Kathy Griffin wants to start out our interview with a word of thanks and praise (for herself, of course). ยI really have been starting my shows with just thanking the audience for buying a ticket in this economy. Itยs a big deal,ย she says and then adds, ยand itยs not lost on me.ย The celebrity-attacking comic and star of her own reality show, My Life on the D-List, says sheยs worth it but warns fans to leave their virgin ears at home. ยI just want to give you a word of warning to keep an open mind. Itยs going to be a lot of swearing, a lot of negativity and a lot of fun,ย she says. Of course, things could go south if Griffin doesnยt find some quality, border-infused cuisine.
ยThat would be a major problem for me ย not to get the right Tex-Mex ย because when Iยm on tour itยs all about the food,ย she says. Griffin fell in love with a local staple, The Original Mama Ninfaยs, on one of her first visits to the Bayou City. ยI came to think of it as my own, personal Houston kitchen,ย she says, although she was disappointed at a satellite location years later. ยSomeone took me to one of the ones in the ยburbs ย it was not the same. I did not feel anyone there was named Mama, I donยt think there was a Ninfa anywhere near, [and] I donยt think the tortillas were homemade,ย she says. She tried another nonoriginal Ninfaยs again later on and was still disappointed. ยI was doing a lot of bragging about my Tex-Mex experience and expertise, and it was not the same, and I was left crying, ยWhat has happened to my Mama Ninfa?ยย Hereยs hoping that Griffin gets her Tex-Mex grub on before she performs at 7:30 and 10 p.m. today and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow. Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas. For information, call 713-629-3700 or visit www.verizonwirelesstheater.com. $39 to $69.
Sat., Nov. 8, 7:30 & 10 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2008.