seat, ordered a glass o ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 27, 2012

    Not Your Food Court Chinese: Lunch at E Tao

    Char Sui.​After a long day of fighting the crowds at the Galleria, my dining companion and I were left tired and hungry. Katharine Shilcutt's first look at E Tao and the sheer convenience of not having to leave the mall to get what I was craving sealed the deal. I wanted Chinese food, but not ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 27, 2012

    Openings & Closings: The Difference Between Ruggles and "Ruggles"

    That didn't last long...​As 2012 gets up and running, restaurants have hit the ground running. This week's round-up includes two expansions, a few openings and a couple of noteworthy closings. Expanding into downtown as promised, The Burger Guys finally announced its new location this week: K ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 30, 2012

    What's Cooking This Week?

    Photo by jeffreywPita never tasted so good...​With last week's menu, I was lower-carb and lovin' it. Since I have a busy week ahead, my main goal this time around is quick and easy (but still healthy!) meals. Here's what I'm cooking: Spicy Chicken Pita w/ Sweet & Tangy Slaw Thai-Style Chi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 30, 2012

    Chef Jonathan Jones Departs Xuco Xicana, Soon to Be El Patio Once Again

    A mock Texas Monthly cover made by Jones's fans several years ago.​Chef Jonathan Jones was let go from Xuco Xicana late last week, and cooked his last meal at the restaurant last night as a pre-planned pajama party on Xuco's upstairs patio became his farewell party. Jones, who was the executi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 30, 2012

    Dinner For Two: A Romantic Valentine's Day Menu

    Photo by aynsavoySo good, it'll be like Cupid shot your lover right in the ass.​Romance is in the air...and in my kitchen. This year, my fiancé and I decided to skip our usual Valentine's Day steakhouse special and cook an at-home meal full of flavor and passion. With mussels, steak, and shri ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 30, 2012

    Wine of the Week: Natural Wine in Texas

    Photos by Jeremy Parzen.Back in October 2010, I visited the sole Natural winemaker in Texas, Lewis Dickson (left), together with the leading Natural wine advocate in the U.S., Alice Feiring (right).​As we noted in last week's post on a new era of Nastiness and a call for civility in the Natura ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 31, 2012

    A Month of Chocolate: 29 Ways to Indulge

    Photo by Bill Dorris​In January, we brought you a Month of Oatmeal in honor of National Oatmeal Month. That was nice and all, but February's here. And in February, it's all about the chocolate baby. From complimentary s'mores at a poolside bar to a Snickers beignet (is this real life?), here a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 31, 2012

    The Burger Guys Open Downtown Tomorrow: Here's the Menu (and More!)

    Kitchen Incubator and The Burger Guys: A bright idea. Pictured: The high-ceilinged dining space inside Cafe Luz.​It was an idea "sparked by a few Tweets," says Lucrece Borrego, owner of Kitchen Incubator and its storefront bistro, Cafe Luz. Tomorrow at lunch, her commercial kitchen space locat ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 31, 2012

    Bacchus Boasts an Assumption-Challenging Wine List

    Chuck Cook Photography​Have you ever told a friend, "I simply have to come see you sometime!" and then ended up saying that every time you ran into each other? And then, by the time you're ready, or he's ready, something has changed? Well, while "wine badass" Marc Borel was at Bacchus, I kep ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 1, 2012

    The Tyranny of Choice: Top 5 Single-Dish Restaurants I Want to See in 2012

    2012 is your year, JELL-O.​I was happy to read Katharine's Shilcutt's piece on the single-dish restaurant trend for several reasons. First, I generally love the idea of specialty shops and sometimes long for the days when grocery shopping meant going to the butcher, then the cheese-monger, the ... More >>

  • Dining

    February 2, 2012

    Portuguese Palate

    Houstonians get a taste straight from the home country.

