All posts by certifiedfoodie

About certifiedfoodie

CertifiedFoodie is a food enthusiast in Houston. She's a fearless adventurer whose palate will bravely taste absolutely anything (!) once. A motto which have led to profuse tongue-scrubbings, cussing, and back-to-back food poisoning. When not eating and/or traveling, she's a loving wife and mom and a career woman involved in healthcare.

Cafe Benedicte

I’ve been working too hard. After a long break I took in Fredericksburg, I found myself thrust into a work schedule which was very draining. It didn’t help that Beans started band camp and I have to drive him every single day at the crack of dawn. I cannot wait for the day that this boy can finally drive. On weeks like these, food preparation becomes very unimaginative, borderline unhealthy. So this morning, D decided that he’s had enough of this busy-bee nonsense and booked us a reservation for lunch at Cafe Benedicte.

It’s a Euro-fusion restaurant located in Memorial Drive, just a block away from D’s office. I am blown away by the decor. The windows have huge decals of Positano and Amalfi Coast— a gorgeous region in South Italy, close to not-so-gorgeous city of Naples. Don’t get me wrong, Naples has its charms but it has become so crowded and filthy, you really have to go out of your way to seek the old-world beauty that it used to have to appreciate it. Anyway, I digressed. The decals are  strategically placed to give the impression that you are actually looking out to the view.

This is how it looks from our table. The way the light hits it, makes it very realistic.
This is how it looks from our table. The way the light hits it, makes it very realistic. We were in Positano 3 years ago (no, we didn’t run into George Clooney), so it was nice to reminisce.
The y feature live music at night, hence this grand piano
The y feature live music at night, hence this grand piano

Menu is very Mediterranean and surprisingly reasonable priced, which is almost always the case in Houston. It is so easy to find a wonderful restaurant without having to spend so much.

This is $4 peach sangria. I never met a sangria I didn't like
This is $4 peach sangria. I never met a sangria I didn’t like
Hummus Platter - Chopped Lamb and Pine Nuts Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Vegetable and Feta Hummus
Hummus Platter – Chopped Lamb and Pine Nuts Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Vegetable and Feta Hummus

When I looked at the menu online before going here, the baba ghanoush caught my eye. It’s been so long since I had this Middle Eastern eggplant dish. I first had this in Dubai and that was a good 12 years ago. Their version of this dish is excellent. I got so riled up with this Middle Eastern appetizer so I decided to match it with my entree.

My entree - Koufta Kebab - Beef, Ground Lamb Kobide and herbs grilled on a skewer and served with Basmati Rice, a Grilled Vegetable Kebab and Pita Bread
My entree – Koufta Kebab – Beef, Ground Lamb Kobide and herbs grilled on a skewer and served with Basmati Rice, a Grilled Vegetable Kebab and Pita Bread

Their entrees menu is an interesting mix of Italian, Spanish, South of France and Middle Eastern Cuisine. I was so torn between this kobide and their paella. Not to mention all the fresh pasta. Alas, I can only have one.

D, the eternal health fanatic, ordered the healthiest in the menu.

Caprese Omelet - scrambled eggs with fresh mozzarella and beef steak tomatoes and basil. Sweet Potato fries on the side (this is the winner)
Caprese Omelet – scrambled eggs with fresh mozzarella and beef steak tomatoes and basil. Sweet Potato fries on the side (this is the winner)
Dessert - Bourbon Bread Pudding With Caramelized Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Dessert – Bourbon Bread Pudding
With Caramelized Woodford Reserve Bourbon

You can never go wrong with alcoholic desserts. It’s the best of both worlds.

What a great way to spend a very short weekend break. I’m working again tomorrow so I will be spending the rest of this day cooking for next week. Life of a working mom… I cook most stuffs over the weekend, throw them in the fridge or freezer, then nuke as needed. God bless whoever invented the microwave!

 

 

 

 

Hubby’s Hobby

Fredericksburg, I, Me, and Myself

The hubby has taken up a hobby. He has taken up interest in photography. Three years ago, I bought a fancy DLSR camera for our trip to Europe. But between frantically preparing for the trip and making sure everything at home is taken cared of, I never got the chance to explore the camera’s bells and whistles. Needless to say, I have devolved the Sony Alpha into a very bulky point-and-shoot.

Now that the hubby is into photography and mastered the camera’s many talents, all he needs is a subject. He toyed with the idea of pet portraits but Cookie and Mochi do not believe in animal labor wanted none of it. Here’s exhibit A of their uncooperativeness.

This is Cookie playing with his duck, as captured by continuous shots, because he is too good to sit still...
This is Cookie playing with his duck, as captured by continuous shots, because he is too good to sit still… 

So he turned to the more cooperative and less treats-motivated subject, Mother Nature.

It was a good day for a drive—a statement that is rarely true in Texas summer. But today was not nearly as scorching and sky was very clear and blue, so I would say it’s good enough. Unlike our dogs, I believe in supporting family members’ hobbies. So i agreed to have the top down on Turbey and took one the Hill Country’s loveliest trails, Willow City Loop.

This is just from our driveway. The day is promising!
This is just from our driveway. The day is promising!

FYI, all photos I use in my blog, unless water stamped with D’Napoli Studios, are taken by me and my trusty iPhone. D’Napoli Studios is his website where he posts all his fancy pics.

In exchange for the sacrifice of the hours basking in the sun, D agreed to drive up to a highly acclaimed restaurant in the middle of nowhere called Hilltop Cafe. It is Greek and Cajun Fusion cuisine (whaaaaat?) and is also very popular for it’s musical performers. This would be a good place to fuel up our energy for the day.

The building used to be a gas station in the 1950's. Don't be fooled by the exterior because they have pretty serious eats inside.
The building used to be a gas station in the 1950’s. Don’t be fooled by the exterior because they have pretty serious eats inside.
For appetizers, we had mushrooms stuffed with blue crab and blue cheese
For appetizers, we had mushrooms stuffed with blue crab and blue cheese
I had shrimp mytilini ---- it is sautéed shrimp in abed of wild Greek rice. Mytilini is a place in Greece where they grow amazing olives. This dish is sautéed with those olives.
I had shrimp mytilini —- it is sautéed shrimp in abed of wild Greek rice. Mytilini is a place in Greece where they grow amazing olives. This dish is sautéed with those olives.
D had open-faced grilled chicken with the most amazing sweet potato fries
D had open-faced grilled chicken with the most amazing sweet potato fries
After that sumptuous lunch, we are off!!!
After that sumptuous lunch, we are off!!!
The trail was filled with little creeks like these.
The trail was filled with little creeks like these…
…and semi dried up riverbanks
…and semi dried up riverbanks.
From my "artistic" perspective….
From my “artistic” perspective….

Nobody really asks me for advise on lasting relationships. But if someone would, I would say “respect, support and (lots of) compromise”. Those three are love in itself. Hobbies are ways to express creativity in world where monotony abounds. And there is nothing better than to have loved ones beside you in your creative adventure. That’s what make people want to stay together. Of course, having to pay off two mortgages doesn’t hurt either…haha. But I would rather file that under “shared dreams”….

Have a great, artistic weekend everyone!!!