Chicken Fried Steak

Ever had one...?

It's a Southern tradition and this was Robbie's lunch last Sunday in Houston.

It's a piece of steak, dipped in fried chicken batter, then deep fried...now, let's reach for the Lipitor!

We had a long weekend in Houston, visiting Robbie's Dad, OJ and Gina (recent newlyweds!). They took us to a local institution T-Bone Tom's - a former butcher shop, now selling meals as well as meat. I had the fork tender smoked ribs.

I loved this idea for my next restaurant - selling signage on chairs - great way to get the locals supporting your restaurant.

The other culinary highlight of the weekend was fresh shrimp straight out of the Gulf from the bubba gump shrimp boats nearby. We had dinner with friends Farley and Kit, and took appetisers - shrimp three ways.

OJ made Pascals Manale BBQ shrimp (nothing to do with a BBQ and a whole lot to do with a pound of butter - those who were in New Orleans last November will remember), Robbie did garlic shrimp, and I made a little Deux Tartes mango and green apple salsa for some boiled shrimp.We had an early start Tuesday morning and a long drive across town to the airport - passed miles of refineries - not exactly a tourist attraction but the lights and flames looked a lot prettier in the early morning light, than they did by day.