Pizza Quest: Turquoise Grill. whaaaaaaaa!!!

What it do. It has been a week or two since my last post. I am currently in school, and pizza quest proves to be a little more difficult when you have little time (and little money). My latest pizza experience happened on accident. And what a wonderful accident it was.

My father's piano store, so cleverly named The Piano Store by yours truly, was located near the intersection of Richmond and Kirby until it was closed. In the same building there is a little Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant called Turquoise Grill. Sometimes my father would have events and the Turquoise Grill would cater and serve a bunch of snobby people listening to excellent pianists. The first thing you should know about Turquoise, if you have never been, is that the moment their food enters your life you are treated like a part of the family. It is the same in the cafe as it is when they cater snobby events. The Turquoise staff caters to your every need and desire, going beyond food. Few establishments even try to do that. I also love the pride they have for their food. It is their passion and they tell you all about it without hesitation. It makes me feel all gooey inside.

Friday, June 3rd, the lady and I were dropping off the rent check across the street from Turquoise and decided not to f- with going home, and just eat out. We walked in to the late afternoon crowd of five or six. The color pallet inside is as charming as our server. He walks over and begins to woo us with his recommendations in a soft, alluring tone. I have eaten the food of Turquoise many times, but for some damned reason I have passed over the Turquoise Lahmajun every time. I asked him about it. He goes on to tell me about how it is prepared and that it is Turkey's version of pizza, but better. It is a thin crusted pie with ground beef, onions, red peppers and spices. I had a knee-jerk reaction at first to say "no," but I went ahead and ordered the pizza along with salad. "Why JR?" you ask, "It's pizza." For all future purposes, I generally hate ground beef on pizza. It is never of good quality nor flavor. But I have a quest, right?

The pizza takes a while. The salad comes out first, which is below par, served with wonderful fresh baked flat bread. Turquoise also serves the Turkish beer Efes Pilsen, which is the the big name in Turkish beer. It is very tasty, hoppy and refreshing. A good summer beer. As I finish off the beer the pizza comes out. The lady and I share the 12" seen above. Our server explains that the best way to eat it: put the fresh shredded lettuce and cabbage on top, add some lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, then fold it up and eat it like a tex-mex fajita. "This is as they do in Turkey, " he says. So I did as they do. Best pizza I have had so far on my quest. The ground beef, spices and oil, along with the lemon, red pepper and cabbage had me regretting only ordering one. And the crust was a dream-crust: thin, crunchy but not too dry and a little smokey flavor. I was destroyed.

Head over to Turquoise Grill. Order this pizza and an Efes and tell me I am wrong. I can't wait to go back and try the rice pudding which is said to be the best in Houston.

Pizza Quest continues...

Turquoise Grill
3701 Kirby Dr #160
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 526-3800

Banana Leaf

woman w/ coconut

shrimp puffs

ginger chicken

calamari

salted fish, tofu and chicken casserole

Last week I put my Urban Spoon iPhone app to use. Scrolling through the different styles of food and Malaysian caught my eye. I have seen Anthony Bourdain in Malaysia, and other Travel Channel specials, but what is Malaysian food like, really? And what is it like in Houston?

Unfortunately, only a few places pop up in the Malaysian category in Houston. Whaaaa?!?! Banana Leaf was one of them. Coincidentally the Texas Monthly that my lady just purchased had a review of Banana Leaf as being one of the best new restaurants in Texas. I did not even hesitate. I called up my life-long friends, the Brown's, and set a date. We met in a ginormous strip center off of Bellaire at Beltway 8, right in the heart of Asia-town. I had half a seizure processing this place. It looks so unnatural. I associate Asian script with pictures I have seen of Korea, and of course in Lost in Translation. Combining the bright Korean and Chinese with the lifeless, concrete shopping centers that make up most of Houston, I got really messed up for a minute. I was dazed AND confused. McConaughey is great...

Inside, Banana Leaf is a charming little room with bamboo mat walls. There are 12-15 crammed tables, two sweaty servers and an exposed kitchen. There are many cooks in the back making sweet Indian pancakes, tossing them like pizza dough. Every now and then the charming, bald head-waiter quickly goes to the back, grabs a coconut and with one movement, chops the top off, stuffs in a straw and serves it fresh to his customers. This place is producing some of the best food I have eaten in this city. It is fresh, healthy and full of interesting flavors.

