Recipe: Spicy Garlic Black-Eyed Peas with sauteed Chicken Breast

Ok little cuties, if you have even the smallest admiration for black-eyed peas, you must make this dish. Heck, you can save the recipe for New Years day. This is hands down the best recipe for black eye peas ever. The best thing is that they are healthy AND scrumptious. Here is how I make them:


For black-eyed peas:

4 turkey bacon slices
4 scallions, chopped
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
2 celery rib, finely chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 big pinches of hot red-pepper flakes
3 (15-ounces) cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
garlic powder to taste
onion powder to taste
about 8 dashes of hot sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tsp paprika


For the chicken breast:

1 lb of chicken breast or chicken breast tenders
1 swirl of EVOO
brown sugar
coriander
black pepper
sea salt
cinnamon
smoked paprika
star of anise seed (ground)
garlic powder

Prepare black-eyed peas:

Put two swirls of EVOO in a large stock pot then cook turkey bacon in a over medium heat until browned but not crisp. Transfer bacon to a plate, then tear into small pieces. Cook scallions, carrot, celery, bell pepper, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, red-pepper flakes, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the same stock pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are pale golden, about 10 minutes. Add black-eyed peas and broth along with the garlic powder, hot sauce, onion powder, brown sugar, and paprika. Stir in the turkey bacon and simmer 10 minutes.

Prepare Chicken:
While the black-eyed peas are simmering mix all of the spices for the chicken together making a dry rub. I just eyeball the amounts, with the brown sugar as my base. Cover the chicken thoroughly with the rub and saute in an oiled pan over medium heat.

Spoon black-eyed peas in your serving bowls and top with chicken. Enjoy with a beer. (Well at least that's what I do).

Deliciously Yours,

The Culinary Cutie

Picky Pizza II - Chicago Giordano's



Next up in the pizza wars of Chicago was Giordano's. Giordano's opened in 1974 and was named after the owners' mother. With over 55 locations in Illinois and Florida, their pizza is always steadily evolving. Giordano's is famous for it's stuffed pizza. Although I must say that the thin crust was really great. After my experience at Pizza Uno, I was reluctant to try another "famous" Chicago style pizza. The ambiance is something you would expect from a pizza joint. Nothing surprising, red checkered tables and red booths. I would have liked for the bar to be a bit larger and more accessible given the long wait time for a table and pizza. After my Uno experience I decided to switch form the deep dish to thin crust, which was not the thin crust that I am used to.



It didn't take long for my pizza to come out after we were sat. I was looking forward to a fresh, hot and melty (yes, I made that word up) pizza, and I found it at Giordano's. Unlike Uno's their cheese was actually melted, which was a plus. The pizza sauce was tangy and plentiful but not overwhelming. I decided to have a cheese and pepperoni pizza, and my husband got the same with green olives. Surprisingly, the pizza wasn't greasy even with the addition of the pepperoni. Although they are very busy being a tourist attraction the customer service is still pretty good. Again,better than Uno's.

Based on the pizza I had in Chicago, Giordano's gets my vote as the most delicious pizza in the Windy City. I would definitely chow down here again.

Winning with Giordano's.

Deliciously yours,

The Culinary Cutie

www.giordanos.com



Picky Pizza-Chicago Style



While in Chicago, it was absolutely necessary to try as many pizza places as I could without making myself sick. So off I went to the first stop, the original  Pizza Uno. Since their first opening in 1943, the team at Pizza Uno has stayed true to their famous Chicago style deep dish pizza recipe that I am sure they are proud of, but I must say I left Uno's hoping the next stop would be more enjoyable.



When we walked into the small area where the hostess booth is stationed, we ordered our pizza before sitting to cut down on the waiting time as it takes 45 mins from the oven to plate. The dining room was remarkably cramped and the tables were no different. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive compared to the hostess. We ordered the lunch special that includes a soup or salad. The salad was just some lettuce (iceberg at that) and onions thrown in a bowl, paired with some flavorless vinaigrette dressing. I was more than ready to move on to the next course. Bring on the Veggie Pizza.

