Burgers, BBQ and Butchery, a Food & Drink focus edition on tastes in the neighborhood. Sponsored by Saturday, June 17, 2017 • Page 1B
Karbach Brewing Co. adds new summer beers, menu items, executive chef By Christina Martinez
christina@theleadernews.com
Over on Karbach Street, the Houston brewery has more brewing than just beer. The Karbach Brewing team has added an Oak Forest resident to the team as executive chef, given permanent residency to bacon and cheese on their classic burger, and have taken a few awards home on standby beers. With the recent closing of Foreign Correspondents - a regional Thai restaurant in the Heights – left Oak Forest resident and chef P.J. Stoops looking for his next move. Joining just over a month with the brewery, Karbach Brewing said they were excited to bring on Stoops as executive chef, further improving their brand. “It was an opportunity to grab somebody, who we really admire his style of cooking, and the quality of the final product that he brings to the table,” brand manager David Graham said. “He’s an awesome guy, super nice guy. We’re not looking to radically change what we’re doing here
Contributed photo The Karbach Brewing Classic Burger, now always served with bacon and cheese, unless requested otherwise.
at the [restaurant], but always, and keep, getting better. We had that desire with our beers, we always want to get better, and want to keep that same kind of thinking behind our food, too.” Before stopping at Foreign
Correspondents and Karbach Brewing, Stoops could be found spreading his knowledge as a fishmonger for many years. Before that, he worked in Thailand for a little over three years; France for a couple of years; Austin restau-
rants for several years. Stoops said that’s going back twenty years. From all of his stints, Stoops said there are three things he can confidently claim to say he knows – Thai food, French food and Fish. All things he
plans to infuse into the Karbach menu, all “to an eye of simplicity.” For what’s been the best start to the job, Stoops, a novice beer drinker, credits trying just about everything that’s on tap at the brewery and expanding his knowledge on the brew process, and how to pair these different flavors with what’s he’s curated in the kitchen. As for his favorite beer, Stoops was a bit shy with his response. “I almost hate to say it, but I’m a sucker for anything that’s lemon flavored and soda-y, but I love The Raddler. I’ve never been a big heavy beer drinker, and it’s refreshing. So I admit it.” The Meats The circle of life is something that can be seen over at Karbach Brewing, Graham said. Listed on the menu is Wagyu beef from R-C Ranch in Angleton, just 38 miles south of Houston. The Karbach spent grain, the leftover grain from the brew process, is what the R-C Ranch wagyu cattle feed on, and that beef eventually comes back to the
brewery for menu features like the classic burger and the steak. The spent grain can also be found on the dessert menu and even within the pizza dough for their pizza pies. Karbach’s classic burger has a new addition that’s given bacon and cheese a permanent residency. The burger will relatively remain the same, but the only change will be their mindset – all classic burgers will come with bacon and cheese, unless requested otherwise. For the cooking of the burger, nothing over a medium level is suggested so the juice can retain in the burger. When it comes to picking a beer to pair with this classic, Graham has a few suggestions. “The beer pairing for this burger depends on the person,” Graham said. “I think with the strong flavors of the beef, cheese and the bacon, the best pairing is our Hopadillo IPA. But there’s two theo-
Karbach 3B
The Garage Grill launches on Ella Boulevard By Christina Martinez
christina@theleadernews.com
The Leader’s Readers’ Choice Awards closed voting polls, tallied up the votes, and are announcing all of the winners June 24. Since we’re talking burgers, we’ll let the beans spill and announce that MytiBurger took home the gold for Best Burger. Taking home gold isn’t the only news for the Oak Forest burger joint. Owner and operator Shawn Salyers has expanded his burger brand in opening a sister concept called The Garage Grill, located in the Mr. Gleem Carwash at 3103 Ella Blvd. Salyers said he saw opportunity with the counter opening at the car wash and he had to jump on it. “I heard there was an opening at the car wash and I’ve always wanted to run the counter,” Salyers said. “I thought it was a good opportunity. When I heard about it, I immediately came to the owners about doing it. The goal is to provide good, quality food at a good price, and to try out new menu items that I couldn’t do at MytiBurger to try here.”
Photo by Christina Martinez The Ugly Duck BBQ Sandwich, topped with pickles and pickled jalepenos, onions and served on a bun with a side of chips.
