Mama’s Cafe

As I pulled into Mama’s Café on Westheimer, I noticed that the words “Steaks-Beer” were perched on top of the rusty restaurant sign. I knew I’d come home. Upon entering, I noted that the décor was a comfortable Houston retro. Old beer cans with forgotten brands lined the walls, dusty old Texas license plates painted the ceiling, and pages from old calendars from the 40s and 50s hung proudly on the walls. Even the booth we were led to had a personal juke box, but sadly only served  for decorative purposes..

A glance at the menu tells customers that this establishment proudly serves authentic Southern home cookin’. A deeper look divulged the diversity of the dishes, from classics like meatloaf, to Tex-Mex like fajitas, to surprises like Huevos Hofbrau (migas with a German twist). The breakfast menu is served until the early afternoon, and those dishes seemed equally as tantalizing as the dinner menu’s. The price range was affordable, with most of the appetizers falling under $10 and their pricier items like steaks averaging $20. At $14.99, Mama’s famous Ribeye is a steal.

When it came time to order, I decided to get the test for authentic Southern home cookin’: chicken fried steak. My boyfriend/food soul mate, Ivan, decided to try the pork chops. Their side dishes were listed on a wipe board, signifying that their sides are made from scratch and changed on a daily basis. Their variety was extensive and featured all of the Southern classics from broccoli rice casserole to black-eyed peas. The comfortable aroma of food wafted through the room causing our stomachs to growl. When the waiter placed my chicken fried steak in front of me, I couldn’t believe it. That thing was almost the length of a baby. Not only was my chicken fried steak huge, it came with generous portions of red-skinned mashed potatoes and corn. My boyfriend’s pork chops were also hefty in portion, served as two center-cut bone-in chops weighing in at 6 oz. each.

Ladies and gentlemen, the quality certainly matched the quantity. The crust of the chicken fried steak was crispy and flaky without being too heavy. The meat inside was juicy and tender, not chewy like some lesser competitors. The country gravy is the element that glued the dish together; it was savory, buttery and perfectly seasoned. My red-skinned mashed potatoes were the perfect combination of whipped, creamy perfection with both soft, chunky textures. Even my corn exceeded my expectations, with its delicate sweetness.

My initial fear of the dreaded dry pork chops was immediately quelled as my teeth sunk into the tender meat. Because the meat was cut near the bone, the flavor and juices were retained. An error of many chefs is that they tend to over-season meat rather than letting the meat be the star. This was not the case at Mama’s Café. The pork chops were seasoned and sautéed carefully, and had a flavor that reminded me of homemade pork chops but with a quality of meat that was worthy of a five-star restaurant.

Overall, Mama’s Café provided a great experience. It should be noted that most dishes probably aren’t for the calorie conscious, but for those readers who take great pleasure indulging in hearty, comforting, savory Southern cuisine, Mama’s Café will gladly oblige.

They’ll make you want to scream

Halloween is approaching and instead of spending money on a costume, try spending money on a good scare. While guys do enjoy watching women walk around scantily clad, and ladies look forward to getting some cuddle action during a scary movie, nothing can compete than getting that adrenaline pumping. It’s a great way to see which one of your friends are the most chicken, and a way to see the ones that like to act hard. If you’ve ever been to a haunted house in the city know that they can look like hole-in-the-walls and be elaborate on the inside. Here’s a sampling of where to go to get yourself freaked out for fun.

Nightmare on the Bayou:

Nightmare on the Bayou is located next to Houston’s oldest graveyard and is the only haunted house in Houston that’s really haunted, so we hear. NOB was seen on the Travel Channel as one of America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions.

Where: 1515 Studemont, Houston, TX 77007

Cost: $30/regular ticket – Group rates available for $5 per ticket for groups of 25 or more

photo credit www.nightmareonthebayou.com

Scream World:

Scream World has three haunted houses in one: the Haunted Hotel, The Edge of Darkness and Movie Monsters in 3D. This creepy collaboration of haunted houses was selected as one of the best-haunted houses in America by americasbesthaunts.com.

Where: 2225 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Houston, TX 77038

Cost: General Admission, $25 (discounts for students & family night)

photo credit www.screamworld.com

Phobia:

Phobia has two locations offering nine different attractions featuring several themes including the following: Dawn of the Machine, Claustrophobia, Mind Control [Asylum], Darke Institute, among others. Phobia is selected as one of America’s Scariest Haunts by ratethehaunt.com.

Where:

Location 1 – 18777 Hwy 290 (exit West Road) Houston, TX 77065

Location 2 – I – 45S (exit 15/Mainland Mall)

Cost: $12 per haunted house (multiple attraction discounts available)

photo credit www.darke.com

Missouri City Car Care

Missouri City is home of one of the longest lasting car shops, Missouri City Car Care. Don’t come here looking for wi-fi and frappucino machines while you wait. Instead, you may hear Luther Vandross playing while the skilled mechanics are working hard on your car rain or shine.

