roadhawg's Profile
Re-Tinning?
Try Akers Metal Polishing Plating & Repair on Richmond. Akersmetals.com.
Have no idea how good they are, or what they charge, just found them by Googling "retinning houston."
Smokin' Mike's Real BBQ - Houston
I've heard good things about Pierson & Co. as well, and will have to check it out when I'm in that part of town. I've been back to Smokin' Mike's with my wife since I wrote the original message, and had a good conversation with the owner. He smokes his briskets with pecan in a custom smoker, says he typically has them in it for about 20 hours. I don't remember what the smoke ring was on the brisket I had, probably because I don't put much value in it. My understanding is that the "smoke ring" isn't really a product of smoke, but of other products that result when wood is combusted. I've had great barbecue with and without a smoke ring. It looks nice, but doesn't really seem to affect the flavor.
Smokin' Mike's Real BBQ - Houston
My wife and I have been looking long for a good barbecue place somewhere on our end of Houston. For the last few years, we've been driving all the way down to Louise to have some of Cecil's meats at Mustang Creek Barbecue. His food is great, but the drive is a deterrent.
On a local board, I read a few reviews of a new place out in West Houston, Smokin' Mike's Real BBQ, run by a man who apparently was a competitive barbecuer at one time. I had most of the day off today, so I thought I'd head on out and give it a try.
Appearances can be deceptive. The place did not look promising, situated in a strip center next to a Massage Envy franchise, but the truth is in the eating. I had a two-meat combo plate, with brisket and ribs, and a side of beans. I told the waitress I wanted my brisket off the juicy end, but she said I'd like it from anywhere on the brisket. I just asked her to bring me something good. There was a little bit of a wait as the small staff was finishing off a catering order, but she soon came back with a huge plate of ribs and brisket. I'll have to say, both were about the best I've found in Houston so far (Williams Smokehouse, RIP, possible excepted). Good smoke ring and flavor, and just short of falling apart. A lot of what we find in Houston, you wonder if it really had been exposed to any smoke, but there was no doubt in this meat. A nice bit of bark on parts of the brisket.. Beans were good with thick juice, and it came with Texas toast and a plate of pickles and onions. Decor is simple -- homemade picnic tables with benches and a concrete floor -- and the waitress was friendly and informative. Mike was there, and talked with me a bit as I was leaving.
If you're in far West Houston, give this place a try. Its address is actually in Sugar Land, and it's on Highway 6 just north of Airport Blvd., on the west side of the road.
I'll still be stopping by Mustang Creek when I go to see my mom, but I think I've found my new regular place in Houston. Smokin' Mike's is good, really good.
[SAT]Seeking for Type 55 (French Style) flour
Can't help on finding flour labeled "Type 55," but here's a page with a ough conversion chart I found in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flour
Good luck.
Club No Minors / El Patio HOU
I haven't been to El Patio in years, but their food when I did go last was ok, better than some other Tex-Mex places in town, but listen to the other posters in this thread regarding better places.
As far as the name "Club No Minors," my understanding is that is has nothing to do with being a former "club" hot-spot. At one point in time (30 years ago), Texas did not generally allow "public" sale of liquor-by-the-drink. To buy a drink in an establishment, one had to be a member of a "private" club." It was an easy law to get around, however. At many restaurants, you could pay a nominal fee which made you a member of their "club" for the day, and go ahead and order your drinks. El Patio got its nickname because just inside the front door, there was another door labeled "Club," and below that, No Minors," meaning simply that the area behind the door was considered the "club," and no minors were allowed.
Hope you find a place you like on your trip.
