WHERE DO I GO FOR BRUNCH ON THE PATIO?

We are currently in Houston's small window of amazing weather, so naturally, dining al fresco is on everyone's mind. Brunch on a wonderful patio is perfect for this time of year and, frankly, is underrated. My friends and I routinely enjoy weekend brunch -- sometimes to cure a hangover, sometimes to enjoy the weather, and sometimes just to partake in one of our favorite pastimes: drinking during the day. Whatever your reason for brunching outside, these are my favorite spots:

1. Bedford

Hands down, the best brunch in Houston. Before I tried Bedford -- a relatively new, upscale restaurant in the Heights -- I was skeptical, having heard mixed reviews. Most of the criticisms related to itsservice and timeliness of the food. I can't say that I'm surprised -- I had a horrible experience with Chef Gadsby when he was head chef at Soma. He singlehandedly ruined a 10-person tasting dinner that was sure to be, in his words, "the most amazing food experience of your lives." It didn't matter that every item on the pre-set, 10-course menu was tasty because we waited for an hour before receiving our first morsel of food! But I begrudgingly tried Bedford for the first time at a birthday dinner -- I didn't really have a choice because it wasn't my birthday! I will save the dinner blog for another post, but suffice it to say, Chef Gadsby and the Bedford staff blew me away.

So when my friends' parents were in town two weekends ago, we all decided to give it a go. I'm quite certain that I will be unable to do its brunch justice with this post, but here is my attempt: BEDFORD BRUNCH IS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN. First, Bedford's patio is superb -- it's spacious, its chairs are comfy, and it's beautiful. Second, the service is top-notch. The servers are available and attentive without being in your business or annoying. Third, and most importantly, the food is exceptional. Without a doubt, Bedford's bacon omelet and potato omelet are the two best omelets I have ever put in my mouth. The combination of ingredients in each one (the former combines bacon, chilies, tomatoes, and cheese -- simple yet impeccable; the latter combines potatoes, caramelized onions, truffles, and cheese -- you can't go wrong with that combo) forces you to eat the entire omelet. Seriously. You are bush league if you don't.

We also shared the strawberry-blueberry waffle, which was outstanding and perfect to share because all you need is one or two bites. And of course we had mimosas and sangria, which were consistent. Their sangria recipe is very tasty, and you can get a pitcher for for $14 -- the pitcher goes a long way...our whole table (five of us) had multiple glasses. The spiked milkshakes are a creative twist on brunch beverages, and the Studewood (maker's mark, butterscotch syrup, and ice cream) is reason alone to go back. Skinny options: fresh fruit parfait with skim milk, no whip; two farm eggs (you can request egg whites), no meat, with a side salad.

When you go to Bedford, you are likely to run into one of its owners, the chef, or someone else affiliated with it, and they routinely take the time to stop by your table just for a chat to thank you for your patronage. While quite large, it is a very friendly place that has quickly made its way onto my short list of favorites in Houston. The only downside is that Bedford is only open for brunch on Sundays, so don't head over there on a Saturday.

http://www.bedfordrestaurant.com/


2. Backstreet Cafe

Everyone knows that Backstreet has a fantastic patio...but does everyone know that it has a phenomenal brunch with flavored mimosas that vary from week-to-week? If you haven't tried Backstreet's brunch, you should. I recommend the bacon-wrapped quail to start -- even if you aren't much into gamey foods, you'll love the flavor of the pair together (and of course the jalapeno grits top it off nicely). The Backstreet Benedict is a unique take on the traditional eggs benedict -- the eggs and Canadian bacon are served on two cheddar chive biscuits. For the sweets lover, the French toast is amazing -- it's stuffed with bananas and a caramel sauce! Pretty much everything on the menu is good, and includes some of Backstreet's most popular staples (e.g., vegetarian plate, pecan crusted chicken) for those who would rather lunch than brunch. Skinny option: goat cheese salad, dressing on the side.

http://www.backstreetcafe.net/


3. Farrago

Because so many new places have popped up in Midtown, Farrago is, in my opinion, too-often overlooked. Farrago has a fantastic patio. And it deserves to be on the list if for no other reason than bottomless mimosas for $9! But for those skeptics out there -- trust me -- Farrago actually does serve good food. Its chilaquiles (scrambled eggs, sausage, tortilla strips, cheese, and salsa) are great (especially before an afternoon of mimosa drinking!) and their huevos rancheros come with polenta, which makes them even tastier. But my favorite dish at Farrago (served at brunch, lunch, and dinner) is the jerked pizza. The combination of the jerk spice, Canadian bacon, fruits (pineapple & mango) and cheeses (mozzarella & manchego) is an open challenge to your self-restraint. I hope you give Farrago a chance -- you won't be disappointed!

