Ibiza

Chef Chat, Part 1: Travis Lenig of Liberty Kitchen, On Leaving Fine Dining for Comfort Food, and Eating Foods with Lots of Heat

This is the first part of a three-part chef chat series. Come back to read parts two and three in this same space Thursday and Friday. Every single time I've been to Liberty Kitchen in the Heights, it's packed. There's something about the space -- the decor, the layout, the smooth sleek lines of th ... More >>

A Date Night At Coppa...And Why I Can't Wait To Go Back

When it comes time for date night, I want two things, and two things only: good food and flowing wine. Okay fine -- I guess my fiancé, too. So, three things and three things only... Follow me as I chronicle the magic of a good date night (and not in a creepy way like that totally sounds)... See a ... More >>

Where to Eat on Christmas Day

Your stress-free dining guide to the holidays.

The Rest of the Best: Houston's Top 10 French Fries

Guys. Hey, listen. We need to talk. It's about the annual Best of Houston® issue. I think you know what you did. But the problem, you see, is that you keep doing the same thing almost every single year. Something has to change. Y'all keep voting for McDonald's as "Best French Fries." Every. Sing ... More >>

Top 10 Restaurants in Midtown

Although Midtown may be more well-known for its bars and late-night clubs, there isn't a shortage of good food to be found -- even if the neighborhood is steadily losing many of the Vietnamese restaurants that once saturated the area. In keeping with Midtown's current incarnation as the drinking-ou ... More >>

7 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: Jackie Greene, Sander Van Doorn, Yes Indeed Fest, etc.

All of 31 years old (growl), Jackie Greene's preternatural resemblance to hip '70s roots-rockers like J.J. Cale and Little Feat has already led The New York Times to dub the San Francisco singer-songwriter "the prince of Americana." He has already sang lead with Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh's gro ... More >>

Health Department Report: CoCo's, Field of Green's & More

There were quite a few clean or nearly clean places in this week's reports. That's good news for nearly everyone. Also good news: We're currently at 176 years without a mobile food unit-based terrorist attack! Council Member/Lord Protector of Houston Andrew Burks must be ecstatic. Sullivan's (4608 ... More >>

Shea Cooper of Coppa Talks Barrel-Aged Cocktails and Dramaturgy

Coppa Italian Ristorante had very large shoes to fill when it opened in the old Catalan space. From its dramatic yet understated décor to Chef Brandi Key's fresh take on familiar Italian classics, Coppa seems to be forging its own way in the world quite nicely. I stopped in early on a Sunday aftern ... More >>

Top 10 Octopus Dishes in Houston

Octopus. Regardless of how it's prepared, I generally love eating the squirmy, tentacled creatures. A great, low-fat seafood option, octopus has this wonderfully distinctive texture. It's also light and fun to eat -- the perfect summertime dish. Our city's chefs must feel the same way I do, because ... More >>

This Week In Food Blogs: Wasted Water and the Battlesong of Christie Rafanan

Houston Chronicle: If you're wondering whether or not the Eatsie Boys will have beer from their own 8th Wonder Brewery when their Montrose cafe opens later this year, wonder no more: The answer is a firm no, thanks to bizarre and outdated TABC laws. Ronnie Crocker tackles the messy task of explainin ... More >>

Underbelly's Underpriced Wine List Gives Us More Reasons to Love It

Because there is so very much to discuss when it comes to Underbelly, the subject of this week's cafe review, I found myself having to trim back significantly in certain areas of the review in order to get a broader point across (which, TL;DR, is that Underbelly is where it's all happening and you s ... More >>

Knife Party

Chefs Chosen for 2012 Iron Fork Competition: Let the Games Begin

You may have been to our annual Menu of Menus grand tasting in the past, but this year's event will be upping its game thanks to our first ever Iron Fork competition. Curated and emceed by Houston's own celebrity chef Monica Pope, the chef throwdown will take place Iron Chef-style in front of a live ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 3: Amanda McGraw of Brasserie 19 - The Tasting

This week, we've been chatting with Brasserie 19 and Ibiza's Chef de Cuisine, Amanda McGraw, about the rewards of staging in kitchens outside of Houston, and about the specifics of her role. Today, we sample some of her food. To highlight the in-house charcuterie program, McGraw put together a pict ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 2: Amanda McGraw of Brasserie 19 and Ibiza

Yesterday, we chatted with Amanda McGraw of Brasserie 19 and Ibiza about her times staging in Chicago, and what it was like opening a restaurant like Brasserie 19. Today, we continue our conversation. EOW: What is your official title? AM: I am the Chef de Cuisine for Brasserie 19 and Ibiza. E ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 1: Amanda McGraw of Brasserie 19

