Previous Houston Culinary Tours

Pig
Robert Del Grande/Chris Shepherd

Pigs have recently been on the front burner of some of the nation's most sought-after kitchens-much to the dismay of animals of the porcine variety. But these days, the culinary masterminds are leaving little behind, thanks to an emphasis on nose-to-tail cooking and a little epicurean wherewithal. A group tagged along with Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd and RDG + Bar Annie's Robert del Grande as they shared their favorite places to find, buy and delight in the city's best pork. They went to a sustainable shop in the Heights to learn about locally raised heritage pigs, before heading out in the city to taste how different cultures put their spin on the savory meat.

Vietnamese
Ryan Pera/Monica Pope
April 21, 2013

As home to the largest population in Texas and the third-largest in the U.S., it's safe to say that Houston is well-versed in the art of Vietnamese culture and cuisine. Chef Ryan Pera of Revival Market and Chef Monica Pope of Sparrow Bar + Cookshop shared their favorite spots to find pho, bò bía and bánh mì.

Seafood
Bryan Caswell/Levi Goode
March 17, 2013

Attendees rode along with avid fisherman and Reef Chef Bryan Caswell, who teamed up with Goode Company president Levi Goode for an exploration of Houston's top seafood selections and markets.

Story of Houston Food
Chris Shepherd
March 13, 2013

James Beard Award nominee Chef Chris Shepherd took attendees on a hometown tour of his culinary inspirations. Chris shared his deep appreciation for the diversity that informs his menu during a four-hour tour that took visitors through some "known to the chefs" restaurants for cuisine from some of the cultures that make Houston one of the most unique and inclusive cities in the United States.

Oyster
Bryan Caswell, Robb Walsh
February 17, 2013

Cookbook author Robb Walsh and Chef Bryan Caswell of Reef set out in search of all-things oyster. Tour attendees discovered where to find the best bounty in the city, helpful shucking tips and got a lesson on the difference between East Coast and Gulf varieties. Caswell and Walsh highlighted the local seafood counters selling Galveston Bay oysters, before bellying up to a few H-Town oyster bars for a taste of the sought-after seafood.

Korean
Ryan Pera/Chris Shepherd
January 20, 2013

Chef Ryan Pera of Revival Market and Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd spotlighted the ‘underbelly' of Korean cuisine in Houston. Guests went beyond barbecue, discovering traditional Korean fare in everything from a classic noodle house and Korean sushi bar to a Long Point Road mainstay and authentic Korean grocery store. Live octopus, anyone?

Farm
Randy Evans/Monica Pope
January 13, 2013

Chefs Randy Evans of Haven and Monica Pope of Sparrow Bar + Cookshop ventured beyond the Loop to celebrate all-things locally-grown. They visited their favorite farms for pick-your-own produce and toured the land, with tastings at each stop.

Vietnamese
Bryan Caswell/Ryan Pera
December 9, 2012

As home to the largest Vietnamese population in Texas and the third-largest in the U.S., it's safe to say that Houston is well-versed in the art of Vietnamese culture and cuisine. Chef Ryan Pera of Revival Market and Chef Bryan Caswell of Reef, Little Bigs and El Real Tex-Mex shared their favorite spots to find pho, bò bía and bánh mì.

Farm
Randy Evans/Claire Smith
November 10, 2012

Get outta town! Canopy and Shade Chef Claire Smith and Chef Randy Evans of Haven restaurant ventured beyond the Loop to celebrate all-things locally-grown. They started the day at a Sixth Ward farmers market offering up fresh fruits, vegetables and prepared foods from area vendors, before venturing to some of the chefs' favorite farms for pick-your-own produce and a tour of the land.

Day of the Dead
David Cordua/Hugo Ortega
October 28, 2012

Restaurateur-chef Hugo Ortega--of Montrose's Hugo's--and Chef David Cordua of Americas led guests on an afternoon filled with cuisine and culture. They stopped by the Museum District where a local gallery celebrates art, music and the practices of Mexico during a series of Día de los Muertos events. The group also enjoyed a tequila tasting, took a guided tour of the Airline Market and stopped by a Heights bakery for pan de los muertos.

