My 10 Favorite Houston Dishes: Year Two

I have been living back in Houston for the past two years now, a fact that I find completely unbelieveable. Time, you are a flyin'!

Last year I shared with you my 10 favorite dishes from Year One, and I am incredibly excited to now be able to share my faves from Year Two. This past year has seen me through many changes (a new vegetarian lifestyle, a flipping awesome solo trip to South America, the presence of a dreamy guy I've managed to trick into being my boyfriend), but one constant remains the same:

I flipping love Houston food.

So let's get started, shall we?

Kim's Favorite Houston Dishes
April 2014-March 2015

#10: Vegetable Risotto - Radio Milano (February 2015)

During a super fun night out with my boyfriend Jon and our friends Lindsey and Caleb (a night that kept the room spinning and left me eating Kraft mac and cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day because when you're pushing 30 hangovers are a whole new level of Worst Thing Ever), we had dinner at City Centre's highly regarded Radio Milano. The service was so incredible that our server completely created a new dish for me to accommodate my vegetarian diet. Behold the vegetable risotto: creamy, fluffy, filled with various vegetables, and lightly accented with truffle flakes and pecorino romano. It may not cure hangovers, but it does change lives.

#9: Dark Chocolate Cake - Backstreet Cafe (August 2014)

I am not a dessert person at all. If given an after-dinner option of cake or an entire bag of kettle cooked salt and vinegar chips, I'm choosing the latter (#help). So it's saying a lot that a dessert has made my Top 10 list. While dining off of the 2014 Houston Restaurant Weeks menu at Backstreet Cafe last year with my friend Meredith, I had an otherworldly experience with their dark chocolate cake. I'm surprised I didn't get kicked out of the restaurant because with every bite, I emitted a new delightful noise at the divine decadence of this dessert. Go there. Get it. But consider yourself warned: I'm not bailing you out of jail for public misconduct with a piece of cake.

#8: Veggie Shinoda Roll - Japaneiro's (January 2015)

I am happy to report that two Houston suburban dishes have made it to this year's list, the first being the veggie shinoda roll at Japaneiro's in Sugar Land. Jon and his sisters Joanna and Jaclyn have been frequenting this trendy outer-loop spot for years, and I am so glad they admitted me into their club. Because it was there that I experienced the best vegetable sushi roll I have ever had. The veggie shinoda roll is covered in deep fried tempura coating, and filled with an exciting medley of soft vegetables. The various sauces it is topped with give the intricate roll some serious depth. Is it healthy? Not a chance. But what's life without a few indulgences?

#7: Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - The Tasting Room (October 2014)

Speaking of indulgences.

The Tasting Room is a small Houston chain, and I visited their Kingwood location last October with Meredith. Now I've had many a grilled cheese in my day. I've had many an awesome grilled cheese in my day. The mini grilled cheese sandwiches at The Tasting Room were stupid phenomenal. Silky, dripping goat cheese is enclosed by little baby pretzel buns and topped with a sweet tomato jam. This multifaceted appetizer is little, but mighty. Plus, they're small, which means they're cuter!

#6: Roasted Brussels Sprouts - Coltivare (January 2015)

I wrote about Coltivare not once (when I went with my friend Christy), but twice this past year, because after more visits with Jon, my friends Dan and Heather, and my parents, I had to mention a few new dishes I had tried. One of these dishes was their roasted brussels sprouts. The smoky, sweet, earthy sprouts are cooked with such care, I was witness to two brussels sprouts-hater conversions in their presence. I have been back to Coltivare several times since, and I continue to order them every time.

#5: Blue Cheese Polenta - Just Dinner on Dunlavy (December 2014)

After much cajoling from my mom and dad, Jon and I went to dinner one night at Just Dinner on Dunlavy. Things I learned from that experience: 1) You can never escape your parents, no matter how hard you try; 2) Just Dinner is BYOB, so Jon and I were able to enjoy our own bottle of wine we brought back from the Hill Country; 3) The restaurant is by far the most romantic spot I've been to in town, and; 4) Their side of blue cheese polenta is mind blowing. This indulgent little side was creamy and buttery, with just a hint of tangy blue cheese. It was absolutely perfect. I said it then that it was in the running for best things I had in the past year, and whaddaya know, it made Top 5!

