Fracocious's Profile
Houston's Oldest Restaurants
Don't forget to try Dinner Bell Cafeteria on Lawndale. It has been around since the 60s.
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Dinner Bell Cafeteria
6525 Lawndale St, Houston, TX 77023
San Juan, Dinner in Condado area
We just returned from a week in San Juan and had a fantastic meal at Marmalade. The service was excellent and the food outstanding. Try the tiny white bean soup. Definitely worth the trip. That said, we tried their sister restaurant Jam in Condado and was thoroughly disappointed. The service at Jam was excellent, however the food sub-par. If you have time for lunch/brunch, we stumbled upon San Germain in old San Juan. It is a tiny French bistro style restaurant. Enjoy your trip.
The Grove - Houston
I've had drinks and apps in the bar area twice over the past month. They have a good selection of wines by the glass and a great variety of appetizers. The duck meatballs were fantastic. The atmosphere is nice and the noise level manageable. Others I know who have dined there said the food was great. My only negative comment is that service in the bar is very spotty. The staff is either overwhelmed or understaffed.
Houston Fish Monger, any suggestions?
Try Airline Seafood on Richmond, east of Shepherd. The seafood is fresh and reasonably priced (especially in comparison to Central Market or Whole foods.)
where to buy a molcajete?
I've seen them at Sur La Table, but would imagine markets that feature Mexican or Hispanic foods would also be a good source.
Houston Cooking Class
Sur la Table in the River Oaks Shopping Center offers classes as well. I believe their schedule is available online.
help - leftover rice!
Dirty rice - a great spicy dish from our Louisiana neighbors that incorporates, ground pork (I use spicy sausage) or liver (I'll pass) onions, celery, green, red and yellow peppers, chicken stock, cayenne pepper, etc,. There are plenty of recipes floating around.
Will Landry's Ever Come to the Northeast?
They used to have a crab house at Chelsea Piers in NYC. Not sure if it is still there, but it was a replica of one here in the Houston area. Landry's is very agressive in Texas and has received a bit of negative publcity. They seem to buy good established restaurants and cookie cutter them for the masses. The result is generally a mediocre dining experience. That said, they're making $$$.
Your best pie recipes
My all time favorite is a chocolate pecan pie, but more often than not I leave out the pecans and end up with a fudge pie. I've seen it posted on several boards and I think it originated from Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk. Melt together 1 cup of chocolate chips with 1/4 cup of butter and one can of sweetened condensed milk. Stir until chips are melted and sauce is smooth. Remove from heat, stir in 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla and 1 1/2 cups pecans. Mix well, pour in a 9-inch pie shell, bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.
Best Houston Burgers
Pappas Burgers on Westheimer (I know, sorry part of a local chain/family of restaurants.) They have a fantastic chili cheeseburger. And, Someburger is still there - always a line whenever I pass by.
Houston Valentine's
Totally forgot about Glass Wall. Been there serveral times and always had good experiences. Only issue I have is that it seems they are always having to subsitute the meat for their evening specials as they are already out (by 8:30??) BTW - Glass Wall is inside the loop, about a mile or two south of 610 North. We enjoy Catalan. Very good selection and price points on their wines- often less than Specs. Unless they've changed in the past month, food quality can be inconsistent. Another option in the Heights - Shade on W. 19th.
Houston Valentine's
Cafe Annie - very nice,elegant
Pesce - seafood in a more modern, nice, fun atmosphere
Brennan's - classic elegant New Orleans/creole
Marks - classic American
DaMarco - Italian
Then there are the classic steak places: Flemings, Pappas, Mortons, etc..
Soup in Houston
La Madeliene has a couple every day, in addition to their tomato-basil. Treebeards always has a nice gumbo and chili everyday, if you count them in the soup category. Triple A diner on Airline, just inside Loop 610 (by the Farmers Mkt) has an excellent chicken and dumplings on Thurs and Sat.
Best non-expensive treat to bring to a party? Like- $10 or less?
Orange candy slices with one half dipped in a melted semi-sweet chocolate then set aside to harden. You'll be surprised how fast these go.
Pizza in the Houston downtown/convention center area
Star Pizza is about 3 miles and Candelaria's is about 4 1/2 miles west - both on Washington Ave. They deliver, but you'll need to call to see if they deliver downtown. I would think so.
Houston - Dessert near Museum District
Pesce on Kirby at W. Alabama has a fantastic selection of desserts - especially the German Chocolate Cake. They have a private dining room to seat up to 45 or so, but not sure if there is a minimum spend. Wouldn't hurt to ask.
Chili dogs in Houston
I was impressed by the chili dogs at Minute Maid Park (maybe I was just extremely hungry that day.) The chili actually contained beef and was a bit substantial, unlike that of JCI. My parents think JCI is the best. Then again, they would go there on dates back in the late 40s and everything was always better in the good ol days.
Choices for a 'Best of NY' food box for a Texas Chowhound?
Black and white cookies. I'm from Texas and while on a 6 month work assignment in NYC was on a mission to find the best black and whites. Juniors has mini B&Ws that would fit in the box quite easilty.
houston coffee shops?
You might want to check out Onion Creek on White Oak in the Heights. While technically a coffee house, it offers a few more libations than those with caffeine.
Houston private dining--nice, retro?
What about The Brownstone, just off Westheimer, west of Kirby? I'd also suggest browsing the site b4-u-eat.com. It's a great resource to see what diners are saying about restaurants in the Houston area. The left hand navigation bar features a spot specifically for Thanksgiving.
BBQ Brisket Sandwich in Houston
Hum, now that is interesting. The Hyatt has always been on the list for a convenient business lunch. Never considered it for barbecue, given the number of barbecue places in this town. Bonus find for those of us in downtown.
Favorite Barefoot Contessa Recipes?
There are many favorites but the recipe I get constant raves about is the Pesto, Pasta and Peas.
(HOU) Tasting Menu's
Try Noe at the Omni Hotel. While my visits have alwasy been great experiences, I've had friends who were not particularly impressed.
