No one knows Houston restaurants better than the people who run them, own them, and work in the kitchens. In this continuing series, CultureMap is asking our favorite foodie personalities around town where they go for great eats when they're not working.

Elizabeth Abraham can generally be found making sure guests are having a great time at her refined French bistro, Cafe Moustache. But when she's off the clock, it's all about big flavors and comfort food.

Restaurant to take out-of-towners to: I typically like ethnic comfort food, and I really like mom-and-pop places, to enjoy Houston diversity and authentic food. For Thai food I like to go to Kanomwan — I think its one of the best Thai places in the state. We eat Pakistani food a lot, my favorite is a place called Royal Restaurant way out on Bissonnet — I almost don't even want to talk about it, because it's my secret!

Also I do like going to Hillcroft for Indian, especially vegetarian, usually to Sri Balaji Bhavan.

Restaurant for a special occasion: I like Mark's. I like their specials — they have a mixed plate that will have kobe beef, foie gras, some other stuff — it's like a gourmet picnic.

Favorite meal: We go to Star Pizza probably once a week and always get the Starburst pizza on white crust with fresh jalapenos, with garlic cheese bread.

Breakfast/Brunch favorite: I go to the Hot Bagel Shop on Shepherd every week, I get the Everything Bagel with jalapeño and cream cheese — can you tell I like spicy food? For brunch we like El Tiempo. It's all about the Tex-Mex.

Dessert: There's a German chocolate cake dessert at Mark's I like a lot. I just like something small to end a meal on a sweet note, so I like The Chocolate Bar for ice cream or one little chocolate.

Other articles in the Houston Chef's Table series:

Lee Ellis loves Les Givral

Sugar hooker Rebecca Masson can't get enough of Catalan's Cake

Beachy L.J. Wiley digs the special occasion simple flavors at Dos Brisas

David Grossman goes for Vic & Anthony's crab cake, Yelapa late nights & some Bootsie

Jeramie Robison appreciates Kata Robata's sushi, Beaver's bangin' meatloaf & foodie chicks

Tony Mandola finds breakfast magic at Sunrise Taquitos

Philippe Schmit craves a Picnic romance & Stella Sola's French toast

Benjy Levit is torn between Indika's salads and Hank's Ice Cream

Flora & Muse's David Luna likes to hang with his fishing buddy and hit the Blue Nile

Asian Bistro's Gigi Huang seeks out spicy fried chicken at a Dive

Hugo Ortega believes in a Goode tradition

Soma Sushi's Jason Hauck is anti-brunch, pro-Feast

Jenni Tran-Weaver can't get enough hot pot

Bistro Alex's Juan Carlos Gonzalez finds a great $1.50 meal & giant key lime pie

Mockingbird Bistro's John Sheely treasures homemade Mexican & cool Connie's Seafood