Summer 2018: On Location
Check out behind the scenes of the swimwear shoot at H-Town's most expensive home on the market.
Jun. 5, 2018
MAKE THE MOST of every delicious bite this summer with the benefits of steam cooking. Whether you’re reviving leftovers from Houston’s hottest foodie hangout or hosting memorable gatherings at home, integrating steam into your cooking repertoire can take your food to the next level.
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Showroom Chef Michelle Meshberger recognized this food trend’s growing popularity, saying, "Once people experience steam cooking, it’s a game changer. There are home cooks of every ability who never considered cooking this way. Now, they can’t imagine their life without it.”
Cooking with steam does require specialized equipment. While countertop steamers have offered passable performance in the past, today’s discerning home cooks have found the level of precision and versatility they need in full-size appliances like the Wolf Convection Steam Oven.
“With the combination of steam and convection in one full-size oven, the possibilities are endless,” says Chef Michelle. “From everyday tasks of reheating leftovers to preparing special-occasion steaks sous vide, we’ve heard time and time again that the Wolf Convection Steam Oven often becomes the most used appliance in owners’ kitchens."
Here are just a few ways this multi-function appliance can elevate al fresco dinner parties, casual picnics with friends and family, and lazy lunches this summer.
Often playing second fiddle to a mountain of grilled meat, it’s no wonder snoozy vegetable platters are often overlooked. It’s time summer’s fresh abundance receives the attention and glow up we all deserve. Satisfying crisp, fresh finds from the local farmers’ market can make up the majority of the spread, and consider adding steamed veggies to your crudité platter for a little je ne sais quoi. Arrange snappy peas and vine-ripe tomatoes with sugar-sweet steamed carrots or creamy red potatoes to delight your guests with a mouthwatering mix of textures and flavors. Requiring little to no fat to prepare, produce that is steam cooked in the Wolf Convection Steam Oven keeps its texture and flavor. It’s a delicious yet low-fat way to enjoy summer’s bounty. For a finishing touch, add a dollop of garlicky aioli and let the dipping and snacking commence.
Often, the only difference between a drab loaf and a glossy, golden one is the way it is baked. Steam is key in crafting a loaf with that desirable chewy crust and tender crumb. Emulating steam ovens used by professional bakers, the Wolf Convection Steam Oven excels at creating this ideal environment for baguettes, croissants, and other baked delights. Use steam to make a simple yet delicious steam-baked loaf the star of any picnic. Then douse it with olive oil. Smear it with jam. Top it with cured meats and artisanal cheese. Or keep it simple; a pat of butter and sprinkle of sea salt is all this perfectly baked loaf needs.
At the end of one of those unforgettable meals out, do you ever tote a bag of just-too-good-to-leave-behind leftovers home with you? Next time that happens, and you look to reheat your meal, ditch the microwave. Unlike zaps from a microwave, which can dry out food, the Wolf Convection Steam Oven gently rehydrates food with the help of steam. Then, convection heat transforms the soggy memory into a crisp delight. It ensures your leftovers are as flavorful, moist, and fresh as the night before.
If you’re in market for new appliances and your mouth is watering at all the delicious ways to incorporate steam cooking and the Wolf Convection Steam Oven into your repertoire, we invite you to attend a demonstration at the Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Showroom Houston. There, you can see—and taste—the Wolf Convection Steam Oven in action.
Schedule a private consultation appointment at (713) 599-0053 and begin your appliance journey today.
Contact Us:
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Showroom Houston
2800 Sage Rd Suite B
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 599-0053
Santé's Verde Room
COCKTAILS ON FIRE, caviar carts, and three-hundred-year-old olive trees, oh my! It’s all at Santé (French for cheers!), which has bowed on Richmond in Upper Kirby.
The sexy lounge is the brainchild of Sina Khaef. He dreamed it up while enjoying the bustling nightlife in Paris, and he wanted to bring that experience to Houston. The result is Santé, whose dark environs are home to vintage chandeliers, jewel-toned lounge seating and a rotating art collection. “We are so proud of what we have created here at Santé. It’s a tasteful and sophisticated destination for you to enjoy with your friends, colleagues and visitors alike,” says Khaef.
