Big Woodrows Shutters

Owners shutter popular Cajun bar after unresolved landlord disagreement

Big Woodrow's on Chimney Rock has closed.

The days of crawfish, Abita and cheering for the LSU Tigers have come to an end on Chimney Rock. In a message posted to Facebook on Wednesday, Big Woodrows announced that its initial decision to close for renovations had turned into a permanent shuttering.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the closure of Big Woodrows for an unknown length of time. As you know Big Woodrows has been a Houston icon for over 20 years. Over the years the building has been host to countless great events and many wonderful Cajun style meals, but the merriment has taken a toll on the building.

Over the past year, after numerous negotiations with the building owner we were able to get him to agree to make the much needed structural repairs at Big Woodrows. These repairs, along with a much needed facelift for the venue, were to take place over the summer. After we shut down in June the landlord refused to move forward on the needed repairs. This left us with no option, for the present, but to shut down.

We are very grateful and thankful to all our loyal patrons who over the years have become part of the Big Woodrows family. Our hope is that sometime in the near future we will once again be able to welcome all of you to a new and fun filled location."

Meanwhile, work continues on the transformation of Woodrows Heights into The Durham House. When it opens in September, The Durham House will replace the familiar Woodrows po-boys and boiled seafood with more upscale ingredients, shareable items and an extensive selection of craft beer.

To clear up any confusion, Big Woodrows and Little Woodrow's have had different owners for many years. Although Big Woodrows has hit a rough patch, Little Woodrow's continues to expand, including a recent opening in Katy.

CultureMap has contacted Woodrows' owners for more information about their search for a new location but has yet to receive a response. No doubt Tiger alumni across the city are waiting the announcement with bated breath.

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truffle masters recap

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

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.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

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