South Asia

Bismillah Cafe: Let's Chaat

Bismillah Cafe specializes in spicy fusion-Pakistani food, going as hot as you dare to go.

Consumption For A Cause: Does It Really Help?

In high school and in college, I consistently volunteered my time at hospitals, food banks, shelters, and, one summer, even overseas teaching English to 6-year-olds in northern India. Yes, my motivation stemmed in part from the fact that such activities looked good on medical school applications, b ... More >>

Room Service? Yes, One B.R.A.T. Platter, Please

Last week, I was supposed to visit Skeeter's Mesquite Grill but much to my chagrin found myself under the weather. A bit of bad beef? A blot of mottled mustard? Probably, actually some milk that was past its prime. (Annoying; I was so craving a burger!). Regardless, I was not feeling my best. And ... More >>

American Idol Returns, Selling More Drama Than Music

If you can believe it, American Idol kicks off its twelfth season tonight on Fox. But not just on Fox. Here is how One India Entertainment, "India's No. 1 Language Portal," announced the news at 18:03 IST (India Standard Time) today: MUMBAI: After the successful run of The X Factor USA while cashin ... More >>

Do the Curry Crawl

The top 10 restaurants in Little India.

Where Does This Indian Eat Indian? India's Restaurant

No clue what a dahi papdi is? Aloo gobi or vindaloo? Wondering what the hell a paneer tikka is? I'm Indian, and I don't even know what's in chicken 65. Or jalfrezi. Indian food can seem wildly exotic, and sometimes mysteriously unappealing, just like the jolting aromas, loudly chaotic streets ... More >>

The Keema Frankie at Pondicheri

On a recent Friday night, I was craving Tex-Mexand Indian food. With only time and money for one takeout order, what's a girl to do? The Answer: Go to Pondicheri. Although Pondicheri doesn't explicitly advertise itself as "fusion" cuisine, some of its playful spins on "classic, homestyle, and stre ... More >>

What Is a Dhaba? Find Out at Tandoori Nite

Not all food trucks are taco trucks, nor are they gourmet food trucks serving lobster and foie gras in Montrose. There are plenty of mobile food units that occupy a space in between, and Tandoori Nite -- the subject of this week's cafe review -- is one of them. Although it's technically a food truc ... More >>

This Week In Food Blogs: BevNaps and Designated Hipster Seating

Delicious Mischief: If you have been lucky enough to get your hands on some dewberries -- one of the great edible treats in the Texas summers -- radio host John DeMers has a great idea for what you should do with them... Make dewberry cobbler, of course. Blue Jean Gourmet: Speaking of terrific Texa ... More >>

Ingredient of the Week: Eggplant

pj_in_oz​What is it? Dubbed "aubergine" by the French, the eggplant is part of the nightshades family and is a fruit related to the tomato and bell pepper. Native to India, it has since spread to many other world cuisines, including Chinese, Mediterranean, African, Italian and French. Ther ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 1: Kiran Verma of Kiran's

Photo by Matthew DresdenChef Kiran Verma in the kitchen.​Chef Kiran Verma, of the eponymous fine-dining Indian restaurant in River Oaks (okay, River Oaks adjacent), took a circuitous route to her profession. At age 18, she left her native Delhi and moved to Houston with her husband. After a s ... More >>

Charulata (The Lonely Wife)

Broken Promises

Readers recount problems with DFPS

Little India

Hillcroft and Raja Sweets have become the epicenter of Houston's vibrant Indian population.

Bombay Pizza Company: Perfect for an Oscar Party

The Slumdog.​With Academy Awards season upon us again, I have a recommendation for your Oscar party, sure to increase the number of folks in your social network, and that, my friends, is Bombay Pizza Company downtown. I've wanted to try the Indian-Italian fusion-y joint since its inception b ... More >>

Party of One

travis(ty)​In a few weeks, I'm going to Spain by my lonesome. I've traveled solo before in Northern Ireland and India, but it's been a few years since I've spent a substantial amount of time touring, reading, and eating alone. In light of my upcoming trip, I've started thinking about dining ... More >>

Shiftwork Bites: Paneer Makhani

​A few weeks ago over at Shiftwork Bites, I wrote about making molé for International Hot and Spicy Foods Day. I had asked various friends and acquaintances for piquant suggestions, and then promptly ignored all of them and made something else, instead. In a gesture of goodwill, and because t ... More >>