Indian
Monica Pope/Chris Shepherd
September 23, 2012

This group headed to Hillcroft with Monica Pope--of Sparrow Bar + Cookshop and Bravo TV's Top Chef Masters fame--as she teamed up with Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd for an afternoon highlighting Houston's Indian food scene. They settled in at a family-owned spot known for its bold flavors, spice and charcoal-oven Tandoori, before visiting a nearby sweet stop and one of the largest Hindu temples in the U.S.

Houston Culinary Tour - Southern Comfort

Southern Comfort
Randy Evans/Mark Holley
August 19, 2012

Haven's Chef Randy Evans and Chef Mark Holley took guests on a tour of the comfort food restaurants that take them back to their childhood. From a momma-approved pie shop and a Cajun-inspired soul food joint to an old-fashioned fried chicken spot and an old-school barbecue classic, guests were treated to all of the true flavors of the south.

Long Point Road
Bryan Caswell/Chris Shepherd
July 22, 2012

Anyone that's ever driven down Long Point Road in West Houston's Spring Branch district knows that it's a melting pot for the city's culinary scene. Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd and Chef Bryan Caswell of Reef guided guests on a diverse and well-edited selection of their favorite undiscovered hole-in-the-walls. From authentic Thai food to Korean barbecue, it was an eclectic mix of cuisines.

Hong Kong City Mall/Secrets of Bellaire Blvd Randy Evans/Chris Shepherd
June 10, 2012

Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd and Chef Randy Evans of Haven restaurant shared the secrets and standouts of Houston's new Chinatown. They highlight delicious dim sum destinations and visited a couple of Vietnamese outposts known for their bahn cuon, bánh mì and spicy crawfish.

Chefs' Day Off
Terrence Gallivan, Seth Siegel-Gardner
May 20, 2012

Chefs Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan of the soon-to-open The Pass and Provisions led tour attendees tag along on their day off. The day included visits to the oldest ice house in the city, where brew and barbacoa tacos go hand-in-hand and an ethnic market to pick up supplies for a pig roast. A few other chefs joined in the revelry, too.

Crawfish
Mark Holley, Jonathan Jones
April 22, 2012

Chefs Mark Holley and Jonathan Jones spotlighted crawfish at institutions all over H-Town. Tour attendees sampled it fried and boiled at two of Holley and Jones' favorite restaurants, before learning how to do a classic crawfish boil, with lessons on cooking time, proper seasoning and even ideas for extra ingredients to add to the pot.

Oyster
Bryan Caswell, Robb Walsh
March 18, 2012

Cookbook author Robb Walsh and Chef Bryan Caswell of Reef, Stella Sola and El Real set out in search of all-things oyster. Attendees discovered where to find the best bounty in the city, helpful shucking tips and got a lesson on the difference between East Coast and Gulf varieties. Caswell and Walsh also highlighted the local seafood counters selling Galveston Bay oysters, before bellying up to a few H-Town oyster bars for a taste of the sought-after seafood.

World BBQ
Chris Shepherd, Robb Walsh
February 26, 2012

Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd and cookbook author Robb Walsh teamed up to showcase the best--and culturally-inspired--BBQ Houston has to offer. Guests sampled an array of offerings from smoked duck at a Chinese BBQ restaurant and Korean bulgogi to Mexican-style barbacoa and fall-off-the-bone ribs offered at a family-owned, Bayou City-staple.

Late Night Bars and Bites
Bobby Heugel, Seth Siegel-Gardner, Terrence Gallivan
February 18, 2012

Bobby Heugel--one of the masterminds behind Montrose's Anvil Bar and Refuge and Hay Merchant--teamed up with Pilot Light Restaurant founders Chef Seth Siegel-Gardner and Chef Terrence Gallivan on an after-dark adventure spotlighting Houston's top late-night haunts. Guests joined them at a Sixth Ward dive bar that's a popular mainstay among residents, chefs and bartenders throughout the city. They also visited one of the city's best wine bars and a Museum District cocktail emporium known for its casual charm, great drinks and resident food trucks.

