TasteMaker HOU

RESTAURANT HAPPY HOUR REVIEW: GROTTO

Last evening I met an old, OLD friend of mine for happy hour at Grotto. No, she's not old... our friendship is old! We go way back to the good ol' days when Enron ruled this land and we were invincible, changing the world for good. Now, we just look forward to the next happy hour get-together and try to save the world in different ways (Quick! Save that grape juice TRAPPED in that bottle!!!) :-P

So Grotto, in the Galleria area at the corner of Westheimer & 610... has happy hour deals every Monday - Friday from 4-7pm at the bar or on the patio only. This is GENIUS my friends!!! Instead of heading home after work, go sit on the patio (especially now that the weather is beautiful), watch the sunset behind the Williams Tower, enjoy happy hour prices you can count on one finger, listen to the angry traffic jams and toast to bacchus, thankful you're sitting here and not in that mess (beep beep! honnnnk! middle finger...) :o

One problem, and perhaps it's just me... While the waitstaff was RIDICULOUSLY friendly, calling me by my first name, patient and helpful, smiling and courteous... they know NOTHING about wine! I asked their "sommelier" about the Sant' Elena Chardonnay from Friuli (that's north-eastern Italy), thinking it would be perfectly light, acidic and crisp for drinking out on the patio on a warm September evening in Houston watching the sunset. The Sommelier - again, while adorable, sweet, cute, nice, calling me by my first name in his peppered accent - assured me that this Chardonnay was from California. When I pointed out that the menu says it's from Friuli, he says - again, in his adorableness - "Yes, it IS very *fruity*." I respond politely, of course (if anyone has ever been with me at a restaurant when the waiter or sommelier is speaking to me about their wine, you know that I am very respectable, non-snobbish in the least, right?), "No, I believe Friuli is a region in Italy known for their crisp white wines." Short of asking to bring the bottle to my table, I always have a back-up wine to order which requires no questions. I go for the Gavi and order a bottle with no further banter. It was perfect for the setting and occasion, and at $31 a bottle, did not break the bank. It's not going to win any awards, but it paired wonderfully with our fried calamari appetizer at only $6. Cheap cheap cheap! :)

This type of thing happens quite often. I'd say 9 times out of 10 at a Houston restaurant, it is assumed by the waiter or sommelier that I know NOTHING about wine. And in his or her defense, 9 times out of 10 they are probably right about their client. If I did not know anything about wine, my experience at Grotto last night would have been ABSOLUTE PERFECTION and would have received two enthusiastic thumbs up from me. I can not say enough about the service and hospitality. But, with the little snafu with the wine, accent or no accent, I am going to have to take away one of those thumbs.

REVIEW: ONE THUMB UP - TRY IT NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN THE AREA AND WOULD RATHER SIT OUT RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC

Has anyone tried Try The World box delivery yet? I'm intrigued. Every two months they send you a new box of goodies from a different foreign country. What a ground-breaking idea! You can escape on a mini-vacation in your own kitchen. :-D

Anyone else intrigued? What are your thoughts?

SOMM WINE DINNERS AT BACKSTREET ARE BACK!!!

Oo, oo, oo!!! Mr. Sean Beck is one of my favorite Sommeliers in Houston and he works his tail off at Backstreet Cafe' and all the sister restaurants, Caracol, Hugo's & Prego. He's bringing back his Somm Wine Dinner series at Backstreet and the first one of the season is this Monday evening, not to be missed! My mouth is salivating just reading this menu (it's 4:57pm, I think I can go pour myself a dry Riesling now, right?). If you go, report back to me and let me know your thoughts!!! Seating fills up quickly so make your reservation 713-521-2239. Tell them that The TasteMaker sent you!

FIREWORKS SALAD WITH MY OWN VERSION OF GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

Ingredients:
Salad ~
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 slightly under-ripe avocado
2 ears of fresh sweet corn
1 Tbsp freshly chopped basil

Dressing ~
Juice of 1 lime
1 clove minced garlic
1 ripe avocado
1/4 c. light mayonnaise
1/4 c. light sour cream
1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the basil.

Add all the dressing ingredients in a Cuisinart and whisk on high to zhoozh all together. Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, basil, cooled grilled corn and dressing in a serving bowl and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes in the fridge to let flavors mingle. Then ENJOY!!!