By Jim Ayres I can confirm that Houston socialite extraordinaire Becca Cason Thrash is stunning in person, taller than I had guessed, and looks great in Alexander McQueen. How did I get to rub shoulders with such a luminary? It’s simple, darling! I recently enjoyed an evening at Annie. Café Annie, that is. Opening in

By Jim Ayres Last fall, I had a lovely lunch at Chapultepec Lupita with my good friend Carlos. I hadn’t visited in a while, and we enjoyed the fun same-as-it-ever-was front room peering out on Richmond. We reminisced about late nights there in the 1990s and loved our tacos and enchiladas. Heading back to my

By Jim Ayres Over the last couple of years, Houston “bear-tender” Aaron LaTour has been pleading with me to try Al Aseel, a Mediterranean restaurant at Richmond and Dunvale. LaTour promised delicious food, large portions and low prices. Finally, right before Christmas, the time came. I was driving aimlessly on that cold, gray day. I

By JimAyres Looking back at 2018, one thing became immediately clear. I ate really well. In between healthier everyday meals and RX Bars (the ones with the recipe on the wrapper; not bad), I sampled some extraordinary dishes. I’m grateful to the MONTROSE STAR for the opportunity to share these with you each issue. Here

By Jim Ayres When I think of “Eunice,” one character comes to mind: Carol Burnett’s Eunice Higgins who, along with dim-witted husband Ed (Harvey Korman) and cantankerous Mama (Vicki Lawrence), served up some of the 1970s’ funniest small-town family comedy. I have never laughed so hard as when Eunice found out what really happened to

By Jim Ayres B & B Butchers, an instant hit with the steakhouse set when it opened in 2015, now has a less pricey, but no less inspired, sister restaurant across the street. Pucker up and say hello to BB Lemon, Houston’s latest homage to traditional diner and comfort food. Comparisons to The Classic, recently

By Jim Ayres Doesn’t the word “sing” instantly brighten your spirit? Music and songs have an innate power to make people happy, energized and renewed. Sad or rueful, as well, but I felt nothing but joy after a recent lunch at newly opened Sing, where Singaporean dishes are featured in a brief but covers-all-the-bases pan-Asian

By Jim Ayres I noticed something strange at the airport on my recent trip to New York City. (Oh, glad you asked. It was wonderful. Beautiful sunny fall weather and none of the dreariness we’ve seen in Houston of late.) But as I often do when flying, if I have a few minutes to spare,

By Jim Ayres Make no mistake. Hunky Dory and Bernadine’s did not flop with critics or the public. Their closing just 18 months after opening reflected shady fiscal mismanagement more than the tastes of Houston diners. But…it happens. Those restaurants are history and life moves on. Houston-born, Atlanta-based chef Ford Fry certainly did. Best known

By Jim Ayers I found a fun online discussion recently: “Which words and expressions from the past do you still like to use today?” I have some favorites and I’m sprinkling a few of them in this column for fun. But The Classic is anything but archaic. On the contrary, the former Benjy’s location on