FOR MADELEINE

Well, this blog should probably be renamed. Because a historical event occurred a couple of months ago, one that was so big and huge and crazy, you might have felt the Earth shake a little bit.

Are you ready kids?

(here's where you say "AYE AYE CAPTAIN!")

I ATE YOGURT! And I didn't throw up, gag, cry, scream, dry heave, faint, explode, implode, dissolve, OR die. Nay, I ENJOYED it!

(Cue earthquake)

Let me explain. A group of friends went to this Indian food place called Indika.

Indika= amazeballs. That's all there is to it. Great atmosphere, good service, AMAZING food. Actually.

Ok, I'll admit. I was scared poop-less when I heard we were going to an Indian restaurant. The only thing I could think was "Everything is going to be weird and spicy and funny colors."

Of course, it didn't help when I sat down, opened the menu, and saw "Baby goat brains" as one of the appetizers. I saw that and my heart sank a little. Sorry, my heart sank A LOT. I was like "Ok that's cool, goat brains. Not even regular goat brains, but baby ones. FROM A GOAT BABY. FROM A KID. THIS IS MESSED UP. I'll just eat Icees and popcorn once we get to the movie theater."

But that was all changed about 30 minutes later when it was decided that the cook would just serve us a "Best Of" meal- their best appetizers and entrees for the whole group to share. I was relieved, because that meant I wouldn't have to dig through the menu for something that I thought I might like.

The appetizers (we requested NOT to have goat brain) came out, and I got really excited. Like "Holy mother of pearl, this is all so pretty and yummy looking and I cannot wait to sink my chompers into every single one of these puppies" excited. BUT NOT REAL PUPPIES OF COURSE! Proverbial ones.

We had:
Slow roasted goat on an open faced crepe with spinach and walnuts
Lambchops with mint masala
Crab samosas with papaya ginger chutney
Warm spinach and paneer with a tandoori corn cracker type-thing
and Corn and Mint Chahat

This is where the yogurt came into play. They had brought everything out to the table when another waiter came up and was like "One last thing" and put the corn chahat right in front of me. Then he said "The is our corn and mint chahat with a yogurt dressing."

I eyed the chahat and was immediately trying to trade the goat plate over the yogurt one (yes, that is how much I detest yogurt), when Helen looked at me and said "Just do it, Martha."

So I did, and I'm really glad. It was one of my favorite dishes of the night.

Full disclosure: friends made this possible. If I hadn't had 6 pairs of eyes (YO DIZ A SHOUT OUT TO MAH GURL MADELEINE) trained on me while I whimpered about being scared, I wouldn't have had a single bite. Trusting new food and the people who introduce you to it is SO important.

I'm a believer in the power of food. Not like, "holy-crap this food has given me 5 extra pounds its so powerful" but like "I care about you, and I want to convey myself, so here's something that I am 100% responsible for, and I want it to make you happy".

I just went there.

Grumble Grumble Grumble.

You know what makes me sad?

When a good restaurant with a fun atmosphere goes down the freaking tubes.

For instance- Mission Burrito.

Once a fun, hip restaurant, Mission is now on the depressing side. The dingy tables, incompetent staffers, and sticky floors might add to this fall from the top.

I was there today eating lunch and I couldn't help remembering how awesome this place used to be back when my family ate here at least once a week. Instead of calling your name when your order was ready or delivering food right to the customer's table, Mission would give out toys.

"When your order is ready, we'll call out 'The Incredible Hulk'."

And then they would give you an Incredible Hulk action figure to mess with while you waited for your food.
Sweet right?

Not anymore. When I went today, the chick at the counter was like "Yeah, so y'all are 'sunglasses.' When we call 'sunglasses' your order is ready."

AND THEN THEY COMMITTED A HEINOUS CRIME.
They didn't give us a toy. Me, being a regular costumer, politely asked "Do we get a toy?" To which the crime-committer replied, "Oh we don't do that anymore."

Say what?

I wanted to punch a pony I was so angry. NO TOY?!?!

Ignore the fact that I'm fifteen years old and don't play with toys anymore. THIS WAS A PROBLEM. This restaurant that I practically grew up eating from was CHANGING ITS WAYS!?

I guess this is pretty indicative of my personality. Ok, so I'm not that open to change, I know that.

