Category Archives: Montrose

Date 10 – Blacksmith

Where: Blacksmith, 1018 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
When: March 9, 2013

In search of a new breakfast joint, I suggested we go to the recently opened Blacksmith. I’ve been a fan of Erin Smith’s work and I was excited to try this out. Tagging along on this date was a special guest, Brenden’s friend Mars.

We arrived and stood in line to place our order. The line was confusing and in the way of the patrons and servers, which was annoying, but typical of a coffee shop. I ordered a latte and a croque madame, Mars ordered a tea and a croque madame and Brenden a cortado a sausage biscuit sans egg. The man doesn’t like eggs. I just can’t comprehend.

We thankfully found a table (the place was packed) and soon after got our food. Brenden looked down and his and said, “really?” I rolled my eyes, I mean, if you order something with a main ingredient missing, yeah, it’s going to look small. The biscuit was supposed to be the draw anyhow and Brenden did not seem impressed.

I highly enjoyed my sandwich, especially the perfect bechamel. Mars liked his as well, but seemed most impressed with the tea. Determined to make Brenden like this place, I went to the counter to get another latte and ordered him a croissant with marmalade.

When that came, Brenden again shrugged (he was in a mood) but his eyes lit up after the first bite. He loved it. What we didn’t love? The prices. But we’ve been back a few times since.

Date 7 – Thai Pepper

Where: Thai Pepper, 2049 W. Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098
When: February 18, 2013

Thai Pepper

 

On this date, Brenden and I left his house on foot, not sure where we’d end up. This kind of spontaneous date is Brenden’s favorite way to choose where to go, as where I like to do research and plan days, times and all the details. Probably says a lot about our relationship! :) It’s hilarious that his dates are usually the more successful ones too and Thai Pepper was no exception.

We walked in, not sure what to expect, but it seemed more upscale than I expected – white tablecloths, real flowers, couples dressed up, etc. After we sat down (within earshot of a couple on a first date, I might add), the server made me feel at ease with her courteous service.

Nicole Reads Menu at Thai Pepper Honda CB360 083

I had just started a weight loss challenge at work “Team Geek Physique” and wasn’t sure how 52 Houston Dates would configure into it. But on this date I decided that date nights would be considered “cheat meals” and I wouldn’t hold back.

With that in mind, we started with the cheese rolls, “A mixture of cream cheese, shredded carrot, and shrimp stuffed in a thin rice wrapper and deep-fried.” They must’ve not made too much of an impact on me, because I can’t quite remember them.

Honda CB360 086

We ordered, if I recall, drunken basil beef noodles (which the server assured me they wouldn’t be spicy at all per my request and they weren’t), basil beef, and tom kha gai. The noodles were a bit gloopy and stuck together in a mass, but we enjoyed our meal. It was right after Valentine’s Day and the server gifted us with a small ceramic heart, which I still use on my vanity to hold bobby pins. That was probably my favorite part of the entire meal.

Another part of the date I recall – there was a downpour on our walk home! Overall, a very fun date and a place we would return to (probably not in our hoodies next time).

IMG_20130218_223939

 

Date 6 – Pizza L’Vino

Where: Pizza L’Vino, 544 Waugh, Houston, TX 77019
When: February 9, 2013

After the previous week’s disappointing pizza, Brenden and I decided we should redeem pizza in Houston with a new contender: Pizza L’Vino. After travelling to New York for a funeral and coming down with the norovirus, I had a rough week. I finally accepted that I was ready to eat cheese again. Kinda a big deal.

Brenden and I were on a long bike ride through the East Side and made our way back to Waugh. Waugh is a street we are both on constantly; it’s the main road between Brenden’s place and my place. We’d seen the build out and opening of Pizza L’Vino and both wanted to try it. We stopped by to check out the menu. We were initially thrown off by the pizzas with such names as “Meathead” and “Lowfat Body Fuel.” And I was extremely curious about why they advertised using “Wisconsin Mozzarella.” It’s mozzarella, it’s supposed to be fresh, not from the other side of the country… not to mention Texas is home to some of the best known mozzarella in the country, from The Mozzarella Company in Dallas.

A man pulled up to pick up his order and expressed an unsolicited endorsement of the pizza. He was very friendly and we discussed the merits of Pizza L’Vino. He also told us that the man who opened up this pizzeria was the co-founder of the beloved Houston pie joint, Star Pizza. We were sold. Brenden went inside to pick up a menu and inquire about the delivery area, while I held our bikes outside. He was in there for a long while, talking about who knows what. Brenden is the type to carry on a long conversation with your waiter, the barista, the cashier – any serviceperson. He is the guy who rings the bell at Kroger when he has good service. That’s just him.

We rode our bikes in the rainy drizzle back to Brenden’s and I placed an order:

  • 1 hand-tossed Queen Margherita Pizza (to compare to the previous week)
  • 1 Iceberg Wedgie
  • 2 Abita rootbeers
  • a classic cannoli

After the order, Doctor Ben, Brenden’s downstairs neighbor, came up and we invited him to be our special blog guest. The pizza arrived quicker than promised (even on a Saturday night!) and I quickly started dividing the salad into three portions. The separate Danish blue cheese crumbles were a nice touch – a very enjoyable salad.

We all took some slices and began to pound the pizza. Everything tasted very fresh – it was remarkable how ungreasy the cheese was. It was almost unnatural how the cheese wasn’t stretchy (not a good thing). It was tasty, but I would like to get something different next time – looking your way, Cheese Bomb.

The best part was splitting the cannoli with Brenden. It was delish! I could see calling Pizza L’Vino and just ordering cannolis and wine and calling it a night.

Brenden’s take: “Pizza L’Vino falls into not a quite a NY Pizza. It was fresh, it was light and it was tasty. I didn’t think the pizza was amazing; it was an average neighborhood pizza place. Salad was good; I enjoyed that and I don’t typically like blue cheese dressing. The cannoli was great. I was really happy that the pizza place offered a cannoli because is good cannoli is hard to find in Houston. 

Doctor Ben’s take: 2 thumbs up.

Dr. Ben