Chinese New Year
Chris Shepherd, Justin Yu
January 22, 2012

Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd and Oxheart Restaurant's Chef Justin Yu highlighted the eating traditions of the Chinese New Year-the centuries-old celebration that marks the end of the winter season. The pair dug into dumplings, savored hot pot dishes, vegetarian offerings and classic Chinese celebratory fare. The tour even included a stop at a Chinese bakery for traditional New Year Cakes.

Cordua Family Tour
Michael Cordua, David Cordua
December 11, 2011

The Houston family responsible for South American mainstays like Churrascos, Americas, Amazon Grill and Artista took guests to the spots the culinary clan dines in their down time. Chef David Cordua and his chef-restaurateur father Michael teamed up to uncover their favorite eateries, one under-the-radar-outpost at a time.

Street Food
Jonathan Jones, Chris Shepherd
November 13, 2011

Food trucks are sweeping the nation. Guests found out what's driving the trend in H-Town-one street vendor at a time. Underbelly's executive chef Chris Shepherd and Beaver's executive chef Jonathan Jones made their way through the city's top mobile menus.

Middle Eastern
Hugo Ortega, Monica Pope
October 16, 2011

Pita, hummus and baba ghanoush, oh my! Tour attendees found out where to find the most authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in the city with the help of chef Monica Pope (of t'afia and Bravo TV's Top Chef Masters fame) and chef-restaurateur Hugo Ortega (of Montrose's Mexican mainstay Hugo's). Fall-off-the-bone lamb shanks served at a Memorial-set Persian grill delighted, as did visits to a Pakistani mom and pop spot and a 60,000-square-foot Middle Eastern market.

The Americas
Hugo Ortega, Robb Walsh
September 28, 2011

Restaurateur-chef Hugo Ortega--of Montrose's Hugo's--and cookbook author Robb Walsh explored the foods of the Americas. The duo highlighted a selection of South and Central American restaurants, ‘traveling' from Brazil to Argentina to Peru to El Salvador and Guatamala, among other culinary excursions. Among the day's outings, guests delighted in slow-roasted, straight-from-the-skewer selections at an inner-loop churrascaria and sampled flakey empanadas at a family-owned Argentinean restaurant.

Southern Comfort
Randy Evans, Mark Holley, Rebecca Masson
August 21, 2011

Haven's Chef Randy Evans, Pesce's Chef Mark Holley and Fluff Bake Bar's Rebecca Masson took guests on a tour of the comfort food restaurants that take them back to their childhood. From a momma-approved pie shop and a Cajun-inspired soul food joint to an old-fashioned fried chicken spot and an old-school barbecue classic, this group experienced the true flavors of the south.

World BBQ
Chris Shepherd, Robb Walsh
August 7, 2011

Chef Chris Shepherd and Robb Walsh introduced attendees to roasted pork and smoked duck at a Chinese BBQ spot, grilled out at a hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant, took on Mexican-style barbecue and made room for fall-off-the-bone ribs at a family-owned, Bayou City staple.

Pig
Chris Shepherd, Seth Siegel-Gardner, Terrence Gallivan
July 17, 2011

Pigs have recently been on the front burner of some of the nation's most sought-after kitchens--much to the dismay of animals of the porcine variety. But these days, the culinary masterminds are leaving little behind, thanks to an emphasis on nose-to-tail cooking and a little epicurean wherewithal. Attendees tagged along with Underbelly's Chef Chris Shepherd and Pilot Light Restaurant Group's Chef Seth Siegel-Gardner and Chef Terrence Gallivan as they shared their favorite places to find, buy and delight in the city's best pork. They headed to a sustainable shop in the Heights to learn about locally raised heritage pigs, before heading out in the city to taste how different cultures put their spin on the savory meat.

