taste magazine may issue north houston

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Taste Magazine Food | Fashion Have You Got TASTE? May 2012 Mexican Eateries | Wine | Accessories In this issue: Doneraki Cisco’s Salsa Company Viva Itacate Wahoo’s Fish Taco Santa Fe Flats Yucatan Taco Stand Gringo’s Tex Mex Guadalajara Hacienda GenuWine Summer Shoes & Bags High Heel Junkie Girls With Taste Available Pets Mexican Vs. Tex-Mex And much more…

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Open and enjoy. This month we are featuring Mexican eateries, wine, shoes, and handbags plus so much more. Make sure you read from cover to cover so you do not miss anything.

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Page 1: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Taste Magazine Food | Fashion Have You Got TASTE?

May 2012

Mexican Eateries | Wine | Accessories

In this issue: Doneraki

Cisco’s Salsa Company

Viva Itacate

Wahoo’s Fish Taco

Santa Fe Flats

Yucatan Taco Stand

Gringo’s Tex Mex

Guadalajara Hacienda

GenuWine

Summer Shoes & Bags

High Heel Junkie

Girls With Taste

Available Pets

Mexican Vs. Tex-Mex

And much more…

Page 2: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Call

F.I.T.

Human

Performance

Today

At:

832-813-8010

And Receive

Your First

Session

FREE!!! Tell Them You

Saw Their

Ad In

Taste Magazine.

Page 3: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Mexican Eateries Doneraki 26

Cisco’s Salsa Company 6

Viva Itacate 19

Wahoo’s Fish Taco 37

Santa Fe Flats 11

Yucatan Taco Stand 40

Gringo’s Tex Mex 30

Guadalajara Hacienda 15

Mexican vs. Tex-Mex 33

Wine GenuWine 44

Top Wines of 2012 47

Wine & Shoes Pairing Event 10

Accessories High Heel Junkie 49

Summer Shoes & Bags 52

In Every Issue Girls With Taste 25

Available Pets 61

Coming Next Month 63

Taste Magazine May 2012

Page 4: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Letter from the Editor..

Taste Texas Magazine is the next great thing

to find the best restaurants, wine bars, sports

bars, night clubs and fashion boutiques in the

area. Our first edition came out February 1,

2012. The magazine covers The Woodlands,

Conroe, Magnolia, Spring, Tomball and the

FM1960/Champions Forest area. We plan on

adding a separate magazine for Sugarland

and Katy later this year.

Our digital magazine features great venues

and boutiques for you to check out each

month. The magazine also has information

on great chefs, food related books and

products, new trends, date night ideas and

much more. Our fashion section highlights

fashions of the season and great accessories.

If you dine or shop at one of our featured

businesses please let them know you saw

them in Taste!!

Thanks,

Wendy

Editor-in-Chief:

Wendy Anderson

For advertising info or if you would like to be featured in one of our issues please email us or call: 832-620-6280

http://tastepublications.com

832-620-6280

[email protected]

Page 5: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Graduation Time!

Book your lawn display today to show your

Grad how proud you are of them!

http://flamingos2go.com

Page 6: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Cisco’s Salsa Company

Restaurant Profile

Address: 209 Commerce St. Tomball, TX 77375

Phone: 281-351-7572

Website: http://www.ciscosalsa.com/

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/uNxOSZ

Hours: Sunday: 10am–4pm

Monday: 11am–8pm

Tuesday–Saturday: 11am–9pm

Price Range: Appetizers: $4.25 - $11

Entrees: $8.75 - $16

Company Slogan: “Eat Fresh, Live Well, And Stay Thirsty!”

CISCO’S SALSA COMPANY GRILL & CANTINA –

FRESH BAJA MEXICAN FOOD IN TOMBALL Article written by: Nick Rama http://diningoutwithnickhouston.com

Cisco’s Salsa Company was

started in 1971 in Southern

California by Bob Wilson, Sr. Mr.

Wilson is the father of Bob Jr. and

Laura Wilson the owners of Cisco’s

in Tomball, TX. It has been family

owned and operated for 40 years.

Cisco’s prides itself on preparing

the finest, freshest, award-winning

Mexican Cuisine, good margaritas

and a great atmosphere. Cisco’s

commitment to freshness is

showcased in recipes that are

prepared daily using quality

Page 7: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

ingredients such as USDA Prime beef,

the freshest seafood, and the finest

hand-selected produce available.

The Cantina style area features offering

such as fresh-squeezed, hand shaken

margaritas and a stellar tequila

selection. Cisco’s also has a brunch

menu on Sundays 10am-2pm.

Surprisingly Cisco’s also has this

diner’s favorite burger in Tomball.

