Houston's BBQ Scene

Everyone associates Texas with good barbecue. Unfortunately, most of that association stems from famous joints in the Texas hill country around Austin and over towards Dallas-Fort Worth. Until recently, Houston has been lagging behind other areas of this great state when it comes to barbecue worth talking about. However, I am here to tell you that Houston's barbecue scene is now alive and kicking! Everyone knows about signature spots like Goode Company BBQ, Demeris Bar-B-Q, and Rudy's which have been around for a while. Don't get me wrong, those places hit the spot when feeling a craving for some good ol' fashioned Texas barbecue. But to get really outstanding barbecue, I suggest trying some of our newer options. Here are some of the newest top barbecue spots around the Houston area that I have been fortunate enough to try:

1. Corkscrew BBQ:  This former trailer turned brick and mortar restaurant in old town Spring is my very favorite barbecue spot in the Houston area. As I mentioned in a previous post, Corkscrew is my favorite spot to get lunch if I am up in Spring for work. Their moist brisket and ribs are gloriously tender and smoky, as expected from a superior barbecue restaurant you might have to wait in line for. However, what makes Corkscrew stand out among the rest is the pairing of their delicious fatty brisket with their homemade green chili ranch sauce and fresh pico de gallo on a bun. No ordinary sandwich, the Bobert from Corkscrew is easily one of my top 5 dishes in Houston. Creamy mac and cheese compliments the spiciness in the sandwich perfectly, and their seasonal cobblers are a gloriously delicious way to end a meal... if you have room! 
   
2. Roegels Barbecue Co.: I had the honor of trying this great spot just last week while taking my in-laws around town. After a morning of shopping in Highland Village, we decided to give this Houston Top 100 Restaurant a try. It did not disappoint! I ordered a 2 meat plate with brisket and pulled pork, with sides of loaded mashed potatoes and Texas pinto beans. Although the pork was tasty, the brisket stole the show with its beautifully rendered fat making it super moist and delicious. The sides were both pretty good. I enjoyed the loaded mashed potatoes, mainly because that is not a common option amount barbecue restaurants. The beans were lovely and loaded with even more meat! Also, I am kind of picky about barbecue sauce, often finding it too sweet, too vinegary, or too tomatoey, but I really enjoyed Roegel's sauce. Well done, Mr. and Mrs. Roegels!
   
3. Blood Bros. BBQ: This small operation does not have its own restaurant, but pops up at different bars and tailgates around town. I was lucky enough to catch Blood Bros. while watching a Texans game at one of our favorite beer bars The Hay Merchant. Their special that day was a 3 meat plate consisting of pork ribs, boudin, and sausage with creamed corn as the side. Neither the boudin nor the sausage was all that exceptional IMO, but the pork ribs and creamed corn were out of this world good. The pork ribs were everything you wanted in a rib: perfectly spiced crust and fall-off-the-bone tender. As to the creamed corn, it tasted super fresh and had a nice spicy kick to it. I can't wait to catch Blood Bros. BBQ again and try some of their other dishes in the future!
4. Pappa Charlie's Barbeque : Not unlike Blood Bros. BBQ, I first caught Pappa Charlie's in a pop-up at a local bar. Since that first encounter, Pappa Charlie's now has their own brick and mortar restaurant east of downtown (EaDo). If you have not yet ventured to try their barbecue, I urge you to go ASAP! Their food is stellar, and the hype hasn't hit, so you don't even have to wait in a long line like at Corkscrew or Killen's! Their meats are super smoky and delicious, and the sides are pretty great too. Try the mac and cheese loaded with brisket; you won't regret it! 
   
   
   
   
5. Jackson Street BBQ: One of the newer hot barbecue spots in town, Jackson Street BBQ is literally across the street from Minute Maid Park. I found my way there before an Astros game this past season. Unlike the others on this list, I was not overly impressed by Jackson Street BBQ. However, it was still pretty good, just not the excellence I had expected from such a hyped establishment. If you are in the area for a baseball game, it certainly makes a good pit stop!
6. Killen's Barbecue: Last but certainly not least is the Houston foodie pick for best barbecue around. Killen's has consistently long lines of people waiting for good 'cue, and for good reason! Here is where you'd find some of the best smoked meats in the area with incredible sides that shine just as much! After waiting in line for about 2 hours one weekend, I intended to try everything I could, so that is exactly what I did. I tried brisket, sausage, a Flinstones-sized beef rib, creamed corn, beans, and fried mac and cheese (don't judge- it was on special that day). The brisket was just as I have come to expect from exemplary Texas barbecue, the sausage was delicious if a bit more loosely packed that I am used too, and the massive beef rib was tender and smokey. As to the sides, I honestly don't even remember the beans or the fried mac and cheese. But that creamed corn... I have dreams about that creamed corn! I could tell that fresh sweet corn was used to make it, and I detected a hint of spice which made it stand out even more.  
   

