Bite Macarons

Since we live so close to Bite Macarons, it's a nice little walk.

I just love those gigantic macarons... they had it when they open and had people sign it.  So colorful and fun!

Gorgeous display!!!  Love all the colors and flavors they offer.  Since things are seasonal, you'll see different flavors in rotation.  

Here's what I got: Earl Grey, Pistachio, Chocolate (top), Raspberry, Green Tea, Rose (bottom)

They started to do other desserts too.   This is their fruit tart, very yummy and excellent crust.

Great news, they will stay open on Tuesdays!  Previously, they were closed on Tuesdays, but now they will be open and you can enjoy macs all week long, yipee!  You should try a cup of coffee and enjoy a dessert at the store.  They have a great spot for just visiting!

Bite Macarons

5172-B Buffalo Speedway

In the same shopping center as Kroger

Houston, TX 77005

713-664-2483

https://www.facebook.com/BiteMacarons

Tiny's No.5

Haven't seen a friend of mine forever, and we were going to go out but plans change and we ended up at Tiny No.5.

This is the Nutella Latte, it's very close to Nutella... chocolatey and hazelnutty.

This is their West U Special, which has scrambled eggs, house sausage, and fried potato.  The fried potato was awesome!  The sausage was ok.  But the cream with the biscuit is definitely lovely.  

This place is busy almost any time you go.  Seeing there weren't any tables to be had, I decided to sit us at the bar.  Well, that didn't work out as well as Tiny Boxwood.  The barista on hand is super busy making drinks, while the other person is still in training.  Not only was he slow to take our order, he was slowed to check up on us.  Not to mention, I was double charged on the meal.  Luckily, my friend wasn't charged, and I don't mind treating a friend, but I would highly suggest you pay close attention when you sit down.

Tiny No. 5

3636 Rice Blvd

Houston, TX 

713-664-0141

http://tinyboxwoods.com/tinys_no5/home.html

Chuan's Chinese Restaurant

I overheard a friend mentioning this new place that has Shanghai soup dumplings, I was highly curious.

Located at the corner of Fountain View & Westheimer.  I really do mean the corner, it's right next to Spotlight Karaoke.

THis is the spicy beef noodle.  Large size.

It was super spicy, and we had to remove the soup from the rest to cut down some heat.  That worked for a little bit.

This is the fried sweet purple potato.  I thought it was like a dessert, but it wasn't sweet much.  I was expecting it to be sweet, but instead it's a tad savory and a an egg yoke cooked inside of the seasme morsel.

Ahh, finally the reason why we visited... It has pretty good soup dumplings, but you know it's a tad smaller than I'd like.  For $3.99, you get this little basket of 3.  Frankly, that's not really enough, but if only order this as an appetizer, then you are fully covered.

The entire place is new.  Decor is trying hard to help you remember the old country.  The food is Szechuan's style, so you can expect alot of spicy dishes.  There are a few American-Chinese dishes to cater to the audience in the Galleria area.  But I will come back and try the other dishes.  I'm not quite sure about the soup dumpling, the price of $4 for 3 pieces.  In Chinatown you definitely get a better deal.  It's about the same as the E-Tao inside the Galleria.

Chuan's Chinese Restaurant

Westheimer @ Fountainview

5901 Westheimer Rd

Unit N

Houston, TX 77057

713-953-9999

Sage 400

For my friend's birthday, she wanted to go to Sage 400.  I've driven by it all the time, so I'm happy to give that a shot.

If it's places near me, I'm oblige to try them out just because if it is good or worthy to return, it's one more places for us to visit and eat.

This is the Miso marinated Chilean Sea Bass.  It's very flavorful, very yummy, the texture is good, and it just clean.

In this mysterious tea pot is Doshi Mushi, which is seafood soup inside.

Here's the tiny cup for you to enjoy your soup.  And once you're done with the soup, open up the tea pot, it has pieces of seafood inside.  More to eat, yummy!

This is the Hirame Carpaccio.  This wasn't as good as I had hoped.  It is sliced flounder with dill and sherry balsamic vinegar.  With all of that, there was still no flavor to it.  So you see all the oil, herb, and sauce to the fish, it doesn't taste like it has anything to it.

This is Hamachi and Taro Chips.  This is actually very good.  You grab a chip, put some yellowtail on it, and it's nice and fresh.  Definitely have to get this again.

This was a special, which is Kobe Beef Nigiri, the beef is definitely a different class.  The meat is like butter.  Unfortunately, the rice is not as vinegar as it can be.

This is the V Roll, which has spicy tuna inside with cucumber, and on the outside is albacore tuna and pepper.  It definitely has a kick to it, but it's pretty good and I can't take spicy stuff very well.  