BUT WHEN A RESTAURANT SAYS YOU ARE "SUNGLASSES", THEY'D BETTER GIVE YOU SOME SUNGLASSES TO SOLIDIFY THAT FACT.

Argle Bargle.

Dolce Vita

For my friend Jackie's birthday, we went to this restaurant in the Montrose area called Dolce Vita.

Can I just say that if I had the chance I would eat at this place every night?

The restaurant is in this old 2 story, rickety floor board, fire-place-in-every-room, warm, cozy, house. I absolutely love the atmosphere- Everyone in the joint is laid back and there for delicious food.

Jackie's family is pro at everything food related- so we let them do the ordering, and I'll have to admit, I almost left the restaurant when I heard what they were ordering. Anchovie and bell pepper, calamari, octopus with rapini, and pumpkin and goat cheese rapini as appetizers.

Excuse me?

When the food came though, everything looked and smelled delicious. So I put on my big girl face, and with encouragement ("For the blog, Martha!") from my friends, dug into the foreign foods in front of me.

Anchovies? No problem.
Octopus? Bring it on.
Calamari? Hand it over.
Fried pumpkin and goat cheese things? Nom nom nom.

I tried everything folks... everything!!

That doesn't mean I loved everything, or even ate more than a bite of some of the appetizers, but next time, maybe I'll push on and eat more of the dishes.

For the main course, we ordered 3 different pizzas and gnocchi al ragu. Yum!

The pizzas were definitely way out there- Sausage, rapini, pecorino; tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, and arugula; and telaggio, arugula, pear and truffle oil.

I ate a piece of each, and let me tell you, they were all DEE-LISH.

Needless to say, I was stuffed after this dinner, and had to waddle to the car after eating.

So what does this mean? Now that I've eaten anchovie, octopus, and crazy pizza does it mean this blog is over? After 4 posts?

Absolutely not. Because, duh, I haven't eaten shrimp yet! Or conquered other food fears for that matter.

However, this eating experience was a major turning point for me. I know I can eat anything and survive- all I have to do is pretend to be brave and take a leap of faith.

Because that's all that trying new things is really about isn't it- that leap of faith?

You've just got to grit your teeth, stab that sucker on your plate with your fork, and trust that this food won't hurt you.

No fear.

Second Review: The Lakehouse

So I'm not a very good blogger. The evidence is on the blog itself. When's the last time I blogged? Late January? Whoopsie.

Well I'm back, and I want to get this blog thing going. Anyone out there have tips on getting your blog known? Anyone?

Anywho, good news! I've been more adventurous in my eating. So what if that means being the mystery jelly bean taste tester (don't eat the tan speckly ones- they are DISGUSTING)? In advisory a while back, Coach Baber (one of my advisors extraordinaire) brought in this sausage that was stuffed with rice (I'm sure there's a name for it that I'm brain farting on right now..) and I was the FIRST to try it. We're taking small steps.

The best part? I LIKED IT! IT WAS YUMMY AND DELICIOUS AND HOTTER THAN LOGAN LERMAN, WHICH MADE MY MOUTH WANT TO JUMP OUT OF MY SKULL, BUT HEY! I liked it.

But this post is supposed to be a review (another testament to my lack of blogging skizzilz)
So here we go- The Lakehouse!

http://www.thelakehousehouston.com/

The Lakehouse is right smack in the middle of Discovery Green in downtown Houston, right next to this faux-lake where little kiddies can race boats- awwww! The building itself is uber-cool and modern, and they play GREAT music. They have a very simple menu- burgers, fries, and hotdogs, and GREAT lemonade. I tried the basil lemonade (go me!) but opted for the regular instead. I got the Lakehouse burger and the golden Yukon fries, which have to be some of the best fries in town- I kid you not. The burger is super yummy-delicious and simple- just like everything else in the restaurant. I'll admit, I should have been more adventurous and gone with something like the Texas Smokehouse- a sirloin, chuck, brisket, and BACON patty with white cheddar, mushrooms, and St. Arnold's stewed onions. Next time.

I really love the Lakehouse- there's something about the atmosphere that makes me happy. The food is yummy too, and the staff is great. If you're looking for something to do one sunny afternoon in Houston- hit the Green! Mess around in the park and grab a bite at the Lakehouse! And make sure to get the Vanilla Bean milkshake- it is DELISH! Ps did you know that vanilla beans are actually orchid seeds or something shiz-diculous like that? My Uncle Richard (crazy amazin' cook) knows all kind of crazy things like that.

