Houston Food Blog

​November has been a good month for Houston restaurants so far, with notably few closings. Among them in the past week were two casualties of Spanish cuisine: Tio Pepe (5213 Cedar) in Bellaire and the adjoining Garnaxas Tapas Bar.

In better news, a spate of openings around the city -- and especially at the increasingly busy CityCentre -- is offering more places for Houstonians to spend their dining dollars. Branch Water Tavern has finally opened its doors at 510 Shepherd. Although it's only open for dinner at the moment, initial reports indicate that the classic menu, with items like venison medallions with sweet potato and Brussels sprouts and chicken-fried oysters in a Buffalo sauce, is very good. Even better: It serves a late-night menu until 2 a.m on Friday and Saturday nights.

Stella Sola (1001 Studewood) is finally out of its soft-opening phase and in full swing. The website is also up and running, but doesn't yet have the revamped menu posted. You can view the menu here, however, which has new items like a bone marrow service and brown butter gnocchi.

​Although the Saturday tours at the brewery are still on hold for now, you can still get your fix of walking and beer with the Saint Arnold Pub Crawl tonight starting at 6 p.m. As a special bonus, there will be limited-edition Christmas Ale on tap. The crawl will take place in the north part of Rice Village, and because the crawls have gotten so huge, the first stop will actually be in three locations (mystery locations, as per tradition). Pick up your ticket at one of the three locations, then proceed to the other two to get it stamped. At the fourth and final stop, you'll get your very own Saint Arnold pint glass if your ticket has all the stamps. Need directions? Check the website for clues about the stops.

Mostly sunny skies and a high of 62 degrees means that you should be out and about this weekend. Head over to Discovery Green for the Flavors Festival 2009, benefiting the Houston Food Bank. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 through 12. The festival will feature five of Houston's top chefs demonstrating their recipes as well as flavor zones like Beverage World, Sweet Fiesta, Quick & Easy Meals and Ethnic Restaurants. Stick around until 5 p.m. and you'll be able to bear witness to some of the finest gluttony in Houston as a series of eating contests are held. Who can hork down jalapenos, tomatos, watermelon and ice cream the fastest? Find out for yourself on Saturday.

Photos courtesy of RA Sushi

A banana split at a sushi restaurant? Yes! Read on...

​RA Sushi's corporate executive chef Tai Obata has come through with some new menu items -- several with a Tex-Mex influence -- and we made our way over to a media tasting to try them out at the Highland Village location on Westheimer. It was a tasting that went on longer than usual when the kitchen was slammed with other customers. Whatever RA is doing, it's working, and this was on a Tuesday night.

The first course consisted of new items -- sweet onion salmon (RA Tapas), RA chips & salsa and Kaisen Ceviche -- along with the ever dependable "RA"ckin' Shrimp. The salmon was served with marinated onions and sweet onion dressing and  micro greens. The combination worked well; the salmon was neither overwhelmingly fishy or rubbery, and the greens didn't go limp.

The RA chips & salsa was something of a disappointment. A spicy tuna tartare was mixed with cucumber, avocado and fresh salsa, and just seemed too mushy. It was served with wonton chips.

Photos by Margaret Downing

Chef Steven "Skip" Vanderpool says he learned that it's best not to have too many flavors in the same dish.

​In honor of its Fifth Anniversary, the Strip House, 1200 McKinney, is offering a five-course meal for $55 that is a real deal for anyone not bothered by a whole lot of pictures of naked women on the walls around the room.

Actually, the photos add to the adventure and certain charm of a place whose floral napkins actually turn out to be the nude silhouettes.

We got an early look at the special that will run in January and February 2010. We started off with lobster bisque cappuccino with chives. This scored huge points; no thin broth here, but real substance, even chunks of lobster. The excellent rolls they served made it all the better.

The next course wasn't as flashy. Don't know if they were trying to clear our palates or what, but the balsamic glaze on the grilled tomato and bufala mozzarella salad was so understated as to be non-existent. Some zing, some zest would have helped pick it up.

