While most of us will never have a chance to circumnavigate the globe, there ARE ways to experience the many cultures that exist in this beautiful world! One way that Eric and I prefer is to visit ethnic groceries and restaurants that specialize in regional cuisines. On a recent trip to Houston, we did just that. We made a list, routed it out on Google Maps, and visited all of these locations in one weekend.
Self-described as “South African inspired comfort food,” this is the fast-food version of their fine dining Peli Peli restaurants which began in Houston and are expanding throughout Texas. The owners made headlines in 2016 by appearing on the CNBC reality show Restaurant Startup and more recently have reappeared due to sexual harassment allegations against executive chef Paul Friedman. We were completely unaware of all this as we stepped into their Spring location. We were met with SUPER friendly staff, colorful murals, and a simple but inventive menu. Eric ordered the Peri Peri Chicken and I ordered the Curry Chicken. The food was fresh, full of flavor, and the counter-serve model allowed us to add as much veggies as we wanted. Finally, a place to get my cilantro fix! Our only complaint was the price — $24 for two quick-serve lunch portions (water only and no sides) is a bit steep.
There are MANY options in Houston for Asian groceries, but this is certainly one of the best if you’re looking for a large variety in a clean environment. It’s smaller than the giant Hong Kong Market in Houston’s Chinatown, but it’s SOOOO much cleaner and it focuses equally on other Asian cuisines. Vietnamese, Cambodian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese — it’s all here! The bakery seemed to be the most popular area, but we were most impressed with the meat selection and never-ending aisles of noodles. I saw my first Pork Uterus and Silky Chicken (which looked like a baby dragon).
This is a small boutique grocery, focusing only on Japanese cuisine. It is the perfect place to go when you need high quality seafood to make your own sushi or when you want a quick fix of Japanese snacks (such as Matcha flavored candy) and Hello Kitty toys. This was my first time seeing Onigiri, rice balls, and they had a really nice selection of “to go” lunch boxes.
This storefront is at the very western tip of Westheimer but it’s worth driving to the ends of the earth just for the meat market here. When we walked in with our white selves, the cashier’s jaw dropped but she quickly recovered and gave us a huge welcoming smile and greeting. It’s an unpretentious store, focusing on African ingredients that you won’t find at other ethnic groceries. Pretty much everything in that store was entirely new to me: plaintain fufu, cassava flours & frozen cassava leaves, burnt goat meat, ground crayfish and shrimp, chin chin (snack mix). The real eye-opener, however, was the meat market with giant turkey legs and whole goat heads. There were lines of people waiting to get meat here, and no wonder when we saw the low prices.
Ok, I’ll admit I actually had to look Bulgaria up on Google Maps. This is definitely a region AND cuisine that Eric and I have zero experience with. So imagine how delighted we were to find this tiny store in the northwest corner of Houston in a multi-cultural mecca just east of Willowbrook. Their products are Bulgarian, Serbian, Romanian, Macedonian, with some Turkish and Greek crossover. The woman running the store (who might have been the owner) made our shopping experience extra special, taking the time to explain products, let us sample one of the specialty cheeses, and share her passion for Bulgaria. She noted my interest in some rose lotions and lip products and explained that this particular rose is a major export of Bulgaria. We had so much fun visiting, I forgot to take pictures, so these images were borrowed from their Facebook page.
For a good intro on Bulgaria as a tourist destination, especially it’s Rose Valley, click HERE.
We’ve been shopping at the Phoenicia stores for years. There are two locations and each has its own unique perks. The downtown market is much smaller but is a great place to socialize and do some quick shopping while you’re in that area. The Westheimer location is huge, and is where you want to go if you need a larger selection. I mention Lebanon and Armenia because the owners originated from those countries, but it’s actually an International grocery with products from all over the world. They have the largest selection of baklava and Mediterranean pastries I’ve ever seen, their fresh Feta selections are to die for, and they have amazing prices on hard-to-find olive oils and bulk spices! Eric enjoys watching the fresh pita bread moving down a conveyor belt at the Westheimer location, and I love perusing the snacks from all over the world.
Xochi is our fave, FAVE, FAVORITE restaurant in Houston! We’ve been twice and both visits were exceptional. Houstonian foodies are already aware of this place, but the rest of the world hasn’t taken enough notice (in my humble opinion). If you want to experience Oaxacan cuisine in the hands of a master, get yourself to Xochi! The atmosphere is lively, the wait staff are passionate about teaching all things Oaxacan, and everything on a plate is presented with impeccable detail, masterful flavor combinations, and creativity. But don’t take my word for it, take a look at these photos and you’ll see what I mean!
