Bernie's Burger Bus - Houston, Texas

After a crazy few days at work. I pulled the family out of the house for a visit to Bernie's Burger Bus. Some may remember a couple months back, the Owner of Bernie's Burger Bus winning Chopped on the Food Network.

On this follow-up visit, I took on the Studyhall Burger. Between the perfectly cooked Beef patty, the braised pork belly, plus a nice thick slice of melted cheddar & housemade bbq sauce. This burger was just what I needed after a long day at work 

My fiancee went with the Pre-K Bowl. The dish includes roasted red peppers, beer soaked onions, a bed of baby arugula & shredded romaine, a housemade falafel patty topped with some roasted garlic tomatoes and hidden underneath a duet of balsamic vinegarette & chipotle aioli.

Needless to say, she was one happy vegan and was amazed at the size of the dish & layers of flavor this dish has. I was glad to see the happiness gleaming from her face when she found something she really liked.

My kids got The Homeroom and The Fire Drill burgers. Needless to say, they were stuck in "burger hunch" position made famous by one food network host.

The Fire Drill Burger is Bernie's take on a Southwest theme burger compiled of melted pepper jack cheese, salsa verde, chipotle aioli, spicy guacamole, slow roasted tomatoes, shredded and some crispy tortilla chips.

The Homeroom Burger is where you can find practically everything you like on one burger. Between the gooey cheddar cheese, thick slices of crispy bacon, beer soaked onions, some yummy chipotle aioli, and a nice runny fried egg. You will feel like you are one step closer to heaven after finishing this burger.

The service was much better than my first visit. Everyone was completely satisfied with their food and are looking forward to our next visit. When you get a chance, drive into town and give Bernie's Burger Bus a try. It's definitely worth the drive.

address // 5407 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX 77401

website // http://www.berniesburgerbus.com/

Dish Society - Houston, Texas

So on this beautiful afternoon, I decided to continue my culinary adventures back into Houston and I paid a visit to Dish Society, located off of San Felipe near The Southwest side of town.

When you walk into Dish Society, they have an amazing and open layout. Also, as an added bonus they counter seating with a nice view of their kitchen and bar, plus they have patio seating on both the front and back of their location to help enjoy this amazing Spring like weather.

When initially entering the restaurant, I received a very nice warm and welcoming greeting by their front counter staff. Their knowledge of menu and options was quite impressive, plus they suggested even a couple off menu alternatives when asking to possibly substitute any items.

The Dish Society offers a full-service menu accompanied with a weekend brunch menu and local happy hour. The restaurant offers a variety menu items featuring local ingredients and local brews.

Today I decided to try a couple Texas favorites. I went with their housemade Pretzels with Smoked Gouda queso and their Barbecue Brisket sandwich.

For an appetizer, this dish was outstanding. The smoked gouda queso was addictive. It was rich and creamy. The smoked flavor from the cheese awesome. The pretzels were salty and crunchy on the outside, but very light and airy on the inside. The portion size was great for eight dollars and could almost be a meal in itself. Definitely, a nice twist to a popular dish.

The BBQ Brisket Sandwich was very good. I decided to hold the cabbage slaw which honestly I haven't been a fan of since the 80's. We can thank KFC for that one. The flavor profile of sandwich is very good. The meat was moist, but could have a bit juicer for my taste, but the grilled red onions was a great addition to the sandwich. Maybe next time I will ask for a little more sauce on the side.

One thing I did really appreciate about this dish were the housemade potato chips. For a side item, they were crazy good. It's rare you can find a restaurant who can make their own potato chips without tasting overly oily, burnt or too salty. If they sold theses by the bag. I would have taken some home in a heartbeat.

Overall it was a great first visit to Dish Society. I look forward to visiting them for breakfast in the near future and trying many more dishes on their menu.

Their cooking approach offering simple fresh local favorites is a refreshing and appreciated concept to find. It's very encouraging to find restaurants supporting other local business in the area and helping the local community grow.

address // 5740 San Felipe St #100, Houston, TX 77057

website // www.dishsociety.com

Crescent City - Houston, Texas

Today I decided to a pay visit to Crescent City, a nice New Orleans theme restaurant located on Westheimer Road in the heart of Houston, Texas.

Through some recommendations of friends and fellow foodies, I heard this place was dishing out some authentic Louisiana inspired Beignets. For myself personally, this is my second cafe sampling these delectable little treats.

As you can see in the pictures in above. These delicious treats are made from scratch and come out perfect. They are cooked perfectly. They are very light, airy and do not have any overly fried or greasy taste which is just amazing. They do a traditional beignet and along with beignet strips. Plus you have the options of ordering optional dipping sauces as seen below.

One thing that I really liked about Crescent City, is they have a full menu. My family and I decided to order some simple home cooked Breakfast Croissants where you can choose how to build your breakfast croissant to you liking. Also, these sandwiches are an amazing value for under six bucks.

