Eateries & Drinkeries

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas

August 23, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

The day started off with a physical at the doctor’s office. Many people told me it took many hours and sometimes half a day. I was in and out in less than 2 hours and part of it was waiting in the waiting room for the doctors to show up since I was early!

Since I was fasting, they had a tray of snacks and drinks. They said if I wanted tea or coffee to let them know and they’d brew it for me. I was good with water and a bar and after peeing it a cup I was out the door.

I went and picked up some tacos before heading home. Emmy licked on a lime while she waited for me to finish eating then it was play time. We danced and jumped around then she pointed at my guitar and said, “Play please.” I played her songs on her request and even some she didn’t. She even jumped off the bed to strum while I played. When I was finally tired I put down the guitar and she hugged and kissed it. It’s safe to say she loves music and she’s ready to go to some classes.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas

Mallory and I spontaneously made plans to go out for dinner. She and JJ have been out of town all week and she wanted some girlfriend time. We chose Grazia Italian Kitchen since she’s on a carbs kick. We both did their Houston Restaurant Week menu for $35 three course meal.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas | Bread Rolls and Italian Bread Dip — Bread Rolls and Italian Bread Dip

They started off by giving us free bread but it wasn’t good at all. Mine was under baked and still a bit doughy. It made us a little afraid of how the rest of the meal would be.

Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas | Malbec — Malbec

Wine because wine not? Get it? Hehehe

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas | Rock Shrimp Croccante & Italian Wedge Salad — Rock Shrimp Croccante [crispy tempura battered, sweet Chile glaze, peppadew and pepperoncini peppers, peanuts, cilantro] | Italian Wedge Salad [iceberg lettuce, diced pancetta, applewood smoked bacon, roasted cherry tomatoes, sweet red onions, caramelized garlic-maytagn blue cheese dressing]

I loved the shrimp but it had an Asian taste which was weird since it’s an Italian restaurant. I’m not a fan of blue cheese dressing on the iceberg but Mallory seemed to enjoy it.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas | Stuffed Flounder Florentine & Mike and Jen — Stuffed Flounder Florentine [jumbo lump crab, spinach, roasted red peppers, goat and mozzarella cheese, charred tomato basil beurre Blanc, risotto] | Mike & Jen [grilled chicken, how tie pasta, garlic, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, Romano cream]

We both like the other person’s dish more but both were great. I took the rest of the risotto home and Mum finished it off. She loved it as well but wished it wasn’t as oily.

Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas | Dijon Gorgonzola Brussel Sprouts — Dijon Gorgonzola Brussel Sprouts | $7

Not part of HRW menu. Our server wasn’t the best and this came when we were full from our main dish but we loved it. The Gorgonzola does give it a blue cheesy taste per Mallory but I guess it wasn’t as strong as the actual blue cheese.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Grazia Italian Kitchen | Katy, Texas | Ooey Gooey Butter Cake & Bacon Bourbon Brownie — Ooey Gooey Butter Cake [served with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon, butterscotch sauce] | Bacon Bourbon Brownie [served with vanilla ice cream, salted caramel sauce]

They have the same presentation which made me kinda sad.the brownie was more cake like and the ice creams taste like a whipped cream textured ice cream. The Ooey Gooey taste better than the brownie in my opinion.

We both probably won’t come here again since it was a little too fancy and the price reflected that. We could have Italian food elsewhere for a better price with better service as well.

After dinner, we headed to Kroger to pick up some things. I finally got my Tillamook ice cream, the caramel hazelnut one. I’ve searched a couple Kroger’s and am so happy I finally found it!

I went home, played with Emmy for a little bit before she had to go to bed. I’ve finally set up Mum’s iPad and I’m happy to see her get the hang of it! Proud daughter.

2019 Secondary Team Away Day

August 22, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

These team button down shirts are so not my style nor the crazy Hawaiian print. Regardless, it was suggested everyone wear their shirts so I did.

I’ve realized that every position I’ve held since I’ve graduated from college has me straddling between two or more teams. I’m not sure how much I love it but I meet more people this way and gain more knowledge as well so I guess no complaints here.

2019 Secondary Team Away Day | Breakfast

We started off with a very delicious array of breakfast choices. I felt fancy because they had mini croissants and salmon (among other dainty things)! I wish I was able to pack the rest of the salmon to go. What a waste.

2019 Secondary Team Away Day | Marshmallow Challenge

We had introductions, a VP guest speaker, and then the Marshmallow Challenge. You have 18 minutes to build a free standing tower that can hold a marshmallow on top using spaghetti, tape, and a piece of string. Ours wasn’t the tallest but it stood up unlike another team so I was proud.

