Scared of WineSpeak?

Embarrassed when you have to read and order from a wine list? Want to know more about wine and how to enjoy it?

Houston Wine Geeks is an informal group of wine enthusiasts focused on the ins-and-outs of wine appreciation and wine education.

What’s all this about Malbec?

Where did it come from?

Why are some people addicted to it now who never even heard of it 10 years ago?
We will be talking and tasting Malbec — what’s to like about this wine and where does it fit in the great red wine spectrum.

We will be pouring some tasting “flights” of a few different Malbecs.

To help out the financial obligations of the group we ask that you drop $1 into the meetup jar (plus $4 more if you partake of the flights).

And of course, in the grand tradition of this group, bring any Malbecs (or others) you want to share.

This Meeting

Join us at Ruggles Cafe Bakery for a Mouthful o’ Malbec.

Ruggles Cafe Bakery
2365 Rice Blvd
Houston, TX 77005
Houston TX 77005
(713) 520-6662
www.rugglescafebakery.com

About Ruggles Bakery

Much more than an award winning dessert bakery, Ruggles Cafe Bakery in Rice Village has been serving homemade soups, fresh sandwiches and salads, hearty pastas and fresh baked desserts for over ten years. We pride ourselves in using the highest quality ingredients all prepared daily in our own kitchen. Crowd pleasers include the Warm Baked Goat Cheese Salad, Whole Wheat Salmon Pasta, Flame Grilled Angus Burgers & Daily Specials including the Ruggles Skinny. It’s a healthy low calorie special that changes every day.

Don’t forget to save room for dessert. It’s not unusual to see our guests eyes grow wide and smiles big as they approach the desserts and order counter. We invite you to take a moment and browse our three bakery cases filled with an impressive selection of homemade desserts. Children 12 and under are invited to decorate a cookie for free while your meal is prepared. Our cozy indoor seating is great any time of the year and we encourage our guests to relax and enjoy their meal with family and friends. We now offer a covered patio area to enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner outdoors.

The McNuggitini.

Spec’s beat out some of the biggest names in wine retailing. These fine organizations were also in the running:

• Astor Wines & Spirits
• PJ Wine
• Trader Joe’s
• Zachys

Love eating out? Looking for new places to try and new people to share the experience?

I’m the organizer for Dining Out Club/Houston! We’re a growing bunch of dedicated foodies, all wanting to find exciting places to meet and eat. Once or more each month we go to different restaurants somewhere in (or near) Houston. I’m anxious for you to join in the fun!

• There are no club fees!
• Each attendee pays their own food bill.
• This meeting starts at 7pm and lasts about two hours.
• Some people stay around after the meal to enjoy the venue and the company.

This Meeting

Entrees from $12/person.

Inka South American Cuisine
12225 Westheimer Rd Ste A
Houston TX 77007
(832) 379-1717
www.inkahouston.com

Bobby’s on the Bayou
2622 Greens Road
Houston TX 77032
(281) 442-1777

Two buck beer and the best burgers on the north side of town. I hope they rebuild.

Mena’s Palace
200 Chartres Street
New Orleans LA 70130
(504) 525-0217
www.menaspalace.com

Calling Mena’s a “palace” is typical New Orleans bragging. Anywhere else it would be Mena’s Cafe and Bar.

I arrive at 6:58am. I know it’s 6:58am because the door is still locked, but there are people sitting at the tables inside. Mena’s doesn’t open until 7am.

I know if I stand by the door politely they’ll let me in to sit and drink a cup of coffee. Yup, Margaret is opening the door now.

There are only a dozen or so tables in the whole place. I walk to a table near the back and sit so I can look out at the street. Margaret brings me a cup of coffee and I wait for Mena’s to be officially open.

At about 7:15am Margaret comes back and asks: “What’ll you have, dear?”

“Two eggs over medium. Hash browns. Toast. And a side of andouille sausage.” (I am in New Orleans, after all. I can get bacon or ham anywhere.)

“The andouille will be extra,” says Margaret. “Is that okay?”

“Sure.” It’s five bucks for the eggs and $3.50 for the andouille. Still a great price compared to the higher prices at the white tablecloth restaurants back on Royal Street.

I settle in with my coffee and go back to reading the copy of USA Today that I bought along.