With how cold it was today. The Cajun Bowl seemed a great way to begin the day with something very hot and hearty. Between the Red Beans & Dirty Rice, Andouille Sausage, and the ring of Popcorn shrimp. This dish was out of bounds. The flavor profile this dish was sporting was a smashing success. The combination of spices and textures were very delicious, and this was a great buy for under ten bucks, plus the portion was huge.

I would highly recommend if you are in the area, this restaurant is definitely a must try. The owners are friendly and inviting. The restaurant's layout is quite accommodating with a large group and the atmosphere is very comfortable.

website: // http://www.crescentcity.us/

address: // 6383 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77057

Corkscrew BBQ 2.0 - Old Town Spring, Texas

So today I had the pleasure of visiting the new location of Corkscrew BBQ located in the quaint area of Old Town Spring, just East of Interstate 45 North.

The Corkscrew BBQ crew went on a brief two months hiatus to expand operations and bring their style and level of BBQ to the masses. With dedicated parking, a large air-conditioned dining hall, patio and covered seating. Their location definitely has a lot going for it.

On this beautiful Texas afternoon. I got to enjoy to the local scenery of  the Texas brush in combination was some interesting and historic wall art surrounding the interior and exterior of their building while waiting every so patiently for some of their awesome BBQ.

Today I decided on my initial visit to their new location. I figure it would probably be wise to show up about thirty to forty minutes prior to them opening. In the hope, I would secure an early spot in their reserve waiting system. Luckily I was very blessed, and for the first time got the number two spot in line. Which is pretty fantastic considering I skipped breakfast since I have been looking forward to a hearty BBQ feast which I would call lunch. For those unfamiliar to their setup at Corkscrew BBQ. They have a twenty-six-page number system for those who show up early. They typically set out  a binder by the front the door, and for those who come early, you get a dedicated spot in line ahead of the faithful masses.

For my first trip revisiting Corkscrew BBQ, I decided to go with my personal favorite of moist BBQ Bricket, Spicy Pulled Pork, with two sides of their delicious Mac N Cheese and Spicy BBQ Baked Beans.

These folks definitely haven't missed a beat since moving locations. The brisket had great bark, texture, and seasoning. It was so tender you could cut with a plastic fork. The spicy pulled pork was absolutely wonderful and tasty. The spices they use leave a nice kick on your tongue after each bite. The Mac N Cheese was very creamy and with a little hint of pepper just makes you want to go back and ask for a tub of it to take home. The bbq beans are simply phenomenal. For anyone who loves sweet and spicy, these beans will do the trick for you. 

I have really got to hand to the folks at Corkscrew BBQ. They have really out did themselves. They successfully have moved to their new location. Worked out any initial operational kinks and maintained their signature BBQ taste and flavor. I personally believe they have a bright future ahead of themselves and I wish them best luck and much success.

Below are links to their website and facebook page information. I would highly recommend following their facebook page since they do post frequent updates of how close they are selling completely out for the day in hopes in to avoid showing up and finding out the hard way.

website - http://www.corkscrewbbq.com/

facebook - https://www.facebook.com/csbbq24930/

H-Town Deli Food Truck - Spring, Texas - Rayford Road Food Truck Park

So today I had the pleasure of visiting a new food truck who recently joined the expanding Spring, Texas food truck scene called H-Town Deli. They recently opened on September the 11th in the existing Rayford Road, Food Truck Park. Just east of Interstate 45 North.

This particular food truck's main focus is making delicious sandwiches on the fly. They offer a variety of familiar favorites like the Cuban Panini, The Classic Meatball sub and the Vietnamese favorite, The Banh Mi.

Today I decided to try the Classic Meatball sub. I was in the mood for something hearty and hot. So I decided this would fit the build and it did. Within a couple minutes of placing my order. This baby was wrapped up and ready to go home with me.

The bread was very fresh and according to the operators of the food truck, they get it delivered daily every morning around 10 just in time for opening. The mozzarella cheese was nice and gooey. Melted perfectly and covering the sandwich just right. The meatballs they use are a little lean. Since they use 1/3 Turkey Sausage, and 2/3 Spicy Italian Sausage, but with the sauce and cheese. Everything went together quite well. The sauce and the sausage could use a little more seasoning for my personal taste but it was flavorful and for eight bucks it was a great value.

My initial take on H-Town Deli is, for a food truck that has barely been open for three days. They are doing pretty well. They have a good concept considering most food trucks in the area focus on fried or BBQ foods. I am sure with enough time they will streamline their operations and tweak their recipes accordingly. My only hiccup on this visit was with their credit card machine, it was giving them a little issue but other than that, my visit went very well. The operators of the truck were very friendly and approachable. I would highly recommend folks give them a try. Below I have listed their Social Media information and physical address.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/htowndeli

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/H-Town-Deli

Physical Address 1810 Rayford Rd #E, Spring Texas 77386

Lou Lou's Beignets - Alden Bridge Village Center - The Woodlands, Texas

Welcome to another edition of Feedtheselfie. Today I had the pleasure of visiting another new addition to The Woodlands Texas foodie scene, Lou Lou's Beignets.

