Holy Heat!

How did it become so hot so fast? We skipped over spring and dove head first into summer. But I’m not complaining. I will take sunshine over clouds any day! Plus the sunshine brings everyone out to dine on patios, to the biking/walking trails, having picnics, sitting by pools – you name it and someone is out enjoying the day. All the movement makes the city seem alive and vibrant. And it wakes up a desire to get out there and do something myself as well. This month I indulged in Italian not once but twice, finally fulfilled a craving and have been spoiled weekly by the presence of a food truck.

A salad dreams are made of! 

Ruggles Green

2311 West Alabama

713.533.0777  www.rugglesgreen.com

I dream of this grilled Atlantic salmon salad. Mixed field greens, romaine, shredded carrots, farmers market boiled eggs, sourdough parmesan croutons and queso fresco are tossed in mango ranch dressing and topped with chipotle honey-seared salmon fillet. It’s a wonderful balance of sweet, savory and mild spice. It’s no surprise they are always so busy!

A beautiful marriage of cheese and cake.

Dolce Vita Pizzeria Enoteca

500 Westheimer Rd. 713.520.8222

www.dolcevitahouston.com

Their rendition of strawberry cheesecake is delicious. Literally cake and cheese are layered with strawberry preserves and covered with caramel sauce. I felt like I got surprised with this. I not only got cake but also cheese! It’s genius! Pasta every day equals one happy girl.

Coppa Ristorante Italiano

5555 Washington 713.426.4260

www,copparistorante.com

There is nothing like their spaghetti carbonara. Forget calories and your waistline; you will not regret the decision. If you need to feel better about this, order one to share or as an appetizer so everyone gets a few bites. Salami bits, egg yolk and parmesan are mixed into the spaghetti, and they finish it off with parmesan cream poured atop the pasta tableside. Another must try – their crispy prosciutto pizza. Whipped mortadella, parmesan, black olives and arugula are spread atop a thin crust and crisped to perfection. We skipped the black olives on our version. The thin strips of crispy prosciutto with the arugula make it out of this world!

Life changing sandwich/bread. 

BanhMieria

@BanhMieria on Twitter

www.banhmieria.com

We’ve had the luxury of having this food truck park outside our offices every Tuesday for a couple months now. I say luxury because the moment you taste their bread you will never be able to eat regular bread again. Their baguette roll is homemade and you can taste it! It’s soft, fresh, warm deliciousness in every bite. And we aren’t even on to the actual sandwich! My preference from BBQ pork, beef, tofu or shredded chicken is the chicken. It’s finely shredded and stuffed into said bread with a veggie mix of carrot, cucumber, cilantro and jalapeno – and their homemade garlic mayo plus the veggies has this vinegar sweetness that I can’t get enough of. That’s why I order mine with extra veggies.

By Beatrice Allen

“April showers bring May flowers.” I’m hoping this rings true because most of February was gray and the beginning of March is not off to a shining start. I’m in need of my Vitamin D. And from the looks of my brunch at Canopy (mentioned below) everyone in Houston is looking for the sun too. By the time this is in your hands I hope you’ve been able to check out all the new places that are sprouting up in the city. The rapid rate of these openings is exciting. Although this also means there is no room for error. When we have this many options, you really have only one moment to shine. I don’t know many people who will go back to mediocre experiences for the sake of giving it one more shot. In reality, we don’t need to. You had favorite places you go to before; not having a new place is really no harm done. It’s finding a new place to add to the mix that’s exciting. It gets you out of the rut. So to all the new restaurants/gastropubs, etc., welcome! We can’t wait to make you part of our favorites.

This month I reacquaint myself with an old favorite, indulge in Italiano, hit a sweet note and start my day off with the most important meal.

Not Your Ordinary Salad

Shandy’s Café

5814 Memorial Dr. 713.426.2675 | www.shandycafe.com

For consistency, they get top marks. I had strayed a bit from Shandy’s but I’m back. Lately I can’t get enough of this shrimp and avocado salad. Not all shrimp and avocado salads are created equal – this one is the best! With plump, fresh, steamed shrimp, chunks of avocado settled atop greens, diced tomato, bacon bits and sprinkles of freshly grated Parmesan cheese in a spicy honey mustard dressing, this salad is the making of an epic experience.

