Bite Me Houston

New Home For Bite Me Houston

2010-02-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Well, things have surely grown for Bite Me Houston. With the huge success of the Texas Tequila Throwdown, I figured it was time I pack my bags and move into a bigger home. You will now find the blog and so much more at http://www.bitemehouston.com/ Here you will find all of the articles, events and event photos. Thank you so much to everyone for their continued support and I hope everyone likes the new website.

-Mike Cortez-

El Gran Jubileo Tequila

2010-02-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

El Gran Jubileo Tequila
http://www.elgranjubileo.com/

This time I got to chat with Mike Fahrenthold from El Gran Jubileo and he explains what makes their tequila a cut above the rest. El Gran Jubileo seemed to make a big impact at the Texas Tequila Throwdown because 2 days later they were completely sold out from the Spec's Smith St. location. I have become a pretty big fan of their 5yr aged Anejo. It's a very smooth and mellow tequila that pairs nicely on these cold winter nights. Be sure to check out the Original Ninfa's off Navigation. The word is they are mixing up some killer cocktails with El Gran Jubileo.

For all the latest information follow them on Twitter @GranJubileo

Texas Tequila Throwdown

2010-01-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

Texas Tequila Throwdown

On January 23rd, 10 Tequila companies from all over Texas congregated to Houston for a large public tasting and competition. Though it was mainly for bragging rights, each company wanted to take the title for the best Tequila in Texas. 30 people were randomly drawn to judge the Blanco and Reposado Tequila’s. I can imagine it was hard to try 10 samples of Tequila and make a clear judgment but they all took their time made their vote based on their preference of flavor. The results found Dulce Vida from Austin had the best Blanco and Pepe Z also from Austin had the best Reposado. I found while organizing this event every company felt very sure of their product and everyone expected to win in each category. For this reason alone I decided to surprise both the attendees and the Tequila companies by grabbing the representative from each company and put their taste buds to the test. To make it fair I event included a few Tequila lovers to the panel. By the looks of the representatives they seemed pretty sure that they were going to pick their own brand but I know this wasn’t going to be as easy as they thought. As the samples came out one by one the representatives took their time and made their vote. With 12 judges, four of them pick sample number 1 and made Riazul from Houston the best Anejo in Texas. The room seemed to light up with excitement as Riazul took the best in their own hometown. While Houston won the best Anejo, Austin seemed to dominate the competition. Every company did a great job representing Texas. This was a big win for everyone due to the amount of press the event received. People drove in from all over Texas and I even had the pleasure of meeting a couple from California and a gentleman from New York. The winner over all was Texas. With over 300 attendees, the Texas Tequila Throwdown was without a doubt a huge success. Attendees brought out tons of coats and blankets to donate to the Star of Hope Mission and had the boxes overflowing within the first hour. Houston has to be one of the most giving cities and without a doubt none of this would have been possible without the help of JR Cohen and the Coffee Groundz staff, Spec’s and Russell Guess of Your Bartender. I thank everyone for coming out and all of the support. Thanks again to everyone involved and I look forward to working with you all again in the future. Look out for the Texas Tequila Throwdown 2011 in Austin, TX?

Blanco Judging Samples

1. Dulce Vida
2. Pepe Z
3. Republic
4. Solorzano
5. Don Valente
6. El Gran Jubileo
7. Riazul
8. Acumbaro
9. Dos Lunas
10. El Grado

Reposado Judging Samples

1. El Gran Jubileo
2. Pepe Z
3. Dulce Vida
4. Don Valente
5. Solorzano
6. Riazul
7. Republic
8. Acumbaro
9. El Grado
10. Dos Lunas

Anejo Judging Samples

1. Riazul
2. Republic
3. El Grado
4. Solorzano
5. Dulce Vida
6. El Gran Jubileo
7. Don Valente
8. Dos Lunas
9. Pepe Z
10. Acumbaro

Photos courtesy of Pauline Alderete
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miamorangel

*If you have photos we would love to see them. Please leave a link in the comments section.*

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

2010-01-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2000 Lyons Ave.
Houston, TX 77020
713.686.9494
http://www.saintarnold.com/

This week we stopped into the new home for Saint Arnold Brewing Company just outside of Downtown. We learn a little bit about the new brewery, the beers and the One Pot Show Down. Be sure to check out the brewery everyday at 3pm and on Saturdays between 11am-3pm. Tour cost $7 but comes with 4 drink tokens and a sweet keepsake Saint Arnold glass. Well worth it in our book. Word of warning, on Saturdays get here early. The seating fills up quick so bring your own chair if you feel the need to sit down. Also feel free to bring your own smorgasbord of food to go along with that great local beer. Cheers!

Texas Tequila Throwdown

2010-01-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

Be sure to come out to Coffee Groundz on January 23rd and be apart of the biggest Tequila tasting in Texas. We will have 7 great Texas companies all competing to be the best in Texas. The public will decide who has what it takes. There is no cover for this event but we ask that you bring a new or used blanket or jacket that we can donate to the Star of Hope. Music will be provided by DJ Ash with Music Heals. It goes down from 3pm - 6 pm so get here early its gonna be packed!

Texas Tequila Throwdown Press Release

2010-01-04T13:47:00.000-08:00

NEWS RELEASE FOLLOWS:

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 4, 2010

TEXAS TEQUILA THROWDOWN

Hosted by Mike Cortez of Bite Me *Houston*

Houston, TX January 23, 2010 -- Saturday, January 23, Mike Cortez of Bite Me Houston will host a large gathering of Texas Tequila companies for a large public tasting. The event will take place at Coffee Groundz (2503 Bagby StreetHouston, TX 77006) at 3pm.

Riazul (Houston), Republic Tequila (Austin), Dos Luna’s Tequila (El Paso), Pepe Z Tequila (Austin), Tequila Don Valente (Dallas), Dulce Vida (Austin), Tequila El Gran Jubileo (La Grange), Acumbaro Tequila (Houston), Tequila Solorzano (Houston) and El Grado Tequila (Corpus Christi) are the Texas companies competing in the event in hopes of being named the best Tequila in Texas. Each company will feature their Blanco, Reposado and Anejo tequilas, and a winner will be selected from each category. This is a blind tasting and the public is the judge. Each company in attendance will speak at the event about their company and the tequila.

The Texas Tequila Throw Down is a free event and is open to the public, ages 21 and up.
The coordinators ask that attendees donate a new or gently used blanket or jacket to participate in the tasting. The Texas Tequila Throw Down is a great way to support Texas business while helping those in need.

For more information please contact:
Mike Cortez
832-452-2804
BiteMeHouston@gmail.com
www.BiteMeHouston.blogspot.com

Bite Me *Houston* is a local blog written by Mike Cortez featuring Houston businesses for their food and drinks. Started in the summer of 2009 the blog has really taken off and with the help of social networking Mike has made quite the name for himself. Striving to set himself apart from the other foodies in Houston, Mike is always looking to support local companies and giving back to the city. The Texas Tequila Throw Down is a great way to gather the public while helping out the less fortunate.

##

No Label Brewing Co.

2009-12-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

No Label Brewing Co.
Katy, TX
http://site.nolabelbrew.com/

This article is a little different than usual. Usually I go to a place and try their food or beverage and rush home to write about it. In this particular case there was nothing to try, nothing to see and nothing to particularly write about. I am so excited for new businesses to pop up in Houston and I love to watch them grow. I was lucky enough to find a new brewery starting up in Katy that is still in the very beginning stages. I was lucky enough to meet with Brian Royo, head brew master and founder of No Label Brewing Co. Now when I say that things are just getting started I mean they have yet to finish setting up their brewery. Brian is still brewing beer in his garage and this is where it has taken him from home brewing to starting up Houston’s newest microbrewery.
Brian Royo, a Katy Taylor graduate and University of Houston alumni, became inspired to brew after visiting the local Saint Arnold’s Brewery. He headed over to Delfaco’s and purchased his first home brewing kit and he got to work. While making beer for friends and family he figured why not try and make a business out of it; Three year later and that is exactly what Brain has done.
-The Beer –
No Label Brewing Co. is hoping to have the brewery setup and brewing by mid April and if all goes well we can expect to see the beer on shelves by the end of 2010. No Label Brewing Co. is working on bringing you some very authentic and original styled brews from their Ridgeback, a hybrid of Brown and Amber ale, their El Hefe, a hefeweizen and their Silo Ale is a blond ale. Brain seems very passionate about his beer and he is quick to mention Southern Star & St. Arnold as inspirations for small breweries that have grown and spread into the market. I believe what separates No Label Brewing apart from others is that they are a laid back small brewery and they are working hard to get their name out there before the product even hits the shelves. No Label Brewing Co. Has been making a name for themselves tailgating at the University of Houston football games and keeping up with their fans on Twitter and Facebook and I believe it will help them greatly to establish themselves as Houston’s newest brewery. I anxiously await to sample the beer and look forward to their success in Houston.

Be sure to follow them on Twitter @NoLabelBrewCo to find out about their events.

Rudy's "Country Store" & Bar-B-Q

2009-11-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

Rudy’s "Country Store" & Bar-B-Q

14620 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX

(713) 462-7954

http://www.rudys.com/

A few years ago I had constantly heard stories of people jumping in their cars and driving towards Austin to get some great barbeque. What took me by surprise was that they were heading to a little gas station by the name of Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q. I never quite understood people taking a drive that far just to get a bite. Could the food there be that great? I was on a mission to find out but luckily they had just opened a new location right by my house. I know what you are all thinking, “You don’t review chains”. Well this is true but I felt that for Rudy’s I would have to make an exception. I had to find out what made this barbeque so good. Were people just overhyping it or is it really that good?
I felt a beautiful Saturday afternoon would be a great day to pick up some barbeque so I headed down the street to Rudy’s and prepared myself for what I was told is the best barbeque in Texas. Here they do everything by the pound so forget about getting that three meat combo with two sides. From the meat to the sides, Rudy’s is slicing it up and weighting on a scale. Your only other options are sandwiches. I had a few people to feed so I decided to try a few pounds of pork ribs, lean brisket, sausage, pulled pork and some potato salad on the side. Within seconds the cashier calls out the order and the guys in back get to slicing and dicing. They pack up your order like a butcher and you’re ready to go. I have heard some complain about Rudy’s being a little on the high side and while I can see their point, the look and smell of the food I felt it might be worth it. As I headed home the aroma of the smoked meat filled the car. I couldn’t wait to get home and chow down. As I walked in the door I rushed to the table to tear open this food as if it was Christmas morning. I couldn’t get too carried away so I took just a little of everything. I love ribs when they are smoked just right and the meat falls off the bone, so I chose to start with Rudy’s pork ribs. As I picked up the rib the meat all slid of the bone. I don’t know about you but for me that’s a great sign of perfect barbecued ribs. A heavy but even smoky taste fills the month as you take a bite. The meat was so tender and juicy. I didn’t even put sauce on them. With the ribs alone I felt I was in barbeque heaven. I personally like to judge places on their ribs and their brisket so I knew what I was planning on trying next. The brisket had a very beautiful smoke ring in the meat. It carried a very heavy smoked flavor but it was not over the top. This was some very tender brisket with a peppery seasoning. I was head over hills and I haven’t even made a dent in the food. I didn’t even know where to start with the sausage. The skin was soft and it was packed with flavor. The pull pork which is one of my favorite barbequed items was a masterpiece. It was very succulent and moist. I threw a nice slab between a slice of bread and poured on Rudy’s signature barbeque sauce. The sauce had a nice little kick to it that made everything pop not that the food even needed sauce but it did help bring more flair to this already perfect meal. How could I forget the potato salad? This creamy and chunky mustard potato salad was delicious! The mustard wasn’t too overbearing and all together made a very mellow blend of potato salad bliss. I have to admit I was truly taken aback by the quality of the food. I usually wouldn’t expect to find such great barbeque at a place that doubles as a gas and convenient store. So if your driving across Texas or just looking for a local bite stop on by Rudy’s Country Store and Barbeque and tell them Bite Me *Houston* sent ya!

Ruby Tequila's

2009-09-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

Ruby Tequila's

7748 FM 1960 West

Houston, TX 77070

281-894-7829

-----------------------

2616 Louisiana

Houston, TX 77006

713-522-7829

http://www.rubytequilas.com/

About a month ago I started to hear a lot of buzz about a new restaurant opening up in town and luckily one of the two locations were opening up near me. After a long day of running errands I decided to take my mom out for dinner. What a better place to take your mother than the new place in town so we headed to Ruby Tequilas. I was really excited to try this place mainly because I had yet to hear anyone else talk about it. When you walk in, there is a clearly visible sign that states “No Microwaves In Use” with a nice radioactive symbol. I guess they really want to push this point that everything here is made fresh. The décor of the place is nice. It’s very colorful and there are painted quotes all around the room. I will admit I really like the bar setup. They have a nice little patio and you can access the bar from either inside or outside. The doors happened to be open when we arrived which was nice but unfortunately this brought flies. The waitress brought out some chips and salsa while we looked over the menu and assured us that everything at Ruby Tequilas is made fresh. Nothing is premade and there are no microwaves in the building. I can say it felt good to know that. There really isn’t anything worse than not so fresh Mexican food. Another added bonus was their .99 cent draft beers and $1.99 margaritas. I was kind of expecting a long wait for the food since they made sure everything was made fresh. After about fifteen minutes of fly swatting, the sizzling platter of beef and chicken fajitas with shrimp, ribs and mushrooms was being brought to the table. I was pretty impressed by the time it took to bring the food out. The aroma was great, you could smell the parade of flavors that you were about to indulge. A side plate of rice and beans, and another with taco fixings made this meal complete. I couldn’t wait for it to cool down. I started to prepare the tortilla for stuffing while burning my hand on the skillet. The beef fajita was very tender and was cooked to a perfect medium well. The chicken was tender and juicy but there were a couple of strips that were not fully cooked. I couldn’t find anything bad about the shrimp, very tender and not over cooked. They were seasoned in what I could only consider tequila and lime. The ribs were literally falling off the bone. Its hard to describe the seasonings on the ribs because of the light barbeque sauce. It made me think of a mild ancho or chipotle blend of spices. While the beef and chicken fajitas were good they just didn’t seem to blow me away. Unfortunately, this place seemed like a very Americanized Tex-Mex restaurant. While it was good it just didn’t seem too authentic. While I’ll admit everything was fresh I just felt the food really lacked the cojones to be real Tex-Mex. The food was good and I would make a return visit but if I was planning to show friends Tex-Mex food this wouldn’t be my first choice. Granted this place has only been open for two weeks I think after a couple of months they will get into a pattern and maybe the food will have a little more presence. I also believe that if they are going to keep the bay windows of the bar open to the outside that they should invest in some type of fly traps. I could tell you how aggravating it was to enjoy your food while your fighting off four flies. In the end Ruby could use a little work but her tequila is great!