The standout dish of the evening was the seared sea scallop with edamame succotash, black truffle butter and corn broth. Chef Steven "Skip" Vanderpool made it even more special by tossing in some lobster and putting a dollop of caviar on top ("I was going to do an oyster throw down this past weekend but one of my sous chefs got sick. I have a bunch of seafood left over," he said.) The scallop was slightly crispy on the outside, while staying moist throughout.

Photos by Margaret Downing

The Roti John Sandwich, Straits' signature dish, is braised beef (or chicken), with onion, tomato, spicy mayo and garlic fries.

​There we were, looking at what appeared to be eyes staring back at us in a faintly orangish sauce. "It's messy," my dining companion promised, "But it's good."

Actually, the "eyes" were halved boiled eggs, their deep yellow yolks in stark contrast to the coconut milk-flavored sauce that surrounded them in a dish called Singaporean shrimp laksa noodles soup ($10) . We were eating at Straits, the just-opened "Modern Singaporean Restaurant and Lounge" in the ever more bustling CityCentre near the intersection of I-10 and Sam Houston Tollway. And my dining companion was reliving the two months he lived in Singapore and the Laksa soup he ate often with other students on limited budgets.

Oh and the Laksa was messy; no way around that. Trying to split the dish and get the noodles out of the bowl without pouring out all the broth was kind of tricky. There were a few shrimp floating around in there as well in what turned out to be a filling and delicious dish.

The Straits at CityCentre is the first expansion into Texas of the restaurant started in San Francisco by Chris Yeo, a hairdresser who missed the food of his native Singapore and put down his scissors to open what became a small chain of restaurants in California, Atlanta and now here. Opened this October, the restaurant offers a full wine and cocktail list, as well as food that's clearly been influenced by a number of cuisines, among them: Thai, Indian, Chinese, Malay and Indonesian.

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt

​It looks like the curse may have been lifted from 2303 Richmond. The location has seen many restaurants come and go over the years, some which have had achingly short lifespans. Most recently, it was the home of The Chimney (for a few short months) and before that, Saute. But its newest occupant, Yelapa Playa Mexicana, seems determined to shake that curse.

The man behind the original Berryhill Fish Tacos, Chuck Bulnes, is back in the restauranteur saddle once again with Yelapa, which is named after the resort near Puerto Vallarta and emphasizes the Jaliscan cuisine of the area. One of their best items is a tangy campechana with rock shrimp, crab claws, scallops, avocado and enormous chunks of lime and olive-laced white fish. Other ceviches lace the menu, with ingredients that hint at a much deeper cuisine than simple coastal Mexican: a Fuji apple, chorizo, grilled scallion, and litchi pickle ceviche and one with citrus, Pasilla chiles, black sesame, hibiscus and ginger.

Gazpacho "shots" with a fried squash blossom

​Of course, traditional dishes dot the compact and intelligently designed menu -- grilled red snapper and grouper a la plancha -- but it was the less traditional items that piqued our interest. Executive Chef L.J. Wiley is young by restaurant standards, but the time he spent in high-end kitchens like Morimoto and Jean-George Vongerichten's Spice Market clearly left its mark. Instead of a boring, Baja California-based menu, we were faced with adventurous yet disciplined dishes like cucumber gazpacho topped with smoked mussels, avocado oil and a slice of banana (yes, banana -- and it was good) and braised lamb shoulder with an intriguing-sounding "Mexican kimchee" (we'll have to try that next time).

The dishes we did try on our visit were nothing short of spectacular, though.

​Five Guys Burgers and Fries, which started out in Arlington, Va. more than 20 years ago, is opening another restaurant in Houston today.  

The latest is at 1150 Fry Road, another one of 50 stores its parent company, TCH Restaurant Group, has planned for Houston. This one will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

As we told you back last January, there is a definite etiquette to burger building in the Five Bros. chain.

You walk in and order your food. There are only eight menu items: hamburger, hotdog (always Hebrew National), grilled cheese, veggie sandwich, French Fries in regular size and large size (which feeds four) in regular or Cajun-spiced versions and a beverage. All the burgers are cooked well-done.