Finally, out came my pizza, from the looks of things, my dining experience was about to take a turn for the better. I cut a piece of pie, which looked quite watery, and started noshing. The crust was very hard almost like forgotten cornbread in the oven. The cheese was not  melted all the way and the quality of it was not impressive either. The tomato sauce was watery and lacked zest. I took another bite, just to try to make myself like it since there are so many positive reviews out there. Nope, still bland. The best part of our meal was the beer I had and us getting the check.

Pizzeria Uno = Pizzeria Oh No

Deliciously Yours,
The Culinary Cutie

29 E Ohio St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 321-1000

EATT- Chicago



At the suggestion of our concierge we ran (literally) over to EATT to have breakfast. The atmosphere at EATT reminded me of a shiny new pub with high gloss wood and lamps. A few booths are sprinkled throughout. My waitress was decent, nothing to write home about, but no complaints either.


Crab Benidict

 In true Culinary Cutie form, the most expensive thing on the menu sounded the tastiest to me. Crab cake Benedict. If you have been following me for a while, you know that I am a lover of the crab cake. I consider myself a crab cake connoisseur if you will. I requested that my egg be poached hard with no jiggle. I do this because one, I don't like the yolk swimming everywhere, and two people usually don't get it right the first time, so I like to test them. Low and behold my eggs came out perfectly. The crab cake was a 5 on a scale from 1-10. This crab cake had bread crumbs on it, and it seemed as though it could have come out of a box from Costco or Sams. Not that that's horrible, because I wasn't expecting it to knock my socks off anyway.
A good location and moderate price points are this eateries draws.

I would "Eatt" there again.

Deliciously yours,

The Culinary Cutie

EATT
6 W Hubbard
Chicago, Illinois 60654
(312) 494-3288

Victory at Victor Tangos- Dallas Editon

 

On an impromptu trip to Dallas to visit some of my favorite peeps, I thought I would knock out two of my requirements every time I stay in a different city other than my own: great food and a good time. The restaurant Victor Tangos is where the party begins.

Victor Tango's is an eclectic spot full of energy

especially on the weekends. Even though we arrived during the busiest time of dinner service we were promptly seated. The atmosphere is more hustle and bustle than a romantic evening with your pumpkin. VT is a place for you and your friends to hang out and enjoy made from scratch cocktails and urban fare with a twist.

After calling the restaurant and speaking to the manager Liz, I was able to chat with Chef Greg for a few moments. I asked Chef Greg what he would suggest that I order, and was pleasantly surprised with almost all of his recommendations.

His first recommendation as was the Ahi Tuna Nachos, these were my absolute favorite. The addition of the fresh jalapeño slice and cilantro was a refreshing treat. I enjoyed all of the textures in this dish. I figured that from this point on, things could only get better.

I was almost right. The seasonal Burratta Mozzarella showed up to the party next and perhaps should have been uninvited. I found it to be a tad gummy. The concept was there with the diced peaches on top, but it missed the mark.

The Lamb Chop Lollipops and the creamy Crab Mac and Cheese are a must have.

Do yourself a solid and order dessert. The Warm Sticky Toffee cake was so delicious and large enough to share.

This is a place I would definitely make a stop at on my next visit.

Cha cha cha over to Victor Tangos…

Deliciously yours,

The Culinary Cutie

3001 North Henderson Avenue

Dallas, TX 75206

(214) 252-8595

Dinner at Stella Solla. With a newborn baby.

As many of you know I am the proud mommy of a newborn baby. This new addition to our family could have very well kept my husband and I trapped in our home. With determination and the will to never live without a great dinner and conversation we have made our way out to several locales.

