Great Eats in Houstonia

{ July 7, 2008 @ 4:19 am } · { Discover Houstonia }
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One of the first things I did after moving to the new house in Pearland was look for local spots to eat.  I surfed through b4-u-can-eat.com and wasn’t very impressed by many reviews.

Based on my experience and also inspired and in response to Sheena’s list…Here are my fav spots, minus the great spots Sheena listed.

Greenway Plaza:

Thai Cottage: Pick how spicy you like it on a scale of 1-4.  This quaint spot features great appetizers such as Spicy Wings of Paradise and some killer Beef Sa-Te.  Their budget friendly menu includes an excellent yellow curry and the thai staple Pad Thai.

Prince’s:  This throwback restaurant has the best burgers ever.  Ever!  I recommend the Lone Star.  Wash it down with some Cherry Limeade.

Midtown:

The Breakfast Klub:  The best breakfast spot in the city.  The wings and waffles are their signature dish.  The owners of this great diner also own the Reggae Hut.  Check out the great mural of Barack Obama before you make your way inside the restaurant.

Les Givral’s Kahve:  A great Vietnamese sandwich spot.  Quick and super cheap.  Although I’m not a fan, my friends love their Pho.

Downtown:

Joe’s Deli:  1418 Preston….Walking distance from Minute Maid, stop by this tiny sub joint before a ball game for a po-boy, drink and chips for 4 bucks.

Bibas:  Where else can you get your grub on at 2am?…well besides IHOP…I choose bibas…They have a nice outdoor patio.

Westheimer:

Ra:  Awesome sushi with a sleek and trendy vibe.  Get the vegas roll…it’ll melt in your mouth.

Crescent City Beignets:  The best beignets outside of New Orleans.  Pair the sugary pastry with Cafe Au Lait.

Richmond:

Mary’z:  This lebanese restaurant has great outdoor seating and some great hummus.  Get the beef or chicken shwarma…it’ll fill you up and only set you back 5 bucks.

Rice Village:

Kubos: Super Kubo Roll…a must have experience for sushi lovers.

Hungry’s:  Healthy and simple…Hungry’s has a huge menu of affordably priced meals.  The Hungry’s sampler is a great mix of the bistro’s staple appetizers of hummus, couscous, and eggplant dip.

Medical Center:

Sushi Rock:  This place is rarely busy and has some a solid offerings of sushi and thai.  I like their Houston Roll and Mammosum Curry.

Au Bon Pain:  For you folks that work in the medical center…Au Bon Pain is located on the 2nd floor of the Hermann Plaza Building.  The majority of their menu is super pricey…but their soups are reasonable priced and are the best!  I am a big fan of the Baked Potato soup.  If you want to kick up a notch and are not worried about the carbs, get your soup in a bread bowl.

Shepard:

Freebirds:  Best burritos in town.

 

I haven’t seen much in Pearland outside of chain spots…I hope to find at least one unique spot.

Silence is Golden? cont….

{ July 1, 2008 @ 7:17 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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“There is a beauty in silence. For example, you know you have a really good friend when there is complete silence yet there is no sense of awkwardness or pressure to continue conversation.”

Josh brings up a very valid point.  But, how is silence golden in times where you are alone?  Left to your own thoughts and wanderings of the mind?

I wrote the last point very late in the evening and really didn’t get to the point.  There is a point where silence becomes too much.

God created His creation to be responsive and communal.  He wants us to interact with each other.  Share moments and fellowship with one another.  But, at the same time He calls us to moments of stillness and the void…”Be still and know that I am God.”  I’m very aware of that dynamic.  Yet, is there a moment when enough is enough.

I am more than thankful for where I’m at now.  Though I often complain about the silence…Its not at all as depressing as I make it sound.  But, imagine those that do not have a loved one…who live their whole lives with lil to no true meaningful sense of community.  Is silence golden to them?

Maybe I’m looking into this saying too much.  Well, I know I am.  But, the thought just echoed in my head late into the night.  While its good to get away from the noise of life from time to time, fellowship is what is truly golden.  And whether words be spoken and loud…or be quiet and unsaid like Josh mentioned in his comment…I think the wealth of life…the gold…is in the love we share with our loved ones.

I didn’t think this would be so thought provoking….but i’m curious…is Silence really that valued of a commidity for you?  Is it golden?

Silence is golden?

{ July 1, 2008 @ 4:23 am } · { Mumbo Jumbo, feelings shmeelings, solo living }
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After a weekend filled with the sweat and hard days labor of moving furniture, a house warming filled with laughs, screaming, and good times….I’m here now, back to the reality of my new home.

Its way too quiet.  I find myself walking aimlessly through the hallways of this three bedroom abode as if it was some kind of exhibit.