You can get the burger in "regular," which is two 3.3-ounce patties ($4.69) or "little" ($2.99), which is one patty. Then you select one or all of the 17 toppings (pickles, onions, mushrooms, etc.).

This weekend, get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts. The Slow Food Picnic Dinner at Discovery Green is just one way to do that. Monica Pope and Andrea Lazar of t'afia are putting on the at 6 p.m. It will feature locally grown and caught food prepared by local chefs like Randy Evans from Haven, Kiran Verma from Kiran's and Joe Bentely of Raven Grill. The 10-course menu is only $45, but you must purchase your tickets soon!

Starting tonight at 7 p.m., the Houston Peruvian Festival at the Heights Theatre will offer Peru's finest food and festivities through Sunday evening. Houston only has one Peruvian restaurant in town -- The Lemon Tree -- but the food is good enough for ten restaurants. Sample some of their offerings and more at the festival. Tickets are $10, and all proceeds  benefit the Sunshine Camps in Austin and the Children's Charity Program in Peru.

Saturday afternoon's tasting at Block 7 Wine Company will be the biggest ever, with 50 selections of wine, beer and even sake. Light snacks will be available while you sip your samples to the music of Chase Hamblin. The event runs from 2 to 5 p.m. and -- as always -- is completely free.

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt

The bibimbap roll at Kubo's

​Rice, salmon, tuna, seaweed, wasabi, avocado, octopus, daikon radish, cucumber -- it seemed the food would never stop coming. Last night at Kubo's, we were faced with enough sushi to feed two sumo wrestlers. One brightly colored roll after another crossed our plates and palates as we attempted the near-impossible task of choosing a favorite from the group.

Kubo's, the veteran Japanese restaurant in Rice Village, is known for its inventive rolls and -- apparently -- so are its customers. Owner Yoichi Ueno and manager Akira Asano arranged a sushi competition for their guests, many of whom often request speciality rolls from the sushi chefs, with the goal of featuring the five best rolls as specials for the month of December. As a result, the restaurant received 60 recipes throughout October, as patrons submitted their own ideas for rolls both traditional and outlandish.

Of the 60 recipes that Kubo's received, Asano eliminated those that were deemed too close to any of the current rolls on the menu or those that used items the restaurant doesn't serve, such as escolar (the fatty tuna was banned in Japan in 1977, and Kubo's only serves food that meets Japanese standards for consumption). He also worked with the sushi chefs to tweak the recipes slightly, such as replacing the squid that was called for in one customer's "takoyaki roll" -- which should have octopus to be called "takoyaki" -- before deciding on the final 10 to present to a panel of judges.

The result was an array of wholly different rolls that ran the gamut from elegant and traditional to fusion-infused and over-the-top. The judges -- owner Ueno, Houston Sushi Club founder Carl Rosa, KTRK reporter Miya Shay and myself -- were tasked with choosing the best five from the spread.

​Stella Sola, Brian Caswell's new joint on Studewood, has been getting a hell of a lot of buzz for a place that hasn't served any food until this week. We sneaked into the soft opening courtesy of Ben, Brian's sous chef, and sampled Stella's already revamped-before-even-opening menu, which was changed due to the departure of Jason Gould.

Our table was in awe of the tripletail. Coming from a Gulf Coast seafood family ourselves, we know the ever-elusive tripletail is a Texan fisherman's brass ring - it was caught only once or twice by our fishing family. Brian even wrote about the infamous tripletail a few months back on his blog.

© David Nathan-Maister and Oxygenee Ltd.

​Although it's taking place next month, spots will fill up quickly for Absinthe: Revealed, so we're doing you a favor by telling you about it now. On December 5 at 7:30 p.m., Avant Garden will be hosting a "celebration of tastings and truths" about one of the world's most misunderstood spirits. The evening will feature a two-hour long presentation on the history of absinthe by renowned historian Ted Breaux and master distiller Jay Hendrickson, followed by a tasting of several absinthes along with hors d'oeuvres and music by Two Star Symphony. Tickets are $20 for the entire event or $15 for the tasting afterwards and an RSVP is required.

