Fat Baby Fave: Mac & Cheese

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 $2.50 for a 1/3 of a cup) it is heavenly. The noodles are cooked to perfection, not too firm, not too mushy. The traditional cheese sauce was thick, creamy and covered each elbow with equal amounts of pale, orangy goodness. You could tell that they take their Macaroni and Cheese very seriously there. It's a Luby's high note and better than the ones served at Boston Market, KFC and the like.

Best Cheap Cheesy Mac: This Is It, Soul Food. If you're looking for some basic Mac and Cheese - and a lot of it for pennies (about $2.00 for 2.5 cups)- hit this place. They scoop generous portions on your plate or to-go container and for a fraction of the cost of Luby's. While the noodles can range from perfectly tender to mildly overcooked depending on the hour, you'll get some very basic M&C for a very good price. I probably won't order it again from here, but for die hard traditionalist and lovers of boxed macaroni and cheese...I think this place will satisfy.

Best Fan-C M&C: Max's Wine Dive. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Cavatappi(long, spiral,tube pasta)is peppered with truffle shavings and tossed with a blend of fresh Mozzarella & Gruyere. A little Grana Padano cheese gives the typically smooth dish some exciting texture. Sure it runs about $9.00 for a 1.5 cup serving, but I promise you, friends, it is well worth it. Better yet, during happy hour, the same delightfully decadent portion is half price! If you do the math...that's less than the price for plain ole Mac and Cheese at Luby's!

P.S. I had so much fun trying out all the cool places you suggested, however, I am officially on a Macaroni and Cheese break until further notice. Next up for a Fat Baby Fave? Who knows...I'm open to suggestions.

Montrose Chinese Restaurant - Give it a Try

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 59 and Beltway 8)is vastly different from those of our bustling counterparts partly because it can't be reached with the same fluidity. That being said, if you're up for an outer loop adventure it's not half bad. There are some pretty neat shops, bakeries and restaurants.

On the other hand, if you're an inner loop homebody looking for some inexpensive Chinese with FREE delivery, then Montrose Chinese Restaurant will satisfy your urge.

They offer what you might expect from a Chinese joint - anything from a simple Wonton soup to flavorful Crispy Orange Flavored Beef to a Club Seafood Delight which includes all the seafood gems like prawns to lobster.

Vegetarians and meat lovers alike can choose from a considerable number of entrees, appetizers, and soup selections which is one of the things that makes Chinese food such a great option. Their entrees - all with tender meat and/or crisp veggies and rich sauces in the $8 to $13 range - make this place an anchor of the fast food variety.

Forget the Pork and Vegetable Dumplings. The first time we went my friend and I had just finished a lazy day of bike riding. I had seen some dumplings at the local grocery the day before and simply couldn't get them out of my head. This hole-in-the-wall place right by my house came to mind, so we made our way there and ordered the Vegetable Dumplings.

The sweet lady working the counter became very anxious when I ordered them, telling me it would take at least 10 minutes. I assured her that I could wait.

The loveliness of a well steamed dumpling is how translucent, slippery and delicate it becomes when it's had enough time to cook. When these dumplings arrived, however, the dough was - for lack of a better description - al dente. The filling was ideal, but each bite exposed bits of the tough, white dough that had remained untouched by the essential steam.

I've been three times now and each time since, I've asked them to steam the dumplings thoroughly. I politely express to them that time is not an issue and that I like my dumplings "well done". Nonetheless, I get the same outcome.

They're so concerned with getting your order to you in a flash that they sacrifice the necessary steaming time. While a "fast food" mentality is invaluable for a place with only four tables, it takes vital a toll on this one dish.

Everything else is hot, well cooked and bursting with flavor. They serve up everything you love about Chinese; tender meat, fluffy rice, rich sauces and spicy accents.

The dining area is adequate, bathrooms are clean, service is great and restaurant is tidy - but the small space looks not unlike the inside of a hospital waiting room, so if you love going out to eat this is not an ideal destination.

I give this place a thumbs up mostly because they're fast, they deliver for free and the food's not half bad for the price. Take out and delivery is when Montrose Chinese Restaurant really shines. Your to-go bag will be filled with chopsticks, all the necessary sauces and fortune cookies, without question.

Location: 1952 Montrose Blvd. - 713.529.5288

P.S. If you want extraordinary dumplings, but don't mind the drive to Chinatown, try Lai Lai Dumpling House. They serve yummy, yummy dumplings in an yucky, yucky place. There are dusty silk flowers everywhere and it looks like an ideal spot for making drug deals, but I'm not a scaredy cat. I live for good food...so why not die for it?

Van Loc - Give it a Try

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 the Main Street Light Rail) you'll feel like your efforts may have been in vain when you pull into the shabby parking lot with potholes and cris-crossed yellow parking lines. Keep going, the prize is yet to come.

First of all, Van Loc isn't going to dote on you. The only time anyone was actually cordial was when I brought one of my dearest friends to dine with me one night. The fact that my friend is neither Vietnamese or Chinese, but a Korean/Cuban hybrid, was seemingly of little importance because my slanted eyed guest and I managed to solicit the rare, but quite sincere smile from the hostess/cashier. This acknowledgment was, aside from the thrill of immediate acceptance, totally invaluable. After all, the hostess wasn't going to be cooking my food, right? Yes, that's right.

Here's the deal, the prize is not the service, not the sleekness of the bathrooms, and certainly not the decor. Ok, maybe I'm making Van Loc seem like little more than a soup kitchen with a Vietnamese menu and a price tag, but it's just a regular place so I want you to be prepared. While the servers are usually on their game, it's certainly not a fine dining establishment. Just put on a pair of flip flops and get ready to eat until you drop...and maybe have some food left over to go.

