Take a Field Trip to Bernie's Burger Bus

I remember the first time I ate at Bernie's 3 years ago, when their yellow school bus made a stop right outside my then office during lunch hours(felt like we were skipping school). I was reminded of my younger years( people usually laugh when I say that), when we’d stand in a designated area of the neighborhood waiting for the bus. Although this time it was different, the bus was waiting for us, we all got in a single filed line to order from the school bus. The bus looked just like your average yellow school bus, minus the unexpected “pimp my ride” additions.

Ginger & Fork Houston Restaurant Weeks Preview

                 

I had the pleasure of previewing the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu for Ginger & Fork, a Chinese restaurant in the Heights. Restaurant Owner and Culinary Director, Mary Li, opened Ginger & Fork in order to introduce native Chinese dishes to the inner city dwellers. Ginger & Fork serves exotic dishes influenced by Hong Kong and the Canton provinces, paired with great wines and crafted cocktails.

A Weekend at Nu-Waters Co-Op

I'm finally growing enough motivation to update you guys on what's been going on and the reason for my hiatus. Well, for starters I recently started a new job after having been without full-time employment for almost 6 months. It has for sure been some crazy couple of months and I couldn't have done it without some outside motivation.

 Anyway, I've been [busier I should say] and haven't had any motivation to write. After receiving some good advice from fellow foodies, and also being motivated by a conversation I had with the manager of Nu Waters Co-Op last week, here I am. My work involvements led me to visiting this lovely food share and having a conversation with Carmen, the manager. We spoke of the different changes happening in the Third Ward community, food deserts, educating people about certain foods, and also had a conversation about raising ourselves and our children to become good human beings. 

 Our conversation was so moving, and as you know, that's my favorite thing to do over great food and drink. If you aren't aware of this, a food desert is an area of a city that has no access to fresh fruits and vegetables, an area that lacks grocery stores or farmers markets. This all means that people in those parts don't have access to some of the things that you and I might find easily within a short walk or a few miles. There are many food desserts across the country, and The Third Ward happens to be one of them. If you do some research or visiting around different parts of town, you'll be able to see that first hand. I'm fortunate to have been able to work with different local farmers and organizations helping to provide these neighborhoods access to rich foods.  

Nu-Waters Co-Op, with its members and volunteers, provides access to fresh fruits, vegetables and products to the community through their volunteer-operated farm. Their goal is to feed the community while also educating and changing misconceptions about food. The Co-Op is located in the historical Eldorado ballroom at the intersection of Elgin st. and Emancipation avenue. They're open every day, but you might want to check the hours. While in the area, I made a stop at Crumbville, TX to grab some delicious treats for myself. 

If you are looking for something to do with the family this weekend, head out to The Emancipation Park Grand Reopening celebration, and make a stop across the street at Nu-Waters and crab some food and drinks.

Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

My family and I spent the weekend in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana for the world famous crawfish festival. It's my second time attending a boil, my third time eating crawfish and my first time at the festival; you can say I'm slowly working my way to becoming a champ.

The festival is said to have begun in the '60's shortly after Breaux Bridge was named the crawfish capitol of the world. Since then, every year around this time people head to Breaux Bridge for this annual celebration. The fun takes place the first weekend of May, and you can probably find the whole town celebrating in their own way.

First Taste of Hopdoddy Burger Bar

Galleria Location: River Oaks, 4444 Westheimer

Houston residents had a rendez-vous at a new Houston hot-spot on Memorial Day. A large  group of burger-loving fans gathered and even camped out to get their first taste of Hopdoddy Burger Bar. Hopdoddy Burger Bar is an Austin-born burger it-spot, serving fresh all-natural Angus burgers alongside Kennebec cut fries, farm fresh salads and handcrafted milkshakes.

