mikefoody's Profile
COOKS ILLUSTRATED - "thanks, and don't let the door hit you on the way out ..."
I don't get it. The email seems polite and the logic of refreshing their recipe testers makes sense. And while you are doing them a service, hopefully you're having fun doing it. Otherwise, what's the point?
Also, there's not really a cost to participate. Is there? They don't require you to make all (or any of) the recipes so something that stretched your budget could be skipped, and either way, you're going to cook something for dinner right?
RA Sushi Baltimore [moved from DC board]
Based on my experience with RA in Houston, I completely agree. Great scene but mediocre at best sushi.
Chicken Fried Steak recipes
Wow. I just got back from lunch but my mouth is watering after reading this. I'm a Texan and there is no lack of delicious, inexpensive chicken fried steak in Houston. Given how guilty I feel after eating too much of it, I haven't tried making it myself (don't want it to readily available). After reading your recipe though, I think it's on the list for this weekend.
What kind of fish to buy? And where?
Asking the fish guy is a great idea. Also, just straight ask them what is good on the day you're in the store. If you're skeptical about the quality and they say everything well ... find another grocery store (or say something to the manager). I do this at Randall's, Central Market (our local foodie mecca) and my favorite fish monger and haven't been disappointed.
Tilapia is my go-to weeknight fish. I've been using it more and more, and it really is a very flexible, relatively inexpensive piece of fish. Of course down here in Texas we may be getting locally farmed Tilapia, not really sure. For variety's sake, you should also be able to get farm raised salmon at that price.
The salmon can definitely be gotten at Costco, but I've found it to be pretty hit or miss. Sometimes it's absolutely great, sometimes completely flavorless. I know they carry other fish, but I haven't tried any of it.
What is your favorite Cooking Magazine
I'm a Cooks Illustrated fan too. Although I agree about the confused mandate, I've been happily brining turkeys in a large stockpot in my decidely modest apartment refrigerator. I love that 475 degree turkey!
I also second Cuisine at Home. All recipes - most of which I want to make - and zero advertisements. God bless 'em.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, disappointing meal
I don't know anyone who considers Ruth Chris among the best steak houses in Houston. It has to be said, we have a handful of truly superb local offerings plus it's Houston - even the locals barely want to be here - so very few tourist diners. Given the strong local competition and the fact it's all repeat business, the other chains do seem to be on their game though - Fleming's, Morton's, Vic & Anthony's and Smith & Wollinsky are all well liked.
Also, when I pay $100-$150 for dinner at one of these steakhouses, I expect absolute perfection. I mean really, there's zero creativity in the menu and preparation. The only thing I'm paying for is well prepared simple dishes and a quite expensive piece of meat that's theoretically better than what I can get from my butcher (oh and a 1,500 degree oven - I don't have that either). If the food and service isn't great, I'm not happy.
What's your favorite water?
I hate to say it, but that's not a real website. It's just the placeholder provided by Network Solutions. Essentially it's just advertising.
Why do many people still think going out on Valentine's Day is a good idea?
A couple other people have mentioned it, but there are lots of people who just can't cook. At all. There are even more people who do "survival cooking" for themselves or their family and get by with it but couldn't produce anything approaching a good restaurant quality meal. Or they might not feel comfortable taking a chance with more expensive ingredients. Your simplest recipe for steak, scallop, roasted chicken, seared fish, etc would justifiably or not intimidate the heck out of them.
In my experience most people just don't have the confidence or can't cook well enough for a special occasion.
Priced Fixed Add-Ons
I agree with jfood that the specials should always be in writing but like everyone else am used to them not being. I usually don't ask for the prices but use a list similar to MMRuth's to know when my bank account might really regret it. I'd add Diver Scallops and Kobe / Waygu to that list too.
