food – Kathleen Maca

Houston Farmers’ Market – A Food Adventure

Posted on June 9, 2024 by admin

When I’m traveling, I often seek out local farmer’s markets – not only for affordable, fresh food, but also to get a taste of local culture. Especially when visiting other countries, travelers can find adventures-for-the-tastebuds they won’t find at home.

But when you live in the fourth largest city in the U.S., there are a lot of markets to explore even when you aren’t on vacation! So this morning I set out on a local food adventure.

I guarantee you that I didn’t come home from my visit to the Houston Farmer’s Market this morning empty-handed! It had its beginnings in 1942 and is the city’s oldest and largest farmers market.

There’s no shortage of herbs and spices…and more types of mole than you can shake an enchildada at!

Tropical fruit lovers are going to be in heaven the minute they step foot in the market…and that group includes me! One sample bite of the sweet pineapples and I was “sold!”

Be a bit adventurous when you visit local markets, and try something new! If you come across a fruit (or anything else) that you can’t identify, ask questions. Vendors are happy to explain what things are, how to prepare them, and sometimes even offer a free taste.

Every trip should send you home with at least one “never had this before” item.

Removing needles from prickly pear cactus.

A handful of permanent shops are in the complex as well, including Shop Local, The Egg House, RC Ranch Craft Meats and Crawfish and Noodles restaurant. Shop Local is a group of vendors that sell a variety of items from vintage clothes to stickers. The Egg House sells everything breakfast-related, including country sausage, bacon jams, local honey, and …of course…fresh eggs. RC Ranch Craft Meats butcher shop deals in Texas-raised Wagya beef and Heritage pork as well as other meats from partner ranchers.

There are definitely more vendors on the weekends than during the week, but there’s always something fresh and delicious to find.

You can even purchase cookware, pottery, plants, candy, piñatas and toys from south of the border.

And if you just don’t think you can wait to get home to enjoy something yummy, there are cute tables and chairs in shaded spots where you can enjoy freshly prepared offerings. It’s a fun place to go with friends, your spouse, or a great outing for the kids.

LOCATION: 2520 Airline Drive, Houston, Texas

HOURS: Open every day year-round except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

GOOD TO KNOW: Bring cash, as it is the only form of payment many vendors accept.

PARKING: Free parking. Enter the lot enter off of Airline Drive or two entrances off Service Street. Lots are interconnected for ease of access.

WHAT TO BRING: Lightweight shopping totes or small cart, and a cooler in your car for items that will need to stay cool on the way home.

WHAT TO WEAR: The shopping area is covered and has, which are big advantages in the Texas summer, but the market is still technically outdoors. Dress comfortably for whatever the outside temperature is during summer or winter. Walking shoes.

RESTROOMS: Clean and family-friendly.

Information is correct as of date of publishing.

Great Food Truck Race: Galveston Edition

Posted on January 26, 2024January 26, 2024 by admin

Do you watch Food Network’s show The Great Food Truck Race with Tyler Florence?

Teams from around the country operate food trucks in a winding string of cities, advancing to the next round of competition each week by how much the trucks earn. It’s fun to watch, and today…it was fun to watch them film in Galveston, too!

The trucks parked in Saengerfest Park on The Strand downtown, and began serving at 11 a.m. Each truck had a film crew assigned to them to capture the action – good and bad.

When I saw that the array of food included Mexican and Cajun food and seafood, all I could think was “They better have really brought their “A” game.” Galvestonians are a food-loving bunch, and these dishes are regular “food groups” there.

The crowd wasn’t disappointed. The cooks running the trucks were spirited and enjoyable, despite the pressure of the competition, and the dishes got a round of thumbs-up from everyone I talked to – which is high praise.

As the lunch hour approached, the lines got longer and some of the trucks simply couldn’t keep up the pace.

Others sold out of product and had to make a mad dash to the nearest grocery. If you watch the show, you’ll know that this is one of the biggest “oh no’s” of a day of competition because it causes a truck to miss precious hours they are allowed to serve.

Pups even came with their owners, hoping that something would drop within their reach.

By 2:30 p.m. (I think they were only allowed to serve until 3:00), half of the trucks were sold out.

We’ll have to wait until the new season airs to see who makes it to the next round…and eventually wins. If you have a favorite television show that films on the road, be sure to check their website. Travel schedules are often posted, letting you join in the fun.

