In a world where pizza is consistently associated with Italy, the Moroccan pizza ($6.95) at Cava Bistro (300 Main, 713-223-4068) might come as a surprise. But pizza is hardly uncommon in Morocco, since all the Mediterranean, Italy included, is a culinary mélange. This pizza's golden-brown crust is almost as soft...

Everybody in the Middle East and Russia -- but especially Turkey, Armenia and Iran -- wants credit for inventing the shish kebab. Though its origin will always be disputed, this much can be agreed upon: The shish kebab was created thousands of years ago, and it was probably the first...