I had to go over the menu about six times. This thing is monstrous. It is a novella. Immediately I see that there were two dishes I HAD to get: the Banana Leaf House Special calamari and the shrimp puffs. The calamari... I can't even explain what is all going on in there. It hits so hard. The shrimp puffs are one of the reasons God gave us shrimp. It is minced shrimp, wrapped in bacon, and then deep fried. For my main I choose the salted fish, tofu and chicken casserole. The salted fish is very dominant. It is very salty, which I love, and the texture of the tofu adds a cool element. The Browns and I also share some curry chicken, which I enjoy, and some ginger chicken. For dessert we devour one of the Indian pancakes that is folded over with banana and butter inside of it. I can't wait to go back.

Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine
9889 Bellaire
Houston, TX 77036

P.S. Per Sam Brown, aloe juice and vodka martinis are popular in Korea, and they are good. I'm trying some this weekend.

loving leeks

Leeks

Lately, I have leeks on my brain. They are one of the most influential flavors of Loire Valley in France, located just west of le Centre where Paris lies. The western sea breeze creates an ideal climate for vegetation in the Loire Valley and it's reflected in the cuisine. I fell for leeks during my stay in France in the Summer of 2002 with my good friend Arthur. A combination of being young, emo, and a month long wine and cigarette infused buzz made me fall in love with everything French.

My hosts cooked nearly every meal I ate. Many of the dishes use fresh lettuces, carrots and of course leeks. The smell of the leeks cooking in butter on the pan sends a cozy feeling over me every time. The taste makes me lose my head for a moment and reminds me of riding motorbikes in the salty air along the Brittany seawall, the warm sun and sounds of Solidays Music Festival, and the bitter grapes off Champagne vines.

While grocery shopping last week, I happened upon some robust leeks that couldn't pass up. To me, leeks are a very intimidating vegetable. Every time I come across them I slow down and give them a good look over.

On this day, I took a deep breath, wrapped up a stalk and checked out. I consider my options: mushroom and leek risotto, vichyssoise, or a scallop and leek tart. But it takes a real commitment to buy leeks. There is no such thing as spontaneous cooking when leeks are involved. Most dishes must be thought out and well prepared to appreciate the flavor of this vegetable.

I decide to make something familiar. I prepared rotini whole wheat pasta with a leek and scallion sauce topped with sun dried tomatoes.

The sauce:
1 tbspn butter on pan; cook diced leeks and chopped scallions until soft and brown; add 1 tspn of diced garlic and let it cook 3-5 mins (add more butter if necessary to keep from burning); pour in 1 cup of heavy cream; bring to a simmer and allow it to cook for 15-20; salt and pepper to taste. Pic above


I toss the cooked rotini in the sauce and then add the tomatoes. It rules. It's a simple dish to prepare with a lot of flavor. Easy for the Russ Willis' out there who complain about cooking for one.

Leeks are a wonderful veggie that I think people should use a little more. There's a ton of great, simple recipes using leeks--I'd love to hear your favorites.

A little background...

Leeks are a relative of the onion and garlic species. It grows on a stalk on a bulb, and has a very unique and distinct taste. They also have a very rich history, as far as vegetables go. Leeks date back in time to ancient Mesopotamia. It is one of the few mentioned vegetables in the Old Testament as a food commonly eaten by the Egyptians. The ruthless Roman Emperor Nero would eat leeks in oil at nearly every meal, because it was thought to enhance your singing voice. The leek is also a long standing symbol of Wales, England, dating back to Henry V.

Pizza Quest Houston: Pizza Rome

PIZZA ROME

My quest continues. Let me start by saying that this search for the best slice in Houston isn't to restate what we already know. Star Pizza is tops. Barry's Pizza downtown has a great deep dish! I'm searching for the places we don't have on speed dial. These might not be new to some, but there is just too much out there.

.............

I come across Pizza Rome by accident. Formerly Pizza Venise, Pizza Rome is a small sliver between a Smoothie King and probably a tanning salon at Montrose and Hawthorne. To be honest, I am turned off when I first see it. Then I remember that one of my all time pizza eateries is located in a little strip mall in San Marcos, TX (Zen's Pizza WHAT!). I will give it a go. The parking lot is tiny. I don't understand what these property owners were thinking when they developed the parking situation. I bail and plan on ordering via delivery.

