With Autumn just arriving, we hope everyone enjoys all of the fun this season has to offer! Happy Fall!
Artista Restaurant: A Picture-Perfect Dining Experience
October 14, 2015 by
Just like a painting in an art museum, the dishes at Artista Restaurant are picture-perfect and exceptionally creative, diner say. This artistic eatery is located in Houston’s Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, and it offers sweeping views of the city skyline from any table in its spacious dining room.
Here, guests can dine on New American classics and signature dishes from Michael Cordúa, one of the most inventive and renowned chefs in all of Texas. The lunch and dinner menus include wild Scottish salmon, calamari tempura appetizers, and premium filet mignon steaks served with complementary sides, including the restaurant’s almost-famous mascarpone mashed potatoes. The dessert menu includes crème brulee, tres leches cakes, and other decadent sweets, and there is even an expansive wine list for of-age guests.
If you’re going out to see a show in the area, be sure to make reservations beforehand for dinner at Artista!
Artista Restaurant
800 Bagby St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 278-4782
www.artistahouston.com
Apple Cake Recipes Deserving of Second Helpings
October 6, 2015 by
Apple cake is a unique alternative to apple pie that uses a soft, moist cake base instead of the usual pie crust. This cake can be made a number of different ways, but no matter how you make it, it’s always full of fall flavor. Here are three sweet apple cake recipes for your next autumn gathering.
Uncle Bob’s Fresh Apple Cake [foodnetwork.com]
Paula Deen’s down-home take on apple cake uses tart Granny Smith apples and lightly toasted walnuts to create a flavorful, hearty bundt cake. Top it with a honey glaze for a warm taste that pairs perfectly with morning coffee or a scoop of after-dinner ice cream.
Marie-Hélène's Apple Cake [epicurious.com]
If you want to create a more sophisticated apple cake, this recipe is both simple and complex. Its creator, Marie-Hélène Brunet-Lhoste, is a top Parisian restaurant critic, and she uses her French culinary expertise in every aspect of the cake. Large, thick pieces of apple take center stage, while the cake base and a hefty splash of rum accent the natural fruit flavor.
German Apple Cake [tasteofhome.com]
This traditional German dessert recipe is a bit less sweet than other versions, which makes it ideal to eat for breakfast just as much as dessert. In addition to the usual spices, orange juice offers a bit of zest to complement the tart apples.
Irma’s: Enjoy Mexican Cuisine Morning, Noon and Night
September 29, 2015 by
If you’re looking for a family-owned eatery serving authentic Mexican cuisine, you’ll find it at Irma’s. If you come for lunch or dinner, Irma’s offers housemade guacamole and crispy chips to start the meal, and the popular strawberry lemonade is truly a can’t-miss menu item. Entrees like shrimp and spinach enchiladas and tender carne asada will leave you feeling full, while the sweet sopapillas make the perfect dessert to finish off your meal. For early risers, Irma’s even offers a traditional Mexican breakfast that consists of huevos rancheros and other favorites.
This local favorite is furnished with casual wooden tables and colorful Mexican decorations throughout, and it even has a full bar with flatscreen televisions for anyone who wants to stop by to watch the big game. There is also a plant-filled outdoor patio, perfect for warm evenings.
Irma’s
22 N Chenevert St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 222-0767
www.irmashouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/irmas-restaurant-houston?sort_by=date_desc
Treat Yourself to Cute Confections at Fluff Bake Bar
September 23, 2015 by
Fluff Bake Bar is a cute, local bakery that creates some of the most in-demand sweets in Houston, offering a creative take on classic desserts like cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and the namesake fluffernutters. Order a custom cake for a birthday or wedding from this stylish sweet shop and you’ll find a very large assortment of icing styles, cake flavors, and artistic designs to go on top. For a smaller, individual-sized cake, the shop’s cupcakes come in unique flavors like black velvet, Veruca Salt, and PB&J, and they’re even available by the dozen if you want to share with friends.
