Le Mistral | Houston, Texas

August 18, 2011 by Mellie Dee 5 Comments

***Caution: Long post but filled with pictures.***

Today was Mummy and Me day!

Ah yes, we are cool.

I have wanted to do Houston Restaurant Weeks for the longest time. I think I’ve done the dinner at a restaurant once or twice but I don’t remember it so I don’t count it.

For those that don’t know what it is, HRW is planned by volunteers so that 100% of the funds are donated to the Houston Food Bank. $20 for lunch where $3 per lunch is donated. $35 for dinner where $5 are donated.

Eating for a cause? Sounds good to me.

Since my Mum took the day off from work to hang out with me, I decided on lunch at one of the HRW restaurants.

Le Mistral
1400 Eldridge Pkwy
Houston, TX 77077
(832) 379-8322
www.lemistralhouston.com

Isn’t the front door GORGEOUS?!

The menu for HRW lunch is a 3 course.

Bread & Butter | free

It’s a special type of butter. Not the usual ones you get. It was very easy to spread. The bread was cold but so soft on the inside with a hard outer. Delicious.

I thought this was a trashcan.

My mum’s reply?

Why would they put a trashcan on the table in a high class place. Touché, mum, touché.

My mum and I each ordered something from ever single course and decided to try each other’s dishes. Mmm, six dishes total to try? I’m down! The first dishes of each course is my mum’s and the one following are mine. Just FYI. Winking smile

1st Course:

Crostini de Rillette de Canard {duck rillette crostini, arugula salad, extra virgin olive oil vinaigrette}

I was not a fan of the arugula salad. I don’t think I like arugula to begin with. My mum loved it though. I had half of the duck rillette crostini. Mmm … I wish I had more. It was delicious. The crostini was crunchy hard and the duck rillette was so soft and creamy. I would go back just to order this. My mum has asked me to go online and look for a recipe. That’s how good it was.

Carpaccio de Jambon de Parme, Melon et Mozzarelle {Parma prosciutto Carpaccio, melon, buffalo mozzarella, olive oil, cracked black pepper}

There was a LOT of olive oil on this sucker. I think I could do with a little less. I rolled up the prosciutto with the mozzarella and melon inside. It mixed together so well! The melon was so sweet and the prosciutto was so salty. Such a good mix. The mozzarella made it so smooth and gave me the melt in your mouth feeling.

2nd Course:

Bavette de Boeuf en Persillade {pan-seared hanger steak en persillade, shallot confit, dauphine potatoes, garlic confit romano beans}

My mum loved the beans and wouldn’t share it with me. Crying face So I’m not sure how it tastes. Must be delicious! She was not a fan of the steak. She said it had a taste like the weird taste lamb has. I didn’t mind it and loved it. She got it well done but I think if it was medium rare, it would have been even tastier. The potatoes are to die for! TO DIE! Mushy insides filled with potatoes and the outside is crunchy! Mmmm … I love potatoes.

Gnocchis de Pommes de Terre {homemade potato gnocchi, pesto sauce, heirloom tomato coulis, shaved aged parmasen}

I have always wanted to try the gnocchi but always got scared that I wouldn’t like it. Verdict? It wasn’t anything special. It was mushy but good. I didn’t hate it and won’t be scared to order it anymore. My mum ate most of it since I took most of her beef. I really liked the coulis. I never like tomato sauce that looks like that because it feels so bitter so many times but this was very good and paired up nicely with the gnocchi.

3rd Course:

Truffe au Chocolat Valrhona {Colossal valrhona chocolate truffle, chilled espresso sauce, almond orange tuile}

Um, can I just say how cute the plate is?! I loved the tuile! I’ve always wanted to make it but it seems so hard. I heard it was easy to burn? The truffle was very chocolatey! VERY! My mum wasn’t a big fan nor was I because we’re not the sweets eating type of people but I liked it. It was very smooth, dark, delicious.

Fraises Matinées au Sauternes {strawberries marinated in sauternes wine, cracked Szechuan pepper, crème fraiche ice cream}

I told my mum to get this but she insisted on the truffle because of the espresso sauce. I ordered this because I knew she will love it. I was correct. When we got our desserts, she said that she was afraid because I had to drive and it had wine in it. She’s so cute. It was so good and she loved it so much I gave it all to her. The crème fraiche was smooth and creamy. The wine sauce was sweet. (I’m not a fan of wine.) And the strawberries, some were tart but it went all so well together.

