Which Sonoma County town is best for foodies.

Thanks. That's what I thought, but just making sure I wasn't missing something.

houstonhound in San Francisco Bay Area

Which Sonoma County town is best for foodies.

We are trying to decide on a town to stay in for a long weekend jaunt to the Sonoma County wine area. They are all so darn cute, that I'm having a hard time narrowing down the options. Which one is the choice of foodies and chowhounds in the know? Healdsburg? Guerneville? Sonoma? Sebastapol?

Advice please?

houstonhound in San Francisco Bay Area

Long Provincial or "Wrong" Provincial?

My husband and I ate at Long Provincial Vietnamese last night on our first visit to Seattle. We eat Vietnamese food in Houston frequently and love it for the crisp, fresh flavors. We were really quite disappointed in Long.

First, let me say the service in the restaurant was excellent and the owner is very friendly. The ambiance is nice as well (in the restaurant... a little more about the bar in moment). The food: not very good at all.

We ordered an okra satay appetizer. Tasted good, but very small portion. Basically 5-6 okra on sticks. Come on. 5-6 pieces of chicken or beef, yes that is an appetizer. 5-6 to okra? I will say the flavor and preparation were good, though.

My husband ordered a halibut with various mushrooms. It was basically a hot pot dish served with broth, but not billed as such. The halibut was fresh and nice enough, but the flavor was dull. The mushrooms, were fine, but cooked mushrooms (3-4 varieties) were just that, cooked mushrooms.

Now comes the really bad. I ordered a lemongrass chili beef. I was thinking it would be strips of grilled beef with a bright and spicy sauce. It was more like stewed beef, almost like carne guisada. It was prepared with lots of onion, but really the only taste was hot. And the chef drizzles the entire dish in chili oil as a finishing touch, so the dish looked like shredded stewed beef in an orange grease with lots of onion. It had a cilantro garnish that I ate and only that brightened up the flavor.

The only great part of the meal was my drink. A spicy watermelon martini. I loved it. So after our meal we adjourned to the bar so I could have another and see how it was made. The bartender was busy talking to his friends at the bar and made my drink at the other end near them (no big deal). When he brought it over I wanted to ask him how he infused the vodka and about the other ingrediants and preparation. He was polite, but clearly irritated that I was asking so many questions. I guess I was keeping him from his buds. The bar is pretty dumpy, too. Looks like college students idea of a martini bar.

Anyway, we were hugely disappointed in Long Provincial Vietnamese. I don't know if Tamarind Tree is better, or if we just ordered wrong, but I feel like the concept is a good one, but the execution is lacking. Either that, or I just don't like the way the owner's Vietnamese mother taught him to cook.

houstonhound in Pacific Northwest

Wimberley restaurants

I know this request for recommendations has been made before but the results were not definitive.

We just need a rec for dinner in Wimberley for a Friday night. We are going to the restaurant at the Mandola winery on Saturday night (recommended by several people, although at first I was dubious). Best rest in Wimberley? Most unique? We'd like nice dining experience, good wine, interesting menu.

Thanks for any recs anyone can give.

houstonhound in Texas

Some London schooling on curry, please

Well, I do eat Indian food in Houston, but not terribly often and not often enough to be familiar with the names of the dishes.

Thanks for the suggestions and thoughts.

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

Help! Still no London reservation for Boxing Day.

I'm having trouble finding a restaurant convenient to South Kensington for dinner on Boxing Day. I've checking into several places (Tom's Kitchen, Wild Honey, Casa Brindisa) but they are closed. We are looking for something not too fancy (gastropub maybe?), casual but , of course, "Chowhound worthy".

Maybe I don't need a reservation, but I'll be flying in form the US that morning and won't be in the mood to wander around looking for someplace to eat dinner that night.

I do have a reservation at the Rosendale, but looking on the map, it seems rather far (not convenient) to the flat we have in South Kensington.

Thanks in advance for your help.

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

Some London schooling on curry, please

Thanks, I will.

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

Some London schooling on curry, please

Well thanks. That's a start!

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

Some London schooling on curry, please

Well, it certainly did, but no one has yet offered me any suggestions of what to order, where.

Still waiting to see if I can get a charitable hound to give me a list (an description) of prime dishes not to miss.

We are staying in an apartment in South Kensington (Onslow Gardens) but will travel all over the city for a memorable meal.

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

Some London schooling on curry, please

Thanks PhilD. These recs sound like a good variety of rests.

But remember, I am still pretty ignorant. What dishes do you recommend in the various spots? By way of example, if you were to come to Texas and wanted to be educated about mexican food, I'd recommend the cheese enchiladas at one place but the grilled quail at another and the chile relleno at yet another, and explain the differences

Do you mind a further expansion on your above recs?

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

Some London schooling on curry, please

So, howler, if I were to go to Gaylords, Moti Mahal or Bombay Brasserie, what would I expect to find on the menu, how much would I pay and what is the general ambience/class of restaurant?

Thanks!

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

Houston Holiday Best - Need help finding it...

OMG, bless your heart!

My favorite Tex Mex is Spanish Flower but jscarbor is right, Hugo's is the most upscale.

A small hole in the wall that is very popular for new soul food is The Breakfast Klub on Travis, which is right next door to T'afia, a rather acclaimed Houston restaurant, although, I'm not a big fan. The Breakfast Klub has great catfish and I hear great breakfasts, but beware, they have a line on most weekend mornings. A special there is wings and waffles.

For terrific thin crust pizzas and wonderful sides try Dolce Vita and its big sister restaurant, Da Marco (fancy)

I thnk all the info you are getting is in the center of Houston. Sorry, Montgomery and Sugar Land are out of my balliwick. However, I loved the sushi at a place in SL call Japaneros. Search it out and you will be happy!

Also, see this link to previous CH thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/569336

houstonhound in Houston

Minne Hound Needs Caterer, Houston TX

Shade restaurant also caters and does a lovely job. I'd call them first for a real foodie experience.

The caterer to the stars in Houston is Jackson Hicks. Affair Extrordinaire also is well known and frequently used.

houstonhound in Houston

Chicago CH Seeking Houston Dining Rec's

Max's Wine Dive on Washington is quite fun, but pretty loud. They serve comfort food fixed haute with a real wine list. Delicious sliders, mac n cheese with truffles (you get the idea).

I second the suggestion for Catalan, also on Washington.

In the Heights, not far from downtown, is Shade. I really love their menu, especially a halibut served with asian influence. The space is nice and the proprietors are wonderful!

Directly in front of the GRB is The Grove in the Discovery Green park. Nice setting and good menu. Not a bargain, though, considering it is supposed to be a casual rest.

houstonhound in Houston

Some London schooling on curry, please

I know that when in London it is imperitive to "have a curry" as they say, but I am only familiar with a few curry dishes (Thai red curry, for example) and would love a brief guide to the various types of curry restaurants, dishes, locations, etc, in London.

Thanks to all the experts out there who will take the time to help me prepare for a visit to London.

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland

London rests. open 12/26?

mrnyc

You clearly have more knowledge about London eating than I do, so, I'd love to hear about your recommendations for Boxing Day dinner.

Also, what time do Londoners generally like to eat dinner? We are Americans, but have strong latin influence in that department and are most happy with an 8 or 8:30 p.m. reservation. I seem to remember that the pubs close early in the UK. Same with restaurants?

houstonhound in U.K./Ireland