Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette

Went back to Liberty for another Happy Hour after the last post.

Happy Hour is Monday thru Friday 3-6pm.

I got the New Basil Berry Smash again, and i has more alcohol taste than anything else.  Last time you can taste the basil and you can taste the fruit.  This time was more ice and alcohol than anything else.

Not on Happy Hour menu, this is the Devil Egg Testimony, which is one of each of their devil egg variations: salmon, fried oyster, fried chicken and bacon jam.  Fried oyster and the bacon jam are my favorite.

Got the J&B Tacos again, 2 for $1.49, totally worth it.  It has ground beef, lettuce, tomato and drizzle in the taco sauce, perfect for drinking.

We came here for oysters and we shall have them!  We did half East Coast, and half Gulf Coast.  Can you tell them apart?  (hint: you can tell by the size)

This is the cutest way to serve fries, I love it.

Since we've been munching and drinking, I didn't need much in terms of dinner.  So I got a cup of gumbo, which has fried oyster, andouille sausage, rice, beans, crab, and shrimp.  I really just need to soak up the alcohol, so rice and bread was perfect with a dipping type soup.

Kinda sad that Happy Hour is so short.  It's not exactly easy to get to the parking lot at 5pm.  The traffic on San Felipe can be super brutal.  I think I could've used another 30 minutes.  But that said, the dinner wasn't bad after all the munchies we've ordered.  They don't really get super busy during happy hour, it's dinner time that they started to get busy for.  Happy Hour you can pretty much walk in and get a table, but for dinner, reservation is highly encouraged.

Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette

4224 San Felipe

Houston, TX 77027

713-622-1010

https://libertykitchenoysterette.com

Snooze Galleria

Went back to Snooze Galleria for lunch this time.

 Also happened to be Pancake Day.  When you can, catch their special day because that's when they do special menu for that day.

 This is the Strawberry Fields pancake, which is corn battered pancake with strawberry honey drizzled.  That ball is not butter but whipped mascarpone, and there's candied almond to top.  Because of the corn batter it's not too sweet, and the pancake to fruit ratio together is just right.  By the way, those are a tad bigger than silver dollar, not like a full size pancake.

For my meal proper, I had the Sweet Potato Hash, it has: of course, sweet potato with sofrito sauce which has veggies like onion, carrot, peppers, tomato and kale.  Topped with 2 sunny side up eggs.  The entire dish is super filling.  I basically couldn't finish it all, but it was super delicious.

I think that's the way to do it, participate in their special day, and pick something on their special menu and you get to try out something different and change things up a bit.  Like all the other Snooze location, they get busy.  For this one however, it only takes a few minutes for a seat to be open, the wait was not long at all.  If you can swing it, definitely go by.

Snooze - Galleria

5000 Westheimer Rd

Ste 120

Houston, TX 77056

https://snoozeeatery.com/locations/galleria/

Strings Noodles

Another Lanzhou noodles place in Chinatown, so had to check that out.

 This is not the first Lanzhou style noodles shop.  But this is the first time we've been here.

 They give you some side dishes while we wait.  Besides the egg, the rest are pickled with spice.

I got the Stewed Beef Tenderloin noodles with thick noodles.  While it looks more soupy than I thought, it tasted so good that I can't help but ate most of the dish by myself.  Obviously, you see tons of red and green peppers along with onion, so there's a lot of flavors going on there.  But the sauce is not too salty and gives it plenty of taste.  Not at all spicy like I thought it'd be.  Highly recommend it.

Strings Noodles
9889 Bellaire Blvd
Ste D-256
Houston, TX 77036
713-988-1885

Tune Up Cafe

Another quick meal, this time at a Yelp recommended Tune-Up Cafe.

It's New Mexican food meet funky dive.

Ordered Guac & Chips, the chips were good, but I think the Guac were slightly frozen.