I had the chance to sit down with

Laura, who also serves as the Cisco’s

Tomball Location manager and talk

about everything Cisco’s has to offer.

What can somebody expect on their

first visit to Cisco’s?

We have a really cool atmosphere,

awesome margaritas, and much more

than authentic Baja Mexican dishes; we

also have steaks, sandwiches, salads

and soups. We like to be the absolute

best at what we do. We have a great

patio and a friendly staff.

What are some of your specialties at

Cisco’s?

The number one seller is our Fish Taco

and all of our seafood dishes do really

well. Seafood Diablo is a new

customer favorite. We always look to

see what our customers prefer on the

menu, so that we can adapt our specials

to their tastes.

Page 8: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Cisco’s has a unique happy hour, tell

me about it?

At our “Two O’Clock Anywhere”

Happy Hour (Mon – Fri 2-5pm), we

have $2 house margaritas, $2 house

wines, $2 well drinks, $2 beers and $2

appetizers, and you can sit anywhere

inside or out on our exceptional patio

area to enjoy them. Our “Top Secret”

happy hour continues with the same

prices at the bar only till 7pm.

What made you open in Tomball,

because Cisco’s is a hidden gem and

off the beaten path?

My husband Dennis and I came here

twenty years ago and loved Old Town

Tomball. My brother came out to visit

last year and we were driving through

the area and saw this space for lease.

Old Town Tomball is a unique area and

we wanted the locals to have a

community hang out with a family

atmosphere but a place that is still nice

enough for a date. We have been open

since August 2011 and are expanding

our outdoor seating area. Our opening

coincided with the redevelopment of

Old Tomball, and we consider Cisco’s

to be the first step in this city’s push to

have more of a night life.

Page 9: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

I noticed you have a banquet room

next door; tell me about that.

The room can accommodate groups of

up to 100 people and we do private

parties, birthdays, wedding events and

office parties. The choices of a full

bar, a traditional Mexican menu, or

alternative menus to fit any occasion

provide options for everyone. We even

have an area of the restaurant that is an

old train caboose that can be used for

smaller events.

5 words that describes Cisco’s Salsa

Company Grill and Cantina?

Cool (Hip), Fresh, Fun, Vacation and

Unique.

Photos by: http://johnwadephotography.net

Page 10: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Santa Fe Flats

Restaurant Profile

Address: 21542 Hwy 249, Suite 5 Houston, Texas 77070

Phone: 281-655-1400

Website: http://santafeflats.net/

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/IVtLfL

Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11am-9pm

Friday & Saturday: 11am-10pm

Price Range: Starters $4 - $11

Entrees: $7 - $16

Tyler Torres, the owner of Santa Fe Flats, grew up in New Mexico. He

longed to bring those wonderful flavors of food to Houston and

decided to open a restaurant in Tomball, TX to share his passion.

The restaurant’s décor, as well as flavor, is Southwest. The food is

based on recipes from Tyler’s family matriarch, Angela Calderon Torres.

The menu offers great food that is fresh and tasty. Look for fresh

flavors, creative new dishes and traditional favorites.

The menu has something for everyone; from great apps to burgers to

Texas classics. They have what you are looking for. Santa Fe Flats also

has a healthy choices menu and fabulous desserts.

They are open for lunch and dinner and offer live entertainment on their

patio on Friday nights. Make sure to check them out for Cinco de Mayo

or Mother’s Day.

Page 12: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Guadalajara Hacienda

Restaurant Profile

Address: 27885 I-45 North The Woodlands, TX 77380

Phone: 281.362.0774

Website: http://www.guad.com/

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/Jdhssl

Hours: Mon - Thu:11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Fri - Sat:11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Sun:11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Price Range:

Guadalajara Hacienda is a Tex-Mex restaurant located in The

Woodlands. They have been open for many years, but still know how to

do things right. The restaurant is large with tile floors and has a festive

atmosphere.

Known for their queso, fajitas and of course, the margaritas, Guadalajara

Hacienda is the perfect place for families, business meetings, or a night

out with friends.

The menu has soups, salads, appetizers to get you started. The main

entrees consist of fajitas, enchiladas, Tex-Mex., house favorites and

well put together combinations. They serve brunch on Saturday and

Sunday afternoons.

If you are looking for wonderful Mexican desserts make sure to leave

room. They offer great desserts from Tres Leches to Fried Mexican Ice

Cream.

For a great lunch, brunch or dinner make sure to try them out.

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Call 281-673-6326 or

email Rainey at:

[email protected] for

your free consultation

Become a fan on Facebook and

receive 10% off your first catering order: http://www.facebook.com/raineyscreolecatering

Rainey's Creole Catering is a full service

catering company that specializes in

preparing famous Creole dishes of Louisiana.

