Your Majesty King Akaushi at the Burger Palace [On The Road/BurgeReview: Houston]

“I say we leave now, we go to Skyburger and we scarf them down” 

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant”) 

A good friend of mine has been telling me about Akaushi beef or the American Kobe from a long time. So as soon as I mentioned that I was going to Houston he invited me to try the Akaushi burgers at The Burger Palace. 

Silverware

The Akaushi beef is extremely tender with excellent marbling. This Wagyu cattle is original from Japan where it’s a national treasure, but got its way to the US in 1994 thanks to a loophole in the law. HeartBrand Beef sized this opportunity and adapted a 747 to bring to the states a total of 11 Akaushi bulls and cows. Nowadays they are the largest and only purebred group of Wagyu beef outside Japan. 

InstAkaushi

Got to the place with Reuter and we ordered a Franziskaner weissbier. Studied the menu for a couple minutes to decide what burger to have even asked the waitress for the best seller. The final choice the Texas cheeseburger. The amazing Akaushi beef cooked medium rare with cheddar cheese, jalapeño, caramelised onions, apple wood smoked bacon, spicy mustard, and garlic aioli. As a side some fries with Parmesan and rosemary. 

The Burger

The Fries

The burger is excellent, there are no words to describe the flavour of the beef other than awesome. The beef was perfectly cooked, it was juicy, just amazing. Hope this doesn’t sound cliché but it was one of the best I burgers have tried. The fries were perfectly cooked, nice flavour, crunchy crust and inside quite soft, couldn’t be better.  

The amazing Akaushi burger

If you’re in Houston don’t waste more time in other places and go to try the Burger Palace. I’m a bit afraid, as the place was quite empty, I hope business improves giving me the chance to try again that amazing burger.

The Burger Palace

T: +1 713 877 9700

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: $20pp

Area: Galleria

Houston

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Anthony where is Vic? [On The Road: Houston]

Vic and Anthony’s Houston acclaimed steakhouse and recommended by the locals. Four locations in the USA, traditional steakhouse style playing with dim lights and wood panels. Prime beefs and premium cuts balanced with seafood options in the menu. 

Bar candles

Dining

I started the night with a lobster bisque. Great flavour, dense, thick, good aromas, nice balance, it’s finished with cognac giving a nice touch, overall excellent. Then moved to a 12oz prime filet. Perfectly cooked medium rare, nice seasoning, it was seared to perfection, a great steak. 

Bisque

Filet

Nice place, great steaks, service was friendly, another excellent steakhouse in Houston. 

Perfectly cooked

Anthony reminds me the Seinfeld episode “Junk Mail” 

Jerry: What do I have to do to put you in this van today?

Kramer: Well, I don't really have any money. But it says right here, interesting trades considered

Jerry: You put that in!

Kramer: And I'm glad I did

Jerry: You want to trade me an undershirt?

Kramer: No, I want to trade you screen legend Anthony Quinn's undershirt. He took this off to do sit-ups in the park and I nabbed it

Jerry: That's disgusting

Kramer: Well, it's my final offer

Vic & Anthony's

T: +1 713 228 1111

Steakhouse

Approx Damage: $60pp

Area: Downtown

Houston

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Houston’s Fajitas [On The Road: Houston]

Every time I’m back in Houston at least once I have to go and try Lupe Tortilla. They are one of my favourite and probably the best ones I have had. So I was back in Houston and to keep the tradition rolling I went to the closer Lupe I could find. 

Lupe

Sombrero Lamps

Same colourful decoration, lamps as sombreros, old Mexican memorabilia, strong Margaritas, and same old great fajitas. 

