Your WEEKEND Brand: MARCH — My Southern Brand

Houston is LIT! There’s always something to do in this amazing metropolis. From museums to clubs to concerts to beaches and Mardi Gras in Galveston to shopping, Houston has you covered. As a result, Houston receives over 20 million visitors a year; these visitors indulge in everything the metro has to offer. Whether your visit is for a week-long conference or just for a weekend getaway, you will not be disappointed with the amenities, especially the food! Ladies and gentlemen, this is where I can provide some assistance for your stay. Since most of you come here for a weekend, starting with Friday and ending with Sunday, I’m going to provide you with a list of some of my favorite restaurants in Houston to experience. Whether you fly into Bush or into Hobby or you drive into the city, the smell of good food will be in the air!

Let me compose your weekend’s restaurant itinerary with Your WEEKEND Brand…

FRIDAY

SNACK

It’s crawfish season! If you’re not from Houston and/or haven’t had any crawfish, then you must partake in one of Houston’s favorite past time: eating crawfish. One place to get these special little freshwater critters is Bayou Kitchen Crawfish Kings. Located in the southern half of Hiram Clarke, this food truck and restaurant duo is a crawfish person’s, like myself, dream. Mr. Mike, the owner, is very confident in his crawfish and ensures that his crawfish is some of the best in the city; I’m inclined to agree with him. I tried his crawfish for the first time this year, after having a craving, and I thoroughly enjoyed these mudbugs. You will be able to taste all of the flavors needed to boil a great batch of crawfish: butter, lemon, garlic, and Cajun spices. Also, Mr. Mike boils his corn and potatoes separately and drenches them in a delicious butter sauce that’s not too thick. He and his staff are very hospitable, and they allow you to bring your own libations. The experience will be second to none!

DINNER

For dinner, I highly recommend Bourbon Sizzler Caribbean & Cajun Bar & Grill, a newer version of the beloved “Island Sizzler.” The re-branded restaurant is a Caribbean and Cajun fusion bar and grill that blends the flavors of the Caribbean with the flavors of the Acadiana region of Louisiana. Dishes such as Lobster Nation and the oxtails are satisfying and are interesting to taste two distinct cultures in one! Besides the two aforementioned meals, I recommend getting the oxtails, which are some of the best oxtails in the city; the chicken and shrimp alfredo; and/or the curry shrimp. Oh my God, all of those meals are my favorites! Also, you have to get the “Kola Champagne,” which is a popular soda in the Caribbean; the drink completes the Jamaican and Caribbean authenticity of any item from the Caribbean section of the menu. All in all, Bourbon Sizzler will definitely get your stomachs full before turning up in Houston’s nightlife!

SATURDAY

LUNCH

I know it’s Saturday, but fried fish is good any day; it’s not just good on Fried Fish Fridays! I’m a sucker for fried fish. One place that gets fried fish right is There’s No Place Like NOLA. It is located off Almeda Road, close to Airport Boulevard. Everything about this place is good, and the best part about the restaurant is that it’s close to where I live, so of course, I’m going to be behind this place. LOL. I recommend the fried fish basket ($12.99), which includes two huge fillets of fried catfish, a personal side of red beans & rice, two Texas toast halves, and an Iceberg salad. Importantly, the fish is not that horrible swai fish that many restaurants use that cheapens the experience and quality; this is real down home catfish. You can taste the freshness of the golden brown fish, which is softly fried and seasoned well with Cajun spices, and the red beans & rice compliments the hell out of the fish. Also, the Texas toast is an excellent combo with the fish, and it’s savory when dipped in the red beans & rice. Talm bout satisfaction! Too, fish and salad are good together, so the Iceberg salad is an added bonus to the meal! For a drink, get a cup of lemonade ($2.00). You will not be disappointed!

DRINK

Remember, it’s the weekend! You don’t have to worry about work, so you know what that means...turn up! LOL. Travel down the Southwest Freeway to Prime Daiquiri to enjoy some of Aisha’s Tipsy Treats’s delicious alcohol infused desserts. They have taken alcohol infused desserts to a new level! They have infused Oreos, cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake salad, etc. with some of your favorite alcohol, such as Vodka, Whiskey, and Rum. Yes, they have the usual gummies, but the flavors they have are some flavors I’d never imagined: Cookies n’ Cream, Hot Chocolate, and Coffee! The treats are affordable and will have you feeling good! If you don’t have time to travel to Prime Daiquiri, then place your orders online at www.aishastipsytreats.com!

DINNER

One restaurant that exceeds expectations with its Creole offerings and cooking is Neyow’s Creole Café, a popular New Orleans mom-and-pop restaurant that has now landed in Houston. For me, I recommend the “Seafood Platter ($24.50),” which includes farm raised catfish, fried shrimp, fried oysters, a stuffed crab, and two sides. The fresh catfish is huge and is seasoned well with Creole seasonings; it is perfectly and softly fried without being too greasy. Next, the fried shrimp is amazing! The platter comes with about 6 jumbo shrimp that is fried with similar seasonings as the fried catfish. Furthermore, the fried oysters are plentiful, including about 9 within the platter; they are chewy, and again, they are seasoned with same Creole seasonings as the fish and shrimp. Along with the shrimp, the oysters are hot off the stove! Not only are the aforementioned three items great, but the moist stuffed crab is also awesome. It reminds me of a soft salmon croquette but with crab meat. Furthermore, I recommend French fries and red beans and rice for the sides. The crispy French fries act as a huge bed for the meats of the platter. The red beans and rice is very flavorful; the sausage offering is pretty hefty, which is important when consuming red beans and rice. Last but not least, I recommend the Parmesan garlic char-grilled oysters ($14.00 for 6 and $22.50 for 12) are nothing short of amazing! They are super buttery and garlicky from the garlic butter. The French bread that is accompanied with the oysters is perfect for dipping into the garlic butter. Talm bout good eatin’! For a drink, I definitely recommend the “Bow Wow Punch ($13.00),” which is a huge drink that includes fruit juices and different kinds of liquor; you will be off your marbles after consumption. LOL. Neyow’s Creole Café has great food and drinks and has that mature scene that people love about Houston!

SUNDAY

BRUNCH

Y’all may know that brunch in Houston is SERIOUS, so wherever you decide to patronize will be packed and buzzing! One place that I recommend for brunch and for an early arrival (10:30 a.m.) is the Turkey Leg Hut, which is home of the world famous stuffed turkey leg. Many celebrities have been patronizing this popular restaurants for past few months, creating a buzz around town! Here, I recommend getting the Cajun Crawfish Mac and Cheese ($24.00), which is a large turkey leg that’s stuffed with homemade crawfish macaroni and cheese! I’m not a fan of macaroni and cheese, but the bits of crawfish in it make the macaroni and cheese and experience within itself; you can actually taste the crawfish flavor, which is something that I can appreciate! Aside from the good food, the Turkey Leg Hut is a great experience, if you get there early enough to avoid the long lines; the music is great, the vibe is swanky, and the decor is clean! Doesn’t that sound like the wave? Don’t miss out!

As you can tell, Houston is a food paradise. You will not be hungry during your stay for the food here is bomb and is plentiful. I hope you enjoy your time in Houston and experience everything that the area has to offer!