Superbowl Burrito Pastry

I bought some frozen puff pastry sheets on a recent trip to the store. This kind of dough is really time consuming to make it( trust me I've tried), so I thought I'd try these and see how they turn out. The funny thing is, that I wasn't sure what I wanted to make at first so I spent all night thinking. I somehow came up with the idea of making a buritto. The very next day, I made this burrito pastry.

With Superbowl literally at the end of this week, it's time to think of what you'll eat or serve to your guests. This recipe can easily be adapted to smaller portions. And it isnt that time consuming.  By now you should be quite familiar with my partnership with DegustaBox. Well, I used One & Done seasoning( a special gift from Degustabox to some of their survey correspondents). I used it while seasoning the chicken that I used in this recipe. A special note about this recipe, it will taste even better the next day(just warm it in the oven).

Ingredients

1 Puff Pastry

Rice, cooked
1 Chicken breast, cut into small portions
Garlic, minced

Onions, sliced

Pico de Gayo

Can of beans

Tomato, diced

Avocado slices

Directions

1. Season the chicken with garlic and One & Done seasoning.
2. Add oil to a cooking pot, once ready add the chicken and cook until tender and done. Remove
3. Add onions to pot and cook until slightly tender, then add tomatoes, beans and cook for 5-10 min.
4. Add cooked rice and mix well for 10 min.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unfold your defrosted pastry sheet on an oven pan or baking sheet

6. With the long side facing you, slowly and carefully add the rice mixture, chicken, pico de gayo, avocado and feta cheese onto the puff pastry. Making sure to leave enough space on each side for closure
7. Roll up the short side to meet in the middle, and tuck the ends

8. Bush pastry with egg wash and cut a few slits at the top of the pastry
9. Place in oven and cook for 20 min or until the pastry is nice and golden brown

10. Let cool a couple of minutes before cutting and serving

Houston Superbowl Neighbordhood Dining Guide

Your online search brought you here, so I take it you're looking for some places to eat while in Houston. You're either here visiting, on a work trip, or like a lot of people you are here to celebrate Superbowl 51. Houston is quite a diverse city, offering a melting pot of cuisines representing our population. Please note, this is a small percentage of what Houston is all about. Frankly, it is tough to know the city in just a few short days. Don't fret, my mission with this post is to get you to explore Houston, eating where the locals eat; after all the best way to learn a place is to dine with the locals. I've included my top favorite places by neighborhood, and also included some of my foodie friends' suggestions.

Coastal French Cuisine at Cafe Azur

French restaurant Cafe Azur debuted their brunch menu early this month, and I along with some of my fellow bloggers and media folks had the opportunity to experience french cuisine in the heart of Montrose.
Cafe Azur opened a few months ago in what used to be Brasserie Max & Julie, neighboring Pax-Americana. French and Brazilian duo Sidney and Maria Degaine opened Cafe Azur to bring the French Riviera to Houston. Cafe Azur is decorated with a coastal influence, and you'll feel like you've left Houston as soon as you set foot on their front terrace.

The front terrace and upstairs patio floors are covered with artificial grass which compliments the patio umbrellas and greenery surrounding this restaurant. As soon as you enter, you'll immediately feel taken away to some coastal island. The indoor decorations feature all white walls, with turquoise accents here and there. One of my favorite things about restaurants is the experience, it's not only about the food. I value the story told the minute I walk through the doors, from the decor, to the choice of music, to the menu and staff; I value all those things.

Simple Christmas Vanilla Bundt Cake

Also a year ago, a stranger told me this would be a challenging year for me. Now, I never paid it any mind, but as the year comes to a close, I always like to reflect on it. This year has been quite the challenging year, in all aspects of my life. For those who follow my blog, you'd notice I rarely discuss my personal life, that is because I like to keep it that way. And to keep things relevant to what you all care to read about. As I look at 2016(yes, I'm officially over the year too) I can't help but be grateful for surviving the year. It was challenging, yes, but I made it out strong. The things I have gained this year are much greater than those that I have lost.

