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Fred
Houston
Displaced GM. Restaurant Refugee. Wanderer.
Interests: cooking. our kids. traveling. games. fixin' things. sports. dining in great restaurants.
Recent Activity
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Mar 15, 2010
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One of the best things about the renewal of Washington Avenue over the past several years is the fact that most of the new restaurants and clubs have sprung up in old buildings. What is old is made new again. Branch Water Tavern was the old Cue and Cushion. Pearl and Salt occupy what was formerly office/retail space. Block 7 is in the Western Appliance building and the Southwest Muffler Shop is being renovated into Phil's Barbecue. These are just a few examples. Like Phoenix rising, Washington has been born anew out of its own ash. But, amongst the many... Continue reading
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at www.fredeatshouston.com
You may not know it from the headline, but a restaurant pioneer has died today. MSNBC reports that Glen W. Bell, Jr., founder of Taco Bell, has passed away at the age of 86 in California. While, it is known that I am a champion of independent restaurants, I can't deny my patronage of Bell's chain stores. Or it's impact on my life. Who among us would? There was a time in my life when the "fourth meal" was my favorite meal of the day. No kidding. It fact, the late night drive-through is almost a rite of passage for... Continue reading
Posted Jan 18, 2010 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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I first wandered into the Carter and Cooley Deli located at the corner of 19th and Ashland on December 5th of last year. I remember the date because it was the day that it snowed all day – in Houston. It was also the Friday that the Holiday on 19th Street Christmas celebration was planned. My wife’s office had closed due to the weather so we had taken the opportunity to take a quick trip down 19th Street to see who would and wouldn’t be open. We popped in and out of shops polling their owners to get a picture... Continue reading
Posted Jan 16, 2010 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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According to Jeremy Desel of khou.com there are big plans for more construction along the I-10 corridor between Downtown and the 610 Loop. According to his report, TxDOT has plans that have already been approved to add to and modify the existing roads feeding I-10. Presumably this means to connect the Washington and TC Jester feeds and/or the Shepherd/Durham feed to the Yale/Heights feed using a series of new roads and bridges. I-10 is continuously under construction of some kind, so the idea of traffic and delays is not the major issue. It is the possibility of flooding in the... Continue reading
Posted Jan 5, 2010 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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With the weather bending to the cool side and Thanksgiving past, I can finally begin to look forward to the best time of the year - Crawfish Season! Yes, it is way too early to expect to be dazzled by the bugs I will find, but the season is legitimately upon us now that December is here, so I find that I can no longer resist the urge to see what's in store this year. As I wrote here last season, I have three favorite places for crawfish - Ragin Cajun, Mardi Gras and Cajun Corner. Each spot holds a... Continue reading
Posted Dec 10, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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Yesterday, I announced that Mistletoe Madness would be descending on the historic Heights this weekend, but today I ask, "Why wait until Saturday to get the celebration underway?" When it comes to holiday cheer, I say "The more, the merrier!" And it seems that I'm not the only one who is ready to get this party started! Holiday on 19th Street is ringing in the season this Friday, December 5 from 6-10pm. Merchants and shop owners all along 19th Street, from Shepherd to Yale, will be open late sharing and spreading the holiday joy. Art, food, music and more will... Continue reading
Posted Nov 30, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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Mistletoe Madness is coming to the Heights. Sponsored and organized by the same folks who bring White Linen Night to the Heights each summer, Mistletoe Madness is the holiday version of the street festival that annually revs up the holiday season in the historic Heights. "Set for Saturday, December 5, from 12-6 p.m., Mistletoe Madness faithfully showcases the Heights - profiling the people, the shop owners, the artists and the businesses that make the Heights a classy, progressive, and ultimate destination not to be missed," the event website proclaims. Art, shopping, eating and live entertainment will highlight the days festivities... Continue reading
Posted Nov 29, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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Laurenzo's Grille Della Sport is getting much closer to it's winter soft opening promised by Dominic Laurenzo when I spoke to him in August. The front facade looks fantastic (amazing when compared to the before photo) and the interior is nearly complete. There is still work being done on the rear parking lot, but the hiring process is in full swing. When finished, this upscale steak and burger house will seriously enhance the dining scene on Washington. ***** Salt is located adjacent to Pearl Bar in the 4000 Block of Washington. Chassidie Pommier, Director of Operations for both venues, says... Continue reading
