Captain Benny's Seafood: Not the worst you'll have

Capt. Benny's is known for its fresh seafood and for being housed in a boat. Only this boat was parked off I-45S and needed its own security guard to ward off the hoodlums that party there. The boat itself is quite rickety and I cannot imagine that it is recommended to go here alone. The clientele was mostly older people and/or families of 12 (12 being 2 adults and 10 children). The day I went there they were all out of chargrilled oysters so I had to settle for the Fried Oyster basket which came with fries. I also wanted to try their fried shrimp for which I had to get another basket that also came with fries. For my appetizer I ended up getting the calamari which was... umm.. fried. By the end of the meal I felt like I had deposited way too much LDL in to my arteries.

Gumbo

Fried Calamari

Fried Oyster basket

Fried Shrimp basket

The only saving grace came when I popped my Michelada cherry and discovered my new favorite Mexican brunch drink.

Michelada with Corona

Actually the best part of the night came when the elderly gentleman sitting across from us asked for his check and was informed by the server that his tab had already been paid in full by a family that was dining with us. Apparently they are regulars who will usually pick up someone else's check as they are winding up their own meal. They had already left so the old man couldn't thank them but I remembered them clearly - a hispanic family of four that I had just gazed judgmentally upon 5 minutes ago. It reminded me that goodness does exist in this world and I really need to open my heart. I have resolved that I too will pay it forward at least once this Christmas season and I hope you do too. Yeah I know this is ending up to be a sappy post but it is the holidays now isn't it.

Until next time! x

Fat Bao: No Blog Needed

Didn't take pictures. Ate soft shell crab bao. Bulgogi fat fries. Loved it.

Last month in pictures

Clockwise from top left -

• Nothing beats Mom's cooking
• Tuxedo Truffle Cake for brother's birthday
• Prontha and half fried eggs for breakfast
• Maggi noodles

This week in pictures

Clockwise from top left -

• Uncle Darryl's chocolate cake at The Chocolate Bar
• Chai Latte, Cortado and Tomato Basil Scone at Catalina Coffee
• Kulfi at Shalimar Restaurant
• Brunch at Benjy's

Whip In: Got Compost?

I know I've been MIA for a while... and tbh I don't have an excuse other than the fact that I forgot to take pictures every time I went out to eat. Mostly because I went out in a large group and I don't want to be the weirdo taking blog notes while everyone else is busy being human.

Not to worry, I have an amazing post to get back into the swing of things with. I present to you - Whip In: a smorgasbord of saris, white girls named Gayatri and Porta Pottys. If I had to define Whip In in one word it would be - recycled. The outside of the building has the decor of a smoke shop and the inside has posters of divine goddesses watching over you as you orgy your way into nirvana. The beer selection was pretty good but I was a tad disappointed in how one dimensional the brunch menu was. Every dish was some combination of eggs, bread, tortillas, potatoes and tamarind.

The food was decent enough to eat but I just wish the menu was as weirdly amazing as one would expect from this place. 

I also wish I did not have to go pee in a unisex bathroom afterwards either, because although I am all for gender neutrality, I really don't want to have to layer up the toilet with sheets of Seventh Generation tp before I feel comfortable enough to hover over it. 

Dot Coffee Shop: Time Travel Back to the Glory Days of the Diner

A month ago I went to the Dot Coffee Shop and I remember every single detail like it was yesterday.

It was Mothers Day and a Sunday and I had just woken up from a night of crazy partying. Actually, not really, I just wanted an excuse to eat out for breakfast so off I went to this lovely diner. Everyone and their mother was there and my mother-less self stood out like a sore thumb. 

Anyway, it was packed in there and when I finally got my table I was pretty hungry. And the bread that arrived with the waiter was just what I needed.

Amazing bread.

It was the freshest, most delicious bread I have ever had. I highly recommend saying "Yes, please" when Dot's asks you if you would like some bread. It was an assorted basket of yummy.

Chicken Fried Chicken

Banana French Toast

The rest of it was typical diner fare - the Banana French Toast could have been more french toasty if I were to be honest. It could have used more batter. The Chicken Fried Chicken was good.

There was a hair in my to-go box. But what I thought was really cute were these pink reusable totes that were being given out to all the moms. Like I mentioned at this beginning of this story, I was not there with a mother but I was so attracted to this tote that I asked my waiter if I could have one to which he politely obliged. I didn't take a picture of it but you can use your imagination. 

