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Showing posts from 2020

Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers

 As seen in the December issue of Galveston Monthly magazine, gift recommendations for the wine lover in your life.

Iron Sommelier Houston 2020

I attended the annual Iron Sommelier Competition last week. Every year, Houston's top somms help raise money for The Periwinkle Foundation with one of the cities best wine events while competing for the title of Iron Somm.  Read more about it and learn who was the winner in this article I wrote for  Houston Food Finders .  Meet the Iron Sommelier Houston 2020 Winners   At Hugo's where I attended, guests enjoyed a multi-course authentic Mexican dinner paired with wines from Mexico chosen by previous Iron Sommelier winner, Andres Blanco. Both food and wine were fabulous and the service was excellent as always. Hugo's is the best place in Houston to find wines from Mexico along with their sister restaurants Caracol and Xochi . Casa Madero rosĂ© made from Cabernet Sauvignon was the pairing with the passed Mexican Street Food bites which included  Camarones,  Ceviche verde, Taquitos de pollo, and Sopesitos de pato, all pictured above. 1st course- Tamal de Huitlacoche with cr

A Time for Beaujolais

 As seen in the November 2020 issue of Galveston Monthly magazine. In this month's issue, I write about Beaujolais wines from France with some wine recommendations that can be found on the Island.

Omakase at Tobiuo - Link

I had an excellent Omakase experience at Tobiuo in Katy, Texas. I highly recommend it if you are a sushi lover in the area. " Tobiuo Sushi & Bar  located in Katy at  LaCenterra  at Cinco Ranch has reopened its sushi bar with new acrylic partitions between the sushi chefs and guests. I was invited to an omakase tasting complete with beverage pairings to check out their fresh take on Japanese cuisine. Omakase translates to “I’ll leave it up to you” and means that a diner’s entire meal will be made up of dishes selected by the chef." Read the full article in Houston Food Finder at:   https://houstonfoodfinder.com/ foodfinds/katy-sushi- restaurant-offers-a-worthy- omakase-experience/

First Taste of Ostia - Link

I went to newly opened Ostia and had an excellent meal along with great service. Read all about what you can expect in my latest article for Houston Food Finder . "Last week,  Ostia , which means “host” in Italian, officially opened its doors in Montrose at  2032 Dunlavy.  The name was no accident. Italian influences, along with other Mediterranean flavors, weave their way in and out of the New American-style dishes offered by  Owner/Chef Travis McShane.  McShane grew up in Kingwood and attended the University of Texas prior to his culinary training in New York. After a decade of working with Jonathan Waxman in several establishments around the country, he and his wife were ready to return to Houston and open their own restaurant."   Read the full write up on Houston Food Finder at  https://houstonfoodfinder.com/foodfinds/first-bite-houstonian-returns-to-open-vibrant-italian-bistro-in-montrose/

Sangiovese - As seen in Galveston Monthly

 In the October 2020 issue of Galveston Monthly magazine, I write about the Sangiovese, the grape and the wine along with its home in Italy. I also talk about Texas now making wines from the grape as well. As seen in  Galveston Monthly  magazine - on the stands now.

October 4th, A Day to Celebrate

For those who enjoy participating in food and beverage days,  October 4th is a good one. Today in Sweden and Finland, it is Cinnamon Roll Day and there is no reason to not celebrate the day, too, wherever you may be. All you need to do to participate is to eat a cinnamon roll. I went to one of Houston's best French bakeries, Mademoiselle Louise , to get their delicious pecan topped rendition. This bakery was also one of my top choices for bread in a recent article I wrote . It is also National Vodka Day in America. The day has been noted since at least 2009. All you need to do is enjoy a vodka drink to be a part of it. I made a fresh tomato based vegetable juice at home by juicing carrots, bell peppers, a jalapeño, a small piece of onion and a lime. I blended that juice with fresh seeded tomatoes and a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Blending the tomatoes instead of juicing them makes a richer base. I then commemorated the day be making a Bloody Mary with some Grey Goose vodka

Two Writers, Totally Different Purchases - Link in post

One week ago, I returned home from the Urban Harvest Farmers Market in Houston. I saw on social media that another writer I know had just returned as well. I pitched the editor of Houston Food Finder the idea of a co-written article about all the good things that Houstonians can find when they visit.  The market is open again today as it is every Saturday morning, check out some top picks in this story before you go. https://houstonfoodfinder.com/foodfinds/two-food-writers-totally-different-purchases-at-a-houston-farmers-market/

World Sake Day in Houston - Link to article

Today is World Sake Day! I write about the history of the day in Houston Food Finder and share the best place to celebrate in Houston. " Since 1978,  World Sake Day , or Nihonshu no Hi as it is known in Japan, has been celebrated on October 1 — the first day of sake making season.  In Houston,  Kata Robata  is the place to commemorate the end of the rice harvest and the beginning of fermentation . From  October 1 through 7 , this classic Houston Japanese restaurant is offering  celebratory sake specials  to dine-in and to-go customers..." https://houstonfoodfinder.com/foodfinds/kata-robata-has-a-week-of-specials-starting-on-world-sake-day/

