Houston Restaurant Weeks - Haven, A Seasonal Kitchen

Since brunch is my favorite, I had to try someplace for brunch for Houston Restaurant Weeks. Haven, A Seasonal Kitchen is a very unique restaurant in that many of the ingredients used in the dishes are grown on the property or sourced from local places in the Lone Star State. They have a large patio that is covered with plants and a bubbling waterfall. The interior is modern, bright and simple. When you walk in there is just a wave of serenity that comes over you. I started with a nice refreshing rum punch "brunchtail" (yes, this is my special name for a brunch cocktail) of rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple juice and lemon. It almost tasted like a lemonade so it was a perfect summer beverage for a broiling hot summer's day. It was a little sweeter than some drinks I have had in the recent past, but it was exactly what I wanted for this catch up session.

One of the things that I had heard about multiple times about were the shrimp corn dogs. This childhood treat is a giant shrimp on a stick coated and fried in a traditional corn dog batter. It was served with a tabasco mash remoulade and a baby glass of lemonade. The sauce had a bit of a kick to it and the lemonade was very sweet to balance the flavors. The corn dog batter was very traditional in that it was a bit sweet and the shrimp were tender. The remoulade was well composed and balanced out the sweeter batter and the lemonade. This dish was super playful and really unique. I can honestly say I have never had a shrimp corn dog before, but it was very delicious.

For my second course, I chose a whole roasted tomato with ratatouille, quinoa, purple hull pea hummus, olive oil and balsamic. I have never had ratatouille before but it was fairly delicious. Though I am not a huge fan of eggplant, but the taste wasn't super obvious and the dish was very comforting. I love quinoa as is is very filling and you can do a ton with it! The purple pea hummus was the perfect consistency and tasted exactly like hummus. I will have to start experimenting at home to make different hummuses. I had a lovely and relaxing meal at Haven and will need to go back to try their regular menu as well as their raw bar, The Cove.

Houston Restaurant Weeks - Sparrow Bar + Cookshop

If you are familiar with the Houston culinary scene than you have probably hear'd of Monica Pope. She recently rebranded her old concept (T'afia) into a new "create your own meal" restaurant called Sparrow Bar + Cookshop. I have been hearing lots of buzz about this place and decided to check it out for Houston Restaurant Weeks. When you walk in, you immediately walk into the bar and this large group table. The decor is a bit eclectic and artsy, but homey feeling. The water was served in the beakers you used in chemistry class and the salt and pepper were in test tubes. They brought out two tiny little rolls that they cut into mini pieces and some whipped butter. The roll was soft and fluffy with the slightest hint of sweetness to it. The cocktails are not named, but numbered instead. I got something that was like a blackberry Caipirinha. It was fruity and refreshing for a super hot day. The drinks are not your average cocktails and use lots of local ingredients. My advice...don't be afraid to try something new.

Instead of appetizers, there is a selection of tapas (which are basically one or two bite dishes). We tried the shiitake mushroom dumplings with a bleu cheese honey sauce. I usually avoid bleu cheese whenever possible so this was a stretch for me. The dumplings were filled with mushroomy goodness and the honey definitely mellowed out the pungent cheese. Though I could still taste the bleu cheese, they were still fairly good. The other dish we started with was a Sardinian ravioli. It was filled with a blend of four cheeses, ricotta, goat cheese, mozzarella and brie, topped with olive oil and pine nuts. This blend of cheeses created a very rich and creamy filling, but the pasta dough tasted a little doughy to me. The olive oil kept them from being too heavy and the pine nuts added a nice bit of crunch.