First thing first: It's f-ing 2009. Get a website! That is my only beef with Pizza Rome. I appreciate taking me back to 1995 when I would only rely on word-of-mouth when it came choosing restaurants, but for realz. So I called up the other members of Pizza Pizza Pi to gather at my place for the second leg of Pizza Quest 2009. {Editors Note: Pizza Pizza Pi is a two-man pizza fraternity created in San Marcos, Texas in the Fall of 2003} My Pizza Pizza Pi man comes over with a couple people bearing gifts in the form of New Belgium Abbey. I accept.

With no menu to chose from, I dial and have the poor girl go over every specialty pie the restaurant offers. She goes over the basics and continues to rattle off recent custom orders. What a sweetheart. As she runs through her list, blue cheese catcches my ear's eye. I order the ROME PIZZA and the SUPREME PIZZA.

The Rome Pizza is where its at. The blue cheese and artichoke heart combo, on its own, make me want to vomit each slice up and eat it again. It is packed with black olives tomatoes, purple onions and mozzarella. I can't get enough...and I have to share. Sucks. The Supreme is the typical supreme. It's a good pie, but nothing special: sausage, pepperoni, black olives, green peppers, onions and mozzarella. The crust is a little droopy for my liking, I wish both had more time in the oven. But where the crust lacks, the toppings deliver, pun intended. Both are fresh and plentiful. I appreciate the top heavy pizza. Don't we all.

I hear the lunch specials are great. Need to tap that. If you live near or around the Montrose area and you are planning a night in, call up Pizza Rome and have her read you the menu.

Pizza Rome
3407 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX
713.520.9090

P.S. I promise better pictures from this point forward.

Jerusalem. Austin, TX

I spent the '09 Memorial Day weekend in Austin catching up with good friends and saying goodbye to Miss Dyer, a great friend, who is moving to San Francisco.

I can't get around eating out for every meal while I'm out of town. I make sure to make the most of it. My girlfriend and I were searching for Pho, and we happened upon a Mediterranean joint called Jerusalem. It's a dull space in the middle of a run down shopping center on E. Oltorf, owned by an older Arabic woman on the grill (who preferred not to be photographed) and her two sons who serve as her translators and busboys.

We split fresh dolmas, a flavorful chicken shawerma wrap, and a kibbeh plate. The chicken shawerma wrap tastes excellent; great use of cumin, along with cabbage and a mild yogurt sauce. The chicken is perfectly cooked. The wraps are the way to go, all around $5, and huge.

We finish the meal with crispy, homemade baklava and Arabica coffee. I thought I had good Arabica coffee before. I was wrong. Ten minutes after I order my coffee, I ask if they remember that I requested it. Her son insists that she is making it, and he simply explains, "It's not American coffee." He finally brings it out to me, and it's worth every minute. The drink is thick, black and smooth. It's pressed with lavender which shocks the hell out of my coffee buds. Yes, I have those. At the end of each sip I feel a little honey slide down my tongue, which is comforting.

The cook takes her time on each dish. It's as if she adopted us for an hour to cook us a meal with all she could give us. Jerusalem isn't just a Mediterranean restaurant. This place is While a black and white Arabic movie plays in the background, I think about how this woman's life for a moment. She is probably a first generation to America and how difficult that must be. She knows little English and keeps herself hidden in the back behind a curtain most of the time. I can't imagine being in that position. Being, in a place that is filled with millions of people living at a constant 70 mph, consumed by themselves and not slowing down for finer things. But she had her food. That's what I enjoyed most about Jerusalem. It was hers.

Jerusalem Grill & Market

1931 E. Oltorf
Austin, TX

blanton museum

P.S. During the weekend the g.f. and I went sky diving at Sky Dive San Marcos. I know is probably annoying to hear from EVERYONE you know who has, but you should do it if you haven't! We also went to the Blanton Museum of Art for the first time. Add that to your ATX list when you visit. Some really great contemporary pieces, as well as really cool ancient Greek pottery and European art collections.

all photos by Bruce McClendon

pizza quest begins: Raia's Italian Market

pic from heights blog

My search for the best pie in town starts at 4500 Washington. Raia's Italian Market is stuck in the middle of a new, stucco shopping center. Inside, it's a charming little market filled with imported sauces, wines and sparkling waters, dotted with red and white checkered tables that are warmed by the brick oven in the corner. Every time I see a brick oven in the room I am supposed to be eating in, I give a that a "0oohhh hell yeah" to the pizza. We opted to skip the wait and sit outside, it was a decent enough evening after the rain cooled the air...so WTF not. We talked about all the things that happen when you get old: forgetting everything, hurting all the time and pooping yourself. The first thing to know is Raia's makes an excellent thin crust. Crust is key for me. The only difference between pizzas are the crust. You can apply the same toppings over and over, but a good crust is what separates perfection from street vendor pizza.