Posted Nov 23, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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El Rey is The King. Plain and simple. This little Mexican/Cuban Taqueria might have the best tacos I’ve ever had. And it only took me two years to figure it out. I've driven by this place dozens of times since moving to the Heights and every time I keep telling myself, "I need to try that place." Finally, I did. And I could kick myself for waiting so long. The truth is El Rey does what it sets out to do in almost perfect fashion. That is providing outstanding Mexican and Cuban cuisine in a fast, friendly environment, while keeping... Continue reading
Posted Nov 18, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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I am not an investigative journalist, I am not a cop and I am not criminal reporter. But I am a Heights resident. And along with the rest of the Heights residents, my family and I have have been watching with great interest and a palpable anxiety as the area has been terrorized this summer by a serial arsonist. My family was lucky enough not to be direct victims of the arsonist and his fires, but he, most assuredly, changed our lives this summer. To be fair, my family lives in a newer home on a street of mostly newer... Continue reading
Posted Nov 16, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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More good news in on the horizon for food-lovers and Heights residents as Dessert Shoppe is coming to W. 19th Street. Dessert Shoppe is an original concept, unique to Houston and locally owned. It will be located at 512 W. 19th St., in the same strip as Collina's and Penzey's Spices. Co-owners and sisters, Sara and RaeMarie Villar are fourth-generation Heights residents who say they have wanted to open a bakery since childhood. "It started with my great aunt's cookie, [which] to us, in our family... is the best and it was only given to us on our birthdays plus... Continue reading
Posted Nov 10, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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I love to cook. If you have been a reader of this blog then you know how much I enjoy the process of cooking and how I feel it helps me connect with the other cooks in my family who have gone before me. I find it both relaxing and rewarding to spend time in the kitchen creating things from recipes old and new. I am not a chef. And truthfully, the vast majority of my culinary experience has come to me vicariously through my family and the chefs with whom I have worked. I have very little direct training,... Continue reading
Posted Nov 6, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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I have received word from Shelley Elham, owner of Table Seven Bistro and District 7 Grill, that the space on Durham which was formerly Rare Bar will become Table Seven Bistro. When I first reported the transition here a few days ago I had not yet received word from owners Shelley and Babak Elham about their intentions for the space at 700 Durham. Today, I can confirm that it will, in fact, be the second incarnation of Table Seven Bistro. The first, located at 720 Fannin, opened in 2008. Table Seven is an elegant restaurant unique to Houston. The menu... Continue reading
Posted Oct 29, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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Good service is hard to find. Unfortunately, bad service is not. There are just so many ways that service can go wrong. Bad service can be created by a bad attitude. Sometimes is the result of inattention. It can be the by-product of a lack of knowledge or a lack of attention. It could be inaccuracy. Or simply bad timing. There are so many variables. Ultimately when we receive bad service it is our initial reaction to blame the server. That is, we blame the messenger. But sometimes we must look a bit deeper. Sometimes we should blame the manager.... Continue reading
Posted Oct 28, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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I like to think of myself as having a refined palate. And that I am a fairly qualified judge of what is good and fresh and worthy of praise. In fact, my obsession with service and quality has caused me to be labeled a snob from time to time. So what does it mean that I scored a perfect score on the Fast Food Jingles Quiz? Scoring a perfect score is usually something I would take great pride in, but this accomplishment has not brought a sense of achievement. Instead, it has caused a bit of introspective contemplation. Do I... Continue reading
Posted Oct 27, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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Rare Bar, which occupied the location at 700 Durham, has closed. After a short lived appearance on the Washington scene, Rare closed for good in October. Rare was a concept bar that never really materialized. The intentions were quite grand but the ownership and management could never bring the dreams to fruition. The idea behind Rare was to be everything from a great breakfast spot, to a happy hour lounge and even an after-hours club serving food until 4AM. But those ideas remained just ideas. Problems plagued Rare from the start. The hours of operation varied widely. Sometimes they were... Continue reading
