Foodie News
Houston Chef's Table: Ristorante Cavour's Renato De Pirro finds hidden food gems
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.
Hotel Granduca's Ristorante Cavour is a Houston hidden gem we almost hate to spill the beans on — with a tiny but decadent dining room and Italian food so delicious and authentic from executive chef Renato De Pirro you'll feel like you're in Firenze. De Pirro tells CultureMap his own off-the-beaten-path, go-to spots and reveals why he doesn't believe in brunch.
Restaurant to take out-of-towners to: Definitely barbecue first. I like Luling City Market on Richmond at 610. It's good, I get the brisket and sausage or brisket sandwich. They don't do pulled pork, which is a shame.
Plus it's next door to Bayou City, which has Cajun food, classic crawfish and stuff like that, and it's great too. Always packed.
Restaurant for a special occasion: I'd probably go to Brennan's — I'm familiar with the family from their restaurant in Las Vegas.
Breakfast/Brunch favorite: I don't do brunch because, as an Italian, I just have a croissant and a cappuccino in the morning. La Madeleine is my spot for breakfast.
Dessert: One of my favorites is gelato, so I like to get a cup at Nundini. My favorite is nocciola — hazelnut.
Other articles in the Houston Chef's Table series:
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
Elizabeth Abraham dishes on her secret Royal Restaurant
Fleming's Jason Cole finds Texas' best barbecue, surf secrets
Kraftsmen Cafe's Scott Tycer hungers for the Taco Nazi's tortillas
Robert Del Grande reveals his IHOP regular past & his Baskin beginning
