Oxheart: Try a Foodie Twist on Texan Cuisine

Oxheart may consider itself a Texan restaurant, but it’s a world away from the local barbecue spot. Upscale and stylish yet still comfortable and welcoming, this often-buzzed-about eatery serves some of the most creative takes on Texas cuisine in all of Houston.

The menu is split into two distinct six-course menus: the vegetarian Garden Menu and the omnivorous Tasting Menu. The dishes always change to accommodate which ingredients are currently in season, but past menu items include a stew of preserved alliums and Indica rice, lightly smoked wild boar with pork Thailande, and Japanese roots and a sofrito of dried shellfish. Drink pairings can be added to either of the menus for an additional cost, and each libation is carefully chosen to perfectly complement the rest of your dining experience.

Reservations are recommended at Oxheart, and they can be made via the restaurant’s convenient website.

Oxheart
1302 Nance St
Houston, TX 77002
(832) 830-8592
www.oxhearthouston.com

Happy Presidents’ Day

On this day we honor all of the Presidents of our great country. If it weren’t for them, our country would not be what it is today!

Happy Valentine’s Day

We hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day celebrating with the ones you love!

Order Your Beer With a Side of Comic Books at Neil’s Bahr

If you’re looking for a great neighborhood hangout near M5250, Neil’s Bahr might be the place to go. This quirky bar has the same casual, welcoming feeling as your typical dive bar, but it’s also known for its collection of collectible comic books and old school video game systems that add even more fun to your visit.

Play a few rounds of Mario Kart or Mortal Kombat on the Super Nintendo and N64 systems while you wait for your drink, or kick back and check out the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings movies with the other movie fans in the bar. There are comic books lining all of the shelves against the walls, but you’ll also find an equally impressive selection of craft beers on tap. Neil’s Bahr even shows all of your favorite current television shows during its weekly viewing parties.

Neil’s Bahr
2006 Walker Street
Houston, TX 77003
(281) 352-7456
www.neilsbahr.com

Chef-Approved Tips for Cleaning a Cast Iron Skillet

The trusty cast iron skillet is a mainstay in any home chef’s kitchen, but it’s also one of the most confusing items when it comes to its care. Should you wash it with water? Try a salt scrub? These chef-approved tips will show you exactly how to clean your cast iron skillet properly — and tell you which techniques you should never use!

  • Never use soap. No matter what you do, never soak your skillet in soapy water. This removes the natural, nonstick coating that comes from frequent use and oil absorption.
  • Clean it while still warm. This makes it much easier to remove food particles.
  • Use a stiff brush. Using a stiff brush made of natural materials that won’t melt, run the skillet under hot water and give it a good scrubbing. This will remove food without stripping it of its natural oils and seasonings.
  • Sprinkle on salt. To remove particularly built-up food particles, sprinkle coarse Kosher salt on the surface of the pan. Scrub it dry, and then run water over the surface to remove the salt.
  • Dry. Dry your pan using a clean towel or by letting it sit on the stove on low heat.
  • Season. Finally, apply a light coating of oil or shortening to lock in that lovely seasoning.

How To Clean and Season an Old, Rusty Cast Iron Skillet [Apartment Therapy]
Cleaning and Seasoning a Cast-Iron Skillet [Real Simple]
How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet [The Kitchn]

Java Lovers Will Feel Right at Home at House of Coffee Beans in Houston

Looking for a perfect cup of coffee near M5250? Visit House of Coffee Beans, a local coffee roaster that specializes in one unique brew each day. While you won’t find the large selection that you would at the grocery store, each trip to House of Coffee Beans means that you’ll discover a premium, complex batch of coffee that you might not normally try. In addition to the batch of the day, you’ll find specialty holiday blends and cold brew coffees that are just as delicious.

If you’re looking for coffee on the spot, the friendly employees will happily prepare individual cups of each daily brew so that you can taste them before buying a whole bag. With an attractive retail area displaying the daily coffee batches as well as mugs, brewing systems and other coffee accessories, House of Coffee Beans is a great place to pick up coffee for home or a gift for a java-loving friend.

House of Coffee Beans
2348 Bissonnet St
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 524-0057
www.houseofcoffeebeans.com

Kick Up Your Heels at Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon

Looking for a true taste of Texas to add to your weekend agenda? Plan a night out to Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon, an authentic country dance bar not far from M5250.

There are line dancing lessons on certain nights of the week so that newbies can brush up on their skills before the weekend, while on Saturday nights, you’ll always find a DJ playing classic country tunes to a large crowd of dancers. If country music isn’t your thing, Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon also offers Latin dancing on select evenings, and there’s karaoke in the separate Esquire Room. You may even want to try your luck with a bingo game on weeknights.

Drinks are easy on the wallet, and there’s a small menu of American foods to give you ample fuel for dancing. You may even enjoy having your meal outside on the sunny patio on a warm Houston evening.

Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon
11410 Hempstead Highway
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 677-0828
www.neonbootsclub.com

Nothing Sweetens Up Your Morning Like Fresh & Best Donuts

Fresh & Best Donuts is a Houston institution that locals love, and it’s truly a must-try for doughnut fans in the area. With a wide selection of traditional styles made fresh every morning, you’re sure to find exactly the kind of doughnut that you love.

Stop in for a classic glazed, chocolate, or vanilla, or even try a few different styles in the form of miniature doughnut holes. Fresh & Best Donuts is also famous for its giant doughnuts, which are twice the size of normal doughnuts. If you’re craving something more savory, you’ll also find sausage and cheese-stuffed kolaches, ham croissant sandwiches, and boudins just like the ones in New Orleans. Add a strong coffee or a frothy cappuccino to your order and you’ll have a delicious breakfast at a low price!

Fresh & Best Donuts is open 4:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

Fresh & Best Donuts
5214 Bellaire Boulevard
Bellaire, TX 77401
(713) 592-0301
www.yelp.com/biz/fresh-and-best-donuts-bellaire

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, visit our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends February 29th, 2016. We suggest you like our page to keep informed about future sweepstakes and community happenings.

For mobile users, click here to enter.

How to Speed Through Household Cleaning Tasks

Whether you’re pressed for time before dinner guests arrive or simply overwhelmed with the amount of items on your to-do list, just about everyone could use some help when it comes to cleaning. Here are a few smart ways to help you speed through household cleaning tasks.

  • Work in a circle. Instead of attacking things in each room at random, make a plan to work in a circle. In the kitchen, that might mean wiping down the refrigerator and tossing out expired foods, giving the stove a good scrub, wiping down counter and tabletops, then loading the dishwasher last.
  • Start with the worst first. If you dread cleaning the bathroom or tidying up the bedroom, start with that room first. By getting the hardest part out of the way when you have the most energy, you’ll speed through the rest of your chores.
  • Take inventory while cleaning. If you notice that something doesn’t need to be cleaned, such as the already-spotless windows, then eliminate it from the list to save time. Unless it’s something requiring sanitization, like the toilet, there’s no shame in leaving it be.
  • Do a final sweep. Once you’re done with the major cleaning tasks, give your home a final sweep, putting everything in its right place and creating an organized look.

Speed Cleaning [The Inspired Room]
30 Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips [Woman’s Day]
9 Tips For Speed Cleaning [About Home]
Clean Your Home in Less than 20 Minutes [SheKnows]

Pin It on Pinterest