A La Carte
"Heard over scones and tea"
Brenham, Texas is rightfully famous for Blue Bell ice cream, contented cows and Pleasant View Winery. Now it’s also home to Independence Coffee Company, a coffee roaster. Their clients include Whole Foods Market (their products are in all the Houston Whole Foods Markets), HEB, and several bed & breakfasts and restaurants. For more information, check their website at independencecoffee@sbcglobal.net.
The third edition of Mike Riccetti’s “Houston Dining on the Cheap, A Guide to the Best Inexpensive Restaurants in Houston” is now available in town at bookstores such as Brazos Bookstore at 2421 Bissonnet (713-523-0701). Riccetti is a regular contributor to My Table on food and dining topics.
According to the July 11, 2007 edition of Wine Spectator’s “Wine and Healthy Living” newsletter, wine consumption has been linked to lowered risk of heart attack in women. “Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can benefit one’s circulation and overall heart health, according to new research published in the May 2007 issue of the journal Addiction. In the study, scientists at the University of Buffalo found that drinking alcohol is associated with a lower risk of heart attack in women.
- “While it’s generally accepted that drinking alcohol responsibly is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, few studies have examined the drinking behaviors of women in particular, explained Prof. Joan Dorn of the department of Social and Preventative Medicine at the university, who led the study. Dorn, whose previous research found that drinking wine is not directly related to weight gain, this time concluded that wine drinkers had a 44 percent lower risk of heart attack when compared to nondrinkers, and also had a lower risk than drinkers of beer or spirits.”
Too busy to fix a bowl of cereal in the morning before heading off to work? We hear that Kahala-Cold Stone (of ice cream store fame) has acquired Cereality Operators, an innovative chain of cereal bars and cafes. Cereality customers choose between 30 cereal brands and 40 toppings, and are served by employees dressed in pajama tops. When we hear that they’re coming to Houston, we’ll let you know. (Next thing, they’ll probably hire Hugh Hefner to be their spokesman.)
What’s new at Bayou City Farmer’s Market? According to the market, “The figs are in full swing, and the blueberries will continue for a bit longer. Asian pears make their debut this week, and mulberries and blackberries might have a last hurrah, if they make it onstage at all. Tomatoes are edging toward the exit, but lots of summer vegetables are rocking and rolling: sweet peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, long beans and sweet basil, to name just a few. Mushrooms, cut flowers, shell peas, carrots, radishes, kohlrabi, mixed braising greens, arugula, lettuce mix, fresh herbs, microgreens, new potatoes, and melons will also appear. And of course, expect some surprises; that’s part of the pleasure.” The market is located at 3000 Richmond (at the back parking lot) and is open Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Culinary Calendar
"Food and wine events for fun."
The Potlikker Film Festival: Houston is scheduled for Saturday, July 21 from 5-8 p.m. at St. Arnold’s Brewing Company, 2522 Fairway Park Drive. The group promises good eats from Monica Pope of t’afia, Claire Smith and Jeb Stuart of Shade, and Claudia and Claudia Pinedo of Jarro Cafe. For more information and to register to attend, go to www.southernfoodways.com/potlikker.shtml
Amerigo’s Grille in The Woodlands invites ladies to attend an evening of food, art and wine on Thursday, July 26. “The Nights of Ladies, Art, & Wine” will feature a reception and three-course dinner paired with selected wines and spotlight featured artists Nancy Kosh, Diane Whiteley and Debbie Stevens. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. at The Langley House Gallery next door to Amerigo’s Grille. The entire program is $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations and more information, call 281-362-0800. The Grille is located at 25250 Grogan’s Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380.
On July 28, Michael Cordùa and his new venture Cordùa Entertainment are bringing Latin pop star Gianmarco to Houston. This inaugural concert for Cordùa Productions marks Gianmarco’s first visit to Texas. He will perform at the Hobby Center and a VIP party will follow at Artista. The concert begins at 9 p.m. and doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $20 to $75 and may be purchased by phone at (713) 315-2525 or online at www.thehobbycenter.org.
- At the post-concert VIP party, guests will have the chance to meet Gianmarco in person while relaxing to Latin music and folkloric dancers late into the night. Tickets are available for $15 presale or $25 the day of the show. Call (713) 278-4782 to reserve VIP tickets now. The event is cash bar. Attendance is set at a 300-person maximum so early reservations are recommended.
Join Chef Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s Restaurant on a food and wine lover’s trip to Baja California September 23-28. The group will fly to San Diego and travel by chartered coach to Ensenada for a five night stay on the beach at the charming Las Rosas Hotel, whose rooms all have ocean views. The group will visit 10 of the most important vineyards and enjoy special lunches with the winemakers at Santo Tomas, Adobe Guadalupe and Chateau Camou. Each evening there will be dinners at restaurants specializing in the cuisine of Baja. The cost is $1,584.00 per person, double occupancy, based on 20 people traveling. For an itinerary, call or e-mail Betty Feehan at Navigant Vacations, 713-479-1312; betty.feehan@navigant.co
Would you like to expand your knowledge and appreciation of wine? During the new “Social Hour” at all five Houston-area locations of Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, selected wines normally offered at $44 to $68 per bottle are now available by the glass and for pairing with distinctive appetizers at special prices, providing an inexpensive yet enjoyable wine tasting experience. Social Hour is featured Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the bar at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille in the Memorial City area, Sugar Land, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, and Champions. For more information, visit www.perrysrestaurants.com, or contact one of the Perry’s locations.
Something Sweet
"Cupcakes--They're Back"
Your body is a temple, even if you do eat cupcakes once in awhile.
That is the gist of the sign at the cash register at the Cupcake Royale store in West Seattle, Washington. Your intrepid editor, on a partial working vacation to the Pacific Northwest, has found a cupcake obsession in the Emerald City.
Part coffeehouse and part bakery, the cupcake shops around this town offer an alternative to Starbucks, Tully’s Coffee and various donut shops. Wi-fi is usually offered along with tables for reading, conversation and daydreaming. Prominent vendors, in addition to Cupcake Royale, include New York Cupcakes and Trophy Cupcakes and Party. The number of moms with kids about equaled the number of laptop-engrossed 20-somethings on my visit to Cupcake Royale in spite of its “legalize frostitution” motto.
I initially thought that the phenomenon was unique to Seattle, but Matt Beske, manager of the West Seattle location of Royale, set me straight. “Cupcakes are becoming a retro ‘in’ thing in Seattle. [But] the popularity of cupcakes started in New York City and has spread to Los Angeles as well as Portland and Vancouver in the northwest. Cupcake Royale has been selling cupcakes in Seattle for about three years now and business is great. Cupcakes are a great alternative to donuts or muffins to have with your coffee and are a lot of fun for adults as well as kids.”
Most of the cupcakes at Royale are $2 a piece and Baby Cakes (smaller cupcakes) are $1 each. On my visit, most cupcakes were made of vanilla or chocolate cake with a thick glob of butter cream icing on top. Examples include The Classic (chocolate frosting with rainbow sprinkles), Lavender (lavender frosting with real lavender) and The MoFro (real coffee mixed into chocolate frosting). Coffee offerings were competitive in price and quality to other coffee houses, but each specialty coffee came with two shots standard.
Whether your memories of cupcakes are limited to Hostess and Little Debbie, or ones your mom or grandma made at home, the cupcake craze seems poised to expand to larger cities such as Houston. When will you get yours? Only time will tell. Right now I have to wipe some chocolate frosting off my beard.
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Copyright My Table magazine, 2008
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