As you can see, we Texans are pretty passionate about our barbecue. I hope I have shown how Houston is no different from other great barbecue cities, and that we can stand up to the other hot-spots in the state. I might have missed a few spots, as there are so many food places to try in this great city of ours, but I hope you enjoyed this guide of our growing local barbecue scene! Brooks Place in Cypress and Gatlin's in the Heights are next on my list. Are there any other top-notch barbecue spots you think I should check out?

My Top 10 Lunches in the Houston Area

As a consultant, I drive all over Houston rather than staying at the same office every day. For that reason, I have favorite lunch spots in different areas of Houston near different clients. Most days I try to be good and have some healthy leftovers. However, some days (especially Fridays!) I like to treat myself to lunch on the town. There are the usual suspects of Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Panera, but with this list I wanted to focus on the places I consider extra special outside of the national chain norms.

Bobert Sandwich and Mac and Cheese at Corkscrew BBQ

1. Corkscrew BBQ: This is hands down my favorite barbecue in the Houston area. Once a little food truck in a Big Lots parking lot, Corkscrew has recently moved into its own restaurant space in Old Town Spring. Lunch is pretty much your only option here, as most days their barbecue sells out by late afternoon. I'd highly recommend the Bobert Sandwich: deliciously smoky, melt-in-your-mouth brisket paired with super fresh and spicy pico de gallo, and an amazing green chile ranch. Paired with some creamy mac and cheese to help tame the spice on my tongue, this is my very favorite lunch in the Houston area! 
2. Vietnam Poblano: This little Vietnamese joint nestled into a busy strip mall in Spring Branch has my favorite banh mi in the city. I love both their BBQ pork and gogi beef options. Loaded with fresh veggies and incredible homemade garlic butter, these sandwiches are a delicious and quick lunchtime option while working near Spring Branch! Their ABC soup is pretty tasty too. 
3. Mainely Sandwiches: This New England sandwich shop has my favorite lobster rolls in town! I usually go for half a lobster roll and a cup of lobster bisque. Their lobster is super fresh, and the buns are buttered and grilled to perfection. With 2 locations, one in town on Shepherd and the other going north of town on I45, this too makes a super yummy lunchtime treat! However, this is not a cheap meal, so come expecting to pay for that succulent lobster you're about to eat.
4. Frenchy's Fried Chicken: When I'm having a tough day at work, there's only one thing I am craving: fried chicken! And Frenchy's, a Houston institution, serves my favorite in town. Beware that not all locations are equal! Their original location is always delicious, but I've had some hits and misses at the other locations spread around the Houston area.
5. Izakaya Wa: This cute little Japanese restaurant off of Memorial is my new favorite. I love their lunch specials, especially the Half & Half which includes a different sushi/rice bowl and noodle soup combo each week. I also highly recommend checking out this place at dinner when it becomes tapas style with delicious skewers, small plates, and of course sushi!
6. Paulie's: If you haven't been to Paulie's yet in Montrose, shame on you. This place has some of the best homemade pastas and sandwiches around, all for a great price. My favorites are the bucatini amatriciana (for spice lovers only!), rigatoni bolognese, and their shrimp BLT. A half portion of pasta usually lasts me two lunches! Be sure to get to Paulie's early, as it gets crowded quickly at lunch time.
7. Pronto Cucinino: This little Italian bistro chain has a location really close to my office in the Medical Center. It is a great choice for a healthy meal, as I can order their delicious rotisserie chicken plate and save half for another meal. I always love when I get 2 meals out of one!
8. Sweet Paris: This adorable creperie in Rice Village now has a second location in City Centre. It is a fun place to go with some coworkers to enjoy a cute setting with delicious crepes! My favorite is the chicken enchilada crepe. Their chai tea lattes are also amazing!
9. Willie's Grill and Ice House: I can't have a favorite lunch place list without including this classic! I've been going to Willie's since my high school days at Jersey Village. They do everything well from chicken tenders and burgers to salads and po-boys. 
10. Torchy's Tacos: This Austin transplant has a few locations scattered around town, and is sure to please any palate with their assortment of taco combinations. The Ranch Hand, Trailer Park (extra trashy, of course), and Brushfire are three of my favorites. I also enjoy trying what new concoction they've come up with in the taco of the month. Torchy's also makes one of my favorite quesos in town; unsurprisingly, since no self-respecting Austin restaurant can have a queso that is anything less than great!

