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First Look: Krazy Dog Korean Corn Dogs

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jan 4, 2022

I have never been a fan of hot dogs but corn dogs are another matter. The deep-fried cornmeal batter transforms the humble weenie into something sublime and I usually enjoy mine with more yellow mustard than a person should eat in one sitting. So, when I saw that Krazy Dog...

Suck the marrow out of life and bones at Casa Nomad.

Openings and Closings: Casa Nomad Heights, Rosalie Returns

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Sep 17, 2021

Casa Nomad, 600 N. Shepherd, will open September 23 at M-K-T in the Heights. The Tulum-inspired lounge and restaurant will bring coastal Mexican flavors and a tropical oasis to an area that is teeming with new dining, bar and retail businesses despite the pandemic. It comes from the team behind...

URBE has a dedicated bread and pastry program.

Openings and Closings: URBE Opens, Chivos Will Replace Calle Onze

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Sep 3, 2021

URBE, 1101 Uptown Park, opened August 27 for breakfast and lunch. The Mexican street food concept comes from James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega and restaurateur Tracy Vaught of H Town Restaurant Group. It's the fifth concept for the married couple and their restaurant group. Urbe means 'city' in Spanish...

Openings and Closings: Hello Yelo, James Harden's Thirteen Opens

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 5, 2021

Yelo Banh Mi Artisans, 23119 Colonial Parkway, softly opened last week before celebrating its grand opening March 3. The banh mi-centric restaurant is a collaboration between Phat Eatery owner and chef Alex Au-Yeung and chef Cuc Lam. Located next to Phat, the buildout was delayed by the pandemic. In the...

Lefty's owner Sam Berry and Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson answer questions.

Openings and Closings: Lefty's Cheesesteak Debuts, Texas City Livens Up

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 18, 2020

Lefty's Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies and Grill, 8057 Kirby, opened December 15 with Houston Texans Chester Pitts, Roderick Johnson, Laremy Tunsil, Duke Johnson and Brandin Cooks in attendance to lend support to their teammate, Texans quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Watson, who became an owner of the brand in August this year, plans...

Bubba didn't mention shrimp with harissa.

Openings and Closings: Ostia Debuts, Xochi Returns

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Sep 25, 2020

Ostia, 2032 Dunlavy, opens for dinner September 25 with its lunch service set to launch October 1. The New American restaurant is a highly anticipated venture from executive chef/owner Travis McShane, a Houston native who has spent more than a decade earning his stripes with renowned chef and restaurateur, Jonathan...

Openings and Closings: Good News and Good Deals

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Apr 24, 2020

Right now, many of us are working at our home computers, trying to figure out how to teach our children algebra and what to make for dinner from the supplies that we have left. Others are pulling double shifts at hospitals or fending off complaints from shoppers who are pissed...

AKO Chicken Sandwich combines Filipino and Nashville Hot flavors.

Openings and Closings Take-out for the Long Haul

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Apr 17, 2020

As you may have noticed, the Openings and Closings column has been focused on restaurants around Houston that have turned to take-out and delivery to make it through the current coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions on dining in. However, we actually have a recently opened food truck and a restaurant...

Shannon Brewer Roth created a coronavirus cake for her family.

Coronavirus Food Tips: Don't Waste the Goods

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 25, 2020

You've done all your shopping. You and the people you love are hunkered down, working from home and ready for the long haul. It might be a while. It's time to make the most of what is in your house and at your disposal. Houston is not on a mandatory...

Cuc Lam and Alex Au Yeung are opening a banh mi bistro.

YELO Will Hello This Summer, Sam's Fried Chicken and Donuts Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 13, 2020

YELO, 231119 Colonial Parkway, will open in late summer. Cuc Lam and Alex Au-Yeung will open the collaborative banh mi restaurant in Katy Asian Town in the spot next to Au- Yeung's Malaysian restaurant, Phat Eatery. The all day concept will specialize in craft banh mi and specialty coffee and...

Filipino food is making its mark in Houston's restaurant scene.

Openings and Closings: Be More Pacific Comes to Houston, III Forks Downtown Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 6, 2020

Be More Pacific, 506 Yale, softly opened March 2. The first brunch service will be Sunday March 8.The Filipino restaurant began as a food truck in Austin in 2011 from founders Mark Pascual and Giovan Cuchapin. They opened a brick and mortar at 7858 Shoal Creek in Austin in 2017...

