oltheimmer's Profile
Houston-Try something new
I was searching for something new (and hopefully low-cal so I can keep from blowing my calorie counting diet) to try to fulfill our assignments for this thread and came across Savoy Grocery, Tika Kabab on Wilcrest in the Press’ Dining Guide under Health/Vegetarian. The review might be quite dated as it refers to it as a hole in the wall and it’s now a fairly decent sized restaurant. It is new to me. I believe it is listed on B4-u-eat as Indian/Pakistani and the reviews are very positive. The restaurant is just north of W. Bellfort on Wilcrest. The parking lot has been packed when I drove by a couple of times but on my way there I had noticed Salaam Nataste on W. Bellfort, about half way between 59 and Wilcrest; the signs say it is Indo-Pak fast food and Naan Corner. I was more intrigued by that and went back to try that first.
This is a hole in the wall that has been open less than a year. There are billiards tables in the rear and only about ½ a dozen places to eat up front. It is counter service. I was intrigued by what the counterman was fixing the 3 men in front of me and tried to ascertain what it was but we had trouble communicating. I finally found out it was called paan; this was new to me. I thought he was saying you had a choice of sweet or tabasco but he was saying tobacco and that isn’t an option, tobacco paste is integral to the dish which also includes nuts and spices rolled in a betel leaf. I haven’t done any tobacco in at least 25 years and this was quite a shock when I bit into it. It’s an acquired taste but I’m not sure I wouldn’t order one again.
I had the chicken korma, a dish I’ve had before at Himalaya and liked. I think the version at Himalaya is richer, perhaps meaning they use more ghee, but this was very good and spicy. I encountered several whole black peppercorns and whole cloves.
We also had trouble communicating about the bread. I assumed it would be naan but the counterman several times called it a big tortilla and that’s what I got (roti? - he may have used the word roti but I missed it). I would rather have had naan and I assume they offer it because of the sign but I didn’t see it listed on the menu.
There are some basic items available every day but some of the menu changes a little from day to day and they don’t have a printed one to take away. I did notice some dishes that were different from what I remember at Himalaya including goat chop, brain massala, fish massala and beef bihari. I asked if beef bihari was another name for beef nihari (more below) but it isn’t - beef bihari is grilled while nihari is stewed.
I got the korma, 2 large ‘tortillas’, a small salad of sliced onions and cucumbers with yogurt dressing and the paan for $8.98 including tax; I thought it was a fair price for what I got. The bread was apparently extra. The fellow was very friendly and apologized for not knowing the English for some of the terms. I will definitely be back to try some other things. Service was fairly fast; there’s no drive-thru lane or kiddie playground, thank goodness, so this is not fast food in the American sense. I was probably in the restaurant between 12 and 15 minutes to get my order to go. He said they do a big business at lunch from the spillover crowd at Murphy’s Deli next door - the kebabs are big items - but don’t get many customers from the Dairy Queen on the other side ;).
I didn’t notice a sign about hours but I did notice several breakfast items on the menu.
I happened to remember a few more places I’ve tried in the last year to add to the list above, among them Sabri Nihari, another Pakistani restaurant across Hillcroft from Himilaya which deserves mention here. I went there before going to Himalaya and had the $7.99 AYCE lunch buffet and was impressed. It would have become a regular stop if I hadn’t tried Himalaya a couple of weeks later. I remember the chicken tandoori and beef nihari and the naan best from Sabri. Beef Nihari is a signature Pakistani dish that is usually compared to pot roast, a cut of beef (shoulder) simmered for up to 24 hours with spices. I think the dish is closer to chili!, different spices than a bowl of Texas red to be sure but the same principle, nothing but meat and spices (if there are any vegetables in beef nihari like in pot roast, they must completely disintegrate). It is a very substantial and satisfying dish. I think I could live happily for some time on nothing but the gravy from beef nihari and naan and I would expect the version at Himalaya to be better but have not tried it yet. Some reviews on b4-u-eat claim Sabri Nihari’s version is the best in town. The naan at Sabri is glazed with ghee and is quite addictive.
I’ll try to get around to going to Savoy in the next couple of weeks.
Houston-Try something new
Okay I've been wanting to post on this thread but haven't had the time to write anything up. I've been calorie counting for 2 and a half months and only eaten out 3 times in that period, so all of this is earlier in the year.
Best find of the year was Himalaya; not new to jscarbor but apparently few others on CH have tried it yet.
Another good one was JC's Chicago Deli on Spencer Hwy @ Woodward, right on the line between Pasadena and La Porte -- he uses Vienna Beef provisions. I'm not fond of the Chicago Style hot dog but the Italian Beef is an awesome sandwich and probably my favorite sandwich in the Houston area right now.
