In a city as large as Houston and with as many culinary options as we're blessed with, it's no surprise that the food blogging community here is large and diverse.
Say what you want about food bloggers: that we're arrogant, obtrusive know-it-alls. That we're clueless neophytes who shouldn't be allowed near a computer much less a kitchen. That we're only in it for free food or accolades. Any of the food bloggers below will tell you that none of that is true (at least not entirely).
All of the blogs listed have entirely different motivations and personalities behind them. Some are only interested in seeking out small, ethnic holes-in-the wall, while others are busy chronicling the growing wealth of dining options outside the Loop. Some catalog their adventures and misadventures in the kitchen, while some are focused solely on beer, wine or spirits. Some are funny, some are whimsical, some are serious, some are harsh, but all of them are wildly different.
Below is a comprehensive guide to all of the nearly 60 food blogs we have in the Bayou City. A few are now, sadly, defunct but nevertheless function as excellent time capsules of Houston's quickly changing restaurant scene or as placeholders for fabulous recipes. A handful are "commercial," but most are simply the work of one or two people, pecking away at the keyboard week after week for nothing more than the love of food and writing.
Can't we all get behind that?
29-95: Check out the food section of the Houston Chronicle's spinoff website, targeted towards the 18-to-34 demographic, for writing from some of the city's favorite bloggers: J.C. Reid, Jay Rascoe and Joanne Witt.
Aghastronome: The brand-new blog of former Houstonist food writer Mary Jane Poorman covers mostly restaurants and can best be described with this attitude: It's just food. Enjoy yourselves, people.
Bakin 'n' Bacon: Blog of pastry chef extraordinaire (and soon-to-be Austin resident) Plinio Sandalio. It's dormant for now, but check his older posts for some awe-inspiring recipes like bacon ice cream and foie gras buttercream frosting.
Barley Vine: A beer blog for a true lager lover or ale aficionado, Ted writes exclusively about beer, and he does a bang-up job of it. You'll love his blog if all you want are the facts, Jack, about new brews and old favorites.
Bite Me Houston: Mike Cortez does more than write about restaurants; he also organizes state-wide spirit competitions, like the Tequila Throwdown and the more recent Vodka Throwdown.
Blog of an Aspiring Foodie: Also known as "Beer Chris," Chris White blogs mainly about beer despite the title of his blog. Hopheads are welcome here.
Blue Jean Gourmet: One of our own bloggers, Nishta Mehra also has a personal food blog where she weaves beautiful tales about the power of food as it relates to memory, our childhood experiences and our cultural makeup.
Blue State Carpetbagger: If you like wine and you like a straightforward, no-fuss approach to vino, you'll love Tom Casagrande's blog. A former wine seller himself, Tom writes his reviews in an approachable, easy-going manner that makes the subject of wine far less impenetrable than it often can be.
Brewtiful: Another beer blog, this one written from a [refreshingly] female perspective. Cathy is also the founder of local charity Live It Big and Camp Beer, a semi-regular lecture series on beers from around the world.
Cheap Eats In Houston: If you eat out in Houston and you like to save money -- which is, basically, everyone reading this list -- you should bookmark Cheap Eats In Houston. There isn't a dining deal in Houston that Cheap Eats doesn't know about, and the blog is updated almost as often as our own Eating Our Words.
