October 2012 Odds and Ends

Happy October Readers!!!

October is the time of year when my mind turns to Oktoberfest beer and food, Halloween candy, pumpkin spice lattés and pies, Football and Hockey (if it weren't for the NHL Lockout) and cooler weather comfort foods like Poutine and chili.  There are also plenty of events going on to report to y'all as well, so let's get on with it!!!

Houston's Own Margarita Festival

I would have thought by now that Houston would have been having its own Margarita Festival for years and years, but I would be wrong to think that, and now this oversight is being corrected.  Houston is known for oil and energy, art and medicine, education and especially great food and drinks.  And this Tex-Mex standard is a favourite of many folks all over.  So let's celebrate it! The very first Houston Margarita Festival, which will take place at Discovery Green on October 13, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The event will showcase a wide variety of local Mexican, barbeque, seafood, and Cajun cuisine, as well as an exotic selection of margaritas in Houston. Festivalgoers will enjoy live music from local acts such as the Mambo Jazz Kings, Texas Brass Band, Salmerum, Tony Henry, The Marc Bode Trio, Step Rideau and Zydeco Outlaws, Cass, and more.


Salsa Eddy, owner of the Houston Dance Factory, will be conducting a salsa-dancing contest for couples. A limbo competition will also be held, encouraging individuals and couples alike to compete for prizes. Local vendors will sell merchandise as patrons sample unique concoctions such as wine, jalapeno, cucumber and low-calorie margaritas, beer or wine.

The Houston Margarita Festival is 21+ only with tickets for $15 pre-sale. The first 1,500 people to attend will receive a free festival t-shirt. Tickets at the door are $25, with designated driver tickets being offered for $10. VIP tickets may be purchased for $60 and offer early entry, free food, and seating. All tickets may be purchased via the Houston Margarita Festival website, GoldStar, Houston Press, Fiesta, or Groupon.

For more information on the Houston Margarita Festival, please visit their website.

Rudy's and MightyFine Burgers Help Raise Money For Breast Cancer Research

During the month of October, Rudy's BBQ and MightyFine Burgers will be running a promotion benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation in all  Rudy’s all over Texas and Mighty Fine Burger locations, which are located in the Austin area (for now). For Rudy’s, all 32 oz. Rudy’s trophy cups will be pink. Guests can choose to donate $1.00 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and receive a coupon for a free drink on their next visit. For Mighty Fine, they will be donating 50 cents from every Strawberry Milkshake sold to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

This is a very worthy cause.  As someone who has had several relatives affected by Cancer, I support fund raising efforts which help fund research and lead to effective treatments for managing and curing this dreaded disease.  I am glad to see Rudy's and Mighty Fine Burgers wanting to give back to the community.  

Harvest Time at Lucille's

Lucille’s owner and executive chef Chris Williams and chef de cuisine Khang Hoang, have begun to harvest their fall crop of vegetables, including squash, bell peppers, okra, rainbow chard, kale, collards, cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots, from the raised beds in the backyard garden. 


“The garden is now supplying all the restaurant’s needs for fresh basil,” stated Hoang, as he picked up a large yellow and green squash. “It’s neat to watch things grow. Even better is the amazing flavor of freshly picked anything!” For reservations please visit OpenTable.com. For more information, please visit LucillesHouston.com or call 713-568-2505.

Lucille’s is located at 5512 La Branch (near Binz), Houston, Texas 77004. Phone: 713-568-2505.

Special Promotion at Houston Area Prince's Burgers


Prince’s Hamburgers and Prince’s Diner will be celebrating the centennial of Doug Prince, and the burgers he made world famous. Buy any Classic Burger Platters and one drink, (fries and onion rings are included) and receive one Prince’s Original Burger for just 10 cents, from Monday, October 22 through Sunday, October 28, 2012, which would have been his 100th birthday. The Prince's Original Burger sold for 10 cents when it was introduced in 1934. Today's Prince's Original, has the same secret sauce and poppy seed bun, and it’s five times larger than the one served in 1934. For more information, please visit www.PrincesHamburgers.com or call 713-686-1950. 


Closing Comments

Whew!  October is going to be an eventful month, to say the very least!  As busy as I am teaching classes, raising kids and taking care of family, I hope to put some time in on some good eating, some good food and charity events and write about it for the enjoyment of all my loyal readers and friends.  

Thanks again for kindly reading this blog!  
And remember to Eat Happy, Y'all!!!
早安，你们!!!