I had to spend some time in Humble and discovered a taco wagon on FM 1960 Business East in old downtown Humble, Taqueria Dona Maria which is Venezuelan. Great snack sized Venezuelan empanadas (corn meal based). This led me to look into other Venezuelan places and I discovered Pana's Cafe on Scarsdale and their awesome patacones, shredded beef sandwich on mashed, fried plantains. I posted a review here some time back, with pictures.
Another good one was the venison chili at Armadillo Palace.
I didn't make it to Polonia the restaurant but did hit the Polish grocery next door for some kielbasa and their astonishing array of sauerkraut products. Also sampled their kolaches which are Czech style, not Polish.
Original Kolache Shoppe on Telephone just north of Park Place was another good one; probably Houston's original kolache shop dating to 1956 and best in town that I know of but limited hours and selection.
Another good one was Mojito's Cuban Bistro on 6 @ Dulles, learned of on CH.
Other places I 'discovered' because of CH: Thiem Hung on Pease (?) @ St. Emmanuel, and, believe it or not, Taqueria Del Sol. I'd heard of this for years from a co-worker but his recs were usually eminently forgettable so I ignored it until it was touted recently in a thread here on CH. Very good, wish I'd tried it earlier; I've only been once, so far, though, because of my diet.
Rediscoveries: Marini’s Original Empanada House in Katy, Kelley's for CFS (after Robb Walsh's review), Andros Greek Deli on Fondren. I used to shop at this place when it was an import grocery rivaling the original Antone's on Taft; it's now just a sandwich shop. Decent gyro - more meat than Niko, Niko but less tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce. A good option if you don't feel like driving all the way to Montrose and standing in line for 15 minutes! Decent Fatboy (poboy) also, very similar to Antone's but bigger. Also, Cafe Latina, in the old Cardet's in Montrose (Cuban).
I also hit a very good pupuseria way out on Bellaire, El Cuscatleco.
Out of town, Swinging Door in Richmond impressed me - pecan smoked Q with good smoke penetration. If it weren't for my diet I'd be trying to get co-workers or friends to go and take advantage of the AYCE family style special - a little of everything they do.
Novosad's in Halletsville was a great find -- awesome Q. I posted a review here on CH some time back.
Also caught Austin's in Eagle Lake open for the first time. Excellent sausage, rivalling the very best I've ever had at Louis Mueller in Taylor. I wanted to make it back out at Easter when they were supposed to have cabrito but didn't. I haven't gotten around to writing a review about that one.
Also in Halletsville, Besetney's Kountry Bakery (another location in Schulenberg). Great kolaches and home made breads. I was there one chilly Saturday morning, just passing through. They had several home made soups on the sign board and almost every table was occupied and almost every table had big soup bowls on them -- must be pretty good stuff.
I'm a fan of old-timey burger stands like Someburger on 11th street -- there's a very good one in Richmond, Jaime's Dairy Treat,on 90-A @ 762. They have a very extensive menu for a burger stand including home-made tamales and enchiladas, but I haven't tried them yet. Burgers are very good.
Houston Recs
Here's some of the websites. I don't think Otilia's has one. Pappas is easily found if your going that route.
http://www.picos.net/
http://www.swingingdoor.com/
http://www.goodecompany.com/goodeRestaurantBBQI10.aspx
http://lopezmexicanrestaurant.com/index.html
http://www.molinasrestaurants.com/
http://www.eltiempocantina.com/
Ninfa's is owned by Serrano's which is why you should avoid anything other than the original on Navigation, but El Tiempo is Ninfa Laurenzo's family.
Houston Recs
Goode Co. does beef ribs? Who knew? (I go there so seldom could've easily missed it). Not on their on-line menu. I was going to suggest Pappas but only if you have to have beef ribs, otherwise, not that good. If by North Houston you mean I-45 north, also avoid Thomas BBQ.
I've been to Burns a couple of times and don't see what the fuss is about. Williams is best, close to being on a part with the best in C-Tex. Ribs are best (pork) but brisket is good; home-made, fine ground sausage is all-beef I think. Closed Sun and Mon.
Thelma's - pork ribs and chicken are best (sorry bout that) and catfish.
Otherwise I second jscarbor's recs. Otilias, Picos and Hugos are Mex-Mex, not Tex-Mex. I'd guess your friend is jonesing for Tex-Mex. I don't do Tex-Mex that often but for old fashioned Tex-Mex platters Lopez on Wilcrest off 59S is good as are the Molina's.
A regional variation on bbq here is pecan smoked; best I know of close is Swinging Door north of Richmond on FM359; up to a 3/8" smoke ring, good portions, good sides, sauce on the side as it should be. Sit-down service and prices a little higher than most Q joints plus a tip for the server; only open W-Su, I think. There is a website.
