Perkyshai's Profile
Beer Yeast as a Bread Starter?
Yep! Tried it recently, but with an IPA. Cultured a starter from a third cup of AP flour and a third cup lukewarm water...then fed that to start the sponge.
Method works great...the loaves were beautifully crusty, and had a fine lofty sponge inside. Problem was they tasted bitter as the IPA will.
My conclusion was to use beer dregs like the bread you want...the yeast works fine, but the hops stick around, flavor-wise. I'm going to culture beer yeasts sans hops, and see how they do.
Recs for fish tacos in Houston
I've tried several..Berryhill for the WIN.
Chapultapec on montrose is not bad, and I think spanish flower has them if you need a 4:00 am fish taco.
Inexpensive and tasty, New Braunfels
Hi Folks!
I've a tubing trip to New Braunfels this summer with a bunch of foodies including a couple planning their wedding, a few college students and a teacher or two.
We're staying at the River Run Condos and having a spaghetti sauce-off on saturday night, but are eating out on Friday night. We have tried Oma's, we're burnt out on Mamacita's, and we can't all afford Grist Mill.
Any suggestions for tasty inexpensive food? Barbecue would be great, but I'll really take anything close and reasonable.
Thanks for you help!
Countertop material: granite vs. solid surface (corian) vs. engineered stone (silestone)
I have slate tile countertops and island countertops...I love them, but they are uneven and I worry about scrubbing them completely clean. (out, out damned spot!)
Our floors are acid dyed concrete, and If you have to do a polished concrete countertop, I'd say go for it. You can get a variety of dyes, or just go natural.
Stylish dish drainer recs?
http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-7%252dpc%252e-Dish-Drainer/dp/B000BH1GJ6
OR check Target or similar stores. I have an inexpensive stainless one that I kept from my indie refurbished no-dishwasher apartment.
When I wasn't using it I hung it up on the wall, on a pair of nails. My kitchen was decorated with chunks of farm implements and assorted metal stuff on the walls, so it doubled as art. -grin-
Texas road trip (Austin-SA-Galveston), where to eat?
Galveston:
I hate to say it, but I love Miller's Landing at 19th and seawall. It's americana type food, but it's fresh, tasty, adn the seafood is awesome. Try the hush puppies...they're strangely cornbready and very very good.
For BBQ in houston, unless you want to monkey around inthe wards and off west alabama/alameda area, I suggest either goode company or the old hickory hollow off washington. Num.
Cafe Red Onion in Houston
It's not that good. There are a couple of good carribbean restaurants and many good mexican restaurants in Houston...including Ninfa's, chapultepec and Spanish Flowers for mexican, Reggae hut and Taste of Spice for carribbean.
Lunching in Houston
I'm around Westheimer and Kirby,and I don't like to take forever getting lunch. I like lots of flavour, good quality ingredients, and relatively light lunches. I have to avoid sugar and lots of simple carbs as I am diabetic...the pasta specials really won't do for me.
My general plan has been to call in a grilled fish taco at the River Oaks Berryhill, sqing bya dn get it, and eat at my desk.
What other decent places do you folks suggest for a tasty, uncomplicated, not foreverlong lunch?
Thanks!
Houston Downtown - Girls' weekend
Quick, fast seriously tasty tex mex food.. the original Berryhill on westheimer and avalon.
Also to try, Kenny&ziggy's deli across from the galleria. Barnaby's for downhome type comfort food, MoMong for trendy vietnamese(near montrose, off westheimer...by the giant hollywood video.)
Good stuff.
Also, great pizza, try Star pizza off shepherd. NOT the star pizza off washington. Foo.
Reccomendations for Ft. Worth?
If you check out the best burger in Texas thread, there's a lot of talk about Kincaids in Fort worth, I think on Camp Bowie. I'll be there this weekend to take a look at the convention center, so am completely piggybacking on your thread. Thanks, and good luck!
Going to Houston (Galleria area) Where to eat?
Cafe Lilli-lebanese food, family run. good prices, lovely food. Have the coffee. Down westheimer a bit, just after the James Coney Island at Bering, on the left.
Beck's Prime. Decent food, AMAZING patio. one of the oldest oak trees in the county shades the patio, and the weather should be amazing today. It's next door to the library down Westheimer near chimney rock / fountain view, on your right.