Celebrate Football with Russo’s New York-Style Frozen Pizzas

Anthony Russo, Founder and CEO of Texas’ successful Russo’s New York Pizzeria, has a line of all-natural New York-style pizzas ready for you to heat up for the game this weekend. All of their pizzas are handcrafted and made with fresh ingredients on a thin, crispy crust. 

They have regular crust pizzas as well as a gluten-free pizzas. They've added Prosciutto and Fig, Spicy Chicken Fajita, and Italian-Style Meat Lovers to their regular crust line and are now available in stores. 

I tried the Italian style lovers and the Procuitto and figg. My favorite has got to be the Italian-Style Lovers pizza, which would make sense for a good day of watching football. 

Grab your favorite beer, or cider in my case, a couple boxes of Russo's Pizza at the store and you're ready for a quick and easy day of football. No major dishes or cooking involved! 

GO TEXANS!

MULBERRY PIZZA:Italian sausage, perfectly spiced pepperoni, Canadian bacon, crumbled hamburger, mozzarella cheese and full-flavored pizza sauce.

PROSCUITTO & FIG

Organic Arugula, Prosciutto, Fig Preserve, Sicilian Olive Oil and Mozzarella Cheese

SPICY CHICKEN FAJITA
Grilled Chicken, Roasted Corn and Peppers, Cilantro, Onion, Olive Oil Garlic Sauce, Chipotle Spices and Mozzarella Cheese.

Fleming's Steakhouse Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe + Giveaway

Fleming's Steakhouse Executive Chef Russell Skall has been fortunate enough to share some lovely leftover Turkey recipes just in time for the big day. After looking at all of them, I was immediately drawn to his Turkey Fried Rice recipe because I love fried rice...duh! The recipe is super easy and calls for items that you probably already have in your pantry, or that you can easily grab on a quick run to the grocery store.

Fleming's will be hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year, with an affordable four-course menu, featuring their Herb Roasted Turkey Breast with a savory gravy. The prix fixe menu will be $39.95 for adults, and $19.95 for children. In addition, this weekend only, the restaurant will offer all wines on their 100 wine list at $10 per glass...Hello happy hour with the siblings and cousins!

Let them eat at Cheesecake Factory

A few weeks ago,I was invited to dine at The Cheesecake Factory at the Galleria. The crazy things is that in my 16 years of living in Houston; I had never dined there, except for that time when a coworker and I decided to get Cheesecake.

We arrived like the newbies that we were, and quickly realized the restaurant was upstairs. The Cheesecake Factory has this old school luxury styled environment, with incandescent lighting perfect for those dates nights with your honey. On our walk to our table, all I could hear was the lovely Cheesecake calling my name. 

Upon getting situated in our seats, I looked around and noticed we were surrounded by either couples, families or friends all here to share a meal of celebration. I usually view this type of restaurant as a generic(you can't go wrong) place to take anyone for a meal. Once at our table, we were presented with what is almost like a novel(I'm exaggerating), their menu can be overwhelming if you're like me. Luckily our lovely waitress, Ana, was here with recommendations.

We started with some appetizers and drinks, ordering their egg roll sampler. It consists of four rolls; Tex-Mex, Avocado, Crispy Cuban and Firecracker Salmon which all come different dipping sauces. I'll tell you right now, these were the most creative rolls I've seen. Mainly because they all tasted perfect.  You'll notice, they have two menus; a regular one and a "skinilicious" one. 

The skinilicious menu has options with less calories than the regular menu. I ordered the grilled steak medallions on the skinilicious menu. They came served atop mashed potatoes, surrounded by chopped cherry tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms and asparagus. This was a well portioned, filling meal. 

To end the evening celebration, we started with or should I say parted with 4 cheesecakes above. The Tiramisu, Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch, Toasted Marshmallow S'mores and their Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake that's only available this season with 25 cents from every purchase donated to Feeding America, the nation's largest organization fighting hunger. We couldn't finish the cheesecake, but my favorite had to be the Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch, which is topped with hazelnut crunch and nutella- SO GOOD!

