ECK Bakery

I don't usually get a chance to come this way of town, so I must do a stop when I can. 

Especially the chef does sometimes take the summer off, so you need to catch them when you can.

So, what am I catching? 

Egg custard tart, of course.  The egg custard is nice and fresh, but the most important part that makes it special is the shell.  It's flaky, crispy, not too sweet, and not to sugar-cookie-ish. 

The other items they have is the Curry Beef Puff, it's a nice texture and has the yummy curry beef in the middle.  It's really a nostalgic thing more than anything, totally reminded me of childhood.  Though, I recall having it at dim sum places or bakery type places. 

If you arrive early enough, they do have alot of offerings such as Puff Pastry with other fillings, egg custard tart or coconut tart, specialty pastry - Chinese style cookies. Sometimes cakes, some time lotus wrapped rice, but what is 'off menu' is their Mango Mochi.  You do have to go early for that one, because it's so not a secret that everyone who knows about it gets multiple and once they sold out for the day, it's done.  So you've been warned. 

ECK Bakery

6918A Wilcrest Dr.

Houston, TX 77072

281-933-6808

 

Lady M Cafe

Been meaning to check out Lady M Cafe. 

It looked very fancy on the outside. 

Sure enough, it is pretty. 

I got a seasonal lime soda.  Not to sweet but cold enough to beat this humidity. 

I got a slice of earl grey mille feuille. 

What I like about their cake is that it's a lot of flavor but not too sweet.  Not to mention if you know how a mille feuille is made, you know why they cost as much as they do.  There are other cakes and other flavors to try. Truly a decadent enjoyment after a meal or shopping.  

Lady M Cafe

12270 Westheimer Rd

Ste 120

Houston, TX 77077

281-572-8388

https://www.ladym.com/boutiques/details/tx-westheimer

 

Melange Creperie

It's been literally years since I've been back to Melange Creperie. 

It does gets busy on the weekend, there are often big groups hang out there. 

I got the Cardamom Honey latte, just because I've never had that before.  

Here's a Ham & Cheese with an egg (sunny side up)

Very same crepe but scrambled... no peekaboo egg for you. 

At Melange, they do have a lot next to the building, but it does cost to park.  Do scan the QR and follow instructions.  Do I park across the street or down the street from the park? Yes.  Just pay attention to the signs. 

Melange Creperie

711 Heights Blvd

Ste B

Houston, TX 77007

713-393-7578

https://www.houstoncrepes.com/

 

Sixty Vines

Haven't been back to Sixty Vines in a while. 

Out of good measure, I made a reservation.  At first, they were going to put us on the first floor and outside.  In this heat? Are you kidding me?  Luckily, I asked to be switched.  I have a feeling that had I checked-in upstairs they would've seated me upstairs which is all inside. 

We had some broccolini.  Nicely grilled. 

We got the Crispy Zucchini - it's pretty good, not as good as the ones from North Italia, but still yummy. 

This is the Shrimp Campanelle - obviously have shrimps, garlic, tomato, basil and white wine sauce. 

Got the Spicy Sausage pizza to share.  Super flavorful.

This is the Affogato - it has a devil food cake at the bottom, a scoop of vanilla ice cream with coffee caramel, and a shot of coffee waiting to be poured over.  

By the time, this arrives I was so stuffed, barely got to enjoy it.  It was pretty delicious though.  Worth getting. 

If you're coming here during the weekday, probably no issues getting a table but for the weekend definitely need a reservation.  In terms of parking, you get 2 hours free in the garage.  If you are going to park in the respective lots, there are meters, so pay attention to those.   Of course, you can try parking on the street, but do check for signs.

Sixty Vines

2540 University Blvd

Houston, TX 77005

281-800-8808

https://www.sixtyvines.com/locations/rice-village

 

Amy's Ice Cream

Sometimes you just need to pull over and get some ice cream.

I haven't been back to Amy's Ice Cream in a long while.

Of course, they're known for mixing the ice cream.

I got coffee ice cream mixed in with peanuts and Kit Kat.  You never know how it comes out until you try it, and I have to say, it was a nice surprise.  Lots of crunch and lots of flavor on top of coffee, and it was a delight how it came out. 

