The fascinating chocolatiers -  The Mast Brothers – represent the epitome of craft and detail, and we really like what they do. There seems to be a lot of similarity between the Masts and the Hamiltons…we both like great materials/ingredients, we both take the time to make things right, and both companies are run by a pair of siblings!

We were really excited by this credit that just appeared in the recent September issue of Men’s Journal. We like these brothers unique style, and are thrilled that Rick Mast is wearing a Hamilton 1883 shirt. They are just the kind of guy that we love to see in our clothes. So cool!

Thank you to Men’s Journal for thinking of us.

Check out this great video from Coolhunting about Mast Brothers Chocolate and how it gets made:

The credits from Men’s Journal:

In addition to reading through this valuable Houston Press master list, a clever guy by the name of Kyle Nielsen (“sometimes I get really bored at work“) has uploaded all these stats and Google mapped it all out for your dining convenience:  Robb Walsh’s Top 100 Houston Dishes, Houston Press. Therefore, not only do you get to see all 100 items in one place – you can map out the directions, find out which restaurants are closest, and you can handily download the map into your smart-phone.

Just think…you’ll never have an excuse for a bad meal ever, ever, again.

View Robb Walsh’s Top 100 Houston Dishes, Houston Press in a larger map

Mix the two together, and you get a surprisingly very tasty drink that actually has been given a name – a Shandy. (not to be confused with Jared’s new fiancee Shandi, Congratulations BTW!) Combined in proportion of about half to half, this beer cocktail is perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day. The drink tastes best made with a light pilsner or a summer ale..and the official recipe calls for mixing in a carbonated Lemonade. I’ve found that a San Pellegrino Limonata works pretty well..and its fairly easy to find.

Throw in a lemon slice and you’re done!

Another great pale ale cocktail recipe to try comes from Darryl Robinson, who hosts a new show on the Cooking Channel called Drink Up.

Darryl’s Ginger Ale

• 2 slices fresh lemon
• Fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
• Ice, as needed
• 2 ounces or 1/4 cup citrus-flavored vodka
• 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons agave syrup
• 2 ounces or 1/4 cup pale ale

The 7′ 6″ center for the Houston Rockets has been out for the last year following reconstructive foot surgery, but he will be returning to the Rockets this season for the last year of his five year contract. The centerpiece player for the Rockets, and the tallest player in the NBA, Yao has taken up a special place with his Houston based fans. One of China’s most recognizable and wealthy athletes, its obvious that Yao has been able to rack up many lucrative endorsement deals.

I bet the most special endorsement to Yao must be the Chinese restaurant that the player has opened for his family, now living in Houston. The Chinese Restaurant called Yao Restaurant & Bar was put together as a place for Yao’s parents to sit and relax and enjoy good food while interacting with fans and the local community.

I can’t say that I’ve personally been to Yao’s restaurant, but I really like that he did this for his folks- and it did get rated as the #1 Chinese in Houston by the website Citysearch.

Yao with Patrick Ewing having dinner at his namesake restaurant

Yao Restaurant & Bar, 9755 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77042 ph. 832.251.2588

A Balmoral and Hanuman cocktail from Anvil. Photo by abstractconformity on Flickr

Of course Houston’s Anvil Bar & Refuge made the list, we’ve all known forever that this is the best bar in town, if not the country. The homemade mixers, bitters, etc…make their drinks some of the most delicious I’ve ever had. Their list of 100 cocktails that you must try is one of the most comprehensive lists of classic boozing to have ever been organized. We’re fans of the French 75 (limit yourself) the Pimms Cup (the best drink EVER for a hot summer day) and the Negroni (transports us immediately from Montrose & Mandel right to the Italian seaside).

Anvil. Photo by Erika Ray on Flickr

Next time I visit Anvil, I think I’ll have to be a little more adventurous – I still have 97 more drinks to try out!