What's the best Mexican fast food chain?
I guess I'd have to say Taco Cabana though I only go for the convenience of a drive-thru and only for a breakfast or an advertised special. Kind of pricey for fast food and skimpy portions, if you ask me. Too many other options (taco trucks, taquerias, etc.) I've never been to Chipotle but have had food brought to me from there by co-workers -- I'm not fond of burritos to begin with so I've never been moved to go there on my own. Taco Bell -- no way. Dell Taco lasted a little over a year here.
Taco Bueno was here about 25 years ago but pulled out, probably about the time Taco Cabana and their early competitor, 2 Pesos, came in. I remember them as being good but that was a long time ago.
Pappadeaux?
The Pappas family has been involved in the restaurant biz in Houston since at least the early 60s but they didn't start working their name into all their restaurant's names until the early 80s. They've always had a good reputation. The formula supposedly was 'good food, generous portions, modest prices, fun atmosphere.' They eschewed any kind of advertising, depending on word of mouth, which allowed them to put more food on the plate for the same price, which pleases a lot of diners. I think over the years, as the number of restaurants and concepts has grown, the quality has slipped and probably no where more than at the brisket houses. Prices are no longer modest.
I'd rate them as better than average for chain restaurants but in every case except probably the steak house, you can do a lot better at local places in Houston that are non-chain.
If you committed to chains, the Brisket House on the Gulf Fwy (I-45 S) just inside Loop 610 is supposed to be the best of those for some reason. The coffee shop next door, Dot, is an early Pappas concept that they don't claim on their website -- it's possibly the best 24 hour diner in Houston.
I always thought Pappadeaux was a ridiculously over-spiced version of Cajun but I went about a year and a half ago with some friends and they seem to have toned that down. I've never been impressed with Pappas Seafood House but lots of others are. I haven't ever been to Yia Yia Pappa Mia, their Greek place, nor the 2 upscale steak houses.
If you want another chain for Cajun, try Boudreaux's - its more casual (counter service), not such ridiculously large portions and more modest tabs. But we've had Cajuns and Creoles among us for decades before the Katrina evacuees came and there's lots of good places, from dives to Brennan's of Houston, run by the same family that runs Commander's Palace in NOLA.
When you get here start posting on the Texas board and we'll help you out. Maybe by then there'll even be a Houston board.
Any Great Houston Food Blogs?
Both Allison Cook in the Chron and Robb Walsh in the Press have blogs; you can access them through the paper's Dining sections. I'm rather tired of both of those two writers and haven't really paid much attention.
I found this one a few weeks ago: http://foodinhouston.blogspot.com/
I've found some good stuff on there, plus there are links to some others I haven't checked out yet.
Then there's the Texas Burger Guy, who's been featured on the Food Channel (for San Antonians, he's just given a very good review to Chris Madrid's):
http://texasburgerguy.blogspot.com/
A couple of people based elsewhere have reviewed some Houston places, one is the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich Blog (http://web.mac.com/davydd/iWeb/Site/Pork%20Tenderloin%20Sandwich%20Blog/Pork%20Tenderloin%20Sandwich%20Blog.html); he found a good one at Heights Camphouse BBQ on White Oak (the pork tenderloin is a chicken fried pork sandwich, a better alternative to a CFS sandwich).
As I recall, this guy has been a judge at the Rodeo bbq cookoff; I've always found his opinions worthwhile, although there isn't that much about Houston:
http://www.wheregreggeats.com/
Here's one of the ones linked to on Food in Houston that looks promising, but I haven't had the time to spend much time on:
http://www.quoz.com/
Thanks for posting the topic; I'd love to know of some more.
Katy area recs ?
Glad you had some second thoughts, air. I have a friend in far W. Houston that I've been promising to go see for lunch. He's a fan of Filipino culture and now I know where we can go. I bet he doesn't even know of this place.
Katy area recs ?
Ditto on Marini's - Argentine meat pies.
http://www.theoriginalmarinisempanadahouse.com/home.html
Capt. Tom's Seafood on I-10 @ Mason, I think, in a faux shrimp boat, would be a good place for shrimp, oysters, catfish, gumbo. Prices have gone up about 30% in the last couple of years but still good. Get the whole butterflied catfish dinner - $8.95, I think.
There's a Hinze's BBQ on S. Mason; the original in Wharton is very good, but I've never eaten in that location. Very good sides; the original does fried chicken on Wednesdays, I think.
