Between my last blog and this, I’ve had a roller coaster of
life-changing events. I’m not whom I started out to write as, which is a good
thing because now I can be adventurous and dramatic like the way I had wanted
to be.
Let’s just say, “it’s not that my standards are too high,
it’s just that my father has set an amazing example for how a man should treat
me”.
Fast-forwarding the mind boggling fiasco, my aunt and elder
brother called me straight down to Texas for some change of air! The landing
announcement to Houston after 14-something hours was as soothing as hugging my
mom after four months, but I’m not going to lie – Qatar Airways made my journey
absolutely wonderful!
Besides the limitless pampering by the entire family, I was
treated to the finest of restaurants and cuisines. Grateful for being a part of
a line of food-lovers, and I’m even luckier to have a chef brother!
On my second night in town, we decided to have dinner at
Down House, a restaurant that my brother works in as a line cook. I obviously
chose the day he was on duty, so I could take the customer advantage of sending
sarcastic compliments to my darling chef. Hah!
Situated on Yale Street, Houston, Down House has a very casual
and comfortable feel to it. We walked into a softly lit pub decorated with vintage,
yet classy furniture and were greeted by an extremely welcoming staff member.
The weather was absolutely beautiful so we chose to sit outside.
The menus were already placed on the table, which our
friendly server skimmed through with us. While we contemplated over what to
order, I requested the server to inform “Chef Fahd” inside, of my arrival. Everything
in the restaurant’s concise menu sounded particularly simple and appetizing and
it actually became hard to choose!
I bit into the Mushroom on Toast with a burst of flavors
filling my mouth from goat cheese to egg to the salty kick of soy sauce. What a
well-blended display of mushrooms, I tell you. I don’t know if we were exceptionally
hungry or what it was, because we gobbled down the generous serving within the
first two minutes.
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| Mushroom on Toast |
The lettuce wraps were DIY that were served with lettuce,
grilled chicken, fried onions, cilantro and a Down House made sweet chili sauce.
I smiled when the lettuce wraps came to our table because the first thing that
caught my eye were the fried onions. Used in almost all Eastern dishes, freshly
fried onions aka “tali hui pyaz” is a daily feature in every Pakistani home
kitchen. I successfully assembled a non-breaking wrap for myself and thoroughly
enjoyed the different flavors that were enclosed in a crisp leaf of lettuce.
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| Lettuce Wrap |
I’ve often pondered over what I would do if I ever reached a
point where I would have to choose between burgers or a life partner. This
Kimchi Burger has given me my answer. A burger topped with an egg is already a treat;
now imagine world-class kimchi layered between that and the melted slice of
cheese. Boy, that was one heck of a party in my mouth I tell you. Every
ingredient found its way to tickle my palette and the perfectly cooked patty
made this brilliantly executed dish simply marvelous! Full points!
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| Kimchi Burger |
Raita, FYI:
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| Bistro Steak |
My aunt went for the Chicken Fried Portobello. Sometimes you
really don’t need meat, interestingly cooked vegetables can be just as tasteful
and filling. Non-greasy, fresh, hot, crisp and delicious batter, with creamy
and melt-in-the-mouth mashed potatoes on the side. Great choice.
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| Chicken Fried Portobello |
Everything was served in pretty decent portions and I was so
stuffed that I was expecting to see Homer Simpson opposite me if I stood in
front of the mirror.
But what a meal it was, enjoyed every bit of it. I even sat
there and expressed my dream to live in Houston so I could out here and hang
out every single day! I get overexcited about things, okay?
Bummed that my brother was too busy in the kitchen and
couldn’t come out to even say hello, I declined the dessert offer. Whad’ya
know, the door opened and my sweetheart of a brother walked out with a plate of
a beautiful brownie dessert topped with a candle. An early birthday
surprise!!!!! Eek, I was shrieking like a little girl when everyone sang to me
including Chef Fahd – I felt so special. I could tell he was a fidgeting to get
back inside to work but there was no way I would let the chef get away without
a selfie!
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| Chef Fahd - My bro <3 |
We devoured in the moist and unbelievably tasty, and hot
brownie. So glad we got to have a dessert, I would have definitely missed out
on it! Perfect way to conclude our meals.
Super sweet servers wished me a very happy birthday and we
headed out home. Down House has to be one of my favorite restaurant experiences.
Great food, wonderful ambience, efficient service and ofcourse awesome chefs ;)
Here’s a secret note that I asked to be delivered to Chef
Fahd:
Thank you, God for all the amazing food and reminding me
that love is all around me!
