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| Dining in Houston Style |
Tagged as “The Story of Houston Food,” Chef Chris Shepherd’s Underbelly features an in-house charcuterie, on-premises butcher shop and fresh cuts of goat, lamb, veal and pork from the chef’s own herds. An avid supporter of local farmers, Shepherd uses plenty of local ingredients, including fresh Gulf seafood, on a menu inspired by Houston’s Southern roots and rich cultural diversity. The new 180-seat farmhouse-inspired space boasts design elements, such as antique plows and family-style tables.
on the horizon
Although not a comprehensive listing, the following are some noteworthy restaurants that the Houston culinary crowd is eagerly anticipating in 2012.
Sylvain and David Denis are teaming up with fellow French chef Jacques Fox to create Artisans, a modern French destination conveniently located in Houston, slated to open early in 2012. Their goal is to offer “a tightly focused and frequently changing menu” that focuses on local and seasonal ingredients to create cuisine promisingly rich in flavor and described as “French eclectic” with a “Texas twist.”
Also schedule to open soon, L’Olivier Restaurant & Bar is a new venture by Chef Olivier Ciesielski in a small Montrose space on Westheimer. Promising to be a shining star in an already successful Houston restaurant landscape, this European brasserie with an American twist draws from the chef’s French roots, pairing European cuisine with flairs from other flavor profiles around the world. A proponent of the highest standards, the chef will offer a variety of fare so every day will showcase something interesting in a welcoming atmosphere.
Chefs Randy Rucker and Chris Leung have great expectations for Restaurant conat, which is projected to open in the first half of the year. The duo’s original “Restaurant Connate” project was planned to complement their successful Bootsie’s in nearby Tomball but it has been revamped for this new Houston location in an old house in the Museum District. The property, once overgrown and hidden away, is brimming with potential with two floors of space, plenty of room for patios, private dining or meeting areas, a bar, a massive kitchen add-on, a cellar and space for an on-site garden.
Stay tuned to the culinary chatter for more information on these new up-and-comers as they open their doors and present their food to the Houston dining community.
Dining with drama
Sometimes a group dinner or corporate social gathering can use a little fun and flair of a theme. The Houston area hosts a variety of thematic dining opportunities that can add that little something extra to an event, from historical ambiance or mysterious adventures to dining with the fishes.
With a menu of hearty down-home Texas cooking, the atmosphere of the Carriage House Cafe creates a feeling of entering an old carriage house in the pioneer days of the 1880s. The warm, rich, weathered lumber and rough-hewn timbers are bathed in low-level lighting from elegant brass chandeliers and wall sconces. Mismatched wooden tables and chairs, antiques, local artifacts and old photos of life in the 1880s make the whole experience one for the ages with the sights and sounds of the Old West.
For sensational seafood in extraordinary surroundings, dive into the Downtown Aquarium. This spectacular underwater dining adventure in Houston lets diners sit around an elaborate 150,000-gallon aquarium with floor-to-ceiling views of more than 100 species of colorful tropical fish. Reticulated rays, shovel-nosed guitarfish and other spectacular sea creatures swim right by the tables. While the Downtown Aquarium is a feast for the eyes, the menu is just as delightful with unparalleled offerings of the freshest fish, seafood, steaks and more.
For a dining experience out of the history books, King Newman’s Castle in nearby Bellville, lets guests travel back to the old-world charm of medieval times while solving a mystery at its Mystery Dinner Theater. The castle features a moat, a working three-ton drawbridge, portcullis, turrets, courtyard and a central keep with dramatic views. A perimeter wall encompasses the castle, ensuring safety from oncoming marauders during your visit or mystery dinner. In addition to its theatrical meal events, King Newman’s Castle is available for weddings, wine tastings and other special occasions. On regular days, a tour and lunch are available; call a few days ahead for reservations.
Since 1995, Mystery Cafe, Houston’s Original Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, has entertained thousands and kept audiences guessing with a “whodunit” adventure featuring wacky characters committing comic mayhem in a plot with twists and turns. Each dinner features a show in four acts that introduces characters, kills at least one and then reveals who did it. The three-course dinner is served between the acts as characters mingle with the audience as they try to solve the mystery. Seating is banquet style with the action happening around the diners. Advance reservations are required for the Saturday-night shows, and private and corporate performances are available.
Leave the standard restaurants and banquet rooms behind and discover the excitement of a Star Fleet Yacht dinner cruise for groups from 12 to 300. For the past 18 years, Star Fleet has been hosting large corporate events and intimate dinners with dedicated customer service. The chef and staff love to entertain on the water, creating gourmet cuisine prepared fresh onsite. The boats depart from the Star Fleet Marina just south of Houston in Kemah, to provide guests with a unique dining experience. Private party packages are available and include the two- or three-hour cruise, a preset menu and event-planner services.
on the horizon
Although not a comprehensive listing, the following are some noteworthy restaurants that the Houston culinary crowd is eagerly anticipating in 2012.
