Breakfast Klub (Houston, TX)

Brilliant, Resplendent, Excellent, Amazing, Kinetic, Fresh, Awesome, Stunning, Tasty! 

I could go on and on and still not do the Breakfast Klub justice.  It's everything mentioned above blended with nothing you've ever experienced-until of course, your first experience at Houston's Hottest Breakfast Spot.  I was turned on to the establishment roughly two years ago and haven't been able to take a trip to Houston without stopping by.  I can start with its many accolades, but quite frankly it's not That type of spot.  I can tell you about its owner-one of the most gracious men you'll ever meet, but he's not That type of guy.  So...I'll broach this post this way.  When you arrive at the BK, expect a line-one that might very well wrap around the building.  My first word of advice:  Be not dismayed!  It's well worth the wait.  While you're in line, expect to be greeted by host and/or hostess, perhaps even the owner himself.  Whoever comes out will surely strike up a conversation, hand over a menu, explain their specialties and maybe even offer a cup of water or lemonade while you wait.  Yes, it's That type of place!  Since my first visit, I've looked forward to seeing "My Girl".  "What's her name", you ask.  Truthfully, I have no idea.  But what I do know is that ever since my first visit, her 5'3" in, 110 lb. frame, complete with eyeglasses, baseball cap and apron has recognized me and told me how glad she was to see me again.  Does she really know me?  I'm not sure of that either.  But she has a knack for making me (and all of their guests) feel like she does and based solely on that fact am I SOLD.

Then, after waiting in line, speaking to a few of your line mates and maybe even breaking a sweat, you'll enter and the ambiance will instantly transcend you to the next dimension.  You'll stand in another short line (just long enough to end the internal debate in which you've engaged over the past few minutes about whether to go with the Chicken & Waffles or the Katfish & Grits, the lemonade or the sweet tea), then you'll place your order at the counter, receive a number and wait to fall in love.

By the time you're seated and pick up your utensils and hot syrup, your food will surely be on its way out.  Then you'll find this...

On my most recent visit (that just hours before was on the verge of being cancelled),  I'll admit that The Breakfast Klub was a main player in motivating me to wake up at 2:20am and hit the road an hour later.  This was Antoine's first visit to Texas with me and he had no idea what was in store.  As soon as we crossed the state line, I mentioned that I NEEDED to stop at The Breakfast Klub before visiting my sister.  He looked over at me quizzically and mentioned that he was only dressed for the road.  What he didn't know was that he could have been dressed in swim trunks and flip flops.  I NEEDED to go.  He sensed my passion and agreed to change into more appropriate dress before entering.  Perfect! So not only was I going to have the pleasure of indulging in the World's Greatest Breakfast, but I would be able to take in the full BK Experience.  To my surprise, the line wasn't very long at all.  A few Brian Courtney Wilson and Marvin Sapp tunes and we were inside!   I even got a chance to see "My Girl".  She, along with another server, welcomed him and explained their most popular dishes.  And for a moment, he seemed to be considering the Katfish & Grits, but this time that ship just couldn't sail.  Our order: 2 orders of Chicken & French Toast w/Strawberries, 1 order of Chicken & Waffles...one order to go for my niece and nephew, 2 bottles of lemonade, 1 bottle of Sweet Tea. (SN: Antoine insists upon making his own Arnold Palmer's whenever they aren't readily available.)  We sat down and in record timing, our food arrived.  I could tell by the look in his eye that he was well pleased.  The downhome, yet slightly edgy decor, the paintings displayed on the wall-many for sale, the story behind the TSU graduate who used his passion for providing quality customer service and his experience at Chick-fil-A to build this empire of goodness along with the sounds of Michael Jackson playing in the background-he couldn't help himself. But the star of the show, has and always will be the food!  It  was exceptional.  Minutes later, I realized that I'd forgotten to place an order for their famous potatoes.  Disclaimer:  I'm not sure if their potatoes are famous yet, but they should be.  Nevertheless, ACL was down to a chicken wing and less than a quarter of his waffle...next time for the potatoes.  I had to pace myself even though The Breakfast Klub is not the kind of place where many rules apply.  As a matter of fact, a sign at Jacque Imo's in Uptown New Orleans actually reminds me of the only rule of the thumb here and it reads: "Be Nice or Leave".