Candelari's on Fry - also haven't eaten at this location. I know others don't think this is very good and I'll agree it's gone downhill since first opening just a few years ago, but worth considering. Since you're from NE you may not think much of pizza in Texas. Candelari calls itself the King of Sausages and anything with their sausages would be the best bet.
http://www.candelaris.com/
Check out the b4-u-eat website - search by part of town for Katy. Looks like mostly chains out there.
Lunching in Houston
To me your requirements suggest counter service, take-out. Ditto on the rec of Whole Foods; stuff on the buffet shouldn't have been sitting out for long by lunch time and there are ready made, chilled items, too.
How about Cafe Express, down Kirby almost to Richmond? There are a few items there I like. A soup and salad special offers a choice of 3 or 4 'mini' sandwiches and a bowl of soup for $7.49. Kind of slow for counter service but better than sit-down, usually.
There's ready-made sandwiches and about 8 or 10 soups to choose from at Central Market, out Westheimer @ Weslayan. Never been there at lunch time but waiting in line for a custom made sandwich is likely a long wait. Of course, there's a huge selection of ready made entrees and sides; kind of pricey.
Probably a salad bar at that Rice Epicurean also just east of that intersection and likely also at the Randall's at Westheimer @ Shepherd (haven't been in a Randalls in years).
Field of Green's (they claim there was some trademark infringement issue that led to the insertion of the apostrophe) on Alabama, a block or so east of Whole Foods, where Ziggy's Health Bar used to be -- haven't been but sounds promising. Owned by the same people who own A Moveable Feast (and just a block or so from where the original Moveable Feast was iirc).
Texas road trip (Austin-SA-Galveston), where to eat?
There'd be no sense in coming that far and being so close and not hitting one of the bbq meccas in Lockhart, Luling or Taylor. If you're going to have only one bbq meal on your journey, pick one of these (Black's, Kreutz, or Smitty's in Lockhart, City Market in Luling or Louis Mueller's in Taylor). If you going to have 2 bbq meals in TX, pick 2 of these. My own personal choice for all round is City Market in Luling. Get there for lunch; several close by late afternoon and only a couple are open past 6pm.
Gaido's is problematical; Robb Walsh in the Houston Press wrote them up last year and pointed out what locals have known for along time, it's coasting on it's reputation and can be great one day and very disappointing the next. I'd recommend Floyd's Cajun Boat on I-45 @ Nasa Rd. 1 in Webster, owned by the guy who founded the Landry's chain, or Top Water Grill in San Leon for a better seafood and a more reliable kitchen.
If you want more bbq by the time you get to Galveston, the one to consider is Leon's World's Finest In and Out bbq on Broadway (I-45) at 55th. Soul food sides.
CFS - look for Kelley's country cooking -- League City, I think? on I-45, or in Houston, the original one on Park Place @ I-45. Huge portions. See also a hilarious big review in the Press last year.
BBQ in Houston -- best is Williams' Smokehouse -- comes very close to being on a par with the ones mentioned above in Central TX.
Chili - stop by Goode Co.'s Armadillo Palace on Kirby for their venison chili, excellent. Soak up the Texas kitsch, enjoy some live music and 2-stepping if you're there in the evening.
Check out b4-u-eat.com for maps and more reviews by locals in the Hou/Gal area.
Houston Downtown - Girls' weekend
It's good that you're getting a car, downtown Houston is going to be pretty dead on weekends. There's another thread going here on CH on vegetarian in Houston which you should look at.
Kolaches are a traditional Czech pastry that are very popular here in Texas. The best are probably to be found in the little Czech towns between Houston and Central Texas but there are some very good ones in the city. The best I know of is the oldest one, Original Kolache Shoppe on Telephone @ Park Place, on the SE side. Been there since 1956. Very good, but will likely have a limited selection on Saturday, may close as early as 10am on Saturday and closed on Sunday. Another good one is the Kolache Shoppe on Richmond @ Weslayan, SW side near Greenway Plaza, a spin off of the former. Should be open til about 2pm on Sat but closed Sunday. Most Mom and Pop kolache shoppes will be closed by early afternoon -- it's mainly a breakfast pastry thing; the earlier you get there the fresher out of the oven they're going to be. A lot like a Danish but made with bread dough and a lot more filling. I would avoid, if I were you, the Kolache Factory, which you will encounter all over. It's a chain; they seem to want to be to kolaches what Dominos is to pizza and they're trying to turn kolaches into an all day thing. I've found their kolaches to be very unsatisfactory.
Some good Mexican suggestions above, all Tex-Mex, I think. If you prefer Mex-Mex in any of it's many varieties, let us know. You might also consider the original Ninfa's on Navigation, where the fajita craze really began in the early 70s. Owned by a chain now but still has a lot of charm. The El Tiempos are run by Ninfa Laurenzos descendants and use her original recipes; a Laurenzo is in charge of the kitchen at 1308 mentioned above.
