tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71217707944919285962011-11-27T15:38:46.584-08:00"Opinionated food enthusiast dishes about Houston restaurants and serves some steaming hot plates of punishment and praise."Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-19349066877082051752010-07-23T12:18:00.000-07:002010-07-23T15:06:18.995-07:00

The Skinny: Roll your sleeves up and get ready to earn your meal.The Fat: Blah, blah, blah about the economy and how we have to keep an eye on spending and cut down on dining out. WE GET IT. But dining in doesn't have to feel like punishment, it can be a fun activity that helps you really appreciate the food you put in your body.You know I'm not exactly a health nut, but I don't eat fried food

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-82897129201445918942010-07-11T15:33:00.000-07:002010-07-11T16:02:32.805-07:00

Didn't feel like chopping anything, didn't feel like much of a cleanup either. I just wanted a simple dish to make at home for me and my 15 year old goddaughter who was too busy updating her Facebook profile to weigh in on dinner options.This recipe was little more than the result of a survey I took on my kitchen contents. I had ground turkey, buns, and a pantry full of spices & condiments.

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-63738599932671160192010-05-17T11:35:00.000-07:002010-05-20T07:29:13.389-07:00

The Skinny: We were there for over an hour and we left hungry.The Fat: I'm a Houston gal, but we drove into the Bastrop for the weekend to attend a friend's graduation. On Sunday, six of us headed downtown to grab some breakfast. Were were actually on our way to Maxine's when we ran into some friends that suggested we try Wildflower. They said it was less crowded and less expensive so we

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-54522547712649637042010-01-13T23:04:00.000-08:002010-01-19T22:13:10.701-08:00

The Skinny: Great little tapas oasis in the middle of the ever expanding River Oaks shopping district. The Fat: I love a good tapas restaurant. You can have all the variety of, say, a buffet with all the quality of a specialty entree. Tintos is in the old Back Door Sushi building, nestled behind La Madeline, Starbucks and a bevy of boutiques that line West Grey Blvd. It's a pretty unique

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-21331094150887303322009-10-20T13:41:00.000-07:002009-10-20T15:36:26.090-07:00

The Skinny: The Good, The Bad and The Pungent.The Fat: A couple of weeks ago, I requested that you tell me your favorite restaurants for Mac & Cheese. I'd like to thank everyone for their contributions. After a lot of cheesy nights and stomach achey mornings I have come up with the following Macaroni & Cheese Summary.Best Fast Mac: Luby's. While it's a little pricey for the portion(about

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-69898689615519569892009-09-21T20:06:00.001-07:002009-09-23T15:06:39.989-07:00

The Skinny: Hey foodies, I'm looking for the best Mac & Cheese in Houston. Got any ideas? The Fat: From birth to maybe 18 years old, I never ate boxed Mac & Cheese. Sure I'd heard about the orange, powdery delight, but living in a household of great Cuban and Sicilian cooks, the only sauces that made it on to pasta were homemade. Any requests on my part to purchase boxed or jarred pasta of any

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-87902758475271388332009-09-14T20:37:00.000-07:002009-09-16T15:53:47.237-07:00

The Skinny: BYOB can appear on invitations to any number of delights; potlucks, frat parties, tailgating - or in this case - one of the best little restaurants in the Montrose. The Fat: Do you ever crave a great meal without all the hoopla? I absolutely do. I love to get all dolled up for a night on the town just as much as I enjoy walking down the street in sandals for a casual meal. For

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-84986227870893272542009-09-08T20:51:00.000-07:002009-09-15T20:06:43.578-07:00

The Skinny: Skip a trip to Houston's Chinatown for the same meal, same deal...but with better bathrooms. The Fat: Overall, I'm not a huge fan of Chinese food. Like the common pizza, if Chinese food is not made extraordinarily well, it becomes a diluted, US influenced version of its original form. While we are one of the largest cities in the country, let's face it, our Chinatown (tucked between

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-75424750725514121612009-07-08T16:03:00.000-07:002009-09-14T20:12:50.305-07:00

The Skinny: Have we been so inundated with "fine dining" restaurants that we now equate exquisite fare with complimentary valet, a swanky building, a high price tag and little else?The Fat: I'd heard mixed reviews about Reef for months. I'd heard that it was sleek and that the seafood was good. I also heard it was noisy, the service was spotty and that the food quality didn't fit the price. I

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-20620601232606647532009-07-02T11:09:00.000-07:002009-07-02T11:10:03.435-07:00