Posted Oct 26, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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The Bayou City Art Festival was held downtown October 10 and 11. Artists from all over the country gathered to showcase and sell their works at this "sister" festival to the Bayou City Art Festival that is held each year in Memorial Park in the spring (March 26-28, 2010). If you didn't get a chance to attend the festival, you should definitely try to get out in the spring. The art is fantastic and there is always something for everyone - from jewelry to sculpture, from photography to oil painting. Some of the artists are at both festivals, but there... Continue reading
Posted Oct 17, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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When I first moved to the Heights a few years ago it seemed that a great local dining scene was just a "pie in the sky" notion. But, slowly and surely that distant hope is coming closer to fruition. The addition of Marlene Stubler's Pie In the Sky Restaurant to the addresses on 19th St. will certainly help bring the dream even closer to reality. The phrase pie in the sky was originally coined as a lyric in a song by Joe Hill and over time has come to be "used figuratively to refer to any prospect of future happiness... Continue reading
Posted Oct 13, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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This year has witnessed an explosion of growth along the Washington Corridor. As fall sets in, there is no sign that things are slowing down. Below is an update on a few of those projects plus a couple of new ones.++++++++++ Roosevelt Located at 5219 Washington(originally reported as "Blue Book"), Roosevelt is an ultra-upscale concept by Saleem Hernandez, owner of Pandora. This "25 and up" uber-posh lounge will cater to a "Fortune 500, River Oaks-type" clientele, according to Hernandez. A "suit-and-tie" dress code and "exclusive pricing" will set the tone. "This is not a club," says Hernandez. "It's the next... Continue reading
Posted Sep 30, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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If you read last Monday's post, The Starbucks Triangle, it was clear that not only was I guilty of libertine spending at the ubiquitous coffee peddler, but also, that I had realized the level of my Starbucks' debauchery. In the end, ashamed at my own lack of discipline, I committed to change. I suggested that I try to explore the coffee world rather than falling back on routine and habit. I was to search the local Heights coffee dens and find alternatives to the evil giant. On Tuesday, I started in earnest on my quest of discovery. Waldo's Coffee House,... Continue reading
Posted Sep 28, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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Recently, Chron.com posted a piece on the bizarre triangulation of Starbucks locations at the intersection of Shepherd and West Gray. The short video in the piece films locals marveling at the notion that one merchant would open three stores so close together. Imagine three Burger Kings at one intersection. It would be mind-boggling. Well, it would be for a burger joint, but burgers are not coffee. After viewing the short video, I was more amused than anything. Consumers in the clip ponder aloud over the seemingly inexplicable turn of events, all the while unconsciously sipping their $5 coffees. The plain... Continue reading
Posted Sep 21, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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The word tips - as in gratuities - is said to have originated as an acronym for these four words. And without question, the best way to insure that you receive good service is through tipping. Being generous with regards to gratuity will leave an impression on server. And when you return to dine on subsequent visits you will certainly reap the benefits of your unselfishness. But while the combination of generosity and patronage is the most sound way of insuring the quality of your dining experiences, there are other ways to improve your odds of getting good service. The... Continue reading
Posted Sep 20, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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"Peace, Love and Peppers." That's the theme for the 2009 Ninth Annual Houston Hot Sauce Festival being held this weekend, Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 at the Stafford Centre - about a mile and a half south of Hwy 59 on Wilcrest. Presented by Miller Lite and a host of other local sponsors, the festival brings you "hundreds of award winning hot sauce, salsa, chips, dips, peppers, spices, jams/jellies, marinades, rubs, wing sauce, and more." Vendors from all over Texas and from as far away as Ohio, Maryland and California gather to showcase their secret recipes that promise... Continue reading
Posted Sep 14, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com
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"Wish you were here, In Beautiful Oak Forest!" proclaims the postcard on the front of each wine list at this new bar located at the intersection of 43rd and Ella. And that same fierce neighborhood pride emanates from owner and longtime Oak Forest resident, Scott Miller, who says in creating Plonk! he sought "to make the perfect neighborhood bar...especially for Oak Forest." In fact, Mr. Miller explains that he employed local artisans, craftsmen and merchants exclusively during the design and construction of Plonk! No surprise when talking to the cerebral Miller who meticulously planned and executed every single aspect of... Continue reading
Posted Sep 12, 2009 at www.fredeatshouston.com