 Since the entrees are not served with sides, we ordered one main dish and three sides. The main dish was a soba noodle dish with a mushroom medley. This was served in a coconut chili curry like sauce with tons of different kinds of mushrooms. It had spice to it but wasn't spicy and the noodles were well cooked and not too chewy. The sides we ended up with where crispy brussels sprouts, carbonara mac and cheese and milled potatoes. The brussels sprouts were flash fried to get them crunchy and then tossed in a delicious olive oil sauce. They had tons of flavor and the crunch was a nice surprise. The carbonara mac and cheese wasn't like what you are thinking. It was basically the pasta, a creamy cheese sauce, a few pieces of hot dog and a sprinkling of peas with an egg on top to complete it. You have to mix in the egg as soon as possible so that it cooks. I like that they used the orecchiette pasta and it had enough sauce to coat the pasta without drowning it. The hot dog was an interesting ingredients but was playful. The milled potatoes were topped with a poppyseed creme fraiche which I have never had before. The creme fraiche added richness to the potatoes without out making them too rich. I would have to say surprisingly the brussels sprouts were my favorite side dish.

Though we didn't order dessert, I thought that the origami folded menu was cool. It wasn't that the desserts didn't sound yummy, we were just too full to indulge in that course. Overall, I can't say that I was too impressed by Sparrow Bar + Cookshop. It was by no means bad, it's just a very artsy and eclectic style of dining. I am all for creativity with food, but this just didn't do it for me. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset, but it didn't live up to the hype. Maybe I will try it again in the future, but for right now I will not be rushing back. However, I would say that you need to try things for yourself because each person's tastes and experiences are different. If you try it out, be sure to come back and comment on how your trip to Sparrow Bar + Cookshop went.

Houston Restaurant Weeks - Lucille's

Lucille's is a neighborhood gem that I had begun to hear lots of rave reviews about, so it was only appropriate that I take advantage of the Houston Restaurant Weeks and check it out. I have found myself being much more open to trying different liquors in my cocktails these days, so I opted for a kiwi bourbon drink. I don't think that I have had a kiwi cocktail before and I am just beginning to explore the bourbon world, so I was taking a huge risk here. What I found was it not not sweet, it had more of a tang to it and the bourbon was subtly apparent in the aftertaste of the kiwi. Most people think that when you use fruit in something, it automatically makes it sweet which isn't the case. For me this was a good experimental drink and was pleasantly surprised.

I feel like I am not a very good Southern girl because I haven't had some of the staples until recently and fried green tomatoes was just another example of me failing. Thank goodness that this was on the menu so that I could rectify that. This dish came with four fairly large pieces of tomato coated in a spicy cornmeal breading and served with a spicy aioli. The tomatoes themselves didn't taste like a normal tomato. To me they were milder and less acidic which went well with the spicy cornmeal. There was quite a bit of heat to it, but not enough to overwhelm the dish. The aioli had a bit of heat to it, but balanced out the tomato. I am glad that I got to try them as I feel much more in touch with my Southern roots.

And speaking of becoming more Southern, I decided to try shrimp and grits in the Houston fashion. Based on my experience in Charleston were every version was different, I had no idea what to expect. What was delivered to me was something like a cross between shrimp and grits and a light gumbo. There were grits in the bottom of the bowl topped with shrimp and lots of andouille sausage with a sherry tomato broth over it all. The sausage wasn't spicy but had a nice flavor. Between the shrimp and sausage it became a very filling dish. The broth helped keep everything moist and the consistency of the grits made the very sturdy. These were stone ground grits which are ground using a traditional mill so they have the corn bran and tip cap in them (the little specks you see in the grits). This would be a lovely meal for a cooler fall evening as it it very hearty.

For the sweet finish, I chose the bread pudding. When they brought it out, I was shocked at how small the serving was and then that it was served in such a large bowl. The middle of the bowl was proportionate to the piece of bread pudding but there was a huge rim on the bowl that seemed like it didn't belong. After I got over the interesting presentation, I found that the bread pudding itself was just normal but the sauce it was served with was what made it so tasty. It sort of tasted like a caramel cream rum sauce. I was a denser sauce, but had a lovely combination of flavors. The berries on top added some freshness and texture to the dessert. Though I wasn't overly impressed with dessert, the rest of the meal was very fulfilling and so I will definitely be back to try the regular menu. Don't let the fact that this place is a little hidden deter you from trying it out.