Torchy's Taco of the Month with a grilled hot dog, fried egg, frito chips, pico de gallo, and poblano ranch

I hope you enjoyed my list of favorite lunch places around town. What are your favorites?

New in the [Heights] Neighborhood

This past month, it feels like there has been an explosion of restaurant openings, especially in my neighborhood of the Heights. This post features some of the new restaurants I've tried.

Lee's Fried Chicken and Donuts

This new small restaurant is literally right across the street from my apartment. I've been watching the remodeling progress for months after the Church's Chicken closed down, and the F.E.E.D. group (of BRC and Liberty Kitchen fame) took over the building. I followed all the Houston restaurant twitter sites  and stalked the other social network sites, waiting for word of its opening. Then one Friday on the way home from work, we saw people inside! Of course we decided to try it that very night. It did not disappoint!! The fried chicken is really homey tasting with delicious flavors . I usually prefer spicy fried chicken, but Lee manages to inject a crazy amount of flavor without the usual peppers I look for in my fried chicken. This fried chicken is pure comfort food! Lee's fried chicken sandwich is also really delicious and quite a steal at $6.95! The sides and sauces we've tried have all hit the spot, but it is the chicken that really shines! I'd recommend the sour cream mashed potatoes, add bacon jalapeno cream gravy, and the creamed corn. I was slightly disappointed with the rolls, but they were still good just not amazing as expected.

Lee's other side, breakfast, is also a win. Their donuts are super light and fluffy, and their kolaches have a nice size sausage encased in the delicious breading. Go classic with a super fresh glazed donut, or if in a crazier mood definitely try the praline and bacon!

Grade: A+

Hunky Dory (pub side)

The biggest growth in the Houston Heights seems to be at the intersection of Shepherd and 19th street. Ka, a new sushi spot I haven't tried yet, has popped up in the shopping center shared with Fat Cat Creamery and Hugs & Donuts. Word has also come out that there will soon be a Bernie's Burger Bus and Mellow Mushroom joining the party. However, the wait is over for the new British tavern Hunky Dory, which has been in the works for what seems like forever by the Treadsack group (Down House and D&T Drive Inn). Hunky Dory has 2 parts: their main tavern dining room, and the pub side. I have yet to try the main dining room, but I have been lucky enough to feast at their pub side with my in-laws. The great thing about eating with a large group at a new place is the ability to order a ton of options and share. This is exactly what we did. Between the 5 of us, we ordered the fish & chips, shepherd's pie, bangers & mash, steak frites, and the silver salver. Every single item we ordered was fantastic! The silver salver was a super fun starter to share, coming with an assortment of spreads, cheeses, breads, and accompaniments. My favorite was the chicken mousse and pork pie! Out of the entrees, the shepherd's pie was a close second, but the big winner to me was the fish & chips. I am constantly trying to find fish & chips that match the deliciousness I found in England while studying abroad, and this is by far the winner! The trick is to pour malt vinegar all over the fish and chips, then munch away. Trust me, it is amazing! After gorging on a deliciously hearty English meal, be sure to save room for dessert. The sticky toffee pudding was an incredible way to end the meal, and I can highly recommend it. I do apologize for the lack of pictures; we were too hungry to wait for a camera! 