Last night we ventured out to Stella Sola located in the Heights. The great thing other than the extensive wine selection  is that they have a large patio area, so if you have a little one that starts to cry, the noise from the street drowns out the cries until you can calm baby down. I will have to remind you to bring the OFF spray or you will be eaten alive.

For starters I had a new addition to the menu for summer. A Texas beet and tomato salad with goat cheese and a peach vinaigrette. You may be thinking gross, beets?! No, these are not the beets from the can your mother forced you to try before you could say you officially hated them. These are fresh sweet delicious nuggets of color that everyone must try. Don't forget to order a signature cocktail before your entree arrives. I tried the San Remo which was not too sweet nor too sour. Each drink is around $10.

Equipped with clams, shrimp and a lite broth you would think your taste buds were in for a great surprise. The entree of red snapper was rather dry and bland even though it was described as being full of flavor. Surprise...yes.

After desert and bottle of champagne, our dinner came to an end. Whether you are inside or out, Stella Sola is a great place in the Heights for all ages if you play your cards right. We will be back with our little guy again and again.  

Deliciously Yours,

The Culinary Cutie


Stella Sola
1001 Studewood St
Houston Tx 77008
713-880-1001

Spring Fling Recipes! Cutie Approved.

It's that time of the year when the birds are chirping, BBQ's are smoking and the sun is shining. I love to eat and create easy recipes for the season. Here are a couple yummy ones I made today.


Heirloom Tomato Salad w/ Feta and Basil

• 3-large ripe but firm Heirloom tomatoes (I used orange and green)
• Handful of fresh basil
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Bulgarian Feta cheese (do yourself a favor and try to find this type. Super rich and creamy)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

This is so easy, that you can probably guess what you do next, but for those that need guidance, here you go. Chop tomatoes into medium pieces. Next cut the Basil with kitchen shears, sprinkle the Feta cheese over the tomato mixture. Drizzle with EVOO and season to taste. Refrigerate for at least 30 mins before enjoying!


Lemony Raspberry Cupcakes

I found this recipe on Epicurious.com, I thought it would be delish so I tested it out for you! I added a little almond extract to my rendition.

• 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar, divided
• 4 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups self-rising flour
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
• 12 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon seedless raspberry jam
• Fresh raspberries (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Using electric mixer, beat butter, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 3 teaspoons lemon peel in large bowl until blended, then beat until fluffy and pale yellow. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Beat in half of flour. Add buttermilk and 2 tablespoons lemon juice; beat to blend. Beat in remaining flour.

Drop 1 rounded tablespoonful batter into each muffin liner. Spoon 1 teaspoon raspberry jam over. Cover with remaining batter, dividing equally.

Bake cupcakes until tester inserted halfway into centers comes out clean, about 23 minutes. Cool cupcakes in pan on rack. Meanwhile, whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel in small bowl. Spoon half of icing over 6 cupcakes. Whisk 1 tablespoon raspberry jam into remaining icing. Spoon over remaining cupcakes. Let stand until icing sets, about 30 minutes. Garnish with raspberries.

Give these Spring Time recipes a try, you definitely will want to create these again for your friends and family.

It's always sunny when you are eating good food.

Deliciously Yours,
The Culinary Cutie

What's Cookin' in Cutie's Kitchen Tonight- Chicken Masala w/Carmelized Cumin Carrots & Mushrooms

Tonight I wanted to try an Indian inspired dish that was not too terribly complicated and tasty. I landed on a great recipe for Chicken Masala. The only difficult thing about this recipe is actually finding the Garam Masala spice at the grocery store. Take a walk down the ethnic isle of your local grocery store and you are bound to find it, if that doesn't work just ask. OK, here is the play by play.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon garam masala*
• 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
• 1 large garlic clove, pressed
• 1 4- to 4 1/2-pound roasting chicken, cut into 8 pieces, backbone removed
• 2 small onions, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

Get the party started:

Mix yogurt, chopped cilantro, olive oil, garam masala, salt, and garlic in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add chicken to marinade, 1 piece at a time, coating all sides. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.