Got the Las Enchiladas - which has chicken enchilada, onion, cheese, and there's rice and beans, topped with green sauce.  This trip I learned that green sauce is mild, red sauce is a crap shoot at different places.  Some of them are as spicy/hot as the green ones, some are truly making you cry.  So, safest bet, green sauce.  This is pretty delicious.  

I didn't have too much expectation going in.  One side is really a bar, the other side is really a small cramp kitchen that try to crank out as much food as possible.  For lemonade, apparently they give you 2 refills, that was very nice of them.  They have Burger and El Salvadorean food on the menu, guessing that's part of the owners roots.  It does feel like a hodge podge of food on the menu.  That said, food comes out fast and the kitchen, no matter how cramp, is doing a dance.  Pretty interesting of a place.

Tune Up Cafe

1115 Hickox St

Santa Fe, NM 87505

505-983-7060

http://tuneupsantafe.com

Joe's Dining

We went down the mountain and landed in Santa Fe.

Saw that they have a few diners around and came to Joe's.

First, ordered their Mexican Hot Chocolate, which they all ask what kinds of chili you want.  Supposedly, red is hotter than green, so green it is.  Not that you can see them in the drink.

I got Huevos Rancheros with bacon.  It really looks like a spat of cheese with verde sauce and more cheese on top.  But underneath, it has a bottom layer or tortilla, eggs, tomatillo, rice, and another layer of tortilla with cheese, cheese, verde sauce and more cheese.  The veggie and pico on the side, with a quarter fold tortilla.  I'd figured that I have 2 in my main dish, no need for one more.  Opted for the bacon instead.  The dish is not spicy, since I had the green chili sauce.

This place has a 50s diner feel.  The staff is friendly and they do have kids menu.  Service is not the fastest, but friendly enough.  They also have free wifi if you want to get some work done.  Lots of local comes here for breakfast, so it's a good people watching place too.

Joe's Dining

2801 Rodeo Rd (by West Zia & Camino Carlos Ray)

Santa Fe, NM 

505-471-3800

http://joesdining.com

Kakawa Chocolate House

My friend was telling me to go check out this chocolate place

 I'm like: chocolate?  Twist my arm.  Haha

 I typically walk up to the counter and let them know that I'm not from around there, or this is my first visit, if they'd recommend something.  A decent place, the servers would either have an opinion or know what their best selling item is.

This round, I was given several of their hot chocolate to sample.  I ended up getting the American, which is 70% Dark Chocolate and almond milk.  Nice and rich.  Of course, I wanted whipped cream on top.  Isn't the cup cute?!

 Of course, they have chocolate, brownies and truffles.  They also specialized in chocolate dipped chili.

What did I get?  The purple tinted one is a Prickley Pear Truffle.  Not too much of a hint of fruit, but you can tell it's there.  The other is Goat Cheese & Sage.  To be honest, I tasted the goat cheese but it's very faint, and hardly can taste the sage in the mix.  Both very delicious, not too heavy or rich.

This is a small little house right outside of the galleries in the area.  You walk in, and there's seatings everywhere.  That said, they also get very busy because it's near couple of schools.  The staff there are super friendly, they're quite accustomed to folks walking in not knowing what to expect and what to order, since they're amongst all the touristy, art galleries, and what nots.  Super friendly and can guide you thru their menus with no issues.  They have hot and warm drinks, dessert and mendicants, of course, all chocolate in the mix.  Definitely worth stopping by.

Kakawa Chocolate House

1050 Paseo de Peralta

Santa Fe, NM 87501

505-982-0388

https://kakawachocolates.com

Blonde Bear Tavern

We were skiing in Taos, and the trick for Spring Break there is to make sure to make a reservation.

 We were able to go to the Blonde Bear Tavern that is located at the Edelweiss Lodge.

I got the Beef Bourguignon, not realizing that they serve with egg noodles.  It's great together, don't get me wrong.  But that's also alot of food.  I felt bad because I can't even finish half of it.  It is really good, I just don't have the capacity to fit them all in, even after a bit of skiing that day.

