Velveeta Cheese

Houston Bands Prepare to Invade SXSW

Starting this coming weekend, a slew (yes, a slew) of Houston bands will be invading Austin to take part in SXSW's official and unofficial revelry. Grandfather Child, Electric Attitude, Something Fierce, Bagheera and many others will be playing free day parties, showcases and pop-up festivals. Rec ... More >>

Top 20 Things We Need to See at SXSW Next Week

Next week the Rocks Off Action Team goes to Austin for Ess Ex Ess Dubya for another four days of fun, sun, eavesdropping, and live music. And swag, of the free kind, not the kind that Justin Bieber is still trying to make happen. This year at SXSW we're looking forward to many, many things, includ ... More >>

1981 and Now

The Top 12 Texas Junk Foods.

The Top 12 Texas Junk Foods: 1981 and Now

Assistant music editor Craig Hlavaty recently purchased a 1981 edition of The Genuine Texas Handbook, a guide to all things Texan. It's an often-tongue-in-cheek look at the people, places, outfits, songs, foods and more that made someone Texan 31 years ago. Incidentally, the book and I are the same ... More >>

In the Middle of Strata

Chuck Cook PhotographyStrata is lovely and beckons attractively, but the lonely corner it sits in does them no favors. ​Strata is an attractive restaurant in Vintage Park near Chasewood Park Drive and 249. While the middle section of this upper-scale shopping center resembles an outdoor restau ... More >>

UPDATED: Paula Deen Rumored to Have Type 2 Diabetes, Endorsement Deal with Big Pharma

​Update: A company spokesman with Novartis called this afternoon to address the rumors that Paula Deen has signed an endorsement deal with the pharmaceutical firm, which the company says are false. Novartis issued this statement: "The rumors that Novartis has signed a multi-million dollar spok ... More >>

It's Ribs, But Go For the Chicken

Chuck Cook PhotographySkip the grocery store and take this chicken home instead.​Have you ever walked into a restaurant where the staff is so kind and eager that you just don't want to say anything bad about the food? Such is the predicament I find myself in. When I read about a place called ... More >>

El Real Tex-Mex Cafe & Shrine: Revival of the Fittest

Photos by Troy FieldsThe marquee is best appreciated at night, neon lights in full bloom.​Earlier this week, it was reported that Trader Joe's will likely be moving into the old Alabama Theater on West Alabama at Shepherd, thereby saving the old theater from obscurity and possible demolition. ... More >>

SXSW Eats: Freddie's on 1st

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttNo. Just...no.​Last year, I wrote an entire series of posts on places to get great grub while you're slumming in Austin at SXSW. Those were: Polvos (2004 S. 1st Street) Torchy's Tacos (1311 S. 1st Street) Moonshine (303 Red River) Mozart's (3825 Lake Austin Bl ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 2: Nick Banaszak of Hearsay Gastro Lounge

The dramatic interior at Hearsay. ​Yesterday, we chatted with Chef Nick Banasczak of Hearsay Gastro Lounge about his culinary background and how he has become a kitchen superstar so quickly. Let's see what we can get out of him today. Eating Our Words: Tell the readers something that they wou ... More >>

Run Through The Jungle: A Zoological Field Guide To SXSW 2010

​ Even if you've never pulled a trigger in your life, SXSW is, on some level, an exercise in hunting. Rocks Off had no idea how true this was until earlier this afternoon. As we were looking over the schedule at sxsw.com, we got the brilliant idea to note every band named after any kind of animal, ... More >>

History of Texas Chili--Without Beans

Chili con carne was introduced to America by the "Chili Queens," women who served food in San Antonio's Military Plaza as early as the 1860s. Chili stands were also common in Galveston and Houston; they were the taco trucks of the 1800s. Tamales with chili was the most common order--beans were oft ... More >>

Sole of Houston: Richmond Avenue, Houston’s Street of Dreamz

El Jardin

A New York Times story on Tex-Mex left a lot of Houstonians wondering, "Why El Jardin?"

Chipinque Cuisine

You can't go wrong with margaritas and crab quesadillas at Santos The Taste of Mexico

Grubby Grub

The Art Guys make works from real food -- and things get rank

Chicken-Dancing Margs

Let this vintage Memorial-area Mexican restaurant take all the problems off your hands

Don't Mess With Tex-Mex

Los Tios attempts a little modernizing, to the chagrin of old-timers

Use Your Illusion

Velvet Revolver is the best hope in a dismal lot of Guns N' Roses substitutes

A Cheesy Controversy

The uproar over Los Tios's chile con queso

The Anti-Marthas

Two Austin cooks defy the queen of domesticity

Shiny, Happy People

Patricia Hernandez paints sympathetically flawed figures that look like someone you might know

The French Connection

Part 5 in the six-part history of Tex-Mex

Big Meal on Campus

Back in school, Eric's teases those poor UH students with its enticing menu and hotel-like prices

Dish

Lush Life: Black Lab, Blue Moon, and other jazz joints

Sweet Sorrow

You can't eat everything but at Cafe Perrier, you want to try

Wrap It Up

Marco's Rampant