Grade: A+

silver salver starter

Southern Goods

Southern Goods is another restaurant which recently opened at the intersection of Shepherd and 19th that I had been eyeing for a while. Unfortunately, unlike Hunky Dory, Southern Goods did not meet my expectations. Upon first glance, the space is really cool. There is a nice outdoor space with large trees, and the bar is open to the patio. However, it is the food that let me down. Southern Goods calls their menu "a blend of southern cuisine with modern interpretations." To be fair, the appetizers we ordered were really great, it was just the entrees that did not wow me. We ordered the shrimp and grit croquettes and the cornbread to start. The croquettes were a really fun way to showcase the southern dish shrimp and grits, and the sauce that came with these fried balls of goodness really complimented them. The cornbread came in a cast iron skillet and was also super delicious. For our entrees, we ordered the pig wings, red beans and rice, and the burnt ends with collard greens and grits. Everything was good, but nothing was great. My biggest problem was that besides the croquettes everything was sweet. Even the burnt ends with grits had a slightly sweet sauce. Pork is one of my favorite things, and I truly did enjoy the pork wings. However, they had a sweet sauce that made me not be able to eat the entire meal, and they were not as tender as I had hoped. The burnt ends were the same- not quite as tender as beef can be. We finished with bourbon balls, which were a really interesting cross between cookie dough and caramel with a bourbon flavor.

I really did enjoy the atmosphere, the beer selection, and the appetizers we tried. I would definitely come back for a happy hour type setting on a nice day, but with all the amazing A+ restaurants in Houston, I probably would not come back for a full dinner.

Grade: B-

ATX Food Scene

Hey guys! 

Last weekend I went to the ACL music festival in Austin and had a grand 'ol time! I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011, and oh man has the food scene changed! Just driving down South Lamar or the area east of downtown , there are so many new cool places popping up everywhere. I thought I'd use this blog post to share some of my favorite classic Austin haunts as well as a few newer discoveries. 

Favorite Classic Austin

• Kerbey Lane: Part of visiting UT-Austin must include a trip to this 24 hour diner with their famous queso and gingerbread pancakes! Their queso comes loaded with guacamole and pico de gallo, and their pancakes are huge and fluffy. It is a perfect late night meal! (Or breakfast, or lunch, or whenever). Also, even though Kerbey Lane has a few different locations, nothing beats the atmosphere and people watching of the campus location.
• Trudy's: This wonderful Tex-Mex restaurant has a long of great options, but my favorites have always been the enchiladas, stuffed avocados (that are fried and stuffed with a cheesy chicken concoction), flaquities, and the pollo alla plancha. Beware if you aren't into spice! And of course a trip to Trudy's wouldn't be complete without ordering their infamous Mexican Martini. This year, Trudy's even came to ACL and became my favorite food choice at the festival! 
  
  
  
• Tacodeli: My very favorite place to get tacos in Austin. Their menu has so many options, I have yet to try even half! My favorites are the Jess Special with chorizo for breakfast and the cowboy taco for lunch. If you are not afraid of spice, grab some Dona sauce to go on top. Tacodeli, please open on in Houston ASAP! 
  
• Homeslice: A great place for pizza in a super fun part of town. South Congress is such a fun street with really eclectic shops. Homeslice fits in perfectly with its hipster atmosphere and delicious pizza!
• Hopdoddy's: Another popular restaurant on South Congress, this place always has a line for a reason! Their burgers are huge and delicious, as are their milkshakes.
• Moonshine Grill: The best brunch in town, IMHO. Their brunch buffet has the usual breakfast options with super homey southern classics. Don't leave without a plate of the cornflake crusted chicken tenders loaded with cream gravy and their delicious green chile grits!
• Amy's Ice cream: only 2 words necessary: Mexican Vanilla!
• Pluckers: Started by a couple of UT students, this restaurant is the best place to go watch a game and eat delicious wings! They have a huge variety of sauces and rubs, which makes it a win for everyone.
• The Salt Lick: A short drive out of town, this well-known bbq joint has a wonderful atmosphere and scrumptious barbeque! 

New Discoveries:

• Swift's Attic: We came here for brunch before ACL on Sunday, and boy am I glad we did. $1 mimosas and delicious food! Check out their version of poutine I tried as well as their deliciously juicy burger on Texas Toast! 
  
  
• Black Sheep Lodge: More of a bar than a restaurant, their food was surprisingly delicious! Definitely try the fried cheese curds and the carnitas sandwich.There is a super fun atmosphere to hang out with a group of friends, and they had really great drink specials every day of the week.
• Rainey Street: A street with super cute bungalows transferred into bars, yummy good truck parks, and hip new restaurants, you really can't go wrong wherever you try! Start with Bar96 and hop your way down the street if you are feeling like bar-hopping. Otherwise wait for a seat at Banger's and order a flight of beers and a yummy sausage made in-house.
• Jester King Brewery: A short drive west of town, this brewery has a ton of craft beer and wine options to try. Sharing its beautiful hill country location with a pizza joint (Stanley's Farmhouse Pizza), the best way to fully appreciate the space is to order a  barbeque brisket pizza, grab a beer, and enjoy the gorgeous view! 
• La Barbecue: With less of a wait than the hugely popular Franklin's, this small bbq trailer makes a serious impression with its delicious smoked meats, hill country style.