Fluff Bake Bar’s delicious delicacies are available at many popular coffee shops and cafes around town, but if you want the full experience, stop in to see the sights (and smells) at the stylish, welcoming bakery.
Fluff Bake Bar is open Tuesdays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fluff Bake Bar
314 Gray Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 522-1900
www.fluffbakebar.com
Treebeards: Dine on Down-Home Southern Fare Favorites
September 16, 2015 by
If you’re in the mood for simple, filling Southern fare, head straight for Treebeards. Open for lunch only, this small chain of cafeteria-style eateries serves all of your favorite homestyle Southern dishes, including fried chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and flavorful jambalaya just like they make it in New Orleans. Fill up on meatloaf just like Mom used to make it, then add a side of seafood gumbo made according to the traditional Louisiana style. Don't skip the popular butter cake for dessert, provided that you’re not already too full, of course!
Enjoy your food at one of the wooden tables inside of the cozy, family-friendly eatery, or venture outdoors to the balcony to spend some time people watching over Market Square while you eat.
Treebeards is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. The restaurant is closed on weekends.
Treebeards
711 Louisiana St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 224-6677
www.treebeards.com
www.yelp.com/biz/treebeards-houston
5 No-Bake Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
September 9, 2015 by
Sometimes you crave a sweet dessert after your evening meal, but digging out pans and preheating the oven just seems like so much work. If you want to create a tasty, creative dessert dish without messy baking, no-bake recipes are a convenient alternative.
You can make just about any type of treat with a no-bake recipe, from cookies to bars to candies. These five recipes are also perfect for last minute dinner parties or those times when the kids need a snack for school with little advance notice.
Double-Chocolate Mascarpone Raspberry Pie [Better Homes and Gardens]
Creamy Frozen Lime Pie [Recipe Lion]
No-Bake Snickers Caramel Apple Pie [Fox News]
Cookies & Crème Pudding Pops [Kraft]
Strawberry Freeze [Kraft]
Sip Your Latte on the Patio at Inversion Coffee House
August 25, 2015 by
Inversion Coffee House drew its name from Houston’s famous Inversion House, which was created by the Art League of Houston in 2005. The temporary art installation featured a 30-foot opening in the side of the building’s exterior, with whitewashed wood arranged in a tornado shape that looked like the building was swallowing itself whole.
Although the art piece has since been demolished, Inversion Coffee House preserves its memory through its name, as well as by displaying many art pieces inside. The interior is cozy yet industrial, with rustic wood, exposed metal ductwork, and lots of eclectic seating options. There is even a beautiful patio area outside where guests can enjoy their coffee on sunny days.
The menu includes premium brews, handcrafted lattes with no shortage of foam art, and unique drinks like green tea lattes. Doughnuts and pastries pair perfectly with a hot drink, and the friendly atmosphere is likely to make you want to come back for more.
Inversion Coffee House
1953 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 523-4866
www.inversioncoffeehouse.com
www.yelp.com/biz/inversion-coffee-house-houston-3
Not Jus’ Donuts: More Sweets Than Meets the Eye
August 18, 2015 by
Just like its name suggests, Not Jus’ Donuts is a bakery that offers a whole lot more than your hole-in-the-middle breakfast treat. Whether you’re looking for a customized birthday cake for an upcoming party or a box of sweet treats to bring with you to the office, you’ll find every type of dessert at this friendly local bakery.
Stop in for breakfast and you’ll find sweet and savory creations like the decadent doughnut breakfast sandwich, or try something more traditional, like an egg croissant sandwich. Not Jus’ Donuts also offers its famous doughnuts by the dozen if you prefer something sweet in the morning. Order a customized cake for your next special occasion in the shape of a super hero, a glamorous handbag, or even a sports team's logo. You can also pick up a homemade pie to bring with you as a favor to your next get-together.
Not Jus’ Donuts
2020 Dowling St
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 951-9211
www.notjusdonuts.net
www.yelp.com/biz/not-jus-donuts-bakery-houston
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