Trip to Canino's Produce/Airline Farmers Market

Info:

Canino's Produce/Airline Farmers Market

2520 Airline
Houston, Texas

Must Tries: Ask the watermelon vendors for a sample.
Healthy Options: Buy all that you can carry.
Price: Some of the best prices on fresh vegetables and fruits in all of Houston. Cash only.
What to Expect: Many vendors! I find the vendors furthest away from the entrance give the best deals.

My Experience: As much as I enjoy the other farmers markets in Houston I wanted to find a place to get the basic daily fruits and vegetables. I grew up an HEB customer, but when I have an extra hour on the weekends this is the place to get onions, green peppers, chili peppers, squash, melons, mangos and almost any other fruit or vegetable you may need. I hear many local chef's shop here and I understand why! I have sensory overload every time I walk the isles.

Bring a reusable produce sack to help carry your load.

Find that new recipe you have wanted to try and get all you need.

It's best to shop around and see what’s in season.

I prefer to purchase from vendors who have small bundles already set out which are $1. These below were priced at $2 a bundle.

Be sure to ask the vendors for samples!

If you’re purchasing more than one be sure to negotiate!

One vendor recommended I come at 8am to catch the best products.

Thelma's BBQ Houston, TX

RESTURANT INFO:
Thelma’s BBQ

3755 Southmore Blvd @ Scott
(713) 228-2262‎

Must Tries: BBQ Brisket, Ribs and Chicken! Thelma’s dirty rice, stewed okra and potato salad are also worth the wait!

Healthy Options: BBQ Chicken and boiled sides!
Price: ($) 2-meat platter right around $9 bucks. Credit cards accepted!
What to Expect: Good BBQ! This new location has more seating. Always a line to get BBQ! Get here early.

My Experience: As a fan of everything BBQ, Thelma’s helps me get my fix! When I can’t drive to Lockhart or Luling, I head to Thelma’s. The new location has more parking and is easy to find.

I am a fan of Thelma's BBQ ribs! They have a perfect smoky taste and are always generously cut. Thelma uses a sweet sauce. Often your BBQ is drenched in it. Personally I ask for lite sauce, I want to taste the actual BBQ. One time I asked for lite sauce, when my plate was ready the attendant handed me four extra slices of white bread to soak up the excess sauce because they failed to hold back on the sauce. Customer service is not a strong point.

I usually go with the 2-meat plate. Pictured below are the smoky pork ribs and brisket. For the freshest cuts come early or during the lunch rush. The brisket is good but usually lacks flavor. Ribs are a safe bet.

The BBQ chicken is always a good choice. As I mentioned earlier be careful with the sauce, they like to use it on everything.

I am a fan of anyone who puts BBQ beef scraps in beans and dirty rice! The dirty rice is a must try. The sausage is nothing special.

The beans are a staple in my ordering. I also enjoyed the stewed okra.

Every time I visit Thelma's I see customers ordering the Cat Fish platter. Like I needed an excuse to return....they had me at the ribs.

Pollos Asados EL Regio Houston, TX

Restaurant Info:
Pollos Asados El Regio
Airline Drive
Houston, Texas

Must Tries: Pollo Asado (char-grilled chicken), Grilled Onions, Creamy Green Chile Salsa.
Healthy Options: Almost everything on the menu!
Price: ($) A whole pollo under $15 bucks.
What to Expect: A simple place with wooden tables serving flavorful Pollo Asado. The menu also has tacos and a mixed platter of grilled beef and pork ribs.

My Experience: I have previously had the enjoyment of eating at El Regio in Austin, Texas. I was glad to finally see this one off of Airline in Houston, Texas. I recommend trying the "Pollo Asado". You have the choice of ordering a half or Whole Chicken. Each order comes with grilled onions, grilled jalapeno peppers, limes, corn tortillas, sides of rice and ranchero beans and salsa verde. The salsa verde gets its creaminess from the avocado worked into it, together they form a creamy and spicy topping.

The Pollo Asado is marinated in spices and citrus juice then grilled over wood coals. The product is a flavorful and juicy piece of meat that brings back memories of past backyard barbeques.

El Regio has a fridge full of Mexican soft drinks. When given the chance I can’t turn down a cold Manzana flavored glass bottled drink. They didn’t have Manzana Lift but I can’t expect this place to be perfect.

Ziggy's Healthy Grill

Restaurant Info:
Ziggy’s Healthy Grill
302 Fairview St. Houston, TX 77006
(832) 519-0476
http://www.ziggyshealthygrill.com/

Must Tries: Baked Whole Wheat Pita Chips with Hummus, Spicy Turkey Burger.
Healthy Options: Almost everything on the menu!
Price: ($) Each item is less than $10 bucks.
What to Expect: A locally owned establishment, good food centered around healthier options.

My Experience: I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time at Ziggy’s Healthy Grill. I was pleased to see the menu filled with healthier options. From Buffalo burgers to grilled chicken platters and even pizza.

I started off with baked whole wheat pita chips and hummus. The baked pita chips were thinner than I have ever seen. They resembled a cracker, dry but packed a crunch. The hummus was well seasoned and had a lively spice to it.