Kenny&Ziggy's - wonderful food, decent prices. The desserts should feed all of you off 1 piece. Heard that the eclair was amazing. It's a foot long. In the same parkign lot as the Container Store, down Post Oak, to the right.
Any good restaurants in Beaumont/Port Arthur?
Elena's. Try the Alhambres...skewered steak/chicken with veggies, bacon...flame grilled.
Houston-Private dining for 70 In December!?
Hmm. Try La Colombe D'Or. Book quickly, though. They are close to the university fo St Thomas, off montrose. Food's phenomenal, as is the decor.
Alternately, the restaurant in Hotel Derek is said to be wonderful and interesting to be in.
The line between homemade and...not so much.
I think that there is always a relative (frequently that one too..something about random SIL's or BIL's) who is a bit overbearing. I suggest that the time to deal with it is after you know each other, and are more in the nature of family. The important thing is making sure that your partner is comfortable with the way that you cope with their family. If you can find a kind way to deal with it, so much the better.
Your pie was better, you knew it would be, and that's nice. What is more important is that you were civil and gracious when it mattered. Later, you can discuss how happy you are when making homemade lemon curd, and how versatile it is.
The line between homemade and...not so much.
For grown up brownies, I add a half shot of Jack Daniel's regular to the mix, subbing for water.
I like cakey brownies, though.
That is a good mix. Knowing when and how to 'cheat' is an important part of good cooking.
Are you satisfied with your tap water?
Houston, Tx. Water's okay. Drinkable, and doesn't leave residue in the kettle.
Austin Tx water's tastier, though.
Dining at the Bar
I like eating solo sometimes, with a book. It's a bit of a luxury. Bar is perfect for that, and the bartender won't bother you overly.
Do You Feel Guilty About Carrying Out at Buffets? [moved from Boston board]
I dunno...portions being what they are, I can order a standard meal and eat for two or sometimes three meals. Of course, I'm in Texas, and the portions are humongous here.
Heads up about Nutella- European vs. US version
Fruit, sandwiches, body parts, warm it slightly and pipe it into profiteroles or other pastry.
I like it in sandwiches with strawberry preserves. Num. Toast the bread (wholegrain and wheaty) apply the preserves cold, with the nutella slightly warm.
Smush together, (don't trim crust, it's the best part)
Enjoy.
To Diet or Not to Diet...?
I'm diabetic..and actual 1.5er. I have had to change my metabolism in order to live a functinoal and healthy life for any real length of time. I''ve discovered that in order to do that, exercise and understanding portions are necessary. I have to add the carb/sugar thing to that mix, but I'm learning to live with it.
Between splenda, and embracing the power of fruit and cheese (not hard, that..) Dessert takes care of itself, and I drink a LOT of really good tea and tisanes, as well as water. Food...I just explore better food. More fresh, more interesting off the beaten path ingredients.
Basically, if I have to have less food, I'd rather pay the same amount for better food. (when cooking,anyway) and when out, I tend to make one standard meal work for dinner and a lunch the next day. I eat less, work out more, but I eat better, and now really enjoy working out.
Same with alcohol. I can only drink very rarely, so I don't mind paying more for good alcohol and good chocolate. Not is it wonderful, but I've lost the temptation factor for junk. It's the snobbery diet! -grin-
For me, I've exchanged quantity for quality, and changed my lifestyle somewhat. I still love food, and I don't feel either deprived or authoritarian.
Hosts cleaning up/doing dishes while guests still around?
I get to cheat a bit...Most of my dinner parties are either buffet style for large groups or sit down dinners for a bunch of food aficionados. I also have a loft style home with visual access to the kitchen from anywhere except the bedroom and bath.
I am a bit driven to clean, but I simply run things to the kitchen, stage them either in the sink for soaking, for a quick scrub, or (for the specialty stuff) in the deal with later area.
I then return to the guests (with after dinner stuff like coffee) and hang out for a while, then quickly return to put things in the dishwasher after soaking etc, and transfer hard to deal with items intothe sink. That way, after people are all gone, I load the coffee cups in the dishwasher to tray, pop in the soap stuff, do my specialty stuff, and run the dishwasher after everything else is done.
I never abandon the guests, and am part of the conversation DURING my cleanup, which is done in several brief stints.
