November 2012 - HTownChowDown

Goode Company is known around Houston for its award-winning BBQ, but did you know that they're also famous for their pies? The Food Network visited Goode Company to find out more:

Whether you're in the mood for pie, BBQ, or one of their other delicious offerings, our friends at Goode Company are extending a special offer for our readers.

With the holiday season is in full swing, Goode Company is offering our readers 10% off any order from their on-line store. This includes their famous BBQ meats, sauces, and their delicious pies.

You can place your order directly at their on-line store, and use the code CHOWD12 when you check out.

Thank you to Goode Company for extending this generous offer.

Longtime Houston specialty food retailer Rice Epicurean Market today announced that they plan to close four of their five stores and lease spaces to The Fresh market, a specialty food retailer from North Carolina.

Press Release from Rice Epicurean

Press Release from The Fresh Market

The store on Fountain View at Inwood will remain open.

Our take:

We think it's unfortunate to see an iconic Houston gourmet grocer sell out to a national firm, but we can't say we're surprised that it happened. Rice Epicurean has always been a pleasant, serene place to shop, but their prices often aren't competitive with other specialty grocers and their selection is lacking compared to other, bigger stores.

Even if you love to try new things, it's easy to fall into a rut. For years I was in a pizza rut - every time I'd order a pizza, pepperoni would be the key topping. Sure, I'd occasionally augment things with some Italian sausage, onion, or bacon, but it wasn't a pizza for me without pepperoni.

Crust Pizza changed all that for me. Just before the grand opening I stopped by to see how construction was coming, and Clint Price, one of the partners, offered me a peculiar looking slice to sample. There was no pepperoni to be found... heck, there wasn't even any red sauce. But it was delicious. The pizza was later named The Jerk, and it's become one of my favorites. Jamaican jerk-seasoned chicken, caramelized onions, a variety of peppers and chunks of bacon are scattered over cheddar and mozzarella cheese stretched over their delicious crust. A tangy Jamaican jerk dressing replaces the red sauce. It works.

Later Clint devised the Old Smokey, another unique pizza that isn't based on the traditional red sauce. It's become another favorite of mine. Spicy link sausage and jalapenos, a tangy ranch dressing and smoked mozzarella cheese are the dominant flavors. Again, unusual for a pizza, but the result works.

Yesterday I noticed a new monthly special pizza, and it's perhaps the most creatively bizarre option yet. Called the Mr. Potato Head, it features an ingredient I've never seen on pizza - Idaho potatoes. I've learned to trust Clint, so promptly ordered one to test out.

What arrived again changed my perception of pizza. Bits of bacon are the only meat topping. Prominent atop the alfredo sauce, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses are thin slices of Idaho potato, accented with said bacon bits and fresh chives. It's a slightly Italian spin on baked potato skins, but much lighter and with the richness of the alfredo sauce making this an indulgent choice.

We've seen some weird products coming from Japan, but this instant DIY Happy Meal kit is truly remarkable