by Sandra Crittenden

I'm happy to say I was not celebrating a "big" birthday this year but my extended family still showed me a very good time at Coppa Osteria , one of my favorite places in Houston for pizza, pasta and ros é  wine. We went for an early Sunday dinner and enjoyed risotto balls, prosciutto, pizza and more. This casual Italian eatery in Rice Village makes everything from scratch and has great prices on their wine list. It is highly recommended as one of my top Houston restaurants. Casual, fun and delicious!

We decided to take an impromptu vacation after our college kids' finals this year. They wanted to  relax on a beach and we were lucky to find space awaiting for us at the Ritz-Carlton on St Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands for a few days escape. This hotel reminded me of a smaller version of The Ritz-Carlton in Maui.  After checking in, we walked out back to survey the beautifully landscaped grounds. An infinity pool led the eye out to sea. The beach was wide with comfortable lounge chairs with optional shade tops. It was well attended with offers to bring food, drinks, towels, etc.  We spent the majority of our time on the property. The food options at the Ritz-Carlton in St Thomas were varied enough to keep our small group happy for our short stay. I enjoyed the Carribean lobster dinner at Bleuwater and the fresh fried fish wrap at Sails , in particular. We snacked on chips and guacamole by the pool. Enjoying the array of adult beverages kept our col...

My husband and I decided to upgrade our typical Sunday brunch ensembles and go check out the brunch buffet at  La Table's Chateau  yesterday. I'm so glad we did because they plan on discontinuing it through the summer. Here's a small glimpse of some of the many things that we enjoyed and what you can expect to see when it resumes. Sunday brunch in La Table's elegant Chateau dining room combines impeccable white tablecloth service, a kitchen to table menu and a stunning buffet array. Look for it's return next fall, it is highly recommended as one of Houston's best brunch buffets.  

I'm not sure why we were British with our spelling of judgment/judgement in this feature. As originally seen in the May 2016 editition of Galveston Monthly Magazine

I reviewed the United Tastes of Texas cookbook by Jessica Dupuy in the May/June 2016 issue of Edible Houston . This book would make a great gift for not only "the Texas cook but foodies everywhere" for Mother's Day and beyond. Read the full review at  Edible Houston .