I had the Rotunno pizza, topped prosciutto di parma, arugula, fresh mozzarella, shaved reggiano, & marinara . The prosciutto was tops, but all in all a little too leafy.





I was drawn to @delucasounds' Carl Raia/olive pie. It kicked mouth's ass. I am not the biggest fan of olives, but this was a great flavor combo: artichoke hearts, basil, black olives, green olives, Italian sausage, mozzarella & marinara. The salty sausage and artichokes made me happy to be eating olives. Never happened.


So kudos to Raia's. The pizza ranges from $9-12 and with a appetizer can easily feed two, so go check it out.

da yutes

Mr. Deluca graduated from U of H law school this past week. Last night his wonderful grandmother threw the graduation party of my dreams. Best grad spread ever. Included hummus, olive salad, Italian sausage links, fresh baguettes, vinegar-soaked potato salad, and a sin filled cheese plate were a few of the items. What did it for me was the endless supply of cashews, my favorite nut. They ain't cheap.


Grandma also prepped an assortment of jello shots, which were a hit with the older crowd, and gave us a few laughs. A friend of the family brought THE best sangria I've ever had. She added apricots to the wine and brandy mix, as well as fresh citrus fruits which were nice to nibble on at the end of the night.

Going to have some pizza tonight.




from stomach

its always sweeter

For those of you that don't know I am a special ed sub in Sugar Land. Shit is bananas. I found myself stopping in for coffee at Minuti Coffee on Highway 6 a few weeks ago to meet a friend. It is a new, but familiar coffee bar specializing in espresso drinks made with Caffe Molinari beans, a brand out of Modena, Italy that has coffee shops all over Europe.

This shit is legit. Very good espresso. The environment in Minuti is a bit annoying, filled with a bunch of Sugar Land business men and students putting off a, "I'm cultured now" vibe while staring into a blank Word doc on their new Macbooks. Pshhaaaaaaa....They also have your standard muffins and tarts, as well as donuts which aren't too shabby. They recently added an adult drink line-up which includes my beloved Italian export, Peroni.


What keeps me comin is their Bioespresso Yogurt drink. It is a frappe drink with a few shots of the dark stuff, ice, and vanilla yogurt instead of your traditional cream or milk. This drink does two things for me: 1) Ends the struggle at the end of a blended drink, where you are forced to remove the lid and stir the ice around, looking like a little fat, desperate kid breathing all heavy and 2) It is an endless mystery. What I mean is it is like the first time I had generic Post Bran Cereal. I had some, didn't know if I liked it or not, so I kept eating it. Every sip is an epic battle between taste buds and "favorites folder" of the brain.

If you are in Sugar Land, go try it. If you are in town, rumor has it they are to open a location later this year in the mid-town area.

from stomach

senses failed

This is my debut entry. Thanks to @explauren and two others for telling me to aim low, it was the confidence boost I needed to get started.


Saturday evening was spent at Tacos A Go Go. With juices from the smokey barbacoa taco rolling down my hand, which is a Go-Go's best, I realized that the mood at our table of 10 plus was g.d. depressing. I didn't hesitate to mention it, which I think made the sitch worse being that it was a friend's birthday celebration. It took me a few but it eventually hit me...f-ing "Free Bird." It was on the loud speakers. The song is a classic, but it pisses me off when people think that it's so good it should be played constantly. It was followed by depressing 80's heart-broken themed songs, one after another. There seemed to be no end, that was until we walked out.

Music is a huge part of food for me, especially when dining out. There are food genre codes, and these must be followed religiously. The Carpenters shouldn't be playing with a full stack of ribs and Austin baked beans, Sinatra doesn't pair up with spinach enchiladas, and if I ever hear Nickleback, ever again, in any situation really, I will put out a $27 reward for Chad Kroeger's heart, in a Kroger's plastic shopping bag.

I am going to start a food quest. I am in search of the best slice of pizza in town. Any suggestions? Also, I would like for this blog to stimulate some conversation. If you are reading this far, cool. Comment back. Come up with worst song and food pairing, or something.








From stomach