If you live near Houston or another large city, please take advantage of the cultural wealth that these melting pots have to offer. Look beyond the tourist traps and seek the neighborhoods where immigrants live — you will gain new experiences, expand your culinary palette, and be reminded of why this country is such an amazing place to live!
If you live in Louisiana (especially in the north or west), keep reading because these state parks are a perfect weekend getaway for you!
Now that Eric and I have three-day weekends twice a month, we can explore hiking options a little further out. The ideal driving distance is no more than 6hrs, something we can do on a Thursday night after work. This gives us two full days of adventure and enough time to leisurely return on Sunday. We already have at least one favorite (see Texas Hiking Weekend Getaway), but recently we added a new state to our list: OKLAHOMA!
We stumbled over this rock while hiking in Oklahoma. Perfect shape, don’t you think?
I’ll confess, I had some preconceived notions about the state. After all, I grew up memorizing the lyrics to the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical. I visualized flat, dry land with cowboys and Indians. I did NOT expect pristine mountain waterways, lush forests, and a town called Hochatown packed full of women driving BMWs touring wineries and distilleries. My personal favorite was the hot pink Girls Gone Wine shuttle bus…
Hochatown is just a short stretch of rural highway on the Southeastern border of Oklahoma. It’s just a blip on the map, but it packs in some great eating options and activities in just a few miles of road. What draws the tourists here isn’t the food & beverage scene, however, it’s Beaver’s Bend State Park. This park has EVERYTHING, including plenty of hiking along diverse terrain. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…
IF YOU GO…
Stay @ Cabins 36-39 in Beaver’s Bend State Park (beautifully situated directly on the river) OR choose from the many options available on AirBnB (we found a cozy cottage in Hochatown).
I’ll conclude this post with photos from Cossatot, along the Harris Creek Trail & a portion between Cossatot Falls & Sandbar Bridge. The Harris Creek Trail is now one of my favorite hikes in Arkansas. Hope you enjoy…
Yes sir, I can assure you it is a weed free room. ~ Hotel Desk Clerk
That conversation is essentially how a recent hiking trip began. Eric and I had a quick getaway in Arkansas and Oklahoma last weekend, and it was full of surprises!
Our adventures began in a Texarkana hotel, where upon entering the lobby we saw a middle-aged woman in knee high black boots and a red lace teddy. For those unfamiliar with lingerie terminology, this is it:
She was having a relaxed argument with the desk clerk, saying “we weren’t smokin’ anything. I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.” Eric and I were frozen in front of the door like deer in the headlights. Another clerk motioned us to approach the desk, so we sidled up next to the red Bathsheba. As she argued her case, we checked in and Eric couldn’t help himself — he cheekily asked the clerk if it was a “weed free” room and the clerk responded stiffly (but with an appreciative twinkle in his eye) that yes it was. As we approached the elevator, we could smell the “medicinal” haze and it only became stronger in the elevator. The doubts were definitely creeping in about those high Booking.com ratings and reviews. Our room was on the top floor, quiet and haze free. The bathroom, however, smelled like mildew and the shower had about 10″ of mildew all along the bottom walls with poorly caulked cracks all over the shower floor. Eric wanted to find another hotel but it was 10:00 at night, the room was very clean (except for the mildewed shower), and the drama downstairs had escalated because there were now police cars in the parking lot. Plus, we were hiking the next day and didn’t need to shower. So we stayed.
To the hotel’s credit, they WERE undergoing a remodel and were open about that. But I do feel betrayed that a hotel with an 8.7 rating in Booking.com could put people in a room with showers that nasty. Apparently the ratings were high because the staff and breakfast were so wonderful. I can attest to the wonderful staff, but I’ll be honest — I couldn’t stomach eating anything after having seen the condition of that shower.
We went hiking that day and completely forgot about the hotel, until later that night. In our clean, cozy Oklahoma cabin as I was getting dressed for dinner, I realized…
I LEFT MY BOOTS AT THE WEED HOTEL!!!
And not just any boots, my FAVORITE waterproof leather Merrell boots that I bought in Santa Fe! I tried calling the hotel several times and couldn’t even get an operator to pick up. I emailed, no response. A full 48 hrs later I was able to get someone to answer the phone and they did have my boots. So yes, we re-visited that hotel on our way home. Yippee!