Sweet Deal 

Sweet

801 Town & Country Blvd. 713.64.SWEET (79338) www.sweethouston.com

There is no shortage of cupcake shops in Houston, and while all have their signature “stamp” or sprinkle or thick icing, this is the first place I’ve seen make cupcakes cute. We ordered these adorable minis for my mother’s birthday and were in love with their mini Hostess®-like cupcake, white swirl across the top and all, and this lovely little red velvet topped with the cutest tiny heart. I see a recurring theme here with last month’s heart-topped coffee. Love it!

Famosi Per La Pizza

Piola

3201 Louisiana St. 713.524.8222 www.piola.it

Their gnocchi and pizza are some of our favorites. And being that they are relatively close to us, I don’t make it in enough. If you’re in for lunch or dinner, you must try the gnocchi pompei (tomato sauce+fresh basil). Get as an appetizer to share so there’s less guilt with indulging in BOTH pasta and pizza. Mmmm, if only they were good for me. We order their classic Margherita and top each slice with a serving from their Lollo (arugula+shaved grana padano+Italian dressing) salad to get some greens in our meal too. This combo adds just a little something to each bite.

Breakfast Is Served! 

Canopy

3939 Montrose Blvd. 713.528.6848 | www.canopyhouston.com

Breakfast is rumored to not be a priority for a chef – and I think that’s lame. It’s not only the MOST important meal of the day but it’s also my favorite. Canopy has the basics but it also has fresh pastries; it’s everything I might crave in the morning in one place. We started with monkey bread and a cinnamon roll and a pitcher of mimosas. For breakfast, I had this perfect Canopy egg plate. Two eggs scrambled with Apple- wood smoked bacon, toast, crispy potatoes and fresh fruit were the beginning of a perfect, beautiful patio weather Sunday morning.

I have the luxury to enjoy some of Houston’s finest, yummiest and newest dining. Plus all the other places I just happen to stumble across. One would assume I do a lot of eating out but in reality most of my meals are homemade…by me. I’m not an expert in the kitchen but I can keep my husband and myself well fed. A huge component of this is my co-op, Rawfully Organic.

I get a beautiful bounty of fruits and vegetables each Tuesday that are not only organic but also (when possible) local. From this awesome bounty I make juices and meals. Since a little girl, I’ve also enjoyed my meals together with my family at the table, a custom I’ve carried on into my marriage. Nothing makes me feel more appreciative than enjoying the meal together I’ve been stressing over. A “this is delicious” is the best thing to hear and knowing I’ve snuck in some healthy veggies eases my mind. Founder of Rawfully Organic, Kristina Carillo Bucaram, is the sweetest, tiniest, most knowledgeable (my opinion, folks) source on eating raw in the city, should you look into joining her awesome co-op, You will get to know her for yourself, support local farmers and feed your family as well as yourself healthier, organic fruits and vegetables. Join the co-op movement at www.rawfullyorganic.com.

This month, I grab a lovely   coffee to-go, visit a comforting classic, start a new year tradition and reaffirm my love for juicing!

One Café Latte non-fat with LOVE.
Catalina Coffee Shop
2201 Washington Avenue 713.861.8448
www.catalinacoffeeshop.com
They turn coffee into art. Art with hearts! It makes me feel like they put a little love into each cup. It’s almost a sin to have to cover it up when it’s to-go.

Old school quirky comfort (anybody remember the porcelain animals hanging from the ceiling?).
Mason Jar
9005 Katy Freeway 713.461.9005 
Not just a special but served year-round, if you’re looking for a hearty potato soup, Mason Jar has you covered. My favorite combo to order is a cup of their potato soup with their crispy chicken salad. The salad is sprinkled with shredded cheese and dressed in Honey Mustard. It’s the perfect pair when you need some comfort food.

