As a non-Houstonian, this breadth and depth of Chinese cuisine was intimidating at first. From Peking Duck to specialty noodle dishes, there’s just so much Chinese food that we didn’t know where to start! But after a few months of gradually exploring Houston, we’ve found a place that truly stands out from the pack. And that place is Hu’s Cooking!
The motto of Fearing’s is ‘BOLD FLAVORS. NO BORDERS.’ And I can say I agree with that 100%.
Salty Sow has quickly become one of our favorite happy hour locations. As they advertise themselves, Salty Sow is an American Gastropub that serves contemporary farmhouse fare located fairly near campus on Manor Road.
Dim sum is a huge part of Chinese (especially Southwest Chinese) culture -- there's early morning dim sum, afternoon dim sum, late night dim sum, so growing up, we were always on the lookout for good dim sum in the area. Here in Austin, there aren't that many places that have good, authentic dim sum, but fortunately, Lin's is one of those few.
Never did I ever think I’d try goat cheese flavored ice cream, but I also didn’t know such a flavor would exist, let alone be my favorite. But Lick Honest Ice Creams somehow not only made it possible, but also did the same delicious job with so many other flavors: “Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey; Dark Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt; and Tequila Lime Pie.” How could these (weird) flavors be so popular, right? But these flavors put us on cloud nine. Lick’s ice creams are eccentric and eclectic, yet they’re so tasty and have such personality.
Tucked into a cute corner on Rainey St. is Emmer & Rye. You can think of them as a mix between a farm-to-table and dim-sum style restaurant, so the menu is constantly changing. They’ve taken dim sum (which means little eats in Cantonese) to encompass any sort of small dishes, offered on carts that are pushed around, where waiters will come up and ask if you’re interested in any of the items. Now, I think that’s a phenomenal idea, and a great way to incorporate this fun aspect of southern Chinese cuisine into American cuisine.
Sour Duck makes their own artisan bread and pastries; they have their own smokehouse to make their own meats; and they make their own specialty coffee (the Mexicano latte here is sweet and nice, but most of all, just heavenly). And these things aren’t just for dine-in; as a market, Sour Duck is kind of like a special grocery store where you can get nice restaurant quality foods, to eat in or take back to your crib.
Odd Duck's menu has complex items that are so eccentric and eclectic. The antelope tataki and smoked chicken nachos are amalganations of not just flavors and unique food items but also cultures. Antelope tataki combines antelope (a unique meat, in my opinion) and the Japanese cooking style of tataki - lightly searing meat. What this unlocks is a reservoir of flavors almost never seen beforehand.
Have you guys ever tried a Pan-Asian restaurant? You know, a place that focuses on cuisine from all across Asia? Because I had not until I visited Imoto. And I can say Imoto not only focuses on diverse Asian food but also cares about creating delicious Asian food with a modern spin.
Chiffon cakes are extremely light and fluffy, combining the texture of angel food cake and the richness of butter cakes. Meringue is folded into the batter to give it that unique texture, and a dash of lemon for the right amount of zest. They make for fun cakes to eat during afternoon tea, so without further ado:
