Where to eat in Houston: Underbelly

For as much as I obsess over love food, I've decided to start talking about places I eat in Houston that I deem worthy of sharing with the public. 

This may or may not stem from the fact that I recently created a FIVE page document of places to eat and drink in Houston to present to people when they ask the age old question, "What should I do when I visit Houston?"

Eat, my friends. Eat.

So if you're a Houstonite looking for new places to chow down or are planning a trip here, I hope you find my reviews helpful! 

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Underbelly

1100 Westheimer Rd.

http://underbellyhouston.com/index.php
Sample dinner menu as of August 8

Via

 Do you like fresh, locally sourced ingredients?
A menu that changes and never gets boring?
Tapas-style plates made for sharing?
Are you a wino?

Yes? 
Hooray! Underbelly is your place!

Grab some friends [or a date...I highly recommend for a date situation] and impress each other by trying plate after plate of combinations of goodness that you may not otherwise have considered.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, which impressed me since I expected more of a boujie foodie feel [which, coincidentally, I am not opposed to]. 
The solid wood farm tables make you feel like you're sitting down to a low key meal in someone's country home...then the plates come out, impeccably presented, and impress the bejesus out of you, thus making you want to sing chef Chris Shepherd's praises.

Yeah, it's that good.

Alex recommends: Korean Braised Goat and Dumplings
While the menu does change on a regular basis, these morsels of magic are a standing item. You will eat one plate and then want another...or five.



BONUS!

Mosey right next door to the connected bar, Hay Merchant, for some post-dinner beers. 

We're talking the good stuff, if you're a beer enthusiast [which, I am not], including cask beer.

For those of you who do not enjoy drinking wheat flavored libations, try the Bombshell Blonde Shandy, a refreshing treat made with lemon ginger soda and a splash of beer. 


MORE BONUS!

If not even the Shandy sounds appealing, head down Westheimer a tad and drop in at anvil, otherwise known as my favorite bar on earth.

Not for the faint of heart, anvil is a spirits enthusiast's dream. The menu is limited, so you must rely on your own liquor preferences or word of mouth about favorite drinks.

Unlike Underbelly, anvil is boujie, BUT THAT'S OK! 

Try a Grackle, First Growth, or a French 75, and tell them Alex sent you.



Bon appetit!

Challenge accepted!

Title, courtesy of Barney Stinson.

If you don't know who that is, you don't watch good TV.

It's time for the customary Lent post, in which I moan about how I'm a Lent failure.

But this year, I will succeed.

I am determined!

No sweets.

...except on Courtney's birthday.

Other than that, NONE!

So for 40 days, I will blame any bad moods, stress, or random illnesses on lack of sugar.

Let's do it.

That time I got reprimanded by an NYPD officer...but mostly when I ate a lot of food

Yes, I really was reprimanded by NYPD [and almost fined!].

Not for anything scandalous!

Just for using my aunt's subway pass.

Apparently they could I tell I wasn't the woman in the picture...and also not a senior citizen.

Oops.

But anywho...I only took like five [ok, obviously more than that, but less than 20!] pictures. This was a very chill trip. No running around trying to hit tourist destinations. Just relaxing, eating [and you know I documented all of it], hanging out with mom, and acting like Brooklyn locals.

Molly the dog. She slept in between my mom and I at night. Nothing like a giant dog pressed up against you as you try to sleep. I forgive her though because she's the sweetest pup ever.

Anyone who says New York bagels taste the same as bagels anywhere is a damn LIAR. They are infinitely better.

Mama outside the brownstone Let it be known that Kerri Russell lives down the street.

The ceiling of Trader Joes AKA Heaven. I stuffed my suitcase with so many of their treats.

Shake Shack burger. Verdict: delicious, but In-N-Out is better. Sorry East Coasters.

The one "touristy" thing I requested we do was visit the 9/11 memorial. 

It is beautiful and moving.

Somehow I had never been to Lincoln Center. Situation rectified.

And what do you know, it was Fashion Week! I thought I saw Miss J

 from ANTM, but alas, it was just a model who looked like a man.

Dinner at a delicious Italian place in Brooklyn. Prosciutto, arugula, tomatoes, and some delicious cheese.

Indian from Grand Central Station. I ate it all. Duh.

Don't kill me, but Magnolia Cupcakes aren't as good as I remember. Give me Crumbs cupcakes any day [and you bet your bottom we got some...but I ate them too fast].

Scorpion Punch, as featured on Kelli's blog the other day. It was dangerous and made for a very fun night.

Last glimpses of the city as I rode to the airport. Have you ever seen a skyline more beautiful? 

So needless to say, my love affair with this city was only strengthened through this visit.