New year, new tradition.
Brasserie 19
1962 W. Gray 713.524.1919
www.brasserie19.com
We decided to start our year off on the right foot. A late lunch on the first of the year to usher in positive vibes called for celebration. This meant more champagne and a delectable seafood platter with warm toasty baguette on the side. It doesn’t get better than Veuve, crab claws, lobster, shrimp, crabmeat and more. Although it sounds indulgent, this light meal proved to be perfection for our new New Year’s Day tradition.

Juicing, Juice, Juice!

Snap Kitchen
5710 Memorial Dr.
713.426.4700
www.snapkitchen.com

My sister has turned me on to juicing. Since her Christmas gift of a juicer, I’ve been hooked. And in a kind of kismet way, Snap’s new juice line was delivered to our offices in the new year for us to taste. Along with the news of their new location on Memorial closer to my home! So when I’m on the go or don’t have time to juice, I swing by and pick up my favorite flavors. Among those that I love are their Carrot Ginger Elixir and Watermelon/Energy juices.

It’s a month dedicated to love. Not just for couples but for all. To love those around you – your mom, sister, brother, grandma, lettercarriers, delivery guy, your barista. You could go the cynic route and bash the whole month/day, but why not just see the beauty in loving what you’ve got and those you have in your life. If you choose to take your loved one to dinner, special menus and seatings are out there everywhere; do the research and make your reservation so you aren’t left out in the dark. Last year, we just went to a favorite, with no specials or fancy menu – just a place that is special to us. This month if movies are a love you share, then you don’t want to miss a screening at the city’s newest cinema. Looking to indulge on sweets? Two restaurants make the cut with intoxicating treats. Don’t know where to go but tired of the same old thing? I have a Trattoria that will not only surprise but also delight! Wishing you and yours a LOVELY month.

Sundance Cinema
501 Texas Avenue 713.223.3456
www.sundancecinemas.com
Say hello to a new theatre experience. If you are going to be paying what feels like an exorbitant price to go to the movies, you might as well get some “perks.” In quotations because these aren’t free after all. This comes in the form of vouchers for underground parking, reserve seating/pre- buying tickets online, comfortable seating, gourmet food offerings and a bar! This is the most comfortable movie experience to date. Yes, other theaters have some of these qualities but River Oaks can be cramped and the seats need work and Studio Movie Grill, don’t get me started. At Sundance, our seats were side by side with a “table”on both sides so we didn’t have the next moviegoer right on top of us. The layout when picking your seats would lead you to believe seats are absolutely separate but the only separation is those aforementioned tables strategically placed between every couple seats. Only downfall? Sometimes there’s a line at the bar, but thankfully that means they’re busy because we are hoping they stay around a LONG TIME.

Trattoria Il Mulino

945 North Gessner Rd. 832.358.0600
www.ilmulino.com
Let me count the ways I can rave about this Italian gem. If you live on the West Side or don’t mind making the trip, this is located in the Westin Memorial City. The easiest way to park is valet right at the front door of the hotel, and the restaurant is through the lobby and off to the left. We held one of my few girls’ Christmas dinners here. A long table down the center of the venue held court to our feast consisting of meatballs, arincini (risotto and surprise center of Bolognese-stuffed fried meatballs) and arugula salad. For dinner three of us split their Branzino – beautifully filleted fish with just olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon plus their intoxicating pesto gnocchi. The balance was perfect!

Laurenzo’s Family Restaurant

4412 Washington Avenue 713.880.5111
www.laurenzos.net
The perfect nightcap is this delicious brownie dessert. Atop a warm brownie are scoops of vanilla ice cream, warm caramel sauce and a cherry. It’s not overly sweet but absolutely addicting. Basic but, well done. Who says you can’t just have dessert?