This brand new cafe offers delicious beignets accompanied with unique chicory coffees native to the Great State of Louisana, along with cafe options with a few interesting twists.

Lou Lou's Beignets recently opened July 7th to a very positive response from the local community on. Unfortunately, the location has a history of businesses coming and going very quickly. So far they seemed to be an instant hit, but based on the location's history, they still have a long way to go to prove if they can be sustainable. I hope with them offering a Taste of Louisiana without the three to four hour drive, will be a key selling point for their success.

On my initial visit, I took my kids along to sample some of their delectable treats. We placed two orders of the "Beignet Dippers". You might ask what is a Beignet Dipper? They are like beignet strips. As you will see below they are a skinny cousin to the traditional looking beignet.

Each order includes six Beignet Dippers with your choice of either chocolate, caramel or strawberry dipping sauce. Since they were out of the caramel we chose the chocolate and strawberry sauce.

The beignet dippers were nice, light, and airy. Unlike some fried treats, they did not have an overly "fried or greasy" taste to the dough, a big plus in my book. The amount of sugar they were covered with was spot on. They were not overtly sweet, and for someone who has to watch how much sugar he consumes. It was very refreshing to be able to eat three beignet dippers without entering a sugar coma.

The last item I tried was a sugar-free version of their Vanilla Bourbon Coffee. Being a coffee junky, this was a nice change of pace from Starbucks around the corner. The taste was smooth with a hint of vanilla sweetness and yummy bourbon flavor. Definitely a new favorite of mine. 

So far my initial impressions and experience at Lou Lou's Beignets is they have a very good concept. The prices are affordable and their product is excellent. A couple friends, who are natives of Lousiana said they definitely recommend Lou Lou's, as do I. They have mentioned its the closest thing to Louisiana you will get without going there.

Also, I think they could use a basic line system because when they get busy, their employees having to dive through people waiting in line becomes a tad bit annoying. A few more chairs inside would be a plus, too. But other than a few process tweaks, they seem to have a good operation underway.

Below is included a picture of their menu, and website for further information.

http://www.loulousbeignets.com/home.html

Crust Pizza Co - Alden Bridge Village Center - The Woodlands, Texas

Well, I like to start this review off by wishing all the Dads out there a Happy Father's Day.

On this special day, I asked my kids where they would like to go have a lunch and they said the Crust Pizza Co.

So we decided to visit their location in the Alden Bridge Village Center. This one of three locations in The Woodlands, Texas. A couple months back through a recommendation from a friend we visited their Panther Creek location and we had an amazing experience on a very busy Friday night. We placed our order, got seated in minutes and shortly there after our food was delivered to us promptly. So we had high hopes for a repeat experience.

One thing I noticed about this location it is definitely more open and larger than their Panther Creek location. Which is a definite plus. You really don't want to be stepping or bumping into other guests while trying to navigate around the restaurant.

On this visit, my kids and I decided to get two extra large pizzas and take advantage of the "Owner's Special: First pizza is regular price and the second is $7.50 off the normal price. For a family of four, this definitely helps makes things very affordable and with three growing kids the family food budget is always being watched.

On this visit we decided to go with "The Big Cheesy", one of my personal favorites and "Stella's Buffalo Chicken" pizza which my kid's absolutely love because of the spicy buffalo sauce flavor.

I absolutely love the pizza dough here. It's light, airy and just the right thickness. The crust on the pizza is nice and perfect with a little crunch. The pizza truly lives up to the name. It is packed with six different kinds of cheeses (mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino romano, cheddar, gouda and smoked mozzarella). The combination brings a lot flavor to this pizza and gives it that melted cheesy gooey goodness. For folks who love a plain or extra cheese pizza, this is right up your alley. I highly recommend you try this.

The next pizza on the bill is the Stella's Buffalo Chicken. I mean it's two favorites in one. You get the buffalo chicken wing concept combined with your pizza. This pizza is topped with spicy buffalo hot sauce, roasted chicken, caramelized onions, crushed garlic, smoked mozzarella and cilantro with a drizzle of Ranch dressing. When we got this last time the pizza was a little dry so we had them double up on the sauce and the pizza come out simply awesome and spicy. For that pizza and wings fan in the house. This should hit the spot. The onions were cooked properly, the chicken was very moist and properly seasoned. The pizza flavors were overall well balanced. This should hit the spot for the pizza and wings fan in your house.

My family thoroughly enjoyed our visit here and this is now our family's local pizza spot. The prices, the food, the service and the atmosphere are all great.

They truly have people who put love and detail into what they make and do a fantastic job to taking care of their customers. Please pay this local pizza chain a visit when you get a chance.

Check out their website for menu and location information http://crustpizzaalden.com/index.cfm