On the way out, I mentioned to Antoine that I'd love to have a picture with Marcus Davis (the founder and owner) and as luck would have it, Marcus actually stopped him at the door to thank him for his patronage.  However, he was so incredibly star struck that he completely ignored my request.  The two exchanged words and we were on our way-Antoine with a huge smile, me-slightly disappointed.  Nevertheless, a moment's reflection on the meal placed everything back in perspective.  I'd dare not complain for long.  

I'm sure that from the start of this post, it's obvious that The Breakfast Klub ranks very high on my list of Favorite Restaurants.  With that said, don't even consider taking a trip anywhere within a 50 mile radius and deny yourself a taste of the Heaven that's served up daily from morning to mid-afternoon (2 pm, to be exact) at 3711 Travis Street in Midtown Houston.  You won't be disappointed.  I GUARANTEE IT!

The Breakfast Klub: http://www.thebreakfastklub.com/

Saturday Brunch at The Ruby Slipper (Uptown)

I'd heard a few stunning reviews about The Ruby Slipper from of a few of my most esteemed "Sources" which subsequently placed it at the top of my Bucket List.  This past Saturday, I awoke to overcast skies and temperatures roughly twenty degrees cooler than the night before.  Breakfast is not standard for me, unless I'm vacationing or have a considerable amount of time to spare.  Brisk and dreary Saturday mornings serve up the perfect recipe for scratching places like The Ruby Slipper off the list.  I quickly fell in love with the restaurant's neighborhood charm.  It sits on the corner of S. Cortez, just a block or so off off Canal Street in Midcity.  The decoration, floor plan, presence of local periodicals (think Gambit Weekly) and cute postcards and memorabilia make the place especially appealing. Unlike some restaurants, the atmosphere is almost as significant as the food at The Ruby Slipper.

The Mimosa's came highly recommended by a close friend and the waitress billed them as "Superb"!  "The Ruby Slipper Mimosa" as it's called, is made with a splash of pomegranate juice and was quite enjoyable.  Was it the best I've ever had?  Not even close.  One of the best?  Maybe not that either.  But, it was still tasty and I'm sure I'd order it all over again on subsequent visits there.

Ruby's Mimosa

As for the menu...it's a New Orleans Foodie's Paradise!  Dishes like: Bananas Foster Pain Perdu, BBQ Shrimp & Grits and an omelet called The Louisianian stuffed with boiled Gulf shrimp, cheddar cheese and thyme appear on the menu.  And the specials!  The specials are worth mentioning just as much as the standard menu.  Two, in particular, caught my eye.  One was the Eggs Cochon, it was billed as a Roasted Pork Tenderloin, served over an open-faced biscuit, topped with poached eggs and a specialty hollandaise sauce.  The other was "Ruby's Crabcake Breakfast".  The server described the dish as a Jumbo Lump Crabcake, accompanied by hollandaise, two eggs (any style), served with breakfast potatoes or grits and the diner's choice of toast or a biscuit.  Both of us decided on the latter, which was actually a bit disappointing...not the dish, but the concept.  It's always my preference to order two different dishes and sample each of them in order to get a better feel for what the restaurant is serving up.  But this time, I couldn't get the KT to budge.  So two order of Ruby's Crabcake Breakfast were on the way.

After a longer than expected wait and watching a couple who arrived several minutes after us get served, our order finally arrived.  I was disappointed that the food wasn't piping hot (which is typically the only excuse I'm willing to accept for having my food served after an extended wait OR receiving it out of order).  Nevertheless, the taste of the food was really good.  It arrived exactly the way it was ordered and was visually quite pleasant. The crabcake, which stole the show, was stunning.  Large chunks of crabmeat, blended with red and green bell peppers, a little spice and devoid of any type of crusts or breading.  I detest crabcakes bound with any of the above.  The potatoes were delicious and the eggs were good too. KT agreed and actually finished his meal in record timing.