We have empanadas, too. Argentianian, Columbian, Venezuelan and Salvadoran that I know of, all different.
Root Beer Recommendations?
I was sampling a bunch of different root beers a year or so ago and decided I liked Bulldog best. It's from Oregon and available at Cost Plus World Markets for $6 a six pack. I think it has honey and vanilla in it so may be too sweet for your SO.
Buffalo Chicken Wing recipe (not in a fryer)
I prefer dry wings over wet wings. I prepare mine in a convection oven using a variety of dry spice mixes - Cajun (Poche's, Tony Chachere's, Emeril's, etc.), Greek, Italian or something I've come up with myself. Actually my favorite is a blend from a local butcher shop.
It's been asserted several times that the famous 17 herbs and spices of Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried chicken is actually no more than salt, pepper and msg. I tried that one time on wings and actually it was pretty good. Can't say if it tasted like KFC since I haven't been since the 80s.
I usually fix several different varieties when I make a batch.
You can do them in a regular oven, just takes a little longer and perhaps doesn't get quite as crispy.
Good Vegetarian in Houston?
As far as closeto the Galleria, all of the ones listed above in Lily Dale's post on Richmond, W. Alabama, Kirby, SW Fwy (59S) and Hillcroft are no further from the Galleria than the nearest Lupe Tortilla. Dimassi's is on Richmond @ S. Post Oak, just a half mile south of the Galleria. Also, see the thread on Fadi's for a link to their website; there's one on W. Loop 610 S @ Beechnut. Neither is known for spicy food, however.
In that area around the intersection of Hillcroft and the SW Fwy there is a concentration of Indo-Pakistani and Middle Eastern restaurants among which is Himalaya, an excellent Pakistani place with spicy food. Pakistani cuisine includes a liberal use of ghee but you can ask for a less oily version and I'm sure the spiciness will not disappoint. The naan is awesome.
http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/menus/himamenu.asp
btw I am not vegetarian, just trying to help. I've never understood how Hobbit Hole has lasted so long.
Absolute best burger in Texas?
The best I have had was at Kincaid's in Fort Worth, followed very closely by Christian's Tailgate Bar on Washington just off I-10 W in Houston (I haven't been to the mid-town location but haven't heard good things).
I also love the burgers at Dan's on N. Lamar in Austin - small, double-meat, double-cheese, atw. My craving for one of those is just as strong as my craving to hit one of the BBQ emporiums in Luling or Lockhart when I'm up that way. I tried the Dan's on Manchaca once and thought it was no where near as good.
Fadi's?
Fadi's started here in Houston. Looks like there's more of 'em in Dallas now.
http://www.fadiscuisine.com/
I went just once. The buffet was not as appetizing looking or tasting to me as Dimassi's, which is one of my favorites locally (from the 'about us' on the website, apparently there's some connection between the two), but some people rave about Fadi's. Sorry I can't comment on Ali Baba, but if you search for Fadi's here on CH, you'll probably pull up some comments from Houstonians, anyway.
Houston area restaurants
I don't know that Houston has any particular food associated with it because there is such a wide variety available. Requests here on CH often are made for recommendations for Tex-Mex, BBQ, Chicken Fried Steak, Seafood and to a lesser extent, a bowl of Texas Red - chili. Those seem to be the typical Texas foods. We have a huge Asian community; even though you may not be interested in those types of eateries, if you're going to do any sightseeing you might want to take a drive out Bellaire Blvd from Gessner out past Beltway 8 through New Chinatown; even people from San Francisco have been known to be wowed by the diversity of what's available. We also have a very good representation of eateries representing the various cuisines of Mexico and most Central American and South American countries which you may not have access to in Seattle. If you're interested in any, just ask. And we have lots of Cajun places.
All the recs made so far are good and I don't think you'll have any problem with spiciness. There is bbq available closer to your hotel - Luling City Mkt -- see the current thread on Transcendant bbq. That would be my choice over Goode Co. provided you can get there before 1pm, but I would agree Williams is the best in town; it's kind of hard to find and closed Sunday and Monday, though.
On a recent thread about eateries in the Galleria area someone mentioned Piatta on Post Oak @ Alabama for good Italian. It was brand new news to me and I haven't gotten over there yet, but that would be within walking distance of your hotel. Getting around in Houston can often be confusing for newcomers.
Another place within walking distance, though a longer stroll, would be Kenny & Ziggy's Delicatessen on Post Oak, a very good NY style deli. Other casual places would include Nielsen's Delicatessen on Richmond, famous for over 50 years for their decadent potato salad, and Dimassi's Meditarannean buffet on Richmond.