Shake Shack Shakes Things Up in Houston

Shake Shack fans rejoice, the east coast burger joint has found a new city to call home...Well, more like another home. Shake Shack started as a hot dog cart in New York's Madison Square, and soon opened its first location due to popular demand. More than a couple hotdogs, burgers, custards and shakes later; Shake Shack became one of the most popular burger joints. Now, starting Friday you can "shake yo tail feather" on down to Shake Shack!

Their newest spot is located at the Galleria Mall, between Cheesecake Factory and Peli Peli; you surely won't miss it with their live green wall outside. I'll be honest, I'd never had Shake Shack prior to this experience but I knew I was in for a treat! I invited my "Shack lovin' co-worker to come to their "family & friends" preview on Wednesday.  Upon arriving, we were given the option of 3 different treats to taste.

I opted for their chicken sandwich with a side of cheese fries and a caramel shake. The chicken sandwich reminded me of another lovely chicken sandwich that we all like to love(Chic Fil A). Their chicken, which is cut and battered daily was crunchier with the addition ingredients on top making it quite tasty. I had recently eaten a Chic Fil A sandwich, so I immediately noticed the differences. Juicier, crunchier, and has lettuce, pickles and buttermilk herb mayo to make you drop to the floor. Their fries though on the other hand, I feel need work, very blah!

In conclusion, I'll say that I'm still #TeamHopdoddy but this chicken will have me coming back for more. If their food doesn't draw you in, you'll be drawn to their story and hearing that they source 100% all natural meats, non-GMO, antibiotic & growth hormone free ingredients. Also, if you have a dog they'll also be in for a treat! 

Sterling House - Houston, TX

Restaurant:
Sterling House

Location:
3015 Bagby Street
Houston, TX 77006

Hours:
M-F: 4p-2A
S-Su: 11a-2a

Ambiance:
I recently made 2 separate visits to a new Midtown gem with one of the most beautifully lit patios in town. This historic house in Midtown has been turned into a bar and restaurant, which I'll say will become one of the most popular hangouts in Houston. The whole house, which was originally built in the 1900's, has been modernized and remodeled into a 2 story bar/restaurant called Sterling House. Guests have the opportunity to hang out among friends and neighbors at this bar/restaurant's front patio, surrounded by incandescent string lights, or at the first and second floor bars.

Live music on Wednesdays

Depending on your preference, you can enjoy curated cocktails and drinks downstairs or upstairs, depending on what you're in the mood for, or you can hop from one floor to the next. The evening of our first visit, we came on Wednesday and enjoyed a little live music while eating and enjoying our drinks upstairs. My second visit, I spent downstairs during the afternoon and later came back for a fashion show event in the evening.

I'll say though, it feels quite nice experiencing a bar/restaurant before it gets overwhelmingly crowded/popular, so pay them a visit soon enough!


What I Ate:

Sterling House Burger: Kobe beef, red onion, sterling house pickles, gruyere, and ketchup leather on a sesame seed bun. The Ketchup leather was WOH! I'd never heard of the concept. The burger tasted fresh!

El Hefe: A favorite. very refreshing cocktail made with cinnamon & vanilla infused Herradura tequila reposado, fresh lime & strawberries.

Frozen Bellini topped with Chambord Liquor and fresh strawberries and an orange slice

Houston Press Tacolandia Festival | #TacoTuesday Giveaway

On Saturday, October 22th, Houston Press will be hosting their Inaugural Houston Press Tacolandia. Tacolandia is an outdoor taco-sampling event and festival that will feature Houston’s best TACOS, ranging from urban contemporary to authentic street style. The event will have live music, a cash bar with beer and cocktails, as well as awards for best tacos in various categories.

Brunch & Conversation is proud to be working with Houston Press to give you a chance to purchase pre-sale tickets starting today until 10pm Sunday. Be sure to get your tickets so you can get your taco eating on,  Saturday, October 22, 2016 from 4PM – 7PM at The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park as we celebrate the Inaugural Houston Press Tacolandia.

