Behind The Scenes

A look into some of Houston's top and well-known kitchens.

The Experience: Tongue Cut Sparrow

A staircase leads up to Bobby Heugel and chef Peter Jahnke’s newest venture: a small and intimate cocktail bar inspired by their travels and focused on excellent service.

Meet Chef Kiran Verma of Kiran's

Sitting down to talk with chef Kiran Verma over a cup of chai is like being embraced in a warm hug. Known as the godmother of Indian fine dining, she exudes warmth and passion for her craft, which she fell into without any formal training some 21 years ago when she bought an Indian restaurant from another family.

Meet Paul Petronella of Paulie's Houston

Paulie’s in Montrose has been a Houston neighborhood staple for years. Petronella has been running the restaurant since 2009 when he took it over from his parents. In 2013, he opened Camerata, a wine bar adjacent to the restaurant. He chatted with us about Paulie’s and where he likes to eat and drink in Houston.

The Experience: NASA Johnson's Food Lab

Thinking about eating in space may evoke thoughts of bland and boring food. But much of the food that astronauts consume today are foods they would eat on the ground; they’ve just been processed and prepackaged to withstand microgravity and time.

Meet Chef Erin Smith of Feges BBQ Houston

Houston chef Erin Smith, formerly of Main Kitchen at the JW Marriot, Clumsy Butcher Group, and Plonk! Bistro was crowned victor of the Food Network’s cooking competition, Chopped. Smith won the title in an episode that aired in late May and required her to cook with exotic ingredients such as rattlesnake. She’s the third Houston chef to win on the show.

Meet Ziggy Gruber of Kenny and Ziggy's

Ziggy Gruber didn’t expect he would be the central character in Deli Man, a 2015 documentary about Jewish delis around the U.S. But Gruber, owner, and chef of Kenny & Ziggy’s and third-generation deli man stole the show. When he asked film director Erik Greenberg Anjou why, “he said, ‘because you’re the biggest character I know.’ And if you see the film, I guess I am a character,” said Gruber.

The Experience: Houston Dairymaids

You can enjoy it on a cracker, melted over chips, on a salad… or toasted to perfection. We are talking cheese! October is American Cheese Month, where we celebrate all types of cheese made in the United States. While you may recognize Cheddar, Colby, or Bleu - there are hundreds of other types of artisan cheeses and many are available right here in Houston thanks to Houston Dairymaids.