For romantic, you mgiht consider Brennan's of Houston, run by the same family than runs Commander's Palace in NOLA for very upscale Creole cuisine.
Most of these places have websites. You can also check out b4-u-eat.com, a local restaurant review site. There seem to be lots of ringers posting over there and it's not discursive but you could select 'Galleria' for part of town and get a list of probably 60-70% of the restaurants in the area of your hotel and then come back to here to ask for the advice of CHers. The website offers the advantage of links to maps.
Capt. Benny's is very good but it's limited menu; you might want to consider Goode Co. Texas Seafood instead. But my first choice among the Goode Co. restaurants would be Armadillo Palace for a bowl of their venison chili, some Texas music, lots of Texas kitsch and maybe a little two-stepping on the dance floor. It won't be too spicy. It's right next to the bbq place on Kirby. If you opt for any of the Goode Co. recommendations, go to the Kirby Drive locations rather than the ones on I-10 because of construction hassles.
Bastrop - Other Options for Lost Pines Guests
Bastrop is booming, it seems. I was through there last fall for the first time in years and hardly recognized the town. I stopped at Cartwright's bbq, right on 71. There's major construction going on and from the time I saw it until I got about a mile down the road to make a u-turn and get back took almost 15 mintues.
Cartwright's is not one of the better known bbq joints in C-Texas. Here's a pic of what I was served:
http://tinypic.com/fullsize.php?pic=2gv3in7
The brisket was very fatty and not very remarkable but the sausage was very good (as were the beans; the corn in the background was out of a can). There are 2 sauces, a tomato-based, ketchupy one in a squeeze bottle and the one in the background in the Jack Daniels bottle that is based on meat drippings, I think. I usually don't care about the sauce so I only sampled a few drops of each; go for the second one.
That meal was a little over $10 bucks, a bit pricey for what I got. Apparently Cartwright's charges extra for things like bread, pickles, onion and jalapeno.
I'd definitely go back for the sausage, but I'm a sausage-aholic.
The Houston Chronicle did a little write-up on Lost Pines which mentions another little cafe downtown I know nothing about:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/travel/4137260.html
I'd ignore Dripping Springs or a trip into Austin unless you have a lot of time (traffic in the city, etc.). If you opt to leave Bastrop for anything, first choice should be a trip down to Lockhart (est. 30-35 mins each way) for bbq at Kreutz, Black's or Smitty's -- some of the very best in TX, and lots of references here on CH, or north to Elgin (est. 20 mins each way) for cue at Southside Mkt or the other one -- can't remember the name now. Elgin is the sausage capital of Texas.
Oh, yes, there's a Chili's in Bastrop and lots of the fast food chains.
Transcendant BBQ (Luling City Market, Luling, TX)
Just so you know, Dorothy, you co-worker is a bit misinformed. The Luling City Market in Houston is in no way connected to the legendary one in Luling (real name: City Market, Luling, Texas) other than ripping off the name. They attempt to emulate the cue at the original and do pretty good -- you can do a lot worse for cue in Houston. The story is - and you could find this in the archives of the Houston Press - that the original owners of the place in Houston hired someone away from the place in Luling who knew the sauce recipe. He didn't last long and is now back in Central Texas running a sandwich shop or something but their mustard based sauce is supposedly the real thing. (I've never compared them side by side).
In Houston according to Robb Walsh, the cue is produced in a gas fired oven with logs added for smoke; in Luling, it's cooked in a real pit. In Houston it's served off a steam table, so go early as possible to get the best quality. By late afternoon, the place turns into a small sports bar.
Here's a pic of some food at Luling in Luling:
http://tinypic.com/fullsize.php?pic=2ykj37n
and some in Houston:
http://tinypic.com/fullsize.php?pic=4gxhy1c
from my most recent visits to the two places.
rruben: the Houston place bottles and ships the sauce. Maybe there's a list of ingredients on the label???? ;).
http://www.lulingcitymarket.com/sauce.html
Help for Welsh Rarebit
Craig Claiborne's NYT cookbook of 1962 cites Webster: "a dish, variously made of melted or toasted cheese, often mixed with ale or beer, poured over bread or crackers; -- a jocose term, like 'Cape Cod Turkey' (codfish), that through failure to recognize the joke is commonly modified in cookbooks to Welsh Rarebit."
The modification is almost universal now, it seems to me, but I prefer the old term. I believe I read somewhere that the joke was because of the scarcity of meat in the Welsh diet.
Similar jocose food terms may be Bombay Duck - dried smoked fish - and Zuppa Inglese - an Italian desert cake.
Here's the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_rabbit
Interesting stuff.
Does Mexican Coke Have More Caffeine?