Railean Rum

2009-09-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

Railean Rum

The "Original" Texas Rum

http://www.railean.com/

This year has to be one of the hottest and driest summers I can ever remember. It seems like no matter what you do you can’t beat the heat. I know it’s not very manly but I have found myself craving frozen tropical drinks. While BBQ’ing in this heat a cold beer didn’t seem to do the trick anymore, so I headed to a liquor store to pick up a bottle of rum and mixers to liven up any party. This is when I came across a rum that was new to me. Since it is known I support everything from Texas, I thought I would give this rum a shot. Railean Rum was a major hit. This is exactly what I had been searching for all summer to quench my thirst. With its mellow flavor and clean finish it added just the special kick to daiquiris and coladas. I had to know more about this hidden gem so I took a short drive south to the coastal town of San Leon, TX. Owner and distiller Kelly Railean was eager to show me around. I was amazed that the rum I was drinking the week before was coming from such a small garage. Off a dusty dirt road Railean Rum is distilling some of the best Texas rum that I have had the pleasure of tasting. It was so hard to believe a product as fine as this could be produced on such a small scale but I think that is what gives this rum so much character. Kelly and her husband are the only real employees and they are both distilling and bottling everything by hand. They use only the finest ingredients to make such an enjoyable rum. From imported sugar to high grade molasses and their in-house filtered water, Railean Rum is sure to use only the best for their rum and the proof is in the product. After showing me around I was lucky enough to taste the finished product. To me rum has always been used as a mixer but once I sampled the rum I was instantly corrected and discovered that Railean Rum was something you could admire even on the rocks. Railean makes three different styles of rum: The Texas White, Reserve XO and the Small Cask Reserve. For all you spiced fans they are working on a recipe to blow your mind. The Texas White was a smooth rum with semi sweet hints of vanilla and caramel. The flavor was not over bearing and it quickly became my choice for a nice pina colada. The Reserve XO was a little on the finer side. Aged in charred oak barrels gave this rum a light smoky caramel flavor and was very mellow on the taste buds. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on the Small Cask Reserve then you are in luck. This beautifully crafted rum is slowly aged to give it a brilliant color and a taste so smooth you would imagine you were sipping on a fine Scotch. Soft hints of the charred wood and mellow sweet tones make this a one of a kind rum. They say everything in Texas is bigger and better and Railean keeps that tradition alive with their delicious and intoxicating rums. If you haven’t had a chance to sample Railean then, my friend you are missing out. Send them an email or give them a shout; they are always willing to show you around. After you try their rum it’s hard to want anything else. So next time you’re out in the heat bbq’ing, pick up a bottle of Railean Rum and beat the heat with a frozen treat!

Mallies Desserts

2009-08-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

Mallies Desserts

http://www.malliesdesserts.com/

While doing some filming with my good friend Marcelo of Trentino Gelato I was introduced to Luby and Abraham, the mother and son masterminds behind Mallies Desserts. I had heard a lot of good things about this company but I never had the honor of trying them. This proved to be my lucky day. Luby had long been baking up delicious treats in her home kitchen and giving them away for free. This was until her son Abraham took his entrepreneuring spirit and convinced her to go into business. Many of Luby’s original recipes are still used and they are cranking out these baked goods all over town. I was lucky enough to take a sneak peek in the Mallies kitchen and I was welcomed to a buffet of sweet goodness. I have heard so many good things about the Mallies Original Brownie. This was the same brownie that is used in the Trentino Gelato. I couldn’t wait to sample this smorgasbord. The Mallies Original Brownie is unlike anything you will ever try. At first bite your senses set off a rush of ecstasy. A chewy blend of sweet and salty, make this unlike any other brownie. The rich velvety chocolate mixes so wonderfully with the secret layer of salty goodness. I tried my hardest to get the secret out but I was with no luck. All I could do was indulge on the sweet feast before me. The only way I can describe Mallies Original Brownie as a brownie cheesecake. Next up for me was a locally titled "Oh My God Bar". J. R. Cohen of Coffee Groundz named this delicious bar after he took his first bite and I would have to agree 100%. This had to be one of the most amazing sweets I had ever had. It was a perfect combo of pistachios and raspberry with a wonderful crunchy crust. This without a doubt was utter perfection. Everything that goes into Mallies Desserts is all natural so you won’t find substitutes here. They also make everything by hand. That has always been their goal. They set out to make homemade and handmade the freshest pastries and this is a goal they have far exceeded. You can find Mallies Desserts at Coffee Groundz, Agora, Skyline Deli and even Murphy’s Deli. When I originally did this interview it was meant to be a video but due to bad sound it wasn’t able to be used. Words alone can’t describe how great their desserts are, it is something you will have to try for yourself. I can guarantee you won’t be let down.

Thank You!

2009-08-29T11:34:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to take some time out to personally thank everyone for reading the articles. I have received a numerous amount of feedback and Bite Me Houston has really taken off. I have also received alot of feedback that everyone is tired of hearing about Austin and New Orleans. Don't worry I have finally finished and now I am fully focused on supporting my local Houston businesses. Sometimes it's fun to look outside of your own city. Over the last few months I have met so many people and made some really great friends along the way. I can not explain how much every ones support means to me and I hope you all continue to enjoy the articles. If there is a spot you think I need to check out just let me know. I have some really great articles coming up that I think you all will enjoy. I go into the distillery to learn a little bit about how Railean Rum is made, I get inside the kitchen to make gelato with Trentino Gelato, I calm my sweet tooth with Mallies Desserts and so much more. Thanks again to all my readers. Remember, support local and grow together!

-Mike-

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip Austin

2009-08-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Austin Pizza Toss Off

This was going to be the wrap up for the 2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip in Austin and I felt you couldn’t do it without digging into some pizza. It’s like the top of the food pyramid for college students. When you come to Austin you can find pizza on almost every corner. This probably had to be the hardest contest of all. I have been to many pizzerias in Austin and I like so many of them but I could only choose three. We hit the streets of Austin and set out to find the best pizza in town in the Austin Pizza Toss Off.
Usually with Bite Me Houston I don’t pick chains but there is always a first for everything. I went with this particular pizzeria because of their hard work of promoting themselves online. I have heard many great things about them and I will admit I was interested to see what their Chicago style pizza was all about so I picked Mangia’s. With five locations in and around Austin plus a boat and a location the airport Mangia is pushing their piping pies across the city. You can’t come into Mangia and not try their Chicago Stuffed Pizza. So I did just that. I went with a pepperoni stuffed pizza and prepared myself. Could Chicago be the king of pies in Austin? At first glance I only notice a single slice of pepperoni swimming in a bread bowl of sauce. As you open box a waft hits your nose that makes you think of a sauce prepared by Chef Boyardee. I was beginning to wonder where the rest of the toppings were. As you pick up a slice you find that this is a pizza made upside down. With the toppings at the base covered in fresh mozzarella cheese and a hefty serving of sauce is pour over top. Granted this was a personal pizza it seemed a little flat. I felt that they could have beefed this pizza up a little. This was no thicker than a pan pizza with an inch high crust. While the bread was baked perfectly making it soft and chewy the sauce seemed a little sour. The cheese was evenly melted and delicious as was the pepperoni but the sauce kept kicking this pizza down. I think maybe if they used less sauce and more toppings this pizza would have had more flair. I’m not saying this pizza was awful but I am not a big fan of Chef Boyardee products and the sauce from Mangia kept making me think of SpaghettiO’s. This wasn’t the best experience but I wasn’t worried, I had two more pizzerias to go.
Recently when visiting Austin I started explore the outside regions of the downtown area. By accident one night I crossed over the Congress bat bridge and headed south. I didn’t know where I was going but I knew it was getting late and I was hungry. After a long night or bar hopping nothing sounds better then great pizza. While there are a few really great spots on 6th St. I wanted to beat the crowds and find something a little lower key. Cruising down Congress I saw a red lit building up ahead the seemed to draw me in like a moth to light. From the outside this place just screams Austin. This is how Home Slice Pie became a great contender for the toss off. Home Slice is indoor/outdoor pizzeria. You can either dine in our walk up to the front of the building to order a slice to go. From the line forming outside something tells me I’m in for a great treat. I place my order and give them my name. While waiting outside I take in the Bohemian charm of South Congress. Within minutes my name is called and I pick up my giant slices of pizza. Nothing beats a long night of drinking and ending it with eating fresh pizza on a curb in Austin. Just looking at the pizza my mouth began to water. It was baked perfectly and they were very generous with the toppings. I like a pizza where you get toppings in every bite. The pizza was so hot and I kept burning my mouth but I couldn’t wait for it to cool down because it was so delicious. The sauce to topping ratio was perfect. The bread was crunchy yet still nice and chewy and the sauce was robust and flavorful. Even though I went with pepperoni it wasn’t overly greasy. I was really enjoying this pie and I knew that if the next location was as good then I was going to have a hard decision to make. Before taking the drive back to the hotel I ordered another slice to carry me over. I had another full day of food ahead of me but I couldn’t get enough of this pizza.
As the sun comes up on the last day in Austin the thought of eating is the last thing on my mind. For the last few days I have been eating barbeque, cupcakes and pizza. I had only one more location to go and then I would never have to look at another slice of pizza again, or for at least a week. The night prior on south Congress I saw a pizzeria that for some reason caught my eye. I decided to take the drive back down during the day to see the sights. Southside Flying Pizza is a little building on Congress that is literally hand tossing the dough. As you walk inside to order the pizza is being prepared before your eyes. The soft dough is tossed in the air as it is prepared to be placed in the authentic brick oven. With the summer hear coming through the windows and the brick oven baking pizza this small littler pizzeria can get a little warm. It takes a little longer her to get your pizza here but if you are a fan of true brick oven pizza as I am then you know the outcome is always worth the wait. When we finally get our pizza we kind of sit back to behold this baked beauty. Melted mozzarella cheese adorned with succulent pepperoni and fresh mushrooms make this pizza shine. The crust was toasted to a perfect brown crunchy texture while still chewy inside. The sauce was mellow and tasted very fresh. I could taste seasoning in the dough that made this pizza pop. I couldn’t find anything to complain about. While these weren’t the biggest slices they made up for it in flavor. My mouth waters just reminiscing about it and I now had to come to some sort of conclusion on who was tossing up the best pizza in Austin. Could it be the Chicago style stuffed pizza, the late night bite or the acrobatic display of pizza tossing that would win this challenge? Only time and my stomach could tell.
After a weekend of chowing down on pizza I had a hard call to make. I visited three different spots in Austin and they were all pretty good but this was a challenge. I had to pick the best out of the three and it wasn’t going to be easy. They all had things I loved about them. Mangia had that thick crust that I love, Home Slice had the great toppings and Southside Flying Pizza has that brick oven fresh taste. Really they were all winners in my book but when I had to pick the best of the best I had to go with Southside Flying Pizza. While it wasn’t the biggest slice or the thickest crust they overall flavor and texture is what took the cut for me. Everything about this pizza was fresh and delicious. While it takes a little longer to get your pizza here it shows that good things come to those who wait. Mangia could have done so much in this competition if it wasn’t for their sauce. Home Slice was a very close winner. There is nothing about this place that I didn’t like and it still remains a big favorite of mine but Southside Flying Pie brought everything out and that’s why they have taken the title for the Austin Pizza Toss Off. Great work guys!

Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza

8012 Mesa Dr

Austin, TX 78731

(512) 349-2126

www.mangiapizza.com

Home Slice Pizza

1415 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704-2434

(512) 444-7437

www.homeslicepizza.com

Southside Flying Pizza

2206 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704-4319

(512) 442-4246

www.southsideflyingpizza.com

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip Austin

2009-08-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

Austin Clash of the Cupcakes

Who doesn’t love cupcakes? When they are made right they are sure to be messy. In Austin and almost everywhere it seems like cupcakes are the newest craze. Big or small cupcakes are to be moist and rich with a creamy sweet heap of frosting. Austin is a very independent city and with that you find many independent businesses and bakeries are no difference. Coming into Austin I wanted to see who was baking the best cupcake in town. Just like everything else I hit the web and started to do my research. I came up with thee of the most recommended bakeries to devour. I was feeling a little anxious about this challenge. I didn’t know if I could handle all this sweetness. There was no turning back now it was do or die. Who would stand victorious in the Austin Clash of the Cupcakes?
Every time I visit Austin I like to take a stroll down South Congress. It brings a sense of nostalgia. From the antique shops to the trendy boutiques there is something for everyone. For me there is a shiny classic Airstream trailer calling my name. Located centrally on South Congress between all the shops Hey Cupcake! stands among other trailer vendors. There is always a line here so I tell myself this must be a great place to start the battle. While talking with Austenites, Hey Cupcake! seemed to be the underdog. This little trailer seemed to draw me in with its cute little pink frosted cupcake on top. We happened to stop by on the day Michael Jackson passed away and it only seemed fitting to get the cupcake named after him along with the southern traditional Red Velvet. The Red Velvet cupcake was good but it was your usual suspect. It was something that you will find through and through in the south. The cake was moist but it seemed to be a little sparing in the coca department. It turned out to be more red then velvet. The frosting on the other hand was delicious. It was very sweet and rich cream cheese frosting with a creamy and smooth texture. At Hey Cupcake! They like the top their cupcakes high with frosting but in the case of the Red Velvet, it seemed to be better than the cake itself. The Michael Jackson is a chocolate cake topped with white cream cheese frosting. In honor of the one gloved king of pop I felt this would be a great cupcake to try. At first bite it was almost everything you would want in a cupcake. The cake was very moist and had chocolate morsels in the batter to melt in your mouth after each bite. The creamy and smooth semi sweet cream cheese frosting just might have made this the king of cupcakes in Austin. This was a true chocolate cake that was both robust and mellow in flavor. It was very moist and crumbly and the melted chocolate chunks seemed to hold this big cupcake together. A shot of whipped cream to the center of this wonderful cupcake and it just seems to melt in the summer heat. Don’t worry once you take your first bite you seem to inhale the rest of the cupcake before the frosting gets runny.
Next on our stop into a diabetic coma I took a drive to the south side of Austin. I kept hearing so much this bakery that it almost seemed like a sin not to stop in. So I picked Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop. This is a small little bakery with very little parking and if you aren’t looking out for it you just might pass it by. I talked with their employee and former Houstonian Nick to find out what made Sugar Mama’s so popular. Just looking at the glass display counter he said, “The cupcakes speak for themselves”. This wasn’t a lie. The look of these sweet little cakes made you want to slam your face in the glass just to take a whiff. Usually I only try or two to judge a place but by the look of these cupcakes I had to try as many as I could. I went with a quadruple bypass box. Ok so it’s not really called that but after all this great food I was indulging in Austin I felt like I might be in the need of one. So here I was trying to find the four cupcakes that will tell me if Sugar Mama’s has what it takes to be the cupcake champion of Austin. I decide upon the Vegan Margarita, Black & Tan, Hula and The Odd Couple. As Nick packed my four pack of fun I say goodbye to the other cupcakes as if they were puppies in the window. I rushed off as fast as I could because I couldn’t wait to taste these little cakes. As I opened the box of cupcakes it was as if a blinding light shined upon these cakes. I reached in and grabbed for the first one. The Vegan Margarita was first victim I chose. The Vegan Margarita is a vegan lime and tequila cake with a lime butter cream frosting. The cake itself was a little too firm and dry. While the frosting was nice and semisweet, it seemed to lack any resemblance to a margarita. Not exactly what I was first expecting. Maybe it was too healthy for this challenge but I still had three more to try. The Black & Tan had man written all over it. It was a chocolaty Guinness stout cake layered with an Irish cream cheese frosting. Usually beer and chocolate don’t make a great combination but this was something to behold. This Guinness inspired cupcake seemed to draw by boozy side. The stout chocolate cake was nice and firm and the texture of the cake was almost perfect as was the frosting but they didn’t seem to complement each other. These were two great things but I personally they would do better with other partners. The Irish cream cheese frosting was delicious but I didn’t taste anything that reminded me of Irish cream. Next up was the Hula. This coconut cake topped with coconut cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut almost made me go coo coo for coconut! This beautiful looking concoction seemed to be the perfect cake. Upon unwrapping this beauty I noticed right away it was very firm. At first bite the strong aroma of almond extract seemed to overpower any sense of coconut. While the frosting and coconut topping was creamy and delicious but the almond extract became a little too much. The cake itself was a little bit of a downer. It almost seemed like a sweet cornbread topped with coconut. I am a big fan of coconut but this kind of let me down.
I was starting to doubt Sugar Mama’s and I only had one cupcake left to try. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be enough to pull this place through. Could it be too late? The lone cupcake sitting in the box was the Odd Couple. A chocolate cake topped with salted caramel cream cheese frosting. Sometimes opposites attract. Like this cupcake that is a blend of sweet and salty goodness. As you unwrap this bond of love you notice the chocolate cake is soft, moist and ready to be devoured. They top this sweet little odd mixture with a chocolate dipped pretzel to add that extra hint of sweet and salty. At first bite I knew I was in love. The sweet decadent chocolate mixed perfectly with the gooey and salty caramel. Everything about this cupcake was perfect. From the texture of the cake to the sweet creamy frosting. I couldn’t ask more from a cupcake. This finally marked high in my books but would this be enough to win?
Lastly I decided to follow the world wide web and its many recommendation. I was on the hunt for Polkadots. By the pictures and descriptions I long awaited to try their cupcakes but when we finally found them I was let down to find them closed on Sundays. Luckily there was a building right across the street calling out for attention. I would rather leave them unnamed since they weren’t even considered as a backup location. I will say though that we found without a doubt the worst cupcakes in town. I had a coconut cupcake but tasted very similar to cardboard and even had the same texture. I remember the cupcake being so dry and flavorless that I couldn’t even finish it. I felt like I had let you all down by only making it to only two locations. They were both very good and I had to still come up with a winner. One the drive back to Houston I let my mind and stomach wondering. Would it be the trailer kings Hey Cupcake! Or would Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop batter the competition. It was going to be a very close call.
When looking for a cupcake people look for different things. Some like a mellow frosting, some like a firm cake, others like a big size and some just like the presentation. As for the price both bakeries were about the same. I can say that the cupcakes at Hey Cupcake! are a lot larger. Both places had their own version of perfect but I had to come to a conclusion on who would win the Austin Clash of the Cupcakes. The decision was a lot harder than I first thought but after thinking it over I had to give it up to Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop in south Austin. I felt that though they might have been a lot smaller than the cupcakes of Hey Cupcake! I felt that they had a better selection. While I still love Hey Cupcake! I think that hands down Sugar Mama’s takes the cake! I was very drawn by their unique selections and the overall textures and flavors from their cupcakes. I wouldn’t call this the best test of Austin cupcakes since we were short one location but I felt that between the two that I had come to a decision I felt comfortable with. Hey Cupcake! was great but they were very traditional in my eyes. The cake was great but it felt a little mediocre. While the frosting was a delicious creamy dream it just wasn’t enough to win me over for this competition. I think this will have to be a rematch and next time I will make sure to have a third location in the battle. I suggest that the next time you are in Austin you take the test for yourself and see what you find. Either way there are no real losers here except maybe for the location the remains nameless. I still have a lot of love for the fine folks of Hey Cupcake! but my sycophant little heart lays with Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop.

Hey Cupcake!

5530 Burnet Rd

Austin, TX 78756-1604

(512) 476-2253

http://www.heycupcake.com/

Sugar Mama's Bakeshop

1905 S 1st St

Austin, TX 78704

(512) 448-3727

http://www.sugarmamasbakeshop.com/

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip Austin

2009-08-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Texas BBQ Showdown

“You can all go to hell, I’m going to Texas”. The same is true for Texas barbeque. We pride ourselves over our barbeque and everyone seems to put their own flare to this Texas staple. Whether its brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken or even turkey, duck and pork, Texans have been grilling it up for generations. Everyone looks for a different thing when eating barbeque. Some look for the smoked and seared flavor while others look for the moist and tender texture. Some prefer their barbeque dry and lightly seasoned and others like it swimming in sauce. No matter how you like it barbeque is king in Texas and in the state capital of Austin they are smoking the city with some of the best barbeque in the state. This journey on the 2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip had me looking to find the best of the best when it comes to barbeque. I was looking for something that made my heart melt and mouth water. I wanted great seasonings, moist texture, smoky flavor and savory sauce. When eating barbeque you can’t forget about the sides. I wanted to find the perfect complement to go pair with the succulent grilled meat. There are a number of great barbeque joints in Austin but I was an outsider so I had to do my research. When I put the word out that I was coming to town emails came flooding in about different spots in town. We had our plates over filled so we could only pick three. Some will say we should have tried this or we should have gone there but we picked the spots the received the most praise. Once we finally decide on the places to try it was time for a showdown.
Austin, Texas is a place known for both great food and great music. Just a couple blocks off the infamous 6th St on Red River sits Stubb’s Bar-B-Q. Here you can have some delicious barbeque some cold beers and catch a great concert all in one place. Stubb’s is smoking the some of the best barbeque in Austin and has gained worldwide attention. From legendary musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Willie Nelson to United States Presidents and even Queen of England. All have praised Stubb’s on his barbeque. I felt like this was one of the best choices to start my showdown. I figured the best way to sample it would be to get the Stubbs Minor, 2 meats with 2 sides. I went with the pork ribs and turkey with potato salad and pinto beans. As the food arrived I felt honored to try the barbeque that was adored by so many musical icons. The barbeque looked very moist and tender. The smoky scent of hot grilled meat made my stomach rumble. I was ready to start the show. As I took a bit of the turkey it seemed firm yet tender. It was semi moist but had a great flavor. The ribs on the other hand were seasoned very nicely. Not too saturated with seasonings I had to admit I really liked the ribs. One complaint if any was that it was a little tougher than some others and the meat didn’t exactly fall off the bone. I compliment the combo with the potato salad that was a good but had that factory made taste that kind of killed this down home cooking vibe. The pinto beans were firm and cook nicely but the flavor fell a little flat. Don’t get me wrong Stubb’s was good but to me the food seemed like I was at a chain restaurant more than a landmark for great barbeque. It was a very filling meal and I wouldn’t say it was bad. In fact I really like Stubb’s but I have been on other occasions and found a better meal. I don’t know if this has what it takes to take the title just yet and I still have two more to go.
Next on my stop I was ready to find something a little different. I was looking for a place that was a little more tame and homey. I found Green Mesquites. From the outside it had that down home cooking road side attraction look. This place without a doubt seemed like it belonged right in the middle of Austin. As you walk in you can smell the sweet and smoky wood burning. Everything about this place screamed great barbeque. They even had an autographed poster of the Food Networks, Guy Fieri. I knew that I had picked the right spot. Like many others I came to Austin to enjoy the nightlife as well as the food and I had planned to partake in some drinking so I was looking for a meal that could carry me over. I felt a nice barbeque Po’Boy filled with brisket and pulled pork could be perfect for the job. Served with Cajun Rice and Potato salad I sat back and relaxed with a beer. The scent of barbeque makes your mouth melt while you wait. When the food arrived the presentation was nice. At this point I was hungry and ready to eat. So much so, that I forgot to get a picture of this big sandwich. As I started to dissect the meal I was beginning to get that not to fulfilled feeling. Sure the bread was soft and toasted but it was just your average bun that you could get from the grocery store. While to meat was good it reminded me barbequing in my own backyard. Nothing was overly season and I felt a little let down because I couldn’t taste that reputable mesquite flavor. While the meat was moist and tender it failed to spark that wow factor. As for the sides they seemed like some family pack you would pick up at the store as well. Green Mesquites was good but I felt that it really let me down in some areas. The prices were good as was the selection. It had a nice family atmosphere with a very decent patio but I think it just doesn’t have enough the take the title in this fight.
Lastly, I was beginning to grow a little tired of barbeque. I felt like maybe Austin didn’t have what I was looking for. Maybe I just didn’t choose my locations wisely. Whatever the case I had one last spot to try. Just a couple blocks away from Green Mesquites on Barton Springs I found Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que. The name alone had my attention. Even if they didn’t have the best barbeque I knew I could atleast get a chance to sample some good beer. From the outside the neon lights seem to draw you in like a moth. Once you walk inside you feel at ease. It seems more like a bar than a restaurant at first. It has very low lighting and a large bar area. As the hostess takes us to our table I felt like we got the best seat in the house, right next to the brewing room where the large beer steels shine. There is nothing better in my opinion than great fresh beer and some hot and smoky barbeque. I was really digging this place. I ordered up a beer sampler and looked over the menu. The selections were pretty good and the prices were bad either. There was so much I wanted to try. We decided to get a little of this and a little of that, a pound over there and a pound over here. When the food arrived it looked as if we ordered for a family. Thank God we had a refrigerator back at the hotel! The pork ribs were so moist they just fell of the bone. I ended up making a rib sandwich out of a couple. The flavor was so delicious I didn’t even need to use barbeque sauce. For a slight moment I felt as if I was in barbeque heaven. I had to say this was one of the best ribs I had ever eaten. Next I dug in on the Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage. The outside skin was a little tough but it didn’t bother me. The mild spicy accents with the sharp cheddar made this sausage a winning combination. The cheese was a perfect blend with the jalapeno and neither were too overpowering. Even the pulled pork scored high in my book. It was so juicy and most. One thing that I loved is that it wasn’t saturated in barbeque sauce. While I liked the taste of the barbeque sauce they had, I didn’t find the need for it. The smoked juices and the natural flavors from the mean made this almost perfect. The brisket was heavily smoked and carried that rich and powerful smoked taste but it wasn’t over done. It was still very flavorful and delicious. Even the sides were something to envy. The potato salad was made with red new potatoes and they we prepared perfectly. It was a nice combination of soft and firm. I was ready to throw in the towel but I still had green beans and macaroni and cheese. Green beans have never tasted so fresh. The color was rich and vibrant. They were cooked with bacon and caramelized onions. This made eating your greens a privilege. The Mac N Cheese was something else. Elbow noodles mixed with a queso style cheese. It was so creamy and rich, topped with crunch bread crumbs. I was stuffed. Between the both of us it looked as if we had barely made a dent. Could Uncle Billy’s take it all or was there something missing from this whole showdown?
After a weekend of eating barbeque I felt nauseous looking at ribs or slab of brisket. I was overwhelmed but not beat. I tried some really great places here and I don’t regret the restaurants I visited. I think in the end they all had great food but it really depends on what you are looking for. For atmosphere you have to go with Stubb’s. If your looking for that backyard barbeque taste Green Mesquites would be your type of place and if you are looking for a place to grab a bite to eat and sample some home brewed beer Uncle Billy’s if your favorite family member. On this trip I wanted to find the best of the best in barbeque. Sure there are a lot of spots out there and picking three isn’t the most accurate way to choose a winner but out of these three one did rise above the rest. I was looking for textures and tastes while judging the showdown and I wanted something that really blew me away and with that on the 2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip in Austin, TX. We have picked Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que our winner for the Texas BBQ Showdown. There really wasn’t anything I could find about this place that I didn’t like. The service was great, the prices were fair, the portions were large, the beer was cold and the barbeque was outstanding. You know you have a great recipe when sauce isn’t needed. Everything about this place made me fall in love. From the fall off the bone ribs to the fresh colorful sides, Uncle Billy’s is a must when visiting Austin for barbeque. Nothing washes barbeque down better than cold beer. I highly recommend the six beer sampler. These guys have a winning recipe for both food and beer. Cheers!

