Phoenicia Specialty Foods →

12141 Westheimer Houston 77077 281.558.8225 phoeniciafoods.com

What began over 30 years ago as a Mediterranean restaurant grew into a 55,000 SF supermarket, located outside the Beltway on Westheimer. A smaller version exists on Discovery Green downtown. But the original Westheimer location features a separate supermarket with dining options and the original restaurant next door. The casual restaurant serves everything that is available in the large supermarket, but for me the market is the fun place to go. Featuring not just Mediterranean foods but specialty items from all over the world, the Phoenicia market offers sit-down dining surrounded by long coolers of some of the most delicious food imaginable. Eat it there, and if you are lucky the pita conveyor belt is humming, slanting down from the second floor, delivering hot Middle Eastern bread to the workers next to you who are bagging it in large volumes. On one side is the bakery counter; past that, the butcher & seafood shop; near that is a seemingly endless array of pre-packaged foods which can be taken home or…eaten on the spot. Phoenicia, unlike any other market we are familiar with, has a wholesale counter right by the checkout cashiers, and restaurant owners can be seen with huge carts overflowing with bulk items on the way back to their own kitchens. To stroll the wine department here, for example, is a trip to countries which you did not even know grew wines…and prices are reasonable, inspiring the curious shopper to buy and try. After lunch, you can stock up on bulk olive oil and other staples at bargain prices. * What follows is only a partial list of items for sale for on-premise meals or take-home: Babaganoush * Chicken & nut couscous * Cucumber salad * Eggplant Ikra * Hummus * Olive tapenade * Slow-roasted lamb shank * Skewers * Rotisserie chicken * Herb-crusted salmon * Seafood saute * Meat & vegetarian grape leaves * Boxed lunches * Feta pesto salad * Green cabbage salad * Lentil salad * Pomegranate tabouleh * Red beet salad * Seafood salad * Tuna salad * California artichoke salad * Armenian beef dolmas * Chicken salad * Curried chicken salad * Chicken liver pate * Sausages & salamis * Walnut or pistachio baklava * Anise and sesame cookies * Date rolls

Ostia →

2050 Dunlavy St, Houston, TX 77006 (713) 324-9288 ostiahou.com

Located in a brand new contemporary “shed” type building with an indoor-outdoor feel, ample patio, and exhibition cooking, Ostia has come onto Houston’s culinary scene and has created lots of buzz…and rightly so. Sporting a full bar and a nice wine selection, Ostia prepares Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, with homemade pasta, olive oil, fresh vegetables, cheeses, fruits, cheeses, and lemon juice among some of the predominant flavors. From the craft cocktails coming from the bartenders to the studied refinement in each dish, Ostia ranks among Houston’s top handful of truly serious chef-directed restaurants. Starters * Cheese platter, focaccia * Prosciutto San Daniele, Coppa, cacciatorini * Mussels escabeche, shallot, Calabrian chili, celery * Brussels sprouts, currants, almond, Manchego * Endive, lardon, parsley, spiced walnut, orange zest * Pizza * Pesto-apples, walnut, pecorino, frisee, taleggio * Rosso-pepperoni, pepperoncino, mozzarella * Main * Mezzi rigatoni, wild boar Bolognese, parmigiano * Gnocchi, lamb shoulder, parsley, garroxta * Bucatini, guanciale, pepper, farmhouse egg, parmigiano * Hanger steak, romesco, chicory * Red snapper, bok choy, soppressata, beurre blanc * Whole shrimp, harissa, potato, olive oil * Frittata, kale, onion, potato, goat cheese * Sides * Greens, garlic, chili, colatura * Crispy potato, fried herbs, aioli * Cauliflower, golden raisin, Calabrian chili

Fadi's Mediterranean Grill →

12360 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077 (281) 556-8390 fadiscuisine.com

Fadi’s is a large open restaurant with a long and deliciously enticing buffet line.  A server positions herself opposite you and you begin and stacks your personal oversize plate with the items you designate, and you pay at the end of the line.  Trust me, your eyes will be larger than your stomach at Fadi’s, and luckily to-go containers are readily and cheerfully available.  Appetizers * Grape leaves  * French fries  * Falafel  * Kibbie  * Sambusa  *  Spinach pie  Dips  * Jalapeno hummus  * Yogurt w cucumber  * Kishkeh-Labneh  * Avocado hummus  * Hummus  * Spicy hummus  * Baba ghanouj (eggplant hummus)  8 Salads  * Pesto pasta  * Beetro* Greek  * Lebanese  * Tabbouleh  * Kale  * Cabbage  * Muhammara (red pepper dip) Kabobs plates (served with 3 skewers of kabobs, rice, garlic sauce, tahini sauce, & grilled vegetables: Shrimp, Beef filet, Chicken, Beef kafta, Lamb, Chicken adana, Lamb kafta, Iskander * Wraps  * Shawarma Arabia  * Chicken Shawarma  *Gyro  * Falaafel  * Chicken kabob  * Beef Kafta  * Hot vegetables  * Green beans  * Pomegranate eggplant  * Fried cauliflower  * Coriander potatoes  * Mashed potato ball  * Mozzarella spinach  * Deluxe entrees  * Chicken curry  * Baked salmon  * Lamb shank w vegetables  *  Fish filet w green curry  * Family meals and trays  * Ouzi rice w shredded lamb  * Gyro  * Shawarma Arabian tray  * Baked chicken  * Cabbage rolls  * Vegetarian ultimate sampler  * Falafel plate  * Soups & bakery items and kids meals available   Note: One advantage of buffet service is that you get to see first before ordering the various dishes- which often have unfamiliar names.

***MEDITERRANEAN FOODS / MEDITERRANEAN DIET:  The numbers prove up the fact that those who follow Mediterranean dining guidelines live longer.  Don’t forget that not only Spain, France, Italy, the Adriatic countries, and Greece enjoy this healthy and tasty diet, but also the eastern end of the Sea-Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel-but also all the north African countries: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.  Starting at the narrow top of the ‘food pyramid’ is very little red meat, i.e. consume only a few times per month. Then come dairy products like cheese and yogurt and eggs, followed by poultry and seafood (consume more of these).  Vegetables and nuts, fresh & dried fruits, grains and breads (like pasta and pita bread) are all at the base of the pyramid, and should provide the lion’s share of your diet. Two glasses of wine a day are recommended, and of course ample olive oil, not fat from meat or dairy, should be used for cooking and the base for salad dressings.  Lemon juice is liberally used to brighten up many dishes, along w vinegar.  As you are beginning to notice, the three restaurants reviewed today serve sterling examples of this diet.  After a large meal, you will come away pleased but without that almost uncomfortable over-stuffed feeling one may have after, say, a large Mexican meal.