Position racks in top third and bottom third of oven; preheat to 400°F. Arrange onions in thin layer on large rimmed baking sheet to form bed for chicken. Top with chicken pieces in single layer, spacing apart for even roasting (chicken will still be coated with marinade). At this point, I sprinkled a little cayenne pepper, salt and masala on top of the chicken before putting it in the oven. Discard remaining marinade.

Put the carrots and mushrooms on a shallow cookie sheet lined with foil, and pop those in the oven as well.

Roast chicken on top rack until cooked through and juices run clear when thickest portion of thigh is pierced with knife, about 1 hour. Serve chicken atop onion slices. Spoon pan juices around.

I am serving this dish with rice flavored with a little lime and cilantro. Bon Appétit!

Deliciously Yours,

The Culinary Cutie

Ruggles Green

The newest location of Ruggles Green located in the City Center is a certified green restaurant. This means that they are always incorporating organic, hormone free, natural and preservative free products on the menu. What this means to you is better ingredients equals better taste. I can definitely tell a difference, especially in fruits and produce.

Ruggles Green has a very diverse menu with something for everyone, so I tried everything for someone. Don't judge. Items on my list and on the table were Ruggles Green Classic Crab Cake, Hummus, Organic Spinach Dip, Chef Bruce's all Natural Chicken Sandwich, Honey Fried Goat Cheese Salad, Pink Velvet Cake, and my favorite Pan Seared Chicken. I do all these things for you, my avid readers, who never know what to try because everything looks so good. I took one for the Culinary Team and nearly died of a food overdose. Anything for you guys.

I would suggest you try the Crab Cake. It is huge, so definitely enough to share as an appetizer or make into a meal with a small salad. If you are teetering between the Hummus and the Spinach Dip go for the Spinach Dip. The Chicken Sandwich had too many flavors and was VERY messy. If you are going to Ruggles Green on a hot date, it may turn into a hot mess after you try to pick up this sandwich. I nearly ruined my Sunday's best as I watched all of the insides fall and splatter onto my plate. The Honey Fried Goat Cheese Salad was a bust; with only arugula and no other mixed greens, this salad was very bitter in taste.

If your not lucky enough to get one of the coveted booths, expect a cramped dining room unless you opt to sit outside on the patio. Ruggles Green was a fulfilling experience to say the least.

Deliciously Yours,
The Culinary Cutie

Ruggles Green
801 Town And Country Blvd. 1B
Houston, Texas 77024
713.464.5557
http://www.rugglesgreen.com/

Ni hao and Konnichiwa from the Ginger Cafe



My objective this week was to find a Chinese or Japanese restaurant with an elegant atmosphere and good food.  I found both options at Ginger Cafe, So it is only right that I say hello in both languages. Not only will you find yummy restaurants to go to in the Houston area, but you will broaden your otherwise limited Japanese and Chinese vocabulary just being a Culinary Cutie fan.

The ambiance and decor is beautiful, it is not over done or tacky. You will notice a very attractive sushi bar and lounge area where you could dine alone or meet some friends for sake, sushi, and cocktails. I ordered a dish from the Japanese and Chinese menu. To start I had the Szechwan dumplings with a “spicy” glaze that wasn't spicy. They were a little doughy in my opinion. I would have preferred them pan fried. Sometimes it doesn't pay to try to be healthy.

The second dish I ordered was better than the last. The Texas beef roll. The seared beef rolls were wrapped around green onions with a tangy glaze brushed on top. Pretty tasty. My entree was a house specialty according to the waitress, so I had to try it along with their house special -flower tea. I don't know what kind of flower it was and neither did the waitress, but if I did I would grow a whole garden of them. The tea was my favorite part of the dinner.

