Houstonist is as aware of the increases at the grocery store as you all are, so we are working on creative ways to stretch our food dollars. Plus, we aren't wild about wasting our leftovers, although, there's only so many meals before that lasagna loses it's luster (freeze individual portions for lunch or another weeknight). We have come up with a great breakfast, or sometimes dinner, option for using our leftovers that is never boring!......

The infamous Texas Crawfish and Music Festival is scheduled to take place in Spring this Saturday. What goes better with crawfish than an ice cold beer? Now the tricky question is exactly what beer goes best with crawfish on a hot and muggy Saturday afternoon? After much research at Sam's Boat every Monday night for several months, Houstonist has found the answer. Blue Moon with a slice of orange to garnish. Yup - this......

The last time Houstonist offered up a drink recipe, we were hailing the coming of a new and warmer season. If you're like many longtime Houstonians, you've been enjoying this recent mild weather and spending as much time in the great outdoors as possible before the dreaded heat and humidity that is Summer comes rearing its ugly head around the corner. Alas, all good things must come to an end, but not like you......

Last week marked the start of the Spring season. It's time to put away the winter coats, boots, gloves, and scarves. Wait, we're in Houston, right? So, it's actually time to put away the long sleeved shirts, jeans, and to shave away that stubble from your face (or legs as the case may be) that kept you warm on those lonely brisk 60 degree evenings. Break out the cargo shorts, polo shirts, sun dresses,......

Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day! To help you celebrate, we bring back a classic drink for everyone to enjoy this weekend. Whether you'll be huddled by a TV watching college basketball or celebrating with the masses in Rice Village, make sure you're throwing down Irish Car Bombs to celebrate Saint Patrick and all of his accomplishments (whatever they may be). Irish Car Bomb+ 1/2 pint Guinness stout + 1 oz. Jameson Irish Whiskey +......

As a public service announcement, don't forget that tomorrow night marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. At 2:00am on Sunday morning (late Saturday night for us party-going types), we will all be forced to set our clocks ahead by one full hour. As a result, we'll have one more hour of sunlight in the evening and one less hour in the morning. You know what this means? No more early cracks of dawn......

Happy Leap Day! For those that have always wondered, but never cared to ask about the purpose of leap day, please allow us to expound. Now we don't know about you, but we think that this man-made phenomenon is an occasion to drink! While out sipping away the twilight hours at a bar last night, we obtained a recipe for a "Leap Year" drink from a lovely young lady. When we asked why the......

It's the most wonderful time of the year Sure, when Andy Williams first uttered those words he may have been praising the birth of Jesus Christ. But for us, that same expression can be applied to Girl Scout cookie season! And wouldn't you know it, just this week five boxes of Thin Mints (amongst other variations) were delivered to our front door. After feverishly consuming the first box in a single sitting, we implemented......

So maybe you're like us and lacking in companionship on Valentine's Day. Maybe you're like us and just a wee bit distressed about the prospect of having no one to share chocolate-covered strawberries with this evening? Maybe you're even like us and plan to go out with your friends tonight to drown your sorrows in a river of Apple Martinis? But why be the clichéd lonely person sitting at the end of the bar......

Ah, Nielsen's Deli - home of Houston's most luscious, and best ever homemade chicken salad and one very mean deviled egg. For over 55 years, Nielsen's has been the Afton Oaks area's source for deli sandwiches and salads, homemade desserts, stuffed jalapenos, luncheon trays, finger sandwiches and homemade soups. This lunchtime jewel is located on Richmond Avenue, just inside Loop 610, near the Galleria. It's convenient from downtown too, peeps! Open 7 days a week,......

We at Houstonist are pretty tired of this foggy weather. Cold we can deal with, but the fog just makes everything kinda depressing. So as we head into the weekend, we need a shot (of booze) in the arm. What better way to put a spring in your step (and a song in your heart) than with the combination of two of our favorite liquids: espresso and vodka. Sure, it's a bad idea to combine......

Houstonist is heading to Big Bend National Park this weekend to participate in our annual camping extravaganza called HookerFest (not those kinda hookers) by the participants and "the annual freeze your ass off trip" by non-believers. Never one to show up to a party without a contribution, we have been putting on our creativity caps for new and exciting libations each year. This year, we decided that it was time to "live off of the......

As part of our many resolutions made at this time every year, we thought we should get our hands on some tarts -- and luckily, Central Market is there to oblige us. Confident Cook: Tarts (Hands On) Saturday January 19th from 10AM to 12:30PM A bargain at $45 The Central Market Cooking School has a variety of classes from the practical Knife Skills and Seafood 101 to Souffles Galore and those couples cooking classes (Hmmm,......

Christmas shopping at The Galleria, incessant caroling and a just a touch of holiday-induced agoraphobia have Houstonist feeling a bit out of sorts today. Our feathers and lackadoogles are more than slightly ruffled. Unfortunately, we can do nothing buscept press on with our holiday chores and hole up inside the HQ once said tasks are complete. That's when we're planning to throw back a cocktail or six like a Ruffled Rooster. Ruffled Rooster+ 4 oz.......

We do a lot of impromptu cooking and baking. Typically it'll strike us at some late hour of the night when we're debating the merits of watching bad reality TV versus just going to bed, when suddenly we realize that our lives will not go on unless we make a spicy peanut stir fry or strawberry shortcake cupcakes or whatever else right now. And then we plunge headfirst into creating Second Dinner or Third Dessert......

