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Leader Nibbles 1B · Behind the Bar 2B • ArtValet 7B Saturday, May 16, 2015 • Page 1B
An oldie, but a goodie
Airline seafood eatery preserves loyal following By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com While a lot of good, new restaurants are moving into the area, there are also plenty of eateries that have survived the test of time. Connie’s Seafood at 2525 Airline Dr. is one such oldie but goodie that has not only maintained a loyal following but also spawned three other sister restaurants around Houston. Annie Ho, Connie Chan’s daughter, said she grew up working in the original Airline location along with her seven siblings, before going on to run her own restaurant in Pasadena. Ho said her mom who was born in China and raised in Hong Kong came to Florida with her husband in the early 1970s. Later, the family moved to Houston. Chan and her husband originally opened the business together on Airline in 1979, but after their divorce, Chan renamed the restaurant, Connie’s Seafood. “We started as a market for fresh seafood because grocery stores weren’t offering that then,” said Ho, who notes that
Photos by Betsy Denson and Contributed At the top, patrons have been coming to Connie’s since 1979. Above, a Connie’s Seafood favorite, the fried whole fish.
Connie’s predated Tampico Seafood and Golden Seafood on Airline. “We were right across from the farmers market and people were hungry so we started cooking more food and selling less and less as a market.” Eventually the grocery items were moved out and more tables were moved in, although customers can still buy fish and seafood at Connie’s to cook at home. Manager Erika Aguilar said that about 90% of their business today comes from eat in customers and the other 10% buy from the market. Talley Ned Denney remembers first go-
Sweet partnership leads to new pastry business By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader For eight years, Garden Oaks resident Kathy Cummings Boulte has been successfully helping children overcome hurdles as a speech-language pathologist. At the same time, Boulte’s lucky friends have enjoyed the fruits of her hobby, sharing her hand-made English scones. “These are so good, you otta’ sell them,” friends would say to her of the British tea cakes. After years of hearing the same refrain, it happened. Boulte caught the biz bug. “I just decided it was time,” she said with a shrug and a smile. On June 5, Boulte and her friend of 25 years, Julie Davidson, are launching a commercial kitchen on Crosstimbers Ave., near N. Shepherd Dr., dedicated to the creation of made-fromscratch scones. The new business, called Sontastic, will offer a variety of the cakes in many flavors: lavender, strawberry white chocolate, gold-leaf, gluten-free scones and many more. “I am the chef, the creative one in our partnership,” said Boulte. “Julie spent years in corporate life, and she has the business head. She wrote our business plan. She is handling the accounting and things such as that. I will do the baking. We very much compliment and balance each other in our skills.” “Kathy so very sweet and kind,” stated Davidson. “I, on the other hand, will give people the benefit of the doubt, but only so far. I am the business pit bull in the partnership and I am OK with that,” Davidson added with a laugh. The two forty-something-year-old partners will use only locally sourced, fresh products: brown eggs, fresh fruits, Texas butter, etc. There are no preservatives. None are required. Scones have a shelf life of about five days without refrigeration. Scontastic will launch as an online business only. Clients can place orders, and the partners will either ship the scones or deliver, if the order falls in the The Leader’s readership area. The scones themselves are round, looking a bit like a biscuit or cookie, and range from $2.50 to $4 for each. “We have plans to grow. We are hoping to add a scone food truck in six months, and a storefront in Timbergrove in a year,” said Boulte. “These are wonderful treats that deserve a place on the American table. We apologize in advance if our clients find themselves addicted. They are just ‘that’ good,” she concluded. To order, go to Sconetastic.com
New Frosted LemoNade
ing to Connie’s in the mid-80s when it was a small, white clapboard building. “Chilo worked there shucking oysters at the oyster bar and making the best ceviche in town,” Denney said. “I still use his recipe he shared with me years ago.” Customer favorites these days still include the ceviche and oysters as well as the fried shrimp and rice which reader Stella Stevens thinks is “the best you’ll find this side of Bellaire Boulevard.” Other mentions from Leader readers are the catfish platter with fried rice and fries and the shrimp cocktail. Reader Rosey Delgado said the whole fried tilapia is a stand out, and also complements the restaurant’s service, saying she never has to wait for a drink refill. Annie Ho, who has presumably sampled much of the menu over the last 35 years, likes the whole fried fish and the seafood cocktail with shrimp, octopus, avocado, oysters and hot sauce – “especially for the summer.” Ho said that it has long been popular among the Chinese to eat the whole fish, but that they will prepare it anyway the customer likes it – split, whole, middle, steak or fillet. Customers can have their fish fried, steamed or grilled. Connie’s cocktails are popular too, with the Michelada (Mexican ‘beertail’) as a standout. Connie’s is open Monday through Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to midnight and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The lunch rush from noon to 2 p.m. on weekdays is always busy as are the weekends, but the restaurant is spacious so there’s never much of a wait. During the temperate months, there’s the patio too. Never tried Connie’s? Well, it’s not going anywhere but there is no time like the present. Visit www.conniesseafood.com for a menu and more information.
so tasy you’ll get the chills with diet
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13240 Northwest Frwy 713-462-7698
CATERING We can deliver and set up at your home or office. Join us for lunch on our outdoor patio 2120 Ella Boulevard • (713) 869-6622 www.Cavatores.com
Lincoln Bar + Kitchen opens in Washington Heights
Ula’s Mexican joins the Washington Corridor Just down the street from Lincoln Bar + Kitchen, Ula’s Mexican has opened their doors at 5555 Washington Ave., 77007. The TexMex eatery opened their doors late last month in April, after the closing of Los Dos Amigo’s. Ula’s Mexican opens for lunch at 11 a.m. and serves dinner until 10 p.m. A standout lunch menu item is The soup and salad the soup and salad for at Ula’s Mexican. $9.95. This is perfect if you’re looking for something light, but satisfying and only have a quick hour for lunch. Pho Binh steaks out their territory Over on White Oak, Pho Binh hung their ‘Coming Soon’ sign at their newest location at 2916 White Oak. You might recognize that address. The location previously housed the french bistro, Sale Sucre. Minor construction and redocorating Pho Binh will open at 2916 is needed. White Oak Dr. Bowls of pho are on the horizon.
Have a tip for nibbles? Email christina@theleadernews.com
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Leader Nibbles Drink. Eat. Socialize. That’s the slogan for the newly opened and newly renovated Lincoln Bar + Kitchen in the Washington corridor, located at 5110 Washington Ave., 77007. The Washington Heights eatery hosts a long libations menu and even has something for your designated driver. The eats menu has alluring appetizer options and entrée choices like pizza, burgers and a Lincoln chicken sandwich. Don’t forget the dessert menu. Lincoln Bar posted to their Facebook this past week, sharing their thanks for their customer support and sharing two happy hour specials to the menu. “Introducing ‘Triple T Tuesdays’ featuring unique street tacos, one-of-a-kind tostadas and tamales,” the Facebook post reads. “Then on Thursday, $5.99 per lb Crawfish Night!” Along with great happy hour, Lincoln Bar + Kitchen offers an event space to watch the Rockets and their patio is dog friendly, too.
We Cater
Come enjoy LUNCH
@ Harold’s
Tuesday-Friday 11-4pm It’s Terrace time! Complimentary appetizer & non- alcoholic beverage with purchase of any lunch entree!
350 W. 19th St.,Houston, TX 77008 713.360.6204 | Haroldsheights.com
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