If you are searching for a place to go with well-designed decor, soft lighting and music wafting in the background, look no further. This is not an experience that will go down in the history books as the best, but not bad at all.

Mata Hanashite (talk to you soon)

-The Culinary Cutie

1952 W. Gray

                                  Houston, TX 77019

                           http://www.cafegingerhouston.com/

Cutie at the Capital

Greetings my little cuties, I know it has been a while since you have read my words or had me on your foodie radar. I am back and ready to get on my hungry high horse and express my inner foodie feelings. I have missed you all dearly.

Now it's time to give you what you came for, my rendezvous to The Capital Grille. The Capital Grille is known for their in house dry aged steaks and extensive wine list which was enough to entice me.

If you're thinking "the last time I went to Capital Grille, I thought I was at a blue hair convention", this time is not far from the last. The crowd is definitely more "seasoned" and not in a spicy sassy way. You will see mostly business men having meetings over dinner, a couple sharing a romantic celebration, or a group of ladies that lunch circa 1969.

I am sorry to say that I did have a preconceived idea of what my dining experience was going to be before I walked through the revolving door. The Capital Grille is part of the Darden Company and shares a platform with other chain restaurants such as Olive Garden and Red Lobster, so I wasn't expecting too much. I had a gift card with nothing to lose. Thank goodness to the Gods of seared beef and butter poached lobster I was wrong.

My meal started with the soup of the day, lobster bisque. The consistency was thick and creamy, but there was something missing in the flavor of the dish, it actually was little ordinary. I would have liked to taste a splash of Cognac or Sherry along with a dash of hot pepper sauce. The next item up for grabs was the entree of a filet mignon and butter poached lobster with a side of sautéed spinach with garlic and lobster mac and cheese. Spinach check, lobster mac and cheese...not so much. It was too sweet and not savory enough, nice concept just not well executed.

Left with a full belly, but I wouldn’t come back to fill up.
Raise your walkers to The Capital Grille.

Deliciously Yours,
The Culinary Cutie

5365 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77056
713-623-4600

Restaurant week 2010- In the Beginning, there was Brennan's...

Wow, where do I start? I am going to describe Brennan's to you just as I described it to my friends and family after I left Saturday night. Brennan's is bomb. Like seriously. Everything about this place exudes excellence.


Brennan's of Houston located on 3300 Smith Street, was my first stop at restaurant week. This was the perfect place to start, not only did it set the bar for the other restaurants to follow suit; it exceeded my expectations of what "The Brennan's" was going to be.

I have talked to girlfriends who had their rehearsal dinner, anniversary, baby showers and every other milestone at Brennan's, but I didn't truly understand the magic behind its restored walls. First on my list are the people. You can have a simply amazing venue, view, food and ambiance, but nothing can replace good quality people. When you walk in to Brennan's, you will be greeted by the valet attendees who give you a warm smile and tell you to enjoy your dining experience. Now your inside and you may be greeted by one of the hostesses Claire, who is equally as sweet. If you have time, make your way to the bar to say hi to another integral piece of the Brennan's team Adam. Adam-man who creates liquid heaven. (that is his Indian name).

After a drink or two or three of Adam's, I thought it would be a good idea to have a little snack before I came back for dinner in a couple of days. I had the 1-1-1 soup appetizer, this is great for those who are indecisive when it comes to food (me). You will get to try 3 different types of soup including their most delicious turtle soap spiked with a splash of sherry if you like. We also tried the chef’s playground, instead of getting sweaty on a merry-go-round at recess, you get to relish in the delightful tastes of venison and foie gras.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Chef Danny who is down to earth and very personable. You can tell that he is passionate about his food and wants you to feel warm and fuzzy after you leave. What I noticed most about Brennan's is everyone that works there wants you to have a memorable dining experience, from our waiter Jon, to the management team, to the other waiters who weren't even assigned to our table.
Eating at Brennan's will make you want to make your next reservation before you even finish dessert. Speaking of, do yourself a favor and order the after dinner coffee, you can see it in my video. The epitome of a night cap.
Nighty Night Brennan's, see you at Sunday Brunch

