Italian Food and Cooking

Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa Frozen Dinners for Two

I find Ina Garten to be downright fascinating. Before she was a Food Network personality, she owned a specialty food shop in the veddy-posh Westhampton, N.Y.; before that, she worked for the OMB (Office of Management and Budget) on nuclear energy analysis. She and her husband, Jeffrey, have no child ... More >>

Here, Eat This: A Beginner's Guide to Argentine Cuisine

For this week's edition of Here, Eat This, we venture into South America, where hardy Houstonians possessed of a hearty appetite will find much to love in the pampas of Argentina. See also: - Here, Eat This: A Beginner's Guide to Nigerian Cuisine - Here, Eat This: A Beginner's Guide to Korean Cuisi ... More >>

Upcoming Events: Last Supper at Fratelli's Authentic Italian Cuisine Restaurant

Have you been looking for a reason to make it down to Guru Burgers & Crepes in Sugar Land? Been meaning to check out Open the Taps and help the non-profit support craft beer-friendly legislation in Texas? Just want the first sip of the newest Saint Arnold brew? You can do all of these things in one ... More >>

What's Cooking This Week? Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai & More

I love cooking for my fiancé and me, but most of the time, cooking for two proves to be difficult. If I don't make a plan, I end up running around in circles at the grocery store and wasting half the ingredient's I've bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter What's Cooking This Week - my weekly meal ... More >>

Eating Our Hearts Out

100 Favorite dishes in the Bayou City

Dinner Party Meal: Short Ribs Tagliatelle

The first time my mom made this dish, it was an experiment. At this time, we were realizing that you can mix odd ingredients together and come out with something spectacular. After religiously watching Food Network, we decided to take a whack at Giada De Laurentiis's short ribs tagliatelle dish. Bu ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 10, Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza at Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana

This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we're counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston's cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least o ... More >>

Nundini: Straight from the Old Country

Italian kitchen, still lacking its sea legs, shows real promise.

100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 44, Spaghetti Carbonara at Coppa Ristorante Italiano

This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we're counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston's cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least o ... More >>

An Enthusiastic Chef and An Enterprising Menu at Mezzanotte

When I was invited to attend a press dinner featuring new dishes developed by Alberto Baffoni, Mezzanotte's new chef, I was excited (a tasting menu of Italian food, who wouldn't be?) but had a few reservations. I had never visited Mezzanotte and therefore would be unable to comment accurately on whe ... More >>

How To: Make Homemade Gnocchi

Gnocchi, or potato dumplings, are a traditional Italian staple dating all the way back to Ancient Rome. They can be made with everything from ricotta and spinach to sweet potatoes and breadcrumbs. But no matter how you make them, when done correctly, homemade gnocchi are the perfect light, fluffy an ... More >>

Galveston Restaurant Week

Bartender Chat: Stephen Caronna Of Piola

​The first time I went to Piola, I thought "damn, this place is bright." It had been a crappy, rainy Monday. I was hungry and in a nasty mood, but the place actually cheered me up. It was happy hour, and I ended up getting pretty happy. I ordered a few French 75s for $5 each and the Rio de Jan ... More >>

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 >>

Casual Coppa

This restaurant impresses with simple, harmonious flavors — and its refusal to over-impress.

Discount Dining: Quattro at the Four Seasons

Photos by Minh T TruongVitello e Tonno Tonnato​Groupon.com recently offered a $40 voucher for $20 to Quattro at the Four Seasons Hotel. It just so happens Chef Maurizio Ferrarese's will be one of the contenders in the Who's Your Chef? competition at the upcoming Italian Expo, so this was a goo ... More >>

Robb Walsh's Top 10 Ice Cream Experiences in Houston

With the weather heating up, we thought we'd revive Robb Walsh's favorite ice cream experiences, which he first shared in August 2009, in conjunction with his feature story on Houston ice cream parlors, "The Scoop." Photos by Paul S. Howell​10. CreamWorx 8817 Hwy. 6, Missouri City 281-778-273 ... More >>

Almost Perfect Risotto di Funghi at Fred's Italian Corner

​There is something immensely comforting about a bowl of risotto at Fred's Italian Corner (2278 West Holcombe, 713-665-7506), the arborio rice nice and plump in its own creamy sauce, sending up visible waves of steam on a cold night last week. That's an overused term these days: comfort food. ... More >>

Italian Classic

George's Pastaria gives the people what they want.

What to Do with Leftover Risotto

​Anyone who has made risotto more than a handful of times has certainly realized the down side (apart from the endless stirring necessary in the traditional method) of this otherwise delightful dish. Risotto makes terrible leftovers. The interplay of creamy sauce and tender rice with a firm in ... More >>

$13 at Gelato Blu

​Where: Gelato Blu, 5710 Memorial, 713-880-5900 What $13 gets you: A simple and sweet dessert date for two. Houston's weather during the winter time is undependable. This particular night, it was in the 40s and my companion was set on getting gelato, insisting we go to Gelato Blu. There was ... More >>

Black Sesame Gelato At Gelato Cup

​Taking a break from exploring Chinatown and its million restaurants, we popped into Gelato Cup Italian Ice Cream (9889 Bellaire Boulevard, 713-271-1082) to try their durian gelato that I heard smells like rotting fruit. We sampled it and decided one spoonful was enough. We would not want to e ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 3: John Ly of Strata Restaurant

​We wrap up our meeting with Chef John Ly by tasting some of the strata of flavors layered into his dishes. We first sampled a fish entrée. Chef Ly's sea bass was pan-seared to perfection with a crispy crunch that made a great contrast with the moist, flaky fish. The filet was served atop h ... More >>

Down the Rabbit Hole

Tiny Boxwood's serves up delectable dishes in a magical setting.

Local Vendor Spotlight

Houston Dairymaids.​For every Houston restaurant still using Sysco biscuits, there's a local vendor who's gnashing his teeth, ready to jump in if given the chance. Yes, the "little guy" local trade has grown steadily and profitably over the past few years as more and more chefs and patrons wan ... More >>

Late Night Scene: Max's Wine Dive

At Max's Wine Dive at 10:30 p.m., it is the rare table that doesn't have wine on the table. But having had enough, our group just orders food. Around the table, attractive couples lean toward each other in those annoying, tiny bar tables over glasses of white wine. It's mostly couples except for ... More >>

Surprise!

Pink's Pizza's Santa Monica has a hidden, delicious ingredient.

Stuffed Dates at Be-Wiched

This Week in Café: Antonio's Flying Pizza

This Week in Café: Antonio's Flying Pizza

Two-Handed Job

Ruggles Cafe Bakery

Warm-up Course

Damian's Cucina Italiana

Squid Kids

Whodathunkit? A kid-friendly Italian-American restaurant with killer red sauce

Best Pasta

Best Italian Restaurant

Da Marco

Best Pasta

Annabelle's Avocado Pasta

Nice Gnocchi

Simposio

Best Restaurant in the Tunnels

Panini

Best Italian Restaurant

Osteria d'Aldo

Pillow Talk

La Mora

In the Comfort of Cheese

Josephine's traditional Italian fare is the perfect antidote to the blues

Hot Stuff

The name's Italian, but that's not all that stokes Fiamma's flame

Diner's Notebook

Traction Report

The Fruit of Il Dio di Vin'

Good pasta, iffy fish and much garlic make for a mixed menu

Veni, Vidi Veneto

The Heights' new Italian isn't Venice, but it isn't bad

Hot Plate

A Roma Therapy

Collina's pint-size Italian cafe smells like home

O Brave New Pizza

That has such toppings on't! California Pizza Kitchen's pies are weird, but mostly good.