Seafood on the Geaux: Cajun Fare Straight from the Source

If you’re looking for taste of authentic Cajun fare in the Houston area, Katy’s Seafood on the Geaux is a one-stop shop for fast food that will satisfy your craving. This traditional Cajun restaurant operates with a drive-through service for added convenience, and although it doesn’t have a sit-down dining room, each dish takes just as delicious once you get it home.

Seafood on the Geaux’s crawfish is brought in fresh from the ponds of Louisiana, and the Cajun owners use years of expertise and tradition to create every dish. Shrimp po'boy, chicken and sausage gumbo, fried seafood platters, and zesty cole slaw are some of most-loved items on the well-edited menu, and the restaurant’s homemade tartar sauce is its specialty. Seafood on the Geaux even offers catering services if you want to create a unique menu for an upcoming event.

Seafood on the Geaux opens at 11 a.m. daily.

Seafood on the Geaux
979 S. Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 398-3003
www.seafoodonthegeaux.com
www.yelp.com/biz/seafood-on-the-geaux-katy

Katy Rock Shop: A Well-Stocked Shop for Rock Collectors

Many people believe in the healing properties of rocks and minerals, and the Katy Rock Shop offers the widest selection of these fascinating organic items in the Houston area.

The shop itself is located inside of a small building that looks like a quaint house, but the inside is filled to the brim with colorful rocks of all shapes and sizes. Attractive shelving units display each type of rock for easy browsing, and the kids’ area is filled with interesting items to teach children about minerals. Katy Rock Shop also carries ancient fossils and Texas Hill Country gems and minerals sourced from right around the Houston area. The knowledgeable owners are always on hand to offer guidance for choosing the perfect rock, and prices are very reasonable to make it easy to start a collection of your own.

Katy Rock Shop is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. The shop is closed on Mondays.

Katy Rock Shop
535 Pin Oak Road
Katy, TX 77494
(832) 437-4733
www.katyrockshop.com
www.yelp.com/biz/katy-rock-shop-katy

Grow Your Own Indoor Herb Garden With These 3 Tips

Nothing can add flavor to a dish quite like fresh herbs, but constantly buying them from the market can become costly. One budget-friendly alternative is to grow your own herbs at home. It's relatively easy to do, even for those of us not exactly blessed with green thumbs! Here are a few pointers for growing an indoor herb garden:

1) Start with the right herbs.
Mint, chives, thyme, rosemary, and oregano are the best herbs for beginners. Not only are they easy to care for, they're diversified enough to add something unique to a range of dishes. If your garden will be perched upon a windowsill, then opt for herbs in four-inch pots.

2) Find a sunny spot.
Herbs need at least six hours of bright sunlight per day, which is why many herb gardeners choose a windowsill to host their garden. If your herbs become "leggy," a term that describes herbs with long stems and few leaves, then your plant needs more light. Be sure to rotate your plants every so often to expose all parts of the herb to sunlight.

3) Don't over-water.
Establishing a watering schedule will require a little bit of trial and error. One fool-proof way to see if your herbs need water is to stick your finger about 1 1/2 inches into the soil. If the soil feels damp, then your plant isn't in need of a drink just yet.

Tips on Starting an Indoor Herb Garden [Style Me Pretty Living]
Grow Herbs Indoors This Winter [Better Homes and Gardens]
How to Grow Your Own Indoor Culinary Herb Garden [Simple Bites]
Tips for Growing Herbs Indoors [The Herb Gardener]

Sugar Land Skeeters: Have a Ball

Come see the baseball stars of the future on the Sugar Land Skeeters. An independent team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, the Skeeters play all of their home games at Constellation Field.

Located on Imperial Boulevard just off of Route 6, Constellation Field is a beautiful facility, with great sight lines to watch the game, and fun areas like the Picnic Plaza, the Pool Pavilion and the Children’s’ Playland. Watch the game and have a drink with friends at the Ice Box, or rent out a beautiful skybox! General admission tickets are affordable, and kids in a team uniform get in free. Season tickets are also a great deal.

Check out the Sugar Land Skeeters website to see a calendar of upcoming games.

Sugar Land Skeeters
1 Stadium Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77498
(281) 240-4487
http://www.yelp.com/biz/constellation-field-sugar-land

The Rouxpour: Bayou Flavor

New Orleans might be on the other side of the Gulf, but the tastes of the Crescent City are easy to find at The Rouxpour. Located in the Market at Town Center on Route 6, the Rouxpour brings all of the terrific ambiance and cuisine of New Orleans right to your table.