Tortillas and guacamole

Fajitas

The medley

Instajitas

The sombreros remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Foundation” 

Dugan: So I pressed through the rushes, there below me, the shimmering waters of Lake Victoria

J. Peterman: Oh, for the love of God, man! Just tell me what the product is

Dugan: It's a, uh, washcloth

J. Peterman: No washcloths!

Elaine: Well, Mr. Peterman, I've got a really good idea for a hat. It combines the spirit of old Mexico with a little big city panache. I like to call it the Urban Sombrero

J. Peterman: Oh, my neck is one gargantuan monkey fist

Elaine: Are you okay, Mr. Peterman?

J. Peterman: Yes, yes. Go on, go on, go on

Elaine: Well, see, it's businessmen taking siestas. You know, it's the, uh, the Urban Sombrero

Lupe Tortilla

T: +1 281 315 3750

Tex-Mex cuisine

Approx Damage: $25pp

Area: Energy Corridor

Houston

Twitter: LupeTortilla

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The Czech Cachito [On The Run: Houston]

I went to Houston for work and what was my surprise to discover a Czech delicacy. They call it Kolaches but they are actually Klobasnek, and in Venezuela the similar thing it’s a Cachito. A Savory baked pastry, yeast rolls prepared with a sweet dough, filled with ham, cheese, eggs, sausages, and/or jalapeños. 

Kolache Factory

The ones with sausages are similar to what we call in the UK a sausage roll. I tried most of them, the ham and cheese is exactly as a Venezuelan cachito with the difference it comes in a round shape. Great flavour, and perfect for breakfast. 

Take away time

The place to go to have them is Kolache Factory, a franchise with 21 shops in Houston and many more around the US. I got a couple orders for take away, great treats for breakfast. 

Stash

The breakfast Kolache

The Ham One

Pastry reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Summer of George” 

Jerry: No, you had a good run. Took them to the World Series

George: I got to give the players most of the credit for that

Jerry: Don't sell yourself short. You made all the flight arrangements, hotels, busses

George: No, I don't know who was doing that

Jerry: So, when you actually did work, what it was that you did?

George: They had a pastry cart you wouldn't believe

Kolache Factory

T: +1 281 920 4205

Bakery

Approx Damage: $10pp

Area: Energy Corridor

Houston
Twitter: KolacheFactory

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Philippe [On The Road: Houston]

It's really nice to enjoy the restaurant options in Houston. Great places, different cuisines, from the traditional barbecues to fine dining. One of the up-scale ones is Philippe, modern French cuisine under chef Philippe Schmit directions, dark colours and dim lights in the dining to get you in the mood, lounge bar downstairs, restaurant upstairs, and a couple private dining rooms for events, and don’t forget the chef’s table serving a special menu. 

Philippe

Dining

My starter Philippe salmon tartare, fresh salmon marinated in olive oil, citrus, touch of vinegar, a surprising blue cheese touches, and walnuts completed the scene. Great combination of flavours, right balance. 

Tartare

For main Meat and Bones, a grilled sirloin strip steak with bone marrow, top with tarragon mustard sauce, as side French fries , hmmmm… Excellent, meat perfectly cooked, sauce flavour was great, the tarragon mustard was excellent, and the marrow amazing, everything pretty good, the fries were ok, a bit relegated with the marrow and the strip perfection. 

Meat and Bones

Pretty nice meal, on top chef Philippe came to the table at the end to ask how was everything, nice gesture, and great service. 

Houston reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Hot Tub” 

George: Hello? 

Clayton: uh, is that you, George? 

George: Yeah, it's me. Is this Clayton? 

Clayton: Well listen, you son of a bitch! You know where we are? 30 000 feet above your head, you bastard! 

George: What are they doing letting you bastards on an airplane? Don't they know that's against FAA regulation? 

Clayton: Hey, hush up, now! I can't hear him! 

George: Listen. I want you guys to send along those agreements the minute you land. Our boys can't wait to kick your butts! 

Zeke: When's that bastard coming to Houston? 