The chef's knife is the most versatile knife in your drawer and a must have kitchen tool

Kitchen Gear Essentials: The Chef's Knife

By Jeff Balke

Mar 3, 2020

Brand new to the kitchen? Trying to figure out what gear you need to get the job done? Or maybe you're getting married and want to add to the registry. We've got you covered with basic kitchen essentials for the home cook. There is perhaps no more critical cooking instrument...

Openings and Closings: Eighteen36 Debuts, Local Group Brewing Opens Soon

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Feb 14, 2020

Local Group Brewing, 1504 Chapman, is set to open softly February 28 with a full food menu and abbreviated beer menu. A grand opening will follow within a few weeks. The 7,500 square foot brewpub comes from veteran brewer James "Huggy Bear" Wolfe, Michael Steeves and Todd Donewar. The trio...

Chris Shepherd accepts his Mentor Award and a Vitamix.

Star Chefs Rising Stars Gala 2019: A Chef-Studded Night

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 20, 2019

Houstonians might have witnessed some shooting stars in last weekend's meteor shower, but StarChefs, the Brooklyn, New York-based resource and platform for restaurant professionals, was in town last week to fete some of Houston's rising culinary and mixology stars, some very familiar and others just starting to emerge on the...

Chris Shepherd is ready to talk about his book.

Chris Shepherd Talks About His New Book at a Houston Public Library Event

By Houston Press

Nov 20, 2019

Here's your chance to get up close and personal with an award-winning chef this Thursday night when Chris Shepherd talks about his new book Cook Like a Local: Flavors That can Change How You Cook and See the World at the Houston Public Library on Thursday. Co-written with Kaitlyn Goalen...

The timpano at Rosalie's is rustic and elegant at the same time.

Openings and Closings: Rosalie Opens, Houston's Westheimer Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Oct 18, 2019

Rosalie Italian Soul, 400 Dallas, opened in the new C. Baldwin Hotel October 15. This is the first Houston restaurant for business partners Chef Chris Cosentino and co-owner Oliver Wharton. Cosentino has an impressive portfolio which includes Cockscomb in San Francisco, Jackrabbit in Portland, Oregon and Acacia House in the...

Lawrence of Arabia would ride his camel to Houston for Michael O'Conner's stuffed quail.

Landry's Goes to Hollywood

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Aug 14, 2019

Vic and Anthony's Steakhouse, 1510 Texas, hosted the " Culinary Goes Hollywood" finale dinner of the Landry's Inc. Signature Groups' Houston Chefs Series 2019 this past Saturday, August 10. The exclusive experience included three passed appetizers and eight courses, each paired with a themed cocktail or beverage. The dishes were...

First the Baller Board, now the Baller Boat.

Openings and Closings: One Fifth Gulf Coast Debut, Understory Grand Opening

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Aug 9, 2019

One Fifth Gulf Coast, 1658 Westheimer, will open August 12. This is the fourth iteration in Chris Shepherd's Five Years/Five Concepts restaurant. One Fifth Mediterranean closed out its run with a "family dinner" July 31. The James beard Award-winning chef almost didn't want to let go of the Mediterranean concept...

Rhonda Russell and Alyssa Rachelle have another project in the works.

Filmmaker Alyssa Rachelle Explores the Cultural Influences Behind Gumbo

By DeVaughn Douglas

Aug 5, 2019

The lights were dim in the DeLuxe Theater as guests sat around banquet tables and stared intently at the screen. Projected in front of them a woman and a chef moved through the tight, hectic space of a restaurant kitchen as line cooks prepped for the evening’s guests. The two...

The Rustic is bringing Uptown Park some Texas flavor and music.

Openings and Closings: The Rustic, State Fare Expand, Torchy's West U Coming

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Aug 2, 2019

The Rustic, 1121 Uptown Park, is slated to open February 2020. The restaurant and live music venue from Kyle Noonan, Josh Sepkowitz and country music artist Pat Green opened its first Houston location downtown in November 2018. Now, the concept, which has locations in Dallas and San Antonio, will open...

Creative Cooking

Openings and Closings: Flora Blooms, Patton's Debuts

The Truffle Masters 2022 Returns to In Person

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