Do you Pre Rinse dishes for your Dish Washer? [Moved from Not About Food board]
I don't know about the Maytag, but I have a couple friend's with nicer Bosch models and everything that goes in comes out clean, even ridiculous stuff like day old dried oatmeal and the like. After a doggie door, one of these magical contraptions is at the top of my list for wanting to get out of an apartment.
Do you Pre Rinse dishes for your Dish Washer? [Moved from Not About Food board]
Erinmck, that's me too. After quite a few years of living in very nice but not luxerious apartments (in Minneapolis, Chicago and Houston), I can honestly say I've never had a dishwasher that accomplishes much as far as cleaning the dishes goes. Dishes go in dirty, they come out dirty and occasionaly manage to splatter everything around them with whatever grime is covering them. So I prewash and as others have said, basically use the dishwasher as a sterilizer and place to let the dishes dry.
I have friends and family who possess high end Bosch and equivalent dishwashers, and I have witnessed the miracle of filthy dishes placed in the dish washer and coming out an hour later absolutely spotless (and without the tornado like sound most of my dishwashers have produced). Once I have a home to put an expensively purchased dishwasher, I will free myself from the tirrany of prewashing!
Where are the best authentic tamales in Houston
Pete's is an awesome butcher shop. You might head over there looking for tameles, but be warned, you're likely to leave with a light wallet but carrying a whole uncut, dry aged prime strip steak.
[HOU] Daily Review Cafe?
Definitely recommend Shade as well. It doesn't have the nice patio, but the food is excellent.
Help me get started cooking fish!
These are some of my favorites too. Also, if you're not familiar with mussels, definitely do some research on safely buying and preparing them. A couple previous threads
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/278366
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/279421
Do you need to provide staff with a rationale for a lower tip?
I totally agree with this. And I strongly recommend a letter.
Regardless of what business you're in, in this day of text messages and emails, when a customer takes the time to write and mail a letter it makes a statement. If the manager doesn't jump up and take notice of your letter, smile, move on and think happy thoughts of the high restaurants failure rate.
New to Houston, what's your favorite restaurant in town
I'm sorry. I tend to believe everyone is entitled to their opinion of "best", but one of the challenges when moving to Houston (not necessarily highlighted when coming from LA but definitely from more urban east coast and midwestern cities) is seeing through the godawful suburban sprawl and discovering there really are some unique, great places (to eat and in general). And in spite of this, you've recommended almost nothing but mediocre (some upscale) chains.
Please! Do no think that this kind of list represents the best of Houston. If you live on the far west or north side, these restaurants may be what you see on the side of the highway, but they are not representative of the best of what what exists in and around the city. For that, lots of people above have made excellent suggestions.
Bruni Has His Say About Mesa Grill [moved from Manhattan board]
I don't see why a comment on novelty or creativity is out of bounds.
If I go to a premium steakhouse or high-end traditional French bistro and pay out the nose for a dish that's on the menu at 1,000 restaurants in this country, I damn well expect that the food and everything else is going to perfect. Heck, that's the whole reason $200 / person steakhouses exist. Their menu is the same as Outbacks ...
Fifteen years ago Mesa's menu was risky and quite different from what else was available. That to me at least justifies a certain amount of leeway in assesing the success of each dish.
I thought Bruni did a nice job of fairly critiquing Mesa while at the same time recognizing that part of its challenge is how pervasive its influence has been.
Walking out
I guess he could have called the cops, but especially at hotel restaurants, business diners are the customer base.
It would have to be a pretty black and white scenario (equivalent to a pure dine-and-dash) before I would consider suing or pressing charges against my customers. A disappointed client is a problem, but a disappointed client who you pressed charges against is a walking, talking, emailing negative advertising campaign.
Oh, and I've walked a couple times. I pay for food consumed but service related or major kitchen problems means no tip. It's the waiter's job to make sure I get the food and level of service I'm paying for.
Houston- A Nice Place for Birthday Dinner with a Group
Gravitas.
Great menu and everything on it seems to be good. It's got a fun atmosphere and decor and the bar is a great place to hang out before or afterwards.
