LOCAL Houston | The City Guide APRIL 2016 | Page 22

OPEN
By Jodie Eisenhardt | @foodiehouston

Wood-Grilled Oysters

BRENNAN’S OF HOUSTON | new menu
CUISINE: Creole Texas-Style
EXECUTIVE CHEF: Danny Trace
3300 Smith Street | 713.522.9711 | www.BrennansHouston.com
Lunch: Mon–Fri, 11am–2pm; Dinner: Mon–Sun, 5:45–10pm; Brunch: Sat,
11am–2pm, and Sun, 10am–2pm

Known for his background in Creole cuisine, Trace is also known for his
seasonal, farm-to-table philosophy. A great example is the Ponchatoula
Strawberry Salad with Louisiana berries, spiced pecans, baby spinach,
red onions, local Chevre and Steen’s Sugarcane vinegar. A recent renovation to add a wood-burning grill, utilizing pecan and oak, has had a
significant impact on the menu, along with a “cold bar” station, now providing a number of iced and raw seafood offerings including stunning and delicious seafood towers.
Stand-outs from the new grill include the Southern-Grilled Redfish over woodfired vegetables and Jimmy’s Grilled Oysters served with seaweed flakes, garlic butter and cornbread crumbs. A Harris Ranch filet and a Niman Ranch

Photography courtesy of Brennan's

Since opening in 1967, the legendary Brennan’s has launched the career
of numerous beloved Houston chefs, including Mark Holley, Chris
Shepherd and Randy Evans. Numerous employees have worked there for
decades. Fortunately, the iconic building came back to life after a destructive fire in 2008 when they re-opened with Executive Chef Danny Trace.

Tomahawk Pork Chop are both treated beautifully on the wood grill,
served with beautiful market vegetables and luscious sauces.
Not to worry, all of the old favorites remain like Gulf Fish
Pontchartrain, Turtle Soup and Bananas Foster but when you think of
Brennan’s, it’s time to think fresh, seasonal and sensational new flavors
thanks to the new grill and cold/raw offerings. It’s not just a place for
special occasion meals; it should be in your rotation.

LEE’S FRIED CHICKEN & DONUTS
CUISINE: Dixie-fried chicken
601 Heights Blvd. | 713.880.3550 | www.LeesFriedChickenDonuts.com
7am–9pm daily (fried chicken from 11am)

Photography courtesy of Lee's

Restaurateur Lee Ellis set out to create the fried chicken of his
dreams, to the benefit of the rest of us. The recipe has been
tweaked since opening, along with equipment modifications to
ensure everything from proper flavor to crust adhesion, in what
can certainly be touted as some of Houston’s very best fried
chicken.
It begins with humane-certified Springer Mountain Farms
Chicken, appreciated by many of us who care about how our
food is sourced. Beyond pieces, there are tenders and there are
Double Donut Fried Chicken Sandwich
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L O C A L

| april 16