Houston – Page 14

Wanna Bao | Houston, Texas

September 6, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

I finally did my Big Brother Big Sister interview. It usually takes two hours but mine ended up being an two and a half hours. I’m not sure how it went but I’m hoping I made it through. I would love to watch the kid grow up and everything. But I heard a lot of people get rejected so … Oh well if that happens to me.

Wanna Bao | Houston, Texas | Pork Crispy Bottom Bao, Shrimp Xiao Long Bao, Pork Xiao Long Bao, Colorful Dumplings Adventure — Pork Crispy Bottom Bao [pork filling pan fried crispy bottom bao drizzled with scallion and sesame] | $8.50 • Shrimp Xiao Long Bao [shrimp and pork filling soup dumpling] | $9.50 • Pork Xiao Long Bao [pork filling soup dumpling] | $8.50 • Colorful Dumplings Adventure [steamed dumpling sampler, Yellow: chicken + shiitake + bamboo shoots, Pink: shrimp + pork + corn, Green: mixed vegetables wrapped by fresh house made colourful vegetable dough] | $8

Afterward, I read a book my boss gave me for a bit before picking Salim up from work. Last minute plans since I was downtown already. We went to Wanna Bao, a place I’ve been wanting to try since they opened.

Definitely way better than the one we went to in Chinatown. There was actually soup in the dumplings! We ended up order a second batch of Xiao long bao because it wasn’t enough food for us both.

Overall everything was perfect and I’d want to come back in the future. It was packed even when we left around one so you know it’s good!

Kung Fu Tea | Houston, Texas | Boba Milk Tea and Yogurt Grapefruit

We went to Kung Fu after to talk about work and girls again. I tried a yogurt drink and it ended up being freaking delicious. They use real fruit juice and mix in Yakult which is a type of yogurt drink Asians have.

I took him home soon after and headed home myself. I took an amazing nap before getting ready again.

Mellie Dee with Jack and Claire at Michelle's

Michelle and Matt were in town from Buffalo and brought the kids as well. I finally got to meet Jack who is about to be seven months old and Claire who is turning two in a couple weeks. Her party is tomorrow which I’ll be going to as well.

She had her aunt and grandparents over and we had some food made by her dad. I didn’t get much as I wasn’t too hungry but it all tasted delicious.

Michelle and I got to catch up a bit which was nice. It’s harder now since she’s so far away and busy with two kids, a job, and a husband who is in residency. Two more years and they’ll be back home. I’m making plans to visit them sometime next year, when it’s not cold as eff.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | The Union Kitchen – Memorial | Houston, Texas

August 28, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Work went by fairly quickly today. Before we knew it, it was time to meet Juhi, Amelia, and Chase at The Union Kitchen in Memorial for my last planned HRW for $35 per person.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | The Union Kitchen - Memorial | Houston, Texas | Cajun Deviled Eggs with Colossal Crab, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Shrimp and Crab Fondue — Shrimp and Crab Fondue [with roasted garlic crostini] | Cajun Deviled Eggs with Colossal Crab [4 each half eggs with creamy Cajun seasoned yolk filled topped with flash fried blue, smoked paprika and Chipotle aioli] | Chicken Tortilla Soup [braised chicken, roasted poblano and corn, topped with fresh avocado, fried tortilla strips, Pico de Gallo and cotija cheese]

The best out of the three was the fondue. Filling and delicious. The soup was nothing special as you can usually get that anywhere and the deviled eggs per Chase wouldn’t be his choice since he’s a man and portion size trumps taste sometimes.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | The Union Kitchen - Memorial | Houston, Texas | Veal Osso Bucco Milanese, Surf and Turf, Gulf Coast Jumbo Lump Crab Cake — Veal Osso Bucco Milanese [braised veal shank with saffron risotto and gremolata] | Surf and Turf [14 oz ribeye and shrimp embrochette with cheddar au gratin potatoes] | Gulf Coast Jumbo Lump Crab Cake [with cavum lemon butter sauce, dirty rice and grilled asparagus]

The veal was a little dry on top but the inside was fine. The sauce on top didn’t do much since it dried up a little as well. Green beans could be cooked a little longer though. I loved the bone marrow in my veal though!

The crab cake was very good and the rice seemed to be a dirty pilaf type. Chase loved his steak and cleaned his plate! I’d probably get the steak or crab cake if I got to do it over again.

2019 Houston Restaurant Week | The Union Kitchen - Memorial | Houston, Texas | White Chocolate Champagne Pound Cake, Almond Raspberry Torte — White Chocolate Champagne Pound Cake [with warm grilled peach compote and vanilla ice cream] | Almond Raspberry Torte [layered yellow butter cake and raspberry filling with almond cream cheese icing]

No one seemed to want the flan but thinking back, maybe that would have been better. These two desserts weren’t good at all. The pound cake tasted a little stale. I think the white chocolate made it dense. I didn’t taste the vanilla in the ice cream either.

As for the torte, the raspberry filling was too tart and overpowered the cake layers and almond cream cheese. None of us finished our desserts and we didn’t pack it up either which says a lot of me.

The food overall was good but I don’t know if it’s a place I’d come if it wasn’t for the HRW. I did hear from a coworker the breakfast is very good. Maybe I need to check it out.

Taylor Swift's Lover Album Version 1 to 4

My Lover Taylor Swift albums arrived!!!! I know. It’s stupid to get them all but ever since she came out with her first album I’ve always bought all the different versions and I just had to! I like reading the things she wrote when she was a kid. Shows you how much she’s grown too!

I’m hoping tomorrow goes by fast so that I can start my four day weekend! Eeeeeek!

Dumplings and Deep Conversations

August 24, 2019 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

The day started off with a lot of playing with Emmy before heading to Golden Dumpling House to meet up with Salim. It’s been awhile and we figured a catch-up was needed.

Golden Dumpling House | Houston, Texas | Dumplings — Xiao Long Bao; Fried Pork & Vegetable Dumplings; Steamed Pork, Shrimp, & Vegetable Dumplings

I haven’t found a good place for Xiao Long Bao in Houston so we figured we’d try this place. The flavour was the best out of the other dumplings but it was lacking in soup which was the whole reason for them.

The dumplings, though not bad, aren’t the best I’ve had. They could do better with flavouring their dumplings and the wrapper was a little too thick.

Golden Dumpling House | Houston, Texas | Millet Soup — Millet Soup

We later found out they had free soup which is more like a congee with a different type of grain. I thought the flavour was good but Salim needed salt so to each their own.

7 Leaves Cafe | Houston, Texas | Oolong Milk Tea with Honey Boba and Taro Milk Tea — Oolong Milk Tea with Honey Boba and Taro Milk Tea

We went and got teas, both delicious. We sat here for a really long time talking about relationships and life. He told me I’m too nice so that’s probably why I’m single but I don’t understand how that’s a negative. I guess guys want someone who’s an ass like girls tend to like in a guy? I’m confused about it all but I’ve decided I’m in the wrong decade. I’m going to be single for life.

Afterward we said our goodbyes. I went home and hung out with Emmy a bit before we headed out to Bellaire again where we met up with SIL’s parents. We went and visited Grandma before heading back to Bellaire for dinner with everyone. Yeah, I don’t understand all the driving either. I’m pooped and ready to relax with Rizzo.

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 | 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!