The silence is deafening.  I’ll turn on the TV, blare away my iTunes playlist, even step outside to hear the pulse of the neighborhood.  Anything to quell the silence.  This is a battle I fully expected to get into.  I knew I had to keep myself busy.

This house is alot for me and its time to adjust a bit.  Time to get back into that book I’ve been meaning to finish…time to give some guitar some much needed attention…improve my cooking skills….I’ll take the company when I can get it. But, the reality is that I’m here by myself and I got to find a way to keep the squeaks and creeks of the gerbil wheel in my brain going…

Is Silence golden?  If the answer is yes, I’m terribly wealthy…I must ask…how much does noise go for?

Customer Dis-Service Part 3

{ June 27, 2008 @ 3:19 am } · { Venting }
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This latest pill of poor service was hard to swallow.  I am a big fan of this retail giant.  Its the Walmart of sophisticated simpletons…Target.

While shopping online for simple furniture for the new house, I stubbled upon an online sale of Rock Band 2.  Rock Band 2  is a game that allows you to play in a virtual band…complete with a microphone, guitars, and drums.  Its the perfect party toy and I thought it’d be a cool way to entertain guests…especially at my new casa celebration.  The sales price was for $80 off.  To ensure that I would get the game by party time and to avoid paying shipping I headed to target after work to pick up the game and some other items for the new casa.  I went to the games section and found the game…looked it over and was ready to purchase.  One problem…the sales price was tagged at $80 more than the online price.  They must have had it tagged wrong.  I went to the Sales guy in the games area…

“Hey you guys have this online on your site for $80 off.  Can you honor that price?”  

The sales guy responded, “Sir, we don’t honor online prices.  The prices online are different than our store prices.”

“Um…You guys are all Target right?  I mean I can jump on the internet and buy from your store online.  I can probably buy this very box online in about half an hour.”

The sales guy seemed confused…”Yeah…well the price tagged is our price. Online you gotta pay shipping and there are other costs”…Reluctantly he said, “Let me talk to my manager.”

“Well, while you’re talking to him..I’m gonna run over to Best Buy and buy this from them.”

At Best Buy the same problem occured. The tagged price did not match the online price.  However, when I approached customer service…they actually looked online and found the cheaper price at bestbuy.com and sold it to me for that price.  How Amazing!…a store that has the same price online as they do in the store!

Am I being unrealistic here?  Am I being overly mean to a high school kid who is just making a few bucks over the summer to buy those crap rims for his ‘92 civic?…Okay maybe that was a bit mean….OR is it that we have become so accustomed to poor service?…to people that don’t care about going that one extra step…that we’ve let business take much more than $80 from us…they’ve taken our satisfaction.

See that’s the thing with good service.  At its it best strong service makes you feel satisfied for giving up your hard earned dollar.  I’l explain this further in a future blog.  But why is it that Apple users who spend hundreds of dollars more than comparative windows computers rarely complain about spending so much?  They are excited to visit their local Apple Store…excited to spend money…and they shell out big bucks with a smile on their face. There is an expectation of satisfaction that is almost always meet.

 

2:43am

{ June 23, 2008 @ 8:21 am } · { Mumbo Jumbo, feelings shmeelings, solo living }
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Its 2:43am and I’m still awake.  I can’t sleep.  My neck is kinda sore and my mind is heavy with thought.  Its too quiet so I turned on my TV and now I figured writing what’s on my mind may help tonight’s insomnia.

Living for a year on my own has had a few moments like tonight.  I feel the need to kinda decompress.  Much has happened in the last couple weeks and the quiet way each night ends doesn’t seem an adequate fit to me.  Its almost selfish to keep all this to myself isn’t it?  I’m always looking to share my story, my anxieties, my plans. I’m eager to share this experience with someone.  With THE one.  I can’t help but feel alone on nights like these. Its not something a roomate, a friend, or family will solve…And lately, I haven’t even looked to solve it.  I’m so focused on everything else, that looking for someone isn’t even on my radar.  I am more than thankful for my current disposition.  I’m not blind to the flexibility and freedoms of being single.  I’m thankful.  Even more so with the smooth way things have unfolded as of late.  However, the fact remains…Its 3:13am now and I’m awake.  And I know why…

My mind is pondering the future.  The word “when” keeps popping up. Its different this time.  I don’t feel anxiety or frustration…a bit of impatience maybe.  Its never a question of how, but when…Is that okay?…One thing is for sure, I shouldn’t be awake at this hour.

There is nothing on TV right now.  The strategy of having TV bore me to sleep isn’t working.

I”m dream-walking and wishing I was just dreaming.

Customer Dis-Service

{ June 16, 2008 @ 6:11 pm } · { Venting }
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Why is it so hard to find solid customer service?

