Fresh, flavorful Vietnamese cuisine served in a pleasant, modern setting is what’s on the menu at Datpho. Go there to take your taste buds on a culinary tour of Vietnamese cuisine. Get your appetite primed with a starter like Spring Rolls, Vietnamese Egg Rolls, or Grilled Chicken Rolls.

A bowl of steaming Pho, the popular soup of Vietnamese cuisine chock full of herbs, veggies and spices, is always a great choice. Banh Mi – flavorful sandwiches served on French bread, also makes a great meal, piled high with veggies and your choice of grilled beef, chicken, pork or tofu. Vermicelli Noodles come with your choice of Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork, Char-Broiled Shrimp, Grilled Beef, or Tofu. Rice dishes are also on the menu. You can also try an authentic drink like Thai Tea or Salty Plum.

Just a short trip from Avana Woodridge in Spring, Texas, Datpho is open Thursday through Tuesday.

Datpho
523 E. Louetta Road
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 528-8989
http://www.datphospring.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/datpho-spring

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill

When you have a large group of people over for dinner, serving food buffet-style ensures that everyone gets exactly what they want. But how can you be sure that everything stays fresh, from appetizers to dessert? Here are a few tips for serving a safe food buffet.

1. Buy foods at the proper temperature. Things like fried chicken, casseroles, and ice cream should be kept at the same temperature from the store to the buffet table, as changing their temperatures too much can cause food to spoil.
2. Know the proper temperatures. Hot food should be kept between 140° and 165° Fahrenheit, while cold food should be kept at 40° Fahrenheit and lower.
3. Don’t leave food out for longer than two hours. Be sure to include preparation and serving in your count.
4. Use the proper tools. To ensure that food is kept at the proper temperature, use things like slow cookers, warming trays, and nesting dishes in bowls of ice. To prevent guests from mixing foods, make sure that you provide a separate spoon, spatula, or tongs in each dish. Also provide individual bowls for dips to discourage guests from double-dipping.

Serving Up Safe Buffets [FDA]
Serving Prepared Foods Safely [Whole Foods]
Holiday or Party Buffets [USDA]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Dinner Series

Spend an afternoon strolling the streets of Old Town Spring, a historic shopping and entertainment district near Spring’s century-old rail yard. The Victorian era buildings house many shops that sell everything from clothing to collectibles. Favorites include Asian Antiques by Eastwind and Harpers Fabulous Finds.

If your stroll causes you to work up an appetite, you can refuel at one of the district's many restaurants, cafes, and sweet shops. Stop by the Little Dutch Girl, a specialty import shop featuring treats from Holland, for a sweet snack of homemade fudge. For refreshments of a different sort, Wimberly Valley Winery offers reasonably priced bottles at their Old Town tasting room, and the Loose Caboose serves frozen margaritas and barbecue from its rail car restaurant.

Keep your eye out for festivals: Old Town Spring regularly hosts events that celebrate wine, crawfish, and art.

Old Town Spring
405 Main Street
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 353-9310
www.oldtownspring.com
www.yelp.com/biz/old-town-spring-spring

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/stockterre