Houston Restaurant Weeks - The Federal Grill

The food scene in Houston is constantly changing and places are coming and going. This new establishment - The Federal Grill - is new on the food scene so of course I needed to go check it out. The inside of the restaurant is pretty dim and the walls are brick with a semi open kitchen in the middle. Taking full advantage of the special restaurant week menu, I started off with the fried oysters. These were served on individual spoons with spicy sprouts and Hoffman sauce. We were also served a fresh bread basket which included locally baked sourdough bread and biscuits (which were like little fluffy clouds), served with pepper jelly and butter. The jelly had a bit of heat in the background but was still slightly sweet.

For the main course, there was roasted organic chicken with gnocchi, fresh veggies and a thyme jus. I ordered the Norwegian salmon with roasted cauliflower, arugula and a golden raisin-caper relish. The salmon had a little bit of a crust on the outside and the bitterness of the arugula went well with the sweetness of the relish. I liked that they used the golden raisins because they are a little out of the ordinary and have a nice subtle sweetness to them. There could have been a few more pieces of the cauliflower, but it had a nice toasty flavor to it. It still had some texture to it and wasn't mushy.

I will be honest...I chose to try The Federal Grill because the desserts sounded amazing and since I do like desserts that was a huge draw. Dessert one was a carrot cake with a bourbon carrot puree served with pistachio ice cream. The ice cream was amazing! It had nutty undertones and wasn't overly sweet. The carrot cake itself was more of a spice cake and the ice cream just added that extra touch of sweetness. The pistachio ice cream was my favorite part of the dessert because it was unique and had a rich and creamy mouth feel. The carrot puree was delicious and the bourbon added dimension to the cake. Dessert number two was a PB & J bread pudding. Who would have thought that you could turn a childhood staple into a sophisticated dessert?! This was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, peanut butter cream and strawberry compote. The peanut butter cream was light and a fun way to eat peanut butter. The strawberry compote and the ice cream melted into the bread pudding and helped meld the flavors together.

I love trying new cocktails at restaurants because they are becoming very unique and creative. I tried a violet drink. Though I am not entirely sure what all was in it, it had a lovely floral aroma and the lemon added some freshness to it. It wasn't super sweet but the violet was definitely fun. I didn't realize this beforehand, but apparently they are know for their bourbon and whiskey flights, as they had quite the selection, so if you are a fan then this might be the place for you. Even though I went for the desserts, I had a wonderful meal overall and was pleasantly surprised with the whimsical qualities of the dishes. If you are still looking for a place to try for Houston Restaurant Weeks, this is definitely a winner.
 

Houston Restaurant Weeks - Eleven XI

I can say that the month of August is kind of like an eat-athon for me because I try to visit as many restaurants as possible (because my list is never ending) and I get to do something good at the same time. This trip took me to the hot spot Eleven XI. Now I have to admit that this was a hyped up place for me so I went in with really high expectations.... and I was not disappointed! I started off with grilled oysters and heirloom tomatoes, pecan pesto, bacon and mozzarella. This was a one bite dish that had everything you could want. There was crunch from the pecans and bacon (also a bit of salt), a subtle sweetness from the heirloom tomatoes, and creaminess from the mozzarella. You would think that the oyster would get lost, but it didn't. It after you made it through the initial flavors, oyster came and pulled everything together. The plating of this dish was actually quite creative and they were served on top of in a personal cast iron skillet - really playful and fun.

Next was the XI salad which was a fun play on the wedge salad. This had heirloom tomatoes and grilled vegetables with a cranberry vinaigrette. The lettuce was a nice change from the usual iceberg and though I am not entirely sure what the grilled veggies were (they looked like beets and purple carrots), they were yummy. I have never had a cranberry dressing, but it had the tiniest bit of sweetness to it, but the tartness also can through. It was a nice compliment to the rich flavors of the vegetables.

I decided to go out of my normal meat ordering box and chose a baby back rib sandwich with horseradish cheddar and broccoli slaw on a jalapeno challah bun and potato stick french fries. There are two very odd things about this sandwich for me - I don't usually order meat (and when I do it is usually chicken) and I don't really like horseradish. I was feeling fiesty and wanted something with a kick and this sandwich packed a punch of flavor. I have never had a challah bun. I have only had it served as french toast (and it makes a killer french toast), but this bun was light and the jalapenos in the bread added a little something extra. The slaw added lots of crunch and the horseradish didn't overpower the ribs. The meat was tender and juicy held together by the yumminess of the the melted cheese.

