The Leader • Saturday, August 15, 2020 • Page 1B
Local spots perfecting cocktails to-go Zarah Parker Managing Editor
Restaurants have made a lot of alterations since COVID-19 changed the experience of dining out. Bars, which are required to be closed by the state of Texas, have also had creative ways to sell drinks. Converting to a to-go model isn’t easy, especially in the realm of alcoholic beverages. For example, mixed drinks have to be sold with the alcohol and mixers packaged separately, meaning the customer does the mixing at home. Seems easy, but mixing at home might not taste the same as when the bartender does it. Many area residents have tried the array of to-go alcoholic beverages available from local restaurants and bars and know which ones have done the best job at adapting. When asked in neighborhood Facebook pages which places they recommend ordering alcohol to-go, many answered Lei Low, 6412 N. Main. The tiki bar has stayed true to its theme while offering to-go drinks. “The Mai Tai kit is delicious and comes with paper umbrellas, mint and tiki-themed stirrers to garnish your drinks,” Oak Forest resident Kala Dunn said. Another Oak Forest resident, Sloane Pardue, said that being able to still get the umbrellas, tiki sticks and mint in Lei Low’s kit was exciting. It helps still give a semblance of the full experience of visiting the bar. “Lei Low has done a fantastic job of packaging their cocktails to-go,” Garden Oaks resident Jeremy Joseph said. “They also did a great job of social distancing in their small space before the order to close bars once again.” Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella Blvd., also has been a favorite for alcohol among residents. “Rainbow lodge did the best job adjusting by offering a wine tasting
REVIEW:
Contributed photos In top photo is Rainbow Lodge’s Martini kit. At bottom is the restaurant’s Old Fashioned kit. Both are available to-go for customers who wish to mix the drinks at home.
to-go,” Melissa Wigren said. “Food and wine with tasting notes—the best.” Christine Kiesewetter also has enjoyed Rainbow Lodge’s wine-tasting kits, as well as its Hibiscus Margarita to-go. Different kits from the lodge include a Martini kit, an Old Fashioned kit, a Manhattan kit, Border Paloma kit and a Mimosa kit. Sarah Godwin was impressed with Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace, 350 W. 19th St. “(Harold’s) did awesome with their mixed drinks,” Godwin said. “They made it fun and easy to mix it at home. Bloody Mary mixer was my favorite with the fresh veggies and everything.” For margaritas to-go, some residents recommended Tony’s Mexican Restaurant, 2222 Ella Blvd.; Tia Maria’s, 4618 Dacoma St.; and Alma Latina, 2203 N. Shepherd Dr. “We love Alma Latina’s blood orange margaritas so it’s wonderful to order several cups, leave in the freezer and drink when we want to,” Ruby Baldwin said. Wynnette Salinas mentioned that indulging on Tia Maria’s 32-ounce Sangria Margarita will make you sleep like a baby. Breweries that have kept residents’ attention include New Magnolia Brewing Co., 1616 Bevis St.; Eureka Heights Brew Co., 941 W. 18th St., and Great Heights Brewing, 938 Wakefield Dr. “Great Heights and Eureka Heights have utilized Instagram to advertise what they’re brewing, which has made it super easy to swing by and pick up what we want,” Lindsay Thomas said. Other places recommended for alcohol to-go are Superica, 1801 N. Shepherd Dr.; Millie’s Kitchen & Cocktails, 3542 Oak Forest Dr.; Alice Blue, 350 W. 19th St.; Spaghetti Western, 1951 W. T.C. Jester Blvd.; Wakefield Crowbar, 954 Wakefield Dr.; Plonk! Beer & Wine Bistro, 1214 W. 43 St.; Cedar Creek Bar & Grill, 1034 W. 20th St.; Johnny’s Gold Brick, 2518 Yale St.; and Eight Row Flint, 1039 Yale St.
