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

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Stacy Spensley

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

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/wiredwitch

If you want to try out a new recipe but you don’t have time to run out to the grocery store, don’t sweat it. These helpful ingredient substitutions will show you how to use an item that you have on hand in place of one that you don’t, and they just may save your entire dish.

1. Beef or Chicken Broth. Though it is easier to use a pre-packaged broth, there are ways around it. Simply mix one bullion cube with one cup of boiling water to create a simple broth, or blend one tablespoon of soy sauce with enough water to equal one cup.
2. Brown Sugar. For sweeter dishes, substitute one cup of white sugar plus 1/4 cup of molasses in place of one cup of standard brown sugar, but be sure to decrease the liquid in the rest of the recipe by 1/4 up. 1 1/4 cup of confectioner’s sugar will also work.
3. Buttermilk. Instead of less-common buttermilk, mix one tablespoon of vinegar with enough regular milk to equal one cup.
4. Honey. 1 1/4 cup of white sugar plus 1/3 cup of water is an equal substitution for one cup of regular honey. You can also use one cup of corn syrup.

Common Ingredients Substitutions [All Recipes]
Cooking: Ingredient Substitutions [UNL Food]
Baking Ingredient Substitution Table [Joy of Baking]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/wiredwitch