by Sandra Crittenden

Gratify, the newest concept from Clark Cooper Concepts, has opened next to Coppa Osteria in Houston's Rice Village. Read all about my first visit in my latest for Houston Food Finders.  https://houstonfoodfinder.com/foodfinds/first-bite-gratify/

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 ...

Susi Zivanovic I had a fantastic experience this week learning about the cocktail program at Perry's Steakhouse & Grille with beverage director, Susi Zivanovic.  In addition to selecting the wines for the restaurants, Zivanovic creates all the cocktail recipes that guests enjoy at the many Perry’s locations.  Zivanovic shared with the group that her philosophy for mixology involves high quality ingredients masterfully blended into well-balanced deliciously drinkable cocktails.  She said that when she creates the different recipes, she chooses only premium ingredients - most importantly, she makes sure that there are no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Invitees to this event started the evening with the Perry's Hog-Hatten. This drink was prepared by the true professionals behind the bar.  This  Manhattan-based cocktail is elevated with spicier Redemption Rye Whiskey instead of the more traditional Bourbon. This is combined with Vya Vermouth...

Abruzzo is located east of Lazio and north of Puglia on Italy's east coast along the Adriatic Sea. I went for a wine media trip to this region in May and learned that this is another one of those many places in the world that should have been on my destination bucket list to try to visit far sooner. I didn't know what I didn't know until I went and saw. There are seaside cities with beaches and seafood and mountain towns with sheep and cheese. There are medieval castles and ancient hilltop towns. There are beechwood forests inhabited with wolves and bears and huge national parks. There are water sports and snow skiing. The Gran Sasso mountain looms in the background while the blue Adriatic cools down the coast. Montepulciano is the most important red grape in the region. It is the second most planted red grape variety in Italy after Sangiovese. It makes a robust juicy red wine that has always been considered as a great wine with pizza. Abruzzo has long been known ...

Houston's hottest new wine destination, a'Bouzy has officially opened this week and the beautiful people are flocking in to get a taste. The Champagne is flowing and the food is delicious. Reservations are a must; open for lunch, happy hour and dinner. Check out the video for a sneak peak!

Scenes from opening weekend at Potente, downtown Houston's hot new destination for modern Italian cuisine!

Caracol has one of the best Sunday brunches in Houston. The Mexican coastal cuisine buffet assortment includes raw oysters on the half shell and in shooters, an array of ceviche, salads, tamales, enchiladas, savory meats and sides along with a dessert table with more options than you can try in one visit. I could make a whole meal with just their raw offerings. My husband prefers the rich meat dishes with multiple desserts. The Mexican hot chocolate found amidst the dessert array is the perfect finish no matter which direction you choose.  They also have a brunch cocktail menu and a good list of sparkling  wines to keep you refreshed throughout your meal. Expect a busy, festive atmosphere and prepare to enjoy! This is one of my favorite Sunday brunches in Houston.

Following Thanksgiving, my side of the family all went for Saturday brunch at Gloria's in Midtown. Gloria's features Latin cuisine focusing on Salvadoran and Tex-Mex favorites. My brother is their architect and has designed most of their restaurants; we always share a meal here whenever he is in town. This was my first time to order from the brunch menu which is available on both Saturday and Sunday. I had the  Huevos a Caballo, two eggs over easy on a skirt steak with black beans and guacamole salad.  Simple and delicious with a Bloody Mary, recommended!

Brandani's Restaurant and Wine Bar in Missouri City opened over a year and a half ago but I just recently discovered it. I live in Sugar Land, a suburb of Houston, and it is easier for me to go into town rather than head deeper into the suburbs on most evenings. My husband and I have now eaten at this location four times in a short time period, most recently last night. Chef Ron Brandani and his wife Claire have created one of the best dining experiences in the area. Though the appearance of the restaurant has not been updated since the prior tenant, the American classics and Italian-inspired menu is a change. The dishes we have tried have all been fresh and flavorful. We have thoroughly enjoyed everything we have tasted. A few favorites include the crabmeat stuffed zucchini blossom appetizer special when it is available and the Shrimp Marco when it is not. All of the pasta is delicious and freshly-made; we have tried all four options now and have not been disappointed. Fried ...

We tried the brunch at  Triniti  last weekend for the first time. We enjoyed it and we will return. It will be a great spot to bring the whole family over the holidays. My meal looked like this picture but also included some healthy greens that were not particularly photogenic though they were delicious.  My entree was the fried chicken with over-easy eggs and we shared a mixed pastry basket and a bottle of Ca' del Bosco Franciacorta sparkling wine.  Southern goodness with Italian refreshment, a recommended way to Sunday brunch in Houston. *Edit - This restaurant unfortunately closed on Sunday, February 5, 2017.

