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Breeze Through Thanksgiving Day With These Helpful Planning Tips
November 4, 2014 by
This year it’s your turn to host your family’s Thanksgiving dinner, and you’re likely having more than a few anxious feelings. Fret not, because with these helpful cheats and tricks from around the web, you can pull off a flawless Thanksgiving without breaking a sweat.
Martha Stewart’s Thanksgiving Planner [marthastewart.com]
By taking a few tips from the Queen of Hosting herself, you can execute a Thanksgiving dinner that’s both well-organized and beautifully decorated. This elaborate checklist includes tasks that you should do throughout the entire month of November to prepare for the big dinner so that once it arrives, you’ll feel more than prepared.
PopSugar’s Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet [popsugar.com]
This colorful and aesthetically pleasing cheat sheet also offers a full task list from two weeks before all the way to Thanksgiving Day. From planning a menu to making the cranberry sauce, you won’t miss a beat with by following these simple steps.
AllRecipes’ Thanksgiving Planner [allrecipes.com]
This four-week plan for Thanksgiving prep will help to ensure that you have enough food for all of your guests, the right ingredients for each dish and even a fully-charged camera to capture the whole thing on film.
Don’t Forget to Vote!
November 4, 2014 by
Today is Election Day! Make sure you go out and vote today!
Rich Gelato Is Served Atop Brioche Buns at SweetCup in Houston
October 28, 2014 by
After traveling through Italy during her honeymoon, the founder of SweetCup returned to the U.S. with a new purpose: to bring the authentic Italian gelato cafe experience to Houston. Her cafe, SweetCup, opened in February 2012, bringing with it authentic elements ranging from its all-natural gelato to its freshly brewed espresso that makes use of locally roasted beans.
At SweetCup, gelato is prepared in small batches on a daily basis. Flavors vary by season, but past highlights have included peanut butter stracciatella, caramelized banana, and bourbon caramel alongside everyday favorites such as bacio and zabaione. Order your gelato atop a warm brioche bun or enjoy it "affogato" style, topped with two shots of fresh espresso. Regulars note that the sorbetto here is also not to be missed, especially when the flavors highlight summertime fruits and berries.
SweetCup is open Tuesdays through Sundays.
SweetCup
3939 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 942-2226
sweetcupgelato.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sweetcup-houston
Perbacco: Authentic Italian Fare in the Heart of Downtown Houston
October 21, 2014 by
Located across the street from Jones Hall, Perbacco serves authentic Italian food in a delightful, upscale ambiance. White linens drape over every table, while the walls are painted in a calming shade of pale blue. Large, undressed picture windows allow natural light to flood inside.
The laid-back atmosphere complements the plates of pasta and casseroles that Perbacco has to offer. The familiar menu allows patrons to experience traditional dishes in a pleasant ambiance. Lasagna and eggplant parmigiana are popular among regular diners, as are the tortellini alla panna and the spaghetti marinara. Fresh seafood and chicken selections are another pleasant option at Perbacco, grilled and served with salad or over pasta.
Visit Perbacco's website to find out more about this Houston restaurant near Marquis Lofts on Sabine.
Perbacco
700 Milam Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 224-2422
www.perbaccohouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/perbacco-houston
Saint Arnold Brewing Company: Houston’s Oldest Microbrewery
October 14, 2014 by
Tap into your passion for craft beers at Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Houston's first microbrewery, Saint Arnold opened in 1994 and has since become a much-loved and respected beer label with dozens of brews to its name. In fact, the brewery's famous Fancy Lawnmower beer, a smooth German-style Kolsch, has become a staple of craft beer pubs across the country.
The small staff at Saint Arnold truly loves their beer and the community that surrounds it, offering weekly tours and hosting special events, such as the annual Feast of Saint Arnold, an enormous fundraiser that features a four course meal of beef, pork, fish, and poultry alongside seasonal and year-round brews. Stop by the modern warehouse brewery for a taste of what’s in the kegs and pick up a few souvenirs and bottles of your favorite beers to take home with you.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2000 Lyons Avenue
Houston, TX 77020
(713) 686-9494
www.saintarnold.com/tours/index.html
www.yelp.com/biz/saint-arnold-brewing-company-houston
Sample These Acorn Squash Recipes This Fall
October 7, 2014 by
Acorn squash is a type of winter squash with a unique dark green rind, longitudinal ridges and a yellowish-orange inside that tastes sweet and mild. This squash is so versatile that even the most novice home chef can easily prepare it in a variety of different ways. Here are just three ways to try your hand at serving acorn squash this fall.
