got wine?

If not, I have the perfect spot for you - Vino 100 in the Sterling Ridge Village center. They are located adjacent to the Great Harvest Bread Company and right by Kroger.

Vino 100 is a national chain that we are lucky to have in our backyard. What sets ours apart from the competition is owner, Kelly Messenger. This lady knows her stuff! She is a Sommelier and can steer you in the right direction to find that perfect bottle.

The concept is simple, 100 wines under $25!! The store is divided right down the middle - Reds on one side and Whites on the other. How easy is that? Here's more scoop, they feature small production wineries, people who care about what they put out and stand behind their products. You won't find the typical grocery store, big name stuff here. Come in ready to open your mind, learn something and try some great juice that you may never had the nerve to try on your own!

They have a small tasting bar for sampling. In addition, you can pop in and order wine by the glass, relax and forget the day's worries for a while. No snobbery here - take that elsewhere! If you are married to Napa Cabs or just French Bordeauxs, sure they have some of those as well. Also, in the back is the "reserve room". You can find wines over $25 for a more special occasion.

My favorite part is that this place gives me that great warm and fuzzy feeling that I get when I'm in Napa Valley! A nice little tasting room that is staffed by knowledgeable folks who don't mind spending some time with you! They usually have distributors in on the weekends with free tastings on Saturday afternoons - can you say FUN!! Get on the email list to be informed of upcoming events. It's not unusual for them to feature several different visiting winemakers a month. Cost is usually $20 a person which includes the tastings, small bites and information on all of the wines being poured. Not to mention we have made some very good friends as we have been sitting at that long, wooden table sipping wine!

Vino 100 - GREAT place! Go check it out!

La Mesa Grand Opening not so Grand

I was really excited to receive and invitation to the long-awaited Grand Opening of La Mesa. Even though my invite arrived in my in-box less than 24 hours before the event, I still thought they might provide a nice evening! I called, made my "reservation" and waited to meet one of my favorite chefs, Robert Del Grande.

The invite boasted appetizers, cocktails, latin wines and latin jazz in addition to meeting THE Robert Del Grande and Executive Chef Youssef Nafaa. Oh yes, they would have complimentary valet (which is much needed in that area with little to zero parking).

First things first, no valet. They didn't show. We arrived to throngs of people. No one there to confirm a reservation so we fended for ourselves and fought our way through the crowd which included a few of The Woodlands "top brass". We thought we were lucky to have found a table in the dining area bordering the patio. A couple of appetizers were made available by the kitchen if you could scratch and claw your way through the feeding frenzy of folks wanting nothing more than a free meal. Not my bag. Sorry. We waited at our table as there were a few (note the word FEW) servers rumbling about with passed hors d'oeuvres. At least 20 minutes went by before we got a nibble. Apparently certain tables got preferential treatment. The table next to ours had at least 10 people and the wait staff would serve them all, run out of food and never come back to us. This happened time and again. Drink orders also came and went to them, not to us. Frustrating.

As we are not the overbearing, rude types we waited patiently and took it all in. 45 minutes passed before I even received a glass of water. Now, on to the "latin wines". Not stated in the invite was that this was a cash-bar situation. Fine, I'm okay with paying for my wine but trying to get to the bar to order was like fighting your way through a maze with no lights! We thought, "okay, maybe we can get a server to take an order" Hahahahahaha! No way, they avoided us like the plague. Needless to say, I NEVER got a glass. I would have paid for it! Money lost for them.

As this circus was on our last nerve, I look across the patio onto the sidewalk and see the man that I had come to meet. Lonnie Schiller and Robert Del Grande were looking at the patio and walking away - leaving. Where had they been? I am not a stalker and since I dine at Cafe Annie I decided it best to leave him be and catch him at a better time at a better venue.

To sum up the disastrous evening, I have some advice for La Mesa. Organization, planning and clarity are key to running a successful event. Be more clear on your invite, don't ask for people to make reservations as any joe could have attended as nothing was monitored, stand by your promises, if you are going to try to cram hundreds of people in your small space have the adequate staff to serve those people. I've got news for you, just because you pulled in some local judges, Woodlands officers, real estate agents and desperate housewives doesn't mean you will be the "bomb". You have got to put your money where your mouth is so to speak. If you can't provide quality service then you won't make it here.

I hate to write a post like this as the management is comprised of two of the nicest guys you'll meet. I'm hoping this was just a fluke and not a sign of things to come. I'm in your corner, ya'll need to come out fighting!

Update - Amerigo's

Got with the program! Thanks guys! They are now a non-smoking establishment!

You may now enjoy your pasta, seafood, steaks, wine etc. nicotine free! Anyone else want to join the movement? C'mon, I dare you.....

(Photo courtesy of Amerigo's)

Great Read!