Anyone know of people hiring in NYC??

Kidding.

No, but seriously.

My resume is ready!

Want to see my New York "to do" list?

In no particular order:

1. Eat at Shake Shack

2. Eat at Rice to Riches

3. Have brunch at Clinton Street Baking Company

4. Have a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery

5. Buy a pastry from Empire Cake

6. Eat pizza..anywhere [but ideally Grimaldi's]

7. Eat a REAL New York bagel every day

8. Stock up on Trader Joe's items

9. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

10. See a show [I'm thinking War Horse]

11. See Lincoln Center [because as any times as I've been to NYC, I never seem to make it to the Upper West Side]

12. Explore the Brooklyn neighborhood I'll be staying in [it gets more hip every time I visit]

Is anyone surprised that 8 out of 12 items involve food?

I didn't think so.

As a  point of reference, please observe some pictures from my last trip there in 2008.

Cannoli. 

Magnolia Bakery cupcakes

Central Park hot dog

See y'all next week, 15 pounds heavier!

Glimpses of what I shoved into my mouth while I was traipsing around Europe

Oh dear, that title sounds a bit off color.

But I'm leaving it.


Keep in mind, this is only a FRACTION of what I ate.

Most of the time it was too cumbersome to pull out my camera while eating a baguette sandwich [or my 500th crepe/pastry] on the street.

Or sometimes I was just too hungry and impatient to take the time to photograph my meal.

Dublin

Irish breakfast

Steak and Guinness stew. No words.

THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE EVER from Butler's Chocolates

Liverpool

Chicken and mushroom pie. Not pictured, a hot chocolate. Let it be known, I sampled hot chocolate[s] in every city I visited.

Oxford

See?

London

Breakfast of yogurt and muesli and nutella on toast. Oh and some really delicious juice from Sainsbury.

Fish and chips copiously doused with malt vinegar. Not pictured: my beloved HP sauce.

French food in London...fish parmentier. I want to eat this every single day.

Creme de caramel. OH MY GOD.

The starter to our Indian food. Chicken Tikka Masala was consumed to quickly to take a picture of it.

Paris

Banana and nutella crepes. Duh. This was the first of many.

For my birthday! I ate those suckers so fast. I bought pistachio, coffee, sea salt and caramel, and lemon.

Birthday dinner starter: Potatoes COVERED IN CHEESE. What more can you ask for?

Birthday dinner meals. Mine was duck confit, Aaron had a steak thing, and Ryan had a mystery meal that was one of the best things I've ever tried.

Birthday dessert: chocolate mousse. THE BEST MY MOUTH HAS EVER MET.

Amsterdam

Baguette sandwich of salami, edam, and rocket. For dessert ,a chocolate and nut covered waffle.

Frites with mayo. Yes, please. I love mayo to begin with, but they take mayo to a whole other level in Europe.

 A few notes:

1. We actually tried ordering an escargot appetizer on my birthday, but the restaurant was OUT OF SNAILS!!! What kind of French restaurant runs out of snails? I was placated as soon as the magical cheese potatoes arrived though. If you find yourself in Paris, do yourself a favor and visit Chez Gladine. They barely speak English and the menu is completely in French, but it will be one of the best meals of your life!

2. Because it was honestly the best thing I've ever eaten, I did not get a picture of the world's best falafel. It came from Chez Hanna in Paris. If I were a rich person with nothing better to do with my money, I'd fly to Paris for dinner just to eat it. IT WAS THAT GOOD.

3. I did indeed drink hot chocolate in every city. It was pure bliss.

4. Cheese is better in Europe. It is a fact.

5. Baguettes are better in Europe. Another fact.

6. My legs look great after this trip because of the miles and miles we walked. My stomach, on the other hand, reflects all the goodness that I put into it.

Merry Christmas from the Fab Four....

...and our 37 inch pizza.

While this may look like some sort of optical illusion, I assure you it is not.

This pizza has been featured on Man vs. Food.

It is typically consumed by families of 10 or more.

Not four women.

We know how to have a Christmas dinner.

And a killer tummy ache.



What my weekend looked like

Via

Via

Via

Jealous?

I was clearly watching what I ate.

That time my best friends came to town and I ate more food than ever

I am doing a separate post solely dedicated to the food that was consumed when the Fab Four took over Houston for the weekend.

Also, I want to make you hungry.

Friday night, 2:15 am: House of Pies

Saturday lunch: Greek food

Chicken gyro

Greek Salad

Spinach pizza

Saturday snack: Mini treats

Saturday dinner: Homemade pizzas

Saturday night snack: Sprinkles cupcakes

We love food, obviously.