We offer a complete range of services, from

stylish cocktail parties, to full seated dinners,

to elegant affairs of any size. Customizing

your menu, designed with you in mind, we

are dedicated to creating the ultimate

catering affair of your dreams.

Page 19: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Viva Itacate

Restaurant Profile

Address: 544 Sawdust Road, The Woodlands, TX 77380

Phone: 281-298-7377

Website: http://www.vivaitacate.com/

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/J5PyR3

Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

Price Range: Breakfast : $2 - $6.50

Bakery: $1.20 - $4.50

Lunch: $2 - $7

VIVA ITACATE BAKERY & CAFE – AUTHENTIC

MEXICAN BAKERY IN SPRING, TX Article written by: Nick Rama http://diningoutwithnickhouston.com

Viva Itacate offers authentic regional

gulf coast Mexican Cuisine, this

region is also known as the Huasteca.

Itacate is an upscale Mexican bakery

and café with some French

influences, founded by Sara Cruz in

Tampico Mexico in 1980 where she

started in a small space with food to

go. Mrs. Cruz and her family built a

sit down restaurant two years later.

El Itacate took simple yet delicious

homemade lunch foods, like chiles

rellenos, soups, stews, etc, put them

on the map! They also decided to

offer their first dessert -- a sweet

cornbread, which is absolutely

delicious.

Page 20: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Currently, El Itacate operates four

restaurants with bakeries attached to

them, all in Tampico, Mexico; each

one operated by a family member.

Howard & Sara moved to The

Woodlands area in October 2010

from Tampico Mexico, and opened

Viva Itacate Bakery & Café on May

12, 2011. The restaurant is owned

by Mrs. Cruz and her children

Augusto, Sara and Gaby. Sara and

Gaby´s husbands, Howard and

Alonso, serve as managers along side

them. Itacate means “Food to go”,

and whether you are in a hurry and

get something to go, or eat in, they

have plenty of delectable options on

the menu and in their bakery dessert

and sweet bread cases.

I sat down with Howard Corcoran

and his wife Sara to get to know this

charming hidden gem in the

Spring/Woodlands area.

I noticed your sign says Viva Itacate

and your banner says El Itacate est.

1980, can you explain why?

El Itacate is my mother in-law’s

restaurant in Mexico but because of

trademarks, the American business

had to be Viva Itacate, which

translates to “long live food to go”.

Page 21: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

What can people expect here that is

different when compared to the tons of

other Mexican restaurants around

The Woodlands/Spring area?

Itacate or Viva Itacate offers items like

Bocoles, which are gluten and

preservative-free fresh corn patties

with fillings like chicken, pork, beef,

bean & cheese or vegetarian options

like soy chorizo or sautéed mushrooms.

All the recipes at Viva Itacate

originated directly from Mexico and

everything is made from scratch,

including breakfast items, tortas,

molletes, empandas, migadas, cakes,

Mexican sweet breads and pastries.

What made you choose the

Spring/Woodlands area in which to

open your establishment?

We just loved the area; it seemed to be

family friendly. This space was close

to the entrance of The Woodlands and

near Oak Ridge, and also close to the

highway. We almost moved and opened

in McAllen, TX, but we are glad we’re

here instead!

Tell me where or how your recipes

originated?

They are all regional Mexican recipes

handed down from Sara’s grandmother,

mother and aunt. The sweet cornbread

recipe has been in the family for over

one hundred years!

Page 22: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

What are your specialty lunch items

and desserts at Viva Itacate and why

are they special?

We have our lunch special every

Tuesday through Saturday with fresh

made soup (Pozole on Fridays), and

we use nothing that comes out of a can.

You can also get a sandwich

(Torta/Bolillo) on a fresh baked French

roll or Tacos with a dessert of the day

for only $7.50.

All of our meats are slow roasted or

simmered and seasoned to perfection.

We have traditional meats like

Cochinita Pibil (from the Yucatan

region, slow roasted pork marinated in

citrus juices, colored with annatto seed,

and wrapped in banana leaves),

Pollinita (a healthier version of

Cochinita Pibil, using chicken breast

instead of pork) and Ternera (shredded

seasoned beef simmered in a tomato

sauce). We have empandas that are

great for breakfast or a snack, which

come in combinations like Spinach &

Cheese, Poblano & Cheese, Beef with

Almonds & Raisins or Chorizo and

Beans, to name a few.

I noticed that the business space has

expanded in less than a year. Why so

soon after you opened?

It got too crowded for lunch and since

we only seated 16. We can now seat

approximately 38 people. The space

came open next door and we had to

jump on the opportunity.

Page 23: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Your Tres Leches Cake has Cajeta in

the middle, which is a little different.