Segari’s Restaurant & Bar
1503 Shepherd Dr. 713.880.2470
www.segarirestaurant.com

You either hate or love it. If your only reason for hating it was because the prices weren’t on the menu then that doesn’t even count. You’re biased from the get go. And reasoning says that if the prices weren’t there, I’d expect it to be pricey. Calling it like it is, folks. We had a girls’ dinner that took up a large chunk of the small intimate space (i.e., perfect for Valentine’s) over the holidays and was impressed by not only the food but also the staff. And when I say staff, I mean one guy running the whole place. Plus it was packed! We started with a platter of utterly fresh cold seafood – shrimp, jumbo lump crabmeat, claws with lemons and various sauces for dipping. And you have to try the bread. The girls could not get enough of it as well as this dessert. I’m not usually a fan of bread pudding but there is nothing like this one. It’s smothered in a whiskey sauce that is divine! I have no clue what my tab was but for the company, service and fare, it really didn’t matter.

As I get older, time goes by faster. It’s alarming. And I get more forgetful. Not by choice, just by “flight-ness.” It’s hard to maintain your mind in the moment when you’re thinking to the future. Things that need to be done, bills that need to be paid this moment, today, tomorrow, next week – it becomes all-consuming. And the fact that I can mentally check out some times doesn’t help either. At present time I’m writing about food, texting about Christmas presents and balancing my budget at the same time. It’s also time for lunch. It seems like only moments ago I was enjoying my mini-bagel and Fage. Eureka! I think I just found this girl’s resolution. No more forgetting someone’s name because I was thinking about, Oh, I like her shoes. No more waiting until the day of a party to buy a present. Or waiting to writing thank you notes. No more waiting the week before deadline to eat at four restaurants. If it happens or I am aware of it in the moment, it shall get done in the moment. Life is fleeting and I’m ready to live it now, today at THIS moment. This month I dined on French fare, fast food, an athlete’s breakfast, a divine sango and an Italian favorite.

We will always have Paris…
Brasserie 19
1962 W. Gray 713.524.1919 www.brasserie19.com
A night at Brasserie will not only ensure outstanding people-watching but also equally divine dishes. With the change in chefs has come a slew of new additions to the menu. After attending the annual 002houston Cover Contest exhibit at Deborah Colton gallery, we dropped in around 9pm on a Friday. Although inside was packed to the gills, the evening happened to be pleasant so rather than wait, we sat on their delightful patio. It’s just as charming as the inside. To start we had the daily soup which was a tomato bisque and the hand-cut steak tartare. For our entrée, since there was a chill in the air, their Friday special of braised beef bourguignon was ideal. The beef fell apart, making for chunky bits mixed with onion, carrot and mushroom all peppered in a rich complex broth. If you are there on a crisp Friday evening, this is your stew.

A dance of flavors.
Samba Grille
530 Texas 713.343.1180
www.sambagrillehouston.com
On a visit for an 8-course tasting and Sundance Cinema movie date, I found this amazing soup. It’s a combination of rich, velvety delicious flavors, lobster and corn. This lobster corn bisque sango includes a piece of butter-poached lobster, white corn choclo and cilantro oil. It is the most beautiful marriage of corn, lobster and cilantro. Not one overpowers the others, rather they meld together to form this intoxicating bisque that dances in your mouth. No joke – I wanted to skip all courses and stay on this one. That’s not to say all the other courses weren’t outstanding. Their scallop sashimi tiradito is amazing as is their suckling pork.

Athlete’s fuel
Island Grill
5709 Woodway Dr. 713.334.4036 www.islandgrillhouston.com
Casual but substantial dining is what they serve up. It’s no wonder there’s a constant flow of people, even at 8am. Breakfast done simple and right is their Iron Man plate. Eight egg whites are scrambled with turkey, served with wheat toast, a spicy salsa and a side of fruit. I like to cover mine in both the salsa and Cholula. It’s the ideal start to any morning. If you are on the juice train, which I am, this is THE original juice and smoothie bar in Houston.

