I fell in love with an American (Texan) in Paris (was working for American company in the city) first date at the top of the Eiffel Tower (BEFORE it was cool, worst food in Paris at that time, only the tourists, who didn’t know any better ever ate there!!), however, he soon overcame that false start and after 9 months we were engaged – as my mother said when I called her and told her I met someone … “ …. Please tell me he is NOT French!!, no, I said, he’s a Texan!” We married in native England, honeymoon in the Bahamas and then arrived in Houston!!! was soooo homesick – brother in law bought me a puppy to help ease my pain – I fell in love all over again… Shortly, after puppy arrived, just 8 weeks, Dick was out fishing with his father, I didn’t have a driver’s license at that time, puppy fell off the bed, thought he had broken his leg, cried like a baby (which he was) called mother in law who raced over, it was a Sunday (before Gulf Coast Vet. Emergency clinic) we eventually found a vet that was open – waited and waited for him to finish with another emergency, all the time trying to calculate whether I had enough money to pay him (VERY poor from funding aforementioned wedding and glam honeymoon!!) when we finally got to see him, he was sooo wonderful, told me good news, nothing wrong with puppy, he was crying like a baby because he was a baby…. I thought oh great, now I have to tell Dick I took puppy to vet and paid many $$$$ for no reason… Vet then asked me ‘ … how did you get to Texas?” told him story, met a Texan in Paris, fell in love, ya da, ya, da, ya da … also told him my boss in Paris was an Aggie – noticed he too was a graduate of the Texas A&M school of vet. Medicine – so mentioned how kind my Aggie had been, had given me a wonderful surprise bon voyage party when I left Paris for England … he listened, was kind and gentle the way all vets seem to be (perhaps this is the answer to the healthcare situation in America, let’s swop out doctors for vets) … when I went to check out, holding my breath that I had enough money to pay the bill, his receptionist told me “ …. This one is on us, welcome to Texas!!!” It was such unexpected kindness, that it still makes me pause … that’s when I fell in love with Houston… to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, a wonderfull American who made her home in Paris, “ … England is my country, but Houston is my hometown!”
Houston’s Masterchef champion is ready to open her next restaurant. Christine Ha and her husband/business partner John Suh will begin the soft opening of Stuffed Belly this Saturday and Sunday (June 10 and 11) from 11 am - 7 pm.
Located in the same Spring Branch shopping center as the Blind Goat (8133 Long Point Rd.), Ha’s James Beard Award-nominated Vietnamese gastropub, Stuffed Belly serves the chef’s take on sandwiches the couple has enjoyed all their lives. Designed for quick service, the restaurant operates out of a drive-thru and offers only a limited amount of interior seating.
“John and I are excited to introduce Stuffed Belly to the Spring Branch neighborhood!” Ha said in a statement. “Sandwiches are some of our favorite comfort foods, and we want to share our own take on them with our beloved hometown of Houston.”
While Ha is known for the Vietnamese fare she serves at both The Blind Goat and Xin Chao, Stuffed Belly is not a banh mi shop. Instead, it serves the chef’s spin on classic American sandwiches such as egg salad, fried chicken, and grilled cheese.
For example, the Humpty Dumpty Egg’wich combines egg salad made with both Dijon and yellow mustard, lemon, and green onions and is served on crustless Texas toast. The Tuna Crunch is a tuna salad sandwich with red onion, celery, and crushed potato chips.
The three hot sandwiches start with a grilled cheese made with Cheddar, provolone, and American that’s topped with tomato confit. Stuffed Belly’s fried chicken sandwich gets some heat from a spicy, Sichuan-inspired mayo. Its smash burger follows a classic formula with caramelized onions, pickles, American cheese, and “Stuffed sauce.” The menu will grow over time with more sandwiches added in the weeks to come.
“I’ve added my own fun personal twist on some of the sandwiches and kept the others simple and straightforward,” Ha said. “I don’t believe in making everything over the top. If the classic is great, keep it that way. They’re classic for a reason.”
A kids menu features scaled down versions of the grilled cheese, fried chicken, and burger. Both kids and adults can add tater tots or chips to their meal. Desserts come from Pudgy’s Cookies, the bakery in the Heights known for its oversized, gooey treats.
To celebrate the soft opening, Stuffed Belly is offering a 50-percent discount on all sandwiches, sides, and drinks (cookies are regular price) on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am - 7 pm (or the food sells out). Expect a combo with a sandwich, side, and drink to cost between $12 and $17 at the regular price.
As a reminder, Ha has accomplished quite a bit since she won season three of Masterchef, Gordon Ramsay’s cooking competition show. Prior to launching a career as a restaurateur, she wrote the best-selling cookbook Recipes From My Home Kitchen and made numerous TV appearances. The Blind Goat's original location in downtown's Bravery Chef Hall earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2020. Last year, the James Beard Awards recognized Ha and co-chef Tony Nguyen as finalists for Best Chef: Texas for their work at Xin Chao. With that kind of resume, Stuffed Belly seems poised to join Houston’s growing push of better sandwiches that includes LuLoo’s Day & Night, PrimoHoagies, and Mimo.
Courtesy of Stuffed Belly
Christine Ha will open Stuffed Belly this weekend.