Stubb's Bar-BQ

801 Red River St

Austin, TX 78701-3312

(512) 480-8341

http://www.stubbsaustin.com/

Green Mesquite BBQ & More

1400 Barton Springs Rd

Austin, TX 78704-1011

(512) 479-0485

http://www.greenmesquite.net/

Uncle Billy's

1530 Barton Springs Rd

Austin, TX 78704-1013

(512) 476-0100

http://www.unclebillysaustin.com/

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip

2009-07-29T12:49:00.001-07:00

Austin, TX

Austin, Texas, Home to the Texas Longhorns, great music and most of all great food. On this trip I was set. I knew exactly what I was looking for. I like to think of Austin as my second home. Many people congregate in Austin for music festivals or just to party the night away on 6th St. Not me, at least not this time. I’m here for the food. I brought the 2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip to the capital of Texas to find real Texas barbeque, find out who is hand tossing the best pizza and explore the sweet creamy goodness of cupcakes.
In Texas we are known for great smoky barbeque. Sure there are tons of places we could visit but with such a tight schedule we could only pick three. Emails came in from all over the place telling us to try this place or that place so I picked the three I heard most about. I’m sure there are tons of other spots that we could of checked out but don’t worry. As much as I visit Austin I will get to them all soon enough. To find out who took our vote for the best barbeque be sure to read the Texas Barbeque Showdown. In Austin, when looking for pizza you have more than enough to choose from. Honestly I think it’s pretty hard to go wrong with a pizza but in Austin they have taken the love for the Italian dish to a whole other level. You can find a pizza parlor or trailer on almost every block in town. It probably has a lot to do with all the college students around. One thing I’ve noticed about Austin is their support for local businesses. Sure you will still find your usual pizza chains but here it’s the independent guys that are taking the cake, or should I say pie? On this trip we chose to triple up on everything so we found three parlors and had a pizza toss off. To see who we picked and who came out on top be sure to check out the Austin’s Pizza Toss-Off.
Looking for something sweet and small? Drive around Austin and you will find some great bakeries baking up some of the sweetest and most delicious treats in all of Texas. I found the cupcake to be a growing trend and everyone is putting their own spin on this tasty little cake. From store fronts to trailers, Austin is baking up some great cupcakes but who’s got the better batter? Be sure to read the Austin Clash of the Cupcakes and find out who has the best bang for the buck.
I would like to say thank you so much to all the new friends me met while in Austin. April from Sweet Leaf Tea was a great host. She offered advice on places to try and things to see and she even introduced us to the wonderful staff that keeps Sweet Leaf Tea brewing. Also I would like to say thank you to everyone at Republic Tequila. If anyone knows how to welcome guest into town its Republic Tequila. They have left a lasting impression on me and would like to wish them the best of luck on the release of the tequila this month. They have made me a true tequila admirer now and I can wait to go back to Austin and see them again. Austin you are a wonderful and beautiful city. I can’t thank everyone enough for their hospitality and their friendship. Bite Me Austin!

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip New Orleans

2009-07-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Desire Oyster Bar & Bistro
300 Bourbon St
New Orleans, LA
(504) 586-0300

Among the bars and drunken chaos of Bourbon St. lays a tranquil and quite restaurant that seems very out of place. The Desire Oyster Bar & Bistro is a little diner that seems to transport you to past. It looks as if nothing in this place has changed since its original opening. Old tiles and grand bar bring a nice nostalgia and makes this place seem very warm and welcoming. Many people have told me about Desire but so far I was a little disappointed in the recommendations. I have yet to find that good ole Creole cooking. Everything we have had in New Orleans seemed a little bland and didn’t give me that nice spicy kick. I was hoping Desire would put an end to that. The prices hovered in the median for what I was expecting to pay and figured it would be well worth it. Almost as soon as the waiter brought us some bread and butter our food was almost ready. I was very pleased with the bread. It was very soft and chewy, still warm from the oven. I was growing a little tired with all the Po’Boy’s on this trip so we decided to go with the Crawfish Alfredo and the BBQ Shrimp. Desire is known for their oysters but I have a utter disgust for them and choose to not take part. As the dishes were rush to our table, an eclectic scent of spices came calling. The food was presented nicely and I couldn’t wait to take a bite. The lone crawfish rested atop a mound of fettuccini seemed to stare at me and anxiously wait to be ripped apart and eaten. I decided to toss the little guy to the side and save him for last I was after the pasta first. The sauce wasn’t too thick so it made twirling the fork a breeze. Jumbo lumps of crawfish tails spread throughout the dish like confetti. The taste of the Alfredo sauce was outstanding. Nice mild spice with a rich creamy cheese flavor. The boiled crawfish tails were plump and added a nice little kick. I felt like I was in Cajun food Heaven. I had finally found some great real Cajun cuisine. I looked across the table to see the BBQ Shrimp swimming in a bowl of butter and seasonings. My mouth watered as I longed to taste them. Butter dripped down my fork and I selected a shrimp. The succulent sent of Cajun spices almost danced on my touch as I brought the shrimp to my mouth. It was near perfection. The shrimp was boiled to perfectly with a firm but chewy texture. The taste though is something that can’t be explained. It had a little kick but it wasn’t too spicy and while it was resting in a bowl of butter it wasn’t as greasy as one could imagine. I was falling head over hills for Desire. I started to wonder if this was how they got their name. After you eat here you seem to only desire more. Who would have known you could find such great food tucked in between all the rowdy bars of Bourbon St.

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip New Orleans

2009-07-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

Café Du Monde
800 Decatur St.
New Orleans, LA.
(504) 525-4544
http://www.cafedumonde.com/

When people think of New Orleans deserts they usually think of a few things: King Cakes, Bread Pudding and Beignets. On this trip I felt it only necessary to find out what made Café du Monde stand above the rest. In a small in/outdoor café across the street from the St. Louis Cathedral they are frying up these little French donuts three at a time. Unlike your usual donut Beignets are fried and coated with tons of powdered sugar while they are still hot. When I say a town of powdered sugar I mean a lot. The proof is all over the floor. While others have told me about different cafes but Café du Monde has the most history. Café du Monde opened up in 1862 and it still stands in the same spot. They are still making the beignets the same way and pouring out the same coffee. This must mean they have been doing something right. No trip in New Orleans is complete without Café du Monde Beignets and famous chicory coffee. It was very hot and humid on our trip so as we stopped in to the café they last thing we wanted was hot coffee. They have a very smooth iced coffee that compliments the sugar coated beignets. The beignets were nicely fried to a golden brown and doused in powdered sugar and brought to us right away. The taste was decent but it wasn’t something that blew me away. The texture wasn’t as soft as a donut and there were no glazes or fillings just fried dough and powdered sugar. I felt that there was just too much sugar. With every bite it there would be a clump of powdered sugar caking behind my front teeth to the roof of my mouth. Don’t get me wrong it was good but I wouldn’t have minded a little less sugar. Word of warning, this coffee is strong. And not made for those with a sensitive stomach. While it was a delicious beverage to wash down the beignets it did reek havoc on my tummy that evening. While in Café du Monde you will notice tons of waiters and waitresses waiting for customers to sit down. I had to know a little bit about the café so I struck up a conversation with our waitress. I found it very interesting to know that in such a little place they can have up to 15 employees bringing you your fried dough. Each person only has a couple of tables and they work fast and hard in hopes of a good tip. I can vouch for the employees that getting the tables cleaned and ready for the next customer isn’t an easy job. It’s very hectic inside Café du Monde and they are working for very little money. They only accept cash because when you place an order the waiter or waitress has to pay for your order with their own pocket. Next time you stop in to enjoy some beignets and coffee think about your waiter and be sure to tip nicely.

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip Austin

2009-07-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

Republic Tequila
www.RepublicTequila.com

Be sure to check out Republic Tequila in the July issue of Texas Monthly on page 105.

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip New Orleans

2009-07-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

Tropical Isle
721 Bourbon St
New Orleans, LA‎
(504) 529-4109‎
http://www.tropicalisle.com/

On almost a daily basis hundreds of individuals flock to Bourbon St. looking to let loose and unwind. With an abundance of bars to choose from it almost seems overwhelming. With all of the lights and sounds coming from every direction, you walk down the strip trying to find the most unique and interesting place to stop in. When you come to the corner of Bourbon and Orleans you seem to find yourself drawn to the Tropical Isle. Notoriously known as a staple to the Quarter, Tropical Isle has been mixing up one of the most potent and delicious drinks in town, the Hand Grenade. You can’t walk a single block without seeing groups of people carrying the signature hand grenade cup and the only place to get one is at Tropical Isle. The Hand Grenade is a grain alcohol based drink mixed with melon and pineapple juices that will leave you begging for more. The recipe is kept very secret and not even I could break them. This is what keeps Tropical Isle so popular. This is the only place in the world to get a hand grenade and they like to keep it that way. Tropical Isle was founded in 1984 by Pam Fortner and Earl Bernhardt and they have grown from one bar to four plus the fine dining establishment Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro. Sadly two of their locations were severely damaged by fire earlier this year but with the true New Orleans spirit they plan to rebuild and come back even harder.

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip New Orleans

2009-07-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Old New Orleans Rum Distillery
http://www.neworleansrum.com/

Spirits are said to be haunting the streets of New Orleans and I’m not talking about the ones that go bump in the night. Just outside of the French Quarter you will find the New Orleans Rum Distillery. This company is a great example of New Orleanians facing adversity and their fight to keep on going. Over the years Old New Orleans Rum has gone through quite a transformation since Hurricane Katrina flooded them in 8 feet of water. They changed the name, redesigned the bottle and began distilling some great new brews. We were given a tour through the distilleries by Jascha, a northern transplant who said he fell in love with the city a few years ago. Jascha learned distilling over the years while working the company and is hand-crafting some of the rum you taste today. The company produces four different varieties of rum. They have their Crystal, Amber, Cajun Spiced and their 10 Year Special Edition. All of these rums are very smooth to the point where they can be sipped alone without that harsh burn other rums can give you. The Crystal Rum would be your ideal mixing rum to make your everyday mojitos and daiquiris. It has a very mellow with hints of vanilla or molasses. Their Amber Rum is a mix from different oak barrels that is aged for three years and they finish it off with their homemade caramel to add a little added flavor. The Cajun Spiced Rum is something to behold. While they have won many awards for their rum the Cajun Spiced have won the best in category for the last three years. It’s a very smooth amber rum that has been blended with different spices to give it that New Orleans kick. This is a very drinkable rum that has the very unique essence of New Orleans. This had to be one of the best spiced rums that I've ever had. It's a very mellow rum with a mild spice. I mean, I could literally drink this all day. Around here they like to mix it with sweet tea to make their Cajun Tea. A very delicious cocktail if I must say so myself. Old New Orleans Rum even distills a unique treasure that can only be purchased in town. They are bottling a10 year old rum that resembles a fine Irish whiskey. This rum is a survivor of Katrina and supplies are limited. They are only cranking out 700 bottles per year. It is a smooth sipping rum with a warming rich vanilla flavor. It would almost be an insult to use it as a mixer. While at the distillery we were lucky enough to sample a work in progress. Old New Orleans Rum has been experimenting and are working on a coconut rum. This delicious buttery coconut rum is unlike anything I had ever had. It seemed to be a little thicker than your usual flavored rum and that was due to the all natural ingredients. I would have to say this trip taught me a lot about rum and how it is distilled. Before this trip I only knew rum to be something you use to make a fruity frozen cocktail. I really can’t thank Jascha and the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery for their hospitality and a lesson in rum. I highly recommending you pick up a bottle of the Cajun Spiced rum for yourself. If your lucky enough to travel to New Orleans try to find a 10 year aged bottle. You definitely will not regret it.

Were Taking Over Texas!

2009-07-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

Mike Cortez here of Bite Me *Houston*. Your non sugar coated guide for the best food and drinks in town. We are proud to announce that we will be teaming up with Texas on Air and broadcasting our love across this great state. I would like to send a big thank you to Joey V. for bringing me aboard. This is an honor and I really hope everyone enjoys the articles. As always I promise to bring you the inside scoop without all the hype. Bite It!

http://texasonair.com/bite-me-houston-blog/

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip New Orleans

2009-06-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

Packing the Punch on Bourbon St.