Guilty pleasure
Wendy’s®
www.wendys.com
It’s been a long time (last September) since I’ve indulged in fast food. Being that there is no “right” decision when it comes to where and what to eat, we went with quite possibly the only place my husband will order from: Wendy’s. And thankfully for his choice, it was awesome. The spicy chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mayo was minimally spicy for me but the chicken was clean, white meat. I was able to eat the entire thing without pulling any “odd” pieces out. Don’t skip on the fries. Since they redid their recipe and include sea salt they’re equally delicious. A meal I wasn’t too pleased to have to indulge in turned out to be 100% satisfying.

Pizzeria Dolce Vita Enoteca
500 Westheimer Rd. 713.520.8222
www.dolcevitahouston.com
Here you see three of my favorite menu items. The shaved brussel sprouts and radish with Percorino Romano are my way of getting some veggies in with this meal. They are shaved so thin they hardly resemble their bulbous nature. Their hefty meatballs are a hearty dish even without the pasta topped with arugula sprigs and sprinkles of cheese. I need to learn to ask for more marinara. I love to scoop it up with one meatball leaving too little for the other two. A good partner to the meatballs is their calabrese pizza. Essentially it’s a pepperoni pizza but with their spicy Italian sausage. This thin crust delicacy is a favorite of all. Even if you aren’t drawn to pepperoni pizza normally, this is one you won’t soon forget.

“Happy Holiday! Happy Holiday! May the calendar keep bringing, Happy Holidays to you.” I bet I’ve used this before through the years around this time. I might be the only person who can listen to holiday music non-stop from Thanksgiving thru Christmas without ever getting tired of it. This quality drives my husband nuts! “How can you possibly know the words to all these songs?!” he asks in bewilderment. The answer: Since I was a little girl, my mother and father have played everything from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Paul McCartney to those A Very Special Christmas albums with various artist remakes throughout the holidays. If we weren’t at home to hear it, it was on in the car too. Even now, I can walk through their door and expect nothing less.

El real deal
Xuco Xicana
2416 Brazos St. 713.523.8181. www.elxucoxicana.com
Among the numerous inviting dishes you can order on their menu are these authentic tacos. Choose your meat from carne “desebrada” (pulled), smoked lengua (tongue), barbacoa, carnitas, pollo asado or beef fajita. Order them Mexican style on a double corn tortilla with cilantro, onion and lime or guero style on a flour tortilla with lettuce, pico and queso fresco. Either way, they are flavorful, in particular the chicken and the carnita. And at $3 a taco, you’re getting a deal for gourmet tacos. Perfect for a Saturday on their patio with an ice cold one.

 
The gift that keeps on giving.
Williams-Sonoma
www.williams-sonoma.com
My sister started this addiction, obsession, tradition. Call it what you will, this family is hooked. And I’m here to share this indulgent delight with you. First order some of their chocolate and plain croissants. Just defrost overnight on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper as well as covering them in a sheet of parchment paper and you wake up to a fluff of dough ready for baking. The most flakey, buttery, fluffy pastry is what you get in a matter of minutes. It’s a touch of France in your kitchen in 10-15 minutes. They also make a sweet holiday gift.
 

Irish Oasis
Celtic Gardens
2300 Louisiana St. 713.900.2500
www.celticgardenshouston.com
From the same people who brought you Pub fiction (their neighbor), this beer garden offers more. Seating options are offered inside but the beauty is enjoying their expansive outside “garden” that wraps almost the whole building. Should we be having awesome weather, this is where you want to have yourself some cocktails. If not for the cool patio, then you have to go for their food options. I’ve never seen a menu with items that aren’t fried and aren’t salads or sandwiches. After hours of watching football and drinking beer, I’d like to eat something that isn’t another million calories. I especially love their Ahi tuna sliders. The tuna bits are tossed in sesame oil and seeds, soy glazed and then served with arugula and a wasabi aioli on a bun with a spicy Sriracha sauce for dipping. Another hit was almost this same combo available in “nachos.” I liked this place for their “oasis” patio but those sliders made me love them.
 