My personal feeling is that if you provide a customer with a solution that truly fits their needs that they will come back to you.  However, my personal experience has not been this pleasant.  Everyone is out to empty my pocket books. Why is this so hard?  It is a simple process.  I will tell you want my needs and wants are and you tell me what products and service that you offer that match those needs.   Simple.

My latest experience with idiotic customer service is with U-Haul Truck Rental.  I am planning on moving from my one bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom house.  I contacted a few moving companies and found them to be way too pricey.  I saw an advertisement offering a 10’ truck for the very affordable price of $19.95 plus the cost of mileage.   I called a U-Haul location by my house and asked to reserve a truck.   I knew exactly what I wanted, but was interested in hearing what other services/options they could provide me with.   I told the customer service agent that I was moving to Pearland.  He did not ask for an address or mileage estimation.  I told him I had one room of furniture and should be able to complete the move and return the vehicle back to the rental location in about 5 hours.  Then the greediness and stupidity of the agent ensued.  He told me he could rent me a 14’ truck for $95 for the day and that I could drop it off at the Pearland location.   He said I would save mileage because I would be driving the truck more than 30 miles.  HUH?  “Um…how did you get to $95 bucks?  Your ad says $19.95 plus mileage.  I’m moving to a location that is about 15 miles from your location.  So let us assume that is 30 miles right there.  30 miles at .99 per mile is $30.   Add that on to the 19.95 and you get $50.  What is the additional $45 getting me?”   The agent then promptly reserved me a 14’ truck with the .99 per mileage charge.

Will I use U-Haul again?  Probably…they are the cheapest alternative I know to professional movers.  However, being the lowest price in town is no excuse for below par service. 

Unfortunately for me this has been an all too disturbing trend with several businesses and not a onetime incident.  For now my remedy is sharing my story…good or bad of products and services that meet, exceed, or in this case disappoint my expectations.

Dinner For One.

{ June 10, 2008 @ 5:41 am } · { solo living }
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I’ve been living the single bachelor life for a lil over a year.  Its taken that long to overcome my fear of going to the grocer.  I still have issues on buying proper quantities and I get strangely annoyed in the inefficiencies of product placement at the locale supermarkets.  Nevertheless, I’ve taken on the challenge of learning to cook.  While I wouldn’t consider myself decent by the smallest of standards…I have made some discoveries that can help the novice chef.  So without further adeiu

Chef Jimmy’s Guide to Cooking:  Dinner For One.

K.I.S.S: Keep it simple stupid.  Its my motto in the kitchen.  I rarely stray from my standard approach.  Chicken or Beef and a sauce to marinate.  I never bake.

SAUCES ARE YOUR FRIEND:  Sauces do the work for you.  Simply marinate in your choice of soy sauce, indian powders mixed with water.  The more water you add the more your dish turns into a stew or curry.  The longer you keep it in the fridge before you cook, the softer and more flavorful your dish will become.  I can imagine you veteran chefs out there saying “duh!”

You’re on the clock:  Try to get the meal ready to eat in 30 minutes or less.  I think you got to build up stamina and knowledge to cook longer than that.

Today I cooked a beef poblano dish using a poblano pepper sauce and added a few jalapenos for extra spice.  I cut the beef into small flanks and then marinated it in the sauce and then added the jalapenos.  I left the marinated beef in the fridge for a lil over an hour.  I then put some olive oil in my wok and cooked the marinated meet along with some additonal sauce for about 15 minutes. Done Deal.  Made some rice and sauteed some veggies and my meal was good to go.  With sauce as my friend, I KISSed that meal good bye in less than 30 minutes prep time. :)

While I’m still not convinced that I’m saving money cooking at home…there is definitely something cathartic in cooking and eating my own creation.  Today its dinner for one, tomorrow its dinner for One Hundred!  I kiiid…I’ll aim for 10.

What’s your speciality dish?  What cooking tips can you offer Chef Jimmy?

 

Leaving the 319…

{ June 2, 2008 @ 6:29 pm } · { feelings shmeelings }
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In a few weeks I’ll be moving to a house in Pearland.  Its a sweet 3 bedroom 1 story house with a really peaceful backyard.  I’m looking forward to having more space to accomdate family and friends.  The backyard is so serene I can imagine chillaxin there for hours.

Its bittersweet leaving my apartment in the Med Center.  319 was my first home away from home and I’ll never forget it.  It was small, private, and comfy.  Its locale to city hotspots is what sold me…and all the friends that would stop by after work or on their way to a coffee shop is what made it chill.  There is not A moment that stands out.  Just a comfy couch, a leather chair, a 32″ TV, and good times.  But, to please the cheesy side of me…here are a few special random moments that I remember:

-  Mom’s Here:  Mom spent 2 weeks with me after I moved into the new pad.  She treated me like a prince.  It was the best food the 319 EVER saw and will EVER see.  Although Mom staring at me when I woke up every morning was a bit spooky.  I love her.