One of the things that was recommended for me to try were the blue corn grits. I was interested to see how these would turn out. What I found was that they didn't really taste like grits at all. They were a bit reminiscent of potatoes au gratin. I don't know why they reminded me of that but they were very interesting and super yummy. They just made you feel at home when you tasted them. Plus I really liked that they used real shredded cheese because it definitely makes a world of difference. Eleven XI has a great patio that I will need to go back and take advantage of. Also, the mussels and short rib were highly recommended so I guess that means that I will be making a return visit very, very soon. Eleven XI needs to be the next place you visit, so be sure to make your reservation today. Thank you Eleven XI and Houston Restaurant Weeks for a fabulous meal!

Houston Restaurant Weeks - Sorrel Urban Bistro

If you live in Houston, you know that August is a huge month for those in the culinary world. August is Houston Restaurant Weeks, where restaurants in Houston and surrounding areas offer prefixed menus for brunch, lunch, and dinner. They donate part of the proceeds to the Houston Food Bank and for me there is nothing better than eating for a cause! (Plus I get to do some work on my restaurants to try list) Sorrel Urban Bistro has been on my list for quite some time and I am ashamed that it took me so long to try. I ended up trying some of the items on their regular menu as well as participating in the Houston Restaurant Weeks promotion. We started off with the Gulf shrimp bisque topped with a bit of creme fraiche. It was silky and had a nice richness to it. It didn't had an overwhelming seafood taste to it and the creme fraiche helped lighten the soup. Next was an order of pomme frites with garlic confit. The garlic aroma from these was delicious and they had a touch of salt. They were still crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Much better than your average french fry.

The entree portion of the meal included a porkchop with braised cabbage and snapper with polenta. The pork chop was topped with a peach semi-sweet barbecue sauce. The braised cabbage was a bit too salty for me, but it wasn't terrible. I can't say that I would eat it again, but I am glad that I tried it. The pork chop was well cooked and wasn't too dry. The peach added the necessary touch of sweetness and the barbecue sauce made it a very summery dish. The snapper was caught that morning and apparently almost didn't make it on the menu because they weren't sure they were going to be able to get it. The snapper was very mild and the chipotle cream sauce didn't drown the fish or overwhelm it. The polenta was creamy and added texture and depth to the snapper. Both of these choices were perfect for a summer night dinner.

To round out the meal, we chose a Belgium chocolate cake with a dark cherry sauce. I was surprised when the dessert came out because this was one of the first cakes that I have seen that haven't been served with an icing. The cake was a very dense cake that had a lovely chocolate taste to it with only a touch of sweetness to it. There wasn't a ton of the sauce - just enough to keep the cake moist. There were two whole cherries served with the cake to make it look pretty. My visit to Sorrel Urban Bistro was fairly good. The restaurant has an intimate feel to it and an ever changing menu due to the locally sourced ingredients. Thank you Sorrel and Houston Restaurant Weeks for such a wonderful experience!

Truluck's

Houston Restaurant Weeks is sadly coming to a close. However, I had time for one last outing. This time it was to Truluck's. Know for their crab, this place had a definite romance to it and luckily for us, we got to sit at the owner's favorite table. We started off with some Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and some delicious gingerbread. It wasn't a cookie, just bread that tasted exactly like that. The wine was crisp and light, which paired well with the dishes we had.

For the first course, we had a delicious lobster bisque. The best part was that it was served at the table. The bowl had a few pieces of fresh lobster meat and a touch of horseradish goat cheese in it. The bisque was brought out separately and poured at the table. The soup was absolutely amazing. There was a hint of spice to it and the green onions added a subtle onion flavor without overwhelming the delicate lobster. It was creamy and had some depth to it, but it wasn't so heavy that you felt full after eating it. 

