Food for Thought

The Craziest Easter Drink Ever: You've never seen Peeps used like this before (not suitable for children)

We certainly don’t need any April showers after the recent rain we’ve had, but we do need two things for April: Peeps and gin.

Sunday, April 5 is Easter of course. Hence the Peeps, the ubiquitous, spring colored marshmallow treats. But then April 9 is International Gin and Tonic Day, so, gin. OK, maybe you are going to need four things in April: Peeps, gin, tonic water and ice.

The traditional gin and tonic, if you didn’t know, was created by the British East India Company in the early 1800s as a way of getting British officers to drink more quinine water to prevent and treat malaria. Current medical thinking doesn’t buy this is a very effective treatment but who are you to argue with the Brits?

Gin and tonics are still very popular in India, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. It’s become quite popular in Spain as well. In Barcelona they have Gin-Tonic bars where you select your gin preference and specify your garnish of choice. Here’s an article of the best Gin-Tonic (as the drink is called in Spain) bars in Barcelona.

This makes an adorable drink for your April cocktail parties and it’s not as crazy as it sounds.

I have a new bottle of The London No. 1 — it’s triple distilled, small batch gin from England that has a pale blue color with scents of juniper berries and balsamic.

Then I bought some Peeps. I’m not really a fan of the marshmallow Peeps, this may have been the first time I have eaten one in decades. I don’t think they have much taste but apparently I’m almost alone in not liking them. Apparently you can cook with them (be careful microwaving them as they expand) and there are now Peeps flavored milk — in three flavors no less.

But I think the best use of Peeps is The Washington Post’s annual Peeps Diorama Contest. Check out some of the past winners here. Go Peeps diorama makers! Will we see a Birdman Peeps diorama this year?

So, in the interest of pure journalism (and the fact that I clearly could not think of anything else to write about this week) I have discovered a new use for Peeps: (Drum roll, please).

I give you the Peeps Easter Gin and Tonic.

Here is The London No. 1 Gin and Tonic recipe, and how I have modified it for the dual holidays:

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.

Gently swirl the ice cubes around the glass to chill it.

Next, add 1 and 1/2 oz of The London No. 1, a little at a time, until you see that the blue of the gin is coloring the glass.

Pour in two measures of tonic water for every measure of gin. Do this slowly to preserve the full strength of the bubbles.

Twist a piece of lime peel over the gin and tonic to perfume it then drop the peel in to allow it to impregnate the drink with citrus aroma.

I used H-E-B’s lime flavored tonic water, so no need for the lime. Instead, as a garnish I chose a yellow duck Peep. I think you could use the pink or blue (would look great with blue gin) bunnies just as well but I liked the idea of a yellow ducky swimming in a bath of gin.

This makes an adorable drink for your April cocktail parties and it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Some of the original British recipes called for adding sugar to the quinine water and gin.

The sugar coated Peep adds a barely discernable hint of sweetness to the cocktail.

And, if you want to eat the Peep when the drink is done, I say a gin-soaked Peep is a tastier Peep.

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East Coast-style Austin pizzeria confirms plans to open in the Heights

Home Slice Pizza Heights location rendering

Courtesy of the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

A rendering previews Home Slice Pizza's new location in the Heights.

One of Austin’s pizzerias is expanding its presence in Houston. Home Slice Pizza has claimed the former Mapojeong space in the Heights (602 Studewood) for a new location that will open in the fall of 2026.

Founder Joseph Strickland tells CultureMap that Home Slice wanted to add a second Houston location that would build on the success of its Midtown restaurant that opened in late 2022. Unlike Midtown, which is counter service and offers limited seating, the Heights location will offer full service, an expanded menu, and cocktails, which is in line with Home Slice’s North Austin location.

“We saw a lot of synergy in North Austin and the Heights,” Strickland says. “They have a similar feel, a lot of families, a lot of people looking to get together in big groups. There’s also a robust bar scene on White Oak that we’re happy to be part of.”

Strickland says Home Slice had several requirements for a new location, including a larger dining room than Midtown, a decent-sized parking lot, and enough kitchen capacity to serve both dine-in and larger to-go orders. Not only did they find the right building, but they established a productive relationship with the property’s owner, Revive Development, the Houston-based firm that also owns properties that are home to Loro, Squable, Camaraderie, and the Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks.

“It was hard to believe at first. The more we talked with the Revive folks, there was a lot of alignment and opportunity for us to expand what we’re showing Houston,” Stickland says.

Home Slice is working with the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture to renovate the building. Strickland notes that it will require some extensive changes, including removing the butcher shop that was installed as part of its iteration as Ritual, a steakhouse that closed in 2021. Assuming everything goes according to plan, the restaurant should open sometime in the fall of 2026.

Home Slice Pizza food spread Home Slice serves New York-style pizza.Photo by Garrett Smith

Once open, Home Slice will serve its East Coast-inspired menu of New York-style pizzas (whole or by-the-slice), hot and cold Italian deli sandwiches, salads, and desserts — all of which utilize dough or bread that’s made in-house. In particular, the restaurant is known for its white clam pizza, as well as classics such as pepperoni and mushroom or sausage with ricotta and roasted peppers. In 2024, the Houston Press awarded “Best Sandwich” to the restaurant’s Italian Assorted, which is made with ham, dry salami, capicola, genoa salami, vegetables, provolone, mayo, and oil & vinegar.

Critically, the Heights Home Slice location will add wings to the New York and Sicilian-style pizzas, salads, and sandwiches that the restaurant serves in Midtown. Inspired by the wings served at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, Home Slice keeps its wings simple — medium or hot and served with a house made blue cheese dressing. “It goes with our pizza quite wonderfully,” Stickland says.

He hopes that the the wide-ranging menu, flexible menu, and late night hours will appeal to Heights locals, people patronizing the nearby bars on White Oak, and anyone else looking for a slice and a drink. The larger location and full service should make home slice an option for date nights, office happy hours, any just about any other occasion.

“We hope the neighborhood will be happy to have another offering that’s like ours, where you can bring a first date or your office or go by yourself. We offer all those experiences,” Strickland says.

openings news-you-can-eat pizza home slice pizza