New delight at an old site.
Chatter’s Café & Bistro
140 South Heights Blvd. 713.864.8080
www.chatterscafe.com
I LOVE discovering new items from places I frequent. Too lazy to cook dinner we ordered the Baja Chicken Pita and their Pacific Rim Salad for delivery. I’ve eyed this particular salad before but never dealt with ordering just in case it turned out bad. Turns out, the only bad thing was me waiting so long to order it! A bunch of Romaine lettuce, green onion, fried wontons, tomatoes, toasted sesame seeds and your choice of chicken breast, shrimp or Ahi tuna are tossed in a spicy Asian dressing. Unfortunately we devoured it before I could get a picture. Equally delicious, our Baja pita is a house favorite. Grilled chicken breast, sliced avocado, lettuce and tomato are sandwiched in a pita with aioli spread. All the ingredients (a substantial amount) warm up and meld together for a tasty treat.

Holiday season is here and I could not be happier. This girl loves her holiday season. I’ve come to the realization that it’s more the feeling of togetherness and overwhelming love and thankfulness that moves me about this time of year and less about the holiday hoopla. There is nothing like a full house, whether you’re a family of two or 12, bursting with laughter, smiles, love and food. The little things also bring delight. Like a pumpkin spice latte, or a holiday cup, even the changing colors of the Reese’s peanut butter cup wrappers to the appropriate holiday – it makes my heart grow. So long as that is the only thing that grows during the holiday season I’ll be in luck! This month, I kept my meals as healthy as possible. From a sexy sandwich to a hummus obsession, it’s safe to say you won’t have to skip dessert to fit into your New Year’s dress with these options. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Sexy Sandwich Time!
Vida Sexy
Tex Mex
4224 San Felipe St. 713.961.9200
Yes, the name is peculiar. And the rules might be questionable to some, i.e., no one under the age of 18 allowed. But the food ain’t too shabby. We dropped in for lunch one afternoon per recommendation from my husband who works around the corner. A few other tables came in at the same time with the same look of curiosity. We started with an order of queso and both ordered the fish sandwich. (Another recommendation from the hubs.) Their queso is pretty awesome. It comes with meat, so be aware. Sort of reminiscent of Jose’s dip at another Tex Mex establishment that shall go nameless. Their fish sandwich is tempura battered, served atop lettuce, tomato, red onion and a refried bean spread, and it too was delicious. The bread reminds me of Brown Bag Deli’s bread which translates to awesome in my opinion. And the tempura fish version is quite light. The whole sandwich is quite light with a bean spread filling in for a mayo-based sauce. Chef Humberto came out to welcome us and ask us about our meal which we found comforting. Both the owner and the chef could be seen making rounds to ensure customers were pleased with their orders. A sight this customer likes to see and hear.

Crepes al Fresco
RDG + Bar Annie
1800 Post Oak Blvd. 713.840.1111 www.rdgbarannie.com
Their patio is a great spot to enjoy cooler temperature, get a good meal with stellar service and a bit of people watching in between. On one of those cooler temperature Sundays, we dropped in to dine al fresco. To start, the menu options are solid. So much so that deciding what you might be in the mood for will probably change more than once. I started with their grapefruit and avocado salad which was just that. Grapefruit and avocado slivers are presented atop a mound of iceberg lettuce. Not exactly the salad I had envisioned. A different presentation would make this salad more aesthetically pleasing for RDG. My entrée though lived up to RDG standards. Scrambled egg crepes are served with a creamy avocado, cilantro salsa and two strips of Applewood smoked bacon. Although crepes, it was light and the perfect serving. Only two and not jumbo-sized.

Meatball Madness
Coppa Ristorante Italiano
5555 Washington Ave. 713.426.4260 www.copparistorante.com
Aside from being a sexy restaurant for a date, the couple of times I’ve frequented have been spot on. I’m a sucker for their meatballs. You can order just meatballs (an order of 3) or larger pasta plate, mafalda with meatballs. I’ve been more aware of my metabolism lately, and as such my diet has had to change so I ordered the plain meatball version with a side of their green beans. If you cook vegetables you are aware how easy it is to overcook them and be left with mush. Luckily for this dinner service, that was NOT the case. My green beans came out with the perfect crunch, in a tomato relish with olive bits mixed throughout. A simple idea I might have to replicate at home. The meatballs are a perfect balance of moist and tender heartiness.