What is Cajeta and what does it add to

the cake?

Cajeta is a Mexican caramel that has a

more gooey texture than traditional

caramel. We found that it was the best

tasting and it gives our cake a

wonderful flavor. Cajeta is

very popular in northern Mexico! We

offer our Tres Leches in regular,

almond and, off course, Cajeta.

I am glad the area has a place where

somebody can sit down and get a cup

of coffee and dessert. What are your

most popular bakery items and why?

In the summertime our mixed fruit and

strawberry tarts, with a nice iced coffee

are very popular. In the winter time,

surprisingly, the banana cream tart and

the key lime tart are the hits. The

number one bread is the Pan De Elote

(a sweet cornbread cake) followed

closely by the Mano De Queso (Cheese

Danish). The Pecan Bear claws and

Ojos (which means eyes; vanilla cake

surrounded with a pastry) are also best

sellers.

Do you use and source local

ingredients?

Yes, we buy everything at the markets

in Houston. Most of the fresh produce

comes from the valley. We only use

real butter, eggs, flour and sugar.

Nothing is EVER premixed. Our

special occasion cakes for birthdays,

weddings, grooms cake, etc. all use

scratch made buttercream or fondant.

Our cakes are competitively priced and

start at $26 (24-48 hours advance

notice).

I always end my interview with this

question, 5 words that describe Viva

Itacate?

Delicious, Unique, Friendly, Family

and Inviting.

Photos by:

http://johnwadephotography.net

Page 24: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Taste Magazine Invites you to join:

Girls with Taste is a bi-weekly lunch group for women that gets

together for fun to eat at restaurants featured in Taste Magazine.

We meet on different days of the week to try and have as many

people to attend as possible. This is a free group. Join us on

Facebook to keep up with all of our events.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/255905054504620/members/

Upcoming Events for May 2012

Thursday - May 3rd, 2012 1:00 PM

Crust Pizza Company

4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, Suite 530

The Woodlands, TX 77381

Monday - May 21st, 2012 1:00 PM

Cisco Salsa Company

209 Commerce Street

Tomball, TX 77375

Page 26: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Restaurant Profile

Doneraki Address: 5505 FM1960 Houston, TX 77069

Phone: 281-893-1400

Hours: Mon – Sun: 7:00 am – 12:00 am

Most Authentic Mexican Food in Houston!

Open for breakfast everyday!

Check out our brunch on Sundays!

Doneraki Authentic Mexican Restaurant is located on the corner of

FM1960 and Champions Forest Drive in Houston. They specialize in

great Mexican food and drinks.

The atmosphere is comfortable and casual. It is great for families,

friends or large group gatherings. Look for great drink specials and

friendly waitstaff to serve you.

The menu has so many choices, it is hard to decide what great dish to

order. Customers’ favorites are the fajita nachos, taco salad,

enchiladas, and the entire breakfast menu.

They offer live entertainment, have a great patio and they are now

serving brunch on Sundays.

Make sure to check them out for Cinco de Mayo. They will have $2

beers and margaritas, live entertainment and dancing. There will be

food and drink specials all day and a party on the patio.

Page 27: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Renu Your Life is an innovative fundraising consulting firm for non-

profit organizations. It is our goal to aid in serving the community by

providing funds to those organizations that are actively helping and

meeting the needs of the community. In 2012, our vision is to bless 3

non-profit organizations that exemplify what we stand for and believe

in (H.G.P.) Helping God's People one person at a time. Our last event

of the year is a breast cancer awareness event on October 13th. To

raise money for this event RYL is putting together a breast cancer

survivor’s calendar. Please contact Sherra Byrd

([email protected]) or go to our website www.renuyourlife.org

if you would like to advertise in the calendar or purchase a ticket for

the event.

The event will benefit two

breast cancer awareness

organizations!

www.renuyourlife.org

Facebook.com/renuyourlife

[email protected]

Page 30: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Gringo’s Tex Mex

Restaurant Profile

Address: 6925 Cypresswood Drive, Suite G Spring, Texas 77379

Phone: 281.376.7800

Website: http://www.gringostexmex.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gringostexmex

Hours: Monday – Sunday Open at 11 a.m.

Price Range: Starters $4.79 - $10.19

Entrees: $6.89 - $20.89

The original Gringo’s was first opened in 1993. Gringo’s on

Cypresswood opened its doors in 2007. In 2008 the original logo was

changed to reflect the very famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign.

Gringo’s is very active in the community. They support local families

and are also very supportive of their employees. One employee lost his

home to fire right before Christmas and Gringo’s bought his family a

new home and also presents for the children.

