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.