Get your dumpling fix at the Haus By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Eating dumplings from Dumpling Haus made me feel like I could eat them every day and wouldn’t complain about it. The Sawyer Yards outpost, which got its start at farmers and artisan markets, is the perfect place not only to get a dumpling fix, but to also introduce people to the dish. My lunch partner, who’d never had dumplings before, loved them as much as I did. The online ordering process was seamless and choosing curbside was just the matter of a click of a button. When I got to the restaurant I called to let them know I was outside and they immediately brought my order out. The order consisted of all three of the types of dumplings the restaurant provides: pork, chicken and vegan, along with a box of chili garlic rice. I snuck in one dumpling, which happened to be the pork variety, while in the car because I was curious to see if I could tell a difference in quality after a car ride home. There
Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured are the pork dumplings from Dumpling Haus, located at 2313 Edwards St.
was no difference. At home, when I tried my second pork dumpling, which was pan-fried and packed full of napa cabbage and shiitake mushrooms, I experienced the same freshness, and even warmth, as the first one. I liked the pork even better dipped in the dumpling sauce, which had chili flakes. The sauce had just a small spicy kick to it that had me reaching for my water more often. But then again, my
taste buds are a little wimpy when it comes to spice. The chicken dumplings included napa cabbage, corn and shiitake mushrooms. I thought the corn would be a little odd in the mix, but I didn’t even notice it. The outside of the dumpling was gummy in the best way and crisp where the frying process browned it. The chicken also tasted great with the sauce. I was most intrigued by the
vegan dumplings, which are green on the exterior and full of different vegetables, woodear mushrooms and vermicelli. Since the inside held more vegetables the dumpling had more crunch to it. I preferred the dumplings with meat. The rice was white with chili and garlic poured in the middle. The chili garlic flavors soaked into the rice and, because I can’t ever get enough garlic, I couldn’t help but enjoy it. At Dumpling Haus, customers can also buy packs of 25 of any of the dumplings to take home and heat later. This is something I might do so I can have a steady supply of dumplings at home. Dumpling Haus Address: 2313 Edwards St. Ste. 180 Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday Pricing: $8 - $12 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: No Health options: Yes Star of the show: Pork dumplings
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City Orchard offers virtual cider tasting By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
City Orchard, 1201 Oliver St., is hosting its first virtual cider tasting. Co-founder Patrick Kwiatkowski is hosting the guided tasting at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. The flight pack includes Cherry Red, Silver Tip, Mrs. Green and Tin Lizard IPA. Flight packs are available for pickup at the cidery’s taproom from noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. To sign up for a spot at the tasting, visit cityorchardhtx.com. Changes to Liberty Kitchen While F.E.E.D. TX Restaurant Group still owns the
Heights location of Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar, 1050 Studewood St., the group has sold the Treehouse in Memorial City and Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette in River Oaks to Culinary Concepts. Liberty Kitchen in the Heights has been closed since March. Before F.E.E.D. reopens the location, it is planning to reimagine the concept. Wine and bread special Postino WineCafe, 642 Yale St., is offering a board of bruschetta and a bottle of wine for $25 every Monday and Tuesday. This special is available all day through online and curbside pickup and begins at 8 p.m. for dine-in.
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Page 2B • Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020 • The Leader
MANNA closes resale shop; food pantry remains open Betsy Denson
Rivera said when the pandemic abates, MANNA will reorganize the board and look for a new executive director. Former executive director Nia Amuzie left the organization in January. He said MANNA will also search for a new resale shop location. “I have loved and frequented MANNA since we moved in to the neighborhood,” Candlelight Estates resident Amy McCormick said. “Knowing that my donations were used
betsy@theleadernews.com
Ministry Assistance of the Near Northwest Alliance (MANNA) board member and former chair Robert Rivera said the nonprofit’s business model, primarily based on volunteers, is the main reason why MANNA decided to permanently close its resale shop at the White Oak Bayou Village Shopping Center. MANNA’s food pantry, located at 5706 W. Little York Rd., remains open. The resale shop opened in June 2019 after the previous location on West 43rd Street was destroyed by an arson in September 2017. “The volunteers who operate the clothing store are (seniors),” Rivera said. “They are vulnerable and high risk for COVID-19. We can’t in good conscience jeopardize the health of our volunteers during this difficult time.” The resale shop has been closed since the city’s shutdown in March. Rivera said that now the situation is the same or worse in Houston. The store’s proceeds helped pay the rent and without that income, MANNA could not afford to keep it open. “It is complicated. We took over the lease from another organization,” Rivera said. “As the pandemic continued, we did not renew the lease. At this point, we have decided not to continue at that location.” Rivera said eventually MANNA will move additional inventory from the store. A sign on the window of the shop from the landlord, Nankani Management LLC, states that the locks at the location have been changed. A “For Lease” sign is up, too.
to help the local community meant a lot to me. I also loved all the volunteers and employees. They were so polite and always willing to have a conversation. I followed them after the fire to their new location
instead of going to another major donation site to donate our things.” Rivera said MANNA exists to serve the community. “We will do everything in our power to do that,” he said.
