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    Fun in the Kitchen

    Jelly Queens & PotBras: 5 fun new foodie finds that we can't live without

    Cheryl Ng Collett
    Oct 7, 2012 | 1:15 pm
    • Back to the Roots mushroom kit is fun for kids.
    • Jelly Queens: jams with attitude.
      IttyBittyFoodies
    • Gourmet Grater proves that old-school tools can survive the technology age.
      IttyBittyFoodies
    • A Fort Worth couple had the bright idea for PotBra.
      IttyBittyFoodies
    • Todd "The Dirt Man" Courtney of Todd's Dirt.
      IttyBittyFoodies

    More than 150 vendors hit the floor at the first-ever MetroCooking Dallas cooking show headlined by Food Network heavyweights Bobby Flay and Paula Deen. From "dirty" seasonings to a bra for your pot, here's the scoop on five fun foodie products we now can't live without.

    The Jelly Queens
    Are you ready for this jelly? The sassiest gals in the jellicious biz — Donna Collins, Juliet Mossman, Lori Blackman, Susan Schmidt and Peggy Maxson — get together to make organic jellies and jams packed with personality and Texas punch. Think raspberry chipotle jam with Belgium lambic beer, banana nut bread jam laced with banana beer, or black garlic and rosemary barbecue sauce with red wine. These ain't your granny's jellies. Order Jelly Queens jams, jellies, sauces and baby cakes through the website.

    Gourmet Grater
    Originally made in Provence, France, more than 50 years ago, Gourmet Grater is proof that old-school inventions can still hold up in our technology age. Hand-made now in Spain, the pretty painted ceramic plates double as useable art in the kitchen. The artisan-crafted ridges can grate anything from garlic to nutmeg to your favorite cheese. They are dishwasher safe, with a five-year warranty on the grating surface. Plus the quality ceramic glaze is guaranteed to keep the design from fading. Each unique set comes with a garlic skin remover and a brush for removing food from the plate. Prices range from $19.75-$21.95, depending on the design, through the website.

    PotBra
    Hey, we could all could use a bit of support during our lifetime, and pots are no exception. The PotBra is a must for every pot luck or tailgating party. The clever invention came about when Fort Worth husband-and-wife team Keith and Sherrie Charles got sick of cleaning up spills in the car whenever they brought their special chili to pot lucks. Made of high-strength, food-grade silicone, the PotBra stretches over slowcookers, pots and casserole dishes with ease, keeping the lids intact. It can be used to transpot hot pots with temperatures up to 400 degrees, and it's dishwasher safe. Available online for $12.95 with free U.S. shipping.

    Back to the Roots
    This is a tale of two UC Berkeley graduates, Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora, who turned down lucrative corporate paths to build an urban mushroom farming business with heart and soul. The sustainable business venture reuses coffee grounds thrown away from local coffee shops to grow delicious oyster mushrooms from kits. The business also aims to encourage kids to make healthier choices — plus it's a fun science project at home and in the classroom. Check out the 1-for-1 Facebook campaign: Back to the Roots will donate a kit and a sustainability curriculum to an elementary school of your choice for every photo posted of your fully grown shrooms. $19.95 from Whole Foods Market and other online retailers.

    Todd's Dirt
    "Once you go dirty, you wouldn't wanna go any other way," says Todd "The Dirt Man" Courtney. The enigmatic founder of Todd's Dirt spiced things up at MetroCooking Dallas with his line of gourmet seasonings and his entertaining blend of craziness. Check out Dirt TV on his website, where he shows you how to get down and dirty with recipes like ribs or beer-can chicken using his three spice blends: Original Dirt, Crabby Dirt and Bayou Dirt. Todd's Dirt is all-natural and gluten- and MSG-free. And yes, it does look like dirt. Available at Central Market or at Todd's Dirt.

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    bonjour

    Croissant-obsessed French cafe sets opening date in downtown Houston park

    Eric Sandler
    May 28, 2026 | 11:30 am
    Petite Lucie food spread
    Photo by Mariela Callaway
    Petite Lucie opens this Saturday, May 30.

    Downtown Houston will soon welcome a new, all-day French cafe. Petite Lucie, a new restaurant from Love Croissants owner Culinary Matters, will begin its soft opening this Saturday, May 30.

    Located in the former Niko Niko’s space at Market Square Park, Petite Lucie offers a covered, outdoor dining pavilion and an indoor-outdoor cocktail bar. Designed by the Houston office of the global architecture giant Gensler, the cafe also includes lighting, greenery, and other details to make it a comfortable place to dine throughout the day.

    The restaurant is led by chefs Omar Pereney and Sahira Malherbe. Pereney’s history in Houston goes back more than 10 years, when the then-20-year-old served as executive chef at Peska, an ambitious (but short-lived) seafood restaurant in Uptown’s BLVD Place development. Since then, he’s worked as a consultant who contributed to a number of local restaurants as well as the owner of Love Croissants, which supplies oversized pastries to restaurants, coffee shops, and markets throughout Houston. In January, Pereney and Malherbe took over operations at Weights + Measures in Midtown.

    “At its core, Petite Lucie is about creating moments of escape and discovery in the middle of the city,” Pereney said in a statement. “We wanted to build something romantic but approachable — a place where someone can stop in for a croissant and espresso in the morning, meet friends for cocktails in the afternoon or linger over a casual dinner under the stars at night.”

    Of course, Petite Lucie’s menu starts with a selection of pastries from Love Croissants, including a butter croissant, almond-cardamom croissant, pain au chocolat, and a coffee bun. Other breakfast options include a breakfast sandwich served on a croissant, lemon blueberry French toast, and avocado toast with smoked salmon.

    Lunch and dinner options include jambon croquettes, croque monsieur, chicken salad croissant sandwich, steak frites, and a bowl made with lentils, quinoa, vegetables, and onion jam that can be enhanced with salmon or grilled chicken. Desserts include chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, and what’s described in press materials as a “life-changing” birthday cake.

    Petite Lucie birthday cake Share a birthday cake at Petite LucieCourtesy of Petite Lucie

    Jaime de Leon, an advanced sommelier and frequent Pereney collaborator, oversees a beverage program that includes spritzes, cocktails, and a French-oriented wine list that includes large format bottles of sparkling wine to power group celebrations. A custom St-Germain cart will serve draft cocktails at busy times and during events.

    Located in the oldest part of Houston, Market Square Park is close to attractions such as the Theater District, Daikin Park, Post Houston, and more. In addition to Petite Lucie, the area will soon welcome a second location of modern general store Henderson & Kane in the former Treebards space. On Saturday, downtown will celebrate the opening of the nearby Main Street Promenade with a market, live entertainment, and more.

    Petite Lucie is located at 301 Milam Street. It’s open daily from 7 am-9 pm.

    Petite Lucie food spread

    Photo by Mariela Callaway

    Petite Lucie opens this Saturday, May 30.

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