Amy's Ice Cream

3816 Farnham St

Houston, TX 77098

713-526-2697

https://amysicecreams.com/locations/#houston

 

Agnes & Sherman

Lots of hub bub about Agnes & Sherman in the Heights.

This is billed as Asian Diner fusion.  They are located on 19th Street.

Since they're still hot, a reservation is definitely needed. 

I got the Mojo Nono - which is passion fruit, mint, sparking soda.  A not sweet virgin mojito.

I saw alot of people on IG were ordering this.  This is Scallion Waffle with a scoop of sambal honey butter.  Sambal is an Indonesian Chili Paste, but it's not spicy at all. It has a hint of shrimp paste. 

Was very disappointed on this one.  I guess because of the hype, the dishes didn't all come out while it's hot.  The waffle was already cooled down when it arrived.  The batter is the wheat batter, which is very different from Chinese batter.  The scallion taste is fine, but I would like to think it'd be better while it's hot. 

Egg Foo Young - It has crawfish, scallion, gravy over rice.  It's actually very delicious on that. 

I think this is one of my favorite - this actually made alot of sense. This is Tteobokki (Korean Rice Cake - very close to thick pasta texture).   It's covered in beef rags with cheese on top.   

We were lucky enough to get the Sprout with sesame, it's pretty dang delicious.  But I didn't see it on the rotating menu anymore.  Do get it if you see it.

This is Disco Fries - This was dangerous - I can sit there and eat the entire plate.  This has fries at the bottom, cheese curd and pork gravy and added mustard green.  

It's an unusual combo, but it's not bad.  I'd like it had it been warmer, but it was again room temp.  

Here's a sundae - this is actually pretty good too.  Pandan ice cream with chocolate shell (I'm game for ALL things chocolate shell), coconut shreds, peanuts and Pei Pa Koa (honey loquat syrup) over whipped cream. 

Pei Pa Koa is what we take when we have a sore throat, it's all made up of herbal goodness.  So it's kinda weird to have syrup drizzle over whipped cream.  Now, it's sweet, kinda like honey is sweet but good for sore throat, it's like that.  Definitely a unique combo that I never had before but it's actually a surprisingly delightful combo.  By then, I was so full, I can only have a few bites.

So let's talk about the place, 19th street is busy and they are only open for dinner, so you'll have to keep your eyes peel for a parking spot.  Since they're still hot on social media, reservation is definitely a must.  You can try the bar, but it's not easy since they have like 6 seats.  The staff and bartender are all great, but I think with the hype the kitchen is not keeping up.  Maybe I'll try again when the hype dies down, but maybe not soon.

Agnes & Sherman

250 W. 19th Street

Houston, TX 77008

713-965-6088

https://www.agnesandsherman.com/

 

 

B&B Butchers

Came to B&B Butchers for Happy Hour. 

Started with a mocktail.  I love the movement that has more and more offerings, instead of the good o' virgin mojitos.  This one has Lime, Mint, Tonic and a non-alcoholic gin. 

We got the bread service, it came with onion butter, salted butter, and maple mustard butter - I think the consensus was the salted butter is the winner.

I got a side of saute mushroom.  Yummy as usual. 

Creamed Spinach with lots and lots of cheese.  YUM!

Then we got the Lobster Mac & Cheese - super cheesy, super delish, and if you mix the spinach with the Mac & Cheese - you cannot lose on that one. 

I love the Carpet Bagger on the half shell - fried oyster, bacon, blue cheese, and hot sauce.  So delicious.  I can sit there and eat an entire plate. 

Then we got Bacon Three Ways - It has lamb cut with mustard mixed green, Tommy cut which has blue cheese with truffle infused honey glazed, and good ol' bacon. 

Even though we knew happy hour won't be crowded, we went ahead and made a reservation anyway.  That way they know that if we are sitting a bit longer they won't hustle us to leave, knowing that we won't be long.  

For parking, you can do valet there.  Or there is a huge lot behind the property that you can self park.  Just practice safety.

B & B Butcher

1814 Washington Ave

Houston, TX 77007

713-862-1814

https://www.bbbutchers.com/houston

 

Silk Road

Here's the buzzy dim sum place inside the loop. 