All year long people flock to New Orleans to let loose. Some come to gamble and others come for that southern sin city vibe. No matter the reason, they are all here to drink. Bourbon Street lays in the middle of the French Quarter and is packed with tons of bars ready to drown you in any poison you desire. Drinking can be expensive here if you’re not careful, so I decided to be your test dummy and find out who was packing the best punch for the least amount of money. Sure there are spots along the strip that offer $2 near beers and $5 Huge Ass Beers but it can take some time to get that good warm feeling from beer. Plus you end up pissing it out most of the night. While I don’t condone binge drinking, I support a healthy and respectful attitude towards alcohol. It’s not hard to spot the people that clearly can't handle their liquor. Almost every block you walk down there is someone falling down or throwing up, and every other block there’s a couple fighting. Maybe it’s the humidity or hot air combined with too much liquor that makes people act this way. Either way, this was going to be an interesting test. To be fair I only had one strong drink per night. This would be the only way to gage the effects of the drinks. The humidity in New Orleans is similar to Houston but the air seemed thicker and the heat made it almost unbearable to drink.
We stayed at the historic Bourbon Orleans hotel located on the corner of Bourbon and Orleans. The first stop for us on our intoxicated adventure led us to Tropical Isle since it was half a block away. While they have a few other drinks they are most notable for their famous Hand Grenades. You can’t walk anywhere along Bourbon St. without seeing someone carrying around the green plastic cup. For $8 you get a souvenir yard cup and a little plastic grenade atop a strong but sweet, yummy concoction that tastes of pineapple and melon liqueur. Right away I fell in love. While the taste of alcohol was faint, it was clear this drink had a punch judging from all the people dancing in the streets, but all I cared about was how delicious it was. The recipe is very secretive and the Hand Grenades can only be found here. No exporting on this fine drink. It really makes a trip to New Orleans all worth it. Once I finished the drink, I didn’t quite feel the buzz but I wasn’t disappointed because it tasted so good. I was so intrigued by the company that I setup an interview with the creator of the Hand Grenade so I could learn more but that’s another article. Right now we’re on a mission to find the hard stuff.
Next, we had to visit one of the most famous places in New Orleans, Pat O’Briens to grab their famous Hurricane. A mix of light and dark rums with fruit juices makes this a strong,cold drink to ward of the summer heat. I was expecting it to be frozen, but on the rocks would work too. This was a strong drink and it wasn't hard to taste the booze. While it was somewhat sweet, the stiff taste of alcohol was always present. At each sip, the alcoholic fumes rose to the nostrils followed by a sweet sticky taste of fruit punch. At $8 I wished it came with some sort of souvenir cup to help me remember what I drank the night before. As I continued to drown my liver, the punch flavor disappeared and all I could taste was watered down alcohol. Not exactly the best taste in the world. Once I finished the Hurricane I felt kinda queasy but it wasn’t from being drunk. Maybe it was from the sugary syrup or that watered down taste. Whatever the reason I wasn’t too thrilled about the Hurricane. I was expecting a drink to blow me away with the force of Katrina. Instead it was a tropical depression on both my buzz and my wallet.
On the last night in New Orleans I was still in search of that strong punch. Many people began to recommend I check out Port of Call. An old steakhouse located on the edge of the French Quarter one block north of Bourbon on Dauphine and Esplanade. Granted it wasn’t on Bourbon St., I was told it was here that I would find that kick I was looking for. Esplanade isn’t one of nicest looking areas but it felt safe. Your about 8 blocks from all the action so it’s in walking distance but on a hot night like this I was getting a cab. Walking into Port of Call, it’s a little different...think Gilligan's Island. It’s a very small place that’s very dim lit and the bar takes up most of the space. They are most known for their burgers and stakes but on this visit were looking for the Holy Grail of drinks to make us regret it in the morning. Neptune’s Monsoon was a big cup of fruit juices and alcohol. When I asked what makes it so strong I was told “It’s only got two liquors and that’s all it needs”. They said Neptune's Monsoon was a last request drink for pirates that were forced to walk the plank. I figured if it was going to be their last drink it must be something to remember. This was a pretty big drink and at $9.50 it also came in a souvenir cup. I was a little nervous to drink this on my own but I'm known to take on a challenge, so I sucked it up and started drinking away. It was so very sweet but not overbearing. It reminded me of a Hurricane but not as overloaded with that stiff alcoholic taste. By the time I reached the middle of the cup I was already starting to feel a little warmth. I needed a little help on this one but I had down most of it on my own. I felt pretty nice as I walked out of the bar. I waited for cab to arrive and I could feel the Monsoon's warm breeze flowing over me. I had to admit I finally caught a buzz. Not only was it strong...it tasted delicious. The punch wasn’t too sweet and the alcohol wasn’t too strong. It was mixed perfectly to make this enjoyable drink. Overall I think this challenge could've ended up different for everyone. It really depends what you’re looking for when you’re looking for the biggest punch on Bourbon St. I admired the Tropical Isle Hand Grenade the most because of the flavor I wouldn’t have minded paying another $8 for seconds. While the Pat O’Briens Hurricane was my least favorite, some people enjoy it. All of the drinks were about the same price and granted not everyone cares for a souvenir cup. I just think it adds into the cost of the product for what you get. I think that the Hurricane has become so hyped up that it’s kind of lost it’s flair along the way. The Port of Call's maybe a dollar more expensive, but I believe it’s a bigger drink and it clearly packing the punch I was looking for. In the end you can choose your beer of choice or sample the many different daiquiris and frozen drinks along Bourbon St. but don’t overdo it. If I really had to choose I would say it’s a toss-up between Tropical Isle & Port of Call but my heart has a passion for the Hand Grenade and its yummy secret recipe. Next time you’re in New Orleans you be the judge.

Tropical Isle
721 Bourbon St
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 529-4109
http://www.tropicalisle.com/

Pat O'Briens
718 Saint Peter St
New Orleans, LA 70116
http://www.patobriens.com/

Port of Call
838 Esplanade Ave
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 523-0120
http://www.portofcallneworleans.com/

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip New Orleans

2009-06-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

Mother's Restaurant
401 Poydras St
New Orleans, LA 70130-3207
(504) 523-9656
http://www.mothersrestaurant.net/

While doing some research for this trip I came across Mother’s Restaurant. It has been highly recommended by many to be the place to find the best Po’ Boy in New Orleans. I don’t care where you go, everyone always thinks they have the best but when your customers are the ones putting the word out, it usually means you have something good. I figured Mother’s would be a great place to start my exploration of New Orleans fare. One thing I find very annoying about the French Quarter is parking. There never seems to be any free parking. Like any downtown I suppose parking is limited but the prices here are a little higher than usual. We park a few blocks down and make our way to Mother’s. I’m starting to feel very good about this venture and I’m looking forward to this over stuffed Po’ Boy. When you walk into Mother’s there isn’t much to say about the place other than it’s a little warm and everything looks aged. This place is said to cook up the world’s best baked ham. It’s even printed on the sign outside. Everyone kept telling me about the Ferdi Special so I had to know what the buzz was all about.
The Ferdi Special is a large Po’ Boy stuffed with Ham, Roast Beef, Debris and Gravy (Debris is roast beef that falls into the gravy while baking in the oven). We figured it would be nice to share a bowl of Red Beans & Rice, a Cajun staple. Once you place the order they begin to prepare it right away. The food was out to us pretty quick and I was pretty impressed by the size of the sandwich. The French bread was over stuffed with plenty of meat to serve two people and Red Beans & Rice seemed like the perfect side to share with a meal like this. I was eager to jump, but intimidated by the size of this Po’ Boy. I decided to just pick it up and dig in. Gravy came running out as I bit into the bread. Right away I noticed something wasn’t right. The roast beef was very dry. Sure it’s usually dry but it almost felt hard to swallow. While the gravy helped moisten the meat it just seemed like it wasn’t enough, not to mention there really wasn’t much for flavor. The red beans and rice even seemed to be a little flat. I had to throw in some salt and pepper just so I could taste this meal. Where was that spicy and flavorful Cajun spice I was expecting? I was a little disappointed with Mother’s. Had the hype killed this place? Maybe it was just a bad day, but for $40 for two Po’ Boys, two drinks and a bowl of red beans and rice I felt a little shafted. I think the Ferdi Special had some real potential but a dash of seasoning to both the Po’ Boy and the Red Beans & Rice would have made this experience so much better. I personally think that’s a lot of money for what you get. Like I said maybe it was just a bad day. Next time you’re in New Orleans check it out maybe you will have a better experience.

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip

2009-06-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

*New Orleans*

With summer here and the recession keeping our money tight, it’s getting harder for people to go on vacation. This year many people plan on staying in their own towns, but I refuse to be held down. The one thing I miss the most from my childhood is going on road trips with my parents to little cities across Texas. I decided this would be a great chance to take Bite Me on the road.

The first half of the tour I drove to New Orleans, Louisiana. This is a city with years of tragic history and a poor image since the media frenzy surrounding hurricane Katrina. New Orleans. Needless to say I was a little apprehensive about choosing New Orleans because of its safety and not to mention the costs. As the trip grew closer I was beginning to regret it but there was no turning back. I had only been to New Orleans once in my past and I wasn’t old enough to enjoy it (i.e. drink). This was my chance to see what the hype was all about and get a chance to sample some great food.
When I announced the trip recommendations flooded in with tips and advice. After awhile I began hearing about the same restaurants and cafés over and over again. While they all sounded like a great place to check out I thought there has to be more out there. I didn’t want to visit the tourist spots and while the French Quarter is a tourist trap in itself, I knew there had to be some great food waiting to be tasted. I’m your average person, I like simple things and I don’t want to spend my whole paycheck on one meal. One thing I noticed while doing my research was that restaurants in the French Quarter can be very expensive with the average plate costing about $25 per person. While that may not seem like a lot to some, I have to spread my money to take this trip from New Orleans, Louisiana all the way back to Austin, TX and still have enough money to pay for the expense of traveling back to Houston.We arrived in New Orleans on a Friday night just before midnight. I have always heard New Orleans was the city that never slept in the south and I was hoping this was still true post Katrina. Since we arrived under the cover of the night we didn’t get a good look at the outer regions of the city but as we reached the inner city lights of the warehouse district I was honestly shocked. It all seems so pretty and clean. I was beginning to think this wasn’t a bad idea after all. The streets of the French Quarter seemed welcoming with that old Victorian feel. I was ready to drop my bags at the hotel and see what hidden gems awaited us. I wanted to explore Cajun food and find out what the locals favored. I wanted to find out who had the strongest drink on Bourbon Street. I was anxious to learn a little bit about beignets and who was serving them up. I knew this would be a trip I wouldn’t soon forget.

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip

2009-06-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip

-Houston, Texas - New Orleans, Louisiana - Austin, Texas-

June 19 2009 - June 28 2009

Its summer time and with the economy in shambles many people are planning on just staying in and exploring their own city. For me, I can’t just stand by and let the economy hold me down. That’s why I’m picking up a camera and hitting the road. This is the 2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip. I’m headed from the swamps of Louisiana to the hills of Austin. I’m going to find the best food in drinks they have to offer and enjoy that Southern hospitality. In Louisiana I’m going to stop in on New Orleans to see what the French Quarter is cooking up. We’re going to find out who is really packing the punch on Bourbon Street; Battle of the beignets; Cajun fine dining and maybe catch a few spirits along the way. Then we will head back into hill of Austin and chow down on some authentic Texas barbeque; Cupcake showdown, find out what’s the connection between pizza and Austin; See what’s distilling in town and find that home cooked hearty breakfast. The tour starts June 19-28 in New Orleans, Louisiana then we will make our way back to Texas into Austin. I hope everyone enjoys the videos. Be sure to follow along with us on Twitter. @BiteMeHouston

Trentino Gelato

2009-06-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

Trentino Gelato
http://www.trentinogelato.com/

It was a sweltering Sunday afternoon in Houston and the temperatures were hovering around the mid 90’s. In such an active city it’s hard to stay indoors on such a beautiful day. Though the heat was slowing us down I had a friend on the inside that had a cure that could chill the soul. Marcelo Kreindel, an Argentinean born Houstonian, is bringing the passions from his home country here to Houston. Marcelo is the mastermind and gourmet chef behind Trentino Gelato. I know what you’re probably thinking and trust me I was thinking the same, what is an Argentinean doing making Italian ice cream? Well after introductions and a quick sampling, Marcelo told me about Argentina and their love for these frosty treats. Though Gelato may have been born in Italy, Argentineans have been making their own versions for years. Marcelo told us that gelato shops are as common as coffee shops here. Being in Houston the gelato shops almost nonexistent and Marcelo felt a bit homesick. After returning home to Argentina, Marcelo studied the art of gelato making and was ready to bring that Argentinean passion to Houston. Located in a kitchen just outside of downtown Trentino Gelato is literally whipping up some of the sweetest and smoothest treats in town. These aren’t your average Gelatos. Of course you can get your usual fix of chocolate and vanilla but why stop there when Trentino’s has flavors to make your head spin and mouth drool. They are using some of the freshest ingredients and balanced recipes to bring you out of this world flavors like Egg Nog, Green Tea, Nutella, Star Anise and Wild Texas Honey. That’s just to name a few. And do not worry if you're lactose intolerant. .Trentino’s has a wonderful world of sorbets to keep you chill all year long. With cool and refreshing flavors such as Beer, Chili Chocolate, Cucumber Cilantro & Lime, Gazpacho and a South American favorite Guanabana, you won't feel left out. Marcelo is always in the kitchen trying to come up with new recipes for Trentino Gelato fans. A big appeal to me is his passion for his product and his ongoing support to keep things local. Marcelo uses fruits from local farmers markets and deserts from bakeries and coffee shops around town to add a very special local flair of this cross networking goodness. He has even recently added Saint Arnold’s brewery to his list of flavors with the Saint Arnold Amber Beer Sorbet. For the time being Trentino Gelato can only be found at Spec’s, Rice Epicurean & Belden’s or you can find them every Sunday at the Discovery Green Farmers Market. Trentino Gelato can also be found at Coffee Groundz, D’Amico’s and Crickets Creamery & Café. In my opinion Trentino’s is the best gelato I have ever had. His gelato has such a rich and silky texture that can only set you up for the explosion of rich flavors that be bestowed on your tongue. And all the health conscious Houstonians out there will be pleased to know that gelato has less fat and air than ice cream, so its naturally better for you than ice cream. That nutritional tidbit is what inspired me to sample as many flavors as I could. The Dulce de Leche and Brownie was without a doubt the best thing I had ever tasted. I also highly recommend their sorbets. Trentino's Lemon Sorbet is quite possibly the best thing to have on a hot humid day in Houston. It's sweet and refreshing with a bit of a tangy after taste that bites you in the jaw but it's blended with perfection to balance out the sweet and sour flavors. Trentino's Gelato is the perfect snack to have while spending an afternoon in downtown at Discovery Green Park.