The Guy Expo already got started today for those lucky bastards who don't have to work on Fridays. But for the rest of us, it will be going on all weekend at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Tickets are only $8 and include such festivities as the Novemberfest Beer Garden and the Beer-A-Thon, where you can sample six beers for $5 and vote on your favorite. In addition to brews, there will -- of course -- be boobs. Hooters is sponsoring an Elvis Presley-themed chicken wing eating contest, and to encourage participants, anyone in an Elvis jumpsuit gets free admission to the Expo.

​If restaurant openings are an economic indicator, the last month would seem to signify that things are picking back up -- at least in Houston. Things we've learned from this month's openings and closings include: don't put a "z" in your name if you're trying to be taken seriously as a wine bar; Town & Country's new CityCentre development is the place to be; restaurants will never be deterred from opening in the accursed location at 2303 Richmond; and yes, things are still reopening in Galveston after the devastation of Hurricane Ike.

Openings

• III Forks, 1201 Fannin (in the Houston Pavilions)
• Hearsay, 218 Travis
• Ruby Tequila's, 2616 Louisiana
• Straits, 800 W. Sam Houston Parkway
• Eddie V's, 12848 Queensbury (check out our Sarah Rufka's first look)
• The Chelsea Grill, 4621 Montrose
• Yelapa Playa Mexicana, 2303 Richmond
• Loving Hut, 2825 S. Kirkwood
• Georgia's Farm to Market, 12171 Katy Freeway (taking over from Sandy's Market)
• Azzarelli's, 17754 Katy Freeway
• Da Vinci Ristorante Italiano, 6455 S. Fry Road
• Bullrito's, 12719 FM 1960
• Grimaldi's, 20 Waterway Avenue, The Woodlands
• La Trattoria Tuscano, 4223 Research Forest
• The Egg & I, 557 W. Bay Area Boulevard, Webster
• Clary's Seafood, 8509 Teichman, Galveston (now reopened after Hurricane Ike)

​Tonight at Coffee Groundz, a grand coffee competition will be taking place unlike anything the city has ever seen. Baristas from Houston and all over the state will compete in the H-Town Latte Art Throwdown to create the most original and elaborate latte art for a panel of judges. The evening will also feature a silent auction and door prizes, with all proceeds from the event ($10 suggested donation at the door) benefitting Coffee Kids. The competition begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Tomorrow morning will be a great day to hit the local farmers markets with both great weather and local celebrations in store. Katy's La Centerra Farmers Market is celebrating its second anniversary tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a customer appreciation day. Vendors will be offering special samples and hourly giveaways throughout the day. And stick around -- trick or treating up and down La Centerra's Main Street will start at 5:30 p.m.

Meanwhile over at the Bayou City Farmers Market, Urban Harvest will be hosting its annual Fall Festival tomorrow morning from 8 a.m until noon. Bring the kids, as there will be a plethora of activities for the little ones while you do your shopping, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science's traveling insect zoo and a costume contest with celebrity food judges and cash prizes.

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt

​Have you ever wanted to cruise around with one of your favorite chefs, picking their brains as you hit his favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the city? Your chance to do just that is coming soon.

Whole Foods Market and the Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau have put together an intimate series of Houston Culinary Tours, featuring some of the city's best -- and perhaps least well-known -- restaurants. And guiding these tours? Monica Pope of t'afia, Bryan Caswell of Reef, Randy Evans of Haven and Chris Shepherd of Catalan. Beginning in March 2010, each tour will see two of the four chefs showing 15 passengers around the city on a luxury bus, hitting at least four different restaurants and noshing at each stop throughout the afternoon.

Eating Our Words went on a media preview of the Houston Culinary Tour on Wednesday afternoon and found out firsthand just how excited the chefs and the restaurants are to show off for hungry guests.

​Houston superchef Randy Evans was standing outside Haven, his exciting new farm-to-table restaurant on Algerian Way near Richmond and Kirby, when I drove by yesterday. The press release I got about the place read: "Looks like an early October opening." I was hoping for lunch, but Randy didn't have his whites on. And I couldn't get anywhere near the restaurant's front door because the site is surrounded by a chain link fence.