Clayton: Hey, Zeke wants to know when you Yankee bastards are coming to Houston! George: You tell that son of a bitch no Yankee is ever coming to Houston. Not as long as you bastards are running things

Philippe

T: +1 713 439 1000

Modern French

Approx Damage: $50pp

Area: Galleria

Houston

Twitter: PhilippeHouston

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Pappas we got a problem [On The Road/BurgeReview: Houston]

A colleague after listening all my burger adventures he recommended to try Pappas Burger in Houston. The place owned by the same Greek family that has the Pappas empire including the great Pappasito’s Cantina. A modern twist on the original American diner, burgers, dawgs, shakes, and flat screens TVs with ESPN. 

The place

Bit of an hybrid method of going to the counter to order but the waiter get your food and the bill to your table, have to say it didn't work for me, I ordered and was completely forgotten, I wasn’t sure what was going on, the waiters ignored me for at least 15min, worst thing the place was almost empty. After that, the waitress apologise with the excuse they didn't know I was sitting there, really, only four tables in 130ish sits and you haven’t spot me, one of the only six costumers you have in the restaurant at this time. 

Booth seating

Finally ordered the Bleu Cheeseburger, prime beef, crumbled blue cheese, hickory smoked bacon, romaine, mayo, and spicy onion rings. To complete Buffalo chicken wings, original flavour, and blue cheese. 

Burger time

Wings

The burger wasn't good, average to be honest, the blue cheese wasn't good, I promised myself not to order a blue cheese burger any more in the US, except in NYC Spotted Pig, don't know where they sourced from, not good and so many fails, but I was shocked as the meat is pretty good in Houston making a nice tasty burger patty should not be a difficult task, this wasn't the case, and the onion ring inside the burger not my thing, didn't go well with the rest. The wings were ok, naked style, a bit dry, but acceptable I guess. 

Burger time

Sorry to say but Pappas Burger was a swing and a miss for me. 

Worst translation ever

Pappa reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Mom and Pop Store” 

Jerry: Hey, so where's my sneakers? 

Kramer: That's what I want to know 

Jerry: What do you mean? 

Kramer: Well, I saw Mom and Pop this morning, but when I went by the store on my way home? The place was empty. Everything is gone. Mom and Pop vanished 

Jerry: So all my sneakers are gone? 

Kramer: I'm afraid so. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. I've been asking around, they didn't even have any kids 

Jerry: Mom and Pop aren't even a Mom and Pop? 

Kramer: It was all an act, Jerry. They conned us, and they scored, big time 

Elaine: So, Mom and Pop's plan was to move into the neighbourhood, establish trust for 48 years, and then, run off with Jerry's sneakers

Kramer: Apparently

Pappas Burger

T: +1 713 975 6082

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: $25pp

Area: Galleria

Houston

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Annie’s Burger [On The Road/BurgeReview: Houston]

One restaurant I had in my list to go in Houston was RDG Bar Annie, my friends Ricaruca and Heather recommended the place, and also I read somewhere they have a wicket burger. Originally Cafe Annie, now RDG is its evolution, modern space and decor, relax, a bit posh, huge windows overlooking Post Oak area, pretty nice atmosphere and the cuisine of James Beard award winning chef Robert Del Grande, now you get why RDG right. 

Lunch time

Inside

My friend Ricaruca took me for lunch, we got to the place, I already knew my main, so browse quickly for a starter, after a few minutes, done, I had the stuffed avocado with gulf crab meat and chipotle sauce, quite nice, good flavour, the spicy chipotle sauce was great, the crab was a little dry, but overall a nice dish. 

Avocado & Crab

Then the RDG burger, USDA prime beef, smoked cheddar sauce, and handmade fries, the burger was great, perfectly cooked medium rare, the flavour of the beef was excellent, the bun slightly toasted, and the sauce played perfect giving a nice touch. Fries were perfect as well. 

Burger time

Close up

It is a wicket burger indeed, probably my favourite in Houston, great food and nice time to catch up with an old friend. 