Best Bakeries in Houston for Freshly Baked Bread

 Find the best bread in Houston in my latest article for Houston Food Finder .  Bread from Dutch Fika in the Houston Heights made from organic heirloom grains. The array of  bakeries in Houston  is as diverse as its citizenry. We are fortunate to have numerous establishments making just about every kind of bread imaginable. From longtime mainstays to the newly opened, here are some of the city’s best independent shops to find freshly baked bread to take home...  Read more at  https://houstonfoodfinder.com/foodfinds/the-best-bakeries-in-houston-for-freshly-baked-bread/

Hakkaisan Sparkling Nigori

There are only four ingredients needed to make sake: rice, water, koji rice mold, and yeast. Similar to both wine and beer, sake is made via a process of fermentation sometimes followed by filtration but sake is not a wine, spirit or beer. It is its own unique category. Nigori is a type of sake that is typically referred to as unfiltered although it has been coarsely filtered to retain rice particles and the lees or yeast which is meant to enhance both the flavor and the texture. The name Nigori means cloudy and is a reference to its appearance. For still versions, shaking before serving, is recommended. For sparkling versions, it can be a bit trickier as the drink can effusively exit the bottle just like with sparkling wine or Champagne if it is not handled gently. The taste of Nigori sake is more rich and slightly sweet so the still version is sometimes recommended with dessert, the sparkling version is more often served as an aperitif due to its more crisp and refreshing nature.  I

Texas Winemaker Ron Yates

As Seen in the September 2020 issue of Galveston Monthly magazine In this month's issue, I talk to Texas winemaker Ron Yates, owner of Spicewood Vineyards and Ron Yates Wines. Ron shares thoughts on the 2020 Texas wine grape harvest and makes some wine recommendations.  

9 Shaded and Socially Distanced Patios in Sugar Land - Link

 I wrote a follow up article for Houston Food Finder focusing on the safe and shaded patios in Sugar Land, a small suburb city outside of Houston on the southwest side. Follow the link to read more. Although I was born and raised in Houston and still spend a great deal of my time enjoying all that the big city has to offer, I have now lived in Sugar Land for over 20 years. During that time, I’ve eaten at many area restaurants — including those with excellent patio dining. Featured restaurants are Aling's, Beck's Prime, Churrascos, Corelli's, Escalante's, Guru Enlightened Burgers and Bowls, Keeper's, Pappasito's, and State Fare. Watching the sunset from the terrace patio at Churrascos Lake Pointe location in Sugar Land.

The Vesper as seen at Tony's Houston

This is the martini that James Bond makes famous in both the Ian Fleming's book and following movie, Casino Royale. When Bond orders it, he gives specific instructions, "Three measures of Gordon's (gin), one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it is ice cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?" Unfortunately for Bond, the Kina Lillet is no longer available so Lillet Blanc is now substituted. Interestingly, he calls the gin but not a specific vodka leaving that to the bartender. It can be made with your favorite gin and vodka and will still be fragrant and maintain its intended botanical character.  Some cocktail aficionados also prefer to stir rather than shake this drink because of concerns that it will be overly diluted by the melting ice. Since it is a fairly robust drink, I agree with Bond, shake it as the movie's hero suggests, before straining into a martini or coupe glass.  This version was made at Tony's in

9 Shaded and Socially Distanced Houston Restaurant Patios to Enjoy Now - Link

 I wrote an article for Houston Food Finder listing nine of the best patios that I have been dining at this summer. I have eaten at most of these several times to find the best time to enjoy the shade and to ensure that safety precautions are being followed.  I have been to many others that did not make the cut. From excessive insect issues to compulsive mask touching by servers, I have tried to weed out the worst and share only the best both with Houston Food Finder and, here, in this blog. My search is continuing as I still feel safer dining al fresco so stay tuned for more recommendations. In the meantime, read 9 Shaded and Socially Distanced Houston Restaurant Patios to Enjoy Now in Houston Food Finder and see some more of my pictures of these restaurants below. Find more of my top Houston patios by clicking Houston's Best Patios

Houston Patio Dining Now - Caracol

Caracol  is one of my favorite restaurants in Houston,  I have been four times this summer since they reopened. It is part of the H-Town Restaurant Group , which is owned by Executive Chef Hugo Ortega and his wife Tracy Vaught. Ortega is the winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2017. I also frequently eat at both Hugo's and Backstreet Cafe, two other restaurants in the group.  As I thought about which restaurants in Houston have great food, nice patios and good ethics for safety protocol, these were some of the first restaurants to come to mind and I have not been disappointed. I've only opted to go to Caracol on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, thus far, arriving as early as 4pm and as late as 7:30pm. I make reservations in advance and request a shady table on the patio at that time. I like the fact that guests have the ability to not walk through the restaurant to access the patio. You can just open the door and let the hostess know you have a