Foodie News

A feast for all the senses: Chicago's Clandestino brings supper club love toHouston's art scene

If the end of the Les Sauvages dinner series has left you craving great food in intimate settings, some chefs from Chicago are here to make your week complete.

Clandestino Dining is the project of Chicago chefs Efrain Cuevas and Lauren Parton and their themed mystery dinners have earned them love as "Chicago's most awesome undergound supper club."

For two nights only, Clandestino is making a Houston stop. As part of their "Whole Artist" series — dinners featuring a sensory collaboration between chefs and visual artists and taking place in the studio of the artist — Clandestino is partnering with Houston artists Sharon Engelstein, Aaron Parazette, Carole Smith and Sean Flournoy for two unique evenings.

On Friday, Cuevas will respond to the work of Engelstein and Parazette in their Montrose studio with a dinner entitled "The Things I Need" that will feature "local produce, seasonal goodies, and sustainable fish." Think pear and pork belly dumpling soup and sweet potato gnocchi.

Saturday the dinner is called "Life is Good Food" and will consist of a "comfort-food-inspired menu utilizing many small plates filled with homemade sauces, condiments, and chutneys," including ceviche and haggis chorizo, as inspired by the work of Smith and Flournoy.

Both evenings are $95 and include an amuse bouche and cocktail to start and four courses plus pairings (wine at "The Things I Need", beer at "Life is Good Food").

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a very fine house

Stylish tavern known for 'World's Coldest Martini' adds 2 Houston locations

Photo courtesy of Hudson House

Hudson House's burger is one of its most popular dishes.

A restaurant known for its oysters, cheeseburger, and serving “The World’s Coldest Martini” will soon add two more Houston-area locations. Hudson House, an East Coast tavern-inspired restaurant from the Dallas-based Vandelay Companies, will double its Bayou City footprint in 2027 with this new outposts:

Katy, 2643 Commercial Center Blvd (LaCenterra) in early 2027
Memorial City/Spring Branch, 1085 Gessner Rd, in spring/summer 2027

Joining Hudson House’s existing Houston locations in the River Oaks Shopping Center and Rice Village, the new restaurants will have a similar look and feel as their siblings, with leather booths, brass accents, a wraparound wood bar, and an outdoor patio.

The menu includes items such as a cheeseburger, lobster roll, lobster mac and cheese, steak frites, entree salads, and chicken parm. Raw bar offerings include East Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, and sushi rolls. The brunch menu features pancakes, eggs Benedict, and a bagel with lox and cream cheese.

Hudson House pairs its dishes with a selection of classic cocktails that is highlighted by the “World’s Coldest Martini.” To achieve the proper effect, the drink is poured from a frozen bottle and served in a frozen glass. Other martini options include the Bleu & Gold (made with olive juice and blue cheese-stuffed olives) and a Lemon Drop that’s topped with limoncello foam. Hudson House also offers wines by-the-glass, beer, and non-alcoholic options.

The Memorial City location is part of MetroNational’s Greenside development. It will join previously announced tenants such as Merit Coffee, the Original ChopShop, and Honest Mary’s.

“Since opening our first Houston-area Hudson House in 2023, we’ve seen a tremendous response from guests across the market,” Vandelay founder and CEO Hunter Pond said in a statement. “The success of our two existing Houston-area locations has continued to reinforce what a strong fit Hudson House is for the market, and with two more locations on the way, we look forward to bringing the experience to even more neighborhoods across the area.”

Hudson House burger