​Much like professional food writers who feel threatened by the ever-growing cadre of "amateur" food bloggers, professional food photographers are assailed not only by those same food bloggers, but also by the whiz-bang, point-and-shoot cameras that they brashly carry into restaurants and kitchens. Some argue that these high-tech marvels can make even the most hapless would-be photog look like a pro. I must confess that I too have subscribed to this argument.

That is, until this past Sunday when the Houston Chowhounds hosted a Food Photography Workshop with Austin-based photographer Penny De Los Santos. Working with a professional food photographer for the first time, I came to realize the true art and skill of the best food photography. The workshop was held at Reef Restaurant with Chef Bryan Caswell and an assistant working on their day off to create photo-worthy dishes for the 60-plus would-be food-porn creators.

​Word hit this week that Las Alamedas -- the landmark Spanish restaurant that mysteriously shut down earlier this year -- will be reopening again soon, but not in the same location. The owners have leased a space in Katy's La Centerra, the town square-style development near Cinco Ranch. The restaurant's reopening is scheduled for Spring 2010, but the question on everyone's minds is this: Will a restaurant that depended heavily on its iconic building and beautiful location along the bayou work in an entirely new (and decidedly boring) setting? Time will tell...

Meanwhile, Azzarelli's opened its doors this past Friday in a brand-new location, serving more of the old-school Italian food that's made Azzarelli's a popular family destination for years. This new restaurant is -- like Las Alamedas -- in Katy, situated at the corner of I-10 and Barker-Cypress. But not all new places are opening in Katy...

Valentino at the Hotel Derek opened on October 1 after a long wait. The much-anticipated Italian restaurant with fresh crudo bar has been highly touted, but has already suffered from one rather scathing yet cursory review. The location has been slightly cursed over the years, seeing a succession of restaurants march through the hotel lobby one after another. Will Valentino last?

No Holds Barred Chili Cook-Off

​

This weekend is full of food events, whether you want to travel or stay close to home. The annual Texas Renaissance Festival is in full swing already, with more turkey legs and steins of ale than you can swing a mace at. But if that's not your thing, we've got a few more events right here in town.

This Sunday is the Adobo Hoedown, which we mentioned on Monday. Not only will you get to try the national food of the Philippines -- a delicious pork stew called adobo -- you'll get to judge it too. And your $10 admission fee goes to benefit the needy typhoon victims in Manila and other hard-hit parts of the Philippines. Don't forget to grab a few tasty pastries while you're horking down adobo and jamming to Filipino music and DJs. Important note: Adobo Hoedown has been moved to DiverseWorks, at 1117 East Freeway, due to space constraints -- which means more food and fun!

Also running this weekend is Festa Italiana, which starts today at 11 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m. on Sunday. The annual festival is now in its 31st year and features an Epicurean Stage for the food lovers. Most of the food activities are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, so don't fret if you can't get over to the University of St. Thomas today. But you won't want to miss the olive oil and wine tastings, the cooking demonstrations or the pasta eating contest. Word to the wise: bring extra cash, since many of the food activities have an extra fee associated with them outside of your $6 admission fee.

​Branch Water Tavern at 510 Shepherd will be a new American tavern with outstanding whiskeys, microbrewery beers and one of the hottest chefs in the city behind the stove. CIA grad David Grossman used to cook at Gravitas and Reef. Before that, he worked with the legendary Alfred Portale at Gotham Bar & Grill in New York. Gotham Bar & Grill pioneered the casual, cocktail-centric tavern style of fine dining 25 years ago in New York.

According to a press release I received, Branch Water Tavern was supposed to open mid-October, so I headed over. I was not impressed by the cooking -- in fact, there wasn't even a kitchen. And I was more than a little disappointed by the décor of the new restaurant as well. But that's probably only because the walls aren't up yet. The entranceway leaves a lot to be desired too.

Photos courtesy of Eddie V's

Chilean sea bass

​The first thing you notice at Eddie V's Prime Seafood, the newest mini-chain addition to Town & Country's enormous CityCentre development, are the white waistcoats on the servers. Yup, it's that kind of place.