I have so much to discover, as Austin is always changing and evolving. Where are your favorite places to eat and hang out in Austin? 

Oh, and in honor of our glorious win this weekend, HOOK 'EM, HORNS!!

Oktoberfest at Home

Hey guys, in case you didn't know, Oktoberfest is happening in Munich right now! Beginning as a royal wedding celebration in 1810, this Bavarian festival became an annual event and has been going strong ever since, except for a few years when Munich was involved in some nasty wars. Starting as a festival involving horse races and parades, Oktoberfest has evolved into a huge Bavarian party that people from all over the world come to enjoy. The locals wear traditional clothing and huge quantities of seasonal beer are consumed, so this is a party everyone should check out at least once in their lives! I have yet to go, but one of these days I'll make it. Check out the official Oktoberfest website to see details and fun galleries:

http://www.oktoberfest.de/en

Munich itself is such a cool place with loads of history, and the entire region of Bavaria has so many cute villages, castles, and beautiful mountains to explore. One of my favorite daily emails I receive is Fodor's Travel Daily. It is a great source of travel inspiration! A few weeks ago, Fodor's Travel Daily sent out a great slideshow detailing many of the reasons to visit Bavaria. It is definitely on my Places to Go list now!

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/germany/experiences/news/photos/beyond-munich-the-best-of-bavaria#!1-intro

Since I was unable to make it all the way to Germany this year, I decided to have a week of Oktoberfest at home! This involved drinking Oktoberfest style beers and making traditional German foods for dinner. Check out the menu!

• Pork Schnitzel and spaetzle 
  
• Roast pork tenderloin and potato dumplings. Sorry about no pictures this night; we were too hungry to wait!
• Sausage, pretzels with dipping sauces, and collard greens instead of traditional sauerkraut 
  
  
  
  
• Stuffed cabbage rolls and potato pancakes

Most of the recipes involved googling traditional recipes online, and adjusting them to my tastes and preferences. You can see what recipes I utilized on my Oktoberfest pin board:

Follow Alexa's board Oktoberfest Recipes on Pinterest.

Happy Oktoberfest, yall!

The Best (Foodie) Day of the Year!

Once a year, I drive around town looking for a newspaper to buy. In the age of digital subscriptions and Twitter which keeps me up to date on news, I have no need for a paper newspaper. However, once a year the Houston Chronicle comes out with its top 100 restaurant list curated by our award-winning restaurant critic Alison Cook. This past Thursday, Houston's biggest foodie day of the year finally arrived, and I bought a copy of the Houston Chronicle which includes a super cool book detailing Alison Cook's Top 100 Restaurants of the year!

Last year was the first year I had really discovered this list, so it was my goal to have tried at least 50 of the restaurants on the list. I just barely made it, having crossed off my 50th restaurant Rainbow Lodge the previous Friday (delicious bar food by the way!). Now I have a somewhat new list for the year! I say somewhat, because there are only 17 new restaurants on this year's list, the remaining 83 having been on the list last year. However, these 83 were certainly shuffled around! Take for instance Common Bond (best chocolate croissants in town!) dropping from number 4 to number 68! In fact, only a few of the top 10 restaurants from last year made the top 10 this year.

One huge change was the Pass & Provisions being categorized as one restaurant rather than two, and taking the top spot away from Oxheart! To tell you the truth, I have never been to Oxheart, a tiny restaurant with a pricey tasting menu focusing on vegetables. Nor have I ever been to the Pass, another restaurant with an expensive tasting menu. However, now that Provisions is included with the Pass, I had the chance to try Houston's number one restaurant without breaking the bank!

The very day the top 100 list came out, I looked at OpenTable and discovered plenty of reservations available for dinner at Provisions! I snatched one up, and Adam and I were on our way to trying Houston's number one restaurant! I know this post really has nothing to do with travel, but trying new restaurants can be an adventure in itself, even when sticking to American food!