Steakhouse for serious business meeting, $$ no object
I'm a Houstonian but also want to suggest Pappa's.
Among Houston's dozen or so ultra-premium steakhouses, I and many, many other people consider Pappa's the best. In addition to superb food (which most of their competitors offer) and a good ambience for business meetings, they consistently provide a "Wow! Still talking about it the next day" level of service. That's the perfect environment for an important meeting.
Cheddar risotto?
I'm sure Thomas Keller can produce a brilliant rissoto from such a cheese, but I wouldn't try it.
Tell your brother to step away from the stove, slice the cheese and put it on a plate along with some are-you-freagin-kidding-me-it's-the-dead-middle-of-winter-expensive red seedless grapes. Add a couple bottles of reasonable wine, your rissoto (made with homemade stock) and one of the simple, delicious roast chicken recipes floating around this board.
Finally, suggest he try a practice run on dinner a couple days before he plans to make it for your future sister-in-law. Burnt rissoto and salmonella poisoning have been scientifically proven to discourage prolonged relationships.
The "new" Bon Appetit (magazine)
I consistenly enjoy Cuisine at Home. They put out only 6 editions a year but each edition has recipes I enjoy and _zero_ advertising.
Also, add me to the list of people who hate, hate, hate the 4-1 ratio of advertisements masquerading as content to the real recipes and articles. They seem to feel that giving the magazine away for free (or $5/year) and loading it with ads is their best strategy. I have let my subscription expire but would seriously considering paying 3 to 5 times their current rate for an edition with far fewer or zero ads. Also, they certainly have the ability to control the format of the advertisements they include.
Dinner for 20-25 people - what to make?
Chili might be a great fit too. It's easy to make tons of it and reheats extremely well. Also, since it sounds like you need to have a vegetarian offer, there are a ton of delicious recipes for vegetarian chilis that the meat eaters will love too.
What sounds better for dinner?
I'm with zataar. Unless you have a source for great tomatoes this time of year, I'd go for the pot pie.
Closings in Houston?
If you don't mind driving a couple miles, Empire Cafe at Westheimer and Woodhead (between Shepherd and Montrose) has killer French Toast. No reservation needed.
Dinner for 20-25 people - what to make?
I like the idea of lasagna too.
Also, a couple of good size, slow roasted briskets are an easy way to please a crowd. There's practically no cooking involved. Marinade. Wrap in foil. Roast. And depending on how elegant a meal you're shooting for, you can always dress them up with more attractively presented sides.
Easy ways to cook chicken
pikawicca,
As an extension to this, I love the Best Recipe High Roast Chicken method. Similar to your suggestion but first soak the whole chicken in a salt brine and rinse (optionally let air dry in the fridge for a day). And then instead of roasting on a baking sheet throw it on the top of a broiler pan and line the bottom of the pan with slicded potatoes. Then cook at 475 or 500 (can't remember which). You end up with delicious, crispy skinned chicken and the best damn potatoes you've ever had.
Closings in Houston?
I don't know about BANK, but I went to Vin not too long after it opened and was extremely dissapointed. My impression was their approach was all style and hype with absolutely no substance. I'm glad to see they've closed.
New to Houston, what's your favorite restaurant in town
Gravitas! Gravitas! Gravitas!
Seriously, try Gravitas. Hugos, Backstreet, Cafe Montrose (about the only place in town I feel safe eating mussels) and many of the other recommendations are also great.
Also, Sushi King, which looks like a strip mall dud (of course what doesn't in Houston ...), is in my experience the hands down best sushi place in the inner loop area.
"We're done here" - the mid-meal departure [Moved from Texas Board]
My fiance and I have done it.
It was about a year ago at a new Italianish place near Highland Village in Houston. It was dead empty so we probably should have known better, but it's right by where we live so we thought "what the heck." Nothing on the menu excited us and after a bad appetizer and terrible service (when we were literally the only couple in the place ...), we bolted.
