Devour Houston

Oh my gosh…the WOST restaurant ever.  Have you been here?  Don’t go.   Boudreaux’s is a causal dining spot with several locations around Houston.   Format:  order at the counter, staff brings your food to your table.  The service was on the okay side.  Our sweet, nice, young order-taker didn’t understand their 3 basic wines.  I ordered the Cabernet which he wasn’t sure was a wine, only to be served a pink wine and not red.  But, he was nice and he really tried.   That was the highlight.

I ordered the Bayou Burger ($7.40).  Disgusting.  It tased microwaved by way of being frozen first.  No taste at all.  No flavor.  No seasoning.  Just a very yucky texture.  I didn’t even eat it.   Blah.   The french fries were okay good — similar to McDonald’s.  The good old frozen and salted kind.

Bayou Burger

Other low lights — the Fried Gator ($8.95).  More breading than meat.  And, actually, there were pieces of crawfish mixed in with the gator meat.   Our server said that was not supposed to happen — supposed to be all gator.  But, he didn’t seem concerned.  No apology given.  Oh, and my little boy ordered the corn dog.  It was still frozen upon arrival at our table.   Boudreaux’s did provide a hot, new one.  But again, no apology or concern.

Fried Gator

I’m afraid I have no “On the upside” news when it comes to Boudreaux’s.  The most yucky, disappointing visit to an eatery ever. 

Boudreaux’s Cajun Kitchen
Several Houston Locations
www.boudreauxs.net

I used Swift + Company last night for a small, intimate political fundraising dinner at our home.   They were phenomenal!  I wish I had pictures to show you.  The food was fantastic.  The service was fabulous.  The pre-event planning and coordination went smoothly.  Swift + Company are pros at entertaining, food, and service and really helped make our event a success. 

I’ll list our menu below, but my favorites were the Chevre and Pine Nut Purses, the Beef Tenderloin, the White Corn Ravioli, and the Apple Crisp.  The Beef Tender was so moist and tender, that we could cut it with a fork.  It was like butter.  Pure Pleasure.  The White Corn Ravioli contained the perfect balance of sweet corn and cheeses.  Yum.   The Apple Crisp was heavenly.  A sweet crispiness on top, contrasting nicely — and perfectly — with the cooked, tart apples on bottom.   And, the Warm Crisp was served at the ideal temperature, allowing  the ice cream to melt  just a tad, giving the dish a nice creaminess.   The Chevre and Pine Nut Purses contained the right  amount of goat cheese within the thin, crispness of the phyllo.  All of the above:  Delish.  Delectable.  Divine. 

I highly recommend using Swift + Company for any of your entertaining needs. 

Our Menu:

Passed Hor d’Oeuvres
- Chevre and Pine Nut Purses – Mini phyllo “purses” filled with chevre, pine nuts and herbs
- Jalapeno Quail & Pecan-Smoked — Bacon en Brochette

First Course
Grilled Salmon Fillet with fennel, walnuts, and chives — served on fall lettuces and drizzled with a light citrus vinaigrette

Entree
Char-Grilled and Oven Roasted Tenderloin of Beef — roasted medium rare and served with a sauce a la poivre
- Haystack of Season Vegetables
- White Corn Ravioli in Saga Butter Sauce
- Freshly Baked Breads

Dessert
- Individual Warm Apple Crisp — served in French ramekins topped with cinnamon ice cream
- Mignardises (small, bite sized little desserts, served with coffee — usually after the dessert course.   “Mignardises” is a french word that is derived from ”Mignard” which means small child or graceful, pretty, or delicate).

Swift + Company
2137 West Alabama
Houston, Texas 77098
713.526.7600
www.swiftevents.com

I met a friend for lunch at Felix 55  yesterday.  Felix 55 just recently opened, and I was excited to check them out after hearing great comments.  I loved their interior design of clean lines, contrasted textures, cool grays in the dining room and opposing reds in the bar area.  Lively chandeliers and an energetic, hip vibe were also thrown in the mix of Felix 55.   The eatery is a locally sourced, farm to table restaurant proud of their innovative and creative dishes and handmade cocktails.  Chef Michael Kramer’s background includes such reputable places at The Mansion at Turtle Creek, Voice (Hotel Icon) and The Tasting Room.  His latest stop, Felix 55, is pretty amazing as well.

Felix 55

Felix 55

Everything on the menu sounded fantastic.  And, their dessert!  Oh my gosh!   We did not order one — but I am definitely going back for something — Gooey Chocolate Cake or Basil Infused Creme Brulee or Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding (all $6).  See — Yum!

So, for lunch I ordered a Lunch Special of 1/2 Sandwich and Cup of Soup ($10.00).  For my sandwich: the Chicken Sandwich Toscana — basil pesto, provolone cheese, grilled bread and arugula (For the whole sandwich with chips – $11).  Magnificent!  My first thought was that the bread was crispy!  Yipee!   The grilling was done perfectly where the bread was still crisp and not soggy from the pesto and other ingredients.  The chicken was tender and moist, and blanketed with a thin layer of provolone.  Also added to the open faced sandwich was a tangy tomato sauce that hit all the right notes.  Excellent.  Excellent.   For my soup:  The Black Bean Soup (a regular bowl =$6) with avocado crema, jack cheese, and crispy tortillas.  This soup was brilliant.  The black beans were perfectly cooked.  The spices were subtle enough to allow the beans to stand on their own with the perfect amount of cheese and avocado crema.   Truly delicious.  The flavors and textures all worked together for a great dish (sandwich, soup, and arugula).

1/2 Chicken Sandwich Toscana and Cup of Black Bean Soup

My friend ordered the Seared Tuna Burger ($14.00) with wasabi aioli, pickles, bib lettuce on a Kaiser bun (served with chips, but she substituted - for $3 — arugula).    First, let me say the burger was delicious, but there were a couple of changes from the menu, good changes.  It was actually served on an onion roll (not kaiser) – and, the onion essence was a very nice compliment to the flavors in the burger.  Second, a tangy, alive, beautiful purple cabbage coleslaw was included the sandwich.  The ailoi was a nice addition with a very light wasabi infusion.  I wish had I gotten a better picture because the sandwich was gorgeous with layers of pink tuna, purple cabbage, green lettuce, and wasabi aioli.  The arugula was super fresh and spritzed with a light vinaigrette dressing.   

Seared Tuna Burger

As I mentioned earlier, I am going back for their dessert.   And, I am just going back in general — for more great food, ambiance, a handmade cocktail, and their dessert.   Service was nice, too.

Felix 55
5510 Morningside Drive
Houston, Texas 77005
713.590.0610
www.felix55.com