Vietnamese
Bryan Caswell, Ryan Pera
June 12, 2011

As home to the largest Vietnamese population in Texas and the third-largest in the U.S., it's safe to say that Houston is well-versed in the art of Vietnamese culture and cuisine. Chef Ryan Pera of Revival Market and Chef Bryan Caswell of Reef, Stella Sola (and The Next Iron Chef) shared their favorite spots to find pho, bò bía and bánh mì.

Taste of Asia
Randy Evans, Chris Shepherd
May 21, 2011

Explore the hidden gems of Houston's new Chinatown and beyond--the places you might never find without a translator and plenty of insider knowledge. Chefs Chris Shepherd and Randy Evans took attendees to stops for delicious Thai and Malaysian food, some of the best Indian food in the city and a massive Vietnamese grocery.

Mediterranean
Monica Pope
April 17, 2011

Monica Pope (of t'afia and Bravo TV's Top Chef Masters fame) showcased the best Mediterranean menus and markets the city has to offer: A west Houston-set store for 55,000 square feet of international delicacies; Lamb shanks and some of the best hummus in town; A European-style market in The Heights and a Mediterranean-inspired wine bar in Midtown.

Korean/Japanese
Ryan Pera, Chris Shepherd
March 20, 2011

Although the tension between the Korean and Japanese communities doesn't seem to be subsiding, on March 20, the two cast out the drama--at least for the day--while their respective cuisines took the local mainstage. Chef Ryan Pera of Revival Market and Chef Chris Shepherd scoped out the city's prime places for eastern-Asia-inspired fare. Attendees settled in for Japanese tapas at a sleek kata robata, satisfied their craving for kimchi and bbq at a couple of Spring Branch-set Korean restaurants and explored an Asian grocer loaded with hard-to-find ingredients and artfully-prepared pastries.

Long Point Road
Bryan Caswell, Jonathan Jones
February 20, 2011

Anyone that's ever driven down Long Point Road in West Houston's Spring Branch district knows that it's a melting pot within the city's culinary scene. Chefs Bryan Caswell and Jonathan Jones guided guests on a diverse and well-edited selection of their favorite undiscovered hole-in-the-walls. From wallet-friendly taco trucks and authentic Thai food to Korean barbecue and Mexican fried chicken, attendees savored an eclectic mix of cuisines all within a stone's throw of one another.

World BBQ
Chris Shepherd, Robb Walsh
January 16, 2011

The duo dug into roasted pork and smoked duck at a Chinese BBQ spot, grilled out at an off-the-beaten-path Korean restaurant, took on Mexican-style barbecue and made room for fall-off-the-bone ribs at a family-owned, Bayou City staple.

Chinatown
Chris Shepherd
November 21, 2010

Attendees explored the hidden gems of Houston's new Chinatown--the places you might never find without a translator and plenty of insider knowledge. Chef Chris Shepherd took them to visit a hole-in-the-wall spot for unforgettable Beijing-style Peking duck that's so popular, guests have to order it a day in advance. Other tour highlights included stops for delicious beef-soup dumplings, pan-fried pot stickers--you can even grab a frozen bag to go--and fried chicken.

Southern Comfort
Randy Evans, Mark Holley
November 14, 2010

Haven's Chef Randy Evans and Pesce's Chef Mark Holley took guests on a trip down memory lane to sample the best homestyle fare the city has to offer--the comfort food restaurants that take them back to their childhood.

Momma's House
Marcus Davis, Monica Pope
October 17, 2010

There's nothing like mom's home cooking. Attendees got an inside look at local food and went behind the scenes and in the kitchens that helped some of Houston's most-loved chefs get their start. They discovered the city's rich history and cultural diversity during three tour stops, two of which were at Chef Pope and Chef Davis' actual momma's houses for home-cooked food and southern hospitality.

Photo Album

World BBQ
Chris Shepherd, Robb Walsh
September 19, 2010

The wildly-popular Houston Culinary Tours may've sold out, but Texas Highways readers got an insider treat! Chef Chris Shepherd and Tex-Mex Cookbook Author Robb Walsh teamed up for a special World BBQ Tour--only available to Texas Highways fans. Readers joined the duo as they dug into roasted pork and smoked duck at a Chinese BBQ spot, grilled out at a hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant, took on Mexican-style barbecue and made room for fall-off-the-bone ribs at a family-owned, Bayou City staple.