The lounge is divided into four sections: “The garden,” with a large bar and two towering olive trees; “the spin room,” which is a dancefloor with cocktail tables next to the DJ booth; “the verde,” a dimly lit section with velvet couches and chairs; and the outdoor lounge area.
The cocktail menu was created by Matthew Medina, who also developed drinks at Toca Madera and Duchess. Each cocktail is named after a piece of art and, for an artful touch, is served on a coaster showcasing the art of the drink’s namesake.
Don’t miss the caviar cart that includes an option to crème-fraiche ice cream with a dollop of caviar. Other Euro-inspired options include oysters, hummus and charcuterie boards.
Santé is located at 2309 Richmond Ave., and opens at 4pm seven days a week.
Fruits Of The Earth Aflame cocktail
Le Grand Canal cocktail
The Rusty Parrot's courtyard
THE CLUES ARE there from the start: The Jackson Hole airport entrance is marked with an iconic arch made of elk antlers. The airport-transfer driver has binoculars perched on his dash. And the famously jagged Tetons immediately beckon on the picturesque drive to the lodge.
Jackson Hole is the 400-square-mile valley between the Gros Ventre and Teton mountain ranges. Its namesake town, Jackson, Wy., is a special place where several identities converge. It’s the heartbeat of the Wild West, the old American frontier. It’s also filled with spectacular, geologically significant features and its awe-inspiring wilderness. And finally, it’s a coveted destination among a posh travel set seeking rustic-chic vacation vibes; Jackson consistently tops lists of wealthiest towns in America.
The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa originally opened in 1990, when the laid-back luxury train was first pulling into Jackson. The town’s first boutique-style hotel, it’s today run by the original owner’s son, who helped build it as a freshman in high school. He lived on-property, enjoying chef-made cookies as an after-school treat (those delicious cookies are set out daily at 3pm for guests’ enjoyment, FYI). Destroyed by a fire in 2019, it is newly rebuilt, and reopened in July as a pillar of high-end hospitality.
The new building has plenty of nods to the old one, which was beloved and considered iconic by many in the region and in the travel industry. Much of its priceless art was lost in the fire, but has been painstakingly recreated, often by the original artist. The design is effortlessly stylish, uniting the classic — wainscotting, stonework, rich textured fabrics — with the contemporary, a la the modern two-way fireplace in the Wild Sage restaurant.
A grand staircase spans the three floors, and on a brisk autumn morning, a walk to the coffee station in the second-floor library feels like a walk down the hall of a good friend’s (a very tastefully rich good friend) home. The third floor offers a sprawling deck with an outdoor fireplace, and a second terrace, the “wildlife perch” from which grazing creatures may be spotted.
The bar and lounge area
The second-floor library, where cookies and coffee can be found
The Rusty Parrot lobby
The cozy spa
The Grand Tetons (photo courtesy Visit Jackson Hole)
While it’s definitely worthwhile to soak in the lodge’s coziness, the town square is mere steps away, and there is plenty of cozy to be had here, too. Pop in Jackson Drug, a former drug store and soda shoppe that is now a diner with wild-game burgers and boozy milkshakes. We recommend the Wilson Mom Burger with brie and balsamic, and sub a glass of rosé for fries. Peruse the highest of high-end westernwear — the vintage stores here are to die for! — and its cheekily branded souvenir counterparts; alternatively, creative, approachably priced, and entirely locally sourced goodies can be found at a shop called Made.
Depending on the time of year, the glorious wilderness is rife for exploration. There’s skiing at Teton Village and Snow King Resort, the latter of which recently opened a spectacular new observatory. While Yellowstone is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Jackson, the entrance to Grand Teton National Park is just 15 minutes from Rusty Parrot. A half- or full-day wildlife safari is an incredible way to see the region’s hallmarks. Knowledgeable guides provide colorful history lessons, communicating ways in which the land and its wildlife are being cared for, preserved and protected. The eagle-eyed might see a herd of bison, some feeding moose, migrating elk, or regally perched bald eagles. And the truly lucky will get a glimpse of a grizzly, a majestic beast shuffling over vast fields, eager to find more food before retreating to its den for winter.
And with that, the “Big Five” have been spotted. Celebrate with a pint at the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, located right on the square — or a decadent meal at Wild Sage.
Photo courtesy Visit Jackson Hole
A summer view from a suite balcony