Bellagreen

For my 3rd time of dining indoors since lock down...

... went to a place that allows for quick bite and can sit to talk.  

What did I get?  I got the Spicy Fish Tacos which is not too spicy.  As a matter of fact, it adds the flavors just right.  I will say, it was hella messy eating tacos with so much stuff on it.  But it was good nonetheless.  Besides the fried fish bit, there are lettuce galore, queso fresco and peach chipotle sauce on top of tortillas.  It's so good that I wolf it all down.  Delish!

Still a tad nervous about dining in.  I literally, ate and put my mask back on judging the rate of people walking in during lunch time.  Luckily, my friends didn't think that was too weird and we kept on keeping touch afterwards.  Do go on the earlier side to get a good seat, as they are a popular lunch spot.

Bellagreen

800B Town & Country Blvd

Houston, TX 77024

713-464-5557

https://bellagreen.com

 

Tiger Noodle House

This is my 2nd sit down dine in in the past 15 months.

Staff there are all very conscientious about the protocol. 

What did we get?  We got the pork soup dumplings.  I like the skin of the dumpling but there's lot a lot of consummate when you bit into it.  Also not enough soup coming out of it, otherwise tasted fine.

Got their green beans which is stir fried with diced pork.  It's pretty good.

My friend mentioned about wanting duck.  So we ordered one.  Not realizing how boney this little guy was.  The flavor was good, the texture was fine, not dried out at all.  But hardly much meat, lots of wrestling with the bones... So now we know.

Seating didn't seem to be an issue on Friday night.  They seem to turn tables around fairly quickly.  They still have the option of ordering it to go and sit at their little patio.  

Tiger Noodle House 

2424 Rice Blvd

Houston, TX 77005

281-974-4083

https://tigernoodletexas.com

 

Badolina

Been seeing a lot of IG posts for this cute little cafe, so I thought I'd come and see it for myself.

Small little sign on the nearby building in case it's too sunken in that you can't find them.

Nice touch on the branding.

Got the Raspberry Rose - It's a mousse cake with a shell with that pretty shape.  The flavors aren't strong, but it's not what I expected either, wonder if it done with Israeli spin to it.  Since I've never had Israeli cuisine or dessert before, if you have, please let me know.

Oh and for their desserts & cakes, you have to get there early enough or else, you will see a lot of empty cases.

Got a Latte to go, like I said, the branding is superb and chic.  By the way, they do not have soy milk but has almond & oat milk in case you're particular.

This is Blossom Mousse, you can taste the honey and with a hint of citrus, but again it's not strong.  It sure looks pretty though.

They have a lot of artisan bread, and I saw some cinnamon rolls and croissants. 

I got an Almond Croissant.  I have to say this was a tad disappointing.  Besides almond, they added something citrus which took a very sharp node to an otherwise calming flavor to your mouth.  Literally, you have the harmonious almond and bread and have sour fruit jam stuck in the middle.  It makes morning breakfast with a cup of joe difficult.

I see that they do a lot of artisan bread and maybe that's something more reliable.  But for now coffee is solid.  Cakes are pretty, and maybe bread would be better.

Badolina Bakery & Cafe

5555 Morningside

Houston, TX 77005

832-649-5909

https://www.instagram.com/badolinabakery/

 

McCormick & Schmick

Had a quick business lunch at McCormick & Schmick.

It's been a while since I've been in a restaurant.  Luckily, business lunch is not crowded and would even have more spacing between tables than before.  That is very much appreciated for someone who's so anxious about dining in.  

I got the Walnut Mixed Greens added Blacked Salmon, which it wasn't as blackened as you'd think it would be.  I like it because it gives it a nice crispy layer.  The candied walnut and the blue cheese combo went really well with the salmon.  For summer, this is light and easy going of a dish for lunch that you don't feel like you get sank down by the food.  It's a perfect match.