One thing we found weird was that they don't serve protein with their salad.  So, you can't add some fish or chicken or beef to the salad they have to offer.  I guess that makes sense if you have to ship the food up to the mountain, you want to keep as much as fresh as long as possible.  But that strike me as odd.

If you want apres ski, most all the bars are ready for that from 3-5p.  For you weary skiers go have a drink.  They don't call it happy hour, but the same gist.  This place is no different, alot of folks stayed from apres ski thru dinner.  So, calling ahead helps. 

This place is also cute, they have a game room, with a Foosball table and a Pool table.  Great for grabbing a drink and play a game or watch your friends play.  Bar is hopping and drinks are flowing, it is a great place to hang.

Blonde Bear Tavern

106 Sutton Places

Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525

575-737-6900

http://blondebeartavern.com/index.htm

Taking a short break

Since it's Spring Break, we're taking a short break and come back next week.

Cooking Girl

Per my bestie's request, she wanted dinner from Cooking Girl, so that place it is!

Since it's by Rice and Med Center, you have alot of younger folks amongst the diners.  That makes it interesting, because you get to witness some first dates.  Just a fun people watching place.

Warm up with some tea and some spicy crunchy noodles.

Here's the vegetable steamed dumpling.  It tasted frozen.  You also can see the skin easily ripped and stuck to the plate.

Ordered some bok choy for veggies.

Spicy Pork and Tofu dish.  It actually taste milder than it looks.  Since the soup was red and you see peppers, you half expected it to be spicy, luckily that it's mild but enough to have taste.  It is delicious with rice.  Like a less spicy version of Ma Po Tofu.

Trick to coming here is come right before the peak hours start.  We came around 6 before 6:30p and sure enough, as soon as we sat down and order, the masses showed up.  So, by the time they other folks are ready to order, our food is already on its way to the table.  Yay for us!

Cooking Girl

2400 West Holcomb

Houston, TX 

832-548-1888

http://www.thecookinggirls.com

Sushi Wabi

Need some quickie stress eating after a busy workweek.  Landed at Sushi Wabi, it's quick, easy, and cheap.  Well, for Happy Hour, that is.

This is the Wango Mango Roll.  As name implied, there's mango on top with caviar, inside has salmon, avocado.  Very pretty looking, yet no frills.

I got my 'usual' agedashi tofu.

Went back to my old favorite, Geisha Roll.  They are crab meat inside with avocado and salmon with tempura crispy on the outside and topped with eel sauce.  Pretty simple and sweet.

They do Happy Hour Monday thru Friday from 3-7pm and 3-6pm on weekends.  The happy hour specials on appetizers are $3, the rolls are $6.50 each during happy hour.  

One thing I did forget is that while finding a place is easy, food comes out quick, and service is decent.  I always forget that the parking situation can be tough.  That shopping center has been known to be tow-happy.  So, keep that in mind and read the signs.

Sushi Wabi

3953 Richmond Ave

Houston, TX 77027

713-623-8818

http://www.sushiwabihouston.com/index.html

Olive Garden

So, I have not been to Oliver Garden for over 7 years.

Per my mom's request, she wanted to go, and who's going to say no to mom, right?! Plus, growing up, I had fond memories of the breadsticks, so why not.

This is the Blueberry Limonata.  It is lemonade, blueberry puree, fizzy water and blueberries.  Sounded good on paper, but this was way to sweet.

Ordered regular lunch, and it came with soup, so I picked Minestrone.  Light tomato broth, should save me some room for the entree.

So, this is why I don't come here anymore.  I got the Salmon Piccata.  The salmon has lemon garlic butter sauce on it with capers.  The zucchini was supposed to be toasted with parmesan crust on top.  Well, not sure if you can see it through the photo, but the zucchini is undercooked.  It's kinda fine, since it's veggie, but this whole cooked in between thing just weirds me out.  The salmon was super salty, which doesn't help when my drink is super sweet.  Needless to say, I picked at it for a few bites and gave up. 