I was so full after we were done which was surprising because our family eats a lot. So that’s how French people stay so thin! Little portions with lots of courses. CHECK!

It was $20 per person so I thought it was super worth it. My mum have already stated she wants to go to more of these places once in a while. Agreed!

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My mum already stated she wanted to go to Central Market after lunch so I looked up the place. It was our first time there and it was so much fun! It’s like Whole Foods!!

This is the loot we got back!

HOUSTONIANS!!

Read that sign! Buy One, Get One Free on PB&Co. Plus on 2 of them, it has a $0.55 off coupon! So 4 jars for $8.48. Go get yours!! It’s the one on Westheimer!!

They don’t expire til 2013 so I think it’s worth it. Plus I know I’ll finish them all way before then. I got one of every flavor. The maple one, honey one, white chocolate, and dark chocolate. Mmm.

On top of that we got 2 cake tester sticks, banana chips, wasabi peas, Stoneyfield Vanilla Yogurt, Beef Fajita Seasoning, some other kind of seasoning.

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A little while ago I met up with Nicole at Chick-fil-a. She was leaving to Lubbock later tomorrow for a wedding weekend and wanted to see me before I left for San Antonio.

Mmm .. fatass right here. I got a vanilla milkshake since I’ve never tried one here before, medium fries, and ketchup!

The milkshake was okay. I know now I’m not a fan. For the fries, I use to LOVE LOVE LOVE them but they’re just blah now. But I love the ketchup!! It’s so cute. Tear the top to squeeze, tear the side to dip. Genius to whoever invented this. Can someone snag me some? I want to have a handful at hand … always!

When we left, Nicole asked if we were going to take a picture together and I said that I looked gross. Then she made fun of me for taking pictures of the food but not people. So … here’s a really gross picture of me and the beautiful Nicole.

We’ll keep it tiny. Smile with tongue out

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I was suppose to wash and pack all my clothes today but … time got the best of me. Now all I want to do is rest. But I know I can’t. I guess I’ll clean the room up a bit before bed.

Night y’all!

Black Walnut Café |Katy, Texas and Bravos Mexican Restaurant | Sugar Land, Texas

August 17, 2011 by Mellie Dee 6 Comments

Ed and I met at Black Walnut Café in Cinco Ranch.

Black Walnut Café
23233 Cinco Ranch Blvd.
Katy, TX
(281) 371-2233
www.blackwalnutcafe.com

Ed and I shared the Garlic Cheese Bread for starters. These are the devil. They were so good that we couldn’t stop and was sad when it was over.

I got the Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup as my main entree. The soup wasn’t something to talk about and if you love cheese, this grilled cheese is perfect for you.

I was so full but Ed wanted to hang out some more before he had to go to work so we went to Starbucks down the street. He paid for my Green Tea Frap since I paid for the appetizer.

Afterward, I went home and played my guitar. Ed re-strung all the strings for me since I’m always afraid it will pop in my face (because that has happened before).

Reunited and it feels so good!

I headed into Sugar Land to meet up with Amanda. It was supposed to be us and two of her other friends but they couldn’t make it. Oh well, more time for us to catch up!

I went to pick her up and we headed to:

Bravos Mexican Restaurant
4514 Texas 6
Sugar Land, TX
(281) 494-3340

Amanda has never been to happy hour before so we popped her happy hour cherry. I believe it was also the first time she’s drank since her birthday celebration.

Chips & Dip | Free. Much needed with our drinking.

Strawberry Margarita. There is too much alcohol in that shizz. After this, I know I do not like margaritas. Beer for me, please.

Bravos Mexican Restaurant | Sugar Land, Texas | Amanda & Magarita

Amanda and her margarita

After much talking and sucking those babies down, I drove her home and headed home.

After reading Rachael’s post about Recommitting, I hopped on the treadmill. I obviously did not do a 6-mile tempo run like she did (I haven’t even reached that point yet!) but I did do a 25-minute run and a 25-minute butt and thigh exercise.

I feel better already but it’s going to be hard to go back to how I did three weeks ago. I should have not quitted for so long! Ah, you’re stupid, Melissa. But I did better than I thought. I even up the tempo a little more than I usually did.