Amanda McGraw not only has work ethic, but loyalty. Over the last year, she's been the woman behind the kitchen of the glitzy, hugely successful Brasserie 19, withstanding early kitchen shake-ups and emerging as the de-facto Chef de Cuisine, where she is responsible for menu development and training ... More >>

Date Night at Ibiza Food & Wine Bar

My ideal Friday night is simple - I don't ask for much: All I want is a delicious meal with my man... accompanied by an even more delicious bottle of wine (or two)... in a softly lit room...somewhere not too far...with a bill that won't break the bank. See, I'm easy (restrain yourselves, Michael Sco ... More >>

Kim Jong-il Dropping The Bass: In Memoriam

REEEERRRRR WUB WUB WUB WUB REEEEEEERRRRRRR WUBBBBBBBBBBBBB​Maybe all along, the Dear Leader's starvation and darkness deal with his oppressed people was just his way of keeping them slim and hot, for fun in the dark, because we all know only fun things happen in the dark right? Like that Lady ... More >>

Openings & Closings

Pure Luck ravioli with warm tiny beets, brown butter and hazelnut puree.​With an opening date seemingly in sight, the latest food buzz is centered around Chef Michael Gaspard's Brasserie 19. Gaspard's partners in the new venture, Charles Clark and Grant Cooper, are already old hands at shaping ... More >>

Openings & Closings

​News that a new tapas bar is opening in Midtown led to the brief discussion on Twitter this week about pronunciation issues concerning holiday islands in the Mediterranean, and Houstonians' propensity to open restaurants named after them. Majorca Island Bistro and Tapas, that new tapas resta ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 3: Charles Clark of Ibiza

​After talking with Charles Clark of Ibiza for the past couple of days, today we continue, discussing how his signature dishes are based in his roots and how Ibiza patrons can make special requests. EOW: So what should a first-time Ibiza patron order? Clark: To truly showcase my roots, they ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 2: Charles Clark of Ibiza

​Today we continue our chat with Charles Clark of Ibiza about his time meandering through the Mediterranean. EOW: You spent some time traveling through Europe learning the Mediterranean cuisine. So help me connect the dots of how you went from riverside fryers and Chinese restaurants in Louis ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 1: Charles Clark of Ibiza

​We visited with Chef Charles Clark of Ibiza to learn about his humble beginnings with food and the path that led to his Midtown Mediterranean menu. EOW: You got started in the culinary field at a very early age. How did you realize that food was the career path for you? Clark: Growing up in ... More >>

Movies Houstonians Love (Meals on Reels): Babette's Feast

Charles Clark's favorite movie just might be the granddaddy of the "food film" genre

Tasty Tentacles

Octopus a la Plancha at Ibiza

In the Mix: DJ and Dance Music for the New Malaise, Part 1

​The past year brought the worst economy since the malaise of the 1970s, and like that era, it also saw dance music sweep the nation. Lady GaGa, the Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs all dabbled in the sound. Even Michael Jackson was said to be working on a dance album with the P ... More >>

Coming Soon: Juan Mon's International Sandwiches

A whole new concept in international fast food is coming to a stretch of Taft Street in Houston's Fourth Ward. Juan Mon's International Sandwiches and Drinks plans to bring an eclectic cuisine to one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in the city. First, the neighborhood. Taft Street between West ... More >>

Get Lit: The Pitchfork 500

Mesmerizing Mocha at Ibiza Food and Wine Bar

Mooyah Burgers and Fries and La Torretta Del Lago

Little Cakes

Local pastry chef shows how simple it is to start from scratch

From Discreet to Discrimination

Relaxing at the modish Ibiza Lounge, addressing claims of racism at Bond Lounge

Bacon, Eggs and Barbera

Treat yourself to Mediterranean-inflected breakfast foods and some of the most amazing wine deals in town at Catalan

Welcome Back, Carter

The Art of Presentation

Ibiza

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Deaf, Not Dumb

Pete Tong is a mockumentary that will make your heart dance

Playa Players

It's a Spanish beach party at Paraiso Ibiza

High Rollers

The party is tall and sexy at Forbidden City

Go West

Manifest your destiny in Marfa

Seb Fontaine

Perfecto Presents…Seb Fontaine (Thrive)

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Texas Decks

Baytown native D:Fuse helps put Austin's dance scene on the map

Game Boy

Hugh Grant shows real substance in a solid comedy about growing up

Minibill

Seb Fontaine

Stirred and Shaken

Charles Clark's Ibizaritas

Letters

Strip-Search Sass, Gender Mix, Red at the Right

A Matter of Grape Concern

Ibiza makes for a pleasant escape

Cheaper By The Bottle

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

Play It Again, Sham

A band reunion becomes gentle satire in Still Crazy