***Be on the lookout for new flavors. Right now Trentino’s is teaming up with Riazul Tequila to make a Blanco sorbet. Sounds yummy and we can’t wait to try it out. I can almost guarantee that once you try Trentino Gelato, you will never go back to ice cream.

Coaches Sports Bar & Grill

2009-05-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Coaches Sports Bar & Grill
17754 Katy Fwy
Houston, TX 77084
http://www.coachesjv.com/

Lately lunch has been pretty bland. Since I have started this venture in food blogging I have chosen to eat healthy while not on assignment. I pass on the burgers, pizza and sweets and instead opt for soups, salads and sandwiches. Not to mention all the protein shakes and creatine cocktails I take on a daily basis.
So, on Fridays I like to let loose for lunch and get my grub on. Who doesn't? I just consider it as my preparation for my food blogging commence on Saturday. At least that's how I validate it *wink wink*. On this particular day I was in the mood for something different. I wanted something that would knock my socks off and send my taste buds to flavor heaven. Well, I was in Katy because that's where I work. We all know Katy doesn't have many chocies for amazing restaurants but I did notice Coaches Sports Bar & Grill had just opened their 3rd location on the west side of town. On the border of Houston and Katy Coaches sits on the feeder of the Katy Freeway amongst the business area of Park Row. I have been to other Coaches locations in town for drinks but I had never given their food a chance. I might have never gone there for lunch until I saw sign that must have been sent from heaven which read, “Crawfish Served Daily”. As we drive past the place our jaws dropped open because normally you can only get Crawfish on the weekend......SO we made a quick u-turn to see if this was true. Walking into Coaches I was pretty impressed. The place was nice and the staff was very friendly. The lunch crowd hasn’t caught on yet so the place was pretty empty but by the size of this place I don’t think getting a table would ever be a problem. As the waitress brought the menus we only had one question. “Do you have crawfish for lunch?” the response seemed to bring joy these grown men. “Yep, everyday.” F*CK YES, I thought. Everyone ordered their preferred poundage of delicious little mud bugs. Within 15 minutes the crawfish were headed to the table. I’m sure to the outside eyes we looked like hungry wolves ready to devour our meal. Steaming hot, these crawfish seemed to shock everyone at the table. HUGE. These were no little mud bugs that you usually find. These things looked like baby lobsters. They were bright red and the seasoning seemed to intimidate crowd but we couldn’t wait to dig in. Some of these tails were almost the size of an adult thumb. They were so big even the claws had a nice helping of meat. If I have emphasized the size of the crawfish enough to ya I have to mention the taste. WOW. Even though these crawfish were big, the taste was enormous! They were spicy but they actually had a flavor. It seemed to make these men groan in bliss or maybe it was the burn. Either way it was without a doubt the best crawfish I had ever had. At only $3.50 per pound it’s hard to not get carried away. There are no potatoes or corn on this tray just spicy big crawfish. They make sure you get your money’s worth here. On Sundays they have an all you can eat special on their crawfish and I can only imagine how many pounds they go thru. This was the best lunch I have had in a long time and we have chosen to make Coaches a weekly thing. Cheap food for a great price is the secret to success and Coaches is on key. With daily drink specials and live music on the weekend this is a definite must. Whether for food or drinks, Coaches is your place!

Christian's Tailgate Bar & Grill

2009-05-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Christian's Tailgate Bar & Grill

309 Gray, Suite 3503

Houston, TX 77002

(713) 816-0908

http://www.christianstailgate.com/

Among this hustle and bustle of midtown you will find little bars and restaurants jam packed with patrons looking to unwind. Christian’s Tailgate sits on the backend corner of Bagby and is said to be serving up some of the best award-winning hamburgers. Christian’s Tailgate has been said to have the best burgers in town by both the Houston Press and even Playboy magazine.
On a Thursday night, I was looking for a quick bite to eat and have couple of drinks to start my night. I stopped in to Christian’s to see what all of the hype was all about. The place was a little crowded but I didn’t have a problem finding a table. Luckily we got to sit close to a TV hanging on the wall and watched the Astros game. Waitresses walked around but no one seemed to want to help us. After awhile I decided my best move would be to approach the bar for some menus. We looked over the menu and I can say they had some pretty enticing choices. After about 15 minutes still no one came to check on us so I decided to order at the bar. Since I had heard so much about these burgers I had to try one and I went with the 1/2lb Swiss Mushroom burger with a side of onion rings. The bartender was very friendly and was happy to take my order. I will admit Christian’s has some pretty good drink specials, so I ordered up a couple of drinks and we sat back to watch the Astros game while we waited for our order. The looks of the place wasn't anything too special. I did like that there were TV’s located throughout the place so any seat in the house would be good. We were lucky enough to get a good seat to watch both the NBA Playoffs and the Astros game on two different screens. A little over 30 minutes had past and still no food.... I went to talk to the bartender and she said they would call our number as soon as it was ready. So I went back to waiting. Another 15 minutes had passed and finally our number was called. By the looks of the burger I was pretty pleased. It was nice and big and the meat looked very juicy and the swiss was melted and oozing all over the mushrooms. I couldn’t wait to enjoy this burger. I added some mayo to the bun and I was ready to dig in on this big burger. The meat was cooked perfectly and bun was nice and soft but something was missing. The onion rings on the other hand were terrific. Fried golden brown the batter was soft yet crunchy. The onions almost seemed caramelized as you took a bite. I returned to my burger and still something was amiss. The swiss was mild and the mushrooms gave it a nice flavor but it seemed like the meat itself was unseasoned. I could barely even taste any salt or pepper in the meat. I felt a little disappointed; they could have at least kicked it with a little Cajun seasoning but nothing. Don’t get me wrong, the burger wasn’t disgusting I just felt like it needed to be seasoned. I really don’t think that it lived up to an award winning status. To make things worse the manager came over to change the Astros game during their 9th inning rally to put on some horrific 90's music videos to go along with the "Virtual DJ". Yea sure the Astros were going to lose, but c'mon. It’s better to watch them lose than to watch Blue Traveler music vids. All in all, this place isn’t all that bad. If you are just looking for some drinks and mediocre bar food this is your place. I don’t know what the Houston Press and Playboy magazine were eating when they tried this place but I felt duped. Award winning burgers? Not exactly but you can be the judge.

-Sorry for the bad picture. Only had phone camera-

Memorial Day BBQ

2009-05-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Every year we get a 3 day weekend and pay respects to the brave men and women that have given their lives and continue to fight for our country. We spend time with friends and family and if you are from Texas you usually have a BBQ. I am a big fan of BBQ and I try to do it every month if possible. This Memorial Day weekend I went all out grilling brisket, chicken, sausage, burgers, hot dogs and more. I like to think of it as a meat-stravaganza. I like to start the marinating process the day before. Coating the beef in liquid smoke with secret spices and giving the chicken a spicy citrus bath. I form the hamburger patties as large as my hand and pack them with onions and spices. Just marinating this food makes mouths water. Another specialty of mine is my queso con carne dip. A spicy cheese dip with onions, tomatoes, peppers and ground beef is a favorite of all my guests. It’s a nice snack to have while the meat is sizzling the grill. You can’t have a BBQ without beer and this year I wanted to take a little tour of Texas. The fridge was packed with Lonestar, Shiner Bock, and St. Arnold’s Texas Wheat. Someone even showed up with some German brews, Hofbräuhaus Hofbräu Hefe Weizen & Weihenstephaner. With friends and family gathered, the Astros on the TV, meat on the grill and cool beers going down, I couldn’t ask for more. As soon as the brisket was cooked I was ready to make a little snack, my famous BBQ Nachos. Since I love my readers so much, I have included the recipe below. Grilling can be a very tedious but rewarding event. Once you see your guest savor each bite it all seems worth it. The burgers came out juicy and smokey with a nice mild kick to them, the brisket falling apart,oozing hot succulent juices, the chicken had a smoked flavor running through and through. This BBQ without a doubt was a success. Even though it rained hard in the afternoon the BBQ was a hit. Nothing goes better with good ole Texas BBQ than beer! And since we had such a nice selection, it made this meal scream "Texas". Even the German counterparts complimented this carnivorous feast! Weihenstephaner is said to be the world’s oldest brewery. Brewing since 1040 they have made one of the best German beers I have ever had. This smooth beer gave a nice clean finish with no harsh overtones. This beer was perfect between each bite because it seemed to refresh the tongue and add a sense of excitement to every bite. The Hofbräu Hefe Weizen was a floral bouquet of deliciousness. It’s little lighter than other Hefe Weizens, but has a heavier punch to it. Both beers went great with grilled meat. As always you can never go wrong with Texas beers. The Lonestar and Shiner went down quickly while St. Arnold’s Texas Wheat was something to savor. This was a great Memorial Day BBQ and I patiently await the next chance I get to grill. I would like to personally thank all of the men and women that fight for our country and given their lives. They will never be forgotten. I just wanted to remind my readers that you don’t have to support the war or the president but always support the troops. This Bite is for you troops! I hope everyone had a great and safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Mike’s BBQ Nachos

1 Hand Full of Tortilla Chips
1 Cup – Chopped or Shredded Brisket
1 Cup – Baked Beans
1 Cup – Spanish Rice
1 Cup – Chili Con Queso

Lay the chips on a plate and layer on the Brisket, Beans, and Rice over the chips evenly. Dump the queso heavily upon the mountain. Grab a beer and devour!

GrumBar & Grill

2009-05-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

GrumBar & Grill

306 Main, Ste. A

Houston, TX 77002

(713) 224-6448

http://grumbar.com/

During the Houston Press Menu of Menus event, I came across a restaurant that really caught my attention. It was the GrumBar & Grill. Now the name might throw you off and admittedly I was a little discouraged because it was in downtown on Main St. I have spent many years in the nightlife industry and over the last 8 years I have watched downtown dry up and die, but this weekend I decided to go forth and explore the cemetery that has become downtown and try the GrumBar & Grill. Located in a small building squeezed between two nightclubs, GrumBar is a tiny little place that seemed to catch my attention right off the bat. As we walked in we were given advice from the patrons sitting on the patio. Friendly little place, I thought. Walking in, a 3 piece jazz band is setting up, the NBA play offs are on the screens and there is a table waiting just for us. Keep in mind this is a very small place so seating can be limited. The tables are against the wall on the right and the bar and band on the left. A very friendly waitress walks right over to hand us menus and offer drinks. Upon her quick return with the drinks she asked if we had any questions. She was very helpful and her advice on menu options was great. This trip I went with the Black & Blue Burger. A half pound blackened burger topped with blue cheese crumbles. They had a special on MGD 64 for only $2 which isn’t bad (even though MGD 64 taste like a beer with water). We sat back and enjoyed the jazz trio waiting for our food. This kind of made me think good things could be coming for downtown if we could get some more spots like this. It didn’t take very long for the food to come out and the smell was amazing. The burger was pretty big and topped with lots of Blue Cheese. I picked up the bun to slap on some mayo and couldn’t believe how soft the bun was. It was soft and squishy, which is just how I like my buns, no pun intended. I added my fixings and I was ready to take a bite into this soft and juicy burger. As I took a bite I noticed the bun was perfectly toasted but still soft to the touch, the meat was juicy and flavorful and the blue cheese gave was tangy and added a semi pungent kick. This burger was near perfect! To make things better the home cut fries were seasoned lightly and fried to a beautiful golden brown. I was really starting to like this place more and more. The jazz trio complemented the meal perfectly. I really appreciate live music with dinner, let alone some toe tapping soul jazz. This place was a true joy. I couldn’t really find anything to complain about. My girlfriend had the chicken salad sandwich which I thought was pretty good also and came with a fresh salad with a wonderfully delicious balsamic vinagerette. GrumBar should be an example of what Downtown Houston needs more of. If we could get more spots like this downtown there might be hope for downtown Houston to live again. There are a few new spots on Main St. that are worth checking out, but if ya make it downtown be sure to stop by GrumBar you will not regret it!

Crave Cupcakes

2009-05-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

Crave Cupcakes
1151 Uptown Park Blvd
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 622-7283
http://www.cravecupcakes.com/

Bite Me Houston is where I like to keep things real. I try not to sugar coat anything and tell you my honest opinion about a place, whether it be good or bad. This brings me to Crave Cupcakes. I have heard so much hype about this little shop whipping up some of the best cupcakes in town. Located in the posh and trendy Uptown Park, Crave is drawing in people anxious to taste the decadent little treats. Crave has 24 different cupcakes and some are only made on certain days and they only make small batches throughout the day so you better there early to get the ones that you want. I had heard so much about this place I had to try it for myself. As I arrived at Crave I noticed it had a very nice exterior but that is to be expected since it is located in the Uptown Park. Designed by an award winning design firm, Crave is a small place with lots of windows. You can watch the team prepare the cupcakes as you sit outside and chow down. There is no seating inside just a little shelf that you can post up on. On the outside they have little café tables that hug the storefront which is nice but umbrellas would have been nice to block out the sun on a hot spring day. On the inside a glass case displays the little cakes waiting to be selected. The line to order is a little unorganized and people bumble around trying to decide on what to get. Your options are pretty limited near closing time and as they run out of a certain flavor they remove it from the board. At first glance I notice how small these cupcakes were. Sure they are supposed to be a little small but at $3.25 a pop I was a little shocked. I was at the point of no return now and I decided to go with the Red Velvet. Described as a “Traditional Texas red cocoa cake with a sweet cream cheese frosting”, I wasn’t really aware Texas had a traditional red velvet cake but I figured eh what the heck! First, you don’t really notice how small the cupcakes are until you get them on your plate. I felt a little ripped off but I held my opinion until I finished this little treat. The cream cheese icing had a medium thickness and creamy, but the taste seemed unproportioned. The frosting seemed like it had too much powdered sugar and you could not taste a rich flavor of cream cheese, which is what is traditionally put on Red Velvet cake. The cake itself while good, didn’t really move me. This really wasn’t any better than your average Betty Crocker do it yourself mix. While it was decent, I wouldn’t go back and pay $3.25. You can go to a grocery store and pick up a whole dozen for around $10, while here you will pay $36 for mediocre cupcakes. I personally would not recommend Crave. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t buy into the hype that, just because it’s in a trendy area and it’s the latest fad does not mean it’s going to be good. Nothing here really makes me Crave more. In the end, not so crave worthy!

