When Bryan Caswell was voted out of the running for the Food Network's The Next Iron Chef, it was far from the end of his career. The Southern native went on to open his own restaurant, REEF, in Houston and join Continental Airlines' team of chefs, who devise in-flight menus. But most importantly for Houston Astros fans, he also took on two new projects at their home field that greatly elevated its culinary scene. These concessions stands have left their mark on Minute Maid Park:

• Little Bigs. Tucked amid the other concessions outside of Section 109, this new spot may look modest, but it serves Caswell's take on ballpark classics. The menu includes handcrafted burgers, pork sliders, and potato chips.
• El Real. Another concession stand, El Real sits outside of Section 132 but offers more classically Texan cuisine—Tex-Mex, to be exact. Here, you can order fajitas stuffed with chicken or steak and a side of nachos.

Find out more about the cuisine surrounding the Astros' home field at the Minute Maid Park's website.

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Have a rough day? Turn that frown upside-down with these seven heart-warming facts.

1. Prairie dogs greet each other with kisses.

2. To keep from drifting apart, sea otters hold hands while taking a snooze.

3. Squirrels are partly responsible for reforestation. Countless new trees are planted every year simply because squirrels forget where they planted their nuts.

4. Jim Cummings, the voice actor for Winnie the Pooh, is known to make telephone calls to hospitalized children to cheer them up in Winnie the Pooh's voice.

5. Cows have best friends. They spend the majority of their time together and become upset when separated.

6. A group of kittens is called a kindle, a group of bunnies is called a fluffle, and a group of hedgehogs is referred to as a prickle.

7. Penguins mate for life, but only after the male proposes to his mate with a pebble.

65 Amazing Facts That Will Blow Your Mind [Mental Floss]
30 Of The Happiest Facts Ever [Bored Panda]
15 Facts That Will Instantly Make You Happier [Savvysugar]
64 Mind-Blowing Facts That Will Make You Feel Incredibly Happy [Buzzfeed]

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Eaters experience bacon a little differently at BRC Gastropub. For example, eatery's signature cheddar biscuits come slathered in bacon jam, instead of crowned with crispy strips. You can order one for yourself or an entire box of them to-go—along with a growler of beer. Because in addition to creating reimagined versions of comfort food, BRC's staff also pours rare craft beers, more than 28 at a time (plus 25 bottled varieties).

Both local microbrews and nationally applauded craft suds come from the taps at BRC. The drafts rotate all the time, but you'll often find everything from a Sierra Nevada IPA to Karbach Weisse Versa Wheat, brewed right in Houston. BRC also keeps some brews in the cellar, debuting them in limited batches. You can always expect a new trending brew to accompany your cheddar biscuits, which you can order with fried chicken. Or pair your pint with a pub burger, vegan falafel burger, or starter like fried Gulf oysters.

BRC Gastropub
519 Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 861-2233
www.brcgastropub.com/index.php
www.yelp.com/biz/brc-gastropub-houston

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