Deliciously yours,

The Culinary Cutie

Brennan's of Houston
3300 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77006
713-522-9711

Straits- City Center

Straits Houston is the fifth of its kind, with others being located in San Francisco, and Atlanta. This restaurant is quite the place to be even on a Thursday. It feels more like a club than a restaurant, with an amazing DJ that will have you singing the latest songs, and reminiscing on the old ones. I choose to sit outside for dinner in one of the highly sought after cabanas. This area is great for a large party of friends that want to enjoy the scenery and have some good wine and small plates.

The food at Straits is a Singapore fusion that marries savory and sweet flavors together to make a happy long lasting relationship. The Spring Rolls with prawns and Chinese sausage were first on my list. The addition of the sausage was a nice surprise. Next, I had Grilled Grape Leaf Beef. These were served similar to a lettuce wrap with the beef being the star of the dish and the butter lettuce and carrots taking the crown as best supporting condiment.

After you finish your first cocktail and small plates outside, make your way back to the bar where they had drinks specials going on all night. This is where the real party is, some of the best people watching in the City Center, not to mention the best music. I would definitely recommend going to Straits on a Thursday night to get your weekend started right.

Dress is Jazzy, but the casual folk are welcome too. If you have a large party and want to ensure a table, call ahead and make a reservation. Open until 2:00am Thursday-Saturdays.

-Head "Strait" to the bar

Straits
800 West Sam Houston Parkway Suite 940
Houston, TX 77024
713-365-9922

Pork Chops for dinner with the Culinary Cutie

Rub ingredients:
-Adobo chili powder
-Brown sugar
-Sea Salt
-Black pepper
-Cumin
-Coriander

I made up this rub of some of my favorite spices, I didn't measure anything so you will have to freestlye it. That is what makes cooking fun! I used brown sugar as the base, and used equal parts of all the spices, then season with a little salt. Apply the rub to the pork chop. I actually pack it on until I have a nice crust. Heat a saute pan with olive oil and sear the pork chop on both sides. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 and finish the pork chops in the oven for 20 mins. Sorry, no picture for this one, by the time I realized I wanted to share this creation with you, it was half eaten.

Enjoy!

Deliciously Yours,
The Culinary Cutie

The Culinary Cutie and Chef Randy of Haven

In honor of restaurant week coming up on Aug 1, I thought I would post the link to my first Culinary Cutie show with Chef Randy of Haven who will be featured in the Houston Restaurant week 2010.

I will be visiting several restaurants during this time and posting interviews and experiences on my preferred restaurants. If you are a food lover and would like to accompany me to one of the restaurants, feel free to post the restaurant of your choice and we will make it happen! Can't wait!

Deliciously Yours,
The Culinary Cutie

The Egg and I- Dallas TX

So your in Dallas, and you have a hankering for some breakfast, and you want your tummy and your wallet to be full after leaving. I say to you my cheap and greedy friends, go to The Egg and I. The Egg and I is a  quaint and causal restaurant where my party was seated by the extremely chipper manager . We had a group of twelve with no reservation, and we were accommodated without a lot of hassle. I ordered the special of the day which was an omelet with bacon, avocado, and cheddar. I ordered mine with egg whites and opted for the raisin toast. This was just what I needed and only set me back around 10 bucks.

The Egg an I was pleasant and just what I expected. Nothing over the top just good ole fashioned breakfast.

The Egg and was eggcatly (sorry, I couldn’t resist) what I needed. A hearty breakfast before hitting the road.