Chopped scallop nigiri, it's about same as you can find other places.

Chicken yakitori, it's ok.  Nothing to write home about.

Overall, this place is not much more special than any sushi places you can find in town.  The pricing is a bit high.  Like I mentioned before, some dishes are good, some just nothing to brag about.  It's a hit or miss.  I probably won't go out of my way to come here unless someone asked to go there.  The space is nice, and the bar is comfy for dinner.  The servers are good.  Ours in particular wasn't too friendly, but the others who are willing to help are actually very friendly and helpful.

Sage 400

2800 Sage Road

#400

Houston, TX 

713-951-9566

http://sage400.com/

Osaka

Now that I can eat sushi, I'm coming back with a vengeance...  Nah, mostly just making up for lost time, is all.

Here we have 2 spicy salmon roll, spicy tuna roll, and a Squid/Masago/Obi roll.  Not quite sure what Obi is, but the roll was a tad unusual in that, they have lettuce in the middle.  I'm not used to having lettuce in the middle of a roll, the taste is off compare to the remainder of the flavor.  It's not bad, necessarily, just off.

At Osaka, we like their rolls.  They're willing to custom make something for you.  Of course, try to catch them during non-peak times, they're more accommodating.

Since I am making up for loss times, I also got the Salmon Sushi and Chopped Scallop, one of my stables at any sushi restaurant.

Don't forget, when you go to Osaka, you are always offered free appetizer and when you pay your bill, they offer you free ice cream with a fried banana.  Nice deal?  Hmm... you do pay for it.  The price of nigiri is higher here than at Kata, and not that the quality of fish is bad at Osaka, but you know that the fish is fresh and sometimes non-frozen at Kata.  The prices at Osaka is definitely pricing themselves amongst the big boys.  Is it worth it?  Sometimes, I like the Chef at Osaka and he does have great skills.  He used to study under a real Japanese Sushi Chef when he was a young man, so I give him great respect for that.  I would still, however, go to Kata for the freshness, availability, creativity, and skills there.

Osaka

4001 Bellaire Blvd

Houston, TX 77025

713-838-9812

Freebird

I don't go to Freebird often, as a matter of fact, I would say that I haven't been the pass year.  Not for any particular reasons just don't get near it most of the time.  So some friends suggested to go there for lunch, I was happy to obliged, since I haven't been for a while.

Surprisingly, when I saw the Burrito Bowl, I was more interested in that than the burrito itself.  This one has Carnitas in it with all the fixin's.  You know, veggie, tomatillo, rice, grilled veggie, and of course the meat.  I forgot how good they are with the meat.  I remember, once upon a time, I used to share a Monster with a boyfriend.  Now, they have a small one called Hybrid, I think I can barely finish that one.  The bowl is just fine, I can make 2 meals out of it. 

Another cool thing is to check out their lunch specials, $5 tacos with a drink, it's not a bad deal.

Freebirds

Near Med Center

8057 Kirby Dr.

Houston, TX 77054

713-383-0700

http://freebirds.com/

They also accept orders online

Jollibee

When I heard about Jollibee made the news in Philippines, I was curious what it was.

I knew they're a fast food joint, but never knew what they were about.  When I heard that lines were wrapped around several times I was curious if the food is really 'that' good.

When we got there there was a small line outside the door.  And the drive thru was the make shift line for outside, so it wasn't in operation.  We were trying the divide and conquer strategy where one of us was standing in line and the other went to get a table.  They have a manager directing table traffic and or help you 'reserve' a table when someone is about to be done.  

This sign can be seen at every table, so that you don't hog a table all day long.

I got the Purple Ube (Taro) Pearl Cooler.  It's like bubble slushy, and it does taste very much like Taro.  Just wish they give you a bigger straw to drink the pearl.  It often get stuck.

Food comes in a to go container, not sure if this is easier to expedite during busy times, or if they will change it when the situation calms down in the restaurant.

I got the Spaghetti with 1 piece of Chickenjoy.  And it might not look appetizing, it turned out to be pretty decent.  The spaghetti has sliced hotdog sausage in it, with the 'bolognese' type sauce.  I'm not sure exactly what's in it, so I'm not going to say definitely.  But!  I will say the fried chicken was as good as they say.  The outside is crispy, and the inside is juicy.  They totally got KFC and whomever else beat on that.  I wouldn't mind coming back for another bucket full of the fried chicken.  Yes, they do bucket like KFC does.

Jollibee

8001 S. Main St

Ste 100

Houston, TX 77025

713-349-9639

http://www.jollibee.com.ph