My own mother was an amazing cook who loved learning and entertaining; at least once a month my parents would have guests over and mom will go all out, from homemade cocktails to the most delicious paella to multi-course dinners with friends. One would like to believe most professional and home cooks first influence is their mother or grandmother. However, this is not entirely true. I approached hospitality industry colleagues with the same question, and I was surprised to learn that their mothers weren’t as influential as I might have thought.  I realized that it doesn’t matter how much cooki ..read more

From a completely relaxed vibe to a glamorous see-and-be-seen scene, these two spots offer opposite experiences for Houstonians this weekend, but you’ll drink well at either location. Downtown: The Cottonmouth Club – 108 Main “We just want to open a good, solid cocktail bar,” said Mike Raymond, owner of nationally and locally revered whiskey bar Reserve 101 (1201 Caroline). “Nothing cutesy.” Raymond and Cottonmouth partner Michael Neff (The Rum House, Holiday and Employees Only in New York and Los Angeles) had been scouring Houston’s downtown and midtown locations for four years with the plan ..read more

I still remember the day I met chef Chris [Shepherd]. After reaching out to him via Facebook (which I thought was a long shot, but he responded) we agreed to meet at Anvil. I was sitting at the bar feeling nervous, however, the moment Chef walked in it was all… Well, good. Up to this day, he’s the most easy-going person I know. After chatting for a bit, he asked me if I wanted to see the place and of course, I said yes. We drove a few blocks down the road and I saw a big structure with concrete floors, bare walls, and lots of people running around the building: Underbelly. As I got the grand ..read more

Unless you’re regularly sipping on absinthe, you may believe that the spirit is illegal in the United States. It’s not. In fact, you can sip on dozens of tipples of the green muse at several Houston restaurants and bars. It’s been back on the beverage scene since 2007 but the misconceptions behind the spirit (that you’ll hallucinate while drinking absinthe, or that it is illegal) mean that the botanically-dense elixir is misunderstood. Some contestants went all out with their garnish and presentation. If you’re interested in absinthe, or a fan of black licorice, fennel, and star anise flavor ..read more

A few weeks ago we caught wind that between recipe testing and taking care of her baby, chef Madeline Cabezut Herd had built her own greenhouse in her Cypress, Texas backyard. Then we saw the photos – proof that this project was a success – and we asked her to share her blueprints. While she may have had an advantage over the typical backyard gardener (Herd’s husband oversees the build-out of restaurants) and was there to help. Regardless, Herd claims this is a project for weekend warriors. Below are her notes. A month ago my husband and I were talking about starting a garden on our small far ..read more

For centuries, food has been a conduit to human interconnection through which nourishment is merely a bonus. Social gatherings, celebrations and even times of mourning all conjure excuses to bring forth food for comfort, enlightenment or communion. It is only natural, then, that when Wafdia Ibrahim and her daughter Tahani Alajil, now 26, fled Syria they left behind a life to which they could never truly return – but they brought their family’s collection of recipes and with it an unbreakable bond to the life they loved. The book traveled with them from their former home in Homs, Syria, to a th ..read more

Postino opening in the Heights…Soon Have you noticed the Heights Mercantile shopping center? The mixed-use space opened up last fall and you may have seen the kinda-new location of Cloud 10 Creamery, the pretty-new brick and mortar unit occupied by Melange Creperie and the just-opened-last-month Local Foods Heights restaurants dotted amongst retailers. Postino, an “all-day wine cafe” chain out of Phoenix will open this spring, concluding the dining destinations in the Heights Mercantile complex. Postino courtesy photo From a recent Postino press release: “The restaurant will occupy a repurpo ..read more

Most Americans who live outside of Texas, Nebraska or Minnesota don’t yet know what a kolache is, not to mention how to pronounce the name of the treat. A few years ago, the Today Show and Bon Appetit magazine tried to make kolaches the cronuts of 2015. In 2013, the New York Times took note of the rise in kolaches popularity, opening up the interest of readers across the world. Oh honey, no. And while National Margarita Day just passed us by on February 22, how exciting is it that another Tex-centric treat, kolaches, will have their own shining moment just a week later on March 1? How does a ..read more

The greatest margarita you’ve ever had isn’t far from your reach. Thursday, February 22 is National Margarita Day, and while we’d typically roll our eyes at yet another day dedicated to something edible, how could we toss away an entire day dedicated to the state cocktail of Texas? But back to The Greatest Margarita: Sean Beck, sommelier and beverage director of Hugo’s, Backstreet Cafe, Caracol and Xochi, named the margarita as a nod to The Greatest Story Ever Told. If a writing assignment involves drinking a margarita, you’re a fool not to take it. When we found out that one of the best resta ..read more

Steak. Cheesy carbs. Greens. What beef-loving Texan wouldn’t swoon for this meal on Valentine’s Day? When My Table was asked if we’d like to feature a recipe from chef Hugo Ortega for home chefs to drool over, how could we resist? Did you know that Valentine’s Day is the second busiest dining-out day of the year in the United States? Mothers Day takes the top spot. And this year, OpenTable predicts (based on reservations) that couples are celebrating love not only on February 14 but the weekend before and after Valentine’s Day as well. If you’ve not yet made reservations, the time to do so is ..read more