Ruby's Crabcake Breakfast

The food I received during my first visit to The Ruby Slipper didn't automatically place it on my list of favorite places to dine.  But the atmosphere was perfect and the menu definitely has me intrigued. I'm sure I'll be back sooner than later.  Hopefully, next time with a slightly better review.  It really is the kind of place you just really want to love.

http://www.therubyslippercafe.net/

Birthday Dinner at Jacque-Imo's, We Take The Cake Steals the Show

Jacques-Imo's Cafe, one of my favorite dining spots, has been donned one of New Orleans' hippest eateries.  It's also become a bit of tradition for me to visit on my birthday.  When I mentioned in a previous post that I hoped to dine somewhere nice, I'll admit that Jacques-Imo's didn't cross my mind.  But after the expected party of two rose to eight, Jacques-Imo's seemed to fit the bill.  Truthfully, long wait times are synonymous with Jacques-Imo's, but a call to the hostess stand a few hours early yielded good results. We arrived just before 9:00 p.m. and were seated just minutes later. The gods must have been had a hand in this because never before can I remember a wait time of less than an hour.

The table had already been set with water for each diner and the customary complimentary cornbread muffins.

Jacque-Imo's Famous Cornbread Muffins

I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of cornbread, but these are unusually good. They're sweet, with a hint of garlic and the fresh parsley provides the extra kick!  Next up was their signature Shrimp and Alligator Sausage Cheesecake.  The strange blend sounds far less appetizing than it tastes, but hopefully this will help you get over that hump-I haven't been able to pass it up since my very first visit.  It's a unique concoction that quite frankly I'd love to describe, but find myself at a loss for words.  Instead, I submit to you this:  When you go to Jacque-Imo's, NO-if you have no intention of visiting Jacque-Imo's, yet happen to be passing the place simply by happenstance, drop in and try the cheesecake! It's made fresh all day long so the odds of you showing up and not getting a slice are nil.

Shrimp and Alligator Sausage Cheesecake

After the cheesecake, the customary Spinach salads appeared before us.  It's a mixture of fresh spinach leaves, plum sesame and a plump P&J Oyster...simple, but oh so good!  In the midst of all of the eating, our server visited the table, took everyone's order, refilled the drinks and handled the table with greater efficiency than you might expect from a place like Jacque-Imo's.

Complimentary Spinach Salad w/Plum Sesame Vinaigrette

The orders placed were as follows:  3 orders of Blackened Redfish w/crab chili hollandaise, an order of Crab Cakes, Paneed Rabbit, a Fried Chicken plate, Grilled Tuna and for me, the Carpet-Bagger Steak.  I tried the Redfish and found it to be exceptional.  The three guys (who all happened to order the same dish) agreed.  On the contrary, the tuna did not quite meet my bff's expectations.  She mentioned that it was overcooked, but decided to keep the dish anyhow.  There aren't many things worse than overcooked fish in my book so I'm assuming she was either really hungry or just being a really good sport.  The Carpet-Bagger steak happens to be my favorite.  It's a filet butterflied and stuffed with with Bleu Cheese, Carmelized Red Onion, Oysters and covered in hollandaise.  I'm not sure who created this lovely piece of heaven, but I owe them a kiss.  The dish comes with two sides.  I decided on the Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Smothered Cabbage.  Both were sublime!

Although the consensus was that the entire table was full, there was cake to be served and the White Chocolate Goodness was already on its way.

The cake was as good as ever!  Fantastic texture, not too sweet, fresh as if it had just been removed from the oven...I could go on and on and still not do it justice.  So I'll say this, this cake would be on the one and only dessert I'd feel content with eating for the rest of my life.  After singing "Happy Birthday" and enjoying the cake, that "Fe Na Ne" - a special fruity, alcoholic concoction that resembled the best rum punch ever started to slow me down.