Quickly enough Margaret brings my order. First the eggs and hash browns then, a few minutes later, a rather large andouille sausage. It’s the same kind of breakfast you could get at any cafe in any small town in America. Except for that andouille.

As I enjoy my quiet breakfast the free show starts up right outside Mena’s front window.

There’s a motorcycle cop slowly riding by, trying to get past first an even slower-moving bicycle and then a young couple walking in the street.

It all seems normal enough.

Until the guy on foot takes a cigarette out of his mouth, throws it to the ground and takes off running.

I’m not completely sure what happened next — since the show exited stage left — but in a minute or so the cop has the poor guy’s face pressed against the window at Mena’s and the cuffs are going on.

Two lessons to learn here:

• 1. Never draw unwanted attention to yourself –and–
• 2. Always order andouille sausage when you’re in New Orleans.

Join John Martin at the very special “Spirited Dinner” of “Tales of the Cocktail.”

Executive Chef: Darin Nesbit
Chef: Neil Mockovak
Special bar chef: LeNell Smothers

More information: Bourbon House Spirited Dinner (PDF).

Bourbon House
144 Bourbon Street
New Orleans LA 70130
www.bourbonhouse.com

Vietopia Vietnamese Cuisine
5176 Buffalo Speedway
Houston TX 77005
(713) 664-7303

“What would you like to make for me?” I ask Victor, the barman, a stylish young man who looks like he might be tending bar at night and attending college during the day.

“Oh, anything you like. I know them all,” is Victor’s confident reply.

“Negroni, up,” I say, not wanting to task his skills or threaten his confidence.

“Sure, What’s in it?”

He and I talk a little and it seems that Victor, the barman, had set my expectations a bit high. It also seems that Victor, the barman, has no Campari.

“You have a nice bottle of Woodford Reserve, so how about a Manhattan, up?” I ask.

“Sure, no problem.”

Turns out that Victor can make a nice Manhattan. So I sit and sip as my friends arrive, one by one, each also asking Victor for a drink that he might be able to make. Some he knows, some he doesn’t. (The request for a sazerac blows him away completely.)

My Manhattan has gone dry. Now, here’s a trick that I learned long ago, although it’s not always one that I abide by. It’s called “One strong. One weak.”

“Victor, I’ll take a Trinidad Spritzer.”

“Sure. What’s that?” is Victor’s well-anticipated reply.

“A Trinidad Spritzer is club soda from your gun, topped with about four or five healthy dashes of Angostura bitters.”

Trinidad Spritzer

5 ounces club soda
1 teaspoon Angostura bitters (4-5 dashes)

Pour soda over ice in a rocks glass, top with bitters.
Do not stir. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Serve with a straw or swizzle stick.

“One strong. One weak. That’s my secret for a long night out. I’ll be here another three hours and I’ll want to drive home when I’m done.”

Love eating out? Looking for new places to try and new people to share the experience?

I’m the organizer for Dining Out Club/Houston! We’re a growing bunch of dedicated foodies, all wanting to find exciting places to meet and eat. Once or more each month we go to different restaurants somewhere in (or near) Houston. I’m anxious for you to join in the fun!

• There are no club fees!
• Each attendee pays their own food bill.
• This meeting starts at 7pm and lasts about two hours.
• Some people stay around after the meal to enjoy the venue and the company.

This Meeting

Entrees from $10-25/person.

Brady’s Landing
8505 Cypress Street
Houston TX 77012
(713) 928-9921
www.bradyslandingrestaurant.com

Love eating out? Looking for new places to try and new people to share the experience?

I’m the organizer for Dining Out Club/Houston! We’re a growing bunch of dedicated foodies, all wanting to find exciting places to meet and eat. Once or more each month we go to different restaurants somewhere in (or near) Houston. I’m anxious for you to join in the fun!

• There are no club fees!
• Each attendee pays their own food bill.
• This meeting starts at 7pm and lasts about two hours.
• Some people stay around after the meal to enjoy the venue and the company.

This Meeting

Tex-Mex entrees are between $7-$12 per person. La Fiesta has great food at a reasonable price. It is always consistent and the chips and salsa flow freely. You should attend if you like well prepared Tex-Mex food, great company, cold beer and margaritas.

La Fiesta Restaurant & Cantina
11318 Westheimer Road
Houston TX 77077
(281) 589-8750