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    Keeping It Real

    "Missing" woman makes food bloggers look like a complete joke as she preys on H-Town hospitality

    Joel Luks
    Jan 29, 2013 | 2:12 pm

    Victoria Moon Erickson obviously has never heard of a vacation.

    Because that's what people do when they need a respite from the grind of daily life. Book a cruise, take off to Neverland and get some sun to return with your head cleared ready to change what's not working.

    Instead, this Atlanta-born, 32-year-old woman, who the media has continuously identified as a vegan blogger (as if that tidbit matters) decided that she would stage a disappearing act by abandoning her car, computer, cellphone and her "beloved" dog, Jet, with a Houston business owner who generously offered her work and shelter while Erickson was gallivanting cross country documenting her gourmand adventures.

    "That stuff belongs to Vicky and I'm not Vicky anymore," her father, William Erickson, reported she said to him about the personal items discarded at Pat Greer's Kitchen, a raw vegan food catering business in the Montrose area.

    While the community at large, including her twin sister Cat Moon Erickson, thought something terrible had happened to this petite 5-foot, 100-pound gal, what Victoria Moon Erickson truly wanted was to escape the confines of her identity. But she failed. She's been spotted by a friend in Austin, who drove her to a truck stop, and by a truck driver in Carlsbad, N.M., who gave her a ride on her journey to California.

    Victoria Moon Erickson gave non-vegans another reason to think that herbivores are dense fruitcakes.

    "The first thing I would tell her is that I love her," Cat Moon Erickson tells KHOU, implying she felt she had wronged her sister in some fashion. "I always love her. I never want to judge her again."

    Whatever pressures or physical ailments Victoria Moon Erickson may have felt, she surely is delusional in believing that vanishing into thin air is plausible in this era of speedy communications. That's unless you are murdered or can pull off a faux death. Or move to Brazil. Or commit a heinous political crime in North Korea.

    But alas, Victoria Moon Erickson, if you read between the lines of her latest blog post, dated Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., has found her home. In her poem "Welcome Home" (oh, how predictable), illustrated by a photograph of a woman draped in white textiles attempting to take flight amid a serene coastal scene, she writes about the "warrior's plight," the "lust for bleeding green" and "rising against the uncommon dream."

    Though most of the text is a verbose and confusing New Age diatribe, it's the concluding paragraphs that are of concern.

    The illusion of "too late"
    has taken its toll
    "control" is the lie
    we tell ourselves
    when we are afraid to
    let go.

    We get it. We live in a horrible, cruel world teeming with injustices, though most of us choose to look for beauty rather than negating reality.

    Victoria Moon Erickson has, in essence, discarded her four-legged companion (very vegan), took the easy way out by not being straight with people and gave non-vegans another reason to think that herbivores are dense fruitcakes.

    One good thing came out of this ordeal: More people now know about Pat Greer's big heart. By the way, her food is fabulous.

    Victoria Moon Erickson has been spotted by a friend in Austin, who drove her to a truck stop, and by a truck driver in Carlsbad, N.M., on her way to California.

    Victoria Moon Erickson, vegan blogger, January 2013, wearing apron
    Photo courtesy of KHOU Houston Channel 11
    Victoria Moon Erickson has been spotted by a friend in Austin, who drove her to a truck stop, and by a truck driver in Carlsbad, N.M., on her way to California.
    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars

    Meet the Tastemakers

    Houston's 10 best neighborhood restaurants offer comfort and convenience

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 3, 2026 | 3:16 pm
    Chopnblok food spread
    Courtesy of ChòpnBlọk
    ChòpnBlọk is basking in the national spotlight.

    The time has come to celebrate the nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

    Since a “neighborhood restaurant” should be as available to its customers as possible, we only include establishments that are open at least six days per week and serve both lunch and dinner. Beyond that, they should be affordable, casual, and available to people without a reservation. After all, neighborhood restaurants should be just as welcoming for a spontaneous weeknight craving as they are for fancy weekend celebrations.

    Who will win? Find out at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony April 16 at Silver Street Studios. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as we reveal the winners. Buy your tickets now. A limited number of Early Bird General Admission tickets remain. VIP tickets offer early entry, valet parking, and more perks. All tickets will sell out before the event, so don't wait.