Cross section

Avocado reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Mango” 

Jerry: Why do I feel like I'm doing something wrong? 

Kramer: All right now here's the list 

Jerry: All this? It's too much. What do you need five mangos for? 

Kramer: I like mangos 

Jerry: Avocado? I don't know how to pick out an avocado 

Kramer: Well they got to be soft 

Jerry: How soft? 

Kramer: Not too soft. Better too hard than too soft 

Jerry: Hmm ah. I'm not going through this every week, I tell you that right now. And what are these? Plums? What is that? 

Kramer: Yeah now get the ones that are red on the inside 

Jerry: Well how do I know what they look like on the inside? What do they look like on the outside? 

Kramer: Oh! And get some plantains 

Jerry: Plantains? 

Kramer: Yeah 

Jerry: What the hell is a plantain? 

Kramer: It's part of the banana family. It's a delicacy Jerry: You're not getting any plantains

RDG Bar Annie

T: +1 713 840 1111

American Cuisine

Approx Damage: $40pp

Neighbourhood: Galleria

Houston

Twitter: RDGBarAnnie

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Un Churrasco en Texas [On The Road: Houston]

Michael Cordua Texas restaurateur and self taught chef, born in Nicaragua, with 8 different places in the Houston area, many of them award winning, he's responsible for introducing Latin American cuisine non Mexican to Houston. My friend Reuter recommended visiting his upscale place Churrascos for a Latin treat. 

Cordua's place

Got to the place with a couple of colleagues, it has a colonial atmosphere, open spaces, vivid colours, Botero paintings, and a vast menu where everything looked appetizing. I basically took charge as my colleagues where Britons. We started with plantain chips, they were great, crispy, slightly salted, just like the ones back home. Then we got some Angel wings with brown sugar, habanero papaya sauce, and blue cheese dressing, outstanding, great flavour, and the presentation was spot on. 

Inside

Superb plantain chips

Wings the Latin way

Then I couldn't resist having a cup of chupe de camarones, a Peruvian lobster and shrimp bisque, with sherry, roasted corn, carrots, and smoked panela cheese, nice flavour but not so creamy as I'm used to. Then my main no other than the churrasco, Esquire Magazine's top 20 steaks in America, signature chargrilled center cut beef tenderloin, chimichurri, and crispy yuca cake, it was amazing, usually steaks in the US and specifically in Houston are pretty good but this one was outstanding, nice burnt coal flavour, perfectly cooked, the chimichurri gave the Latin twist, definitely one of the top I have had. 

Bisque

Tenderloin

Typical sides, rice, fried yuca, and fried sweet plantains

We ended with alfajores, miniatures dulce de leche cookie sandwiches, nice flavour. 

Alfajores

Overall an excellent meal, highly recommended, authentic Latin flavours. 

All these Latin American moments remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Race” 

George: You wanted to see me, El Presidente? 

Castro: Si, si, muevete, come here. I understand you are very interested in one of our players, eh? 

George: Si, si 

Castro: Ordinarily I would not grant such a request but I've heard you are, uh, how you say, Communista simpatico, eh? 

George: Muy simpatico, muy muy muy 

Castro: Well good, then you can have your pick 

George: Oh, oh! 

Castro: They will play for your Yankees 

George: Oh well, gracias El Comandante, gracias, muy muy 

Castro: And I would be honored if you would be my guest for dinner tonight at the Presidential palace. There will be girls there and, I hear, some pretty good food. Of course the problem with parties is you invariably have to eat standing up which I don't care for but on the other hand I don't like to balance a plate on my lap either. Once when I was at a party, I put my plate on someone's piano. I assure you, if I had not been a dictator, I would not have been able to get away with that one

Churrascos

T: +1 713 952 1988

Steakhouse / Latin American cuisine

Approx Damage: $70pp

Neighbourhood: Westchase

Houston

Twitter: ChurrascosWest

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