Hummus, Hummus, Hummus
Zoës Kitchen
4000 Washington Ave. 713.861.9637 www.zoeskitchen.com
My recent overload with hummus continues and lucky for me (and you) Zoës offers a pretty light, perfect for lunch hummus salad plate. A little Greek salad comes served with a healthy serving of hummus and pita bread for dipping. If this is too light for you, a cup of their chicken orzo is the perfect complement. Although it seemed like I was eating a lot, I had just enough of greens, protein and starch to get me full without zapping my energy. Their soup will also be ideal once the weather decides to dip down.

It’s hard to believe it’s already June. We are midway through 2011 and settling into long summer days. Daylight until almost 9pm. I love it but it also throws my dinner plans out of whack. I never think it’s time to get ready for my evening plans because of this said daylight and then I look down at my watch, it’s almost 9pm. EEEEK! This drives the husband bananas. Here’s to hoping I snap out of it because we’ve got a lot of this ahead of us. In the meantime, we’ve reacquainted ourselves with our love of pizza, found a new Cajun delight and enjoyed dates at a not-to-be-missed BYOB gem.

Queso-olics AnOnymous

El Tiempo Cantina

5602 Washington Ave. 713.681.3645 www.eltiempocantina.com

Who would’ve thought after being moved from off I-10, with the big bear in the front (what happened to that bear?) this Mexican establishment would be the go-to place for excellent fare, so much so the wait can be outrageous on weekends I know I’m not the only one that begrudges that experience. But at any moment a serious queso craving can manifest itself. And then all I have on the brain is finding a way to meet this need. It doesn’t get any better than a bowl full of piping hot queso and a side of guacamole. My favorite way to have it: a little dip in queso with a dollop of guacamole on top. It isn’t healthy (if you’re eating queso, you know this) but it’s highly recommended.

Cajun Country

Ragin Cajun

4302 Richmond Ave. 713.623.6321 www.ragin-cajun.com

Besides being out of control for their crawfish, this casual Houston institution has a couple delights that I never miss out on when I visit. First their red beans and rice with bits of sausage is a filling delight. I add a bit of their spicy sauce and it’s sinus-clearing deliciousness. On the request of my bestie, we tried BQ’s buffalo shrimp. Lightly breaded on the outside and smothered in hot spicy buffalo sauce, served with blue cheese or ranch for dipping and a side of celery sticks, this plate is awesome for wing-phobes or pescatarians. I know my sister loves buffalo sauce but she is not the meat-eating kind. This is right up your alley, Carla! Satisfies that craving without having you wonder what meat you’re eating. I’m hooked!

The only kind of pie I like

Pinks Pizza

710 W. Gray St. 713.521.7465 www.pinkspizza.com

I don’t know if it was that scene in Eat, Pray, Love where they are in Naples eating pizza or what, but I can’t get enough of pizza lately. A crispy, light crust smothered in a subtly sweet marinara with salty cheese and crispy edged pepperoni is awesomeness. I could easily eat half a medium pizza alone and that’s saying much. I’m hoping this is just a phase because my waistline can’t handle this indulgence on a weekly basis!

Date night made right

Lucio’s BYOB & GrilL

905 Taft 713.523.9958 www.luciosbyob.com

Mainly reserved for our special occasion, after a bad day my husband surprised me with a date. At 8:30 on a Thursday we got a pleasant table in their dimly lit dining room. As to be expected, the service is impeccable and knowledgeable. It amazes me how the staff has everything down to the specifics memorized. Our favorite salad is their tomato with fresh mozzarella, micro basil, avocado and drizzles of this thick, sweet delicious balsamic. For dinner we both had their filet mignon with Maytag compound butter on top, served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Cooked to medium rare perfection for me, the quality is outstanding and the flavor is simple. And I’m not one to skip dessert, a classic chocolate brownie with a scoop of vanilla and strawberry garnish is pure yumminess that turns any bad day into a blessed day.