Adam and I love trying different dishes and sharing, so Provisions menu made it easy for us to mix and match different dishes. We decided to order an item each from the Vegetables, Pasta, Fish, and Dessert categories. Next time we have vowed to try a pizza, but we certainly enjoyed the dishes we tried!

First up came our "vegetable" order of burrata cheese with heirloom tomatoes and grilled garlic foccacia bread. Oh my gosh. This was likely my favorite dish of the night! I was in food euphoria scooping up some of the super creamy burrata (a creamier version of fresh mozzarella) and the perfectly ripe in-season tomatoes with the foccacia bread. To be honest, tomatoes have always just been there for me; certainly nothing special. However, this year I discovered the excellence of heirloom tomatoes, served perfectly ripe while in season in the summer. These certainly fit the bill, and along with the delicious cheese and bread made an excellent appetizer. I highly suggest making your way to Provisions ASAP to catch this dish before heirloom tomatoes go out of season!

Next came our entrees of fried chicken tortelloni (yes, fried chicken!) and a lobster roll. The chefs of the Pass & Provisions are known for trying different combinations of food, and this combination definitely hit the spot for us! The tortelloni was delicious, especially paired with the greens and savory parmesan broth. Once the tortelloni and greens were gone, I used my spoon to scoop up the broth like a soup, it was that good!

As for the lobster roll, it was pretty good. However, having just had the best lobster roll ever in Boston, we were not super impressed. No picture for this one, because we love food so much that we sometimes start eating before remembering to snap a photo!

Lastly came the dessert: a Belgian waffle with smoked maple ice-cream and banana caramel. This was a perfect ending to our meal. So delicious! The banana caramel was reminiscent of bananas foster and went very well with the fluffy waffle. I don't know that I'd call their "Belgian" waffle a Liege- style waffle like the type I've actually eaten in Europe, but it was very tasty nonetheless. And the Jean Lafitte cocktail I enjoyed with it is one of the best restaurant cocktails I've ever had!

I would definitely recommend that any of you adventurous eaters out there go and try Provisions, or even the Pass if you want to get fancy! Definitely check out Alison Cook's top 100 restaurant list, and see if you agree with her ratings. As for me, I thought Provisions was delicious and really unique, but I still think Alison Cook's number 8 Coltivare is my number 1 in town!

Houston's Diverse Restaurant Scene

Happy Monday, everyone!

I thought I'd start this week out by sharing my weekend food adventures. Once again, Houston proved to me just how great it is to live in a city with so much diversity!

Friday night, along with my brother and parents, Adam and I tried a Korean BBQ place called Bon Ga in the Spring Branch area. I have had Korean BBQ before, but this was my first time at this particular restaurant. Since we were a family of 5, we got to order a ton of food to try and share among us. We started with kimchi pancakes and fried beef dumplings. Yum! Not everyone in my family enjoyed the pancake, as they were not as familiar with kimchi, but Adam and I really liked this appetizer. However, everyone enjoyed the dumplings. One thing about Asian restaurants in Houston, and this may very well hold true for Asian restaurants all over, is the inconsistency of service. I was worried about that with this particular restaurant, but my worries were unfounded because our service was great! Each lady that came and delivered our food made sure to tell us exactly what everything was, how to eat it, and what sauces went well with each particular dish.  This especially came in handy during the Korean BBQ portion of our meal, as we ordered a combination of 5 different meats. My favorite among these were the thinly sliced beef that we made into lettuce wraps and the intensely flavored beef short-ribs. Everything else was really good, but those were my favorites. The only part of our meal that I was less than thrilled with was the bean curd soup we ordered. I have had tofu soup at other restaurants and really loved it, but I felt this rendition was lacking in flavor in spice. Maybe the restaurant tried to tone the spice down for us newbies, but I was not really impressed. I suggest if you go try Bon Ga at some point to definitely order the Korean BBQ over the soup!