Thanks to my dear friend Noelle for recommending a book that lets you escape your day to day cares! Check out twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, it is located in the Young adult section of most bookstores, but don't let that lead you into thinking this is some teeny-bopper random romance novel! Think Interview with the Vampire with a much better story line!

Since I purchased this book at Target on Tuesday, I have had a very hard time pulling myself away from it. Something keeps sucking me back in and keeping me locked to it's fast-moving pace. Stephenie's writing style is very detailed but not to the point that will bog you down. It moves very quickly and the suspense is just enough.

Twilight was number one on the New York Time's bestseller list for several weeks. Here's a brief synopsis of the novel according to Publisher's weekly:

"The main draw here is Bella's infatuation with outsider Edward, the sense of danger inherent in their love, and Edward's inner struggle—a perfect metaphor for the sexual tension that accompanies adolescence. These will be familiar to nearly every teen, and will keep readers madly flipping the pages of Meyer's tantalizing debut."

If you like the first book, there's two more that follow. In addition, she has completed a prequel that is capturing many readers as well. Just wait for the movie coming this December! I'll be there - but maybe not after dark!

Review - Jaded

I've got to tell you a secret - there's a great new spot in Market Street that carries fabulous new finds for the cutting edge crew. It's called Jaded and is located next door to Chipotle and behind Luke's (we're snobby runner-types) Locker. It is owned by WWE wrestlers Torrie Wilson and Nick Mitchell. Now you're thinking hmmmm, wrestling and suburbia, odd combination. Don't be that way now!

They carry the latest looks from the West Coast that are hard to find in Houston. Think great finds by the likes of Ed Hardy, Bejeweled, Rock and Republic, Miss Me, and Sinful just to name a few. The plus to the store is that that carry great stuff for Guys and Gals. In the back, don't miss what I call the Wall-O-jeans! They can guide you to the brand that will fit your body type and all alterations are included!!! Check out the belts and caps with bling - so sweet!

You can search out a nice look for a cocktail party or some hip new jeans, T-shirt and trucker cap for hanging out with your friends! The staff is beyond friendly and helpful. The decor matches the feel of the garments - just plain cool!

Stop in, say Hi, ask for Jessie and tell her Andrea sent you! Now, if only they would give discounts to local fitness gurus I'd be happy ^_^ !

AMAZING recipe from Cooking Light!

Okay, I'm a HUGE fan of anything chocolate-mint. In this month's Cooking Light, they feature a recipe for Chocolate-Mint bars that will knock your socks off!!! Reminder, they are only a lightened version of a heavy hitter so don't eat the whole pan at once!

Want the recipe? Okay, enjoy!

Ingredients
BOTTOM LAYER:
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, beaten
1 (16-ounce) can chocolate syrup
Cooking spray

MINT LAYER:
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (I used 1/8 tsp. Peppermint Oil)
2 drops green food coloring

GLAZE:
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare bottom layer, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and salt; stir with a whisk. Combine granulated sugar, egg substitute, 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons water, vanilla, eggs, and chocolate syrup in a medium bowl; stir until smooth. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring until blended. Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 23 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

3. To prepare mint layer, combine powdered sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, and next 3 ingredients (through food coloring) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth. Spread mint mixture over cooled cake. Refrigerate WELL before adding next layer or the mint layer will mix with the chocolate layer.

4. To prepare the glaze, combine the chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until melted, stirring after 30 seconds. Let stand 2 minutes. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into 20 pieces.

Yield
20 servings (serving size: 1 piece)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 264(30% from fat); FAT 8.7g (sat 5.2g,mono 2.5g,poly 0.4g); PROTEIN 2.8g; CHOLESTEROL 38mg; CALCIUM 12mg; SODIUM 139mg; FIBER 0.5g; IRON 0.9mg; CARBOHYDRATE 45g


Megan Patterson , Cooking Light, MARCH 2008


Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Perry's Pool Hall?

Might as well be! Upon attempting to take out of town clients to a nice dinner the other evening, everyone was so overwhelmed by cigar and cigarette smoke that they almost had to leave!

So Perry's has a humidor (yawn....) big deal. Oh, unless you are one of "those" good ole' boy dudes who likes to pose and brag about the amazing round of golf he just shot down at the good ole CC. I'm off topic; I digress.

Several "gentlemen" were babbling and hanging out while they burned their Cubans the other evening in the bar at Perry's. The aroma was so overwhelming that the entire bar smelled like a pool hall. Honestly, how cool is that? Just a word of advice for the owners - not everyone wants to smell your disgusting cigar and cigarette smoke. So you're proud of your antiquated humidor huh? Then build a nice little room with a tightly sealed door so that the smokers can wallow in their filth and not share the love. Can you handle that? I didn't think so, we won't be back!