Houstonist got worn out on early morning White Russians and late night Bloody Marys during the Thanksgiving break. Thus, we were looking for something light and zesty when a fellow sauce fiend suggest we opt for a Slutty Shirley. The Slutty Shirley is a twist on the traditional children's cocktail, the Shirley Temple. You may remember Shirley Temple as a tap dancing little girl from black-and-white movies. The little lady inspired a fizzy red......

Houstonist was feeling saucy this afternoon so we ordered a round of the Mint Juleps. We were quite pissed off and surprised when the server presented us with a round of Gin Juleps instead. "WTF? WE ORDERED KENTUCKY DERBY SPECIALS!" Did the CAPS get to your feel our rage? NO? ARE YOU SURE? We protested. We threatened to send the drinks back. We tried the drinks. We loved 'em. Gin Julep+ 1 1/4 oz.......

By now, it should come as no surprise that Houstonist is lazy always on the look out for an easy way to get things done. Anyone want to write this column for us? At any rate, you probably won't find it hard to believe that we have not tested the following booze recipe. But, we thought it best to bring concoction to the attention of those of you who have more patience when it......

OK. Here's the situation: The Day of the Dead celebration starts next Thursday; you're having a party; and, you'd like to serve something other than margaritas. No problemo, gringo. Here are two staff favorites from Houstonist to help get you over the hump. Mix up a test batch of these this week so that you don't gross out your guests when your party rep is on the line. You can always default to body shots......

Halloween is right around the corner, and Houstonist is researching costume ideas for our annual post. That's when we ran across this photo and were inspired to order up a Scary Dirty Girl Scout at the pub. Dirty Girl Scout+ 1 oz Creme de Menthe + 1 oz Vodka + 1 oz Kahlua + 1 oz Bailey's irish cream Pour everything into a tumbler filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail......

There comes a time in everyone's life when only a shot will get the job done. Pigged out on Italian food? A shot of grappa will burn on the way down, but it's a digestivo that will help settle down your chicken picatta. Called off your wedding? 17 shots of tequila will make the that pain go away and may net you a Latino name. Worry about the hangover in the morning. Houstonist thought it......

Houstonist is always trying to up our level of sophistication. Thus, last week we were watching the Fine Living Channel's Great Cocktails series to get some ideas for sophisticated sipping material. The Corpse Reviver was one drink featured on the episode we caught. Per the show, the drink was named due to its ability to invigorate even the most hungover imbiber. Huh. Sounds like something you and we could use. Hit Spec's on your way......

Houstonist was introduced to a unique cocktail a few years ago on a Roman pub crawl (yeah, in Italia) put on by a group of ex-pat Americans. After a few stops we'd grown tired of Moretti, Campari and rum-and-cokes that tasted like unleaded-and-cokes. Then, a scene similar to the following unfolded INTERIOR - ROCK CASTLE A dimly lit barroom interior featuring ancient masonry work with various weapons of the bashing and bladed variety hanging......

The sixth anniversary of 9/11 made this an emotional week for Gothamist, DCist, Phillyist and the rest of America, too. Houstonist reflected on Tuesday as well. But, our preferred method of remembering the departed is to raise a glass and say a few words in their honor. A Manhattan is the perfect cocktail for this occasion. Manhattan+ 2 oz. Rye + 1/2 oz. vermouth + Dash Angostura bitters + Cherry + Orange peel Pour......

Houstonist was on the phone with Mom during the holiday weekend talking about our holiday weekend. At some point during the chat, she blurted out, "Have you ever heard of 'Shoot the Root'?" "Uh, nope." We can't recall the exact quotes that followed, but basically it amounted to her being happy and amazed that she had heard of drink that we hadn't. Judging by the responses of our friends and our results from searching the......

Say ole this weekend with a Bloody Bull. Some folks say that a Bloody Bull is a Bloody Mary made with beer instead of vodka. Wrong. The Bull is a slight twist on the Mary with one key addition - beef boullion. Mmmm. Beef juice. Bloody Bull+ 2 oz vodka + 3 oz spicy tomato juice + 2 oz beef boullion + black pepper + celery salt + garlic powder + lime wedges +......

Houstonist hits Italy's Rimini Beach every Pasqua (that's Easter for y'all that don't habla) for fun in the sun, dynamite food and to make-uh the party. And while you can make-uh the party without booze, we like-uh our booze. One of our favorite Italian libations is limoncello. Limoncello is a great aperitif or digestif that is made from grain alcohol, lemon zest and sugar. The drink is sweet and sour, but not like Chinese food.......

"All the dude ever wanted was his rug back." Instead, he got laid by a feminist; his car was stolen by a teenager; he was beat up by the Malibu police chief; and, his good friend died. One constant throughout The Big Lebowski, besides liberal use of the F-word, is the dude's consumption of White Russians or Caucasians as he calls them. The cult following of the Coen Brothers film resulted in popularity surge......

A few months ago we told you about a nice alternative to your normal cerveza. This week we'd like to add another weapon to your non-standard beer arsenal - El Sombrero. The beauty of El Sombrero is in the simplicity. However, this beverage is not for the faint of heart. This serving option will change more than your latitude if you are not careful. To help bring it home for you, our buddy, T-Bone -......

Houstonist has been a fan of martinis since Dad taught us how to make them at age 12 so that he wouldn't have to. We have always believed that a martini should consist of only the gin or vodka variety and that the label should not be applied to fru fru cocktails served in martini glasses. Whatever your stance on what constitutes a martini, you need to try the cocktail below because it is......