Delicious District: CityCentre

Delicious District: CityCentre

Radio Milano

For years, the Westheimer Curve was the only part of Houston widely acknowledged as a foodie's paradise — rightfully so, of course, as it's been home to several James Beard-winning institutions over the decades. But now, it seems like every neighborhood in H-Town is a delicious district worthy of attention and accolades in its own way. Out west in CityCentre, for example, the roster of destination-dining hot spots has expanded and rotated in recent weeks.


Now open: Yi Peng Thai Dining, helmed by Junnajet "Jett" and Jira Hurapan, adjacent to Fellini Café. It's named after Chiang Mai's annual sky lantern festival, and celebrates the flavors and traditions of Northern Thailand — as in the Homemade Sai Ua plate, with grilled spicy chicken, shrimp, crabmeat and sausage mixed with aromatic chili spices and lemongrass. Or try the Northern-style dish of braised curry beef short ribs called Kang Hung Lay. There are also signature cocktails such as the High Thai and Captian Coco, plus wine and beer.

Executive Chef Jett and Chef de Cuisine Jira Hurapan at Yi Peng Thai Dining

And just in time for holiday gifting, Bateel USA will soon open its second U.S. boutique, designed by Houston-based Construction Concepts to showcase the brand's organic and all-natural dates, gourmet chocolates and other high-end foodie-friendly gifts.

The Moran CityCentre's restaurant and bar Radio Milano has reopened with a whole new concept. Exec Chef Christian Cardenas overhauled the formerly all-Italian restaurant, creating a new pan-Mediterranean menu with items like a Shawarma wrap and beef souvlaki skewers. Enjoy one of the new Mediterranean sprtiz cocktails on the patio overlooking the bustling mixed-use development!

Food

Denise Reyes and Matthew Healey (photo by Katy Anderson)

THE OPERA BALL, one of Houston’s perennially elegant, must-hit galas among the society set’s top tier, tilted marvelously mod and disco-deluxe this year, with sophisticated Spanish hints, thanks no doubt to ball chairs Isabel and Ignacio “Nacho” Torras. They are, of course, the arts patrons behind two of Houston’s most popular and trendy restaurants — MAD and BCN Taste & Tradition.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

Smoked Salmon Cheesecake with Emeril’s Reserve Caviar

THE POP-UP CULINARY trend — when great chefs from elsewhere take over a local restaurant for a night or two — continues to be a hot in Houston. But as the novelty of the concept fades to been-there-done-that, pop-up purveyors must be increasingly clever to attract savvy foodies.

Keep Reading Show less
Food