Scott Tycer

Defining Triniti

The casual, elegant, New American-with-a-twist restaurant isn't easy to pigeonhole, but it's good.

Rest(aurants) In Peace: Notable Closings of 2012

Some restaurants just couldn't wait for the Mayan apocalypse on December 21, 2012 and decided to implode all on their own, while other restaurants simply expired of old age and waning interest in a city that's constantly chasing after the next big thing. Instead of a toast to the restaurants we'll ... More >>

7 Formerly Jinxed Houston Restaurant Locations That Have Reversed the Curse

Late in 2009, Eating...Our Words took a look at the then-Top "jinxed locations" in Houston. The compiled addresses had such a long and storied history of failure they made the Astros look like the Yankees. Looking back at the list today, there may be hope for hometown baseball. Of the eight restau ... More >>

Bread and Relaxation at Kraftsmen Cafe

Scott Tycer finds his sweet spot serving simple, delicious food.

Scott Tycer Serves Comfort Food in a Comfy Setting at Kraftsmen Cafe

New York Times food critic Pete Wells recently issued a warning against over-ambitious restaurants serving tasting menus that feature double-digit courses, comparing the experience of a marathon dinner served in 20 fussy courses to being "nibbled to death." In an interview just yesterday with Anthon ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes 2012: Honey Badger Omelet at Kraftsmen Cafe

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 >>

Lone Star Chefs: It's Not Always about Being Bigger, They're Just Better

Our Texas chefs not only come from Texas but from all over the world and bring their culinary homes with them -- fortunately for us. Lone Star Chefs by John DeMers and Julie Soefer highlights 13 outstanding and diverse Texas masters. This book is part biography, part cookbook and part restaurant gu ... More >>

Eatsie Boys Moving Into Montrose; Kraftsmen Cafe to Close

After much speculation as to the eventual the brick-and-mortar location of popular food truck Eatsie Boys, it was announced this morning that the food truck team will be moving into a space at 4100 Montrose. Fans of Kraftsmen Cafe will recognize that address as the bakery's ivy-covered location bet ... More >>

UPDATED: Gravitas Closes Unexpectedly Over the Weekend

UPDATE: Liquid Gold Hospitality emailed its response, which can be found at the end of this post. The building at 807 Taft once housed the original Antone's Famous Po' Boys & Deli. By 2005, it had closed and reopened as Gravitas, owned by talented chef-turned-restaurateur Scott Tycer and manned by ... More >>

A Preview of Triniti Restaurant

Photos by Mai PhamThe Triniti logo on the frosted glass door entrance​For the past year, Chef Ryan Hildebrand has been without a kitchen. But the former Executive Chef of Scott Tycer's Textile Restaurant has had a new project in the works. And though the road has been long one, he's finally re ... More >>

The Top 10 Cookbooks of 2011: Texas Edition

​This is neither a list of the all-time best cookbooks of the year, nor is it a list of the best Texan cookbooks of the year. It's a combination of both. Because odds are that if you're giving a cookbook as a gift this year, it's either going to be to a fellow Texan or because you're a Texan l ... More >>

R.I.P.: A Toast to the Restaurants We'll Miss the Most

Photo by Robb WalshAlas! No more salchi-burgers from Brisa Cocina Mexicana.​While toasts are usually reserved for happier events or for New Year's Eve, we thought it appropriate to toast the dearly departed restaurants which closed this past year, wishing those who had to close them future suc ... More >>

Food Fight: Battle Tuna Salad Sandwich

Kraftsmen on the left, Weslayan Cafe on the right. ​When it comes to tuna salad sandwiches, I'm with David Rosengarten: there is no better homemade sandwich. So simple - in its most basic form, comprising only canned tuna, mayonnaise, and bread - and so delicious. But there's also a dark side ... More >>

Sweet, Savory and Spirits: Ryan Hildebrand to Open Triniti Next Year

Hildebrand in his former kitchen at the now-closed Textile.​"It's a name that I've been kicking around ever since I wanted to do my own place: sweet, savory and spirits, having all three elements," said Ryan Hildebrand over the phone yesterday afternoon, shortly after announcing his plans to o ... More >>

First Look at Kraftsmen Cafe

Order at the broad front corner and eat on the patio or inside the cozy space.​From the board games in one corner to the giant, brightly hued chalk mural that decorates one wall to the "Effin' Good Sandwich" listed on the menu, the old Textile space at 611 West 22nd in the Heights is now nearl ... More >>

Openings & Closings

Jellies out for tasting at the new Kraftsmen Cafe in the Heights.​The biggest news of the week seems to be the revolving doors at some of Houston's more popular restaurants: BRC Gastropub, Caffe Bello and the Inn at Dos Brisas (which, okay, is up the road in Independence, but we still claim it ... More >>

Gravitas Not Closing; The Twitter Rumor Mill Continues to Spin

The blue plate fried chicken at Gravitas.​It started with a Twitter update from @jimbo126 this past Sunday, July 18: "Per waiter, Gravitas closing after today's bruch service. Sure felt like it - out of half the menu and no bread! Out of SALAD DRESSING." Before long, what was merely an out-of ... More >>

