Mandy "in vino veritas" G.'s Profile

I s'pose I should wait til after I actually TRY the food to rate it [blah, blah - I'll do an update later]. I've had quite a few twitter friends talk about My Fit Foods recently. I've struggled with my weight for ... well, as long as I can remember.  I've done South Beach, Biggest Loser and Weight Watchers and am currently on a combo of all three.  My biggest challenge is making meals for 1 and variety ... ok, so my BIGGEST obstacle is time to cook/prepare my meals. This morning I went to their website to check out their offerings and place an order [as said previously, you can order your meals online] but I couldn't find the nutritional info for some of the meals I wanted to try so I stopped in this afternoon to check it out.

WOW! I was greeted immediately but not in a salesmanish way.  William was really nice and so, SO helpful.  They went out of their way to get me the information I needed and then, when he found out it was my first time, he gave me one SWEET, SWEET deal.  I ended up spending what I would spend on my groceries for the week but got some seriously awesome meals for the week - like salmon + veggies and portabello mushroom pizza. Long story long, I'm eating better food [not only healthier but actually better!], more variety since I won't be eating the same darn left overs all week that I cooked Sunday [guess that also falls under 'not wasting food' since I throw out 1/2 of what I cook], and saving time so I can actually fit in my a.m. workout.

Update to follow later this week re: taste. [cross-your-fingers!]

On the hunt for my usual craving - hole in wall, sketchy Mexican restaurant without crowds - it is Cinco de Mayo after all [who'm I kiddin I don't need an excuse to eat tacos every day/all day] ... I stumbled upon [Thanks Yelp!] Chapultepec just down the street from my office - and down from another fav, Absinthe. It definitely fit the profile - couldn't even tell if it was open from the outside.

Upon entering, it was exactly what I wanted. Friendly staff. Sketchy interior. And yummy food. And tasty, tasty margaritas - despite the fact that I do NOT like margaritas.  They aren't making them with sweet & sour or if they are its the perfect recipe so I didn't taste it.

I had the spinach and chicken enchiladas - really good, and not made with the creamed/cheesy spinach. Other reviews mentioned the salsa - I too am a fan.

So glad I found it!

BE WARNED: If you're looking to go to Anvil on a Thur, Fri or Sat ... be prepared for a long, looooooong wait.  I knew this - because I too stalk Bobby on twitter [http://twitter.com/Bob...] and had many friends talk about the crowds post-8PM and on weekends.

It seemed I was the LAST person to try Anvil - not for lack of wanting - I just have a fear of Montrose parking and avoid crazy, popular places like the plague. So tonight when I got an invite to join friends at 9PM on a Sunday it seemed perfect! And, despite holding Anvil to higher than even awesome expectations,I was not disappointed. My heart belongs to Anvil.

Found parking in their lot and the place was nicely populated. Mixologist's were attentive, talkative and OH SO talented. Bobby came over and chatted awhile - even giving a demo of pressurized something-or-other [infusion?]... they are always experimenting new techniques/recipes. One friend with us really doesn't do mixed drinks but we convinced him to try something - and he wasn't dissappointed: a simple and best-martini-in the-city...gin, vermouth and a few shakes of orange bitters. I had drink envy.

I loved the Old Cuban even though I'm not a rum lover [it had champagne too!] and then sipped a fabulous Smitten.  Fell in love with other friends' Vanishing Act [don't be scared about the egg-whites in the ingredients]. But really, that martini was were my heart was.

Anvil is someplace you come on a weekday evening to enjoy the conversation, learn something new and enjoy the best cocktail in the city.  I look forward to many, many returns to Anvil [on a weekday or Sunday night] and finally getting the cocktails I've always loved when made by talented friends but never in bars, lounges ... mmmmm a Manhattan.

Cheers!

I feel like the biggest heal. How did I NEVER write a review for The Groundz? Maybe I just figured you knew about it and loved it. Because, seriously, how can you not?

Things you may not know/recommendations: follow them on twitter @CoffeeGroundz to find out about their fab specials/events - like live music, crawfish boils, tastings, 1/2 price bottles of wine nights [seriously ridulously amazing wine list].

The gelato is so SO good. Don't try to resist - your attempts will be futile.

Catch a RevCar to/from The Groundz ... do you know about RevCar? Ya, you should http://gorevgo.com/ ... one of the many community partnership's Coffee Groundz has because they're awesome like that - giving back and taking part in their community.

They recycle their grounds ... check out their fab landscaping. [no, not for the coffee silly]

OH - and they have HANDS DOWN THE BEST chai in the city. I get the spiced, not vanilla - but I hear its good as well.

I'm a pseudo-regular at Leon's Lounge. Kim Tai is also on my way to the office.  I've 'mental-noted' on several occasions to try the place but it just never works out. There's limited parking - it looks a lil shady [actually more of plus for me].

On this one particular occasion I was at Leon's for happy hour before heading over to MFA.  My date and I had appx 20 min to get from Leons, eat dinner and make it to MFA. We inquired about the establishment next door - the bartender said 'Eh, I've had better Vietnamese,' He rec'd Mai's - and sure, I love Mai's but I mean, c'mon, I need a little variety in my life. So my adventurous date and I ventured one store front down to Kim Tai's.

I fell in love when I walked in. There was a little man behind the counter who enthusiastically greeted us, a group of men engaged in a card game at one booth and an absolutely ridiculous Vietnamese TV show on.  The ambiance is hole-in-the-wall enough to discourage the douchey types and intrigue the rest of us adventurous types who hunt out unknown gems.