Their Pho is amazing. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Pho, it’s an enormous bowl of steaming hot broth filled with rice noodles, sliced onions and whatever type of meat you choose-from chicken to raw beef.

By the way, the pronunciation of Pho is a delicate conglomeration of fah (like, “fa”...a long, long way to run) and fuh (like Pho-ck off, jerkface.) You should feel proud to pronounce it correctly, but if you're too nervous just point to it or use the ever reliable "number system" that Asian restaurants have been kind enough to attach to their menu items. But you're more adventurous than that, aren't you?

Anyway you say it, they serve it up just right. Each bowl comes with a plentiful side of bean sprouts, cilantro (I'm not a fan of cilantro) lime, and basil so that each person can add as much or as little of the fresh additions as they choose.

Before you order your entree, be sure to get an order of the shrimp spring rolls to share. Delicate vermicelli, crisp lettuce, fresh basil and sliced shrimp are tightly rolled into thin pieces of rice paper and served with some of the best peanut sauce I’ve ever had at an Asian restaurant - no lie.

People will argue that Mai’s, a similar Vietnamese restaurant down the street, is a fierce competitor, but I say “NO WAY”! Mai’s is just as unfriendly, just as unattractive...but their peanut sauce cannot hold a candle to that of Van Loc’s! Additionally, their rice paper is often over folded and quite rubbery. It’s no contest.

Now, I love meat just as much as the next gal, but once I discovered the glory of their Tofu selections, I was done. Since then, I rarely order anything else. While their chicken and beef dishes are fantastic, smothered in well thought out sauces and served with glorious, crisp veggies, I’m firmly hooked on two of their several vegetarian selections: “Tofu in Clay Pot” and “Garlic Tofu.”

The Tofu in Clay Pot is a heavenly pot of richly doused tofu combined with perfectly adorable cap mushrooms and served with a soft bed of white rice. The Garlic Tofu is, by far, my favorite. Here the semi-soft tofu cubes are gently fried and then tossed in an inexplicably perfect mix of roasted garlic and onions and then laid over a fresh bed of lettuce and tomato slices - all saturated in an anomalous vinaigrette that I’ve yet to recreate to this day.

I could go on and on, but you should just...go. Van Loc Rocks!!!

P.S. The portions are pretty substantial. Since there are so many fantastic items to try, you may want to take a moment to find a couple of things that you and your guests can share. If you're insanely hungry, go for the shrimp spring rolls right off the bat. They come out fast and will keep your growling belly at bay while you take time go through the rather extensive menu. About four people can easily enjoy two or three items - like one full size appetizer, one regular size soup and one entree. Van Loc is a bargain and a delight.


Location: 3010 Milam Street- 713. 528. 6441

Blue Nile - Give it A Try

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 for a little trip and consider it an adventure.

I tend to be a tad skittish when I eat unfamiliar fare. It's like wading into an enormous body of water; I'm not sure what's living in the deep end so I'm gonna shuffle my feet through the shallow end until I feel comfortable enough to swim. That's why my first few visits to the Blue Nile were strictly vegetarian. After all, I don't know what sort of meat is running around in the kitchen.

Fortunately they have outstanding vegetarian selections. I always get the #11 Vegetarian Combo. It includes 6 of the 10 vegetarian items and is big enough to share with at least one other person. This perfect platter is an arrangement of large dollops of Kik Alicha (spiced split peas), Gomen (chopped garlic collard greens), Atkilt Wot (mixed veggies with ginger & tumeric), Yesmissir Wot (red lentil stew),Shirro Wot (pea flowers & herbs)and finished with a fresh Blue Nile salad. Most of the items are warm and stewed so the salad is a refreshing addition to the platter.

Oh, did i mention you get to eat with your hands? Each platter comes with several servings of Injera(a spongy, crepe looking bread made of Teff flour). Used as a utensil, you simply rip off a piece of Injera, throw it on the bit of food you eventually want in your tummy and grab. Yes!

While this concept excites me today, the method was sort of odd when I was a mere 17 years old and my mom's friend's 20 year old son wanted to take me out on a date.

There was an Ethiopian restaurant in Tampa, were I grew up, and this is where he decided we'd go for dinner. I didn't want to go out with him to begin with, but my mother insisted that he was "a nice young man" and I should accept the invitation. So I did. He picked me up in his car and took me to dinner. As if I wasn't nervous enough, I had to figure out how to use this floppy bread to pick up veritable piles of soup!

Anyway, I got over it and we had fun. I kindly thanked him for an interesting evening and gladly went back to being single and using a fork. Now that I look back on it he was a pretty cool guy, but I was young and not really interested in dating yet. However one thing stuck with me; eating pizza and wings with my hands paled in comparison to this new hand to mouth practice and I was totally hooked on Ethiopian food.

After a few visits to Houston's Blue Nile, I finally went for a swim and tried a meat dish. Great stuff. The portions are large and the meat is super tender and flavorful; cooked with a harmonious blend of Ethiopian spices like garlic, hot pepper, and seasoned butter. Now if I go with a large enough group we'll get one Vegetarian combo and the #29, Yefisik Beyayinetu. This beef and poultry platter includes three of their best items.

I've been here about 4 or 5 times and I can honestly say that my experiences have been consistent. The food is great, the atmosphere is simple but subtly authentic, and the service (while very friendly) is not so great. You'll have to ask for pretty much everything from refills, to your check, to your change. Nonetheless, the food is exciting and unique.

P.S. If you want to get out of your routine every now and again, slip away to Blue Nile for some truly interesting dining. Make sure to get a glass of the honey wine too. This sweet beverage provides perfect balance to the rich fare.

Location: 9400 Richmond Avenue (713)782-6882