Gringo’s has great food and a fun atmosphere. The menu offers fresh

quality food for the whole family. The menu has a full list of appetizers,

soups and salads to get everything started of right. Entrees consist of

fajitas, ribs, shrimp, chicken, combos, enchiladas, classics and some not

so Tex-Mex dishes.

Don’t forget to check out the drink menu. They have Happy Hour

specials including a beer of the day, dollar drafts and great prices on

margaritas. They also offer great fruity cocktails and a full range of

margaritas.

Page 31: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Is it Mexican or is it Tex-Mex? By TheWoodlandsEats.com & Carla Soriano

Tex-Mex isn’t Mexican food, it’s a regional version of what Mexican food should be.

When it comes to "Mexican food," around here most people will tell you it can be found on

just about any street in the Greater Houston area. But this simply isn't true. What you can

find is Tex-Mex; a variation on Mexican food that has been around since the early 20th

century. The first Mexican restaurant in Houston was the "Original Mexican Restaurant" at

807 Fannin, which was opened in 1907 by George Caldwell. Interestingly, Caldwell was

neither Mexican nor from Mexico, rather he was an Anglo from San Antonio. And by all

accounts what he served was certainly not authentic Mexican dishes, but instead dishes that

may have been based on some Mexican recipes, then altered to accommodate both the locally

available ingredients and the American palate.

There are many examples of Mexican dishes that have been tailored to the American palate.

Some prime examples include tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas. While all of these dishes

bear the same name in Mexico and the U.S., the manner in which they are prepared and

served is quite different. The main difference is that these dishes oftentimes vary in

preparation and presentation even within Mexico – by region and/or by state.

Three major differences between authentic Mexican and Tex-

Mex cuisine are the meats, the cheeses and the toppings on

dishes that are used. Tex-Mex uses ground beef abundantly,

where in Mexico, ground beef is rarely used in its staple

dishes. A wide variety of proteins are used in Mexico – beef,

pork, goat, and chicken are most often used in place of ground

meat. Most commonly, these meats are stewed, grilled, or

boiled and shredded. Seafood and chorizo are also prominent

proteins in Mexican dishes. Most Tex-Mex dishes are topped

or stuffed with melted cheddar or other yellow cheeses, while

in Mexico, yellow cheese is practically unseen and fresh white

cheese is the norm. There are many types of white cheeses

used, each with its own unique flavor profile, including queso

blanco, queso fresco, queso asadero, queso Oaxaca, queso

panela, requeson, and queso chihuaha. And when it comes to

the toppings put on Tex-Mex and Mexican dishes, there are a

world of differences. For example, Tex-Mex dishes are

frequently topped with shredded lettuce, sour cream, queso,

and gravy. Says Carla Soriano, local freelance food blogger of

Page 34: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Mexican heritage, “sure, lettuce is many times used in Mexican food, but not as obsessively

as in Tex Mex cuisine. And in Mexico, crema is used rather than sour cream – while crema

is in essence the same as sour cream, it’s much less sour and more thin. Additionally, the

runny stuff known in Tex Mex cuisine as ‘gravy’ is flat out non-existent in Mexico.”

So what do the people of Mexico use to top their dishes? Fresh lime juice, raw diced onion,

grilled onions, fresh cilantro, sliced avocados, guacamole, and home-made salsa are just

some of the most common toppings. Not all of these toppings are used simultaneously, but

rather in different combinations depending on the dish. Tex Mex style salsa is made from a

various blends of jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and sometimes even vinegar whereas

in Mexico you just might be made to feel alien if you ask for salsa. And just try to get a bowl

of chile con queso down in Mexico; they don’t know what that is either.

If you've had an enchilada and any of a number of Tex-Mex restaurants around the greater

Houston area, you've probably enjoyed tortillas covered in an enchilada sauce or the ever-

present gravy and filled with large quantities of ground beef and cheese, which have been

popped in the oven to bake. But in Mexico, enchiladas are a whole different story. Mexican

enchiladas are made with tortillas which (most times) are prepared by being dipped in

enchilada sauce, then filled with only a small amount of meat, fried in a skillet and garnished

with a bit of white cheese. Totally different, right?

Another obvious difference is the tacos. The crispy, folded corn tortilla shells used for tacos

everywhere from Taco Bell to Pappasitos are hard to find in Mexico. The typical tacos of

Mexican street fare, restaurants and home cooked meals are almost always served in freshly

handmade, soft corn tortillas. These soft corn tortillas are usually holding a small amount of

one of the aforementioned proteins, rather than hamburger, as they are typically served in the

United States.

Carla shares that one dish that is completely misunderstood in the states is the quesadilla.

