Don't be scared off by the sight of "grasshoppers" on the menu at Hugo's. According to Yelp reviewers, the grasshoppers—or chapulines, as they're called—are actually delicious. Hugo's chefs pan-saute the grasshoppers and serve them with warm tortillas, guacamole, and chipotle tomatillo salsa for an appetizer that's as tasty as it is out of the ordinary. Of course, if you prefer more traditional fare, you can opt for the guacamole instead. You can order it as a side to any dish (although it's already incorporated into many of them) and customers praise it, too.

Make sure you save enough room for the main course, though, because Hugo's serves widely acclaimed ceviches. The classic comes with lime-cured red snapper, whereas the ceviche de atun features tuna, mango, and avocado in a savory-sweet combo of flavors. If you love seafood too much to decide on just one ceviche, order the trio. It comes with scallop, tuna, and red snapper ceviche mixed with pickled radish, tomato, orange, jalapeno, and a unique prickly pear marmalade. Other upscale plates include braised duck with mole, oxtail with quinoa, and slow-cooked pork with salsa.

Visit Hugo's website to find out more about this Houston restaurant near Siena at Memorial Heights.

Hugo's
1600 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 524-7744
www.hugosrestaurant.net
www.yelp.com/biz/hugos-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/austinevan

Drop earrings with pink-hued gems. A gleaming flower ring with a ruby planted in its center. A lavish necklace adorned with dangling sparklers. These are just a few of the opulent pieces of fine jewelry you might expect to stumble upon at The International Gem and Jewelry Show, Inc., when it comes to Houston this weekend.

From January 16 to 18, the show will set up shop at Houston's NRG Center on Reliant Parkway. During that time, anyone in the market for something sparkly should make their way to the show. Like the 100-plus other annual events that The International Gem and Jewelry Show puts on in big cities across the U.S., this showcase will give the public direct access to well-known designers and their jewelry—which means large discounts. Since the show's planners only allow the best of the best to participate, you can rest assured that any piece you buy here will live up to strict quality standards.

Visit The International Gem and Jewelry Show website to find out more about this popular event near Siena at Memorial Heights!

The International Gem and Jewelry Show
NRG Center
1 Reliant Parkway
Houston, TX 77054
www.intergem.com/shows/upcoming-shows/houston-tx-january-16-18-nrg-center-0

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/melgupta

Chef and owner John Sheely says there's something different about his Mockingbird Bistro in Houston. He's made a career of crafting fine cuisine at some of the area's top restaurants, and yet his own establishment is much more casual—at least in aesthetic. With the goal of creating an environment where he himself would feel comfortable spending a laid-back evening, John used gothic-style light fixtures in the dining room, juxtaposing them against simple bistro tables and ample sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

For the eaters of Houston, it's all working. More than 400 of them took the time to review Mockingbird Bistro on Yelp, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Many Yelpers point to Chef John's Hudson Valley foie gras appetizer, which comes with sweet potato puree, cippolini onion, crispy pancetta, and brioche. For dessert, they like the apple bread pudding. In between your starter and dessert, try one of Chef John's French dishes, perhaps the Rohan duck, the steak frites, or the roasted pork loin.

If you'd like to learn more about the restaurant before planning a visit from Siena at Memorial Heights, check out Mockingbird Bistro's website.

Mockingbird Bistro
1985 Welch Street
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 533-0200
www.mockingbirdbistro.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mockingbird-bistro-houston

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill