by Sandra Crittenden

Izakaya is a Japanese pub located at 318 Gray St in the Fourth Ward of Midtown Houston. The newest of t he Azuma Group’s restaurants, this latest offering features a more globally influenced style of cuisine by Chefs Jean-Philippe Gaston and Manubu Horiuchi. The innovative fare lends itself to tapas style sharing. Even with the impressive men behind the menu, the drinks are just as important as the food at this establishment. At a recent media event, I tasted some of the new features on the cocktail menu along with some of the signature dishes. The mixed drinks were all interesting putting an Asian spin on some cocktail classics. These new beverage additions were both refreshing and deliciously complementary with the food. The new line-up includes the Kitsune Highball, a mix of whiskey, Meyer lemon cordial, white pepper and soda. The name kitsune translates to fox which is often depicted as a magical being in Japanese folklore. My husband particularly enjoyed the surprising spicy

After what seems like has been an eternity, we have finally replaced our old grill. With the holidays approaching, we decided to get a gift for the household. We are excited to be able to cook outside for our family and friends again. We are officially back to grilling and chilling at home!  Beef, it's what's for dinner tonight! May the season bring you such great joy and abundance as well! Happy Holidays to all!

As originally seen in the December 2015 issue of Galveston Monthly