Last year was really delicious, and a great turn out to add to that. The entertainment was great, the food and drinks and off course great company. You don't want to be the only person sitting at home wishing you had gone to the event, so make sure you grab your tickets before they sell out.

Tickets: http://microapp.houstonpress.com/tacolandia/2016/tickets.php

With today being #TACOTUESDAY, I wanted to do something exciting. I have partnered with Houston Press to give one lucky Brunch & Conversation follower a chance to attend the event( Fo' Free!). All you have to do is;

1. Follow BrunchandConversation on Instagram
2. Comment your favorite place for tacos ( yes, this part is for my personal eating pleasure)
3. Extra Points: Post/regram on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram & tag @brunchandconversation 

Where to Eat at NRG Stadium - Houston Texans

Football season is upon us, and you're in for a treat this season!
The Houston Texans and Aramark have in-enhanced your in-stadium experience by adding new concessions to the food court. I've been so busy lately, that I haven't had the time to update y'all on the amazing food that I had at the NRG Stadium and Houston Texans Open House a few weeks ago. They announced some amazing renovations and additions to the stadium. Some of the most exciting to me were the food, food, food, Wi-fi system, and Reliant's NRG Go Portable Power solution.

That means, you can snap, Instagram and Facebook stream all the food at ease because you can use their Go battery packs if you run out.

Berryhill Baja Cantina:

Korean Fried Chicken Taco- Corn tortilla coated chicken strips, tossed in a smoky, spicy Korean chili sauce, topped with cilantro, scallions, house pickled cucumbers and toasted sesame seeds. I'm one of the very few Houstonians who's always hating on Berryhill, but after tasting this Taco, I've been won over just a bit. Huge thank you goes out to Alvin Schultz for introducing new fresh ideas to the menu. I'll be first in line at the new Westheimer location to get another taste of this taco.

(Game Day Availability: Sections 135)

Underbelly:

Pork Carnitas Tamales - Mojito marinated smoked pork, with poblano and pepper jack cheese tamales. My top favorite from his menu.

Short Rib Nachos - Lattice potato chips topped with house smoked short rib, blue cheese, barbecue sauce and chives. Y'all know how much I love short rib!

(Game Day Availability: Club)

Killen's:

Brisket Sandwich- Brisket smoked in stadium, drizzled with barbecue sauce, on Sheila Parton's Jalapeno bread. Served with Kettle chips. Mama Mia, you have no idea how excited I was to finally try a sandwich from Killen's. They definitely saved the best for last, and I made room for it all. You won't want to put it down, I promise you! So you might as well tell your friend to get their own.

(Game Day Availability: Sections 109, 129)

The Loop: 

Artisan pretzels with house made dipping sauces. The honey & three cheeses

(Game Day Availability: Sections 101, 112, 132, 121, 510, 532)

The Cookie and Creamery:

Serving ice cream and warm, fresh-baked cookies

(Game Day Availability: Sections 101, 112, 132, 121, 510, 532)

Snooze For Breakfast

I spent the whole past week celebrating my birthday. Each day, I made sure to do something special for myself; whether it was treating myself to something or being treated to something. Most of the moments leading up to my birthday were spent alone or surrounded by my foodie friends and loved ones. I was invited to try Snooze, a Colorado born eatery that just opened a location in Houston. 

The media and members of the city were invited to the location during their three opening benefit breakfast on Monday, July 18 through Wednesday, July 20. During their soft opening, they partnered with local organizations such as Urban Harvest, Brighter Bites, and Hearoes for Children and donated money from all sales for the 3 days to the given charity.  One of the reasons why I got hooked on this place, besides the food; they are highly involved within the communities that they are in. The two brothers who founded Snooze with a desire to be part of something larger, so they make it a mission to be involved with local sustainability initiatives within the communities they are in.

