A Food
Urban Eats launches their Summer Punch Saturdays FIND IT 2B
Drink focus issue.
Paint the town with Art Valet FIND IT 2B
Reader favorites FIND IT 4B
Go Behind the Bar FIND IT 3B
Saturday, June 16, 2016 • Page 1B
We just finished our Readers’ Choice awards and there is a fitting category for this month’s Food & Drink Focus issue: cocktail bar. We had over 3,000 votes in total and Leader Readers nominated the following: Cyclone Anaya’s, first place cocktail bar; Johnny’s Gold Brick, second place cocktail bar; Lei Low, third place cocktail bar. A big congratulations to all three, but now to the good stuff. Each bar was asked to make us a featured summer cocktail for all of you to go enjoy. Here is their lineup.
1. Cyclone Anaya’s Cyclone’s Perfect Peach Cyclone’s Perfect Peach is made with Deep Eddy Peach Vodka, lemon and orange juice, simple syrup and topped with a floater of Malbec. Find this on the menu at Cyclone’s Heights area location at 1710 Durham Dr.
2. JOHNNY’S gOLD BRICK The High Dive
3. Lei Low Tiki Tatanka Zubrøwka bison grass flavored vodka, lime juice, lemongrass syrup, yellow chartreuse and an absinthe wash. The cocktail is inspired by one of their own, Izabela, and her homage to her home country of Poland. Find this on the menu at Lei Low at 6412 N Main St.
Area look into kid approved summer cocktails By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com It was a selfish motivation that inspired me to solicit opinions about the best place to get a sweet icy treat in the area. And of course, once readers answered, it was practically a job requirement to go sample the suggestions. I only wish I’d had more time. Here are three I visited, plus the ones I’ll plan to try, or visit again, before summer is done. Flamingo’s Chill, 6404 Airline Dr. I was intrigued by Claudia Xi’s mention of Flamingo’s Chill on Airline. “Both drive-thru and wait are ridiculously long no matter what time of day or month for that matter, but the best “Raspas” I’ve found nearby,” she wrote. “The sweetened condensed milk or “crema” makes the typical snow cone delicious.” First of all, I didn’t realize how far north on Airline this was but no matter. After a 15 minute drive from my house – OK, more like 25, I got lost – we arrived. Even with a ton of road construction around Flamingo’s there was indeed a line at the order window and the drive-thru. I only wished I spoke Spanish better because it might have facilitated my ordering. After giving my kids noise makers to ramp up the festive vibe, the woman at the window recommended the strawberry snow cone. Done. It was tasty, sweet and hit the spot. They are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily so there’s plenty of hours in the day to get a fix.
Photo by Betsy Denson There seems to be no sign of disapproval from a youngster at MAM’s Snoballs.
whereas a snow cone’s ice is coarser. The syrup sinks to the bottom in a snow cone. With the sno-ball, the ice absorbs the syrup. We tried the Tiger’s Blood (Mam’s favorite) with fruit juices and coconut milk – it was a hit with my son – and the insanely sweet Kitty Kat which was right up my daughter’s alley. A nearby patron had something called the Orchid which was beautiful looking and tasty too, according to her. I didn’t test this but their website says they’ll do a canine sno-ball for a buck. Steel City Pops, 420 E 20th St. This is the first Houston location of a national chain I had heard about from neighbors. Their website says that the pops are made with allnatural or certified organic ingredients, and locally-har-
Louisiana styLe BoiLed JuMBo shriMp To-Go or Enjoy at Our Picnic Tables [BYOB] New Orleans Style
Over Stuffed Po-Boys
Roast beef & Fried (shrimp, oyster, fish)
THE LEADEr’s readers’ Choice Winner
BEST Seafood
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16
Pink pepper corn infused gin, Cocchi Americano rosa vermouth, blackberry, cilantro tincture, lemon juice and topped with soda water. The cocktail is inspired by a day at the pool: cool, refreshing and grassy. Find this on the menu at Johnny’s at 2518 Yale St.
Summer Mocktails
B
Best cocktail bars voted by Readers
THE LEADER
Readers' Choice
HOurS
Thursday (4pm - 8pm) • Friday (4pm - 8pm) Saturday (noon - 8pm) Sunday (noon - 5pm]
2521 N. Durham
SW corner of 26th & Durham
(713) 703-7544 www.MelsSeafood.com
See Mocktails, P. 2B
MAM’S SnoBalls, 1040 W Cavalcade St. A number of people mentioned MAM’s and my husband who lived in New Orleans is a fan, and snoball nut, so this had to make the list. Owner Christopher Martin who bought the place from Mam gave me a quick education about the difference between a snow cone and a sno-ball. Sno-balls are made with finely shaved ice,
Just in Thyme for Summer
Harold’s Tap Room’s
Summer Thyme Sangria
House-made red sangria mixed with thyme, raspberry-and-mint-infused vodka, a splash of ginger ale and lemon lime soda topped with an edible orange flower.
Tap Room hours:
Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday 11a.m. – 2 a.m. Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. Sunday 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. * Food service ends an hour before closing.
350 W. 19th St. • 713.360.6204 • www.haroldsheights.com
Conveniently located off of Shepherd and I-10, just 10 minute s away from downto wn
unCh L r o f s u n i o J ! and BrunCh
The root of Chinese cooking and craft cocktails hourS Tuesd-Thu 11am-10 Also featuring Fri-Sat 11am - 11pm Closed Mondays hong Kong Style Lunch Plates hAPPy hourS Tues-Sat 2:30PM - 7:00PM 8 Course Dim Sum Brunch BrunCh Saturday happy hour Sun 10:30AM - 3:30PM On-site and off-site catering services available
4705 Inker Street houston, TX 77007 [713]861-8883 gingerforkrestaurant.com