We hope everyone enjoys a fun and relaxing time with family and friends as we celebrate America's freedom.
Taste Why Pretzel Buns and Homemade Chips Make Local Foods Stand Apart From the Rest
June 25, 2015 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.
Pair your meal with your choice of 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
www.houstonlocalfoods.com
www.yelp.com/biz/local-foods-houston
Happy Father’s Day!
June 21, 2015 by
Happy Father's Day! We hope all of the Dads out there have a great day with loved ones! Let us know how you plan to help Dad relax today!
How to Style a Sofa With Pillows
June 18, 2015 by
Tossing some throw pillows onto your sofa seems like a no-brainer, but if you want to create a designer-worthy look, it requires a little effort. Here are a few genius ways to choose the right pillows and arrange them on your couch in the most flattering way.
- Create symmetry. Begin by choosing two anchor pillows in a pattern or shade that matches the rest of your sofa. These will go on either end to create a balanced effect.
- Mix and match. To avoid a drab look, choose a few more pillows in varying shapes, sizes and patterns, keeping in mind the main color that ties it all together.
- Add texture. Add at least one textured pillow in a fabric like faux fur, cable knit, or velvet.
- Use odd numbers. Most designers agree that using an odd number of pillows is usually best, as it helps you to create a lived-in look that is easy to rearrange again and again. Line them up across the whole sofa, or add more on one side and less on the other.
- Think of the sofa’s usage. If your sofa has to accommodate a large number of people, choose smaller pillows or use less of them. If it’s more for show, feel free to go wild with pillows.
9 Pointers for Perfectly Styled Pillows [Houzz]
Throw Pillows: 4 Tips to Style Your Sofa [HuffPost Home]
Tips On Choosing Throw Pillows [DécorLove]
Tout Suite Cafe: Hurry In for a Caramel Cupcake and a Vietnamese Sandwich
June 11, 2015 by
In French, “tout de suite” translates to “right away”, which is appropriate for a place that serves cupcakes so decadent, you’ll want to hurry in to try them. While Houston's Tout Suite Cafe is a combination bakery and cafe that specializes in cupcakes, that's not all that you’ll find on the expansive menu here. Salted caramel and tiramisu cupcakes mingle with Vietnamese steak sandwiches and avocados stuffed with quinoa and fried eggs, while cold-pressed juices and hot, fresh coffees are available to wash it all down.
The restaurant’s spacious interior has a stylish, industrial vibe, with long, communal tables, smaller cafe tables, and bare lights hanging from the ceiling. There are even benches covered in pillows where you can cozy up with your laptop to catch up on work!
Tout Suite Cafe is open daily.
Tout Suite Cafe
2001 Commerce St.
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 227-8688
www.toutsuite.co
www.yelp.com/biz/tout-suite-cafe-houston
Houston’s Most Popular Independent Coffeehouses
June 4, 2015 by
Though Texas is known more for its barbecued meats than its coffee beans, Houston’s many independent coffeehouses are surely starting a new dialog in the area. Check out these two great Houston coffee shops and taste a cup for yourself.
Boomtown Coffee
This artisan coffee roaster and retailer aims to unite the world’s coffee growers with the coffee drinkers, and it does this by developing relationships with growers and importers from around the world. Each small batch of coffee is roasted on-site daily, and the selection always includes favorites from a number of different countries. Boomtown Coffee’s welcoming, relaxing cafe also offers a full food menu of items made with local ingredients to pair with your perfect cup of joe.
Catalina Coffee
Houston’s Catalina Coffee brews coffee from Amaya Roasting Co., a local roaster that uses only responsible, fair trade practices and the finest ingredients. The shop itself is located in Houston’s Sixth Ward neighborhood and offers a cozy, rustic feel with dim lighting and a few tables scattered about. It’s not uncommon to see people sharing a fresh pastry and a Chemex of coffee with a friend, though because the shop doesn’t offer Wi-Fi, this isn’t the best choice to catch up on work.
Houston Dining with a Welcoming Atmosphere: Brasil
May 28, 2015 by
A Houston restaurant with a community feel, Brasil is a nice spot to work on a project or grab a bite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The three owners used their very different backgrounds to create a place the whole community can enjoy, whether it be local food, craft beers, or scrumptious desserts.
For breakfast, choose from bagels, pancakes with fresh toppings like fruits and roasted nuts, or breakfast tacos loaded with eggs, bacon, and savory sauces. For lunch and dinner, start off with an appetizer like the brie with almond and fruit or the falafel flatbread with hummus, tomatoes, and tzatziki. For your main entree, choose from expertly made sandwiches, burgers, or order a pizza to share with the table. Pizzas come with a variety of cheese, meats like all-beef sausage and bacon, and savory spices.
Brasil
2604 Dunlavy Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 528-1993
www.cafe-brasil.net
www.yelp.com/biz/brasil-houston
Happy Memorial Day!
May 25, 2015 by
Wishing everyone a happy Memorial Day as we remember the many heroes who have served our country.
Watching Your Waistline? Check Out These Weight Loss Tips for Women
May 21, 2015 by
Just about every website and magazine today claims to offer miracle diet tips, but the only real way to lose weight is by exercising regularly and watching what you eat. These smart (and realistic!) tips can help keep women on track to shedding those extra pounds.
- Determine your individual calorie intake. Sure, counting calories is important for everyone, but not every woman’s body requires the same amount of calories each day. Work with a doctor to determine your recommended daily amount based on your weight loss goals.
- Practice portion control. Even if your diet already consists of mainly lean meats, fruits, and veggies, many people go overboard when it comes to portion control. Measure out your portions beforehand to stay on track.
- Forgo diet treats. Every American supermarket is filled with “diet” versions of unhealthy treats, but in most cases, you’re better off opting for a smaller serving size of the real deal. That way, you won’t be tempted to overindulge.
- Balance cardio and strength workouts. Most people prefer one or the other when it comes to their gym habits, but it’s important to balance both types of exercise if you really want to lose weight.
- Amp up your workouts. Practice short bursts of intense activity, which burn far more calories and help you to lose weight faster.
Our 75 Best Tips for Losing Weight [Women’s Day]
7 Weight Loss Mistakes Even Healthy Women Make [Prevention]
7 Weight Loss Challenges and Tips for Women [ShareCare]
Come for a Workout, Stay for the Amenities at FIT
May 14, 2015 by
FIT members aren't scrambling to get in and out of the gym. Unlike the crowded, uncomfortable atmosphere you'll find at most cookie-cutter gyms, FIT cultivates an ambiance that makes guests want to stay a while.
Perhaps it's the free Wi-Fi offered in a comfortable lounge. Or maybe members stick around for the steam rooms and saunas where they can unwind after a workout. Of course, it could also be the FIT cafe, where desktop computers are open for checking e-mail, low-fat meals and smoothies are served, and fitness apparel and supplements are sold.
No matter the reason, exercisers often seem to stick around around working out on FIT's state-of-the art cardio and strength equipment. That is, if they decide not to attend one of the popular Group X fitness classes. From Pilates and "Hard CORE" classes to cycling and INSANITY sessions, the group workouts get attendees sweating alongside friends.
FIT
1532 W. Gray Street
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 782-9348
www.fithouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fit-athletic-club-houston
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