Lard Prik at Thai Village

​I am one of those annoying white people who order the triple-star hot dishes at restaurants and then request that the chef make them mild. When I lived in India, I developed a high tolerance for spice ("Look ma, no raita!"), but six years later I am a giant pussy when it comes to heat. And ... More >>

Cardamom, Cumin and Curries at India Grocers

​A personal chef friend of mine was in need of some specific Indian spices on Saturday morning, so we headed over to the Mahatma Gandhi district (I'm so excited that this area now has a name that I use it at every available opportunity) and into India Grocers. India Grocers (6606 Southwest Fr ... More >>

2nd Annual Indian Film Festival of Houston

Twenty-eight states, 23 dialects, endless choices

Learning Is Fun and Intoxicating: "Beer 101" at Anvil Bar & Refuge

The place settings were almost too pretty to disturb. ​Kevin Floyd is a huge beer nerd. In fact, you could say the co-owner of Anvil Bar & Refuge is the Lord of the Beer Nerds. Okay, that may be stretching it just a tad, but Floyd is the biggest beer nerd we've encountered, which made the "Bee ... More >>

Jeffrey Becom: "Mirage: Images from India"

Who's afraid of a little color?

Rahul Mitra: "Dialogues from Disparate Worlds"

The Indian-born artist explores social and economic disparity in his homeland

Target Free First Sunday: Arts of India: Stories and Symbols

Indian culture is the focus of today's family mini-festival

The Royal Treatment

These super-kind folks have been doing knockout Pakistani and Indian food for more than 16 years.

Random Ingredient: Garam Masala

​What is it? In Hindi, "garam" translates to "hot," and "masala" to "spice mixture" (according to Wikipedia and several other sites). With the powerful spices involved in any variety of garam masala, "hot" refers to the strength of the flavor rather than any tongue-burning capabilities. This v ... More >>

Brew Blog: Beer and Cashews

​We had some spare cashews in the pantry and, being the innovative people we are, figured we should try to pair them up with a beer suited to their unique flavor. Step aside, peanuts. It's cashew time. We stopped by the D & Q and found two bottles we thought might fit with our chosen nuts. F ... More >>

February Artful Thursday: The Art of Indian Cuisine

The rainbow of spices used in this type of Asian cooking make it among the spiciest in the world

Lunch in Bombay?

​Not quite, but we made a trip to Bombay Pizza Co. (914 Main St.) the other day excited about trying Indian pizza. There was a bustling lunch crowd. But the pizza selection wasn't what we expected -- pepperoni, supreme and veggie, these pizzas by the slice seemed standard. We grabbed a menu a ... More >>

Alex Berenson: The Midnight House

Readers get another exciting thriller from the author of The Silent Man

"Blast India"

A quartet of artists give us the view from here, there and everywhere

Ali Sethi: The Wish Maker

The Pakistani author finds truth in fiction

Curry in a Hurry

Indian food on a pizza at ZPizza

Chaat House

Milana

She loves me, she loves me not gets the Bollywood treatment

Central Library Grand Reopening Celebration

You can’t tell a library by its cover — unless it’s a $17 million cover

The Cuisine of India

Get a taste of peace at this benefit for the Boniuk Center

The Cuisine of India

Get a taste of peace at this benefit for the Boniuk Center

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival

Sufi rocker Junoon brings his Santana-meets-Led Zeppelin sound to Miller Outdoor Theatre

Paneer and Pizza at Gourmet India and Kings Chicken

Articulate of Bangalore, India: Panchavaktram

Blind dancers will help lead you into a holy trance

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ORDER

INDIA'S

Spiraling into Motion

The Plane Truth

Houston minister Dr. K.A. Paul flies around the globe using Jesus to pull in worldwide donations -- unfortunately spending more money on jet fuel than orphans

Lagaan to This One

Twister Mixer

Fire-Breathing Burgers

Exotic meat dishes are tops at Himalaya

Goat Doughnuts Go Global

The Hot Breads franchise serves unique pastries to a worldwide audience

Everything's Kosher

Two new eateries lay down the Jewish dietary laws

A Dose of Dosai

At Madras Pavilion, a South Indian treat is given its due