“Readers may find it disheartening to hear what quesadillas really are. Quesadillas are simply

warmed tortillas with melted white cheese inside. Some choose to top their quesadillas with

Page 35: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

pico de gallo, fresh salsa, or even a bit of guacamole, but that’s it! Mexican quesadillas

contain no beef or chicken fajitas, and they are certainly not served with lettuce, tomato, or

sour cream on top. And when you do add ingredients to the quesadilla, then it’s no longer a

quesadilla. For instance, if you add ham (as is often done) to a quesadilla, then you are

producing a sincronizada. If you add meat – pastor, marinated, shaved pork meat roasted on

a spit is a popular addition, then the items name changes to a ‘gringa’.”

When laid out side by side, it's easy to see how authentic Mexican foods are typically far

healthier than Tex-Mex. And before the Spaniards had their influence, bringing oils and a

taste for fattier meats with them from Spain, the health-factor was even greater. But when

you consider that authentic Mexican dishes rely on leaner meats, less cheeses, sauces crafted

from fresh vegetables instead of creams and gravies and above all, smaller portions - it's clear

the American influence has vastly altered Mexican food.

There are several different Mexican style restaurants in The Woodlands, from Taco Bell to

Yucatan Taco Stand, from Mi Cocina to Patio's Latin and several in between. Having a hard

time deciding on which one you prefer? Have you been to all of them yet? We have reviewed

several and still counting so the next time you are in the mood for enchiladas or fajitas, check

our reviews of Mexican Style Restaurants in The Woodlands and be sure to let us know what

YOU think!

TheWoodlandsEats.com features reviews of restaurants in the greater Woodlands area and is

a sister site to TheWoodlandsEvents.com.

Carla Soriano is author of currentlyeating.com and a contributing author to The Houston

Press “Eating Our Words”.

Page 36: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

At Little Angels Playhouse Child

Development Center we welcome the

opportunity to work with our parents in

creating a wonderful, loving and

educational experience for our little

angels during their early years.

Choosing the right school for your

child is of up most importance.

At Little Angels Playhouse Child

Development Center, we offer

excellent childcare at very affordable

prices. It is a great honor to help

families in these challenging times by

offering rates that fit the average

family budget without compromising

the quality of care every child

deserves.

Little Angels Playhouse has always

been proud to offer its own unique

approach to daycare which separates

us from the rest. Little Angels

Playhouse offers different age

appropriate programs that

include: Pre K Curriculum, Spanish

Immersion, Little Picassos, Dance,

Music, rhythmnastics and Science

Explorers, and will be adding new

programs throughout the year.

Whether you need some time off to

pamper yourself a couple of days per

week, or you need full time care we will

be there for you. Peace of mind is

synonymous with Little Angels

Playhouse: work, or study while

knowing that we are providing excellent

care for your little angels.

We are so excited about the opportunity

to welcome your family to the Little

Angels Playhouse family! Come visit

with us any day Monday through Friday,

no appointment necessary enroll today

and experience "Excellence in

Daycare.”

Taste Magazine Special For May

$125.00 WEEKLY 1ST 2 WEEKS

ENROLL BY 6/2012 & RECEIVE AN

ADDITIONAL BONUS 2 WEEKS @

$125 EACH

24525 Gosling Road

Spring, TX 77389

281-732-6385

http://littleangelsplayhouse.net

Page 37: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Wahoo’s Fish Taco

Restaurant Profile

Address: 19075 I-45 Suite 752, Houston, TX 77385

Phone: 936.271.9777

Website: http://www.wahoos.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WAHOOSHOUSTON

Hours: Mon - Wed:10:30 am - 9:00 pm

Thu:10:30 am - 9:00 am

Fri - Sat:10:30 am - 10:00 pm

Sun:10:30 am - 9:00 pm

Located on I-45 in The Woodlands, Wahoo’s Fish Taco is a great place

to check out.

Wahoo’s Fish Taco serves a blend of Brazilian, Mexican and Asian food.

The restaurant was created by three brothers who had a passion for

surfing and great food.

While surfing in Southern Mexico, the brothers were introduced to the

fish taco. In 1988 they brought this concept to Orange County,

California. They decorated their restaurant in a cool surfer motif and

served great food.

The restaurant is definitely a cool, fun place to eat or hang out. Start off

with a great starter from baja rolls to Maui onion rings. From there

choose from burritos, combo platters, or one of their famous bowls.

Don’t forget to try some of the wonderful tacos with your choice of

fillings including, of course, FISH.

Page 38: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Page 40: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Yucatan Taco Stand

Restaurant Profile

Address: 24 Waterway Ave, Suite 160, The Woodlands, TX 77380

Phone: 281.419.6300

Website: http://yucatantacostand.com/

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/I5SoA3

Hours: Mon-Wed: 11am - 10pm

Thu-Sat: 11am - 2am

Sun: 11am - 9pm

Price Range:

Located on The Waterway in The Woodlands, Yucatan Taco Stand is a

great restaurant serving Latin fusion cuisine. The atmosphere is casual

and fun.