BB's Cajun Cafe

2009-05-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

BB's Cajun Cafe
2710 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 524-4499
http://www.bbscajuncafe.com/

It’s one of those nights where you get out late and you’re looking for a bite to eat before you head to the bar. It was passed 10pm and a lot of places were closing, so as I came to towards the intersection of Montrose and Westheimer I noticed the small gleaming light coming from BB’s Cajun Café. Located in a small strip with a gas station, the parking is limited but I was hungry so I made it into a narrow spot and headed in. At first glance nothing really screamed "Louisianan café". Not much for decorations either, just a few hand painted signs thrown upon the wall. While the place was a little small we didn’t have a problem getting a seat. The staff was very friendly as offered advice and answered any questions we had about the menu. He also recommended the daiquiris but the Abita beer took my attention. Abita Amber is a great beer brewed in Louisiana. It’s a delicious amber lager that is oh so smooth and malty. It is not a heavy beer so you can drink up without feeling weighed down and I think it goes perfect with Cajun food. I will admit that the menu is a little short and they specialize on the Po’boys but there isn’t a very large selection for down home Cajun cooking. The waiter recommended the Bedtime in the Bayou Po’Boy (fried gulf shrimp dressed) but I wanted something with New Orleans flair so I went with the Royal St. Secret (Turkey, ham, sautéed mushrooms, tomatos and a mayo relish sauce) and a cup of Maw Maws Chicken & Shrimp Gumbo. I felt a little let down with the limited selection but I was too busy enjoying the Abita. The gumbo came out right away. Served hot it was perfectly complimented by the cool refreshing beer. The gumbo was rich and thick with plump soft rice and generous chunks of sausage and shrimp. It was a little salty but not over powering. I was starting to really like this place. The gumbo came with a slice of French bread that was soft and chewy. When the food came out I was pretty amazed by the appearance of everything. The Po’Boy was pretty big and was stuffed with meat. The fries were cut very thin in a shoestring style. Seasoned with some Cajun seasoning it gave these crispy little fries a nice little bite. The bread was very soft and chewy. This really calmed my nerves because Po’Boys are often served on a hard piece of French bread ready to inflict damage for all the year of bad French jokes. At first bite I knew I was in love. The combination of the ham, turkey, shrimp and mushrooms make a perfect pairing that seemed to rave in my mouth. The mayo relish sauce was thin and flavorful. It brought so much to the delicious plate. After devouring the first half I felt almost full. It was like Mardi Gras in my belly, the party was packed and I still wanted more. As I tried to keep going I couldn’t get enough of this delicious creation. At first glance I was expecting a very mediocre café with half ass food but I soon fell in love with this place and I didn’t want to leave. I highly Recommend BB’s Cajun Café if you’re looking for a bite even late into the night. They are open till 3am on the weekends and till midnight thru the rest. Also the website says they have a special on Lone Star for $1.75 every day! I honestly can’t wait to go back to try their daiquiris, boudin and beignets. BB’s ya stole my heart.

Twitter Me!

2009-05-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks right folks! Bite Me Houston is now on Twitter so be sure to follow us there. Be the first to know when we Bite! www.Twitter.com/BiteMeHouston

Howdy Burger

2009-05-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Howdy Burger

1029 N Highway 6 #1010

Houston, TX 77079

(281) 599-8844

http://howdyburgertexas.com/

In the Park Row area on the west side of town lays a growing cluster of business offices. Around here the restaurants are few and far between and as soon as a new one pops up the employees at the nearby offices rejoice as if a new Wal-Mart opened up in a "Podunk" town. Howdy Burger is one of the newest restaurant establishments bringing people out of their cubicle hell. Located on Highway 6 in the shadows of the new overpass Howdy Burger is serving up juicy flavorful burgers and a few other specialties to fill any Texas appetite. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted with a big ole Texas “howdy!” The staff here, decked out in western wear are very friendly and welcome you right up to the counter to place your order. With a very descriptive menu board your stomach churns awaiting to be fed. Being at a place with burger in the name I thought it would be best to go with one, so I went with the Swiss Mushroom Cheeseburger. I was very tempted in trying one of their many salads but I will try that on a return trip. A nice appeal is that everything here is fresh. They have a display cooler just behind the counter with all of the salad fixing ready to be prepared to order. The beautiful colors bring a sense of cool freshness to the whole place. Here your burgers are made to order and they give you the freedom to add your own fixings at the bar. Once I received my order I was I admired how soft the buns were. The meat looked juicy as steam rose from within. I added some cool lettuce and pickles to add a tangy soft crunch to this burger topped with melting swiss cheese and perfectly browned mushrooms. As I took the first bite I found that everything was very juicy and tasted very fresh. My only concern was the burger could have used a few more minutes on the grill. I am very put off by pink hamburger meat and though this wasn’t extremely raw I felt the urge to finish what I had started. If all else failed I could tell the perfectly cut steak fries would fill in the gaps. The fries were seasoned to perfection with a nice hint of spice. It was a great combination of burger and fries and filled my afternoon hunger. Howdy Burger has only been open for a couple of weeks so they are still working out the kinks. I feel that as soon as they get a handle on the heavy lunch crowd they will prepare the food thoroughly. Though my burger could have used a little more cooking time I think that this place will pick up the game. I have the intentions of coming back here in a few weeks and I think it’s a great place with great potential. If this by any way scares you off I would still recommend going for the salads. I place to go back for one myself!

Oishii Japanese Restaurant

2009-05-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

Oishii Japanese Restaurant
3764 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77046
(713) 621-8628
http://www.oishiihouston.com/

Over the last few years I have become obsessed with the Asian cuisine and cultures. Lo and behold, the Japanese have won my heart over with their succulent fresh fish, many of which never touch a pan.
A coworker told me about Oishii, a hole in the wall sushi spot tucked in the Greenway Plaza area, in a small shopping strip. I felt the need to check this place out, because in life you find that some of the best things come from the most unsuspecting places. As I drove down Richmond Ave. looking for Oishii I found it hard believe this was going to be cheap night. As I pulled up I was a little nervous by the looks of the place because it was a very small little restaurant located next to a convenience store. When we walked in, this place immediately reminded my girlfriend of an authentic sushi bar in Japan. This place is decorated in an authentic Japanese decor equipped with a large shrine of the Japanese lucky cat figurines and Japanese beer signs. It gave this place a very friendly and inviting feel. The waiter took us to our table and gave us time to look over the menu. They were very helpful and answered any questions without giving off the feeling that we were being rushed. The menu was pretty big and offered a wide array of both cooked meals and sushi. I couldn’t believe how cheap everything seemed. I was expecting to find tiny rolls and thin slices of fish. My expectations were pretty low but I decided to enjoy my Asahi and just go with the flow. We ordered the Rainbow Dragon roll, six pieces of sushi (Red Snapper, Fatty Tuna & Spanish Tuna) and two salmon hand rolls. As it arrived to the table my jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe how big everything was. The roll was bigger than many other spots in town and almost half the price! Wow. The fish was robust and full of flavor. No words could do this place the justice it deserves. The hand rolls were pretty big and stuffed with salmon and rice but the seaweed was a little dried out to my liking, but still tasty as all hell. My mouth was in heaven, the fresh flavors made me beg for more. Each piece of fish was so big it took at least two bites to finish. I was blown away by everything here. While savoring the experience I went over the drink menu and something caught my attention. Asahi Black was something very new to me. As a long time Asahi drinker I felt a sense of being a novice when it came to this beer. I had to try this hidden treasure. It was very mellow and rich with a nice finish and it added a very nice complement to the sushi. It has no harsh overtones or long lasting flavors but seemed to clean the pallet for the next bite. I couldn’t believe how impressed I was with Oishii. Everything was so delicious and colorful. The taste of the sushi took away any concerns I first had about this place. When I got the bill I felt this place was just too good to be true. At only $36 for food and drinks for two people I found that Oishii was pretty much half the price of other sushi restaurants and you got more food for the money. Though Oishii is not a trendy upscale see and be seen spot, it is a place for great food for a great price. I honestly feel that I have found the best place for sushi in Houston. I can guarantee I will be coming back here for years to come. A piece of advice about Oishii, the place is very small so expect to wait for a table with that being said it shares the parking lot with a convenience store so parking is limited but you can park in the lot next door to the left of the building. Other than that this is a sushi lover’s dream come true. Thanks for the recommendation Jane!

The Chocolate Bar

2009-04-20T12:14:00.001-07:00

The Chocolate Bar

1835 W Alabama St

Houston, TX 77098

(713) 520-8599

www.theoriginalchocolatebar.com

This weekend after a having a great dinner my sinful cravings for dessert were calling. I tried to avoid listening to the sugary satanic verses but the powers were too strong. As we cruised down Alabama St. we came across the Chocolate Bar. The name alone caught my attention and I just had to soothe my aching sweet tooth.
The Chocolate Bar is located in small shopping strip and parking is very limited. It almost made me think this was a real bar. This place was jam packed.
As you walk in you are slapped in the face with the sweet succulent smell of decadent chocolate. From cakes to cookies, ice cream to candies...if you love chocolate this is your place. The Chocolate Bar is like a candy store for adults. Everyone was dressed as if they were at a real bar and instead of Patron; the crowd was taking shots of hot chocolate. Seating is very limited here but most people take their deserts to go. As you wait in line your mouth fills with saliva and you suddenly feel an intense urge to slam you face into the glass counter. The beautiful array of gourmet cakes makes your mind go into a state of confusion when trying to decide on which cake to try. So many choices! Once you pick your cake and move close to the cash register you pass another glass counter with even more beautiful deserts. The cookies, brownies and cupcakes call out like to you a puppy in a pet store, screaming "Buy me, buy me." After you pay and walk on the other side of the shop you pass more glass counters with homemade ice creams, chocolate dipped fruits and specialty gourmet chocolates. After spending a few excruciating minutes for our turn, we decided to go for the Tuxedo Cheesecake and the Candylicious Junkyard. At $6.95 a slice or $55.00 for the whole cake we figured this better be the best damn desert we ever had. As we admired the cakes drizzled with toppings, our hearts beating anxiously as we prepared to dig in. We started with the Tuxedo Cheesecake. White chocolate cheesecake rested atop a homemade Oreo cookie crust and drizzled with caramel and dark chocolate sauces to make your pupils dilate in ecstasy while your taste buds stand on end begging for more. The cheesecake was so smooth and velvety without being too thick and over sweet. A glass of milk or coffee would have gone nice but there was no time to stop from devouring this sweet concoction. As we moved to the Candylicious Junkyard I almost felt intimidated. I wasn’t sure if I could handle this much sweet gooey goodness without slipping into a diabetic coma. The Candylicious Junkyard is a confetti mixture of Butterfingers, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Baby Ruth, Nestle Crunch, Twix and Kit Kats rolled into a white Bavarian mousse also drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauces. After one bite my senses were in heaven. It was as if there was a chocolate orgy in my mouth. It was so hard to swallow because my tongue was taking in all the flavors. The cake was so rich and smooth with a nice mellow crunch of the peanutty goodness. This was without a doubt the best desert I had ever had! The price may have been a little high but I would go back without a doubt. This place was so amazing that it makes getting fat worth it. The only downside to this charming little joint is that parking is very limited, as is seating, and there is only one bathroom but other than that this place is well worth the visit. So if you’re looking to ease the yearning of your sweet tooth, head to the Chocolate Bar. You will be coming back for more!

Little Bigs

2009-04-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Little Bigs
2703 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 521-2447
www.littlebigshouston.com

Mini burgers, Sliders, Burger Shots....call it what you will, but the tiny burger craze is sweeping the nation and it seems like everyone is trying to jump on the bandwagon. From Burger King to Chili's, everyone is making their own version of the so-called slider. This includes Houston’s new establishment, Little Big's.
Located in a tiny building on Montrose near Westheimer, Little Big's is taking their love for these tiny creations to a whole new level. Here at Little Big's your options are very limited and you can choose from 3 types of sliders: Beef, Spicy Chicken and 'Shroom & Cheese. You can either order 'em solo or as a trio or you can pick any combo of the 3.
I decided to go for the Trio and get one of each and their four minute fries. A big appeal to me was that everything here is served fresh. From the piping hot fries, the fresh ground beef, rolls and topping...everything is done in house. Since sliders are small it doesn't take very long to get your order and it only takes four minutes for the fries, hence the name. They do have a topping bar to add all of your desired fixings. I suppose this is to help make these tiny burgers seem more filling. At first glance they looked pretty enticing. The Spicy Chicken slider had a great fresh chicken flavor. This is real chicken, not that mixed meat mystery poultry with rib meat. While the flavor was good it lacked any type of seasoning to make it "spicy", as the name said. The chicken was breaded and fried perfectly. It had a nice crispy breading and the sweet dill pickle made a nice compliment to the little sandwich. The homemade yeast roll was semi soft and was easy to bite into.
Next I moved on to the 'Shroom & Cheese slider. From the looks of this one it was going to be oozing with hot cheese ready to afflict third degree burns to my mouth. It is composed of crimini mushrooms and a three cheese blend which was then deep fried. The description alone made my mouth water but once I dug in I felt very disappointed. You can’t really go wrong with mushrooms but the cheese mixture was seriously lacking. It tasted like a mix of government cheese and flour. It was a little hard to swallow but I managed to get it down. Lastly, I was ready to jump in on the juicy beef slider. Claimed to be small but big on flavor and topped with caramelized onions, I couldn't wait to sink my teeth in. As I took a bite I noticed the beef was juicy but it kind of lacked in seasoning, just like the rest. A big turn off for me was that the beef was under cooked. Some people like a pink burger but I would rather not take this risk. The Four Minute Fries were actually pretty delicious. They were nicely salted and fried golden brown without being overly greasy. If I were to make a return to this place I would stick with the Chicken but to each their own. I personally find this as a place to have a few drinks with your buddies and watch the game. They have special, $1.85 Lonestars! Overall, there were just a couple of things I did notice about this place that could be worked on. The interior of the place is very small with just four long counter top tables and the outside deck is great provided there are good weather conditions, so be careful if the weather is nasty. The service here was a little pushy. They kind of expected you to know what you want as you walk in the door. This place isn't all bad, it’s open to 3am so if you are looking for that bite before the road home stop into Little Big's to give it a try and see what you think.