http://www.farragohouston.com/


4. Tila's

I have to admit...Tila's never would have been on my short list of brunch destinations had one of my friends not organized brunch there a couple weeks ago. I was, frankly, skeptical. Turns out, she was dead on. Tila's is the perfect place to brunch casual (translation: hungover) style. The servers were informative and witty...I showed up first -- in my workout clothes -- claiming to need a table for nine on the patio. I could tell my server doubted whether I actually had nine friends because it took about 45 minutes for them all to show up. But it didn't matter -- she was as attentive to me as if my entire party was already there. I was initially devastated to learn that they didn't serve queso, but she assured me that their queso fundido would do the trick. She was right -- the beef queso fundido is a great appetizer or meal of its own. She also recommended the sopa de fideo (noodle soup), claiming that it would cure my hangover. She was right again...well I wouldn't say I was cured, but I was in good enough shape to tackle the Galleria for several post-brunch hours. Most of my friends had variations of the typical Mexican egg dishes (e.g., huevos rancheros, chiliquiles, etc.), and everyone left happy. I was not a huge fan of their margaritas -- they were too heavy on the mix for my taste, but those who drank the mimosas seemed pleased. Oh, and make sure to read the menu, which is infused with humor as a means of explaining their dishes. To sum it up, if you want brunch without the pomp and circumstance, go to Tila's.

http://www.tilas.com/

WHERE DO I TAKE THE NEW HOTTIE ON A SECOND DATE?

Most guys have a solid, go-to first date locale, but a lot of the dudes I know get stumped on where to take a girl on a second date. You want to impress her, have a good time, but still not spend all your benjamins because you aren’t yet sure if she’s worth the investment. Here are some options:

1. Dolce Vita ($$)

This is a great date place because it’s casual but not too casual and allows for start-to-finish shared dishes, which is important because: (1) chics like to split dishes…they feel less guilty about indulging when they split entrees; and (2) chics dig guys who are willing to share their food. To start, suggest splitting the cheese plate – it’s fantastic, and the gnocchi – also outstanding. For the main course, split the calabrese pizza – it’s the best pizza they have (their version of a pepperoni pizza) and you sound refined ordering it. I’m not too big on their desserts, and dessert is a must on a second date. So I recommend heading across the street to So Vino to split the smores and have a nightcap. You’ll have her eating out of the palm of your hands…a fire, chocolate, and marshmallows coupled with the fact that you planned ahead and thought of two separate places to take her.

http://www.dolcevitahouston.com/; http://www.sovinowines.com/

2. Benjy’s ($$$)

This is the second-date place for a girl you are really into because it’s a little pricier than others on the list. This New American, trendy restaurant is sure to impress. The original Benjy’s is in Rice Village, and is always a great option. But to show her you are “with the times”, I recommend taking her to the new Benjy’s, on the very hip Washington strip. Start with the pistachio crusted goat cheese cakes. For your main course, you can’t go wrong with the crusted chicken, buffalo hanger steak, or scallops. You absolutely have to order the mom’s chocolate cake for dessert and watch her go all dreamy on you – chics really dig guys that order dessert, especially chocolate. Aside from creative and tasty cocktails, Benjy’s has a great wine list, and if scouring a wine list isn’t your thing, check out my post on how to order wine on a date.

http://www.benjys.com/

3. Lucio’s ($$)

This BYOB is great for a second date because its intimate, quiet setting ensures good conversation, and the BYOB aspect allows you to show off your wine ordering skills while not breaking the bank [see my post on ordering wine on a date if you are lost]. To start, I recommend the spinach dip or fried calamari, both are fantastic and easy to eat on a date. All of their salads are awesome – my favorite is the goat cheese apple salad. If your date is looking for something on the lighter side, the sesame crusted ahi tuna is exceptional. But their best dish on the menu is the pasta mixta (not at all on the lighter side). One of you has to get the blue cheese torte – it’s probably the best thing on their menu. For dessert, their crème brulee is among the best in town.