It's traditional, even retro, in layout and style, with a few key modern touches--especially on the menu--that keep things 21st century. The lounge is total throwback, complete with cocktail menu, live lounge music and so much relaxed masculine energy that the bartender slipped and addressed me as "sir." To be fair, it was the only service error all evening. Soft opening be damned, these waiters, bussers, hostesses, etc. were on--to describe them as attentive would be woefully inadequate. Little extras abounded, from a chilled bottle of Fiji for water to a slightly springy table surface (great for elbows when deep in conversation).

Photo by Cortney Martin

​The 13th annual Bayou City Arts Festival hits downtown this weekend, and it's not just for art lovers. A large section of the festival each year is devoted to wine and food, and this year's festival is no different. In fact, all of Sam Houston Park (along McKinney and Bagby) is devoted to wine and food with concession stands, wine cafes and an Epicurean Adventure area.

Photo by Nemo's great uncle

Bacon wins even in the calorie wars. Take that, egg!

​A quick Google search of "America's fattest cities" will turn up a dozen lists with Houston in the top 10. It's a title our city has had to bear on our pudgy shoulders for years now. According to Men's Fitness , donuts are 132 percent more popular here than the average city. Houston also has the 6th highest number of donut outlets per capita in our survey.

While that is a hilarious factoid, the donuts are apparently harmful to our health. Who knew? In places like New York City, Seattle and California, laws are in place that require certain restaurants to post calories on the menu. That way, you have to face the facts about that donut you're about to buy, and you'll maybe make a better decision. (As it turns out, though, a glazed donut can have fewer calories than a honey bran donut.) If this health reform we all keep talking about passes, restaurants with at least 20 locations throughout the country will have to post calories in every state, including ours.

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt

The winning cocktail

​​If the results of Monday night's Manhattan Experience contest are anything to go by, the answer is yes.

It appears -- for now, at least -- that bacon hasn't entirely jumped the shark. The winning entry in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience at the Houston Museum of Natural Science featured a Manhattan augmented with maple syrup and candied bacon, a concoction devised by Derek Black, bartender at The Rockwood Room.

The smokiness of the candied bacon bits that rimmed the martini glass subtly augmented the woodsy flavor of the bacon-infused Woodford Reserve bourbon, with a sweet finish from the similarly woodsy maple syrup (used in place of sweet vermouth), making for an almost irresistable cocktail from top to bottom.

Baklava Manhattan

Other entries in the event were equally impressive, with an emphasis on creatively enhancing the classic Manhattan recipe of bourbon, bitters and sweet vermouth. Dimitra Kriticos of Olympia at Pier 21 (the popular Kriticos family's second restaurant in Galveston) created a baklava-inspired Manhattan that featured cinnamon and nutmeg in a powdered sugar-rimmed glass with a glistening bite of baklava on the side. Joe Le from Aca Sushi created a Japanese-themed Manhattan with green tea liqueur. And our personal favorite Manhattan, in which a whole vanilla bean was reduced in Grand Marnier and infused into the cocktail, was created by Michael Raymond of Reserve 101.

​This month saw a flurry of activity as dozens of new restaurants welcomed customers and just as many shut their doors for good. Below is a (nearly) comprehensive list of all the restaurants that opened and closed for September. If we missed any, feel free to let us know in the comments section below.

Closings

Bedford -- 1001 Studewood (read Katharine Shilcutt's recap)

Sizzler -- 6062 FM 2920, Spring & 6945 Industrial Parkway, Rosenberg

Collins Chop House / Whiskey Bar -- 300 Main

Texadelphia -- 5535 Memorial Drive

Jimmy Wilson's Seafood -- 12109 Westheimer

DaniVens Steak & Seafood -- 4940 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena

Photo by Wandering Eyre

​One of Houston's most beloved Greek restaurants, Niko Niko's, was recently featured on a yet-to-be-aired episode of the Food Network's popular show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. As mentioned in a previous post, Niko Niko's was one of seven area restaurants chosen to appear on the TV show throughout the season. One of the restaurants, Kenny & Ziggy's, already saw their episode air and threw a well-attended viewing party to celebrate the occasion.

