by Sandra Crittenden

My latest is Houston Food Finder takes a first sip and a first bite at Messina Hof Winery's newest location in Richmond, Texas. The iconic Texas winemaker is bringing the wine country to the Houston suburbs. Click the link and read all about it. https://houstonfoodfinder.com/foodfinds/first-sip-messina-hof-harvest-green-winery-kitchen/

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/

 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

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 ...

Patio dining in Houston in the summer can be brutally hot, however, I have found that if you choose your time frame wisely and dress for the weather, it is possible to stay reasonably cool. Though I have dined inside at a few places during the Covid-19 pandemic, I still feel safest outside on the patio during these uncertain times. If you are looking to beat the heat while enjoying al fresco dining at responsible and delicious places, stay tuned! I will be posting on more of the restaurants that I enjoy most. Eunice at 11:00 am on Tuesday:   Upon arrival to this Upper Kirby area restaurant, I could see about seven well-spaced seated tables inside and no one opting for a patio table outside. This remained true for the duration that my daughter and I were there. I've eaten at this restaurant numerous times but I had never eaten outside before. What we discovered was that the large oak trees that line Buffalo Speedway kept us well-shaded throughout our meal. We sat along the ...

The much anticipated new restaurant concept from Chef Ford Fry opened this week in Houston. La   Lucha  is the chef's opportunity to pay respect to one of his favorite childhood restaurants, the San Jacinto Inn, that his family regularly visited for southern cuisine and other gulf coast favorites. It is the first restaurant of its kind in the Ford Fry family. I just had my first meal there and I am excited to go back for more. My husband and I sat at the bar and each went with a wine by the glass. I ordered the Cleto Chiarli "Vecchia Modena" Lambrusco, a refreshinging and very food friendly light sparkling Italaian wine ,  while he went with a more classic choice of Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne . We had great service at the bar from both Colton and Allie. They knew the menu well and were quick to discuss their favorite items. We started with a side of watermelon that was dressed with Thai chiles, lime and fresh cilantro and an order of La caviar and oni...

My prior post on  The Painted Lady  is my top choice for a high end multi-course menu with wine pairings in the Willamette Valley. It was unquestionably our favorite dining experience during our stay. However, most of our meals were a bit more casual. I'm listing some of our favorite spots here along with another option for a more extravagant night out. For breakfast, lunch or dinner - Babica Hen Café - There are two locations of this restaurant, we went to the one in Dundee which is open everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had a late breakfast here on the last day of our trip before driving back to Portland. I ordered the Shredded Chicken Tostada which came with two crispy tostadas topped with tinga chicken, two fried eggs, avocado, black beans, pico de gallo, salsa roja, lettuce, sour cream and cotija cheese. This was one of the larger options on the menu, it was hearty and very flavorful. I paired it with a spicy Bloody Mary which had a definite face-flushing h...

The quintessential dining experience in Willamette Valley is to enjoy the tasting menu with pairings at  The Painted Lady . I made sure to book this reservation as soon as I knew the dates of my trip. The restaurant is located in Newberg in a Victorian house which was the inspiration for the name. In American architecture, a painted lady is a term for Edwardian or Victorian homes that were painted in three or more colors to enhance their design features. We arrived for dinner shortly before 8:00 and were immediately ushered to our table upstairs. This dining area was filled with cozy couples enjoying the full tasting experience which was perfect for us as we were there to do the same. An array of canapes immediately arrived to our table along with our water and the assurance that our first wine pairing would be delivered shortly. Our wine selections began with Régis Minet Pouilly Fumé Vieilles Vignes 2014 which would accompany both the mixed canapes and the asparagus-based am...

Our most exciting discovery was a group of restaurants that I found while googling best breakfasts in Santa Monica. They feature local produce, meat and artisan baked goods, most of which is organic. The search had led me to Huckleberry , a bakery and café on Wilshire Blvd not too far from our hotel . It was our favorite breakfast that we had while we were there. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures that day (it was very early) but if you are in the area, it is one that you should not miss. We enjoyed a few different pastries along with hot breakfast dishes like the poached eggs and market vegetable bowl with basil pesto and parmesan cheese, everything we tried was fresh and flavorful. Also serving breakfast in this group is Milo & Olive , a restaurant I had on my list for a potential pizza night. We didn't end up doing that but we did enjoy a late breakfast/brunch there one morning which they serve from 7-11 AM daily. I enjoyed the creamy polenta and poached eggs...

I first got to feast at Star Fish  in June when a media friend made me her +1 to an early evening tasting event. Due to travel, I hadn't had time to write about that experience yet or return for another visit but I had not forgotten how delicious it had been. When my husband said he wanted seafood on Saturday evening, I quickly recommended this Heights area restaurant. Planning a last minute dinner meant that we were not able to get a reservation for a table but we were able to secure two seats at the oyster bar. This dinner was part of a weeklong celebration of my husband's birthday so we started with a bottle of Ruinart Rosé Champagne, a smoking deal on the Star Fish wine list at $84 especially when you consider that Spec's retails it for $86 . We started off with some of the Raw Bar offerings, oysters on the half-shell from Prince Edward Island and a salmon crudo with sushi bar inspired seasonings. Due to our seats and our interest, we also were given some small samp...

I've eaten at State of Grace  in Houston for dinner and Happy Hour numerous times, I was surprised when I realized that I had not written about them before today. My husband and I went to their Sunday Brunch for the first time two weeks ago and then we went back again the following Sunday because we had enjoyed it that much. I'm including my video of those two brunch visits here, you can check out the pictures of everything we ate without having to click through! The Berlucchi Franciacorta is our usual sparkling wine choice when we come here for Happy Hour, which is the best or most affordable time to get the raw oysters. We splurged on oysters from Prince Edward Island that are not part of the Happy Hour deal on this morning so sparkling wine seemed a good way to go. The Soter Rosé was our choice at an afternoon brunch, it is not as pricy as the Franciacorta but equally delicious with the menu. Other recommended brunch items seen in the video include: Chilled swe...

If you read this then you know I am a fan of La Table on Post Oak near the Galleria in Houston. Last week, I went there for a media event where they were showcasing their newly renovated patio. I can assure you that they are ready for the season, not that it ever really ends, in Houston. They have opened up the downstairs indoor space by adding large windows which look out onto the patio making the bar brighter and more airy feeling. The patio itself was strategically designed to offer adequate afternoon shade, which, along with large fans and cooling greenery makes for a pleasant place to enjoy an evening drink or wile away an afternoon with friends. Check out pictures of some of the light and delicious dining options that La Table is now offering. From the crudités plate pictured above through the sweet madeleines and macarons on the bottom, everything you see pictured is flavorful and truly patio-worthy!