Thanks to Chef Tyler and the Food Network for bringing the trucks to Texas and Galveston – hope to see you again soon!

Galveston’s Coastal Grill – Tasty & Priced Right

Posted on May 12, 2019May 12, 2019 by admin

There is no shortage of great places to eat on Galveston Island, but if you’re looking for a fresh catch on the seafood scene add Coastal Grill to your list.

Open just four months, this restaurant already has it figured out.

Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you. The interior is bright and clean with plenty of seating.

Sitting at the west end of the Strand just a block or two beyond where most tourists wander (1827 Strand), it would be a nice spot for a date night, family dinner or girls’ night out with a varied menu to satisfy everyone in your group.

We were pleasantly greeted as soon as we entered the restaurant. The gentleman then invited us to sit wherever we wanted (it was just before 6 p.m. on a Saturday night, so the dinner crowd hadn’t arrived yet) and look over our menus.

Guests then go to the counter to order (take a peek at the dessert case while you’re there!), and the food is brought to the table when ready.

Looking over the menu, I wasn’t sure which direction to go in since the dozens of choices all sounded so good.

I always look over menus for items that might intrigue family and friends with different tastes, and I can honestly say that there was something for everyone … seafood, steak, burgers, loaded baked potatoes, tacos, tortilla soup, shrimp or beef kabobs and more. And everything was reasonably priced.

My husband and I finally decided to stick to our original thought of seafood as a type of ultimate “test” of a Galveston restaurant. We weren’t disappointed!

The stuffed mushroom appetizer was a bit surprising in presentation, using a large amount of stuffing with button mushrooms beneath. Both the stuffing and mushrooms were perfectly prepared and tasty.

For the main course I ordered grilled shrimp and my husband had the grill red snapper. The “Mmmmm-ing” fest immediately began ( as in “mmmm that’s so good).

Grilled Red Snapper, Grilled Shrimp & Cole Slaw

It was immediately obvious how fresh the seafood was, and we expected nothing less being just blocks from the docks. The seasoning was the perfect level to enhance the dishes without masking the natural flavor of the items, as well.

And let me add here that my husband is a lifelong recreational fisherman, so when his picky seafood palate is impressed it’s a very good sign.

I recommend the slaw as a side, as their version is just as fresh as the entrees and not the “soupy” type I so often unfortunately encounter.

Everything was attractively plated, and the friendly staff kept our glasses filled and checked on us often.

We were discussing which dishes we would try on our next visit before we even left the restaurant.

And…yes. We “had” to try a dessert, too. We split a piece of key lime pie which was made in-house. Just the right amount of sweet and tangy, in a thin-but-perfect graham cracker crust, it was the wrap-up for our meal.

Coastal Grill also has a newly constructed back patio and performance stage ready for some summer music and gatherings. I can’t wait to try that out!

There’s parking in the front as well as a bit in the back. If you’re in a hurry, grab a to-go menu from the display by the front door.

I can imagine visitors wanting to get back to their beach houses to enjoy a sunset, while enjoying delicious food they’ve picked up at the end of a busy day on the Strand.

I’m looking forward to a return visit. Who wants to meet me there?

COASTAL GRILL

1827 Strand, Galveston

409-765-5386

www.coastalgrillgalveston.com

Good Eats in Irving & Grapevine

Posted on December 28, 2018 by admin

One of the most challenging – and fun – parts of travel is finding truly good places to eat. I love somewhere with fun atmosphere, but tasty affordable food is definitely more of a priority. And because I’m usually more about experiencing the sights and experiences of the place I’m visiting, I’d rather not have to set aside half of a day or night to dedicate to one meal.

When I visited the Irving and Grapevine area recently, I found a few spots that fit the bill. If you’re heading in that direction any time soon, you’ll want to check them out.

Texican Courts, 501 West Las Colinas Blvd., Irving

Yes, a hotel! So often the restaurants at hotels are cookie-cutter decor, bland food options. Not here!

The unique updated, motor court decor with a nod to Texas charm travels from the exterior to the interior spaces. If you’re lucky enough to be staying at the hotel, you’ll be treated to a wonderful complimentary breakfast, including pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, oatmeals and plenty of other options to start your day off right. Our stay was during a cold snap, so we were especially happy to find a wide assortment of teas and coffees available, too.