http://www/luciosbyob.com

4. Azuma ($$)

Even though it's in the crowded, construction-filled Rice Village, Azuma is my favorite sushi restaurant in town. Sushi is a solid second-date option because, once again, it allows you to share food (see No. 1) and find out whether you've got a picky eater on your hands. Their best speciality rolls are: the crazy irishman , sumo, patriot, and azuma. I'm also a big fan of their spicy tuna roll (it's spicier than most) and their Philadelphia roll (order it with fresh instead of smoked salmon). Azuma's nigiri sushi (raw fish on rice) is always fresh, and they make some of the best escolar in town. If you actually plan ahead and make a reservation (such a small thing that earns big points with the ladies), ask the hostess to seat you in one of the corner-edge booths – it allows for the possibility of some incidental touching.

http://www.azumajapanese.com/

HOW DO I ORDER A BOTTLE OF WINE ON A DATE?

With wine being all the rage right now, it seems like every guy around knows all about grape varietals and wine lists. SO NOT TRUE! Most guys are super intimidated by the pressure of ordering a bottle of wine on a date, especially on the first few dates. If you are an expert wine guy, this post is not for you. But if you don’t know a lot about wine but still want to impress, here are my suggestions:

I. Selecting the Wine:

As Billy Joel opines, it all depends on your date’s appetite. Unless there is a completely legitimate reason why you can’t bring yourself to drink one of the two, ask whether she prefers red or white. Go with her preference. More than likely, she’ll say she likes both and will defer to you – if she doesn’t, there’s your first high-maintenance red flag. If neither of you wants to step up with a preference, follow these general guidelines: at a seafood restaurant, white is your best choice; at a steak restaurant, you go with red. Anything in between, is up in the air, but in my experience, red usually wins out as the crowd favorite.

White wine options:

• Generally speaking, a sauvignon blanc is the best bang for your buck. They are more reasonably priced than chardonnays and go well with most foods. If you don’t recognize any of the sauvignon blancs on the menu, go with a mid-priced one from the Napa Valley/California. Duckhorn and Honig make two of the all-time best sauvignon blancs.


• If she is a chardonnay kind of girl, once again, I recommend a mid-priced one from the Napa Valley/California. Cakebread is one of the best chardonnays out there, but it is a little pricey. La Crema is a good, mid-range option.


• I would stay away from Riesling, gerwertztraminer, and the like. They are awesome wines, but you really need to know about them to pair them with food.


• UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, SHOULD YOU EVER ORDER WHITE ZINFINDEL. IT IS OFF LIMITS.

Red wine options:

• Once again, generally speaking, a (red) zinfandel is the best bang for your buck. The movie Sideways made pinot noirs more popular than ever and caused their prices to jack up. Zinfandel, on the other hand, is not as well known but pairs remarkably well with most foods and is very easy to drink. You’ll usually find at least one or two zinfandels on most menus, and I’ve never met a zinfandel I didn’t like. Ravenswood Zinfandel is on a lot of restaurant wine lists, and is usually very reasonable yet tasty. In short, go to the red wine list, look for the zinfandels and pick a mid-priced one. You won’t go wrong and will save a few bucks.


• Most girls love pinot noirs. They pair well with food and are easy to drink. If she doesn’t like heavy wines, go with the pinot noir. There should be a number of options to choose from on the list – go with any from the Willamette Valley/Oregon or the Russian River Valley/California. One of my friends once joked that pinot noir translates into “panty remover”… enough said.


• Shirazs/Syrahs are also good options and are usually more reasonably priced than pinot noirs. Any Shiraz from New Zealand or Australia should be safe, and any Napa Valley Syrah will be passable.


• If she likes heavy wines or you are at a steak place, go with the cabernet sauvignon. These can get very pricey, so I recommend, once again, going with a mid-priced Napa Valley/California varietal.


• Merlots are difficult. Sideways totally poured out the merlot, so people think it is a faux pas to drink merlot these days. But merlot is actually a very drinkable wine and because of its declining popularity, the price point is usually very good. Nevertheless, I’d stay away from ordering the merlot for the first few dates; wait until you know her a little better and then order it. Save the money you’d spend on a cab or pinot once you’ve already sealed the deal.


• At an Italian restaurant, skip the Super Tuscan and Barolo and go for the Chianti. They are cheap and easy to drink. Usually, the house Chianti will do just fine, but you can upgrade to a mid-range Chianti for a great tasting wine.
  