#4: Truffled Egg Salad Sandwich - Local Foods (January 2015)

My mom and I went to Local Foods in Upper Kirby and were left completely flabbergasted by their truffled egg salad sandwich. The silky, sumptuous, playful truffled egg salad is topped with fresh veggies and encapsulated by a crispy, fluffy, hearty pretzel bun. The sum of all parts is downright explosive. I've been back for lunch several times since, and I have this every time. It's just that good.

#3: Curried Chips - Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen (October 2014)

My first year back I was convinced that the Bangkok fries at Boheme were the best fries I'd ever had (they're awesome, you should definitely try them!). And this past year they may have been knocked down a spot by the curried chips at Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen. During our One Year Friend-a-versary celebration last October, my friend Megan and I were completely blown away by this dish. A generous amount of spicy curry envelopes beautifully browned fries. The whole thing is topped off with a runny egg, which sends the diner into absolute Food Nirvana. It's absolutely incredible.

#2: Fireman's #4 Macaroni and Cheese - Local Pour (October 2014)

After going for a run one evening through River Oaks with Jon (HA. Remember that time I ran.), we hit up Local Pour for some bevvies and bites. Little did I know I was about to eat my second favorite dish of the year, the Fireman's #4 macaroni and cheese. This bubbly, gooey, soul-warming little side dish is a complete masterpiece. For how simple it is, you wouldn't expect as much. But you should expect as much. Served piping hot in an adorable little cast iron "cauldron", the magnificent, unassuming side dish is packed with velvety, decadent flavor and lots and lots of love.

#1: Spaghetti with Black Pepper, Parmesan, and Olive Oil - Coltivare (January 2015)

For anyone who's been following along this past year, this one will come as no shock to you. "The Dish So Nice I Wrote About the Restaurant Twice." I went back to Coltivare this past winter for my second visit, and I had such an out of body experience with their spaghetti with black pepper, parmesan, and olive oil, that I had to write about it again (along with the aforementioned brussels sprouts). I even made the bold claim that it was the best dish I've had in Houston. I've been back countless times since, ordered this dish every time (as I have with the sprouts), and I still stand firmly behind my statement. The freshly crafted pasta welcomes the smooth olive oil, clumpy parmesan cheese, and poignant pepper in one giant, warm embrace. The intricate dance on your palate is baffling because the dish is so seemingly simple. But it is by far the best thing I've eaten in Houston. And it is hands down one of the loveliest, most masterful food creations I've ever experienced.

Because the competition was so stiff, I once again have a list of honorable mentions I need to tell you about! Here they are in chronological order of having eaten:

1) Grilled Veggie Salad with Shrimp at Brick and Spoon; 2) Hot Buttered Baby Beets at Coltivare; 3) Yukon Potato, Oyster Mushrooms, Taleggio, Rosemary, and Garlic Pizza at Coltivare; 4) Fried Mac and Cheese at Reef; 5) Hummus Wrap with Soy Boca Patty at Onion Creek Cafe; 6) Cornmeal Crusted Avocado at Backstreet Cafe; 7) Mac-and-Cheese at Lowbrow; 8) Chicken-Fried Black Bean Veggie Burger with an egg and cheddar cheese at Lowbrow; 9) Boiled Mushroom and Sauerkraut Pierogies at Polonia; 10) Mushroom Flatbread at Ambrosia; 11) Horchata and Spicy Chocolate soft serve swirl at Fat Cat Creamery; 12) Fried Pickles at Canyon Creek Bar & Grill; 13) Truffle Patatas Fritas at 1252 Tapas Bar

And that's that - My Best of Houston list from my second year of being back! Like I said, there have been many changes in my life, but I am so fortunate to be able to continue to try so many exciting, new, and unique flavors that are integral to the Houston culinary and cultural scene. For everyone who has been reading along - Thank you for listening to my ramblings and letting me continue to take you with me on my food journey through our awesome city. What a ride!

Happy 2 Year Anniversary, Houston!

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