But even if you’re staying elsewhere or passing through, you can enjoy the ambience of this new property at lunch and dinner. I tried the barbecued beef tostado with black bean puree, caramelized onion and tomato. Yeah…your mouth is starting to water just thinking about it, isn’t it? It was so good! After the main course (which was portioned just enough to be filling without being ridiculous), my sister and I split a deliciously moist piece of Tres Leches cake. Now that’s how you wrap up a day of tourist ramblings!

The hotel also has a separate tequila bar with a cozy fireplace that would make a great meet-up location with friends (especially if you have tickets to an event at the Toyota Music Factory right across the street).

Willhoite’s Restaurant, 432 South Main Street, Grapevine

Grapevine is such a charming town, we wanted to be sure to find a restaurant that reflected the history and tastes of the area. Boy, did we find it!

Willhoite’s is one of the most unique restaurants I’ve been in, but it is also one of the oldest and most historical buildings in town! And you KNOW I love historic buildings.

The 1914 structure was first used as a dry good store, and then a theater. But in 1919 it was transformed into the first automotive garage in Grapevine. Pretty darn cool.

In 1975, the Willhouites closed the garage, and six years later it was purchased by local Phil Parker and turned into one of the most atmospheric hamburger joints in the state. Lucky for us he worked to keep as many pieces of automotive history as possible. So many that sometimes it’s hard to concentrate on whether to eat or wander around!

Where diners eat now may have been the wash rack, oil storage area, or beside the indoor kerosene pump.

The centerpiece of the restaurant is a Texas-sized buffet with a beautiful, vintage auto perched right on top! The menu offers all sorts of comfort food in addition to sandwiches and hamburgers, all at prices that won’t use up all of your gas money.

Have a burger for lunch here, and you probably won’t need dinner.

Salsa’s Mexican Grill , 3601 Regent Blvd #140, Irving

Yes, I know…Salsa’s is a chain. But I’ve never eaten at one and had anything but a good experience, so on those evenings when I’m really tired and ready to call it a day, a familiar name can be welcome. This particular location was easy to access, clean and had a very friendly, easy-going staff. And the food…mmmmm. We had to order combination platters so we could enjoy a sampling of enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, tamales, rice and beans. They also had a salsa bar, which is something I haven’t seen at other locations. It was fun to sample a few different salsas that we may not have otherwise tried.

This one may not have had the ambiance of the other two restaurants mentioned, but the food and prices make it a good option to keep on your list!

So there are three options to consider while you’re in the Irving area. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you give any of them a try … or if you have other suggestions! Bon appetit!

Destination: Friendsgiving!

Posted on November 10, 2018November 12, 2018 by admin

Looking for a reason to travel this fall, and get together with friends spread far and wide?

Plan a Destination Friendsgiving celebration!

The Thanksgiving holiday season is an ideal time to show our friends what an important role they play in our lives. A “Friendsgiving” is a gathering of those people for a feast and time spent enjoying each others company.

If your friends are coming from different parts of the state – or further, it will simplify things to find a bed and breakfast or rental hall as centrally located to everyone as possible. You might even put a fun twist on things by finding a town with a name perfectly paired to a Friendsgiving feast:

Turkey Texas

Blessing, Texas

Holliday, Texas

Salty, Texas

Moore, Texas (for the group that’s sure to want seconds)

Friendship, Texas

If most of the members of your group live in cities, consider a country setting where there are fall colors and outdoor trails to enjoy together.

Small town girls might consider staying in the city to enjoy the city lights and shopping.

For accommodations, check Airbnb, VRBO and the local Chamber of Commerce. Finding an inn with room enough for everyone to stay in one place will extend the fun.

For our meal space, we found a local small event venue in a historic building (and you know that makes me happy!) that wasn’t booked on the weekday we were getting together, and was having some work done on the property, so gave us a terrific deal.

The location doesn’t matter as much as the friends.

Next, choose a date that works for everyone. This usually means it won’t actually be the official week of Thanksgiving – which is great. It takes off some of the packed-schedule pressure. The added advantage is getting everyone away from the holiday stresses that at home.

Social media can make the planning easy, but keep things as simple as possible. It’s about the time spent together, after all!

