She's already read "Kitchen Confidential" 1 and 2, "The Devil in the Kitchen" by Marco Pierre White, and "Heat" by Bill Buford. Any other books my foodie wife would enjoy in that vein?

Where can I find a deep fried Monte Cristo sandwich in the greater Houston area? The only one I've ever had was at the Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland and I imagine there has to be a better one than that on a menu I've overlooked around town.

I try to stay away from the more popular chains like El Tiempo in search of neighborhood places or hole in the walls, although we've been to places of all types. Really want to try Peirson's but the 7 pm close time makes it tough for a weeknight dinner. Never been to Tony's Mexican so might give that a try. Himalaya has been on my short list for a while but I haven't picked it yet. I'd also like to get out to Brick House Tavern to try their burger but I haven't been motivated to head up 290 lately. I'd say Tony's Mexican or Himalaya are in the running so far.

My pick is coming up for a dinner club. We try to pick places most of us have not been to or to which we normally would not go. We'll be coming from the downtown area but are willing to drive, and we try to keep the price tag reasonable.

We've already been to the following:
Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine. Alexander the Great Greek, Antonio's Flying Pizza, Bocados and drinks at Anvil, Baba Yega. Bamboo house, Barbecue Inn, Beaucoup Wings n Wings CLOSED and Lola's. Beaver's Icehouse, Bijan’s Persian Grill, Bistro Calais, Bistro de Amis, Blake's BBQ, Blue Nile. Brasserie Max and Julie, Broken Spoke, Brother-in-Laws BBQ, Cafe Mezza, Café Montrose, Café Piquet, Café Pita+, Café Zol, Calliope's Po-Boy, Capone's, Cavatore Italian Restaurant and drink at Rainbow Lodge, China View, Cream Burger, Dharma Café, Dolce Vita, Dot Coffee Shop, Doyle's of Oak Forest Restaurant, Dry Creek Café, El Jardin, El Pupusodromo, Fiesta en Guadalajara, Floyd's Cajun Seafood and Texas Steakhouse, Garson, Glass Wall, Grimaldi's Pizza, Incredible Pizza Company, Istanbul Grill, Joyce's Oyster and Seafood, Juanita's Mexican Restaurant, Just Dinner, Killen's Steakhouse, King Biscuit, La Vista, Tilted Kilt, Last Concert Café, Lemontree Restaurant, Little Big's, Little Bitty Burger Barn and drink at Alice's Tall Texan, London Sizzler, Lyndon's Pit Bar-B-Q, Ma Goodson's Café, Madras Pavilion, Mak Chin's (CLOSED), Mambo Seafood, Mardi Gras, Mary'z Lebanese Cuisine, Mia Bella, Miguelitos, Mint Café, Monument Inn, Morningside Thai, Nelore Churrascaria, Nidda Thai Cuisine, Open City, Out of Africa CLOSED, Pan y Agua, Paparruchos, Pasha, Patrenella's Ristorante Italiano, Polonia Restaurant, Reggae Hut, Riva's Italian Restaurant, Riverside Terrace Café - aka RJ's Rib Joint CLOSED, Rudi Lechners, Ruggles Green, Russo's NY Pizzeria, Saffron Moroccan, Saute (CLOSED), Sawadee Thai, Segaris, Seoul Garden, Shade, Smash Burger, Sophia, Soma Sushi, Spanish Flower, Star Cinema Grill, Studio Movie Grill, Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen, The Spaghetti Western Italian Café, Tilted Kilt, Tiny Boxwoods, Troy's Dawg House(CLOSED) and drinks at Ernie's on Banks, Turquoise Grill, Yao's