BCK KITCHEN & COCKTAIL ADVENTURES
CUISINE: NOSTALGIC AMERICAN
933 Studewood St., Houston, TX 77008
832.831.7155 | www.eatatbck.com
In the restaurant business, original concepts are needles in a haystack. More often than not, new openings fall into one of two categories, the latest food trend or a new twist on the classics. At BCK Kitchen & Cocktail Adventures, the latest concept from the team behind Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, Head Chef Jeff Fernandez and Executive Chef Peter Petro want diners to relive their childhood with a nostalgic culinary experience like no other.
Every item on the BCK menu is a modern, refined rendition of something you probably enjoyed in your childhood. Certain items marked with a star represent a childhood memory specifically chosen by one of the owners or managers. Take, for example, the Mac-n-Cheez-it, a bowl of baked mac-n-cheese topped with a crust of crumbled Cheez-It crackers, a personal favorite of Chef Peter. Even more delightful, the Pasghettios, real-life adult Spaghettios made with anneletti pasta and 44 Farms hot dogs. It doesn’t stop here. The BCK burger is a double patty cheeseburger on a sesame seed bun that is eerily reminiscent of a very famous American burger weighing in at a quarter of a pound… if that certain famous burger got a makeover from a world-class chef.
Desserts and cocktails keep the party going strong. The Dr. Feelgood is a Dr. Pepper and rye whiskey cocktail served in an actual Dr. Pepper can. Desserts at BCK are meant to be shared, so take a couple of extra friends with you and order both the Swiss Roll and the Strawberry Shortcake. Yes, these are chef renditions of the Hostess classic, Swiss Rolls and America’s favorite pink popsicle, the Strawberry Shortcake.
It may seem ironic that Houston’s most original new restaurant concept is really just recreating all your favorite childhood junk food, but the quality and creativity of BCK cannot be overstated. On the wall next to the kitchen is a Local Favorites board where diners are encouraged to write down recipes and dishes from their childhood, which Chef Peter has promised to selectively recreate and serve from time to time. BCK is a true kitchen adventure that is sure to make a lasting mark on the Houston restaurant scene.
KING’S BIERHAUS
CUISINE: GERMAN/AMERICAN
2044 East TC Jester Blvd,, Houston, TX 77008 | 281.990.3042 | www.kingsbierhaus.com
The Heights’ favorite place to grab a brat and a brew recently introduced a Sunday brunch menu that is every bit as Bavarian as its impressive list of German beers. The BierHaus is primarily a patio bar in the spirit of Houston’s other popular beer gardens, but with a charming German twist. Inside, waitresses in dirndls (think traditional Oktoberfest costumes) carry large steins of Stiegl and Spaten across a dining room that is part Beowolf’s mess hall, part hipster hangout.
Open for about a year now, King’s has become one of the Heights’ most popular daytime watering holes, making the addition of Sunday brunch a natural choice. The heavily German-inspired menu includes many traditional sharing plates, among them the nine-item Schmatz Sampler with cranberry brie and beerwurst salami. Or try a golden brown and salted beer pretzel dipped in a house specialty: bacon- bier-cheddar dipping sauce. The cheddar sauce is a standout, part Tex-Mex queso, part bacony goodness, it goes with a warm pretzel like, well… warm pretzels and beer.
The brunch entrées range from the traditional eggs benedict to unique house specialties, many of which feature schnitzel in a variety of forms. My choice was the hangover sandwich. Clear in its objective, this wiener schnitzel sandwich features bacon, Swiss cheese, mayo and a slightly runny fried egg; guaranteed to cure what ails you. Or keep the party going with a brunch cocktail like the Manmosa, a half liter of hefeweizen, bubbly, and OJ. My wife went gaga over the Nutella iced coffee served cowboy style with a splash of whiskey. The Sunday drinks menu is a refreshing option for those who want to avoid a heavy pint early in the morning, but still like a boozy brunch from time to time. Whatever you end up choosing, head out to King’s BierHaus this weekend to get your Sunday Funday on the German way.
VICTOR
CUISINE: FRENCH COCKTAIL LOUNGE
4321 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006
713.521.2002 | www.barvictor.com
Houston has no shortage of bars, that is certainly a fact. But what the city, and frankly, what the states could use more of, are proper cocktail lounges that merge nightlife with fine dining. The streets of Paris and Rome are lined with quaint little lounges that serve light bites and cocktails late into the night to the sound of live music and raucous conversation. Victor, a new French lounge concept on Montrose, aims to bring the same night owl culture of Europe to the streets of Houston with a music lounge and cocktail bar that impresses on first sight.
Victor specializes in pre-dinner cocktails and after hours nightcaps with small bites and live music. Named after the famed writer-poet Victor Hugo, the ambiance and decor are undeniably high-end French chic. Co-owners Vincent Sinard and Jean-Pierre Glieze bring their love of French cocktails and culture to the Lone Star State, while not forgetting to tip their proverbial cowboy hats to the local culture. The Epicee is a classic Grey Goose and St. Germain cocktail with lime juice and ginger beer, only with an added kick of jalapeno ginger paste that adds more than a little spice to this wonderfully curious potion. Worth mentioning as well is the Tequila Soleil, which I would say falls somewhere on the scale between a tequila sunrise and a shaken margarita, with definite French infusions. Don Julio Blanco, lime juice, grapefruit, congac, dry curacao, agave nectar and fleur de sel make a tart and refreshing tall drink that stands apart from the classic straightlaced cocktails one might expect in a smokey, dimly lit lounge.
Victor proves that the diversity of Houston’s gastronomic culture knows no bounds. From pho shops and taco trucks to the very best in chic French Riviera nightlife, a trip around the world takes only a day in this town.
