Belly of the Beast chef Thomas Bille has been cooking for two decades. Opened his first restaurant 5 weeks before the pandemic and closed in July 2021. No PR. His wife quit her job to help him reopen in a strip mall. Now he's a Beard Awards winner. 🧵

The berlinesa, carrot taco and cafe de olla alone make Casaema one of my favorite restaurants in Houston right now. But there's so much more to love about this special spot. Here's my review: www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

Lots of us in food media are told to "just stick to food." It's rarely so simple, though. Here's my take on Trump Burger in Houston for this week's restaurant review: www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

7 Houston-area spots land on Texas Monthly’s prestigious Top 50 barbecue list, via @baohaus1.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

One of my goals before taking on the @houstonchronicle.com critic job was to expand the types of restaurants we review: the types of cuisines, price points, geography and the people cooking the food. Granny Dee's Kitchen was all that: www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

Next best thing to actually buying Le Beurre Bordier in France is that a shop in Houston is now selling it. C'est super! www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

On the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, I wrote an essay in the @houstonchronicle.com about how the city's Vietnamese restaurants have helped me connect with my heritage. Thank you to all the restaurant staffers for sharing their stories. www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

Lots going on with seed oils and restaurants. Chefs weigh in. RFK Jr. has thoughts about it. Talked to dietitians, too. Here's my report: www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

About a month into the new job, here are my 10 best dishes in March: www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

Come work with me at the @houstonchronicle.com to cover the best food city in the U.S. Apply here: eevd.fa.us6.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Order the "big plate chicken." Dumplings. Goshnaan. I wanted to review Turan Uyghur Kitchen the moment it opened last fall. Here it is: www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

I love all noodle soups, but some are definitely better than others. A review of three new-ish ramen restaurants in Houston: Afuri, Kazzan and Mensho. www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

My first @houstonchronicle.com restaurant review is live. Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen got my attention with a mint lemonade (it looks like a green juice meets shave ice dessert) and won me over with its seafood dishes. The full review: www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture...

It's my first day as the @houstonchronicle.com's new restaurant critic. There's a lot of ground to cover in the country's fourth largest city. As always, appreciative of any and all restaurant tips! TIA!