Long Point Road
Chris Shepherd
September 12, 2010

Anyone that's ever driven down Long Point Road in West Houston's Spring Branch district knows that it's a melting pot within the city's culinary scene. Chef Chris Shepherd guided guests on a diverse and well-edited selection of his favorite undiscovered hole-in-the-walls. From wallet-friendly taco trucks and authentic Thai food to Korean barbecue and Mexican fried chicken, attendees savored an eclectic mix of cuisines all within a stone's throw of one another.

Taste of Asia
Randy Evans, Chris Shepherd
August 22, 2010

Chef Chris Shepherd and Haven's Chef Randy Evans invited guests to the under-the-radar places they head to on their nights off. Guests got their fix with Cantonese dim sum, sampled melt-in-your-mouth goat curry at a European-style Indian grill, experienced made-to-order roti canai at a high-tech Malaysian restaurant and settled in for a bowl of hot-and-spicy pho at a Vietnamese staple in Chinatown.

Tour Locations
Photo Album

Grocery Stores and Ethnic Markets
Randy Evans, Chris Shepherd
July 25, 2010

Shop where the chefs shop! Attendees learned the inner-circle's go-to spots for finding exotic fruits and spices. They discovered hidden gems that sell live abolone, frozen mochi and pungent durian. They stopped by one of the largest Asian superstores in the region, sampled delicious, housemade pierogies at the city's only Polish grocery/restaurant and dove into a spicy plate of housemade som tum at a converted Thai grocery store.

Tour Locations
Photo Album

Southern Comfort
Randy Evans, Mark Holley
June 27, 2010

Tour Locations

Taste of Asia
Justin Basye, Monica Pope
June 6, 2010

T'afia's Chef Monica Pope and Stella Sola's Chef Justin Basye visited four of their favorite must-see Asian hotspots. From fresh-from-the-oven taftoon bread and spicy hummus at a Persian grill and a flavorful Bánh MÎ sandwich at a family-owned French-Vietnamese joint to spicy fare at one of the city's best Thai restaurants to hot pot soups and authentic Chinese-Vietnamese food, attendees experienced the best of Houston's Chinatown.

Tour Locations

Tour-O de Mayo
Hugo Ortega, Robb Walsh
May 15, 2010

Guests explored Houston's Mexican heritage with a tour of the Mexican market scene on Airline Drive. After hot chocolate and pan dulce at a Mexican bakery, Tex-Mex cookbook author Robb Walsh and Chef Hugo Ortega took guests to a Mexican spice market and on a walking tour of Houston's biggest produce market. There, attendees learned about the dried chiles, heirloom beans and other exotic ingredients found in the little stalls behind Canino's. The tour concluded at Hugo's.

Tour Locations

Grocery Stores and Ethnic Markets
Randy Evans, Chris Shepherd
April 18, 2010

Tour Locations

Taste of Asia
Bryan Caswell, Monica Pope
March 14, 2010

T'afia's Chef Monica Pope and Reef's Chef Bryan Caswell visited four of their favorite must-see Asian hotspots. From fresh-from-the-oven taftoon bread and spicy hummus at a Persian grill and a flavorful Báhn Mî sandwich at a family-owned French-Vietnamese joint to potato-and-veggie-packed samosas at a hole-in-the-wall Indian place and hot pot soups and authentic Chinese-Vietnamese food, the duo showed attendees the best of Chinatown.

Tour Locations

Houston BBQ Trail
Robb Walsh
February 27, 2010

Cookbook author Robb Walsh shared his knowledge about the four styles of Texas barbecue. Attendees met the pit bosses manning the grills and savored African-Texan barbecue brisket and ribs, Mexican barbacoa served with tortillas and salsas, old-fashioned Cowboy barbecue and Central Texas-style Czech and German meat market treats. The tour ended at the World's Championship BBQ Cook-Off.