This family owned shop has been in business for over 20 years and is run by a soft-spoken man who goes by one name, Boone. “This is the first shop in Missouri City, I used to work here part time and then my friend sold it to me when he moved to Tyler,” says Boone. Many Missouri City residents take their cars to Boone to get work done. “We are good to people and give them good service, we don’t cheat them, and that’s why they come back,” he says. Boone is something like a local celebrity, “I see customers every where I go, I went to Lake Charles and saw customers, I went on a cruise and saw customers, I see customers at the grocery store.”

After running Missouri City Car Care for over 20 years, Boone is retiring and passing on the family business to his son Charlie. At 27-years-old, Charlie has learned the tricks of the trade from his father, “school just wasn’t for me, the mechanics classes I took were just too slow, I already knew everything.” Charlie plans on continuing the tradition of good quality work on the cars they service and have no plans to make any major changes. “Lately things have been slower because of the economy but there’s still work to do,” says Charlie. “We’re not going to make too many changes, we like the way things are.” Mo. City Car Care mechanics service everything on the car except for the transmission. If you need an oil change, expect to pay between $25 – $30 plus tax. A tune up may run you between $95 – $210 (depending on if your car is four cylinder or six cylinder). Brakes making too much noise? Expect to pay around $95 plus the cost pads. So, if you live in “The Mo” or find yourself in car trouble while in the area, the good folks at Missouri City Car Care will be at your service.

Missouri City Car Care

1797 Texas Parkway

Missouri City, TX

281.261.0400

Photography by, Hollywood Cole

BEST BURGER

A Skinny Bitch’s nightmare, Best Burger, located on 2303 S Main St., proudly feeds families across the greater Houston area.  Set in the safe and easy to dismiss city of Stafford, Texas, this burger joint is a classic in it’s own right.

The burger combo special features a ¼ lb beef burger with all the fixins: tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and pickles with fries and a regular drink for $4.59.

With a fare choice of sides from fresh home-made mushrooms and onion rings to stuffed jalapenos and corn dogs, one can easily get full for less than $3.

The random Chinese menu may throw first timers for a loop, but the fried rice is pretty good. With the constant swinging doors, the owners and staff are always in a frenzy . When you step inside, you will see an old school sit-down pacman game that actually still works, but I wouldn’t waste my quarter on it. The tables and chairs are not of the latest décor, but regular working folks seem to keep them filled around lunch hour. This one stop shop for burgers, Chinese, and chicken fingers is a Fort Bend classic. Stop by stimulate the economy for under $5.

EJ’s

 

Missouri City doesn’t know what hit it. A dope-ass sports bar right off of Cartwright and 1092 complete with more than eight screens and a hot DJ every night. This bar is tucked in the corner next to the Shell gas station and is a hole in the wall in the best sense of the phrase. If you come on Mondays, it’s Ladies Monday Martini’s where the drinks are only $4 all night. If you have a taste for wings it’s .50 wing Wednesdays, and don’t forget about Grown Folk Fridays where teachers, accountants, waste management specialists, hell anybody paying bills can go and enjoy sounds from the O’Jays and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Don’t fear though, this isn’t just your mom’s favorite hangout. DJ Good Grief is just one of the special attractions. If you come in on a good night there’s all you can eat crawfish for $20, and people playing dominoes until 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday bring out the home folk from the Mo. Dress to enjoy yourself, but no baseball caps indoors. There’s plenty of parking for biker crews that come through EJ’s and occasionally there are motorcycle shows outside, but if you arrive in a vehicle with doors parking is limited after midnight. No cover ever and plenty of security, not that it’s needed. The crowd is relaxed and just looking for a drama free night. The owners, Enos Cabell and Jarrod Oliver, wanted to make sure there wasn’t a bad seat in the house and they got it right.

EJ’s Sports Bar

The corner of Cartwright and F.M. 1092 in the same shopping center as Ed’s Pharmacy

Quiero Tacos

Here at BLVD we understand finances are SHITTY right now.

Here’s the deal , get $2, go to Laredo and grab a taco. Really, it’s only $2 for a hunger pain remedy. Sure, the line is out the door, hey that counts for something? It’s one of Houston’s best kept secrets, and trust us, these tacos are great for hangovers. Greasy and affordable. As I reached the front of the line, there were so many choices. After finally making a decision I ordered my favorite; egg and potato mixed with bacon and egg on a flour tortilla. I give bonus points for allowing a mix of any two varieties in one taco.  The spicy salsa verde makes a great topping.

I could have easily chosen a breakfast plate; juevos ranchero, but the choice of tacos were endless; Chicharrón, potato and ground beef, fried pork chops, sausage and egg, barbacoa, (my favorite) and etc. I ordered a tasty Jamaica, a sweet drink made from hibiscus flowers. A perfect blind of smooth and light flavors to tantalize the palate.

If you are down to the last $2 (thanks to Johnny Taylor), then get over to Laredo and get yourself a taco and don’t let the economy keep you from enjoying good eats.

Laredo Taco Place

915 Snover St

Houston, TX 77007

(713) 861-7279

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