Following suit, Niko Niko's is hosting a viewing party of their own on Monday, October 5,  to celebrate the first airing of their episode. Owner Dimitri Fetokakis is excited to be able to share the moment with his customers, just as he was excited to have been chosen for the TV show: "Our place always seemed like a good fit for the show. We welcomed them with open arms." Of the taping experience, Fetokakis has nothing but good things to say: "The filming was great fun. Guy was terrific with our customers, signing autographs and posing for pictures."

Photos by Jeff Balke

​The Italian Cultural Center was fit to bursting on Saturday afternoon with wine and food lovers from across the city. The sold-out Wine Conference featured sessions, classes and tastings with wine experts such as Gary Vaynerchuck as well as an outdoor food and wine expo with some of Houston's and Texas's favorite restaurants and wineries.

​Some drama came early in the afternoon when Chef Robert Gadsby -- recently of Bedford and currently unemployed -- was a no-show for the expo. Although conference organizer Geri Druckman had just spoken with Gadsby three days prior (he was in Japan at the time), he was unable to reach the chef for a final confirmation in the days leading up to the conference. Gadsby never showed, nor did he call to apologize or explain his absence. This latest move has fueled further speculation that Gadsby doesn't plan on returning to Houston at all, instead making a go of it in another city -- or perhaps another country.

Luckily, local barista and co-owner of Tuscany Coffee David Buehrer was attending the conference and happened to have all his equipment on hand from a catering gig earlier in the day. Buehrer churned out crowd-pleasing espressos and lattes from the spot which Gadsby would have occupied, a win-win for guests and the conference.

For more photos from the afternoon's event, feast on our slideshow.

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt

The food festivals are upon us! Pictured: NOM.

​Fall has officially arrived -- both on the calendar and in the air. With the first "cold" snap of the year, Houston residents are cautiously creeping out from their air-conditioned confines and reacquainting themselves with the outdoors.

Along with the beautiful weather each year comes a bevy of food festivals, starting with this weekend's Wine Conference and Oktoberfest. From longstanding traditional festivals to road-trip-worthy events, we've rounded up the best of what's happening in the next few months. Start planning your calendar (and letting out your pants) now!

Oktoberfest in The Woodlands: September 26 - September 27

The Woodlands Rotary Club is hosting the town's first annual Oktoberfest this weekend, staring at 10 a.m. Saturday and running through 6 p.m. Sunday. The official opening to the festival will be the keg tapping at 11 a.m. at the Town Green Park, which will be followed by roughly 48 hours of oompah bands and various schnitzels. The organizers are also promising tasty "two-fisted pretzels," but this is a family-friendly event, so get your mind out of the gutter.

Johnny Chang has been in the food business for more than 30 years. He owns one of Houston's top sushi restaurants, Miyako, and now is trying his hand at "selling sushi to the Spanish community," as he says, with his new concept called El Pacifico (5800 Bellaire, 713-218-0701), right in the heart of one of Houston's Hispanic areas. "We noticed that at Miyako, at least 15 percent of our customers were Hispanic, so we think there's a market for this. We also have a huge-screen TV, where we will be broadcasting lots of sports like soccer and boxing, and we'll have live music on weekends, like a salsa band one night and mariachis the next night. And since the restaurant is huge, there's plenty of room for customers to dance."

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt

Looks can be deceiving...

After a series of false starts, Lola finally opened over the weekend at the corner of 11th and Yale in the Heights. The fourth restaurant from Ken Bridge, who also runs both Pink's Pizza locations and Dragon Bowl, the long-awaited Lola diverges from his other two restaurants by offering breakfast -- and offering it all day long.

Photos by Robb Walsh

​Fadi's in West Houston is the first place I've ever ordered chicken shawarma at a drive-through window. What a convenience this is when you want healthy food in a hurry. When Fadi Dimassi built his new restaurant on Westheimer just east of Dairy-Ashford, he put in a state-of-the-art pizza oven to make the flatbreads and a huge stainless display rotisserie for the chicken.