The sweet potato fries were a hit. They were not too cruchy which made me assume they were baked.


I had every intention to order the grilled chicken or buffalo burger. But upon the waiter's suggestion I tried the Spicy Turkey and Garlic Burger. I was not disappointed. The burger had great seasoning which seemed to be a cajun influenced kick. I didn’t know I was eating a turkey burger, the flavor surpassed my expectations. The wheat bun was average, it didn’t seem to be the freshest bun around.

I intend to return to Ziggy's and explore the menu a bit more. The website promotes healthy versions of margatias and happy hour drinks. I have also seen promtions for a Monday night grilled chicken platter and Pecan French toast for breakfast.

Xiong's Cafe (X-Cafe) Chinatown

Resturant Info:

Xiong's Cafe
9888 Bellaire Blvd. #150
Houston, Texas 77036

Must Tries: Green onion pie, Beef Soup w/thin noodles, Lamb Soup, Cilantro-Pork Dumplings.

Health Options: Beef soup is a solid choice.

Price: ($) Dishes Under 10 bucks.

What to Expect: Really good simple food. Not much English spoken.

My Experience: I love the simplisity of this place. Wooden tables, plastic forks, water and hot sauce. There is a wall window from which you can order Bubble Tea from the place next door.

A friend of mine said this place reminded her of her travels through China. While I have never been to China, I know this place has some of the best dumplings in town.

The apperance and taste of the Green Onion pie reminded me of a freshly made Flour torilla. The green onion flavor was definitley present but not over powering.

The lamb (Carnero) soup was really good. The broth had all the flavor of the lamb and spices. The girl behind the counter didn't speak much English but when she said Thin Noodles when I asked for her suggestion, I went with it. I soon saw a older man struggling to manuver the thick noodles with his chop sticks. She had definitley done me a favor and saved me the embarrrassment.

The Cilantro-Pork Dumplings are some of the best I have had.

You can get them steamed (as below) or pan fried.

Every time I REPEAT at a resturant I try something new. This was X CAfe's version of Lo Mein. I found the combination of ground pork and cucumbers to be unique but the boiled flavorless thin noodles did little for me.

Since I can’t correctly pronounce the name to this place I like to call it the X-Café. This place has great dumplings and soup! If you’re looking to experience Chinatown this is the place to eat. The dumplings are also sold frozen to take home.

 

#2: Juice Box Chinatown

Resturant Info:
Juice Box
9889 Bellaire Blvd#109
Houston, TX 77036

Must Tries: Mixed fruit bowl! It has fresh Mango, Pinapple, Strawberries, Melon, Watermelon topped off with Strawberry ice cream.

Healthy Options: Ask for the Fruit Bowl with Condensed Milk on the side.

Price: ($) A bowl is $5 bucks. Cash only!
What to Expect: Local Chinatown hot spot. On the weekends expect a crowd.

My Experience: My personal favorite at Juice Box is the mixed fruit bowl. I am amazed by the simple concept that makes Juice Box such a gem! Fruit, shaved ice and condenced milk make up the only three ingredients used! The Mixed Fruit Bowl has Mango, Pinapple, Melon, Watermelon, Strawberries over ice for $5 bucks!
They also have a wall of smoothie combinations. I have been intrigued by a list of Red Bell Pepper and Avacado based smoothies!

Review #1: Rudy & Paco's, Galveston, Texas

RESTURANT INFO:

Rudy & Paco's Resturant and Bar
2028 Postofffice St (Postoffice at 21st St)
Galveston, TX 77550
(409) 762-3696

http://www.galveston.com/rudypaco/

MUST TRIES: Cerviche, Empanadas, Roasted Poblano Soup, El Simpatico, and Bread Pudding.

HEALTHY OPTIONS: Grilled fish and shrimp dishes, steamed vegetable sides.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Good food, good wine selection and a "Welcome Home Atmosphere!"

SUMMARY: Our adventure together beings in Galveston, Texas, at Rudy & Paco’s Restaurant and Bar. On the corner of Post office and 21st street this place is one of my Galveston favorites. Owner Paco Vargas has a personality fit for the food network, his loud “Welcome Home, Baby,” is an invitation to comforting empanadas, generous steaks and warm bread pudding.

On this visit I had to start off with the Cerviche. I discovered it a while back and it has been a must order. The Seafood Cerviche has fresh seafood topped with a tangy lime juice.

Rudy and Paco's has a large selection of wines and liquors. If you become a regular you can put your name on a waiting list to have your own personal wine locker on site.

I suggest you try the House Special THE SIMPATICO. The dish consists of a fresh Gulf Red Snapper which is Plantain Encrusted, pan sautéed and served with a raspberry chipotle sauce and fresh crab meat. It's worth every penny! The plantain crust was crunchy and lite. The raspberry chipotle sauce blended well with the saltyness from the plantains.

Hurricane Ike might of shut down Rudy & Paco's for a while but Welcome Back! When your in Galveston this place is a must try. Shorts are allowed during lunch hours only.