Set up a Facebook event to invite friends, and have everyone add to a master list of dishes they’re bringing. Pie and cookies are the most important, of course (I’m entitled to my opinion), but you’ll want a few sides and at least one main dish too. Since everyone likely will have a traditional Thanksgiving celebration with their families soon, you may even decide to have a more non-traditional potluck meal, with Italian or Mexican food. No rules!

Well . . . maybe ONE rule. There must be pie. (It may be MY rule, but I think everyone will benefit from taking this one to heart!)

If you’re traveling to a destination Friendsgiving, consider picking up smaller essentials at a local grocery store to save on packing lists and ice chest space.

To really put the focus entirely on fun and togetherness, everyone can pitch in on ordering a dinner prepared by a local restaurant and to be picked up the afternoon or evening of the event.

Once the time and place have been decided, do a little online investigating to search for nearby holiday events that your group might enjoy attending together.

So what’s stopping you? Get busy contacting your favorite gang, choose a merry destination and celebrate your own Friends-giving.

I’d love to hear where you go!

And when you’re sitting back in a Friendsgiving food coma, take the time to check out the instagram accounts of some of my talented friends who gathered for our special occasion: Kathleen (mine, of course!), Stacy, Tamara, Amanda, Hailey, Christine, Vashti, Lauren, Tia, Courtney, LaShanta, Rachel Marie, Sarah and Sammy.

Start Your Own Dia de los Muertos Party Tradition

Posted on October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 by admin

Texas traditions can originate from almost anywhere in the world, thanks to our diverse history of immigration. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that some of Mexico’s customs have been brought north of the border. The most colorful, and thought by many to be mysterious, celebration is Dia de los Muertos.

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When I first approached a group of friends about having a Dia de los Muertos party, they were a bit hesitant. “Isn’t that kind of morbid?” “Isn’t that a celebration of death?”

The simple answer is no – it’s something much more upbeat than you may think.

Luckily, a few of them had seen the Disney Pixar movie “Coco” that familiarized American audiences with the celebration through a powerful story about family, community, tradition and remembrance. Think about Memorial Day, and the concept doesn’t seem so strange.

Dia de los Muertos vignette at the National Museum of Funeral History

The gist is to celebrate the lives of our ancestors, rather than mourn their passing, by incorporating food, drink and activities they enjoyed in life. Family members create “altars” in their homes with photos of loved ones surrounded by offerings of food, flowers and mementos. Others visit family cemeteries to decorate ancestors’ graves and share stories about their lives. The days of the celebration surround the Catholic “All Souls Day” on November 2. (So it isn’t really a ‘Halloween thing” like many think.)

Many of us no longer live in the communities of our ancestors, so circles of friends tend to become our new families. That’s why I thought having our own Dia de los Muertos celebration together would be a fun chance to celebrate all of our families and have some fun and great food at the same time! (Plus, I have some talented friends, so we’re always up for a reason to celebrate together!)

You can easily put together your own party as well.

Be sure to incorporate photos of loved ones who’ve passed, and share their stories. It keeps their spirit and your family lore alive.

I not only included photos of my mother, who we lost last year to Alzheimers, but also made tissue paper flowers for decorations – a craft she taught me as a child.

Attention to the smallest details can make a theme like this really come together. The talented Evangeline Event Designs made adorable sugar skull invitations and colorful menu cards, and I found some adorable small decorative accents, as well as a beautiful embroidered skull dishcloth at Hendley Market. The bright Fiestaware plates and platters are from Yesterday’s Best.

No Mexican theme meal is complete without tamales. We loved these from Pennie’s Tex Mex Takeout.

Alicia from The Kitchen Chick made chorizo with apricot sauce, Bob Armstrong queso (from the “Queso!” recipe book she carries in her store), and an amazing Blackberry Mezcal Smash Cocktail.

Our friend Stacy, otherwise known as the Hurried Hostess, made amazing fruit tacos and a churro bar. Yum-ola!

But the item that really had us all gasping in disbelief were the gorgeous cookies created by Jennifer from Good Gosh Ganache. I mean, really…look at these beauties!

Our friends Hailey and Tamara used their styling talents to help our buffet look amazing. Making this event such a group effort made it even more special.

Many communities in Texas offer the opportunity to experience Dia de los Muertos, including San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Victoria and Austin. Check your local community calendar to see if there’s one near you, and celebrate!