By Jim Ayres Happy Thanksgiving, MONTROSE STAR readers! I’m writing this at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. That means shortly afterward, we’ll either still have much to be thankful for, or a whole bursting-at-the-seams horn o’plenty to rejoice and be thankful for. Just a few notes about dining around town as I gear up

By Jim Ayres I was so hoping it would be over with. This summer, as you may know, I was stuck in the hospital for a month recuperating from a nasty foot infection. Twice-daily IV doses of Vancomycin would surely erase everything. Perhaps it did, but another toe became infected recently. As I write this,

By Jim Ayres Hello, MONTROSE STAR readers! I’ve missed you. A month in the hospital took me out of the loop, but COVID-19 has taken everyone else out of it, too. I was in a post-op facility after being discharged from Methodist. The staff and facility at Houston Transitional Care couldn’t be lovelier, but their

Dine out while staying in By Jim Ayres What’s a dining writer to do when there’s nowhere to dine? These are tough times, and the hospitality industry is taking the biggest economic hit. Here are three ways you can support your favorite bar or restaurant, even if you can’t do it in person. Order to

By Jim Ayres Houston’s East Village, that is. The recently christened entertainment district borders St. Emanuel and Polk on one side and BBVA Compass Stadium on the other. It’s where you’ll find such trendy bistros as Nancy’s Hustle and Rodeo Goat. Right in the center of it all are a trio of eateries operated by

By Jim Ayres Costco, you’re better than this “Effective March 16, 2020, an active Costco membership card will be required to purchase items from our food court,” the sign reads. “You can join today. Please see our membership counter for details.” Yes, Costco’s food court, the home of cheap and decent hot dogs and cheap

By Jim Ayres I was late to the party, but I’m glad I went. After all, it wasn’t – and never will be – “on my diet.” But I couldn’t resist temptation, and finally tried Popeyes Chicken Sandwich! And I can recommend it to you wholeheartedly. I think. Read on. You know the backstory. Popeyes

| Has Houston Gone MAD? By Jim Ayres Tucked into the darker, backside of River Oaks District, the asylum awaits. Once inside, you need a minute to prepare yourself. The velvet curtain opens, and it hits you: the lunatics have taken over. And you go MAD. MAD is a delicious mix of over the top

By Jim Ayres A while back, on a cold winters’ eve, I stopped into Weights + Measures for dessert and an after-dinner drink. It hadn’t been open long, and the PR was still in high gear: This was the hippest place in town! Shag carpet, vinyl playing on a vintage Marantz, and classic cocktails reminded

By Jim Ayres “Low-Carb and Loving It!” I think that was the name of the Food Network show that aired about 15 years ago. Well, I’m resurrecting it in 2020! Not on TV, but as part of my lifestyle (I mean “diet”). So, this year Foodie Diaries will try to spotlight tasty lower-carb dishes as