To die for.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again: Tex-Mex is one of my favorite cuisines of all time, my top dish pick being chili con queso with Ro-Tel. Naturally, when I came across a Tex-Mex mac and cheese with green chilies, I knew I had to make it. The recipe comes from Robert Del Grande, one of the Lone Star State's best-known chefs and restaurateurs, and the roasted poblanos give the melted Read more
If you're not from Texas — or a few other choice towns across America — you may have never had the pleasure of eating a kolache. A Central European pastry iconic across the Lone Star State, the kolache is prized for its soft, pillowy dough and its versatility: kolache fillings range from the sweet (apricot, prunes, and poppy seeds) to the savory (sausages). And some fillings, like cheese, Read more
On a recent trip to Texas, Reef wasn't the only provocative meal that I had. I also ate an unorthodox lunch at Feast, a restaurant that was opened by three British ex-pats, James Silk, Meagan Silk, and Richard Knight, in Houston last year. The eatery, which has earned accolades from the New York Times as well as a James Beard Best New Restaurant nomination, focuses on adventurous and gourmet Read more
I've got roots in Houston, TX, home of some of the world's best steak and Tex-Mex. But on a recent return to Bayou City, I was eager to check out some dramatically different local fare that's garnered a lot of national attention. That would be the refined Gulf Coast seafood served at Reef, the brainchild of 2009 Food & Wine Best New Chef Bryan Caswell. Although I was expected to be impressed Read more
The last time New Orleans saw snow was a white Christmas day in 2004, and the Southern city has only been painted white 17 times since 1850. But this morning residents woke up to as much as six inches of snowflakes. Today marks the earliest date for snowfall in the city, and the rare weather found some unprepared. The snow halted bus services and flights out of Armstrong International Airport, Read more
It's not just pets that need help in the aftermath of recent hurricanes, over 1,000 baby squirrels are undergoing care in what's best described as a "squirrel neonatal unit". The Houston SPCA still receives 20 to 30 lil ones each day, causing these creatures to far outnumber all of the other animals there. We’re feeding them puppy formula every three hours. . . . We’ve had a pelican and a Read more
Thankfully, there were improved plans in place before the recent hurricanes hit, but I'm reminded that plenty of pets still need help in the storms' aftermath. Shelters including the Houston Humane Society and the Galveston Island Humane Society are working around the clock to photograph all the arriving animals to help keep track of the pets, and locate their owners. Much of the area is still Read more
Philadelphia just became another major US city to hit a connection snag in their plan to offer citywide free Wi-Fi. Earthlink, the private company working with Philly, has just announced its intention to pull the figurative plug on Philly's operating project. Why the pull-out? Money. The New York Times reports that: "The conclusion that such ventures would not be profitable led to sudden Read more
Whitney Houston died on Saturday at just 48 years old. The singer's nearly 30-year career was marked with hundreds of musical hits and awards including two Emmys, six Grammys, and over 20 American Music Awards. Look back at Whitney's life with friends like Mariah Carey and Clive Davis, her amazing stage moments, and her daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Read more
We grew up listening to Whitney Houston, so we were devastated like most to hear of her passing. With a gospel-singer mother, Dionne Warwick as an cousin, and Aretha Franklin as a godmother, Whitney herself grew up surrounded by talented women. To celebrate her life, let's look back on the good times she shared with some of them over the years. Read more