McCormick & Schmick

791 Town & Country Rd

Houston, TX 77024

713-465-3685

https://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/location/mccormick-schmicks-houston-tx-town-country-village/

 

Chocolate Bar - W. Alabama location

After running around in the hot day, we went for ice cream.

We usually go to the Village location, but this time we were near Montrose, so we decided to go for ice cream.  The shop is smaller than I remembered it despite the fact that they had rearrange and got rid of a lot of the old merchandise.  They had created more seating, but let's face it, not a lot of people sitting down.  

So what did I get?  Rocky Road to it's truest sense.  It had marshmallow chunks, walnuts, and I swear I had bits of chocolate chunks in there.  Basically you almost had the feeling that you had more stuff than ice cream per bite.  Not that I'm complaining.  

Staff are friendly and hop right to your order.  They also have affagado and cakes too.  I'm addicted to their chocolate covered cashew.

Chocolate Bar

1835 W. Alabama

Houston, TX 77098

713-520-8599

https://www.theoriginalchocolatebar.com

 

Milk & Cookies - River Oaks Location

Went back to Milk & Cookies in the River Oaks area.

To be honest, it's too dangerous since it's near all of my regular haunts.  I would go there to grab a lemonade and a cookie because it's a short walk over.  

Pricing is the same, it does feel like they have more to offer than the West U location, even though it's right down the street and the West U one sharing the kitchen.  This one has it's own kitchen for baking and the artisan bread all lined up on the sides.  They even have cinnamon roll kit and sugar cookie kit that the other location don't offer.  I'm still dying to try their Picnic Boxes, must come back another day.  

Milk & Cookies River Oaks

2809 Saint Street

Houston, TX 77027

713-222-7474

https://www.tinyboxwoods.com/location/river-oaks/

 

Sweet

Rare occasion that I take a coffee break, it's nice that I get to walk during my break.

It's been a while since I've been to the City Centre location for Sweet.

Got a Ca Phe Su Da with boba - this is one of the most expensive drink I've gotten in years.  It costed me over $7.50 for this.  To start with the drink itself is $6 then surcharge for the boba, and tax, it was well over $7.50.  Pretty much had a sticker shot.

The place is still cute, their staff are super conscientious about not having to touch on surfaces or service items; which protects them as well as the customers.

Sweet

801 Town & Country Blvd

Houston, TX 77024

713-64-Sweet

https://ilovesweet.com

 

Mini Peach Pie

Peach Day 4

Since the Crostata used the store bought pie crust, so I was trying to find another recipe to use the other half and came upon this recipe.

Couple of good tip, use a bigger mug to cut out the circle to fit into your muffin tin.  I actually was able to get 7 out of 1 piece of the pre-made pie crust.  The left over from the first cut, you can roll it out and squeeze in 3 more.

One thing this recipe did not called for but totally NEEDED!  It's to grease your pan.  I was naive enough to think that I can get away with it... but nope!

It said that to bake for 15 mins then add fruit.  You should actually try to pop them out before adding fruit.

Though, not entirely sure even had I popped it out, it would've helped or not since the fruit juice cooked would've bind it to the pan.

It's fine if it stay in there, but....

You have to eat it some how, and this is where it does not get pretty.  The crust get stuck to the pan, very hard to cut it out.  On top of that, the juices once baked turns into candy to glue it together.  That didn't work out the way I thought it'd would at all.  

I think if you don't want to grease the pan at least put a cupcake cup in there to help.  Another thing is that the crust puffed up when we did the first bake, so even though it should've been half done, then add fruit.  It looks like it's mostly done and no enough 'cup' space to put the fruit.  While I'm all for over-flowing peachy goodness; it is still became a mess.  So, learn from it!

 

Peach Crostata

Peach Day 3

I did this last year as well and used this recipe.

 

Like the previous 2 days, you slice the peaches, 16 slices per peach.  Again, the recipe called for 4 peaches, but 3 was enough for us.

Of course, I went to do the store bought pie crust.  It was super easy and convenient.  

I used the left over egg wash and brushed it on the side.  The recipe called for heavy cream as the wash, either way, goal is turning it brown.