The food is very fresh and with the great weather in Houston, a fun

place to sit outside to eat and people watch. The menu has many ways

to get started including fried plantains, yuca fries, papa rellenas, and

tenderloin tamale in banana leaf.

Moving onto entrees, choose from tacos, nachos, burritos, burrito bowls,

Latin sandwiches, salads and specialty entrees.

Want to hang out with friends for drinks? They offer great beers and

specialty drinks sure to please.

Yucatan Taco Stand has unique choices of great food and is just a fun

place to hang out.

Page 41: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Page 44: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

GenuWine

Night Life Profile

Address: 6503 FM1488 #401 The Woodlands, TX 77384

Phone: 832.934.2675

Website: http://www.mygenuwine.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GenuWineTastingRoom

Hours: Mon: 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Tue - Wed: 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

Thu - Sat:11:30 am-11:00 pm

GenuWine Tasting Room is the place to be for great people, fabulous

wine, and delicious food. The Tasting Room was opened in 2010 by

Rhonda Redmon and Barb Salinas.

Over 75% of the wines at GenuWine are specialty boutique style wines.

Most bottles are under $25.

The food at GenuWine ranges from hand selected gourmet cheeses to

homemade sandwiches and pizza. They also sell wine enthusiast

merchandise and gifts.

Look for great events, wine tastings and gourmet food demonstrations

throughout each month. Thursday through Saturday they offer fantastic

live entertainment.

GenuWine also offers a wine club. Customize your membership to suit

your taste, and receive exclusive invitations to tasting events, as well as

events for members only.

Page 45: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
Page 46: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
Page 47: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Top Five Wines of 2012 Presented by:

#1 - Les Piliers Viognier 2009

Les Piliers Viognier 2009 is a white

wine from France. Hand harvested.

Fermented in stainless steel, then aged

on its lees. No oak. Fined and filtered.

Tasting Notes:

o Appearance: Yellow with golden

highlights.

o Nose: Intense apricot and tangerine

with a hint of vanilla.

o Taste: Voluptuous, candied fruits,

apricot, peach and citrus. The fruity

finish is long and lush.

Food & Wine Pairing: Serve at 50°F

(10°C). This white is an excellent

complement of sea food and sushi.

Description from: Dave’s Wine

Domain

Page 48: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

#2 - Darcie Kent Chardonnay 2010

#3 – Copain Pinot Noir 2009

Tasting Notes:

This a bright, clean, fruit-driven Chardonnay with

floral aromas. Full of crisp flavors of apple, citrus

fruits and zesty pineapple that finishes with a hint of

honeysuckle. The wine has impressive acid structure

and a mineral character that make it a “Chablis” style

Chardonnay ideally suited to be enjoyed with food.

Vineyard Notes:

Located in the sunny Soledad Valley on the Central

Coast, the West Pinnacles Vineyard enjoys abundant

sunshine along with daily fog, enabling the grapes

grown there to slowly ripen and develop complex

flavors. The fine, sandy soil in the vineyards is rich in

minerals, contributing additional complexity to the

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown there.

Description from: Underdog Wine Merchants

Two thousand nine, a landmark vintage

for pinot noir in northern California,

was a relatively fault-free growing

season that resulted in fruit that is

described as the best they’ve ever seen.

This wine displays a strong cherry

character and an array of spices and

flowers, offering a compelling blend of

depth and vivacity. It’s still a baby

today and will no doubt improve with

some cellaring, but an hour in the

decanter makes it pretty delicious right

now.

Description from: Winophilia

Page 49: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

#4 - Scott Harvey 1869 Zinfandel 2008

Produced 100% from the Harvey Vineyard, America’s

oldest Zinfandel Vineyard documented as existing in

1869. “Vineyard 1869” was planted in the days when

horses were used for cultivation. This ancient

vineyard is non-irrigated, stand alone, head pruned

vines that fully express the Amador Zinfandel terroir.

Briary varietal Zinfandel. Deep blackberry, fig,

pomegranate, and violets, balanced with a fleshy

center and hints of coffee and bright currants. Old

Vine complexity and first growth quality.

Description from: The Wine Store

#5 - Hunnicutt Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa 2008

This is a well-defined and richly flavored

Cabernet with sweetly-ripe aromas of

blackberry, blueberry, Cassis, vanilla and

baking spices. The same mix of berries and

spice graces the mid-palate and the mouth-

coating, lingering finish: although a firming

spine of tannic grip tightens everything up

at this point. Certain to get better for at least

two or three years, this bottling will make

an excellent companion to sauced beef

dishes or juicy steaks right now.

