Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs

Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below.

Great Food Houston: Support Houston-based businesses and avoid Black Friday altogether with Ruthie Johnson's handy guide to shopping local for the holidays, from food to fashion, from cocktails to cookbooks.

Dude, You Going to Eat That?: Dr. Ricky examines a topic that was a great source of debate last week, both here and on Twitter. Namely, whether or not a restaurant critic can attend media tastings and remain impartial in later reviews or write-ups.

ROFLHouse: There's a new sous chef at Kata Robata: Seth Siegel-Gardner, previously of the well-received Just August Project. Matt Chow takes his camera and his palate to check out Siegel-Gardner's omakase and comes away blown away.

Hungry In Houston: Adam tries out some vegan jerky for the good of all mankind and finds -- just as I did a few weeks ago -- that it's basically Satan's own strips of skin bound together with fake barbecue sauce. Awful, awful stuff.

Chili Bob's Houston Eats: One of the more exciting-looking food trucks I've seen in Houston, Tandoori Nite has a white tent attached to it that makes it look like you're dining anywhere except a parking lot. Bruce checked it out recently and gave it two thumbs up.

29-95: In her month of noodles, Joanne Witt checks out the offerings at one of my favorite Houston restaurants, Banana Leaf.