And if you want to come here, be sure to make a reservation, even though they have tables, they may not have enough server. 

To start, I got the Lemongrass Pandan Butterfly Pea tea - it is lemony and herby.  But the second refill totally watered down. 

But it's so pretty, I will give it a pass.

First up: turnip cake - It came with a chili sauce.  I'm more of a soy sauce kinda person. 

Got the steamed pork bun - the bun texture is totally on point.  I love that texture so much that I excuse the fact that the pork inside is not the Chinese red BBQ pork. 

Then got the Har Gow - steam shrimp dumpling.  This is is a very clean crisp tasting dumpling.  Very delicious. 

Stuffed Tofu Skin - it's crispy and crunchy and the sauce is sweet.  The inside has shrimp and water chestnut.  That helped made the texture crunchy.  It's pretty light in texture but the sensation made up for the flavor. 

This is Crispy Shrimp Cheung Fun - Rice Noodle wrapped in crispy shrimp.  It is nice and crunchy.  And they pour the soy sauce for you, so it's not soaked in the pool of sauce for a while before it arrives to your table. 

Ham Sui Gok- fried glutinous rice with chicken, shrimp and mushroom.  It looked a tad over-cooked, but it tasted fine. 

Siu Mai with pork & shrimp.  Very straight forward, like the ones you get in Chinatown.

Baked BBQ pork bun - This is interesting.... the top is the Chinese Pineapple bun - with the cracky topping.  By no means are there any pineapple in the bun, but it's the look of it that looks like a slice of pineapple, and hence named.  

Here's another version of Siu Mai - this is still shrimp & pork inside, but topped with caviar. 

I will say, the quality of the ingredients are on the upper end.  That said, for stuff like Siu Mai - I really couldn't tell except the caviar.   But the texture of the 2 types of buns, and the different take on the classic dishes was a nice surprise.

So it is strange because the place is inside a Marriott location.  Imagine the space for breakfast, that's where they are.  But it delivered on the flavor.  You do need a reservation, we have seen people walking up and get turned away.  It's not that they don't have the table, sometimes they don't have the full menu on the offerings or not enough staff.  So be sure to make a reservation and there's plenty of parking.  Definitely worth checking out. 

Silk Road

2929 Westpark Drive

Houston, TX 77005

713-661-5669

https://silkroadhtx.com/

 

Hong Kong's Cafe

Since I had a mouth surgery I haven't been back to my old haunt. 

It's nice to come back to Hong Kong's Cafe.

I have to get Iced Lemon Tea, it's my 'must-get'. 

The other dish I get all the time: Beef Stir Fried Flat Rice Noodles.  I like it because it's full of flavors, not just the beef, the veggie, the flat rice noodle that absorbed it all.  It's also the wok heat that came with the dish.  That's part of the Cantonese 'cuisine', having that wok heat is part of the consideration. 

Is it nostalgia of what I remember in Hong Kong?  Not exactly.  But, I'm indiscriminate towards any decent food.  And there's something to be said about food that may not be the exact copy but it also reminds you of a sliver of what you grew up with.  That picture might be faint and faded, but the reminisce is in there somewhere and that's where the food helps prolong that memory or idea a little longer. 

Hong Kong's Cafe

9108 Bellaire Blvd

Houston, TX 77036

713-772-9633

 

Brio

Haven't been back to Brio literally in decades.

No real reason to avoid the place, just that Houston has so many options that I don't find myself there. 

I had the Grilled Chicken Ceasar salad.  The grilled was a tad more grilled, but I don't mind the parmesan and the fried onion.  

Nothing super spectacular about the salad, but it was the service that will have me coming back.  The server paid attention to our table, made sure our tea is filled, bread is enough.  He offer to box up our left over and without asking brought us our tea to go.  I just really was impressed because there was a lunch crowd all around us, and he has several tables; yet, we felt taken care of despite his tables are loaded.  And trust me, we were grateful and tipped accordingly.

Brio

12808 Queensbury Ln

Houston, TX 77024

713-973-9610

https://www.brioitalian.com/locations/city-centre/