First Review: Canopy

So besides this one review I did on a restaurant for French class, this is my first restaurant review. Can I get a "Woot!"?

OH! I forgot to mention- I live in Houston, TX. So basically all of the restaurants I review are going to be located in Houston, I do travel in-country pretty often, so I'll try to include some restaurants in other states when I can.

ANYWHO

On Saturday, I had a Tiny Boxwood's CRAVING (3614 West Alabama Street Houston, TX 77027-5906 (713) 622-4224), but when my mom and I got there, it was packed, and cold for Texas (read: it was 50 degrees and windy) so sitting outside was not an option. Not giving up easily on super yummy delicious food, my mom suggested we try out Haven, this new local-food-only restaurant (2502 Algerian Way Houston, TX, 77098 713-581-610). But alas, its not open for lunch. The hostess there suggested we check out Canopy in Montrose (http://www.canopyhouston.com/), so that's where we headed...

My first impression of Canopy was that it was a super hip, clean-lined, no nonsense joint on a mission to combine natural elements with modern eating. That impression was kind of shattered when an old couple in 80's style warm-up suits came into the restaurant bickering with eachother and sat down at the table next to us. My real first impression was that this restaurant was freaking BORING. The waiters looked bored, the decor looked bored, the menu looked bored, the music sounded bored.... You get the picture. The service was pretty slow even though there was hardly anyone there, and my mom and I were well.... bored quite frankly after we ordered. Only the brunch menu was available when we went, and there were slim pickins'...
I ordered on the safe side, a Canopy Burger with cheese, but for a little adventure I tried the garlic pickles that were on the side and even put arugula mayo on the burger! We're taking baby steps here....
Anyway, the burger itself came on a Challah bun, and was pretty good. That's all that it was though- a good burger. Not amazing, but pretty good. But the shoestring fries that came with it were excellent.

Bottom line-
Canopy is a good place to go if you're tired. Or if you're willing to settle for "pretty good" food. This place definitely isn't somewhere I'm super excited to go back to, but I'll keep it in my back pocket for when we're bored of all the usual places. Maybe the next time I go I'll be more adventurous and get the Sautéed Gulf Shrimp and Linguine....
Because I shouldn't fear food, and neither should you.

Martha

Hello World

Hi Everyone!

Go read the about me section so I don't have to repeat myself in this here blog.

So I'm afraid of some foods for very good reasons.

The Shrimp Fear
Not irrational. I have perfectly acceptable reasons why I won't eat shrimp.

Reason number 1- The first time I EVER ate shrimp, I was in the south of France, where sea food is apparently super amazing, except I wouldn't really know because I'm not a sea food freak. Anyway, my grandmother (who is an amazing cook) was making some sort of shrimp dinner for the fam. Except she didn't go to the market and buy fresh shrimp from some nice old shriveled up french man who permanently smelled like fish, she went to the super market. Instead of buying mediocre shrimp from their sea food section, she went for the frozen Brazilian shrimp that look like severed gray thumbs, not shrimp. Ick. Then, back at the house in France, she ordered me and my cousin to peel said shrimp, which were slimy and smelled like they had been sitting at the bottom of the sea of poop for eternity. After squeezing them out of their shells and getting shiz-nasty shrimp ick all OVER my hands, I had to eat them. And I almost threw up. But little did I know, my cousin's babysitter had stolen one of the uncooked shrimp, wrapped it in toilet paper, and employed my sweet, mischievous little sister to put said shrimp in my pillow case. I guess she was feeling pretty spiteful that day... So I ended up sleeping on this raw, previously frozen Brazilian shrimp all night. My head, the pillow, the blankets, the sheets, and the mattress all smelled like shrimp when I woke up. It took 3 showers and almost a full bottle of shampoo to get the smell out of my hair.

Reason number 2- Then, the next year, while fishing, my sister hooked me in the back of the head with the shrimp we were using as bait while fishing.

Reason number 3- Then, that same summer, I decided to be brave and try cajun shrimp. It was so spicy my lips almost fell off.


So I'm not exactly excited to try shrimp ever again. But hey, that's what this blog is for! I'm going to conquer my fear, eat shrimp, and learn to love it.

So there.