When it comes to new menu items to try out at The Garage Grill, Salyers immediately mentioned the 1/3 gourmet angus burger – noting that the MytiBurger brand has been around for decades and tinkering with the brand is something he doesn’t have plans for. The chicken sandwich, a different cut of fries, a turkey club, and overall higher quality items are the focus for the Garage Grill and Salyers.
A unique Wednesday offering is the Scrub and Grub special: buy The Gleem 3 car wash, grab a free burger from The Garage Grill. Salyers said customers can show their receipt and receive a free burger up to two days after their car wash purchase. The menu offers cold sandwiches, like a classic turkey club, BLT, a grilled chicken wrap and more. From the grill side, find a 1/3 classic burger,
chicken sandwich, grilled cheese or grilled cheese with bacon, fajita tacos and more. Pair any order with fresh fries or chips, and a Mexican coke, Topo Chico or water or soda for your beverage. A popular menu feature with customers is putting local barbecue front and center, with the Ugly Duck BBQ Sandwich. The barbecue sandwich features brisket from Oak Forest’s Ugly Duck BBQ, a catering concept, topped with onions, pickles and pickled jalepenos, served on a bun with a side of chips. Grab the whole thing for ten dollars. For both The Garage Grill and Mytiburger, Salyers has launched the Waitr app., which is an application that you can download to your phone to have food from both locations, and many other restaurant and eateries around town, delivered to your door. “I encourage customers to use the new app., but also come by and see the new concept,” Salyers said. “There is plenty of parking along the side of the car wash. Stay and eat, or call ahead to take it for a quick car wash and lunch.”
Rainbow Lodge: 40 Years of fine food and friends By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader
The month of July 2017, will note a benchmark for the Rainbow Lodge. The restaurant, located in a 113-year-old log cabin on Ella Boulevard at East TC Jester, is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. The birthday is a measure made all the more extraordinary by industry statistics. According to Forbes magazine, 60 percent of American restaurants shutter by their third year in
business. Then again, there is nothing ordinary about the Rainbow Lodge. Its interiors offer unique views that whisk patrons away from the stress of the city. White Oak Bayou drifts slowly past the large windows. Beautiful trees and gardens help foster peace in the most restless of souls, while local wildlife entertains as each goes about the business of living. The reasons for the lodge’s longevity are not limited to
the ambiance. Specializing in seafood, locally sourced produce, and regional wild game, the food offers the same quality, freshness and attention to detail one would expect in a four-star restaurant, at a better value. During a recent lunch, we enjoyed a salad of whipped mozzarella mixed with heirloom tomatoes, vinaigrette, and melon cubes infused with honey harvested from beehives on the property. If heaven has a flavor, this would be it.
Our salad was followed by a battered, fried quail thigh nesting in flavorful white cheddar grits, and finished with a bourbon-bacon cream gravy. There are no words sufficient to describe this - just try it. Businesses that survive in the American entrepreneurial landscape require talent and vision behind them. Rainbow
10 for $10 Pick from 10 items for $10 for a healthy and homemade lunch.
Monday – Friday Lunch Hours Only
C avat o r e
i ta l i a n r e s ta u r a n t 2120 Ella Boulevard • (713) 869-6622
www.Cavatores.com
Try Our New Chick-fil-A
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Our hearty tortilla soup features shredded boneless breast of chicken, navy, northern and black beans in a white creamy base with a perfect blend of vegetables ad spices to heat up your dining experience. Topped off with seasoned corn tortilla strips. Seasonal item only Like Us...
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13240 Northwest Frwy 713-462-7698
Open Mon-Thurs 6am-10pm Fri & Sat 6am-11pm
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3814 N. Shepherd 77018 | 832-667-8081
Tex-Mex Cafe In The heIghTs
Authentic Mexican Food Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Carne Guisada, Huevos Rancheros, Burritos, Nachos, Guacamole, Homemade Tortillas, Red Salsa and Chili con Queso and more.
1115 East 11th St. Contributed photo The Lobster & Corn Risotto at Rainbow Lodge, located at 2011 Ella Blvd.
(Near Studewood St.)
713-861-9423
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www.farmboybrewshop.com
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Beer • Wine • Mead • Cider Cheese • Yogurt • Kombucha Bread Starters
& other fermentables
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