15203 Knoll
Dallas, Tx
469-375-0750

Canopy

The Culinary Cutie loves to enjoy brunch at Shade in the heart of the heights. So when I heard that the owner/chef of Shade, Claire Smith, was opening another restaurant called Canopy located on Montrose, I had to stop in a check it out. I know what you’re thinking, Geez Mrs. Cutie, Canopy has been open for quite some time. First I say to you, SO? Second of all I tried to go when it first opened on a Sunday, and I am guessing they were about to close since the young women at the front ignored me until I left. I didn’t let that experience stop me from bringing my little food lovers the greatest and sometimes not the latest delicious treats.

The feeling of Canopy is an open and airy vibe with a simple earthy twist. The crowd at Canopy was young and vibrant filled with lots of lively chatter. Our waitress greeted us after we were seated and took our drink orders. I had the Montrose Queen which consisted of Campari, Orange Bitters, and Champagne. It had a refreshing a crisp taste.

For my appetizer, I had the crab cake with fried green tomatoes. This was absolutely delicious. The tomatoes added such an element of surprise to the dish which was well appreciated. I try crab cakes everywhere I eat and I think that the execution of the crab cake presentation and preparation was top notch.  We also tried the quail which my husband thoroughly enjoyed.

For my salad course I chose the Tomato Salad with pumpkin seeds, and feta cheese. What a great course to whip up at your homes for the summer. So far I give my visit an 8 on a scale of 1-10.

My entrée, which was my least favorite, was the fried pork cutlets. I choose the dish because the waitress made the suggestion and the sides sounded so well put together I couldn’t say no.  Unfortunately the breading was more of a shell than a coating, which caused the golden casing to break away from the meat leaving only the thin piece of cutlet to fend for itself, all by its lonesome.

To end on a positive note, I had the lemon ice box pie for dessert. If you are not careful it would be easy to become addicted to this dessert. With all of the right flavors interacting with one another it couldn’t be wrong eating two slices in one sitting. I digressed and only had one. 

Whatever you are in the mood for, Canopy has you covered.

www.thecanopyhouston.com

3939 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006

Travel editon continued: Mama's Fish House in Maui

After a day of zip lining, the first thing I was looking forward to was dinner. A local in Maui recommended we go to Mama's Fish House for some fresh fish and delicious fare. We took his suggestion and made early reservations. (808-579-8488).

Mama's Fish House has been on the island since 1973, making it Maui's very first fresh fish restaurant. Mama's ambiance is nothing short of a beach themed post card, but instead of being a still image on 5x7 glossy, the view of the ocean and sand is forever etched in your mind and heart.

I was so famished I didn't know where to start. I decided to take a bit of the edge off from our zip line adventure and enjoy a cocktail at the bar The drinks are deliciously refreshing but it will leave your wallet feeling stale. Fifteen bucks for a martini is a long shot even for me, but hey you're on vacation so who cares.

My appetizer came again from another recommendation from our attentive waiter. I was torn between Mama's Macadamia Nut Crab Cakes with fire and ice relish, Wild Shrimp Won Tons, and Seared Beef Polynesian in a grilled papaya. We settled on the later two items. The Shrimp Won Tons were presented in a way I was not expecting, which was a nice surprise from the norm. The Macadamia dipping sauce made the dish that more more interesting. It added a sweet and tangy flavor with the crunchy texture of the Macadamia nuts.

Shrimp Won Tons with Macadamia dipping sauce and Seared Beef Polynesian in a grilled papaya

For dinner I had the special for the day, which may not be available for you when you visit, since the menu changes daily. The fish is so fresh, they tell you the fisherman's name and where it was caught. My Mahimahi was caught by Shawn Boneza along the north shore of Maui. The fish was stuffed with lobster, crab, and sweet Maui onions. When you visit this restaurant be prepared to spend around $200 for two people with drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert. I know your probably full at this point, but don't skimp on the dessert. Banana Macadamia Nut Crisp with homemade vanilla ice cream. Enough said.

Banana Macadamia Nut Crisp

On a side note, Maui has some of the most strict liquor laws in the mainland. If you buy a bottle of wine, and want to cork it and take it back home with you, forget about it. Have a seat and chug a lug, you're not going anywhere.  