Since Truluck's is known for not only their crab, but also for their steaks and seafood, we decided to try it all. Beef 'Rockerfeller' was a play on oysters Rockerfeller. It was two beef medallions, each topped with a fried oyster and situated on a bed of loaded potato cakes. There was a spinach fondue over the top and it was served with green beans almondine. The green beans had some crunch to them and were full of flavor. The potato cakes were some of the best potatoes I have ever had. They had some crunch on the outside and were warm and creamy on the inside. The beef was cooked well and wasn't dry. The fried oyster add a nice texture different to the dish. The crab alfredo had blue crab, king crab, and snow crab. It was topped with some fresh bruschetta and toasted bread. The alfredo sauce was light and complemented the crab well. The bruschetta added some freshness to the dish. It was a great twist on a traditional favorite.

Dessert was definitely not a disappointment. Luckily, I got to try two, a chocolate malt cake and carrot cake. The chocolate cake was moist and had a great chocolate flavor. It wasn't too heavy and there were berries mixed it. It was topped with a light chocolate mousse like icing, a chocolate drizzle and a few fresh berries. It was decadent and something that I got to take home and enjoy twice. The carrot cake had a wonderful cream cheese icing, some spiced pecans, and a butterscotch drizzle. The cake itself was a taste of fall with the spice flavor. The pecans were a nice crunch and the butterscotch was a nice touch. I don't think I have ever had butterscotch with carrot cake. Overall, this meal was beyond amazing. The impeccable service was just the icing on the cake. The next time you are looking for a special occasion restaurant, be sure to try this one out. Thank you Houston Restaurant Weeks and Truluck's for this wonderful event and for such a great last dinner!

White Oak Kitchen + Drinks

I get very excited when I get the opportunity to see a good friend and doing that over a great meal is even better. For this occasion, we chose to try White Oak Kitchen + Drinks for Houston Restaurant Weeks. This is a new restaurant that is run by Westin Galleria that has a modern but intimate ambiance. First, we were started with an absolutely amazing sesame croissant. It was warm, crunchy on the outside, and soft and delicious on the inside. It was by far some of the best and most unique bread that I have had in a long time.

For the first course, we decided to try the hummus and the chicken tortilla soup. The hummus, which was slightly spicy from the cayenne pepper, was served with pita, carrots, and olives. The only thing I would say about that is that the pita was a bit on the chewy side... not the best pita I have had, but the hummus was good. The chicken tortilla soup was simple and perfect for the onset of fall. 

Next it was time for the main dish. I opted for the mahi mahi and got to try the Spanish skirt steak. The mahi mahi was served with two grilled shrimp, grilled veggies, and a sweet relish. I have never had mahi mahi before but it was delicious. It was mild and light and the sweetness of the relish paired well with the fish. The veggies were flavorful and simple. The naturalness of the dish was refreshing and surprisingly filling. The Spanish skirt steak was served with a chimicurri sauce and potatoes. It was well-seasoned and the chimicurri sauce added an additional pop of flavor. 

When it came to dessert, I found myself wanting to skip the other courses and just eat three courses worth of dessert. Sadly, I didn't get to do that so I had to make a decision between s'mores bread pudding or haute haute donuts. Since I order bread pudding recently, I opted for the donuts. However, these weren't like the donuts that you eat for breakfast. They were lightly fried, warm, and rolled in powdered sugar. They were served with three sauces: chocolate, raspberry, and caramel, which were so good! The sauce soaked in to the donut and gave it a completely different flavor with each sauce. Chocolate is chocolate and is just delicious in general. The raspberry sauce wasn't unnatural tasting and the caramel sauce didn't weigh the dessert down. The bread pudding was a play on one of my childhood favorites and was super yummy!

This is a great place to go to relax and unwind after a long day. It was delicious and when I go back, I want to try the macaroni and cheese. Be sure to try this out and enjoy all their great menu offerings. Thank you for such a wonderful meal and another opportunity to support the Houston Food Bank by eating for a cause. 