  • Blogs

    February 1, 2012

    Take a Staycation at Portugallia

    Photos by Troy FieldsPortugallia's patio is always inviting.​Last year, my favorite Houston restaurant in which to take a staycation -- you know, pretending you're out of town on some food adventure when in fact you've really got $20 in the bank once the meal is over -- was Cafe Mawal. At thi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 1, 2012

    Tasting Notes: This Week in (Women's) Wine Blogs

    Photo by Margaret Shugart, curator of a new blog, The Wine Roads of Texas.​The Wine Roads of Texas: "If you've never seen the communities that run across that vast stretch of road," writes Margaret Shugart, author of a new blog called The Wine Roads of Texas, "you are missing one of the most u ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 1, 2012

    Watch the Big Game on the Big Screen, Plus Other Super Bowl Specials Around Town

    Photo by Troy FieldsEnjoy the patio at Plonk this Super Bowl weekend.​Sometimes, half the fun of watching the Super Bowl is watching it with a crowd. So we've rounded up a few places that'll ensure you're not alone this Sunday evening -- and that you're not hungry or thirsty, either. El Real ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 2, 2012

    Chef Philippe Schmit Receives Prestigious Maîtres Cuisiniers de France Title

    Photo by Nancy Kerschen​When he first moved to the United States from his home country of France in 1990, Philippe Schmit worked as a sous chef under famous chef Eric Ripert -- a fellow Frenchman -- in the New York kitchens of Le Bernadin, eventually moving on to become executive chef at La Go ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 3, 2012

    Odd Pair: Sushi and Wine (a Preview of Uchi's Wine List)

    Photos by Jeremy Parzen.Uchi's executive chef Tyson Cole's cooking combines the traditional, experimental, and ambitious in a marriage of eastern and western gastronomy. But what about his wine list?​There's a lot riding on the launch of the new Uchi in Houston. Tyson Cole's Austin outposts -- ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 3, 2012

    Openings & Closings: January 2012

    Photo by Olivia Flores AlvarezThis notice of closure was posted outside Guadalajara Bakery this morning.​After 45 years in business along Washington Avenue, Guadalajara Bakery is closing its doors on February 29. Unlike previous closing scares for the longtime breakfast taco purveyor, this one ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 10, 2012

    Valentine's Day Dining 2012

    photo by Julie Soefer. There's no excuse fellas. The "I CRAVE U" box from Crave Cupcakes doesn't even require exiting your vehicle. ​Ed. note: We are running this again after publishing it a week ago, for all you last-minute lovers. It isn't hard to figure out why dining and chocolate candy ... 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

    February 6, 2012

    What's Cooking This Week?

    Photo by Brooke Viggiano​Great news! The Eat This, Not That! guys over at Men's Health have made my dreams come true by confirming that pizza made right is a well-balanced, healthy meal. Good thing, because last week, I made delicious whole-wheat pita pizzas topped with veggies and some Medite ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 6, 2012

    Sushi 101: RA Sushi Head Chef Jerry Jan Shares What Quality Sushi Is All About

    ​ "Panda Express ain't no sushi," remarks Jerry Jan, head chef at RA Sushi, with candor. "Do not get sushi from there." Unsurprisingly, Jan says what elevates sushi is the freshness of the fish. Most quality sushi restaurants pick their catch right out of the water, put it on ice and have it ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 6, 2012

    First Look at Happy Endings

    Don't tell me bonito flakes don't belong on a hot dog.​It only seemed fitting to visit a new food truck called Happy Endings in the throes of Valentine's Day season, I reasoned as I headed out to Bo Concept this afternoon. But really, I was only it it for two things: hot dogs and sunshine. Ha ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 7, 2012

    Wine of the Week: A Red That Lasts for Days

    Photo by Tracie P.​After what's your favorite wine?, the question that I get asked the most at wine tastings and seminars is how do you make wine last after you've opened the bottle? My initial answer is drink good wine: Wine with high acidity will last longer once opened; acidity is one of t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 8, 2012

    First Look at Uchi Houston

    Photos by Christina Uticone & Joshua PayneWalu walu: oak-grilled escolar.​I wasn't the only food writer at Uchi last night -- local writers and bloggers were scattered throughout the restaurant. When I got home, at least half a dozen Tweeps were abuzz over their dining experience. The consensu ... More >>

  • Dining

    February 9, 2012

    Morning Machaca

    This tiny East End restaurant — attached to a dried-beef factory — serves tasty, old-school Tex-Mex classics.