    Here are the nominees for 2026 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year:

    Aga's
    Even by its incredibly busy standards, the essential Southwest Houston Indo-Pak restaurant had a banner 2025. Not only did Chris Shepherd feature the restaurant on Eat Like a Local, the Chronicle ranked it as Houston’s best restaurant. Plans for a new, to-go only location in Katy will bring its signature goat chops, biryani, karahi, and more to even more people.

    Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine
    With locations in Montrose and Garden Oaks, this cafeteria-style Mediterranean restaurant has built a devoted following for its pita, hummus, vegetables, kebabs, and more. At a time when everyone is looking for an affordable meal, Aladdin offers an entree and sides for as little as $18 or its essential lamb shank for $25. Make sure to save room for a little baklava.

    ChòpnBlọk
    The West African restaurant has earned a lot of national acclaim since opening its Montrose location in 2024, including a glowing two-star review in the New York Times from chief restaurant critic Tejal Rao and a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. Frequent collabs, including partnerships with the likes of Bun B (Trill Burgers) and Marcus Davis (The Breakfast Klub) help maintain the lively spirit of ChòpnBlọk’s pop-up roots.

    Cuchara
    For almost 15 years, this restaurant has been providing Montrose diners with a taste of Mexico City. Dishes such as turkey in mole negro and huitlacoche quesadilla remain fan favorites, as do the well-crafted margaritas. With Houston on the cusp of peak patio weather, expect Cuchara to be packed for as long as the weather holds.

    Feges BBQ
    With features like a kids play area and dinner service Tuesday through Saturday, the Spring Branch location of Erin Smith and Patrick Feges’ eponymous barbecue joint serves its neighborhood well. The vegetarian-friendly menu — think Korean-braised greens, sweet and spicy sprouts, elote, and more — allows the restaurant to cater to more than carnivores. Happy hour deals, weekly specials, and a $15 pork steak help make the restaurant affordable for area families.

    Handies Douzo
    When Houstonians want the city’s crispiest, most well-crafted hand rolls, they turn to one of this restaurant’s three locations in Montrose, the Heights, or Spring Branch. Both the approachable, counter seating format and affordable prices (a three-roll set is less than $20) make it easy to drop in for a quick bite. Given the attention to detail, it’s no wonder that the Dubai location of Kokoro, its upscale sister concept, made the World’s 50 Best List for the Middle East and North Africa.

    Moon Rabbit
    From staples like spring rolls and shaken beef to more unusual fare like the banh xeo tostada Xi quiche bone marrow, diners turn to this Vietnamese restaurant for well executed fare. Warm service and a creative cocktail list further enhance its appeal.

    Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
    This pizzeria from the team behind Nobie’s and The Toasted Coconut has quickly become a favorite for Montrose families. Part of the credit goes to the retro-inspired dining room — complete with an arcade, but restaurants do not succeed on vibes alone. It’s the crispy, tavern-style pies, gooey mozzarella sticks, and other crowd-pleasing fare that keeps people coming back again and again.

    North China
    For more than 40 years, this West Houston staple has been serving Chinese, Chinese America, and Korean classics to hungry Houstonians. First timers should seek out signature items like the Beijing fish bun, sizzling rice soup, and Pong Lai beef, which gets its signature spice from chile de arbol. That willingness to blend Chinese classics with Texas flavors keeps diners coming back again and again.

    Pinkerton's Barbecue
    With a second Bib Gourmand designation and a third straight appearance in Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s 50 best barbecue joints, Grant Pinkerton’s Heights-area restaurant has affirmed its status as one of Houston’s premier smokehouses. Diners go to Pinkerton’s for expertly smoked brisket, the signature “candy paint” pork ribs, and sides such as duck jambalaya and jalapeno cheese rice. The recently-opened Upper Kirby location, with its retro style and expanded menu, is the city’s most ambitious barbecue joint to open in the past several years.

    ----

    The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Maker's Mark, Culinary Khancepts, NTX LVL Event, Shutto and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

    Chopnblok food spread
    Courtesy of ChòpnBlọk

    ChòpnBlọk is basking in the national spotlight.

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