River Oaks palace hits the market for $19 million

River Oaks palace hits the market for $19 million


It's no secret that River Oaks is a ritzy area, but this $19-million-dollar mansion takes oppulence to the next level.

Located at 2115 River Oaks, the palacial estate sprawls over 21,500 square feet of living space on more than an acre of manicured grounds.

The 8 bedrooms, 9 full and 3 half bathrooms, home theater, and fitness spa are great places to host guests and relax, but the real crown jewel of this property is the pool.

Housed in a glass natatorium, surrounded by posh furniture, and topped with glittering chandeliers, this impressive pool makes a serious statement.

If you'd like to to live in the lap of luxury, you'd better be ready to plunk down the hefty $18.9 million asking price.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Harry Potter author reaches out to survivor of Spring family shooting

Harry Potter author reaches out to survivor of Spring family shooting


Cassidy Stay, the lone survivor of a horrific shooting in Spring that left her parents and four siblings dead, made national news days after the incident when she appeared at a memorial held in their honor.

The 15-year-old girl, who was injured in the hand and head but survived by pretending to be dead, quoted a passage from the Harry Potter novels from which she had taken comfort.

"In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore says, 'Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,'" she said in the ceremony, held in mid-July outside a school three of her younger brothers and sisters had attended.

Read Full Article

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Barbecue joint near Wharton goes up in flames

 Popular family-run barbecue joint near Wharton goes up in flames


A landmark on the Texas barbecue map was destroyed by fire on Monday night, according to local reports. Family members are calling it a total loss.

The original Hinze’s BBQ has been serving barbecue and other goodies for more than 40 years outside of Wharton proper, just off U.S. 59. Its décor was positively Texas, and the location was a favorite stop for travelers and locals alike.

A pit fire out back just before dinner rush at 7 p.m.  is being blamed for the catastrophic fire. It quickly got out of hand for the employees and soon emergency officials were called.

On Monday night the Wharton County Precinct #2 Constable’s Office was posting photos of fire officials fighting the blaze. There were no reported injuries to first responders or staff. Word of the fire spread quickly over social media and barbecue fans across the state expressed their condolences.

Read Full Article

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Reginelli’s Pizzeria opens second store in Houston

Reginelli’s Pizzeria opens second store in Houston

The New Orleans-born, Commander’s Palace-partnered Reginelli’s Pizzeria opened its second pizzeria in Houston today. Located at 5303 B Bissonnet in Bellaire, it is the 11th restaurant opening for the expanding pizza business and only the second of its stores outside of Louisiana.

“This restaurant will feature the same great quality food and attentive service that our customers have been accustomed to at any Reginelli’s,” said Bruce Erhardt, who founded the brand with partner Darryl Reginelli in New Orleans in 1996.

Reginelli’s features hand-tossed pizza, salads, baked pastas, and sandwiches. Commander’s Palace Chef Tory McPhail helped develop new menu items with a Creole/Italian bent, including the Gumbo Pizza made with andouille sausage, smoked tomato sauce, Crystal-marinated shrimp, roasted eggplant and pickled okra. Other pizzas include Tony’s Play (marinara, mozzarella, pepperoni, pancetta, prosciutto, mushroom, onions and green peppers); How Adam Rolls (garlic herb sauce, Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, garlic, mozzarella and red pepper flakes); and Honey Island Swamp (portabella, button and shiitake mushrooms with wilted arugula, fontina cheese and garlic herb sauce).

Appetizers include barbecue shrimp and ciabatta toast; spinach and artichoke dips; Tuscan hummus with warm pita; and baked brie calzone. Salad options: Lafayette Hwy 90 (andouille sausage, hot cappicola, romaine, tomato, provolone and okra on ciabatta); Chicken Garcia (oven roasted chicken, dill aioli, fontina cheese, arugula, barbecued red onions and sliced avocado on ciabatta); Dream State (herbed goat cheese spread, roasted red peppers, pancetta, roasted eggplant, walnuts, mixed greens and balsamic citrus vinaigrette); meatball sandwich; and a muffaletta.

Reginelli’s boasts a wine list curated by Ferrel Dugas, the award-winning bar chef. In addition to keg wines, the restaurant also offers a frozen Bellini.

The first Reginelli’s opened in Houston last year at 12389 Kingsride Lane in Memorial City.

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Pax Americana opens tomorrow on Montrose

Pax Americana, the new restaurant from co-chefs Adam Dorris and Plinio Sandalio, opens for business Saturday at 5 p.m.

Last night the restaurant hosted a packed friends-and-family dress rehearsal that gave diners a glimpse of the opening menu, as well as a chance to check out the revamped space that once housed Boulevard Bistro and Thai Sticks.

The tightly edited opening menu — which will change frequently once the place gets rolling — lists 16 dishes that range in price from $10 to $19. Among the early standouts was a smoked “Nine-spice” brisket rubbed with an Asian-inflected mix that ran from pink peppercorns to star anise to coriander and beyond. The soft, highly aromatic shreds of beef played against calm roasted potatoes cold-smoked in their jackets and a final sharp tuffet of herbed salad that had an bracing Thai effect.  Tiny green chiles, slivered scallion, peppery flat parsley leaves and cilantro all set off the richness of the brisket. It was a bold yet deftly balanced taste of what might be to come at this brand new venture.

Full Article

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/