Category Archives: Food, glorious food

The tariff effect on chocolate

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Chocoholics beware. For weeks, businesses across the U.S. have scrambled to plan for President Donald Trump’s widespread tariffs. That includes two Houston Heights dessert shops. Pudgy’s Fine Cookies and Underground Creamery at 1010 N Shepherd Dr. have been on edge as news about Trump’s “Liberation … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Make America hungry again

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

They’re working on it. The San Antonio Food Bank expects to lose $3 million due to federal funding cuts, leaving officials at the nonprofit saying they’re not sure how they’ll make up for that shortfall and that they are worried … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Make America hungry again

Beware the egg smugglers

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I admit, I giggled a little at this. Since January, Texas area CBP officers have encountered more than 90 people attempting to import raw eggs from Mexico. As egg prices in the U.S. are hitting record highs, the price of … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Taco Cabana renaissance

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’m interested in this story for two reasons. Taco Cabana is expanding its signature pink restaurants into nearby states, with redesigned stores and blue agave tequila in every margarita, but San Antonio will remain home to its headquarters and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Taco Cabana renaissance

Six Houston restaurants get Michelin stars

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

And the crowd goes wild. After months of speculation, the Michelin Guide announced its inaugural Texas selection of restaurants at a private awards ceremony in Houston on Monday night. The respected guide from the French tire manufacturer doled out 15 one-star reviews … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Six Houston restaurants get Michelin stars

The cost of the Michelin stars

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like a reasonable investment to me, to be honest. In July 2024, the Michelin Guide, the international dining guide run by the French tire company Michelin, announced that it had finally made its Lone Star State debut. Many speculated … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The cost of the Michelin stars

Five Texas cities to get into the 2024 Michelin Guide

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

All of the state’s food media goes crazy. Buckle up, Texas, we are (finally!) getting a Michelin Guide. The French tire company and prestigious food authority confirmed via press release on Tuesday that Texas will be the newest location featured … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Printed menus are back

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Those QR code menus that we all either got to experience or had to put up with (as one sees it) from the pandemic are on their way out. Like many ambitious restaurants around town, the newly opened Pastore leaves … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Printed menus are back

On recycling cooking oil

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I’m always intrigued by stories like this. NRG Stadium is no stranger to fried food — like the booths upon booths of deep-fried desserts that line NRG Park during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, or the churros and corn … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“More Space: Main Street” permanently extended

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A good outcome for a good idea. Houston will close down traffic on seven blocks of Main Street permanently to allow businesses to maintain outdoor seating spaces initially established during the COVID-19 pandemic, with plans to expand the concept to other commercial strips in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “More Space: Main Street” permanently extended

Vertical farming

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Scaling scissor lifts are a daily duty for a vertical farmer overseeing the growth of about 10 million heads of lettuce annually from Kalera’s 4.5-acre indoor farm located in the Parc-59 industrial park in North Houston. Kalera, an Orlando-based vertical … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Microbreweries are getting back on track

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of good news. Texas craft breweries rebounded in 2021, a promising sign after the pandemic staggered the industry. The state of beer: Of the state’s 10 largest breweries, seven increased production in 2021 compared with 2020, according to an Axios analysis … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Somehow, there is a national carbon dioxide shortage

Posted on October 3, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

And it is affecting breweries. Carbon dioxide has no taste, no odor, and no color — but it’s a vital ingredient in the beer business, from putting frothy bubbles in brews to blocking oxidization that makes beer taste stale. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Somehow, there is a national carbon dioxide shortage

Nuro keeps on expanding in Houston

Posted on September 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Someone must be using these services. I’m not, but someone must be. Houstonians will soon be able to get completely autonomous delivery of their dinners, groceries, and more thanks to a new 10-year partnership. Uber Technologies, Inc. and Nuro have … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nuro keeps on expanding in Houston

Multiple restaurants hit by “bad Google review” scam

Posted on July 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This is on Google to fix. Multiple Houston restaurants are being targeted by a scam involving one-star Google reviews and a demand for digital gift cards to remove the negative post. The number of restaurants being extorted has grown in … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stalking Coco, the food delivery robot

Posted on May 29, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A delightful tale by Chron food editor Emma Balter, who was determined to prove to herself that Coco the food delivery robot actually worked as advertised, even on Houston’s notoriously un-pedestrian (and presumably food-delivery-robot) streets. It took a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Stalking Coco, the food delivery robot

Who wants to have their dinner delivered by a robot?