Saturday night, Adam and I went on a double date to Huynh, a Vietnamese restaurant east of Downtown near the Dynamo stadium. This was another hit! The pork and vegetable spring rolls we ordered as an appetizer were absolutely delicious, and the homemade sauce that came with them was incredible! For mains we ordered the chargrilled beef short ribs served with shrimp and a fried egg along with Bo Luc Lac, or stir fried beef tenderloin with peppers and onion often found on Houston Vietnamese restaurant menus. They were both really good. As you can tell, we love meat, and these dishes did not disappoint! Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures, but here is a link to their website in case you'd like to drool over their food pictures:

Huynh food pics

Lastly, Adam and I decided to try an interior Mexican place we pass all the time in the Montrose area for Sunday brunch called Cuchara. When we arrived at around noon, the place was super crowded with large family gatherings and of course couples like ourselves out enjoying a leisurely Sunday brunch. We were one of the only groups of English speakers, which is a good sign in my book of an authentic Mexican restaurant!  Because of all the large groups surrounding our table, service took a while, but in the end it was worth it. I had read that their chilaquiles blancos were worth trying, so that was my order. In most restaurants serving chilaquiles, you'll find a green or red sauce. However, this particular version is native to one certain part of Mexico, so it is a more rare find on a menu. This dish did not disappoint! The creamy flavor of the sauce was unique and really yummy! I found that it went quite well with the fried eggs on the side and the michelada with chamoy I ordered. As mentioned above, I really love meat, so I couldn't have a meal that was completely meatless! I decided to also order a pork rind taco. It came out in a cute little basket, and as soon as I took my first bite I groaned in pleasure. The tiny taco packed a huge flavor punch! Adam also really enjoyed his meal of enfijolados con tasajo (tortillas stuffed with cheese and covered in black bean sauce with a side of beef filet strip). All of our dishes were a hit, and I can definitely recommend them to anyone who tries Cuchara for brunch.  If you do decide to try Cuchara, be sure to check out their awesome mural too!

Happy eating!

"One if by land, two if by sea..." Boston, MA

The problem with vacation days is that they are so limiting! Luckily long weekends come around every now and then to make a trip possible without using those precious vaca days. This labor day weekend, my husband Adam and I decided to take a long weekend trip to Boston!

"Why Boston?" you might ask.. 

1. For starters, Boston in September has amazing weather! Sunny skies with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Such a difference from the 90s we've been dealing with down here in Houston! 
2. Secondly, Houston to Boston flights are cheap! We are lucky to live in a big city with a lot of airport hubs. This makes traveling to other big cities like Boston relatively cheap and easy. 
3. Thirdly, Adam had never been, and I had only been able to explore a little bit when I traveled there for work occasionally. It is challenging to really explore a city when you are stuck in an office building 8-5, so I was almost as much of a Boston newbie as Adam. 
4. And lastly, we were itching to get our hands (or mouths rather) on some real northeastern seafood! Lobster rolls, anyone?

The problem with taking a trip to a major city on a long weekend is trying to stuff everything there is to do into a short amount of time. Luckily, even though Boston is a large and thriving metropolis, it is pretty easy to do and see a lot in one weekend thanks to the close proximity of all the major sites and the city's walk-ability. Adam and I were able to fly into Boston Friday after work, leaving all day Saturday and Sunday to explore the historical city before having to fly back home on Monday. We opted to explore Boston on Saturday, and stay in Cambridge on Sunday to see Harvard and MIT. This blog post looks at our day in Boston

Day 1: Boston

As my husband can confirm, I love old things. Seriously, old things are so cool! So naturally, a big portion of our day focused on following the Freedom Trail.

• oldest public park: CHECK
• oldest cemetery: CHECK
• oldest commercial building: CHECK
• oldest standing church: CHECK
• oldest tavern/bar: CHECK... OK, so maybe that one wasn't actually part of the Freedom Trail, but I had to include it on our own self-guided walking tour

The Freedom Trail is a cool concept, because you can explore whichever parts are interesting to you and spend as much time at each as you'd like. Also, most of the sites were free to check out, and of course you can't forget about the exciting history involved. It is kind of amazing to think you are walking along the same streets and entering the same buildings as our founding fathers. History is very much alive in the North End of Boston. I was able to see the meeting house where the Sons of Libery met to plan the Boston Tea Party, the hall which hosted America's first town hall meeting where early Americans protested the Sugar and Stamp Acts, and the state house where the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public. It is pretty impressive that Boston has managed to maintain all of these important historical sites, while having a thriving and modern downtown with skyscrapers shooting up all around. More information about the Freedom Trail can be found at their website: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/freedom-trail/official-sites.shtml

Freedom Trail

Besides the Freedom Trail, other notable sites and areas we explored included the following:

• the Beacon Hill neighborhood: perfect for strolling and soaking in the atmosphere of the red brick buildings and small independent stores
• Newbury Street for shopping
• Fenway Park Bleacher bar during the Red Sox game: no need to buy a ticket to catch some of the game, as this bar is built into Fenway Park, and you can see right into the game!
• Boston Public Library
• 
  

And let's not forget about the food!

