3. The Milk and Dark Chocolate Classic Sampler (The Brownie Bowl). Sometimes, and especially at The Brownie Bowl, it's too hard to decide between milk and dark chocolate. So don't. By combining two flavors of your choice, the Classic Sampler facilitates a sugary showdown of some of the moistest cocoa-dense brownies in Houston. You decide which is your favorite. I prefer the dark.
2. Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake (Ooh La La Bakery). When I wrote my gushing post about Ooh La La's s'mores cupcake, I felt a bit guilty for giving that cupcake a monopoly on my adoration. With four cocoa manifestations (chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream icing, chocolate ganache and chocolate chunks garnish), the Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake boasts an equally impressive and decadent cross-section. It makes triple-chocolate baked goods seem so effete. You may discover this fact because you thought you wanted to split it with a friend. Well, offers are made to be retracted.
1. Uncle Darryl's Chocolate Cake (The Chocolate Bar). Though The Chocolate Bar may be the predictable purveyor of the number-one pick on this list, At least I hope you are mildly surprised I went with the Uncle Darryl's Cake rather than the straight-up fudge explosion that is the Aunt Etta's. Nothing against dear old Etta, but the inclusion of toffee chips in the Uncle Darryl's gives the cake a savory, buttery crunch that delightfully contrasts, and inevitably heightens, the smooth sweet ganache and the spongy cake. I don't know if there has been a better use of the Heath Bar in the history of desserts.
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RESTAURANT NEWS
OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS
Surprising shutterings and provocative plans.
KAITLIN STEINBERG
There were about as many openings as closings last week (way to maintain an equilibrium, Houston!), but we did get news of many upcoming restaurants with plans to open in the next several months.
First the bad news.
CultureMap reports that River Oaks Coffee House, at the corner of Westheimer and Edloe was open for business one day and closed and empty the next. A sign on the door read, "It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of our doors and we apologize for our prompt departure...We hope that we have served you well and helped brighten your mornings during our time here." In the comments on the story, people seem to be blaming large corporate coffee chains for putting independent owners out of business.
Farm to Market Restaurant in Kingwood made an announcement similar to that of River Oaks Coffee House, only they did it via Facebook. The post reads, "Thank you to everyone who has supported our humble little establishment and who have made us a part of their routine! Sadly, we will [be] closing our doors indefinitely. It has truly been a wonderful journey for all of us." Two days later, the restaurant posted a confusing call for family photos of fishing trips on the Facebook page, hinting that they would like to use them in the decor for a new restaurant. "Want to be a part of something new and exciting?" the post reads. "Same principles, different concept...but we need your help!" So...Farm to Market appears to be closing and reopening at some point with a seafood theme? I suppose time will tell.
B4-U-Eat reports on the closure of The County Line BBQ on Cutten Road, which is the last of the County Line chain in the Houston area. Evidently, Campioni Restaurant was granted a beverage permit back in June for the now-closed County Line location. It's unclear whether Campioni is moving or opening a second restaurant.
Cheap Eats Houston tells us that The Brooklyn Cafe in The Woodlands has also closed.
In not-quite-closed-but-maybe-news, Eater reports that Kobecue, a local Korean barbecue and taco fusion chain, may be close to shuttering all its storefronts. The Sugar Land location closed about a month ago, and on its Facebook page, the owner mentioned that he was looking for possible franchisees or investors. David Danh, the assistant manager of the Richmond location, told Eater that business is great.
Now for the good stuff...sort of.
B4-U-Eat reports that Diego's Cantina closed and has reopened as Musas Sports Bar with the same address, same phone number, and same management but a totally different vibe. Musas Sports Bar still serves Mexican food on the menu, and it also serves up a lot of hot chicks in skimpy outfits.
Daddio'z Pizza began a soft opening two weeks ago in Webster, according to B4-U-Eat, but they're still in the process of hiring and training employees. They are currently open seven days a week and serving pizza in house or to take home and bake yourself. The menu includes pizza, wings, and a few sides and salads. But can we talk for just a second about the possessive "z" in the name? I'm sorry; I can't get past that.