  • Dining

    February 9, 2012

    We Love Food

    Our 100 favorite dishes in Houston.

  • Blogs

    February 8, 2012

    Chef Chat, Part 1: Kevin Naderi of Roost

    Photos by Mai PhamChef/Owner Kevin Naderi of Roost​It's not often that a small restaurant becomes an instant hit, but from what I could see on a busy Tuesday night with a small line forming at the door, neighborhood eatery Roost possesses everything it needs to make it -- a small, cozy space; ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 8, 2012

    Pollo Campero's Got a Brand New Bag (of Chicken)

    Photos by Katharine ShilcuttCrispy chicken taco with mango coleslaw at Pollo Campero. See more in our slideshow.​I grew up eating at the old-school Pollo Campero on Bellaire Boulevard, the fast-food chicken joint featuring a bright-yellow chick with a sombrero on its head and a plate of fried ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 9, 2012

    Ingredient of the Week: Dark Chocolate

    Photo by John SuhEat them by the handful.​First, a quick and dirty lesson on the varieties of chocolate: Unsweetened chocolate is all cacao and no sugar, making it incredibly bitter. It is also known as baking chocolate and is usually found in the baking aisle of grocery stores in the form ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 9, 2012

    Chef Chat, Part 2: Kevin Naderi of Roost

    Photos by Mai PhamKevin Naderi of Roost, working in the kitchen​Yesterday, our chat with Chef/Owner Kevin Naderi of Roost sparked a debate in the comments section about how soon his bubble would burst, with most commenters in support of expanding the Roost bubble. Today, Naderi shares insights ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 10, 2012

    La Fisheria Opens Tomorrow as Houston Welcomes a Mexican Celebrity Chef to the City

    Photos by Katharine ShilcuttChef Aquiles Chávez and co-owner Ena Niño. See more behind-the-scenes photos of La Fisheria and the taping in our slideshow.​Most Americans wouldn't know chef Aquiles Chávez if they saw him on the street, even with his trademark handlebar mustache and Jack Sparro ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 10, 2012

    Patio Dining: Date Night at Grappino di Nino

    Photo by Brooke ViggianoItalian-style tapas (please ignore the creep in the background).​I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I like my Friday nights to come with two things; a bit of romance and a whole lotta cocktail. With an open-air patio and fully stocked bar, Grappino di' Nino's m ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 10, 2012

    Openings & Closings: Nothing Bundt News

    Photo courtesy of FacebookSay "bienvenue" to Artisans.​The opening of Uchi Houston last week was just the prelude to a rash of exciting, greatly anticipated openings across the city. Get ready, folks: It's a great time to be a diner in Houston. Artisans, the new restaurant from Le Mistral bro ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 10, 2012

    Chef Chat, Part 3: Kevin Naderi of Roost - The Tasting

    Photos by Mai PhamRoost's already famous cauliflower. So good you will want to order two. ​We've been chatting with Roost's chef/owner Kevin Naderi the last couple of days, learning how he found and opened his restaurant in two months flat, and about the intricacies of his cuisine, which, in a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 10, 2012

    Pico's Mex-Mex and Samba Grille: Try Two of Houston's Best for Less

    Photo by Katharine Shilcutt​Do you know how much I love Pico's Mex-Mex and Samba Grille? Let me elaborate, ever so briefly: The soft-shell crabs at Pico's are a thing of beauty, and the finest preparation of the crabs you'll consistently find in the city. Those are them up there, looking all f ... More >>

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