-  911 at 319!: Learning to cook I almost burned the place down.  I put a pan on the stove unaware of the hot plate that was underneath it.  The hotplate apparently was not fireproof.  Thank God the sink was so close to the stove.  Those were some scary flames.

-   Stayson’s Chair:  Stayson sat in my brown leather chair so often that I felt like I had to call him and ask permission to sit there. Its lil coincidence that all who sit in the chair become instantly lazy and angry with the Bush run ‘America first’ government.

-  Thanksgiving:  Jolie came over for thanksgiving.  Was a chill weekend.  For thanksgiving we had brauts and chips and I was thankful :).

-  The Sharon Brothers and YouTube:  I don’t know why this quite sticks out in my head so much.  But, one night Justin, Stayson, and Shane came over and we watched Borat youtube videos til about 2AM.  Its what single guys do on a Saturday Night.

-  Sheena lets Justin in on her secret:  At a praise and worship practice I urged Sheena to let Justin in on the news of her marriage to Sajan.  Sheena told Justin the news and then said…”just kidding”…this went on for about 3 rounds before Justin believed her.

-  HYPF is on fire:  The HYPF committee spent some time in prayer at my place.  Small problem the AC was out.  We were on fire!  Spiritually and physically.  How symbolic.  The March meeting we were praying for was amazing!…Josh and Justin don’t know this.  But, I woke up to go the bathroom at like 1am or something.  And the two of them were still talking in the parking lot. Awww.

-  “Do You Know” Behind the Scences:  The first night of editing the “Do you know” video for Sajan and Sheena’s Wedding was disastrous.  Stan, myself, and Blesson could not get anything to work!  To top off the night, it took us 4 hours to order a pizza!

-  The one and only VCB: Lisa brought a magazine and her own food to my place.  How offensive.  But, that’s Lisa…There were times where she’d bring wings and we’d make fun of the rich white girls of the Hills…no jokes….I’m straight seriously.

Lunch Break is over.  And I’ve run out of memories. For the visitors of 319…got any moments that you can remember?

3 more weeks. 319 I shall miss thee.

Jimmy

 

Joy is Contagious

{ May 31, 2008 @ 2:51 pm } · { feelings shmeelings }
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I love hearing life stories.  Every 20 something friend of mine is experiencing new and exciting life transitions.  A new job, a soul mate, their first place.  I can hear the excitement in their voices and see the happiness in their eyes as they share their experience.  Its a contagious joy that never fails to put a smile on my face.

I’ve been waiting for the next chapters of my life to be written.  And I know that the words and images will be an overwhelming joy that I won’t be able to keep to myself.   Can’t wait!

The tables have turned…

{ May 28, 2008 @ 11:50 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Recently at work I was asked to be part of a panel to interview final candidates for a job opening.  It was my first time interviewing and I loved it! Let me share some brief notes on what I was looking for and some do and do nots for interviewees based on my experience.

What I was looking for:

- relatable experience:  I wanted candidates to tell me what they did in their last job.  Specifically the type of environment, number of users, how they related to V.I.P users.

- personality:  Is this a person that the team can get along with?  That can relate to users.  Is the person confident.

- professionalism:  Is the person prepared?  Or does he have a care-less attitude.  You’d be amazed on how unprepared some people are.

DOs

DO give a firm handshake.  A handshake says alot!

DO remember names.  One thing I do is ask for names and create a map of sorts on my notepad to remember who is in the room and where they are seated.  If offered business cards…use that as your map and lay them out in the direction your interviewer or interviewers are sitting.

DO dress nice, but if your IT don’t overdue it.  We’re actually turned off by suits and ties.

DO come with a binder or notepad.  Write down questions to ask.

DO make conversation.  Let the interviewers in on your personality.  Make simple jokes, smile, be yourself.

DO give specifics.  Give examples and not just a “yes” or “no” answer.

DO make eye contact.  Be human for goodness sake!

DO NOTs

DO NOT come late!  Do I need to expound?

DO NOT wear jeans.  Again you’d be surprised

DO NOT lie or BS!  Interviews can tell when your lying.  We want to know what you don’t know…we’ll train you.  There is no perfect candidate that knows everything.  But, there is always a liar who will never get the job.

DO NOT look down and write when people are talking to you.

DO NOT sway or rock in your chair.  It shows off your nerves

DO NOT talk with your hands.  Its just annoying and distracting.

DO NOT flatter the interviewer.  Brown nosing is for moving up the ladder, not to get in the door.

Interviewing gave some unique insight to the hiring process.  Its amazing how much you can learn about someone in a few short minutes.  The interviewing panel at work was asked to rank the final candidates to the hiring manager today.  It’ll be interesting to see who he hires.  Regardless of his choice, I feel like I’ve gained another notch on the resume and another unique perspective into a all so important part of work life.

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