All in all, not bad for Sunday brunch.

Biryani Pot: The Most Eventful Night of my Life

You walk up to the Biryani Pot on Westheimer and are immediately bamboozled by the crowd that has gathered in front of the restaurant. Gangs of boys in slippers and shorts are hanging out cracking jokes and such. It almost reminded me of the summer evenings in the local markets in India where the neighborhood gathered to socialize. I walked inside only to be herded into another crowd of people standing around aimlessly waiting for their turn to be seated. It was one big room with a cashier at one end and tables of twos and fours scattered around aimlessly but no host to be found anywhere.

After a few minutes of standing there awkwardly, a waiter abounded and informed us that there would be a 25 minute wait. We could also order now if we liked and the food would be ready by the time we were seated. Novel idea but clearly not for those who want to relish in the ambiance. Although we didn't have to wait very long for a table, our food came at its own sweet pace. While I munched on the Chili Chicken appy, I witnessed the busser clear the adjoining table by dumping all the leftover drinks into a bucket and then dumping the cutlery in to the same concoction. I convinced myself that the restaurant has a really good dishwasher and moved on.

Chili Chicken

Gongura Chicken

Chicken Biryani

The Gongura Chicken and the Biryani arrived sometime thereafter, but by this time I was more intrigued by the (homeless?) guy who had just walked up to the cashier and was looking around nervously as he pretended to peruse the menu. We locked eyes a few times and I said a prayer. He then darted off to the restroom and by the time he came back a throng of people had gathered around the area which was the perfect opportunity for him to try and steal the tip jar. Unfortunately for him, he got caught which resulted in an awkward exchange of wtfs before he ran out. 

I swallowed my food and looked to my left where a pair of guests were being asked to relocate to a smaller table so that the host could use their current table to seat four guests that had just come in. 

To my right a fresh set of loafer boys had arrived who were trying to convince the server to sneak them some beer even though the Pot is a non-alcohol establishment. When the server refused they pushed harder, offering to stay past closing so that no one would get in trouble. Thankfully by this time my check had arrived and I couldn't get out of there any faster.

Let me see... did I miss anything? Oh yeah, the food was alright.

HK Dim Sum: Fried Rice? Tsk tsk.

Chinatown

I learned a lot of things from my jaunt to Chinatown yesterday. First, I learned that Chinatown is effing far away. Second, ordering fried rice in a Chinese restaurant is a sure fire way of establishing just how poorly versed in Chinese cuisine you really are. I got there pretty late and was promptly reminded by the HK Dim Sum madam that the kitchen shuts down a half hour before the place closes. I flashed back a smile  in hopes of zapping the meanness out of her and I think it worked because she remarked how quickly I had made my choices. Naturally I got dumplings - pork, beef and steamed bbq pork buns. And friend rice.

Fried Rice

Steamed Bbq Pork Buns

The food was alright IMO, the china was the flimsiest I've ever seen; however, the most interesting part of the evening happened later when a Chinese lady welcomed herself in despite being told that the place was closing. Friendly banter ensued and they decided to serve her as long as she got her food to-go. I was her next prey as she told me about how she had driven an hour just to get here because she really wanted noodles and didn't want to cook tonight. She looked disdainfully at my food and said "Oh at least you got the dumplings". Even though I had a mediocre experience with the food, this lady's presence and recommendation of the "flat, non-gravy, beef noodles" left me hopeful for the throngs of foodies who will visit after me. 

Los Dos Amigos: Happy Friendship Day

Who doesn't love authentic Mexican food? In fact, faux Mexican food is one of the worst cuisines ever. Nobody wants a soggy tortilla or undercooked carne asada. But not to worry, at Los Dos Amigos you will be treated like a long lost son who has just returned home after a ten year exile. 

Yeah, the china may be exactly the same as it is at Asia Market, BUT you WILL see Mexican people eating there. I think that's always a good sign when you see people of a certain nationality eating at a restaurant claiming to serve food that they themselves are connoisseurs of. One, it means that the food is good enough for them to forego cooking it themselves and two, who is a better judge than them at their own cuisine? 

Menu

No alki here but their Ladies Dinner is a perfect sampler type dinner for people with small apetites that do not want to get stuck with a plate full of chiles rellenos. I chose to get the Dinner Combo 1 that came with Guac salad. Crispy chips FTW. 