Descrsiption From: Napa Valley Winery

Exchange

Page 50: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

High Heel Junkie

Fashion Profile

High Heel Junkie™ allows women to discover and purchase haute high

heels that can complement their existing style or allow them to release their

adventurous side. High Heel Junkie™ keeps up with the trending styles,

designs, and colors ensuring that there is a perfect heel for every woman.

Want to step up your heels to a new level; High Heel Junkie™ has the

answer to that for you in stylish heel accessories like Heel Condoms™ and

now the exclusive Peints à la Main™- Custom Hand-Painted Stilettos!

High Heel Junkie™ provides a unique shopping experience in addition to

offering shoe parties that are held in your own home. A High Heel

Junkie™ shoe party is a fun way to get free haute heels while having a great

time with your friends. A High Heel Junkie™ representative will offer you

and your guests plenty of different shoes and accessories in your guest shoe

sizes to try on and salivate over. It is an awesome way to shop for shoes

while having fun and catching up with your girlfriends.

Azalea (Ms. High Heel Junkie) believes that fashion should be attainable,

not unreachable. Her mission is to encourage all women to become a

trendsetter in their own world. High Heel Junkie’s company philosophy is

the belief that all you need in life is “air, food, High Heels™!”

Website: http://www.highheeljunkie.com

Blog: http://www.highheeljunkie.com/blog/

FaceBook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/HighHeelJunkie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/HighHeelJunkie

Page 51: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston
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Page 53: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Gucci

Spring - Summer 2012

Jimmy Choo

Spring - Summer 2012

Shoes

Page 54: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Christian Louboutin

Spring - Summer 2012

Shoes

Page 55: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Shoes

Manolo Blahnik

Spring - Summer 2012

Page 56: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Shoes

Casadei

Spring - Summer 2012

Page 57: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Bags

Chanel

Spring - Summer 2012

Coach

Spring - Summer 2012

Page 58: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Bags

Fendi

Spring - Summer 2012

Missoni

Spring - Summer 2012

Page 59: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Bags

Gucci

Spring - Summer 2012

Page 60: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Bags

Louis Vuitton

Spring - Summer 2012

Page 61: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Amber, ID: A177728 (DIAMOND

IN THE RUFF - reduced adoption

fee)

Female, Boxer mix

Intake: 12/20/2011

INQUIRIES: EMAIL

[email protected]

with ID

ABOUT ME: Pretty little Amber is

a Diamond, with an intake of 12/20,

that's a long time and considering

this time she is holding up well. She

is sweet, playful and friendly, loves

everyone, about 25lbs, and H/W

neg. She deserves a chance at a

home, she has done her time.

May’s

Available Pets

Lucky, ID: A175928 (DIAMOND IN

THE RUFF - reduced adoption fee)

Male, Labrador Retriever mix, 1yr

4mths, owner turn in, loves to play with

toys

Intake: 11/19/2011

INQUIRIES: EMAIL

[email protected] with

ID

ABOUT ME: This boy sure has the

perfect name because someone is going

to be VERY lucky to have him in their

life. Lucky is a total marshmallow of a

dog. He just wants toys and affection.

He's boisterous, joyful, exuberant and

always putting on his happy face!

Page 62: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

May’s

Available Pets

Dusty, ID: A181174 (MCAS PURRL

- reduced adoption fee)

Male, Domestic Shorthair

Intake: 2/13/2012

INQUIRIES: EMAIL

[email protected]

with ID

ABOUT ME: Dusty is a 6yo,

neutered gentleman. His kennel card

reads: "I am a very good natured old

man with lots of love and warm

memories to offer you. I enjoy being

held and excessively petted. I would

make an awesome indoor pet, indoors

only, if I cannot stay indoors then I

am not the guy for you." It looks like

someone used to love Dusty and had

to surrender him.

Milly, ID: A175074 (MCAS

PURRL - reduced adoption fee)

Female, Domestic Shorthair, 2yo

Intake: 11/4/2011

INQUIRIES: EMAIL

[email protected]

m with ID

ABOUT ME: "I'm thinking that

maybe if I just stare at you long

enough, you'll give in and take

me home with you. I can do this

for hours, really. Are you feeling

it yet? The mesmerizing, almost

irresistible pull? I'm drawing

you in... bending you to my

will... You NEED me in your

life, don't you?

Page 63: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Coming Next

Month Seafood

Desserts

Event Halls

Bridal Fashion

Page 64: Taste Magazine May Issue North Houston

Thank you for reading Taste Magazine North Houston.

See you in June!

Taste Publications

http://tastepublications.com