II. Tasting the Wine

You probably question the utility of the pomp and circumstance associated with ordering a bottle of wine. It may seem like a complete waste of time, but if you get it right, you are sure to impress your date. And if you follow these steps, you'll end up with a drinkable bottle of wine:

1. Once you’ve selected the wine, your server should present the bottle to you. Take a look at it to make sure it’s what you ordered (and if you decided to splurge on an expensive bottle, make sure they gave you the correct vintage year, or they could be hosing you on the price), but don’t stare at it like you would Pamela Anderson. Simply glance at it and nod, and then focus your attention back on your date.


2. Once your server uncorks the bottle, he will set the cork down next to you. Don’t smell the cork. Simply pick up the cork, touch the end that was inside the bottle to ensure that it is not dry, and look to make sure there isn’t a lot of wine running down the sides of the cork (which usually means the wine is skunked). If the cork checks out, it’s time to taste.


3. If you really want to look big time, swirl the glass around on the table a little bit and then briefly sniff the inside of the glass. If you think that sounds ridiculous, just proceed to tasting it. Most people think that you are tasting it to make sure you like it, but you are actually tasting it to make sure it isn’t skunked. Unless you are at a super swank restaurant (and even then it’s questionable in my mind), you don’t send the wine back unless it is skunked/bad. So unless it tastes rancid, nod your head, tell your server it’s good, and then he’ll pour it into her glass.


4. Don’t forget to do a quick toast, even if it’s just to say cheers. Chics dig this.

WHERE TO WOW YOUR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS WITH MEXICAN FOOD?

1. Hugo’s ($$$)

If you’re trying to impress, you won’t fail with Hugo’s. Margaritas are must at Hugo’s, and the best part is that you don’t have to waste your money on the top shelf version – their house margaritas rock! If you’re too big time to order “house” anything, try their Isidro or Gran Reposado Margaritas, both are to die for. To start, go with the queso flameado or the taquitos de pollo – consistent pleasers for any crowd. Someone in your party must order the Enchiladas Suizas – hands down their best dish. Their meat dishes are also outstanding, my personal favorite is the Cabrito (goat) dish. Save room for dessert – their chimmichuris, accompanied by an amazing hot cocoa dipping sauce, are worth the calories. Skinny options: (1) order one taquito de langosta and a cup of tortilla soup or the ceviche; (2) Hachinango a la Veracruzana (roasted red snapper with olives and capers).

http://www.hugosrestaurant.net/

2. El Tiempo ($$)

El Tiempo is Clutch City’s ultimate “go to” Mexican restaurant. It’s a great place to take a date, go for a fun birthday celebration, or bring an out-of-towner. Their queso is great and comes with those awesome flour tortilla chips, but their best appetizer is their crab and bacon quesadillas, which, in my opinion, are best served with their whole wheat tortillas. The fajitas – they have great chicken and beef fajitas but also have good game options (e.g., quail) and of course the pork fajitas – are among the best around. For those who are not interested in fajitas, their crabmeat enchiladas are remarkable. I am not a big fan of El Tiempo’s house margarita on the rocks – you really need to go with the platinum, but their frozen margaritas (regular or flavored) are great. Skinny option: grilled chicken fajitas with whole wheat or corn tortillas.

http://eltiempocantina.com/

3. Ninfa’s on Navigation ($$)

Don’t shy away from this restaurant simply because of its chain restaurant name – this is the original Ninfa’s and is far better than any other Ninfa’s around. It has an authentic ambiance and is the opposite of pretentious. Everything on Mama Ninfa’s menu is good: the fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas are all consistent. This is the perfect place to introduce an out-of-towner to Tex Mex. Skinny option: chicken fajitas with corn tortillas.

http://www.mamaninfas.com/

4. Lupe Tortilla ($$)

There are two reasons to go to Lupe Tortilla: (1) hands down, they have the best beef fajitas in town; (2) it is very kid friendly. Lupe’s has a sandbox and play area for the kids to play in while the parents sip margaritas (their house frozen are passable) on the deck. If you like beef fajitas you have to try this place. You won’t be disappointed! Skinny option: skip the skinny option at Lupe’s; just do a little extra cardio so that you can enjoy the beef fajitas.

http://www.lupetortilla.com/