• Neptune Oyster Bar: arguably the best lobster roll in the city, and I can confirm that it is indeed tasty and worth the wait! Tip: put your name and number in early, then hang around the area until you get a call. When we went, we were told there would be around an hour and a half wait. By the time we were seated, people showing up were told there would be a 5 hour wait. Luckily, there is a lot to see and do within a 15 minute walking radius. The Bell in Hand tavern is pretty close, so we chose to hang out there with a couple of pints to feel closer to our founding fathers in the "oldest tavern in America!" Little Italy is also nearby, as is Quincy Marketplace if you feel like doing some shopping.

• Little Italy for cannoli: We chose to go to Maria's, which I had read has the best most authentic and fresh cannoli without the wait of other bakeries nearby. It was indeed delicious!

• The Bell in Hand: as I mentioned, this "oldest tavern in America" was a great spot to grab a few beers. I was pleasantly surprised at their beer selection, and also that they had a really delicious clam chowder full of cream, potatoes, and yummy bacon!

• Harpoon Brewery: This was a super fun way to spend a Saturday night, as the brewery is open until 11pm. They had a huge selection of beers to try, so Adam and I opted to try a couple of beer flights. Also, their homemade pretzels were absolutely delicious!

• Drink: We didn't actually eat here, but their cocktails were sooo good! The concept is that you tell the bartender what kind of cocktail you feel like, and they will whip you up something yummy. Adam and I enjoyed all of the cocktails we tried!

Upscale Indian Food at Indika in Houston

As Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) is drawing to a close, I thought I'd share my dinner at Indika, one of Houston's top Indian restaurants. Besides the obvious charitable benefit of HRW, I like to use this time to try new restaurants I might not ordinarily visit. This year in particular, I was intent on trying new restaurants from the Houston Chronicle Top 100 Restaurant list.

I like to tell everyone that after planning a wedding, I was left with so much spare time to kill. What time I had used to browse numerous wedding blogs and vendor pages, I now had open. Then I discovered food blogs. Hallelujah, what a find! I turned my attention to both blogs showcasing recipes and those focusing on showing off Houston's great restaurant scene.  For those not familiar with Houston, we have recently been named the most diverse big city in America, overtaking even New York City! This diversity has cultivated an incredible range of restaurants all over town.  Besides the growing number of Houston food bloggers floating around the web, a great source of Houston restaurant reviews comes from our very own Houston Chronicle. In addition to the articles published in our normal daily papers, once a year the Chronicle releases a top 100 list. Last year was the first year I really discovered this list, and oh man did I get excited. My goal for this past year was to try at least half of the restaurants on the list. Somehow, September started creeping up on me, and it is almost time for the new top 100 list to be released. That leaves me with a multitude of restaurants left to try to meet my goal! Thankfully, the entire month of August was HRW, providing me with a chance to try some of the more expensive restaurants I normally avoid.

Last Friday brought me to Indika, number 6 on the top 100 list. To be honest, I have never been a huge fan of Indian food. However, I intended to be as open minded as possible in my quest to eat the best food in Houston. Indika is beautiful inside and out, and as soon as I stepped into the restaurant I was enthralled by the beautiful colors and textures decorating the building. The picture below taken from their website does not do it justice. The room was beautiful!

http://indikausa.com/indikausa/story.htm

Neither my husband Adam nor I were hungry enough to each go with the 3 course HRW menu, so we decided instead to split an appetizer and each order a different entree from their normal menu. We ordered the crab samosas to share, samosas being one of the only Indian food items I am familiar with. I am sorry to tell you, that although the plating was very nice, I dug into my samosa far too fast for a picture. But after a bite or two, it is possible to see the large volume of super fresh lump crab inside of these fried goodies. Yum! 

Then, based on recommendations from our waitress, I ordered the shrimp rangoon, and Adam ordered the lamb chops vindaloo. This time around, I kept my fork down long enough to get pictures.

Both dishes were very tasty (although I did prefer my shrimp to his lamb), and I ended the meal happy with myself for going out of my comfort zone and trying something new. Go me! I can definitely recommend Indika for anyone looking for upscale Indian food, especially for a nice date night or special occasion.