Sal Y Pimienta Houston Restaurant Weeks Preview

Two weeks ago, I along with some local food bloggers and writers was invited out for a preview of Sal Y Pimienta's Houston Restaurant Weeks menu. For starters, I had never visited this restaurant before in my life, so my curiosity was peaked. And after looking over their restaurant weeks menu, I just knew that I had to try this place. Sal Y Pimienta(which translates to salt & pepper) is a local restaurant looking to give us a close taste of South American cuisine. The restaurant is located in the beautiful City Center off of I-10 headed west, and is not hard to miss with their unique decor with a pop of orange all over.

Biskit Junkie - Houston, TX

Restaurant:
Briskit Junkie

Location:
403 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77006

Hours:
M: Closed
Tue-Th: 7:30a-9p
Fr: 7:30a-10p
Sa: 9a-10p
Su: 9a-3p

Ambiance:
Want to know what's hilarious? I'm a food blogger (which to most people means I know all the places to eat in Houston), but from time to time when I'm put on the spot I can't seem to decide on a place to eat. Maybe it's because, I have to think about what kind of food my guests will enjoy, or what kind of environment they would like to be in. But anyway, my lovely sisters and I had a lovely brunch date at Brisket Junkie in Montrose. This is a place that I'd been eyeing via my foodie friends' instragram pages. Biscuit Junkie is a biscuit and burger joint, should I say, that recently relocated from Oak Forest to the Montrose area. Located off Westheimer and Taft, with one of the tiniest and packed parking lots I've seen. They're a counter style restaurant, so you order and it is brought to you when ready. Once you've finally decided on a dish(Tip: look for pictures on their 'site), comes the other battle; finding a seat. I'd recommend splitting up and having one of your guests save seats, while you do the ordering. #Teamwork

Brunch at El Tiempo Cantina

Summer is here y'all! The rain has come and gone( for now), and it's made way for our lovely and hot summer. Even though the heat and humidity can get quite overwhelming at times, this is my favorite month. June 21 doesn't only signify summer, but it also means my birthday is exactly 1 month away(So you have exactly one month to buy me a present..jk).

I can already picture a lot of us will be out on some patio for #SundayFunday downing a cool cocktail while enjoying some brunch and conversation to end the week. A couple of days ago, I was invited out for brunch at El Tiempo in the Houston Heights. El Tiempo is an authentic Tex-Mex restaurant that is owned by one of the most respected families in the Houston food scene. For more than 58 years, the Laurenzo family( known for popularizing "fajitas" in Houston) has dedicated themselves to perfecting a cuisine we like to love, Tex-Mex.

I enjoy my dining experience every time I visit any Laurenzo family restaurant, because I learn something new. When you enter the establishment, you'll see many pictures on the walls, each with its own story. During our brunch, we had the opportunity to eat and share some of the items on their menu. Everything was delicious, including the drinks, but I think the dish that stood out the most was the pancakes. It's funny, but not many places make great pancakes. I also enjoyed my Tamales, because obviously they're Tamales.

Owner, Domenic Laurenzo welcomes Houstonians for brunch on Saturday and Sunday at their Richmond, Navigation and Washington Avenue locations(all other locations will offer brunch on Sunday only).

Breakfast Hours:
Richmond: Sat & Sun: 9:30am-1:00pm
Washington: Sat & Sun: 9:30am-1:00pm
1308 Cantina: Sun: 9:30am-1:00pm
Vintage Park: Sun: 9:30am-1:00pm
Navigation: Sat & Sun: 9:00am-1:00pm
South Gessner: Sun: 9:30am-1:00pm
Westheimer - The Annex: Sun: 11:00am-1:00pm
Katy: Sun: 9:30am-1:00pm

Huevos Y Tamales: Eggs and tamales topped with chili sauce, with a side of mexican rice and fruit salad. Tamales pretty much speak for themselves, am I right?

Pancake Y Huevos: These pancakes were so soft and were probably the freshest pancakes I've ever eaten, anywhere. Perfect balance of sweetness.