Chips and Salsa and Guac Salad

Dinner Combo 1

I got a taco, cheese tostada, enchiladas, and rice and beans. The salad portion wasn't the freshest but the rest of it was really good. Its a dinky little place with the decorating style of a Spanish Lady Gaga but if that isn't authentic, then I don't know what is. 

Gilhooleys: Country Chic

Outdoor bar

If you ever find yourself in Dickinson, TX... umm... actually you would never find yourself in Dickinson, TX but once you're there drive past the general store and the station wagon parked on the lawn of the corner house and you will find yourself at Gilhooleys. Its a sit-wherever-you-like-and-cash-only kind of place. Don't expect any craft beers but who cares when the Oysters are bombdizzle. Seafood = fresh.

Oysters with Shrimp

I also got Hush Puppies and Fried Mushrooms that were quite delish as well. 

Fried Mushrooms

Hush Puppies

You can relax in the outdoor space and soak up the sun while you enjoy the bar or wallow in the dive-y indoors but I personally preferred spying on the Uncle who was on his afternoon beer run as he cheered on his basketball team. Oh p.s., no kids allowed, ever.

Outdoor seating

Asia Market: Love at First Sight

Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines. But alas, I was struggling to find a good Thai place in H-town that had a good Pad See Ew. Side note, is Pad See Ew not an authentic Thai dish? I went to a lot of restaurants that claimed to be authentic but didn't have this dish on their menu.
Anyway, all my fears were calmed when I came across Asia Market  (swanky website, check it out).
Think tables squeezed in one side of an asian grocery store with Thai aunties running around. AKA Thai food perfection.

For appys I got the Pork & Shrimp Egg Rolls and the Thai Fried Beef. You can even grab a drink/snacks from the grocery store and enjoy it while you eat. You pay for everything at the store counter once you're done. Try to bring some cash for the gratuity or let them know how much you'd like to add when they are running your card.

My Pad See Ew was delish as were the Kee Mao Noodles.

Yes, all their china looks like this and you get a paper towel roll for your napkins but it is amazeballs. 

H-town strEATs: What Have I Gotten Myself In To

Now that we've gotten the niceties out of the way, I can share my first meh food cart experience.
The truth is, I was really in the mood for something Asian (fried rice, dumplings, etc.). I found out that Rice Box was going to be hanging out downtown so I drove down to Louisiana Street only to find out that they had already left. It was late and I was desperate. A quick google search told me that H-town strEATs is open late not too far from where I was. So I decided to check it out.

Photo credits - rippedosaurusflex

The spot that it was parked at (Cottonwood Bar) seemed pretty cool, and the cart was pretty cute but that was about it. I got the Chicken Fried Steak Sliders and the Risotto Balls with Tomato Jam. Now, I was really hungry which usually means that anything I eat will be delicious by default. But the sliders just did not do anything for me. I'm pretty sure I highly dislike fried meat. The Risotto Balls were better but still a little on the bland side. If I may digress, the risotto appetizer thing at Up Restaurant is bomb.

Other people seemed to like the food but it just was not for me. Sadsies. 

Melange Creperie: I'm a Convert

Weekends are usually a time for relaxation and rejuvenation for me. But after 8 hours of rolling around, I also get antsy and tend to venture out for breakfast/lunch.. This being a long weekend, I was already quite cabin fevery on Saturday morning so I skedalled out to Melange Creperie at 403 Westheimer (corner of Westheimer and Taft). I have to confess, this was not my maiden voyage to Melange, I was actually there last Saturday and had already discovered how amazing this place is.
Today the cart was manned by a different gentleman (Buffalo Sean) who had a personality to match the deliciousness of the crepes.

Crepe station

It is rather a fascinating process, that of crepe making, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching my Banana Nutella goodness come to life. I don't have a picture of the crepe because I ate it before I thought of such things, but it was good. It was also neatly packed in an aluminium foil triangle to prevent spillage. I hear the Ham Egg + Cheese crepe is delish as well.

Buffalo Sean said they often have special crepes that they do from cultures around the world - Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Mexico, etc. What can I say, they have a new fan.

Also, Juice Girl was lurking nearby, so I had a Flaming Lips smoothie while I waited. It was a refreshing concoction of ginger, carrot, and orange juice. I was very pleased.

Juice Girl