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    Kirbside Lunch Service

    Healthy and hearty Houston sports bar scores winning pass at lunch

    CultureMap Create
    Jul 12, 2022 | 1:45 pm
    The menu focuses on fresh and organic foods.
    The menu focuses on fresh and organic foods.
    Photo courtesy of On The Kirb

    To some, sports bars are invariably dark environments with greasy food and watered-down drinks. Anyone who knows about On The Kirb, however, knows that this trope doesn't exist inside this eatery's doors.

    This spot focuses on fresh and organic foods, and is committing to something unique among competitors: the lunch crowd.

    At both the Upper Kirby and Midtown locations, natural light floods in during the day through nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the wood-paneled bar. The spacious patio is even brighter, with more plants than tables and plenty of fresh air to enjoy.

    Whether inside or out, it’s not just airy decor creating an open feeling. Diners actually get quite a bit of personal space thanks to cozy booths and well-spaced high tables. These magic tricks for separation maximize space leave lunches with friends, family, business colleagues, and casual dates feeling private.

    With salads and wraps among the more ubiquitous sports-bar fare, there’s something for everyone, making On The Kirb a great choice for low-key business lunches, and even road trips through or out of Houston.

    To further the comfy vibes, On The Kirb focuses on playing nostalgic hits — mostly alternative and classic rock of the '80s and '90s — in the background.

    So when you're seeking a crowd-pleasing choice for a mid-day meal, it's a win-win when you end up here.

    ---

    On the Kirb is located at 5004 Kirby Dr. in Upper Kirby (713-526-1414) and 2521 Bagby St. in Midtown (281-888-7898).

    On The Kirb is not the average Houstonian's sports bar.

    A wrap filled with lots of greens, and a side salad with tomatoes.
    Photo courtesy of On The Kirb
    On The Kirb is not the average Houstonian's sports bar.
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    truffle masters recap

    Street corn shines at Houston's truffle-powered chef competition

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 12, 2026 | 5:32 pm
    Truffle Masters 2026
    Photo by Daniel Ortiz
    Marcus Benedict, Daniella Johner, and chef Luis Roger of MAD and BCN.

    One of Houston’s top Mexican restaurants took the top prize at this year’s Truffle Masters competition. Victoria Elizondo, chef-owner of Cochinita & Co., bested 24 other Houston chefs with Elotitos, corn brushed with chiltepin aioli, dusted with seven chile spice, and finished with shaved truffles and Parmesan.

    “The team killed it last night,” Elizondo wrote on Instagram. “We won 1st place at @thetrufflemasters all while having fun and cooking with love! Food doesn’t need to be fancy, it just needs to be made with corazón!”

    The attention couldn’t have come at a better time. As CultureMap reported last month, Cochinita & Co. is currently in the process of opening a second location in Lindale Park. Customers can invest in the project via the NuMarket platform in exchange for credits at the restaurant.

    Second prize went to Camaraderie in the Heights for its black sesame and black truffle gelato, while Cocody, a French restaurant in River Oaks, took third place for its truffle-shaped Lollys Persillade Escargot Cromesquis, essentially an escargot lollypop with with black truffle and quail egg in the middle.

    Montrose sushi restaurant Soto won People’s Choice with its Engawa fin muscle with truffle balsamic unagi sauce, kizami, and chocolate black truffle masago arare. Aniket Bhingare, a bartender at Michelin-starred restaurant Musaafer, won the cocktail competition with his Pour Me a Slice, made with truffle and herb-infused and a clarified mix of roma tomatoes, fresh basil, oregano, basil, and truffle oil.

    Other standout dishes included a Yukon Gold potato with truffle brown butter from Michelin-recognized sushi restaurant Hidden Omakase, truffle s’mores from Israeli-inspired steakhouse Doris Metropolitan, beef tartare and truffle ice cream from fine dining sushi restaurant Katami, and Credence’s truffle duck sausage with plums and truffles. Maximo, a Mexican restaurant in West U., maximized (sorry) its truffle usage with a Cachetada de Barbacoa Taco, made with nixtamalized truffle tortilla, truffle-braised barbacoa, and sottocenere al tartufo cheese with black garlic-habanero salsa

    More than 350 attended the sold-out affair, which took place at the Astorian events space in Sawyer Yards. The judging panel include both media members (such as this author) and hospitality pros. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the KNOWAutism Foundation.

    Truffle Masters 2026

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Marcus Benedict, Daniella Johner, and chef Luis Roger of MAD and BCN.

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