food

Latest Dish: Fall 2020

Houston’s best food news, in small bites ...

This Lil' Piggy

Ronnie Killen’s first inner-Loop endeavor is now open in the former Hickory Hollow space. At Killen’s, expect much of the same mouthwatering comfort-food fare experienced at his fried-chicken pop-ups throughout the last year, plus fried green tomatoes with buttermilk sauce, and an ever-comforting chicken-and-dumplings dish. 101 Heights Blvd., 713.637.4664

Chef-owner Benchawan Painter finally has a permanent home for her Street to Kitchen pop-up concept. The East End restaurant spotlights self-proclaimed “unapologetically, authentically Thai” food, elevating items that are traditional street foods in Painter’s native Thailand to chef-driven dishes made with local and organic ingredients. 6501 Harrisburg Blvd., 713.428.1975

The Memorial area’s new White Elm Bakery — a joint effort of Chico Ramirez of Dinner Table Investments, Bread Man Baking owner Tasos Katsaounis, and Chez Nous owners Scott and Stacy Simonson — is a nearly 3,500-square-foot space with a patio that offers walk-up coffee and pastries in the morning and lunch and dinner daily. Expect fresh bread, and Greek specialties nodding to Katsaounis’ upbringing. 14079 Memorial Dr., 281.496.2920

The Heights outpost of The Burger Joint was in the works for years, and finally opened shortly before the shutdown in March. But owner Shawn Bermudez is already planning to expand: The Taco Stand will debut next-door to the burger hotspot on Shepherd before the end of the year. Expect all-day breakfast tacos, plus burritos and street tacos, all on housemade corn and flour tortillas. 2002 N. Shepherd Dr., 713.485.6734

Montrose restaurant Riel — previously only open for dinner — now offers a special to-go lunch menu of sandwiches and more. Louie’s will offer “Riel Good Sandwiches,” like a classic Italian sub or a mouthwatering, monstrous chicken-caprese creation — fried mozzarella, tomato, basil, and pesto-drenched chicken, topped with honey-balsamic — along with sides like Ryan Lachaine’s signature poutine. 1927 Fairview St., 832.831.9109

Now open on Wash Ave: Bottled Blonde Pizzeria + Beer Garden, with a sports-bar-meets-biergarten vibe and covered patio dining. Expect an extensive selection of craft beer, along with weekend brunch, late-night bites and a killer happy hour that includes half-off pizzas from 3-6pm on weekdays. 4901 Washington Ave.

Get a taste of what Brennan’s newest exec chef can do! Joey Chavez’s five-course tasting menu ($80) includes items like Hamachi crudo made with Texas peaches and truffled-aji-amarillo vinaigrette, and a savory barbecue lamb with smoked-tomato tart. 3300 Smith St., 713.522.9711

AT TOP: This Lil' Piggy cookies at White Elm Bakery

Food
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Cool for ‘Schools’! CIS Wants to Transport You to a Whimsical ‘Wonderland’ at Milestone Gala

Cool for ‘Schools’! CIS Wants to Transport You to a Whimsical ‘Wonderland’ at Milestone Gala

CIS 2024 Gala Honorary Co-Chair Judy Tate, Co-Chair Lauren Brollier, Co-Chair Cassie Milam, Honorary Co-Chair Kirby McCool

WHETHER YOU PREFER Alice, the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts, Communities In Schools of Houston’s A Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary GalaA Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary Gala is not to be missed! Join in the celebration for a whimsical good time on Thursday, April 4th, at the luxurious Post Oak Hotel.

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music

With New Concept Album, Jacob Hilton Processes Mental-Health Struggles

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Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

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Art + Entertainment
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Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

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