I pay .79 to .85 c per 12 oz bottle for Coca Cola de Mexico at regular supermarkets in Houston. Sticker attached with nutritional data since it's not required in Mexico. 150 Calories, 39 grams azucares. Caffeine is listed last among ingredients but no quantity.
The premium for Coca Cola de Mexico at taquerias (in bottles) is steeper than that.
Regional Cooking Terminology question- "BBQ"
It was Walsh -- not me! Cow's head cooked in an oven? No smoke involved? (or lengua cooked in a crock pot?) Typically served at a taqueria, not a barbecue joint.
Here's a link to the article on Walsh's website (doesn't mention barbacoa); this was incorporated into the book http://www.robbwalsh.com/03writings/artsmoke.shtml
In Dallas, where to buy cream that's NOT ultra-pasteurized?
In Houston, Shepp's supplies fresh cream and half and half. The carton's are marked with the word 'Fresh' in a yellow oval. It's carried at Super WalMart, Walmart Neighborhood Centers and FoodTown stores and probably at lots of independents. I believe Shepp's is in Dallas, too.
Since it's perishable, stocks are usually small and they run out from time to time.
Regional Cooking Terminology question- "BBQ"
To answer your first question, I wouldn't know what to expect if I didn't know the host. Perhaps it's because there has been such an influx of people from other parts of the country to Houston in the last 35 years, but I find the notion that everyone in an area uses the term bbq to mean the same thing fallacious. If I were going to a restaurant, I'd need to check it out in advance, if possible, but I wouldn't expect any place in this part of the country to serve grilled hamburgers or even smoked hamburgers and call them bbq. But I know native Texans who cook chicken on a grill in the back yard, mopping it with a sauce, and call it bbq and I know people who cook ribs and brisket in an oven with sauce and call it bbq, even a crockpot (shudder).
As for the rest of the questions, yes, there are big differences in different parts of Texas, although the lines are blurred. Robb Walsh in Legends of Texas BBQ delineated 4 styles: cowboy (cooked over direct heat), Central TX meat market (smoked, indirect heat; coarse ground sausages in natural casings made on premises are usually a speciality), East TX/Southern Black/Urban Black (often finished wrapped in foil, even in the oven; tenderness of the meat and 'messy' piles of meat are signatures more than smokiness, along with fine ground all beef sausages in synthetic casings and soul food sides), and Hispanic/S. TX (barbacoa, not really relevant anymore). He also traces the historical derivations of the styles. The Central Texas smoked meats style is the most celebrated, going back to German immigrant butchers who brought Old World smoking to Texas; sausages are a prime meat. In some small town bbq joints, the sausage is sometimes the only thing worth ordering.
Cooper's in Llano and Mason is the most famous example of the cowboy style; the owner there has said of C TX smoked meats that it's not bbq! I've never been but I undersand Cooper's cooks over mesquite coals, not a mesquite fire.
Some C TX meat market style places eschew sauce at all; some eschew sides and eating utensils, serving orders on butcher paper. Rubs are usually very simple.
Woods differ too, although the local variety of oak is the most common. In C Tx it's post oak. In SE and E TX pecan is sometimes used. Mesquite is more common in the west, and so on.
One difference in big cities is the impact of smoke pollution restrictions which has forced many city joints to use gas-fired ovens to which logs are added for smoke. The whole process can set up and left to do its thing, eliminating the need for a pit man. The results can be remarkably consistent and good but not exceptional. Places in Houston that have to do this are Goode Co. and Luling City Market, a copy cat of the famous City Market in Luling, TX.
But 2 of the best joints in Houston are Black owned - Williams and Thelma's - but don't use the Southern/East Texas Black methods. Williams is closest to the C Tx style while the sometimes irascible Thelma proclaims what she serves is not Texas food, it's Louisianan!
Hey, I'm getting tired of typing. Buy the book (or look up Robb Walsh's website where there is an article on bbq if I remember which explains a lot of this better than I have).
Venison Sausage
http://www.chsausage.com/
http://prasekssmokehouse.com/
http://www.holmessmokehouse.com/
http://www.veronsmeatmarket.com/
Chappell Hill is the one I'm most familiar with and would recommend without hesitation. Their bacon and summer sausage is good also.
I've never had Prasek's venison sausage; the only things I've had from there have been beef and pork and summer sausage and they were a little disappointing; the seasoning is very mild.
I'm sure Holmes does a venison sausage but they don't list their 'flavors' on the website that I can find. You'll have to call them
Veron's is Cajun but located near Houston. Again, I've never had the venison but their andouille and pork and crawfish sausages are excellent.
Hope this helps; I've never bought venison breakfast patties.