The Skinny: Get the best bagel in town from the biggest hole in Houston. Yeah, you heard me. The Fat: This is my place. You will rarely, if ever, hear me speak badly of this place - even though it may deserve it from time to time - and this is why. They make the best bagels around, it's that simple. I love me some hot bagel.The Hot Bagel Shop is not for the weak. The service can be shoddy, but

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-36436866550485205232009-06-18T21:11:00.001-07:002009-06-18T21:12:13.102-07:00

The Skinny: Go for some decent Italian-American fare in a laid back place with reasonable prices.The Fat: It's an order-at-the-counter place, but the food is hearty and the service is uncomplicated. When I wanna take a quick walk through the neighborhood (Montrose) to get some decent pasta, I think of Pronto's. It has a chain/local restaurant appeal. It's clean, well furnished and adorned with

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-89009369433131796612009-04-28T21:04:00.000-07:002009-09-15T22:40:55.456-07:00

The Skinny: Dine in a pseudo scenic mountain lodge in the middle of the Houston Heights.The Fat: So, if you’re anything like me, you look up a restaurant on Google maps and try to find the coordinates in hopes of getting to your dining destination without a hitch, but even Google “street view” can’t prepare you for how beautiful the Rainbow Lodge is when you finally arrive. We turned the corner,

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-58637560609079105822009-03-31T11:33:00.000-07:002009-04-01T17:18:53.833-07:00

The Skinny: There's just something about the bread that I love. It's light and crusty for the Po-Boys and surprisingly delicious as dessert. The Fat: It’s game time from the moment a new restaurant opens their doors if it’s located anywhere near Montrose’s restaurant row. Diners are hard to attract when local favorites like Niko Niko’s, Katz’s deli and a host of nearby spots are slinging “no

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-34751504850833088802009-02-03T18:15:00.000-08:002009-04-05T17:24:41.432-07:00

The Skinny: Step into a time machine and experience fine dining, before it was run of the mill.The Fat: A co-worker, who loves food as much as I do, recommended that I try this little restaurant, nestled in a mid-town plaza. It’s a restaurant that he and his equally food loving wife dine at regularly. When I checked out the menu on the internet, I was pumped by the great selections. I have to

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-37432063967006422092009-01-07T21:59:00.000-08:002009-01-08T17:31:58.566-08:00

The Skinny: This hidden gem makes private dining feel more commonplace than cool. The Fat: While opening a new restaurant presents a host of challenges that any entrepreneur should be well prepared for, these guys received a truly unexpected jab. Pagoda opened shortly before Ike toured our great city. In the wake of the hurricane the new business was soured, not only by the lull of a city

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-23052235292238535342008-12-16T18:57:00.001-08:002008-12-28T21:28:54.207-08:00

The Skinny: Red Lion is a lot like a good woman. They serve you hearty food, good beer and, most importantly, they do the dishes.The Fat: Alas, my fair feminists; The Fat Baby is, in fact, a female. So let's put our swords away and just enjoy the tag line.Red Lion is a super-fine, UK inspired restaurant. While notions of English fare typically muster up thoughts of clumped potatoes, over cooked

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-74652825504064533722008-11-11T19:12:00.000-08:002008-12-27T10:09:18.225-08:00

The Skinny: If you love familiarity as much as you love surprises, get a gourmet pizza from Dolce Vita.The Fat: When I was still in law school, an old family friend from Tampa - who now practices in Houston - used to scoop me up on Wednesday nights and take me out to dinner with all of his lawyer buddies. I was too consumed with the homework, on which I'd always fallen dangerously behind, to

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-46511837428978923772008-08-02T10:54:00.000-07:002008-10-30T20:43:26.654-07:00

The Skinny: They make Tofu actually taste good!The Fat: Carnivores and Vegetarians alike will enjoy this Vietnamese/Chinese wonderland. I've been a fan since my "down-and-out law school days" and for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, they were always there to serve up some low priced, awesome Asian fare.After you figure out how to get to the restaurant (through the maze of one-way streets and

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-69277814244686860502008-07-13T06:31:00.000-07:002008-07-13T19:29:32.828-07:00

The Skinny: While it may take you a while to drive to Blue Nile, this Ethiopian Cuisine is well worth the trouble. The Fat: It is officially located in America, but Blue Nile is -in fact- outside the loop. This may seem like "destination dining" to us spoiled folks living in Monstrose - a mere stone's throw from a bazillion fine restaurants. Just put a few extra bucks in the old gas guzzler, plan

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-59163188813785838952008-06-30T12:17:00.000-07:002008-07-07T12:01:46.115-07:00