Uptown Sushi

2009-04-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Uptown Sushi
1131 Uptown Park Blvd # 14
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 871-1200
http://www.uptown-sushi.com/

Houston is a "see and be seen" city, and with the countless number of trendy restaurants popping up all over town everyone is trying to set themselves above the rest. Over the last few years it seems as though sushi restaurants have made a heavy impact on Houstonians and every night of the week you will find these restaurants packed with hungry patrons either looking for a healthier option or just gathering with friends for drinks. It was my girlfriend's birthday, so I was looking for the best sushi in town. I came across Uptown Sushi.
Nestled in the middle of the Uptown Park shopping center near the Galleria, Uptown Sushi is slicing up some of the freshest and cleanest fish in town. Here you will find a more mature and sophisticated approach to sushi. You won’t find their signature rolls at any other spot in town, so don’t expect to find the usual clique rolls that you find at every other spot. Here at Uptown they have they offer exclusive menu items that are guaranteed to get your taste buds dancing in ecstasy.
As you walk past the sushi bar you see a colorful, decadent display of the finest fish the chef is carving up right before your eyes. The glistening cuts of sushi make your mouth water as you comb over the menu trying to pick the most flavorful option. In the end you will find no wrong choice. This time around we went for the Uka Roll. A perfect blend of flavors, mixing the shrimp tempura, salmon and tuna with the mild avocado and semi sweet eel sauce and the added kick of a spicy paste made this one of my favorite rolls I have ever had. I also wanted to taste some of the fresh fish that was calling my name from the sushi bar so we went with Yellow fin Tuna, Smoked Salmon and Red Tail Nigiri Zushi. It is almost impossible to explain on how clean everything tasted. With every savory bite you mouth will beg for more. This is a must for any sushi lover in Houston. You will be blown away by how pure everything tastes and you will be recommending this place to everyone. I will forewarn you that the rolls are not as big as other restaurants but you will not regret this experience. Another warning this place is a little on the small side so make reservations or prepare to hang out the bar until a table becomes available. Uptown Sushi is a very beautiful restaurant with very calm vibes and would be a great place for a date or to gather with a group of friends.

Late Nite Pie

2009-04-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Late Nite Pie
302 Tuam St
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 529-5522
www.latenitepie.com

It's Friday night and I just enjoyed a great show at Warehouse Live. They had a special on Lone Star beer so of course I felt obliged to take part. After a few a beers the stomach started to rumble and it was almost feeding time for the masses. We decided to be smart and beat the crowds and leave the show a little early. Every time I watch a live concert I start to reminisce walking down 6th street in Austin indulging in tongue tantalizing pizza. The best spot I could think of close by was Late Nite Pie. Just a heads up they have moved to a new location. Once located in an old gas station turned pizza parlor off of Elgin, Late Nite Pie has moved to a larger spot off of Tuam. The best part about the move is the place is bigger and they have more parking. Come to think of it there is more parking than there are tables. I will admit the lack of tables is kinda of a downfall but you can still order your pizza and post up on any spot you can balance the pan. The decor of the place is pretty fun. They have pool tables both inside and out. They even have a ping pong table and a play area for the kiddos. While talking to the bartender I was told they are about to start having live music there on the weekends. We looked over the menu a little while and enjoyed a few beers. While they have some interesting names for some of their specialty pizzas I can assure you they taste alot better than they sound. The "Stanky Whore" is still yet to be proven wrong. This time we went for a classic favorite the "Italian Stallion". Nothing odd on this pie just sausage, pepperoni, roma tomato's and garlic served with a side of Italian dipping sauce. It didn't take very long for them to bring this fresh 'za out to our table. Everything about this was pizza fresh. The bread was so soft that it made every bite melt as it entered your mouth. One key note was that the garlic was very mild and didn't over power the rest of the pizza. The Italian sauce kind of seemed like a milder salad dressing but added a nice creamy compliment to the pie. Add it all together along with some cold beer and you have a perfect combination of sinful goodness. This pizza was so delicious I even ate my crust! At $15.99 for the medium, the price might seem a little high but I personally believe its well worth the cost. Late Nite Pie stays open late closes at 3am but I recommend getting here well before 2am. Since they are right next door to a night club I can only imagine how packed it gets once the bar closes. Just blogging about this place makes me crave it more. I cant wait to go back. Maybe I'll see you there!

West Gray Cafe

2009-04-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

West Gray Cafe
415 W Gray St
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 528-2887

It's a Thursday night and the day before good Friday. People are out running the streets and packing in the bars to enjoying a night of sin before the holy weekend begins. This year I played it safe and enjoyed a night at the Miller Outdoor Theater. Which is a must see too but that's a whole different blog. After the show we are let loose on the streets looking for a late nite bite. driving down Gray Street I stumble upon the West Gray Cafe. A major draw to me was the open 24hrs right on the sign. From the outside this places doesn't really scream out high class dining but its a cafe and once you sit down and enjoy the food who cares what the place look like eh? We walk in starving and ready to eat like always the service is always top notch. We were welcomed right in and taken to a table. The menu offers your usual diner choices from breakfast to sandwiches and your common dinner platters. I feel a Greek presence in the room so I opt in for the Gyro. I had a feeling I was in for a real treat. I also decided to order the biscuits and jelly for a little desert. I gotta be careful not to over indulge, summer is coming up! The food was at the table within 15 mins. They must have known we were hungry. At first glance the gyro was not as big as other spots around town and the french fries were your normal precut frozen variety but once I started to devour that gyro it felt as though a symphony of flavor was playing in my mouth. The tzatziki sauce was very smooth and added a nice moist touch to the already juicy and tender mystery meat combo. I have to mention the feta cheese. The feta here was amazing! It was not over powering and almost felt like silk on the tongue. It added a huge amount of flavor to this gyro and I would have to say even though it wasn't the biggest gyro in town it was one of the biggest in flavor. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Don't think I forgot about the biscuits. The biscuits made me think of my grandmothers homemade biscuits. They had a nice buttery flavor and they brought out with a basket full of butters and different flavored jelly's. The biscuits crumble at the slightest touch but not in a bad way. Just slap on a little butter and jelly to keep them together and enjoy. I would probably recommend a little milk because its going to be rich! So the next time your looking for a bite to eat no matter what time it is, stop into West Gray Cafe. You won't regret it!

Im Ready!

2009-04-09T11:42:00.001-07:00

This is it Houston. I finally went out and bought myself a good camera. Now it's time for me to hit the streets and look for the best bites and drinks in town. Yea I know people keep asking me why do you call it Bite Me if your writing about drinks to? Well my only answer to them is, this is my blog so bite me! If I have said it once I have said it a million times, you can't have great food without a great drink to wash it down. Coming up I am going to be reviewing some really great spots. I'm also going to attempt to work my way into the Saint Arnold's brewery. If you have any recommendations of places I should check out just let me know. Also I wanted to remind all of you that the Houston Press Menu of Menus Extravaganza is coming up very soon. I hope to see you all there!

Menu of Menus Extravaganza 2009

Early Admission 6-10 p.m.
General Admission 7-10 p.m.
Discovery Green

On Tuesday, April 21, 2009, Houston Press will host its annual food and wine extravaganza from 7-10pm (Early Admission begins at 6:00 p.m.) at Discovery Green (1500 McKinney). The event will showcase the various culinary talents of our city, complete with food sampling from over 35 area restaurants alongside wine, beer and spirit sampling. General Admission Tickets: $35. Early Admission: $75. Early Admission ticket holders are admitted into the event one hour early. Guests must be 21+, with a valid I.D. All proceeds benefit Discovery Green and The Center for Hearing and Speech.
Visit houstonpress.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

Ticket Purchase Website: http://www.houstonpress.com/microsites/menu-of-menus

Mmmm Beer...

2009-04-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

So if any of you know me personally then you know I love beer. I have collected a bottle from every different beer I have ever had. I feel like im a little behind at around 150 different brews down but if you are a beer connisure like me then ya know this hobby can be very costly. I have experienced some of the best beers to the down right most disgusting things a human has ever consumed. I think its fair to say that yes different strokes for different folks but I continue to put my tastebud and liver at stake to explore the vast world of beers. My biggest dream is to run wild through the tents of Octoberfest and enjoy sampling hundreds of microbrews at the Great American Beer Festival but until I save up enough for my journey I must settle with taking a trip down to the Spec's Warehouse on Smith Street in midtown. For me I feel like a little kid in a candy store walking through the isles of wines, champagnes, spirits, beers and cordials from all over the globe, not to mention the meats, cheeses and other foods from the near and far. The sad thing about living in Texas is the strong and overbearing TABC. For no good reason they make it near impossible for microbreweries to survive in the ultra competitive market of beer sales. They make it illegal for these microbreweries to sell their beers directly to the public. Saint Arnold's Brewing Company has become the only successful microbrewery in Texas. Yeah there are a couple of others but Saint Arnold is based out of Houston so that make them one of a kind. Owner Brock Wagner is a big leader in a push to change the TABC laws. I haven't heard much if the bill passed or not but since I haven't heard of any celebrations I take it we were defeated once again. All I can say is write your congressman and tell them you support HB2094. Maybe one day we can have beer festivals here in Texas and show everyone that everything is bigger in Texas.

Any Recommendations?

2009-04-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

Houston, I'm looking for the secret spots in town with great food and drinks. I am a very honest person and I'll tell you truthfully whether or not a place is good or not. I know everyone has different tastes and that's why I promise to be honest and as descriptive as possible so that you know what to expect next time your looking for something new. I want to know if there is some new place opening up or a place famous for their specialty drinks because you cant have great food without a great drink to wash it down. So if you know of some place that I have to try let me know and I will review it as soon as possible and give ya some credit for the recommendation!

Chapultepec

2009-04-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Chapultepec Lupita
813 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-2365

So everyone hears me talk about Chapultepec so I figure now would be a good time to review the place I love so dearly. From the outside Chapultepec looks like a run down hole in the wall taqueria that most would dare not brave and once you step inside the you will find the decor not much too look at either but the food is amazing! This place has to be one of Houston's hidden gems. Chapultepec is open 24hr so you can get a heaping helping of this delicious place anytime day or night. The prices are pretty cheap so don't worry about breaking the bank. If your really hungry I would recommend the Burritos al Carbon its 2 large tortillas stuffed with either beef or chicken fajitas. I personally always go for one of each. I rarely see anyone finish this plate. It also comes with rice and beans for about $12. Another favorite is the Beef Fajita Chimichanga. This is a perfect crisp fried burrito and its full of beef fajita and flavor. This one is covered in cheese so forget about your diet on this one but trust me it is well worth an extra hour on the treadmill. This may look a little small to some but I have seen it defeat even the biggest hungers. Maybe a big reason why its so hard to finish the plates here is because everyone is filling up on the fresh chips and salsa. The chips are really nothing special and dry so the salt doesn't really stick but they still taste good but the salsa is great! Caution on this one because this stuff is spicy but if your willing to risk it you will find that it is well worth the burn. Be sure to have a margarita to cool down the burn. Chapultepec has a ton of different tequila's to mix up any south of the border concoction. If you are looking for something on the lighter side I would recommend the fish tacos. These little tacos are big in taste. The fish is always taste fresh and the crisp lettuce and red cabbage make a perfect combination of a crunchy and chewy blend that makes this one of my favorite places to get a fish taco. While you sit back and devour your delectable dishes enjoy the at times odd ambient music that blast from the old jukebox. You will find some very strange but enjoyable music on here plus some of the more known artist. Just a fair warning about this place and one of my only complaints about this place is no split checks. So I hope that you and your friends are carrying cash to slip it amongst yourselves. Other than that I'll see ya at Chapultepec! The staff is always friendly, the food is always good and ya never have to wait on a table.

3 TOP LATE NIGHT BITES IN HOUSTON

2009-04-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Mai's - If its 2am and you are drunk and looking for a place to eat then Mai's is the spot. But warning, this place end up looking like a club once 2am rolls around because everyone is waiting in line for a seat. They have the best and freshest Vietnamese food in Houston. Second warning. The floors are super slippery so be careful when you are drunk in there. Don't worry if you fall, the police are there to kindly pick you up and give you a nice bed to sleep in for the weekend.

3403 Milam St Houston, TX 77002(713) 520-7684

Chapultepec - Mmmm there is nothing better than some awesome cheap greasy Mexican food to soak up all that booze. This place is really awesome. You pretty much never have to wait for a seat. From the outside this place looks like a rundown hole in the wall e. coli factory but once inside you will find some of the most amazing food ever. I love this place because the food is cheap and its super filling. Also the jukebox plays some very odd and interesting music.

813 Richmond Ave Houston, TX 77006(713) 522-2365

Franks Pizza - Well pretty much everyone that parties downtown in Houston knows about Franks Pizza. This places makes some super awesome pies. Yea some may say they are on the the pricey side but its kinda worth it. Sad part is that its downtown and we all know that the downtown party scene is as washed up as Roger Clemens. But if you are downtown and you want some great quick food then Franks is your place. All we need now is some better bars and cupcakes then we can pretend were in Austin!

417 Travis St Houston, TX 77002(713) 225-5656

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Mmmm Beer...

Any Recommendations?

Chapultepec

3 TOP LATE NIGHT BITES IN HOUSTON

Bite Me Houston

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2009 Bite Me Summer Road Trip Austin

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