Mama's Fish House gets the Culinary Cutie's kiss of approval.

Mahola Mama's!

Mama's Fish House

799 Poho Place

Paia, Hawaii 96779

808-579-8488

http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/

Deliciously Yours,

The Culinary Cutie

Aloha from Kauai Day 1- Travel Editon

 The Kilauea Lighthouse

Welcome to the first travel addition with The Culinary Cutie! I must first paint a picture for those who have not yet been to Kauai, home of the sky scraping cliffs of the Napali Coast. Imagine indigo blue waters on your left and lush, tropical vegetation on your right. With views like this you will never want to leave. My travels landed me at the St. Regis Hotel in Princeville. Although my arrival at St. Regis was at 1:00am, the hospitable staff were still wide awake. You will be greeted with leis and fresh squeezed strawberry and papaya juice. We made our way to the ocean view room that we were upgraded to due to our vacation package through LuxuryLink.com.

 Our view for breakfast after the rain.

Our stay included breakfast for two each morning which turned out to more of a savings then we would ever know. You can easily spend $60 for a breakfast for two at the Makana Terrace. Choose to sit outside on the terrace for the best breeze, view, and bird watching. My first meal of the trip was the lobster omelet with chicken mango sausage and a frothy cappuccino. You will have to excuse the picture of the half eaten omelet, it was so good I almost forgot about my cutie foodies.

Lobster omelet, butter gold potatoes, and chicken mango sausage

In all fairness I feel that I must mention that the service at Makana Terrance was not always consistent. Our first waiter was so amazing and attentive. By the fourth day on the island the service was sub par which resulted in free appetizers and champagne at their elegant fine dining restaurant, the Kauai Grill. 

http://www.stregisprinceville.com/dining/makana-terrace/

Duck Spring Rolls with Plum Mandarin reduction

Dinner will be well spent at a Luau for your first night on the island. I chose to visit the Luau Kalamaku. This Luau had an option to enjoy the owners dinner where your meal is served in the plantation home on site. This option is more expensive then the $99 traditional adult buffet. The Plantation Owners evening includes a four course dinner with a champagne reception with premium reserved seating at the luau. This will run you $135 per person with an open bar when you arrive at the theater. For the dessert be sure to pick the tropical trio of sorbets, the chocolate decadence is very dense and too rich. 

 

If you want to top your evening off with some delicious bubbly, you can get a decent deal on the ever so popular Veuve Cliquot for $90 rather than paying $250 for it at the hotel restaurant.

http://www.gaylords.biz/

Mahalo,

Deliciously Yours,

The Culinary Cutie

Café Rosé

I recently visited Cafe Rose located on the ground level of Hotel Sorella in the City Center. This quaint cafe is stylishly decorated, with lots of open air and space. The menu is limited in selections, but the items that they did have available were acceptable. The wine list was rather sparse, but I did not expect them to have a cellar of stellar wines to begin with. I came to enjoy lunch on a Saturday afternoon, and there were no other patrons at the cafe except myself and a dear friend.

I placed my order for chicken salad sandwich accompanied by a petite spinach salad comprised of gala apples, spiced pecans, blue cheese crumbles, red shaved onion tossed with a spiced cider vinaigrette. This salad was light and refreshing, perfect for a hot Texas summers day. I would have liked to see a different type of bread on the chicken salad sandwich. White bread seemed a little blasé for a French inspired cafe. Perhaps a crusty toasted baguette would have been the "it" factor it needed.

I wouldn't go out of my way to visit again, but If I happened to be in the area, I might give it another try. For those that speak a little French...


Manger at Cafe Rose


800 W. Sam Houston PKWY
Building 9 / Houston,TX 77024
713-827-3545
www.bistroalex.com/cafe-rose/




Deliciously Yours,


The Culinary Cutie