smoke and fire

Ayesha Curry's smoky new restaurant has Rockets fans throwing shade

Why so serious, Rockets fans?

Some Rockets fans are not happy that Ayesha Curry is opening a globally-inspired barbecue restaurant in Houston. International Smoke, the restaurant Curry is opening in CityCentre with celebrity chef Michael Mina, doesn't open until July 5, but that hasn't stopped #RedNation from losing their collective minds.

Still stinging from their team's loss in the Western Conference Finals to the Golden State Warriors — a team led by Curry's husband Stephen Curry — Rockets fans have bombarded the restaurant's Yelp page with about 100 one-star reviews, as NBA writer Tomer Azarly first noted on Twitter. Warriors fans have responded with over 60 five-star reviews.

The reviews — again, for a restaurant that hasn't opened yet — contain the typical smack one would expect from a fanbase that hasn't won a championship in over 20 years. Consider the following from "Brenda A." with the [sic] in place throughout: "BBQ? Yeah no...Not sure why they didn't try to open a restaurant in a different state or at the very least, a different city? Can't say anyone I know would eat there. As for me, I'll be eating at Killians BBQ...or anything besides this place. #rednation #letsgorockets."

Or how about this from "Alanis O.," again, insert [sic] liberally throughout: "Really trying to understand why she would bring this business here..... lol GET OUT OF OUR CITY. Keep your nasty bay area food out of Texas. We don't want it. Any real rockets fans will NEVER step foot into this place. Disgusting."

Really? Have Rockets fans forgotten that the world "Texas" means friends? That we welcome strangers from around the world — especially when they want to sell us their food. Or that a bunch of talented Houstonians, led by executive chef E.J. Miller, will be preparing and serving the food created by Curry and Mina?

Maybe a team that aspires to win a NBA championship shouldn't go 0-for-27 from the three point line in game seven at home. Just a thought.

Presumably, Yelp will delete the reviews at some point to allow International Smoke to start with a clean slate [UPDATE: Yelp has placed the page on Active Cleanup Alert status; a Yelp spokesperson tells CultureMap that "Yelp reviews are required to describe a firsthand consumer experience, not what someone read in the news. Our user support team ultimately removes reviews that violate these guidelines."]. For the record, the restaurant's San Francisco location maintains a respectable three-and-a-half star rating.

CultureMap has contacted the restaurant to see whether it has an opinion about this nonsense. We'll update the story if they respond.

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

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