Textile Takes a Summer Vacation

Photo by Troy FieldsTextile's outstanding bacon tart with a poached quail egg on top was a favorite.​With the news that popular pastry chef Plinio Sandalio plans to move to Austin to work with David Bull, it didn't come as a huge surprise when I found out via text message late last night that ... More >>

Dinner at Gravitas

​After many years of hearing about Scott Tycer's delicious eatery Gravitas, I finally made it in for dinner. With the recent boom of casual, but upscale eateries, Gravitas is not as talked about as it once was and thus I found it fairly empty on a late Wednesday evening. My dining companion an ... More >>

Houston Needs a Brewpub

robtrentIf Salmon Arm, BC has one, why can't we? ​I've never believed in the "if-another-city-in-Texas-is-doing-it-why-doesn't-Houston" train of thought. Even though Houston has lacked a distinct identity at times, we aren't followers here. Like everyone else, I cringed when I read a recent na ... More >>

Sampler Plate: This Week In Food Blogs

Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. Fork and Cork: Greg Morago reports on the rumors swirling around Textile lately ... More >>

Jason Gould Tweaks the Menu at Cyclone Anaya's

Photos by Margaret DowningJason Gould​It wasn't exactly jumping the shark, but the idea of Chef Jason Gould (formerly of Aries and Gravitas) coming in to help out at Cyclone Anaya's Mexican kitchen (even with its "Fine Mex" offerings) was, in fact, a little surprising. As Gould, who received ... More >>

Slow Dough Bakery

​The dough might be slow, but this little bakery is bustling. You know all that really good bread you've been eating at places like Anvil and Branchwater Tavern? It has been coming from Slow Dough Bakery (1314 Roy Street, 713-568-5674).

Gravitas For Lunch; No Dinner Needed

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttVenison chili, made cuter merely by the tiny vessel in which it's served.​Gravitas seems to be doing its best to fly under the radar these days. With the high-profile departure of executive chef Jason Gould in August 2009, and owner Scott Tycer's recent decision to ... More >>

The Top 10 Restaurants in the Heights

Sous vide pork at Textile.​Creating a top ten list for the Heights is an intimidating process. At a basic level, it's difficult to even define the Heights. And with so many great restaurants to choose from, we've had to leave out popular spots Teotihuacan, Vietnam Restaurant, and Onion Creek f ... More >>

Garlic Zeppole and Foie Gras Ice Cream: Challenging the Idea of Traditional Desserts

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt​We entered through the back door into the labyrinthine kitchen of Textile. It was our third time at Scott Tycer's restaurant (although the first in its kitchen) and we were glad to be back: The desserts were the best part of our first two visits, and we were eager ... More >>

Jinxed Restaurant Locations of the Decade

​Is there really such a thing as a jinxed restaurant location? Some say it is just a myth. But we beg to differ. In July, Eating Our Words featured its first list of jinxed restaurant locations. We are happy to see that some of these restaurants have beaten the curse. Feast even made it into B ... More >>

Comings and Goings

​Because so little went on by way of restaurant openings or closings and so much went on by way of personnel changes at some of Houston's most high-profile restaurants, we're shifting focus this week. First up is the news that Robert Gadsby, the executive chef and co-owner of upscale Heights ... More >>

Follow Friday for Houston Food Hounds

Photo courtesy of @bakerella In the world of Twitter -- the love-it-or-hate-it microblogging service -- Fridays are known as "Follow Friday," a day devoted to suggesting new or interesting users for your friends to follow. Depending on who you follow, your Twitter stream will be inundated on Friday ... More >>

Militery Deserters and Tycer's Textile

The Tastes of Textile

When it's on, there's no place in town like Scott Tycer's new restaurant.

Showdown at the IPA Corral

Jeff Balke The Good, the Bad and the Curry at Saint Arnold's One Pot ShowdownHouston's favorite brewery, Saint Arnold, held their sold-out Second Annual One Pot Showdown yesterday afternoon on the kind of overcast, slightly chilly day that was perfect chili (and gumbo and stew ... More >>

Textile in the Heights

Ten Jinxed Houston Restaurant Locations

A Simple Plan

Scott Tycer may have downshifted, but diners will still find themselves in the gastronomic fast lane at Pic.

Into Thin Aries

One of Houston's top restaurants does a disappearing act

Spy vs. Spy

Our restaurant critic gets busted at Gravitas, so we send in our counterintelligence team

Chefs Rule!

If you can't stand the sight of lopped-off digits and the smell of your own flesh burning, get out of the kitchen

Best Restaurant

Best Chef

Scott Tycer

The In-Tycer

National honors go to the chef at Aries

Bread Head

Michael Zakowski's Krafts'men Bakery turns out hemp loaves and more

Best Place for a First Date

Aries

Allium Breath

Aries

Continental Error-lines

Scott Tycer tries to clear up the confusion over continental cuisine

Best Restaurant

Aries

Stirred and Shaken

Aries's Ernest Hemingway daiquiri

Salad Daze

A chef and a produce grower get into a pissing match over ten pounds of greens

House of the Rising Sun

The stars align at Scott Tycer's Aries