Glass Wall

Let me just first start off by saying that the Glass Wall is an absolutely fantastic place! The ambiance it cozy, relaxing, and modern. There are tons of candles mixed with shades of cream and aqua. It is a fairly small place, but it doesn't feel crowded. I am so glad that I got to try here for Houston Restaurant Weeks! I started off with a chicken and tarragon ravioli. It was served with fennel and snap peas in a prosecco and herb butter broth. It was light and buttery, there were tons of textures going on, and the sauce didn't overwhelm or overpower the dish. It was delicate and the perfect way to whet your appetite for the rest of the meal to come. Since I went with a friend, I also got to try the crab cake which was served with house made potato chips, and coleslaw. The crab cake wasn't too dry and the chips added the perfect crunch to the dish. The sauce was a peach aioli which I would have never thought to pair peach and crab. But I guess that's why I just enjoy the dishes that someone else creates!

I tried a Black & Blue martini that was a combination of blueberry, cherry, and vanilla vodka and served with a slice of orange. It was a little bit like a slushy because there was a tiny bit of ice in it. The orange add a slight citrus zing to it, creating a full developed palette of flavors.

For dinner, I ordered a corn flake crusted chicken fried steak. First, let me just say that I have never order this type of dish before, but it was such a creative dish that I just had to try it. It was accompanied by a corn relish and cheesy mashed potato goodness. It had a delicious gravy that had a faint bit of heat and helped to add the extra oomph the dish had. The crust was crispy and the mashed potatoes were amazing... sad to say that they are one of my food weaknesses. For not having tried may chicken fried steaks, I would have to say that there are very high expectations now.

Last, but certainly worth the wait, is dessert. I opted for a cherry and chocolate bread pudding drizzled with chocolate sauce and freshly whipped cream. The bread pudding had a nice texture where the bread and the custard melted together so that it didn't feel like you were eating cubes of bread. The cherry added a deep fruit flavor and the whipped cream added a touch of sweetness. The tiramisu cheesecake was topped with a cappuccino cream molded perfectly to the shape of the spoon.

Overall, this was an absolutely amazing meal and I can't wait to go back and try it again. If you haven't had a chance to stop in, be sure to do so! Just a heads up, they aren't open on Sundays, so don't wait until then. Let me know what you think when you try it out. Houston Restaurant Weeks, benefiting the Houston Food Bank, will be ending soon so don't delay anymore. Try something out before it's too late!

Rolling to Cadillac Bar

 

Next stop on the Houston Restaurant Weeks Tour - Cadillac Bar. The Mexican gem on Shepherd was definitely worth the trip. It started off with a frozen sangria swirl margarita that was full of fruit that balanced well with the zip of the lime in the margarita. For the first course, I chose a shrimp and scallop ceviche. I have tried ceviches, but have never ordered one so this was a first time for me. This one had onions, pico de gallo, and avocado. The cool avocado and the fresh tomato cut through some of the acidic of the seafood marinade. The dish had great flavor, but I am not sure if I would order it again...Mainly because it's a weird texture and sometimes that really bothers me. It came with chips, but I had a few of those before the ceviche came so I tried not to eat too many more.

 

I do like faijitas, but usually they are too big for one. This time I decided to go for it. It was a combination of chicked, bacon wrapped shrimp, and ribs. You are probably thinking ribs at a Mexican restaurant? I know it was a bit surprising, but they turned out to be very good. The chicken had a great smokey flavor to it and the bacon wrapped shrimp (which turned out to also have a little bit of cheese with it) were amazing! Not the epitome of a healthy meal, but hey there were only two of them and I am not eating them every day. This was served with rice, beans, corn tortillas, sour cream, and my favorite...guacamole.

 

What Mexican meal would be complete without a nice piece of Tres Leches? However, I have noticed that throughout Houston Restaurant Weeks, that it has been a popular option. This was a bit fancier than some of the other ones I have had, but honestly it wasn't the best. It had a nice texture and the cake held together very nicely. The topping was a bit heavy and tasted a little too much like a whipped topping. I am more of a whipped cream girl to begin with. The cookie banner was really good though and provided a little bit of crunch for an otherwise untextured dish.

If you haven't tried out Cadillac Bar, then you should stop by. Plus I heard that they have a great brunch. Don't forget that Houston Restaurant Weeks supports the Houston Food Bank. So for all you foodies out there, keep eating for a cause!