Sylvain and David Denis are teaming up with fellow French chef Jacques Fox to create Artisans, a modern French destination conveniently located in Houston, slated to open early in 2012. Their goal is to offer “a tightly focused and frequently changing menu” that focuses on local and seasonal ingredients to create cuisine promisingly rich in flavor and described as “French eclectic” with a “Texas twist.”
Also schedule to open soon, L’Olivier Restaurant & Bar is a new venture by Chef Olivier Ciesielski in a small Montrose space on Westheimer. Promising to be a shining star in an already successful Houston restaurant landscape, this European brasserie with an American twist draws from the chef’s French roots, pairing European cuisine with flairs from other flavor profiles around the world. A proponent of the highest standards, the chef will offer a variety of fare so every day will showcase something interesting in a welcoming atmosphere.
Chefs Randy Rucker and Chris Leung have great expectations for Restaurant conat, which is projected to open in the first half of the year. The duo’s original “Restaurant Connate” project was planned to complement their successful Bootsie’s in nearby Tomball but it has been revamped for this new Houston location in an old house in the Museum District. The property, once overgrown and hidden away, is brimming with potential with two floors of space, plenty of room for patios, private dining or meeting areas, a bar, a massive kitchen add-on, a cellar and space for an on-site garden.
Stay tuned to the culinary chatter for more information on these new up-and-comers as they open their doors and present their food to the Houston dining community.
Dining with drama
Sometimes a group dinner or corporate social gathering can use a little fun and flair of a theme. The Houston area hosts a variety of thematic dining opportunities that can add that little something extra to an event, from historical ambiance or mysterious adventures to dining with the fishes.
With a menu of hearty down-home Texas cooking, the atmosphere of the Carriage House Cafe creates a feeling of entering an old carriage house in the pioneer days of the 1880s. The warm, rich, weathered lumber and rough-hewn timbers are bathed in low-level lighting from elegant brass chandeliers and wall sconces. Mismatched wooden tables and chairs, antiques, local artifacts and old photos of life in the 1880s make the whole experience one for the ages with the sights and sounds of the Old West.
For sensational seafood in extraordinary surroundings, dive into the Downtown Aquarium. This spectacular underwater dining adventure in Houston lets diners sit around an elaborate 150,000-gallon aquarium with floor-to-ceiling views of more than 100 species of colorful tropical fish. Reticulated rays, shovel-nosed guitarfish and other spectacular sea creatures swim right by the tables. While the Downtown Aquarium is a feast for the eyes, the menu is just as delightful with unparalleled offerings of the freshest fish, seafood, steaks and more.
For a dining experience out of the history books, King Newman’s Castle in nearby Bellville, lets guests travel back to the old-world charm of medieval times while solving a mystery at its Mystery Dinner Theater. The castle features a moat, a working three-ton drawbridge, portcullis, turrets, courtyard and a central keep with dramatic views. A perimeter wall encompasses the castle, ensuring safety from oncoming marauders during your visit or mystery dinner. In addition to its theatrical meal events, King Newman’s Castle is available for weddings, wine tastings and other special occasions. On regular days, a tour and lunch are available; call a few days ahead for reservations.
Since 1995, Mystery Cafe, Houston’s Original Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, has entertained thousands and kept audiences guessing with a “whodunit” adventure featuring wacky characters committing comic mayhem in a plot with twists and turns. Each dinner features a show in four acts that introduces characters, kills at least one and then reveals who did it. The three-course dinner is served between the acts as characters mingle with the audience as they try to solve the mystery. Seating is banquet style with the action happening around the diners. Advance reservations are required for the Saturday-night shows, and private and corporate performances are available.
Leave the standard restaurants and banquet rooms behind and discover the excitement of a Star Fleet Yacht dinner cruise for groups from 12 to 300. For the past 18 years, Star Fleet has been hosting large corporate events and intimate dinners with dedicated customer service. The chef and staff love to entertain on the water, creating gourmet cuisine prepared fresh onsite. The boats depart from the Star Fleet Marina just south of Houston in Kemah, to provide guests with a unique dining experience. Private party packages are available and include the two- or three-hour cruise, a preset menu and event-planner services.
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If accepted, your submission will be edited for length and clarity. There is no monetary payment if your item is used; instead, you can publicize yourself through a five-line biography with your contact information that will appear at the end of the article.
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