All in all, Jacque-Imo's performance that night proved its worthiness to carry the torch into next year.  While a few guests complained about the cost, I found the pricing reasonable.  The entire check for the party of eight, including tax and tip came to just under $250.  I'm sure it's evident, but I'll state it anyway-Jacque Imo's still ranks high on my list of "Places to Visit".

http://jacquesimoscafe.com/

Birthday Lunch at La Thai

In contrast to last year's birthday bash, complete with a $400 tent, food for days, inflatables, games, etc., March 31st. seemed to creep up like a thief in the night. I'm not sure if I subconsciously blocked it out in my quest to avoid the unavoidable angst I feel each year about growing older, but as we know-time waits for no one-not even ME.  Therefore, this year when I was asked about my plans approximately 10 days before my birthday, I declared that I'd like to keep is simple.  Breakfast (maybe), an hour long Swedish massage, lunch, more relaxing and dinner-somewhere nice.  Too bad things seldom go the way they're planned.  For many, that's what makes life interesting.  For me, it's a persistent thorn in my side.  So days before my Wonderful Weekend Day of Wonders, turned into a nightmare.  I stressed about why no one seemed to be interested in MY day.  All I asked for was a cake and two days prior, I was informed that it hadn't been ordered.  BUMMER! Nevertheless, Saturday (3/31) arrived and it went a little something like this.

I decided to skip my breakfast plans and move right along to my spa appointment.  Since this blog is about food, I'll spare you the details and leave it at, The massage was wonderful and when I arrived at the front counter, I was told that my services had been paid in full. Thanks again, Mona :-) SWEET!

On to lunch at La Thai.  I first visited La Thai in October of last year and really loved the atmosphere.  The food wasn't bad either ;-)  Fast forward to a week before my birthday when a few close friends raved about their experience at La Thai.  I couldn't resist trying it again.  We started off with a dish called Mama's Stuffed Chicken.  It's a large chicken wing stuffed with ground pork, glass noodles and spices.  This dish was highly recommended by the ladies a week prior, but left a lot to be desired.  And let me be clear, when I say "A lot to be desired", I mean a lot of something other than their Mama's Stuffed Chicken (pun intended).  I didn't bother snapping a picture, partly because the dish didn't look especially appetizing.  Secondly, because I knew I'd be sure to caution anyone who informed me of their intention to visit, to steer clear of the dish completely.

The server was friendly enough and the service was quick.  On to the second course...Crispy Oysters topped with lump crabmeat, mixed veggies and sweet chili soy glaze, jasmine rice on the side, along with a vegetable spring roll. Now for the kicker...the value was excellent.  The food, not so much.  The sauce on the bottom of the plate didn't go well with the crispy oysters and actually made the underside soggy. I'm a huge fan of crab meat, jumbo lump especially, but even it was flavorless.  The vegetable spring roll reminded me of one of Pagoda's finest, direct from your favorite grocery store's frozen food department and I could have imagined the rice working much better to complement the dish if served on a separate plate.  Thai cuisine is all about lightly prepared dishes with strong savory components.  This dish had all of the right appearances of a traditional thai dish (even considering the crowded plate), but the sauce was too heavy and the construction of the dish a bit too convoluted . 

Crispy Oysters

My date, who was clearly underwhelmed by the entire experience, ordered the Thai Jumbo Shrimp...a safe enough option with a better overall flavor, but still nothing to brag about.  He started immediately which prevented me from snapping a good picture, but the two dishes strangely enough, very closely resembled one another.

After about an hour, we were both ready to press on with the day. I inquired about their dessert menu and was sold on the "Last slice of key lime pie".  Typing this I realize that I'm a sucker for crazy one-liner's like that.  The server immediately went to the back and pulled out a box of keylime pie from the refrigerator.  For all I know, it was Sara Lee.  Needless to say, another disappointing course.

All in all, La Thai is a refreshing, pleasant place to visit and their presentations are phenomenal.  Unfortunately, the food fails to match the atmosphere. Will I return?  Probably so.  Only next time, with lower expectations.