The Skinny: Los Charros II is the official birthplace of the "Fat Baby". After my first meal here I was so full, I claimed to be just like a Fat Baby, plump and ready for a long nap. Needless to say, this dive is one of my faves.The Fat: A few years ago a friend and I started coming here for breakfast. Back then, $2.75 would get you a huge plate of scrambled eggs mixed with anything from chorizo

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-30503949491851573602008-06-10T12:06:00.000-07:002009-08-19T21:53:07.667-07:00

The Skinny: The killer Margaritas are kin to the ones from their mother ship, El Tiempo. After two, you won't know who's who.The Fat: Mexican food is Mexican food, some will say. This place is no better than the best, but better than most and that means a lot in a sea of Mexican restaurants.While I'm a huge lover of the cultural fare that infiltrates the Houston area, back in my hometown of Tampa

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-63952966957422142092008-06-03T17:37:00.000-07:002008-10-14T22:40:27.365-07:00

The Skinny: Not bad if you dig fugitive fare.The Fat: I live in Montrose. That little fact affords me the luxury of riding my bike or walking to many of my favorite spots. So many restaurants, shops, coffee houses and bars are mere paces away from my humble abode.After a long day at work, a much needed jog and a good long shower, my friend called and asked me if I wanted to grab a bite to eat. "

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-69580155053802109452008-05-23T11:04:00.000-07:002008-11-18T10:42:33.504-08:00

The Skinny: For a well rounded night of good service, perfectly executed fare and some lively contemporary music, get Dolled Up and head Downtown.The Fat: I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of lunging myself into the Houston mess on the weekends. Why should I venture Downtown when there are more than enough great places in Montrose, River Oaks and The Heights where I won't have to pay $15 to park my

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-80939373340263513522008-05-22T16:30:00.000-07:002008-12-27T10:05:54.834-08:00

The Skinny: Aside from the down right relaxed atmosphere and great beer, this place serves some fairly good bar food.The Fat: This little hole-in-the-wall pub quickly became one of my favorites when I first moved to Houston five years ago. I would drag myself over there pretty regularly, after a long night of studying, for a few beers and an eclectic assortment of live music . Then one day, when

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-62886877645173291152008-05-20T20:23:00.000-07:002009-04-01T17:20:51.475-07:00

The Skinny: Get the best bagel in town from the biggest hole in Houston. Yeah, you heard me. The Fat: This is my place. You will rarely, if ever, hear me speak badly of this place - even though it may deserve it from time to time - and this is why. They make the best bagels around, it's that simple. I love me some hot bagel.The Hot Bagel Shop is not for the weak. The service can be shoddy, but

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-2233185576204686502008-05-20T16:37:00.000-07:002009-05-04T18:19:53.084-07:00

The Skinny: They make "whole wheat crust" taste more heavenly than healthy.The Fat: I’ll let you in on a little secret, I’m a creature of habit. When visiting a new restaurant, my goal is to find a gem on the menu that drives me wild and order it every time thereafter. On the other hand, if I happen to get something mediocre, I keep trying, now and again, until I’m floored or disgusted. It’s

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-73806595820416389112008-05-20T11:47:00.000-07:002008-12-27T10:06:26.540-08:00

The Skinny: The beer selection is top notch, the atmosphere is cozy and Austinesque and the burgers are great* (do read below for my beef with their burgers.)The Fat: I’ve been a lover of Onion Creek for quite some time. I can head there midday for a cup of coffee or go there late night for a couple of beers. The enormous multi level patio deck offers plenty of seating with outdoor tables, chairs

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-91866882165641732442008-05-12T18:36:00.000-07:002008-07-01T11:40:01.432-07:00

The Skinny: Go for some decent Italian-American fare in a laid back place with reasonable prices.The Fat: It's an order-at-the-counter place, but the food is hearty and the service is uncomplicated. When I wanna take a quick walk through the neighborhood (Montrose) to get some decent pasta, I think of Pronto's. It has a chain/local restaurant appeal. It's clean, well furnished and adorned with

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-39468888025595832162008-05-09T22:26:00.000-07:002008-09-07T17:09:28.310-07:00

The Skinny: Tastes like frozen pizza at restaurant prices.The Fat: There's just something about pizza. Eating it makes you feel like a kid, no matter how evolved your choice of toppings has become over the years.My friends and I had never been to Candelari's on Washington, so we decided to give it a shot. We had some very important TV to watch that night and so we opted for take out. After

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7121770794491928596.post-57083031480473773792008-05-09T20:05:00.000-07:002008-05-10T16:23:19.093-07:00

Shocker...

Fat Babyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936350724314864170noreply@blogger.com1