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 but disgustingly greasy pizza will no longer feed mere mortals who could walk in through the exit and feast for the cost of a gallon of gas.

Kristin Salaky, writing in the food blog “Delish”, is devastated. “One of the best parts about Costco is something that can be accessed by anyone: the food court. That is…until now?”

My friends have some really novel approaches to dining out

One refuses to try anything new, for fear of the unknown. Other limits herself to only two restaurants in all of Houston: Crisp and Tony’s Mexican Restaurant.

But a dear friend is the undisputed king of points and rewards. If he can’t eat free, he stays home. If he can’t fly free, he doesn’t go. On a recent Sunday, his gift card reward (and a $20 email coupon) bought us to brunch at Maggiano’s Little Italy. How was it?

Surprisingly good. The service was remarkable. Eggs Benedict was fluffy (and the Hollandaise a generous pour). A Calamari appetizer was fried perfectly and served with a warm, sweet-tart Marinara. However, my Chicken Marsala could have been used as a flagstone.

Saving the day was an amazingly good slice of Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake. And we sure couldn’t beat the price!

Shed a Tear for BuffBurger

I did — tears of joy, actually, upon learning of its closing. You’ll remember I hadn’t been kind to BuffBurger in these pages. Their dry, dense burgers were the stuff of nightmares. Houston has legions of great burgers but this wasn’t one of them.

Speaking of burgers

Burger Joint has opened in the Heights. It’s bigger, more fun, and frankly better than the Montrose original, featuring a full bar, adults-only shakes, and over 100 parking places! Find it at 2002 North Shepherd in the old gas station, just north of 19th Street. Check it out!

Like scented candles?

If you enjoy burning scented candles in your home and you’re a McDonald’s fan, this will be the greatest news you read all year. Join the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Fan Club, and you can exclusively buy McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Candles! The set of six includes bread, ketchup, pickle, cheese, onion, and beef. McDonald’s recommends that the candles “burn together for maximum deliciousness.” Bet you can’t wait.

KFC: Popeye’s will not top us!

I raved about Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich in MONTROSE STAR’s last issue. Can KFC do better? Well, they certainly can do sweeter.

The KFC Chicken and Donuts Sandwich combine “a juicy, hand-breaded Extra Crispy chicken filet with two fully glazed doughnuts,” according to the company. Please let me know how you like it if you’re brave enough to try it. I’m not!