I would've called the manager over, if they have been around.  Heck, not even trying to get a manager, just trying to track down our server was a chore.  Finally, he came back and I just wanted to get my check and leave.  Needless to say, I answered the earlier why not in more ways than one.

Olive Garden

2929 Southwest Freeway

by Kirby exit

Houston, TX 77098

713-527-8671

https://www.olivegarden.com/home

Liberty Kitchen

Went to a work Happy Hour at Liberty Kitchen

Quick walk from the office and yummy food to boot.

Got the Nue Berry Basil Smash.  First taste, I felt like I was eating a salad with pretty strong basil in it.  But between the sprinkling wine, strawberry and vodka, it was pretty refreshing.  As a matter of fact, I finished it in 2 gulps.

Since oysters were $1, why not?!  We got some East Coast and Gulf Coast... what a huge difference, in size and quality.

Mini dip duo, only $2 each, pretty cheap for lots of hand grabbing food.

JnB Tacos, 2 for $1.49, very worth it.  It has minced beef or ground beef at the bottom, lettuce, tomato, slice of cheese.  The slice of cheese was a surprise, but it all tasted yummy.  So no complaint here.

Not pictured, was deviled eggs with fried oysters plus bacon jam.  It's not on the Happy Hour menu, but it's still a great dish to share.  I literally stuffed my face and never ate the rest of the night.  Their special is pretty good, so having a big group really cheap for all the food and drinks we had.

Liberty Kitchen

4224 San Felipe

Houston, TX 77027

713-622-1010

https://libertykitchenoysterette.com

Better Luck Tomorrow

After my haircut, decided to grab a drink before heading home.  Landed at Better Luck Tomorrow, located at the former Dry Creek Cafe location.

Started out with a Salty Cat, it sounded interesting.  It has gin, grapefruit and salted fruit.  It does have a bit of saltiness to it, but the grapefruit balanced it out.  It's actually pretty nice.

Recommended by my hairdresser, the Not A Pizza pizza.  It has burrata, onion, anchovy garlic spread with sliced pickled carrots and chives.  It's super delicious, and it's fully of carb-y goodness.

For protein, I got the Lamb Belly, which is definitely a good munchie dish to go with your drink.  It's crunchy, a bit sweet, a bit sour, and small enough for you to pick at it.  It's pretty unusual and delicious with any drink.

This joint is truly a come in a drink and have some nibble type of joint.  They have tables for seating, but tables for standing too.  It really gives a feel that you come in for a drink or two and move on to your next destination, be it dinner or home.  All of their bartenders can help, there's no designated server, they will take your order, bring your food, and bring you your ticket.  It's all super casual.  By the way they have Pasta on Tuesday when Coltivare is not open.  It might just warrant another visit out there on a Tuesday.

Better Luck Tomorrow

544 Yale Street

Houston, TX 77007

http://www.betterlucktomorrowhou.com

Finer Diner - Rodeo eats

When you're in NRG for the Rodeo, your choices are meat, meat, fried meat, and more meat.

We saw a long line at the Finer Diner, figured, can't be bad if the line is long.  

They had a lot of offerings such as Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken and Waffle, Sliders, and this thing called the Waffle Balls.  Very curious!

I got the Gyro, and shared the fries with my mom and my kid.  The meat was ok, the tzatziki sauce didn't have the kick like the others do.  As a matter of fact, it's very mild.  The sliders looked good, and I soon regret not getting that.  Anyway, it's ok for festival food.  Had I have enough room in my tummy, I would've done the Waffle Balls, which is chocolate covered strawberry in a fried ball.  Because all things must be fried at the Rodeo.  That looked good, just didn't have enough room for it.

Funny thing, they take Bitcoin.  Now, not sure how much it cost you to use them, but they allow for them, and as far as I heard, they're the only booth that accepts them. 

Finer Diner at HLSR

Located inside the Rodeo, in the covered tent between the Carnival and the Building.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Finer-Diner/1535635713397291