Novosad's - Hallettsville Q Review
I’ve driven thru Hallettsville and seen Novosad’s and have been wanting to try it but I’ve always been too sated from just having eaten in Lockhart or Luling. One recent chilly Saturday I made a special trip from Houston and I’m glad I did.
Novosad’s is on S. La Grange in Hallettsville. The street runs n/s just one block west of US 77 and Novosad’s is a half block north of US 90A. Look for the clock tower on the 1897 courthouse which rises above everything in Hallettsville; Novosad’s is just off the SE corner of the Courthouse Square. It is only open Tu-Sat, 10a-3p.
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=344f7sw
The place is small - 2 tables up front, 5 or 6 in the rear, and dimly lit. It makes Black’s in Lockhart look almost cavernous by comparison. The menu is on the wall; besides the usual offerings, Novosad’s is known for lamb ribs and pork steaks, but I didn’t try either of those on my first visit.
This meal of 1/4 # brisket, 2 ribs and a link plus macaroni salad and iced tea came to $9.36 including tax. (One rib removed for the sake of the photo).
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=49hox8w
They had some regular store bought bread but I was given 4 slices of a nice crusty, home made bread. Whether they make it themselves or it comes from Besetney’s down the street I don’t know. According to Robb Walsh’s book their cole slaw is special but I’m not a big cole slaw fan and I passed on it.
The brisket had a good 3/8" smoke ring and intense smoky flavor and was very good, reminiscent of the very best I’d ever had at Dozier’s in Fulshear in it’s prime. Actually I’d rate this brisket as better than what I had at City Market in Luling on my last visit in November when I got some subpar brisket.
The ribs also were reminiscent of the best I’d ever had at Dozier’s though not quite as well done and without as much of a smoke ring and were not as smoky as the brisket. They had what is probably the crustiest exterior I’ve ever had on ribs which was quite salty but I liked them
The sausage/hot link was a surprise. The only thing I’d been able to find on line about Novosad’s was a several year old piece in the Austin Chronicle which described the sausage as coarse ground but what I had was like a wiener in texture (I didn’t think to get a picture of a cut piece). It was in a natural casing with a very good snap to it and quite good – green and red specks and seasoning suggesting maybe some chili powder? - just not what I’d expected. I dipped several bites of the sausage in the mild bbq sauce which went well with it but I didn’t want any of the sauce on either the brisket or ribs. Like the best Texas bbq, they didn’t need any sauce.
I’m looking forward to return visits to Novosad’s. I’m glad to have found another very good Q joint closer to Houston than Luling or Lockhart and I won’t have any hesitation to stop in. I never saw the Texas Monthly piece which ranked Novosad’s in the top 50 in the state and I don’t know where it ranked but based on first impressions if it’s not in the top 10 it didn’t miss it by much.
One Houston Mex-Mex lunch: Pico's or Otilia's
Tough choice! Both very good. Pico's has been around longer and is a little more dependable, perhaps; portions will be larger, service better. Comparing what I've had at both places (not chile relleno) I give the edge to Otilia's, however. Service can be quirky and I note the last couple of reviews of Otilia's on b4-u-eat.com have been somewhat negative. I haven't been to either in about a year and a half.
I think the best solution is to work in a visit to both ;).
Can you help me in "West" Houston?
Capt. Tom's on I-10 at the Mason Rd. exit I think - faux shrimp boat on the EB frontage road. Oysters on the half shell, cold boiled shrimp, fried oysters and shrimp, catfish (whole butterflied), gumbo and more. Excellent.
Original Marini's Empanada House on S. Mason @ Westheimer Pkwy - Houston's oldest S. American eatery - Argentinian empanadas and sandwiches. Excellent.
http://www.theoriginalmarinisempanadahouse.com/home.html
Along S. Mason you will pass a Hinze's BBQ. The original in Wharton is one of the best bbq places in SE Texas but I've never eaten at that location.
Candelari's Pizza on S. Fry. A new location; I've never been there. Sad to say this place (older locations) seem to have gone downhill but worth a try, perhaps.
http://www.candelaris.com/
Empire Turkish Grill on Memorial inside SH 6. I've never eaten here but have eaten at the same owner's Istanbul Grill in the Village and it's very good. This place looks much more upscale. http://www.theempireturkishgrill.com/
Houston BBQ on S. Eldridge south of Memorial is by the folks who originally started Luling City Market, one of the better q joints in town (Galleria area). I've never eaten at the newer facility but it's supposed to be very much like LCM.
Edit: just noticed there is a Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet on I-10 between 6 and Beltway 8 - this would be excellent for lunch.
http://www.dimassisbuffet.com/Home.htm
breakfast between iah and galveston?
Glad that worked out for you. I didn't realize there was another one right on the freeway. I've never had the appetite to tackle the Grand Slam.