Brennan's is a Houston institution. This New Orleans inspired restaurant has been the scene of many of my family's special occasions over the years. My grandmother and my aunt even hosted my high school graduation brunch here when I was eighteen. My husband and I had not been to their brunch in a few years though we have had dinner here many times during that period. We decided it was time to check them out again last weekend and I decided to indulge in the "Digging Texas Creole" option for $32. This pre-set menu was new to me and involved three courses that included fairytale pumpkin and carrot soup, cast-iron roasted vegetable enchiladas with a fried egg on top and ended with Meyer lemon and rosemary sorbet. Absolutely delicious and loaded with veggies, a scrumptiously healthy brunch option. We shared a bottle of brunch bubbles, a Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2013 . This is one of our favorites and is always perfect with brunch, you can count on it to be cri...

My husband and I go to the original Pappas Bros Steakhouse on Westheimer pretty regularly. We like to attend their wine events and then get dinner afterwards. Last night, we just went in for a light meal. By this, I mean, we split a side potato with our full steak entrees. On the wine list at Pappas Bros Steakhouse- the Faury Saint Joseph 2013 . This Rhone Valley Syrah is a great red wine to indulge in now with any of the meat entrees on the menu. This was our second bottle at this location, I highly recommend it.

My husband and I decided to try brunch at the Memorial location of Paul Miller's  The Union Kitchen  this morning. We arrived shortly after service began at 10:00 and were immediately seated. We ordered a bottle of the easy to find and consistently delicious Roederer Estate sparkling rosé to get our Sunday brunch started and began to peruse the menu. The bubbles were dry, smooth and fruity as expected! We were out a bit earlier than usual so I was leaning more towards the breakfast side of brunch. I was also fairly hungry so I ordered the Ranchero omelet which came with diced char-grilled hangar steak, salsa fresca and pico de gallo along with a side of breakfast potatoes. Our server also delivered a plate of mini-muffins with our entrees. It was actually hard to choose as several items had sounded really good, luckily, I was not disappointed with my choice. The steak was tender and the eggs were fluffy and, most importantly, not brown and it came with a generous but not...

My husband and I had each had a large lunch on this day so we decided to go to Brasserie 19 for our Friday night out for some Champagne and a little spread of cold seafood. While this restaurant has a fantastic menu with classic brasserie-style French food, we come here often just for the Le Petit Plateau de Fruits de Mer. Brasserie 19 serves up some of the highest quality chilled seafood that you will find in Houston. You can always count on it arriving to your table fresh, perfectly prepared and enticing-looking. On this evening our array consisted of a dozen cold water oysters on the half shell, jumbo boiled shrimp, crab claws, tuna tartare and a half a lobster. We also ordered a bottle of the NV Vueve Clicquot Brut Rosé Champagne to enjoy with our meal. It was listed at approximately its suggested retail price. The wine list at Brasserie 19 is well-known not just for its pairing ability with the menu but also for serving it up at prices that make any knowledgable winelover fee...

Last night, my husband and I enjoyed an early dinner on the patio at  Aura Brasserie in Sugar Land. We split the jumbo lump gulf crab beignets, the mac & cheese and the Wagyu carpaccio, all from the appetizer menu, served up with Willamette Pinot Noir by the glass. These three items were perfect for splitting and quite tasty, as well. Aura Brasserie is run by chef/owner Frédéric Perrier from Lyon, France. He refers to his cooking style as "innovative American with an inch of French".  Check out the delicious offerings at Aura Brasserie the next time you are in Sugar Land, it is a highly recommended restaurant and, unquestionably, one of area's best. Edit: This restaurant has closed as the chef has moved onto other projects. Check out his fast and casual homestyle restaurant, also located in Sugar Land, Live Oak Grill .

I ate lunch at the Omni Houston Hotel's  Café on the Green recently where I had the opportunity to taste Food and Beverage Director, Eric Parker's top wine pick for the Fall along with some of the favorite items from the menu. Just featured in the Houston Chronicle , Eric Parker had chosen the 2014 Etude Lyric Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County as the wine to enjoy this season citing its versatility and food friendliness as the reason. I enjoyed it with the ahi tuna crudo, the fish tacos and the brisket quesadilla roll. This easy-drinking wine didn't just stand up to these flavorful dishes, it truly enhanced them. Parker has made a highly recommended choice, try the 2014 Etude Lyric Pinot Noir by the splash, glass or bottle on your next visit to the Houston Omni .