Thanks, Rachael, for that post. You saved me.

Now I’m sucking down a blueberry smoothie with too much milk. I ran out of yogurt so it’s mostly milk and ice. Still delicious.

Tomorrow is going to be another Food-venture!! Mum and I will be attending lunch at one of the Houston Restaurant Week locations. Then I can cross it off my Bucket List!

Night!

Things I’m Loving | Alone Time

August 16, 2011 by Mellie Dee 1 Comment

I purposely did not schedule anything today so that I can have some me time.

I started the day with a Green Tea Frappuccino, no whip of course. Mmm … so freaking good in this hot weather.

During Amanda’s birthday, my purse broke. Whomp … it was the first purse I picked out and paid for myself so i was sad to see it go.

So I went out and bought myself a new one at Kohl’s.

Where I went out and bought a couple tank tops that I can wear with a cardigan.

Since Office Depot was right next door, I went on a prowl for a new planner for the academic year. Hopefully, this one works … I can never find one I truly love.

*****EDIT*****

It didn’t work out. The one I bought had the dates all incorrectly put together. They let me exchange it for this one instead. Fingers crossed.

*****END EDIT******

Then I had a very unhealthy meal. I started feeling sick and threw more than half of it away.

Me time = best time.

Weekend Recap

August 15, 2011 by Mellie Dee 2 Comments

Cate, Katie, Jill, Amanda, Ashley, Gretchen, Me

All the girls dressed up for Amanda’s birthday celebration Friday. If you knew me, you would know all I wear out is jeans, jeans, jeans with exception to some sweatpants and basketball shorts. So skirts and dresses are a bit foreign to me.

She asked if I would wear a skirt so, I agreed … and wore them without tights for the first time since I was a kid. And thank goodness I did since it was so hot and humid out.

Her Nana drove Amanda and me to Town and Center where we went to different places but stayed the longest at Loggia. We danced a lot and got hit on by creepy men. Sounds eventful, huh?

In San Antonio, Mum never knew how late I was out but in Houston, this was the first time. Amanda’s Mum got us two hotel rooms at the Marriott right in Town Center so we didn’t have to drive home after drinking. So very thoughtful. I’ve never got to do sleepovers before so this was definitely a night of firsts.

I finally fell asleep around 4:45 am and woke up every hour after starting at 8 am. Finally when 11 am came around, we huddle in bed together to talk about what happened the night before. Funny stories we’ll remember for a long time.

When her Mum came to pick us up, she treated us to Starbucks. So freaking sweet. I didn’t get home til 4pm on Saturday. So crazy.

Sunday, Sissy wanted me to go to check out her new apartment. All I did whenI got there was what I always do: read blogs and watch Netflix. I even took a 30-minute nap.

I have lunch dates and hangouts set up all week. I’m excited for them but know that each time I go to something, I’m one day closer to the end of summer.

Recipe | M&M Blondies

August 12, 2011 by Mellie Dee 2 Comments

Here is the other dessert I made. This one is divine and I know I will make multiple more times in the future. They stole the show and I personally loved it

Is it shocking that I’ve never made or eaten a blondie before? It’s really just a brownie but made with brown sugar to create that blonde color.

This is the other dessert I made. It was divine and I know I will make multiple more times in the future. They stole the show and I personally loved them which is saying a lot coming from a non-sweets lover.

These are my favorite m&ms! But I can only have a few before I get sick of them since I’m not a lover of sweets.

via

Aren’t they beautiful? One day I’ll take pretty pictures like this.

M&M Blondies

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups unsalted butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 bag mini M&Ms (with a few reserved for the top)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray.
Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it browns and begins to smell nutty. Make sure not to burn it! Allow the butter to cool lightly.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
Stir in eggs, vanilla, and salt.
Add in flour and stir until just combined.
Add in M&Ms and stir to combine.
Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle a few additional M&Ms on top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting.

My final product is just as gorgeous.

Seriously, make and bring this to the next party. Adults and kids alike will love them.

Just make sure you have a very good knife to cut through those M&Ms. Plastic knives do not cut it (pun intended). I learned the hard way as I broke a plastic knife in half and one of my co-workers broke another one in thirds.

In Allie’s recipe, she had coconut shreds put in … but I’m not a big fan of coconut and was afraid some people might be allergic so I opted out of it.