Baked Acorn Squash [allrecipes.com]
To really get a good idea of how acorn squash tastes, you should first prepare it all by itself. This simple recipe involves baking a halved acorn squash with just a bit of butter and brown sugar to create a healthy side dish or even a unique dessert.
Acorn Squash Soup with Kale [marthastewart.com]
With a hearty texture and autumnal flavors, this soup is perfect for those chilly fall evenings. Pureeing the acorn squash is one of the best ways to prepare it for use in a soup, while adding crispy bacon and finely chopped kale adds a darker, smokier flavor that contrasts the sweetness of the squash.
Spinach and Acorn Squash Ravioli [myrecipes.com]
Acorn squash makes a wonderful filling for pasta, and in this creative recipe it’s blended with creamy ricotta cheese and chopped spinach for added flavor. Plus, using wonton wrappers instead of the usual pasta dough saves on calories, and it’s much easier than rolling out that dough by hand.
Breen’s Florist: Express Yourself Via Fresh Blooms
September 23, 2014 by
Breen's Florist does more than just deliver flowers; according to its company philosophy, it delivers emotions.
When you can't be there in person, you can at least be there in spirit via a fresh bouquet of flowers expressing your sympathy, congratulations, or well wishes. And you can always trust Breen's to deliver, since the florist has been doling out blooms around Houston since 1943.
Even its delivery vans are colorful and eye-catching, though they're a mere preview of the sprays that sit inside. The Sweet Effects bouquet, for example, showcases a design by fashionista Vera Wang: a mix of pink lilies and double lisianthus, yellow roses, solidago, and emerald leaves in between. It's all artfully arranged in a chic, contemporary glass vase. The arrangement suits all occasions and sentiments, from an "I'm sorry" to "Best wishes."
For something a bit more striking, send a tropical bouquet such as the Exotic Garden Cube. Housed in a stout green vase, this conglomeration of blossoms showcases the vibrant orange, magenta, and yellow of Birds of Paradise, orchids, lilies, and pincushions. The posy is the perfect way to welcome summer or celebrate a birthday.
Breen's Florist
1050 N. Post Oak
Houston, TX 77055
(713) 668-2376
www.breensflorist.com
www.yelp.com/biz/breens-florist-houston
Taste Why Pretzel Buns and Homemade Chips Make Local Foods Stand Apart From the Rest
September 16, 2014 by
Local Foods is Houston’s modern take on the sandwich shop, complete with concept lighting and local beers. Customers order food at the counter and seat themselves to await their order.
Menu items feature produce and meats sourced locally when possible, from the olive oil to the cheese to the eggs. Here, you can anticipate a variety of options to please everyone, including sandwich options like the duck with cranberries and brie, a traditional Vietnamese banh mi with tofu, and roast beef with cheddar and curried cauliflower. Regulars are a big fan of the pretzel bun that comes with select menu items, and the homemade chips and vegan chili make savory sides.
To wash down your locally based meal, choose from Texas beers, like Rahr & Sons and Southern Star, or enjoy a Mexican Coke or the hibiscus-pear kombucha.
Local Foods
2424 Dunstan Road
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 521-7800
http://www.houstonlocalfoods.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/local-foods-houston
Enjoy Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner at Baby Barnaby’s Cafe
September 9, 2014 by
Baby Barnaby's Cafe is a popular spot for breakfast and more in Houston. The space is intimate, warm, and decorated with posters. During peak hours there can be a bit of wait and parking is a bit scarce, so be prepared if you have plans after your meal. Luckily, customers can enjoy coffee while they wait for seats.
The menu has a large variety to choose from, so don't worry about pleasing picky eaters. Popular among morning diners is the healthy breakfast plate which features egg whites, wheat toast, fruit, and apple sausage and the fruity pancakes that rotate depending on the season. (Make a point to try out the potatoes, which are brown and crispy on the outside while staying tender and soft inside!)
For lunch and dinner, choose from entrees like baby back ribs with apples, chicken tostadas with corn salsa, a range of meat and vegetarian burgers, and deli sandwiches. It's a wide ranging selection with something for just about everyone.
Baby Barnaby's Cafe
602 Fairview Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-4229
http://www.barnabyscafe.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/baby-barnabys-caf%C3%A9-houston-2
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