Bobby’s on the Bayou is No More

Bobby’s on the Bayou was one of my favorite places in Houston. “Officials suspect arson in fire that left no injuries.”

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.

Tags: ,

07/21/2008 | Food | 2 Comments

Using your saber to drink Champagne

You own a saber, don’t you?

It’s Monday night, so this must be the University of Houston and my weekly International Sommelier Guild class on wine appreciation. Twenty-two wine geeks and one geeky instructor, all talking and drinking wine for five to seven hours on a Monday night.

Those of you who really, really want to know more about wine should consider signing up. There are classes throughout the US and Canada (and much of the world).

But just so you don’t think this is all study and no play, here’s a quick video of Darryl Beeson (the instructor) and several of the class participants learning the art of sabering a bottle of Champagne.

Tags: ,

04/29/2008 | Wine | 1 Comment

Dining Out Club at Rioja Tapas Restaurant

May 18, 2008

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 12:00noon and lasts about two hours.
  • Some people stay around after the meal to enjoy the venue and the company.
  Interested? Sign up and RSVP for our next meeting. Come every meeting or come when you can!

FYI: We use www.meetup.com as our RSVP/Membership tracking tool. It’s free for you!

This Meeting

About Rioja Restaurant

Experience the award-winning cuisine and rich ambiance that has made Rioja Spanish Tapas one of Houston’s Premiere destination restaurants.

Winner of Best Paella in Houston

2008 Wine Enthusiast Magazine names La Rioja the “Worlds Best Wine Growing Region.”

About Tapas

Tapas is the name for a wide variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold, such as mixed olives and cheese, or warm, such as puntillitas, Andalusian battered, fried baby squid. In the United States and the United Kingdom, tapas have evolved into an entire cuisine; at Spanish restaurants, patrons may order many different small tapas, and combine them for a full meal.

Rioja Restaurant
11920-J Westheimer near Kirkwood
Houston TX 77077
(281) 531-5569
www.riojarestaurant.com

Tags:

04/21/2008 | Events, Food, Wine | No Comments

Steak night at Ernie’s

Ernie's on BanksIt’s 6pm on a Thursday night and I’m driving home to an empty house with an empty stomach. Sounds like a good time to stop and eat at a place where everyone knows my name. I drive south on Montrose, just past US-59 and turn right. There it is: Ernie’s on Banks.

“A martini. Gin, of course,” I say as I ease into the barstool at the end of the bar.

The bartender’s name is Danny and he’s friendly enough. “A special gin?” he asks.

“What’s the house?”

Danny shows me a bottle of Taaka.

“Oh, yeah, I’ll need the Tanqueray, please.” Taaka is cheap stuff at six bucks a bottle. Not tonight, thanks.

Danny shakes me a great 3-to-1 martini and I settle into my seat.

American Standard Dry Martini
3 ounces gin (always use the best gin you can find)
1 ounce dry vermouth
shake, serve up with a single olive

I’m a purist when it comes to my martinis. The drink is mostly gin, so scrimping there doesn’t make sense. And the vermouth is critical: too little or too much and the drink loses its appeal. Shake mine, please, don’t stir. I like to drink my martini while it’s still laughing at me.

There are five or six people at the bar and two more at the dart board. None of them know my name and that’s alright with me. I’ve only been here once before, on my way to some museum event a month or so ago.

As I finish my martini I realize that my empty stomach won’t go away by itself. I stopped in tonight because Thursdays are $10 steak nights.

“Danny, I’ll have a steak, well-done.” I motion to him that I’ll be at the table closest to the door. I’ll be able to watch the TV and the crowd from there.

The steak arrives quickly enough and it’s just the meal I needed.

Ernie’s On Banks
1010 Banks Street at Montrose
Houston TX 77006-6112
(866) 464-9251
www.erniesonbanks.com

Tags: , , ,

03/20/2008 | Spirits | No Comments