So, this turned out a bit weird because the recipe asked for turbinado sugar (I used Sugar in the Raw), but ... As you can see, some of the sugar is burnt, and looked like sesame than a pretty sugar top.  

The trick on this, again, keep the pretty slices for the top because the bottom layers will get covered.  I tell ya, by the 3rd pie, I was getting pretty good at slicing peaches into thin slices.  The problem was the some peaches the pit broke when I was cutting into them, ended up cutting thru them.  That was the most time consuming time.   If you're looking at the prep time on these recipes, add 10 mins or so to make sure you got all the peaches and pits taken out.

Mini Peach Tart

Peach week day 2.

There are some good looking peaches.  I'm not going to lie there were a few rotten ones that I had to throw out.  So make sure you check.

This is the mini version of the Peach Tart yesterday. 

It's helpful because you use the other puff pastry in the box up all in the same spot.  You unroll it and cut it in 9 squares. 

Again, you slice the peaches in 16 slices.  The recipe called for 4 peaches, but if they are medium or large, you don't need 4 peaches.  It takes about 3 slices per tart, so 3 peaches really is enough.  Just keep that in mind as you pick your peaches.

I added egg wash just to use them up, but look how brown the edges are.  Of course, didn't help that the juices leaked out and it's basically making peach melty cracked candy.

See! I told you!

This is super great for breakfast!  Easy grab and go!

 

Peach Tart

This is going to be Peach Week.

Split a box of Peach Truck box with a friend.  Even though it's half of a box, there's still a lot of peaches.

One of my favorite recipe to make is the 5 ingredients Peach Tart.  You start with a store bought Puff Pastry.  Favorite and easy to find is the Pepperidge Farm version.

If yours cracked, no worries, just use your thumb to smush them back together.  Good as new.

You slice them nice and thin, basically about 16 slices per peach.  Prepared some egg wash and set it on the side.  You mix the sliced peaches with lemon juice.  

In this experience I've learned that if you want some more flavor, drizzled in some cinnamon. 

You leave about an inch around and put the egg wash on it.  

I love it because it comes up with nice, puffy and nice and brown.  Of course because it's a puff pastry, it's nice and fluffy and crunchy.  The entire recipe is easy to make and technically it's 4 ingredients, because the last part is to sprinkle in powdered sugar, which my kid doesn't like, so we can save that one step.

What I learned is that if you have crappy slices, hide it at the bottom, and save the pretty slices for the top.  If you have left over, you can use it as a filler.  You can cut it up after dinner and enjoy it with some ice cream. 

 

Milk & Cookies

Stop by for a quick bite.

Grabbed a quick croissant.  They can heat it up for you if you want.  I just love how it's enough chocolate to wake me up in the morning and not too sweet or too doughy on the bread.  Of course, get a coffee to go with that too.

Milk & Cookies

3636 Rice Blvd

Houston, TX 77005

713-352-3086

https://www.tinyboxwoods.com/location/west-university/

 

Beard Papa's - Katy location

Haven't been back to Katy for almost a year, if you would believe that. 

One of my 'must-stop' is Beard Papa's.

They still do not have any sit down, and the place is not crowded and the service is fast.

I got the Lavender Sparkler.  It really is like a lemonade but not too syrupy because of the soda water that gave it the fizz and diluted the sugar.  It's great for the 'gram', but to drink, you really need to stir it all up.

Another specialty item: this is Churros with Vanilla filling.  I was going to brave it and do a horchata, but figured I'd go with the original.  It's a bit more sugary than when the dipped shell.  It is really covered in cinnamon sugar, and I can only do so much of that.  Versus, the dipped shell is actually not as sweet as you'd think it would be.  It is a specialty item, so now I know.  I would say, whichever one you get, you can't lose.  Flavor, texture, freshness, all came out well with this team.

Beard Papa's

23119 Colonial Parkway

Ste A-13

Katy, TX 77449

832-913-1257

https://www.beardpapas.com