The atmosphere of the bar and restaurant may even make you feel like you just landed in the French Quarter, with cool brick walls, art work and nice, comfortable tables. When the weather’s nice, get a spot on one of the courtyard patios. The cuisine is everything that you’d expect, from the classic muffaletta and ‘po boy sandwiches to all of the excellent seafood choices. Visit The Rouxpour's website to learn more.

The Rouxpour
2298 Texas Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 240-7689
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-rouxpour-sugar-land

Ephesus Mediterranean Grill: Turkish Food in Katy

Ephesus Mediterranean Grill is a Turkish restaurant in Katy serving fresh and flavorful dishes. Regulars rave about the juicy and flavorful kebabs, which are available in gyro, lamb, chicken, filet, and more. All kebabs are char-grilled and served with onion, tomato, green pepper, and red cabbage on a bed of white rice.

Also popular are the stuffed cabbage rolls: cabbage leaves stuffed with ground lamb, rice, and herbs, which are stewed with tomato sauce served with a side of yogurt and fresh vegetables. For lunch, choose from red lentil soup or shepherd salad with a hot entree, drink, soup or salad with two cold appetizers and a drink—for $8.95.

Take-out and delivery are available, too. Reservations are accepted.

Ephesus Mediterranean Grill
510 S. Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 391-4777
www.ephesusgrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ephesus-mediterranian-grill-katy

How to Keep Your Houseplants Alive and Happy

Adding a green plant to your home's decor is easy; keeping it alive is a whole other story. Even if you aren't blessed with a green thumb, these three tips will help you keep your houseplants happy and thriving.

1. Go easy on the watering.
Over-watering is the number one killer of houseplants. Even if the soil on top looks dry, the plant may, in fact, have plenty of water. To test if your plant really needs a watering, stick your finger about two inches into the dirt. If it emerges dry, then your plant could use a drink. Otherwise, hold off on watering for a few days. After watering, ensure that the plant doesn't having water its tray, as this will cause root rot.

2. Find the right plant for your circumstances.
Before you bring that new plant to your home or office, read its tag to see its light requirement. Plants are divided into three light requirements: low light, medium light, and full sun. If your office doesn't have any windows, then a full sun plant won't work for you. Keep in mind that flowering plants require more light than foliage plants.

3. Ward off the chill.
Plants are typically happiest between 65° to 80° F during the day and 55° to 65° F in the evenings. Keep your plant away from heating/cooling vents, and don't allow its leaves to come in contact with a cold windowpane during the winter.

Houseplant Pests and Diseases [Gardener's Supply Company]
A Beginner's Guide to Caring for Houseplants [Mahoney's]
Care for Houseplants [Lowe's]
Tips on Caring for Houseplants in the Fall and Winter [HGTV]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/rickharris

Happy 4th of July

We hope everyone has a safe and happy day as we celebrate America's Independence. Happy 4th of July!

Katy Mills Mall: Shop Discounts in Katy

Katy Mills Mall is an indoor outlet mall in Katy featuring over 175 stores, from Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, Calvin Klein, and Kenneth Cole to Buckle, Forever 21, Gap Outlet, Bath & Body Works, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

If you’re hungry, stay for dinner at the sit-down restaurant Rainforest Café, grab lunch at eateries Charley’s Grilled Subs and Green Leaf’s, or a nosh a snack at Wetzel’s Pretzels or Great American Cookies. If you’re in the mood to catch the latest movie, head over to the AMC20 Theatres. Regular shoppers report that prices at Katy Mills are generally cheaper than retail, and sales are frequent. There’s always plenty of parking and free Wi-Fi.

Check the website for a full list of stores, news, events, deals, hours, and more information.

Katy Mills Mall
5000 Katy Mills Circle
Katy, TX77494
(281) 392-5151
www.simon.com/mall/katy-mills
www.yelp.com/biz/katy-mills-mall-katy

Le Mistral Restaurant: Fine French Cuisine

Chef David Denis opened Le Mistral Restaurant, which specializes in French cuisine, in 2001. Through the years, it's established itself as offering some of the most authentic French food Houston has to offer, and it's expanded from one small dining room into a full-service, fine-dining establishment.

The menu items represent all regions of France. Some signature items include salad with blueberry balsamic vinaigrette, escargots, rack of lamb and osso bucco, and lamb and spinach ravioli. Desserts include crème brulee, crepes, and house-made ice cream and sorbet.

For a special dinner, request the table in the wine cellar, or reserve the chef's table in the kitchen for a truly personalized meal. In addition to dinner, Le Mistral also offers an express lunch for those with limited time. The upscale bar area, which has a flat screen television, has its own menu available 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, which includes food and drink specials.

Le Mistral Restaurant
1400 Eldridge Parkway
Houston, TX 77077
(832) 379-8322
lemistralhouston.com

Read the reviews on Yelp.

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