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s your chance. Heads up, Houston: the robots are coming. Coco, the Los Angeles-based business that offers a remotely piloted delivery service, has hit the streets of Houston with its food-delivery bots as part of its expansion to targeted markets. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

More eating outdoors downtown

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good idea, and I’m glad it’s being continued. DINING IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON CAN be a hassle, what with the limited parking and COVD-19 restrictions affecting seating space at so many eateries. Fortunately, the city of Houston is … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More eating outdoors downtown

Saint Arnold whiskey

Posted on December 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

For those of you that like spirits. Houston’s oldest craft brewery has quietly launched a new venture that could bear some tasty results. Speaking on this week’s episode of CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast, Saint Arnold Brewing Company founder Brock … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Saint Arnold whiskey

Forty years of the Butterball Turkey hotline

Posted on November 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

All of your vexing turkey questions answered. Butterball has thrown a lifeline to home cooks since 1981, rescuing them from the brink of holiday meal disasters through its Turkey Talk-Line. What began 40 years ago with six phone operators has … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Your driverless pizza delivery is finally on its way

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Still not sure what the allure of this is. Autonomous cars will begin delivering Domino’s pizzas to Houstonians through a new partnership between the pizza chain and Nuro, a California startup, the companies announced Monday. Domino’s is rolling out Nuro’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

On capping restaurant delivery app fees

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Fine by me, but I’ll bet more than fifteen percent of my most recent delivery tab that this does not go anywhere. High delivery fees by third-party apps, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, are often cited by restaurant operators … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Eating on the street

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This makes a lot of sense. Main Street bar owners are expected to take to the streets now that the city has given them the OK. City Council on Wednesday approved, after some delay, plans for the More Space Main … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Abbott to allow bars to reopen

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of. It’s kind of the most Abbott thing ever. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that bars in Texas can reopen for in-person service next week — as long as their county governments choose to allow it. Effective Oct. 14, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Abbott to allow bars to reopen

Bar owners still mad at Abbott

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t blame them, but the situation is complicated. As Gov. Greg Abbott outlined his latest reopening plan this week, bar owner Greg Barrineau watched in disbelief. Abbott, who announced that Texas restaurants could expand dine-in service to 75% capacity, said … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

RIP, Luby’s

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The end of an era. Looks like the days of LuAnn platters are coming to an end. Luby’s board of directors has “approved and adopted a plan of liquidation and dissolution,” the company announced. The plan will need to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Food trucks and bars

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I approve of this. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved rules Tuesday intended to make it easier for bars to legally operate as restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state agency greatly expanded rules that had already offered a limited … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Food trucks and bars

It’s still hard out here on bars and restaurants

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I continue to worry about our once-thriving hospitality industry. Hundreds of Texas bars and restaurants are scrambling to change how they operate, maneuvering through loopholes that will allow them to reopen after being closed by Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest shutdown … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How Nuro is doing in the pandemic

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

An interesting update on the little driverless grocery (and other things) delivery serives. As recently as last fall, Nuro appeared to be years away from widespread adoption. The company, which operated in Arizona and California, arrived in Houston in 2018 … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How Nuro is doing in the pandemic

Restaurants may get to use parking lot space for dining

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I like this idea. Restaurants in Houston, currently limited by 50% indoor capacity limits, may soon be able to serve diners in parking lots to accommodate more guests. Pending a vote by the Houston City Council, a “More Spaces” plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Restaurants may get to use parking lot space for dining

Beer gardens get jerked around

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

First, we had this. Saint Arnold Brewing announced Monday that it will temporarily close its beer garden and restaurant. The reason? Gov. Greg Abbott’s office ruled it is a bar, not a restaurant, and therefore should close according to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Wineries and distilleries

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m happy to keep beating this drum, but I’d really rather not have to. The owners and patrons of Ironroot Republic Distillery in Denison hardly consider the business to be a bar in the traditional sense. There’s no loud music … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Give the bars a break

Posted on July 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m OK with this. The Texas Restaurant Association has asked Gov. Greg Abbott to revise the definitions of “bar” in his recent order closing drinking establishments in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases. In a letter to the governor, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The pause effect on bars and restaurants

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I feel terrible for them, but what could we do at this point? Ed Noyes was trying to get some shut-eye when he woke up to seven different texts Friday morning. Three of the five bartenders at his Fort Worth … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments