Eateries – …on the B.L.

Three Years and A Sweet Cup

October 4, 2019September 30, 2019 RaeAnna

Three years ago last Tuesday, I moved to Houston. I knew zero people. I knew almost nothing about the city except: NASA and it’s an hour away from the beach. Dylan and I were very, very poor. We didn’t even have a couch at that point in time. We were saving money in every way we could, which means we didn’t get out and do much at first.

There are tons of perks to being in a big city, especially one as international as Houston. Food is my favorite part of a diverse cities because of the access to obscure and unknown foods. The problem is food costs money. When I moved here, there was very little money and a lot of food to try. It was easier not to tempt myself. I did go on the hunt for gelato. I love ice cream a lot. I love gelato A LOT more.

I found Sweet Cup shortly after moving to Houston. I fell in love with them for their gelato. I liked them even more when I found out they are a female owned business. The owner is even sweeter than her gelato! Sweet Cup was the first Houston business to follow my blog on Instagram. Actually, they were the first business to follow my blog on Instagram. I had no following and no real direction. Although currently, it could be argued my direction is no direction. I bop in literally whenever I’m in that part of town. I’ve even been known to drive across town for a cup. It’s delicious.

Houston has been home for three years, and I love it. I wasn’t sure if I would that first year because life was hard; I was poor. I couldn’t enjoy the city to its fullest or tastiest at first. Over the last two years, I have fallen more in love with the city, met friends, explored, and tried new foods. But for me, Sweet Cup tastes like Houston. In the beginning, it was all I could afford. Now, it’s a reminder of how far I’ve come and the dreams I’m still chasing. Three years have come and gone in a flash. So much has changed, but some things are just as sweet.

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna

Eateries, Houston

State of Grace

August 31, 2017 RaeAnna

I found out about State of Grace through the Instagram rabbit hole, go figure. The food looked too yummy to pass up. After following them for a solid eight months, I finally made a reservation for brunch. I pulled up to the restaurant to see they have complimentary valet parking. I had no cash to tip – no one should be that dick. I parked on the street, where there was tons of parking.

Walking into the entrance of the restaurant I was taken aback by the beautiful decor. To the front is a round bar, which dominates the Instagram-scape for the restaurant. The bar has tons of windows and a brightness to it coming from the light colors. There are several areas for diners, some more private than others. Gold is a recurring color throughout whether it is darker or brighter.

I would love to tell you I hadn’t looked over the menu repeatedly, but I had. I still had a problem choosing what I wanted to eat because it all looked so good. I was finally able to narrow my order down from the entire menu to two appetizers, two entrees, lattes, and dessert. The burrata was amazing! One of the more creative burrata dishes I have had. The biscuit with proscuitto and jam was absolutely lovely; the kind of biscuit reminiscent of my great grandmothers. The chicken fried steak was phenomenal. The shrimp and grits was bland. Not my favorite, but everything else made up for it. I had to try both the bacon and the sausage… Amazing. The bacon is candied. The sausage is made in house.

The service is truly amazing. They were kind and helpful with suggestions. The server knew a lot about the restaurant and the process. The seating was really comfortable, and once I had stuffed myself, I had a hard time convincing myself to get up.

One of my favorite parts of the restaurant is leaving… This sounds bad, but it’s not. As you walk out, they offer gingersnap moon pies. Ohhhh so good. I would have eaten four or twenty-seven if that had been an option.

I definitely want to go back for Sunday Supper, which they just started. It’s several courses for almost thirty dollars a person. Which really is not bad. I spent more per person on brunch. Although, you don’t have to because I just like to stuff my face when I go out to eat.

It’s a great place to read. There is so much upholstery it dampens the noise level, which would probably be quite high otherwise. If seated in a booth, it is incredibly comfortable to sit back and read while sipping on a coffee.

State of Grace
3258 Westheimer Road
Houston, Texas 77098

Eateries, Houston

Snooze an A.M. Eatery

August 2, 2017 RaeAnna

I am a huge fan of food. I love cooking just slightly less than I love eating, and I love eating just barely less than I love reading. For me, eating and reading are intrinsically linked in my heart. In my humble opinion, the best way to start the day is a hearty helping of nourishment for the body and the soul. Snooze an A.M. Eatery is a fabulous place to do just that! I love eating, so I’m trying to eat my way through the multitudinous neighborhoods of Houston. I am trying my hardest not to repeat, but I failed.

The first time I went to Snooze was in March. A friend was visiting from out of town, and we were looking for somewhere memorable to brunch on a Wednesday midmorning. After some digging through Yelp, Zagat, and Instagram we decided on Snooze. Figuring it was 10:45 on a Wednesday, we didn’t think there would be a wait. Woah. Were we wrong. We ended up waiting for forty-five minutes before being seated. It was worth the wait. I had the breakfast pot pie: yum. I don’t recall what she had, but it was sweet and delicious.

Yesterday morning, I broke my one time rule for restaurants.

I had to be up dreadfully early this morning. After my obligations were fulfilled, I decided breakfast was in order. It was only 8:30, and I was on the south side of downtown Houston, which, with the traffic, is anywhere between twenty minutes and an hour away from my home. Since I was only a 1.2 miles from Snooze, I decided it was a must.

I enjoyed the Benny Duo. Basically, it’s for those indecisive people who can’t choose just one Eggs Benedict. So I had the Bella Bella Benny and the Summer Benny (or whatever it was called). The Summer one consisted of a pesto quinoa patty topped with a poached egg, caprese salad, cream cheese hollandaise, and balsamic glaze. Delicious. The Bella Bella Benny was prosciutto, a poached egg, cream cheese hollandaise sauce, balsamic glaze piled on top of a ciabatta accompanied with a arugula salad. This one was my favorite. I love prosciutto. When on a sandwich, I like it a bit thicker cut. Snooze did not disappoint with their thicker slices. So, so, so good. Snooze also has a load of drinks – alcoholic and non. Since I’m not a drinker and it was 8:30 on a Tuesday morning, I decided to stick with a classic: a hazelnut latte with almond milk.

I love the decor. It’s upbeat 50’s. They play music from all over the decades. There’s not tons of waiting room inside. There is a patio to hang out on while you wait because you will wait. It is known in Houston as one of the best breakfast/brunch spots in town, and it’s true. Snooze is fun, laid back, and yummy. It is also inexpensive! I love splurging, but for the day-to-day life, I prefer keeping it affordable, so I can buy books.

The atmosphere is fun, and the noise is what you would expect of a bopping breakfast joint. I read without a problem. You will not be alone in your solitary reading. I saw a whole bunch of readers ensconced in their books!

Snooze an A.M. Eatery
3217 Montrose Blvd Suite 100
Houston, TX 77006
Daily 6:30am – 2:30pm
713.574.6655
Instagram: @snoozeameatery