proceed cautiously

Running list of Houston restaurants open during the winter snowstorm

Both locations of the Bagel Shop Bakery are open.

Courtesy of The Bagel Shop Bakery

The vast majority of Houston restaurants are closed on Tuesday, January 21 due to the winter storm. That makes sense since travel across area roadways is difficult at best and authorities are strongly encouraging Houstonians to stay home.

Still, a select group of restaurants are open. Although they’re likely short handed, they’re doing what they can to serve customers. After all, some people have to be out, and they might appreciate a hot meal.

“Just had a group of officers in,” Bagel Shop Bakery co-owner Michael Saghian tells CultureMap. “That’s exactly why we open when no one else will brave the conditions. We always try to do our best.”

While staying home is certainly the safest choice, potential diners are advised to proceed cautiously if they venture out. Don’t forget to tip generously.

CultureMap will update this list throughout the day.

Annabelle Brasserie: Berg Hospitality’s French restaurant in Autry Park will be open from 3-7 pm.

The Annie Café & Bar: The Houston classic will be open from 3-7 pm.

Bagel Shop Bakery: Both the Meyerland and Bellaire locations are open until 2 pm today. They will be open 8 am - 2 pm on Wednesday, January 22.

Balboa Surf Club: The Galleria-area seafood restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

Brass Tacks: The coffee shop and cafe in EaDo is staying home throughout the day. Check its social media page for updates.

Chow Wok: The American-style Chinese restaurant in West Houston is open for dinner beginning at 4 pm.

Common Bond: The Montrose, Heights, and Tanglewood locations are open with coffee and pastries only while supplies last.

Cucharita: The Montrose breakfast favorite will be open all day, owner Ana Beaven tells CultureMap.

Della Coffee: The Montrose coffee shop and cafe is open for business.

Dish Society: All four locations of the comfort food restaurant will be open 2-8 pm.

El Bolillo Bakery: The Misson Bend and Pasadena locations are open until 8 pm, weather permitting.

El Patio: The Tex-Mex staple will be slinging enchiadas and blue margaritas beginning at 3 pm.

Fat Cat Creamery: The ice cream shop in Garden Oaks is open from 11 am - 5 pm with ice cream and hot chocolate.

The Flying Saucer: Houston's best craft beer bar is open beginning at 1 pm.

Gold Tooth Tony's: The Detroit-style pizzeria is serving dinner at both locations.

Holler Brewing: The Sawyer Yards favorite will be open from 12-7 pm with tacos beginning at 1 pm until sold out.

il Bracco: Balboa’s sister Italian restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner.

Jenni’s Noodle House: Owners Jenni and Scott Tranweaver will open the restaurant’s Shepherd location beginning at 4 pm.

Rudyard's: The Montrose institution is open for dinner.

Smokin’ Z’s BBQ: The Galveston barbecue restaurant is serving brisket chili from 11 am until sold out.

Tacos Tierra Caliente: The beloved Montrose taco truck is open for business.

Waffle House: All Houston-area locations appear to be open. Check the restaurant’s website for the latest updates.

news-you-can-eat weather winter storm enzo

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.