http://www.lathaiuptown.com/ 

Superior Experience at Superior

Superior Seafood

After contacting a few friends (who all happened to be picking up OT) last Friday, I decided to finally give Superior Seafood a try.   I use the word "Finally" lightly because Superior hasn't been opened six months yet.  Typically, I'm not crazy about trying out brand new restaurants and there are several better established places on my "Bucket List".  Nevertheless, Superior (owned by the same proprietors who run Superior Grill down the street) wouldn't let me forget it.  I ventured Uptown at about 9:00 p.m. after calling to check on the wait time as well as the parking situation.  The hostess had all the right answers.  Twenty-five minute wait, but a full-service bar and complimentary valet parking...SOLD!  The valet attendants were courteous and professional.  But seriously...who cares about that?  I entered the dining area and immediately spotted a vacant high top table in the center of the bar.  I asked if I could be seated there and was immediately obliged.  Shortly after, my server, Sabrina, arrived.  She was also very friendly and seemed well versed on the entire menu.  After perusing the menu, yet again, I decided on a half dozen Chargrilled Oysters.  I asked if she had any special recommendations for entrees and was pleased that she seemed to have similar taste in food.  She suggested I shy away from the pasta dishes, told me the crab cakes were good, but the scallop dish was her favorite.  Scallops it was!  I also decided to try a glass of Joel Gott Riesling that paired fantastically with both the Oysters and Scallops.  Minutes later, a loaf of Leidenheimer french bread arrived at my table, along with a carafe filled with room temperature water.  I'm not a fan of french bread and definitely not Leidenheimer, but there was something different about this bread.  It wasn't hard at all, was just crispy enough to distinguish it as french bread and was soft and warm in the center.  :-) Reading that description seemed borderline pornographic, but I digress.

Minutes later, this arrived.

Chargrilled Oysters

The oysters were outstanding!  The only draw was that I missed the crusty parmesan/romano blend that is synonymous with the original Chargrilled bivalves.  These were instead covered by a parmesan cream sauce that was flavorful, but took away from the contrast in texture, typical of the original dish.  Nevertheless, if I had to take off 3 points for the missing cheese on top, I'd have to give back 2 of them for the wonderful way the sauce courted the bread.  I felt a sense of angst about handing my plate over with a few teaspoons of sauce remaining.  

Shortly after, a complimentary salad coined the "Superior Salad" arrived.  It's a simple blend of greens, feta cheese and olives topped with a light, lemon vinaigrette dressing.  This happened to be the only part of the meal that was underwhelming.  A few bites and on to the real deal!

Superior Salad :-/

Just as the server picked up the remains of the Not-so-Superior Salad, another server arrived to my left with my entree.  This is the type of coincidence that still manages to bump up my server's tip a few bucks.  While I have a sneaky suspicion it wasn't orchaestrated that way, it was still perfectly timed and I like that A LOT!  

Seconds later with a HUGE Cheshire grin, I was feasting on this...

Jumbo Seared Scallops served with a pancetta sage white wine butter sauce, fingerling potatoes and haricot vert

Good stuff!  No...GREAT stuff!  This meal was immediately inducted into the Hall of Fame!  That's only happened twice before and I've dined out more than a few times.  :-)  Everything about this dish...wait-everything about this dish sans the Haricot Vert - was AMAZING!  After finishing two of the scallops and a few of some of the most delicious potatoes I'd ever eaten, I was already trying to pace myself to save some for the next day.  For a second, I even thought about sharing a few bites with my sister the next morning, just to have a witness to this greatness.  Okay, just one more.  Okay, okay-one more!  Awww, what the heck, You Only Live Once!  I couldn't help myself.  I sat there and polished off the dish without further ado.  When you're dining alone (and picking up the check) very few rules apply.  Would I have done this on a first date?  Probably not.  But this blog isn't about etiquette.  It's about this girl's journey through the world of wonderful food.  So for the sake of establishing and maintaining the integrity of this piece, I did it. ;-)

Shortly after and another glass of Riesling down (Seaglass, to be exact)-this one, not so good, I sat there almost shamefully satisfied.  I inquired about the dessert menu which included the regulars-chocolate cake, creme brulee, cheesecake, I think.  Creme Brulee usually ends up in front of me if for no other reason than I've been on a quest to find one that can hold a candle to the old Praline Creme Brulee from the now defunct Hookah Bar on Frenchman Street.  Over time, I've learned that the operative question is, "Is your Creme Brulee" served warm in the center?"  If not, why bother?  I refused dessert.  The check arrived and I gladly paid the $56 (before tip, of course).  It's not everyday that a meal reaches my standards and far less often that it exceeds them.  This one jumped over each of those hurdles with such ease that it seemed surreal.  

Five stars...doesn't even do it justice!  Next time you're in town or in the mood for the type of supreme satisfaction that can only be achieved with a knife and a fork-Give Superior a try!  You won't be disappointed. 

http://www.superiorseafoodnola.com/