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Put our 42 years of experience to work for you! Janet & Cecil Schmidt Photo by Betsy Denson MANNA’s resale shop on Antoine Drive has permanently closed. The local nonprofit continues to operate a food pantry.
What is staying open, and getting all MANNA’s available resources, is the food pantry, which opened nearby in January 2019. A secondary location has been added at St. James Lutheran Church, 1602 W. 43rd St., where Rivera is the director of the Family Life Center. “We are continuing to provide service to families in need,” Rivera said. “It was a service that needed to stay open.” While hours fluctuate at the Little York location due to volunteer availability, there are more regular hours at St. James. Rivera said in the last month MANNA has served 1,000 families and given $25,000 in emergency grant assistance. While families used to be able to shop in-store, now the groceries are pre-bagged as a safety precaution. The food pantry is maintained by donations – both
from the public and from MANNA’s member churches – as well as MANNA reserve funds and support from the United Way of Greater Houston. “The community would be most welcome to assist us as we meet the emergency needs of families, including food and cash for rental and utility assistance,” Rivera said.
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The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020 • Page 3B
Follow these dos and don’ts at dog parks Dear Tabby, We adopted a dog recently and would like to start taking him to the dog park in the evenings when it gets a little cooler. We’ve never been to a dog park and are unsure of the rules. Can you help? Mindful of our manners in the Heights Dear Mindful, Did you know there are more than 30 dog parks in the Greater Houston area? That means there’s plenty of space to get out and let your dog enjoy some leash-free scampering. Before you head out, though, let’s talk a little about dog park etiquette. Here’s a list of ground rules (some are written rules and some are merely implied) for visiting the dog park with your pet: - No young puppies. Unless the dog park is empty, it might be too overwhelming for a small puppy. Experts advise that until your puppy is 4 months old or so, keep him at home. - Make sure your dog is upto-date on all shots. It’s terrible manners to spread disease to other dogs and you don’t want to bring home a nasty illness
either. - Clean up! This is the big Kahuna of bad manners at a dog park. It might seem like a no-brainer, but just because the park is “leash-free” doesn’t mean that it’s “scoop-free.” Bring your poop bags and pick it up, people. - Know your dog. Not all dogs love dog parks. Many dogs experience stress in a dog-park environment. Be cautious and read your dog’s body language the whole time. If he’s not digging it, then leave. - Don’t be distracted. Get off your phone and supervise your dog. - Don’t bring intact dogs to
the park. That’s just a recipe for disaster--and a recipe for dog park puppies. - Burn off some steam before heading to the park. It seems counter intuitive, but many trainers suggest exercising your dog BEFORE heading to the dog park. Why, you ask? Because dogs with tons of pent-up energy to expend might wreak havoc at the dog park. Yes, dog parks are a great place to let a dog expend some energy, but it shouldn’t be his only place to stretch his legs. A good solution is to walk to and from the dog park from your home. - Remove all harnesses and “choke” collar-type of collars
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from your dog at the dog park. These can become tangled up with other dogs and pose a serious health risk. - Cautiously bring your kids. If you chose to bring your children along with you to the park, watch them closely and make sure that they know the rules about approaching strange dogs. Your children might be dog-friendly, but not all dogs are kid-friendly. - Come! Make sure your dog knows the “come” command (or something similar) before taking him to the dog park. It’s important that your dog respond to this command so that you can take control if needed--especially in a leashfree dog park. Now go forth and frolic! Dog parks are great places to make friends and enjoy our fair city.
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Page 4B • Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020 • The Leader
Let us know your favorites Fill out the form below indicating your favorite businesses per category. Mail or drop them off at 2020 North Loop West, Suite 220, Houston Texas 77018 or use our online form found at www.theleadernews.com. But don’t delay, votes must be received by Monday, August 31st by 5pm. All Winners will be announced in our October 3rd edition. If more than one location include street of the business.
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