Anvil Bar & Refuge, 1424 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77006 ph. 713.523.1622

The globe trotting chef and host, Graham Kerr, selects a dish from his world travels that gets prepared step-by-step in front of a live audience. Famous for his loose and free style, his “hedonism in a hurry” cuisine highlighted a heavy use of eggs, butter, cream, and of course, deep frying. With audience participation, spilling, missing ingredients, dropping stuff on the floor, insanity prevails.

At the start of the show, the Galloping Gourmet comes running out from backstage with a large glass of wine and proceeds to scramble around the room, jumping on, around, and over the furniture on the set. His totally bizarre sense of humor, coupled with what seems to be his on air wasted-ness, has to be seen to be believed. Set your DVR, its awesome.

In a unrelated fashion observation – the big shirt collars on Johnny Carson and Graham Kerr look really great. Don’t they?

Have you wished for an easy way to give back and help out those in need during this crisis?

One very easy way is to check out this group of silent auction items organized by the local group Houston Chowhounds. Organized by Jenny Wang (the food blogger that writes I’m Never Full) along with the rest of the Chowhounds, they’ve amassed a formidable list of very desirable items with all the proceeds going to the Gulf Coast fisherman affected by the BP oil spill disaster. With the help of ticket sales, cash donations, and this online auction, the money raised will go to everyday needs of the fisherman – mortgage payments, food and household expenses, bills, and medical care. The auction has been going great, the goal of raising $15,000 seems to be easily within reach. The auction items come in all price ranges…you’ll be able to find something to bid on no matter how much you can afford to give. Best of luck – you have now though July 19th at noon to bid!

Check out some of these excellent auction highlights:

1. Dinner for four at Beaver’s Ice House – currently at $325
2. Pig Butchering class with Chef Chris Shepard of Catalan – currently at $600
3. Dinner for 2 with Alison Cook of the Houston Chronicle – currently at $550
4. Private wine tasting dinner for 8 at The Tasting Room with Chef Michael Kramer – currently at $500
5. Lunch for 4 and restaurant tour with Elouise Adams Jones, better know as “Ouisie” – currently at $300

Tex Mex in Houston is something that everyone here should really appreciate and be proud of, elsewhere in the country you just can’t even come close to El Tiempo (I’ve looked..and have the pant size to prove it). The staff here is friendly and terrific, the food and drinks are outstanding. What more can I say? Just go. I can barely type anything more with these pictures staring at me from below.

MUST. HAVE. FAJITAS. NOW.

El Tiempo Chicken and Steak Fajitas. Photo by Chris Visit

Rocks vs. Frozen

El Tiempo Cantina, with locations on Richmond Ave, Washington Ave, and Montrose Blvd. Check the website for hours and directions.

Cramming tons of LOTR (Lord of the Rings) memorabilia into every nook and cranny, even the dishes on the menu are named after characters from the Tolkien novels. This place could be insufferably corny and gimmicky, if the food wasn’t so fun and tasty. Specializing in mostly sandwiches and burgers, the place has a lot of options – especially for vegetarians. Items including avocado really seem to be the way to go. Also while you’re there, check on the special locally baked carrot cake that occasionally pops up on the menu, the over-sized slice that they serve could easily feed a dozen Hobbits…or at least one hungry Texan.

Hobbit Cafe, 2243 Richmond Avenue – Houston, Texas 77098. ph. 713.526.5460

Some reviews on yelp etc. have said that Poison Girl can be a bit intimidating due to its “cliquish arty crowd” but I haven’t found that to be the case. It kind of has a New York East Village vibe, which I can see might turn some folks off. A friend of mine has a sign in his shop that says “If you don’t belong, don’t be long” and same might be said of Poison Girl.

The bar has an excellent American whiskey selection, lots of beers on tap including some rare varieties, and a special Poison Girl shot that will kick the night off right. T.G.I.F.

Poison Girl Cocktail Lounge 1641B Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77006  ph.713.527.9929