Birthday Dinner :: Oxheart | Houston

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Mr. H: Mrs. H and I were in Houston with some friends for my birthday, and they suggested that we go to Oxheart for dinner.

To give a bit of context - I wish I was one of those people who didn't care about their birthday. I actually try to convince people around me that I don't care, but as my loving wife can tell you, I secretly care. I secretly want it to be the best day of the year. I secretly want great food, good company, and yes, lots of attention. So although our friends didn't know it, there was a lot at stake.

{We love that Oxheart takes "local" a step further by using locally made knives, ceramics, and aprons.}

I don't know if Mrs. H slipped them some reconnaissance on the side, but they sure did know how to do it right for the big 28. I love everything about Oxheart - the drive to a strange part of town, the cool corner building, every single item on the tasting menu, and last but not least, our waiters suggestion for where to get the best Chinese in China Town (more on that in a future post). 

{Mrs. H: I love the random vignette with chinese cats, canned goods, and favorite cookbooks. The industrial-chic interiors mixed with strange odds and ins totally appeals to my weird side.}

Mrs. H: And, now it's my turn to interrupt... you know there are those rare times on the blog when we both have to get our two cents in. Usually that happens because we love a restaurant or hotel experience so much we both want to talk about it, which is exactly what's happening now. So, here's Oxheart from my perspective... Oxheart has one of the most creative menus I've ever experienced. They take unlikely local ingredients - like muscadines - and turn them into  some of the most interesting dishes I've tasted (the muscadine dish mimicked the flavor of gummy bears. Strange, I know. It was one of the craziest textures and tastes I've tried and I loved every bite of it.) . My personal favorite was the pancake with beef fat. Ladies, I know what you're thinking... sounds gross, but it was heaven in your mouth. 

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Oxheart's originality didn't stop with the dishes, the drink pairings included a Texas beer and an orange wine among others. Every course brought a new experience for the senses. It's not easy to find a restaurant that offers tastes you've never experienced, but Oxheart does just that. Our meal at Oxheart was undoubtedly one of the coolest "tasting adventures" I've ever had and I can't imagine a more perfect way to celebrate Mr. H than taking a "tasting adventure" with people we love!

{if you aren't heading to Houston anytime soon, but would love to try the tastes of Oxheart, check out Bon Appetit's "How - To Host Your Own Pop Up Restaurant with This Tasty (and Affordable) Tasting Menu"  featuring Chef Justin Yu from Oxheart.}
-mr.&mrs.h

tiny boxwoods | houston

Growing up my parents were always loading us up in the car and taking us somewhere for the weekend. Although I loved traveling, I hated how long it took to get to our destination. Thus, I decided I wanted to invent a machine where you pressed a button and were transported instantly to your destination. Twenty years later, I still wish that machine existed. If it did, I'd transport myself to Houston, grab my friend who lives there, and we'd hit up Tiny Boxwoods for an afternoon snack. This spot is one of the places we went to on our recent trip to Houston and I'm obsessed! 

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I love the decor. I love the menu. I love the concept. I love the drinks. And, I love the food. Clearly, I'm a fan. Seriously, the atmosphere feels like you've stepped out of Houston and into a hidden greenhouse in Europe. They pay attention to all the details - from the chalk board fonts to the hosts' and hostesses' uniforms. The House Cheese and Meat Plate and the French Picnic are two of the best cheese plates I've ever had. And, the lemonade is so fresh and full of herbs that make it hands down my favorite lemonade in the U.S. And, there aren't words to describe the deliciousness that is the chocolate chip cookie (they've been named one of Houston's 10 Best Cookies). Bottom line, if you are in Houston and want a great afternoon snack - or a late lunch, you HAVE to go to Tiny Boxwoods!

TINY BOXWOODS // mr.&mrs.h's Late Afternoon picks: 

House Cheese and Meat Plate

French Picnic

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Brownie

Lemonade

-mrs.h 

Revival Market

On a recent trip to Houston, Mrs. H and I walked from our friends' home in The Heights to Revival Market for a quick cup of coffee. 

Upon entering, we were both incredibly impressed with the clear vision, fantastic display, and cool vibe. 

Greg aka "Dragon"

My attempt to snap an undercover pic of the barista was unsuccessful, which meant I had to introduce myself. The first two times the poor fella said his name, I thought he said "dragon," but it turns out he is actually just Greg. Dragon seemed cooler, so I'm going to stick with it. 

Flat White

Dragon introduced us to the delicious, Australian inspired Flat White, which is similar to a latte but has a higher proportion of microfoam to coffee. The drink itself was delightfully creamy but still strong enough to provide some pep in our step for our walk home. Interestingly enough, when Mrs. H and I flew to Europe the next day, we were confronted by Flat White's at every turn. Looks like Dragon, and Revival, are bringing some much needed Euro-flave to Houstonia. 

-mr. h