There were a lot of slides and open discussions which was very useful for me as I’m usually with my main team and I don’t get this knowledge or what they worry about daily. It also helps to see how everyone thinks.

Lunch was served and I felt like I was at a fancy buffet place. Three different entrees and a plethora of sides. I feel so bad about the wasted food and really wished I could have taken some home. I wish they donated the food or something. I wonder if this hotel does dining because I’d come back!

We defined some risks before having dessert. Pecans pie and brownies. Desserts don’t really speak to me so this wouldn’t be the reason I come back. Then we finished our discussions and defined some Key Focus Areas before calling it a day.

2019 Secondary Team Away Day | Bowl & Barrel Happy Hour

We headed to Bowl & Barrel for Happy Hour. Again, they ordered too much food and this wasn’t even everything. The funnel cake is bottom right. It looks ugly but it was perfect. Okay, so maybe some desserts do do it for me.

I didn’t bowl too horribly and I could say for the first time in a long time, my anxiety wasn’t too high so I was able to enjoy without worries.

Soon enough I was home playing with Emmy. She tired me out. She’s at the phase where she loves to play with me. Although I’m tired I try my best to give her the attention. When I was too, too tired, she decided to play with my feet and legs. I guess, whatever floats your boat, little girl.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Cafe Benedicte | Houston, Texas

August 20, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Annual mother daughter Houston Restaurant Week. This time I picked a Cafe Benedicte. It’s not a far drive and for $35 three course meal.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Cafe Benedicte | Houston, Texas | Bread and Butter — Bread and Butter

They started off by giving free bread and butter. The butter was a little too hard to spread and the bread was so soft it tore through. The bread was nothing to write about but per usual Mum loved it. Carbs is her downfall when it comes to eating better. But who am I kidding, we are feasting!

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Cafe Benedicte | Houston, Texas | Chunky Gazpacho and Lobster Bisque — Chunky Gazpacho [with shrimp and avocado] | Lobster Bisque

I don’t believe that I’ve ever had gazpacho before but it was quite refreshing having cold soup and chunks of shrimp and avocado inside. It was a little sour but overall I enjoyed it.

The bisque was a bit heavy but Mum enjoyed it. She was bummed there weren’t little lobster pieces but I don’t think that’s normal, is it?

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Cafe Benedicte | Houston, Texas | Beef Wellington and Seared Diver Scallops — Beef Wellington [crimini mushrooms, chestnuts and Parma ham over Yukon mashed potatoes] | Seared Diver Scallops [over saffron risotto, asparagus and baby portabella mushrooms]

I chose this place so Mum can get her seafood fix. Her risotto was so freaking good too. She is now on a scallop been hoping to create the same scallops you see here.

I chose this place also for myself. I’ve never tried Beef Wellington before and I’ve seen Chef Gordon Ramsey make it enough times. The beef was medium rare, the pastry was flaky on top though the bottom could be better as it was a bit soggy but it’s now on the list of things I want to make. I could do without the mashed potatoes and had grilled vegetables or something instead. Then it would be perfection.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Cafe Benedicte | Houston, Texas | Chocolate Pyramids & Macarons and Creme Caramel — Chocolate Pyramids & Macarons | Creme Caramel [griottines]

The dessert choices didn’t fancy us but I was surprised by the chocolate pyramids. They were so smooth and had a bit of dark chocolate feel. Macaroons were nothing to write home about as they didn’t have the shell i was expecting and the flavours are pretty normal: lemon, coffee, and strawberry.

We wouldn’t have chosen the Creme Caramel if we knew it’d be flan as it’s not really our favourite. I think the Tiramisu would have been a better choice for us.

Overall, it was a great choice and we enjoyed people watching while we ate. I want to come back and try their Lobster Risotto. It sounds dang delicious.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas

August 18, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Mum, June and I had a girls day out. We started off with pedicures and mimosas. I added a manicure to take off what I had on my nails already but I didn’t do a polish. Giving them breathing time and in turn saves money.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas

We decided to check out another place at Katy Asia Town, Phat Eatery, for lunch. I saw this on Houston Restaurant Week for dinner and was so surprised that they served the menu all day for a $35 four course meal. I opted for that while they both ordered an entree and we just shared everything.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas | Roti with Chicken — Roti with Chicken [Indian flat bread with boneless curry chicken dip]

Part of the HRW menu. Their roti was super flaky yet chewy and soft inside. It paired well with the one giant piece of chicken we got.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas | Salt & Pepper Calamari — Salt & Pepper Calamari [13 spices, green and red bell, onion, chili]

Part of the HRW menu. Easily one of our favourite things here. I rarely care for any calamari but this one was seasoned wonderfully and any one that knows me knows that adding vegetables to any dish makes it better.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas | Beef Rendang — Beef Rendang [beef banana shank, coconut curry, potato]

Part of the HRW menu. The flavour was great but the beef chunks is too much. I could do with smaller chunks and more potatoes. It was also weird that there was no roti or rice to go with it. Luckily June’s dish came with a lot of rice. This won’t ever be ordered again because of it.

Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas | Hainanese Chicken-Half — Hainanese Chicken-Half [served with pandang fragrant rice, all natural ABF chicken, poached to perfection, and sauce flight trio] | $17

The chicken and rice isn’t as flavourful or as fragrant as what we are used to this dish to be but the chicken was very silky. They just need to marinate it a little longer for the flavour to be perfect for both the chicken and the rice.

Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas | "CK Teow" Char Kway Teow — “CK Teow” Char Kway Teow [flat noodle, shrimp, calamari, Siricha, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, egg, chives] | $13

This was our favourite entree. They gave us a side dish of fragrant shrimp paste type sauce to mix in. The only thing I didn’t like was how little seafood they put inside but other than that it was perfect.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Phat Eatery | Katy, Texas | Kaya Pancake — Kaya Pancake [Indian flat bread, pandan infused condensed milk]

Part of HRW menu. I love pandan. It autocorrected to pandas. I love those too. Anyway, I loved this. Not super sweet and wouldn’t mind having this again if I craved something sweet.

I know what you’re thinking. So many carbs in one meal, right? Because I agree. But that’s how Asians roll. I would come back for more roti. Anyone want to teach me how to make them?

Somi Somi | Katy, Texas | Sesame and Milk Soft Serve with Custard Taiyaki — Sesame and Milk Soft Serve with Fruity Pebbles and Crushed Oreos topped with a Custard Taiyaki

As promised, I am back at Somi Somi to get the sesame flavour! The ice cream was mostly for Mum and June though.

Somi Somi | Katy, Texas | Red Bean Taiyaki and Taro Taiyaki — Red Bean Taiyaki and Taro Taiyaki

I ordered the Taiyakis to try. Not as crispy as the empty ones for the ice cream. This had more of a chew to it. They could do better with the filling where instead of putting a glob in the middle they pipe so that it is more evenly distributed. I’d stick to the ones for the ice creams going forward.

It’s been a very stress-free, food-induced weekend. Four day work week here we come!

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Mezza Grille | Houston, Texas

August 17, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Tan and I went to Mezza Grille tonight for my first Houston Restaurant Week of 2019, his second. A four course menu for $45 per person.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Mezza Grille | Houston, Texas | Chips and Dip — Chips and Dip

They gave free seasoned chips that tasted a bit like Italy to me. We weren’t too certain how to eat it since the seasoning and oil were in separate sides. The chip itself is flavourful enough that it didn’t need to be dipped.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Mezza Grille | Houston, Texas | Lobster Bisque and Chicken Acapulco Soup — Lobster Bisque | Chicken Acapulco Soup

The Lobster Bisque was very heavy so I was happy with the Chicken Acapulco Soup. It pretty much came down to being a very flavourful chicken noodle soup without the noodles. If I lived close enough and was sick, I’d probably order this to go to make me feel better.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Mezza Grille | Houston, Texas | Eggplant Dip and Hummus — Hummus [traditional garbanzo bean purée with tahini sauce, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil] | Eggplant Dip [fire-roasted eggplant and walnut purée]

The eggplant dip was seasoned a tad too much but the hummus was mild to balance it out. Not much to write about though.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Mezza Grille | Houston, Texas | Lemon Butter Fish and Shrimp and Lamb Shank — Lemon Butter Fish & Shrimp [8 oz pan-seared tilapia, topped with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, mushroom and red onions, creamy scallop potatoes, seasoned grilled vegetables] | Lamb Shank [16 oz lamb shank stewed in a mediterranean broth served with saffron basmati rice and seasoned grilled vegetables]

Both these dishes were amazing but if I ever came back I’d chose the Lemon Butter Fish & Shrimp over the Lamb Shank. Cafe Caspian is still my favourite for lamb shanks and I haven’t found anything better. We packed both dishes home since we were too full.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | Mezza Grille | Houston, Texas | Coconut Tres Leches and Creme Brulee — Coconut Tres Leches | Creme Brulee

We did, however, finish our desserts. I was a little sad that I couldn’t break the top with my spoon but it was still divine.

Overall, great experience and attentive staff. I would love to come back to try their main menu. There are a lot to chose from! It was also nice to catch up with an old friend which is always a positive!