I couldn't tell you the name of what I ordered - it was a rice dish that came with some mighty tasty pork, nomnom egg rolls and a fried egg [because that makes EVERYTHING better].  I remember thinking it was a lil pricier than I would have expected but nothing outrageous.

...and, yes, we made to the MFA in time. Stupid, crazy, awesomeness!

Do you have those days where you just sincerely NEED spanakopita or maybe a fat gyro? Don't lie.

So I my foodaholic friend and I mulled it over for probably 20 min. Where to go? Niko Niko's, Yia Yia's - nah, too pricey, too crowded, want something new. So we decided to try the longtime Houston legend[ish], Biba's Ones A Meal.

Arrived at 12:20 on a Friday. Parking up front. Seated immediately - not too empty, not too crowded. Greeted by owner. Fast and super friendly service. Huge menu. So that gets you 3 stars.

Nomnomnomnom gets you 4 ... friend and I split the Hot Appetizer Platter- dolmades, tiropita, spanakopita, keftedakia, fried zucchini and eggplant.  Dolmades were huge and fabulous. Keftedakia were as well. ok - so everything was. Then we split a gyro. Definite recommendation. Definitely split anything you get. 1) Ones more than a meal 2) There too many wonderful things on the menu to just chose one.

Why 5 stars? Lunch for 2 totaled $14 - that's $7 EACH! Holy moly!

Dear Happy Jalapeno,

I'm very sorry I've been working 2 blocks away from you for 6 months and never came by.  I'll try to make up for it in the next week by visiting 6 more times.

Love,
Mandy

So Happy Jalapeno isn't quite a a taco truck, more of a taco stand.  I've heard many at Caroline Collective talk about it but just never got the guts to walk over there.  So it might not be in the best part of the neighborhood and it might be next to/part of the Legalization de Vehicularas [forgive my spanish];  read: white girl no habla espanol gets seriously stared at.

But, seriously, yo, this is some good tacos. I got 2 tacos al pastor [spicy pork]  = $3. It was a bit of a challenge because, again, I don't speak Spanish and they don't speak English but I made it thru unscathed. Cash only. They couldn't break my $20 even - so I fess'd up my laundry dollars. They have gorditas, tacos, tortas, tostadas and hamburgers [quite the spluge at $3.50 though]. My colleague tried papaya juice - its not very sweet at all and didn't give it the thumbs up.

No seating - well, 1 picnic table but you're amongst a slew of bystanders waiting to legalize their vehicle so its a bit cramped. So if you do stop by I suggest anticipating a nice picnic either down the street at Caroline Collective or maybe Hermann Park just down the street a few more blocks.

Definite suggestion if you're in the area to swing by or on a Taco Truck tour de Houston [oh, you know you want to].

I think all of my reviews start the same way.  I can't believe how many places I pass up because of 'look'.  I used to drive by this place all the time and thought it was a drug front.  There's nobody ever there ... its just shady looking and its name is Happy All.  

Well, today I'm home sick sick and sicker and all I want is some soup not from a can.  My first thought is Thai Spice but I find out they don't deliverlunch. So I'm just googling around and Happy All comes up - and ...drum roll please ... they have ONLINE ORDERING!!!  http://www.happyallcaf.../

First time I had the chicken noodle soup - tons of veggies - definite winner! and the dumplings. Also did not disappoint.

I wish I could tell you what I had the 2nd time but gots me ... I started this review 4 months ago and I can't remember what the heck else I've ordered. But it was good - I remember that. I'm sure there are better Vietnamese places but for a quick, easy, affordable delivery option - its gonna be pretty darn hard to beat Happy All [No, I will not actually go into the establishment. I'm still convinced its a drug front]

I went to BB's with a friend after an Art League opening.  It was close.  And  was pleasantly surprised.  

My friend ordered what I lovingly will always refer to as a heavenly heart attach: fries w/ roast beef and cheddar.  Yep.  You almost wanna take a bath in it.

I ordered the 1/2 catfish poboy and cup of gumbo.  Point for having the 'healthy' option of making it grilled and on a wrap but it I wanted healthy, I probably wouldn't be at BB's.  The poboy was good.  The gumbo was good but lacking.  [If you're going for gumbo, go to Ragin Cajun or Mardi Gras Grill]

I was told they have some pretty infamous daquiri's.  While I'm not a daquiri gal, I was intrigued.  But it never was delivered.  So I guess I'll have to wait for the next visit to try it in all its glory.

All in all, I'd go back.  It's closer than Ragin Cajun.  But if I was really jonesin' for some cajun, I'd go to Mardi Gras. It's more southern/poboy than Cajun.

My first time and will be back.  I had one of the Beef soups and mi madre had a chicken noodle soup.  I was corrected later and told I truly missed out if I didn't get the hot pots but c'est la vie.  One of those places where the menu goes on for days & I can't decipher most of it. [Bonus points for pictures on menu]  Definitely enjoyed the beef soup thoroughly - its like a make-your-own-soup.  I went with the wide rice noodles.  Momsers had a chicken noodle with a thin egg noodle - too ramen-like for my tastes.  We did a switcharoo with the left-overs.  I ended up throwing out the chicken noodle - it actually smelled fishy the next day & the noodles were one large indestructible lump.  

Can't wait to go back and try a hot pot.