Inside My Table #55 | Contents
ExcerptHouston’s Wine Lists Awards 2003 On the coverBrady Smith is a commercial illustrator, artist, actor and the creator of The Brady Chronicles, a series of illustrated travel journals. His work has appeared often in My Table magazine, as well as on our T-shirts and coffee mugs. Raised and schooled in Houston, Smith now resides in the Los Angeles area. |
28 REHASHED: REAL MEN DO EAT QUICHE
As we all know, quiche lends itself to limitless variations via added vegetables, herbs or savory meats. Here are three local versions of this classic favorite.
Recipes by David Denis, Thierry Tellier and Chris Paul
Photos by Kim Coffman
32 TIP JARS AND THE NEW ECONOMY
No official statistics are kept on the number of tip jars in consumer establishments, but over the last few years, it seems there has been a dramatic increase. Today you cannot order a coffee, buy a bagel or pay for a photocopy without being asked to leave your change behind for “better service” or, alternatively, “good karma.”
By Dalton Conley
Illustration by Cindy Duhe
34 COVER STORY: THE WAITING GAME
Waiting tables is a juggling act with far more balls than the customers usually see (if everybody’s lucky). You have to contend not just with the requests and needs of your customers, but also with whatever may be happening on the floor, in the kitchen and with the rest of the staff. You run an obstacle course of crisis management, diplomacy, massaging or dodging problem personalities, backroom politics, competition, games and outright pranks. You work in the midst of frustration, tension (heavy on the sexual) and the uncertainty of not really knowing what your take-home pay is going to be until the end of the shift. And you’re supposed to stuff all of this behind a veneer of civility when you step towards the table.
By Kathy Biehl
Illustration by Brady Smith
64 JUST DESSERTS: COLD COMFORT WITH AN EDGE
This is not a patch on Pure Luck Farm’s goat cheese or other fine Texas cheeses, but when it comes to brutally sharp white cheddar, Vermont has the lock.
By Edith Sorenson
9 TABLE TALK
9 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
10 HOUSTON BITES BACK
Includes Letters to the Editor, Tasting the Town, Noteworthy Openings & Closings, Man About Town, At Table with Annie Cater, Recommended Reading & more.
24 MR. ANON: CHEWING THE FAT
40 WINE & SPIRITS
Top 10 Wine Lists of 2003
42 ¡SALÚD!
A toast to Paul Roberts
46 GREAT CULINARY MOMENTS
Wild Thing: A Politically Incorrect History of Garlic
50 WHAT’S BUZZING IN THE KITCHEN WITH
Kelly Rowland
52 LISTINGS
Tops in Service
54 RESTAURANT REVIEWS
Downtown Aquarium
Empire Turkish Grill
55 ADVERTISER DIRECTORY
60 THE EATER’S DIGEST
Restaurant reports from our correspondents in Arlington, Port Aransas and Austin.
