Author: kelirabon

Hungry in Houston? Grab Take-Out or Delivery From These Restaurants

chicken fried chicken, cowboys and indians

We’ve raided the grocery stores and stocked up our freezers — but it sure is nice to have a hot, fresh, delicious meal that someone else made too! Plus, our small businesses and restaurants need our support more than EVER right now. Here is a list of some of the top deals in takeout across Houston. Please email me at keli@kelirabon.com if you have some to add to the list!

Cowboys & Indians

1901 Taft St., Houston, TX 77006 (713) 485-6724

In an effort to keep our local Houston community safe, Cowboys & Indians Tex-In Kitchen will be following the guidelines provided by our great city leadership. As an incentive to our fantastic customer base, we are offering $5 for every $20 spent on our website toward your next dine-in meal with us. The order must be placed on our website, www.cni713.com, between March 23 and April 3, 2020. Don’t miss out on our famous Chicken Fried Chicken and Butter Chicken Tikka Masala!

Arnaldo Richards’ Picos

3601 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX 77098. (832) 831-9940

The Richards family is partnering with their own staff to offer free delivery to our community. You will be able to enjoy their regular menu, lunch packs, breakfast burritos, and full delivery set up your group at home. Bulk Fajitas, tamales and more are available. Beverage packs include Margarita mixes and a variety of fresh squeezed juices and aguas frescas to accompany your order.

The restaurant will continue to remain available on DoorDash, Favor and GrubHub, and you can continue to support through gift certificate purchases. $20 dine in credit for every $100 gift card purchase.

Camerata at Paulie’s

1834 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77098 (713) 522-8466

As of March 17, Camerata will sell bottles of wine available on their menu during their newly implemented hours of operation (11am to 10pm daily). bottles are being sold for up to a 30% retail discount from their listed menu price, which guests can find online at cameratahouston.com. Case purchases will get an additional 5% discount, and cheese boards can also be packaged for the taking. Looking for a great meal to serve with your newly bought wine? Camerata’s neighboring restaurant, Paulie’s, is offering to-go orders from their entire menu as well, making your wine and food pick-up a one-stop-shop.

Eunice Restaurant

3737 Buffalo Speedway 77098, Houston, TX 77098 (832) 491-1717

Introducing MawMaw’s Menu at Eunice Restaurant. The Eunice team will continue operations through curbside pick-up (through their easy circular drive-thru) and free delivery. The limited menu will update each day and feature a mix of signature dishes and a few comfort classics for you and your family to enjoy. Wine specials available as well. Expect your favorites like Home-Style Dinner Rolls, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Shrimp Etouffee, and Red Beans and Rice. Simply call or email curbside@eunicerestaurant.com to place your order. Continue to check on their website and Instagram for the daily menu.

Goode Company

Multiple Locations

Goode Co BBQ (Kirby and Memorial locations), Goode Co Taqueria (Kirby), and Goode Co Kitchen and Cantina (Memorial location) are offering curbside pick-up and FREE delivery on orders $60 or more ($10 delivery on orders less than $60) within 3 miles of the restaurants. The restaurants are open from 11:00am – 7:30 pm. The Armadillo Palace will be closed for 15 days.

Le Colonial

4444 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77027 (713) 629-4444

In light of recent circumstances, Le Colonial will close their dining room for the next 15 days. Our community and staff’s well-being is behind every precaution we are taking. Starting Wednesday, March 18, the restaurant will be available for curbside service and remain available on Favor, DoorDash and UberEats. Simply place your order via phone and a member of our staff will bring your meal to you. Need wine? We have you covered. Purchase your favorite bottle of wine with curbside food orders to complete your meal! For our takeout menu and details visit our website.

Mendocino Farms

Multiple Locations

While Mendocino Farms is closed for dine-in services, all three Houston area locations remain open to service all take-out and delivery orders by offering contactless pickup and delivery. All guests who call-in an order will be able to pick their food up from Mendo’s third register and those who order online will pick up their order directly from the online ordering shelf. Guests are also able to place a to-go order inside of the restaurant but will be asked to wait outside for their food to be brought out to them by a member of the staff. Mendo partners with and will continue to deliver through Door Dash and Postmates if customers feel more comfortable receiving their meals directly to their homes. As always, Mendo has a wide variety of catering options for anyone looking to feed a family, available on their website at mendocinofarms.com.

Mutiny Wine Room

1124 Usener St., Houston, TX 77009. (832) 618-1233

Mutiny Wine Room is closed for dine-in services, but they are ready to continue to serve you, Houston! Starting March 18th, the Mutiny team is proud to offer a to-go wine and food menu for guest’s enjoyment at home. The team will be ready to take your order daily, Monday through Saturday with new business hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Head to mutinywineroom.com to view the menus and conveniently call in at 832.618.1233 or email mutiny@mutinywineroom.com to place your order. There will also be disposable menus offered if guests want to place their order on-site and wait in their vehicle for their food to be prepared. In addition to food, Mutiny is offering discounts on all retail bottled wine purchases: 15% off 1-5 bottles; 20% off 1-5 bottles with the inclusion of a food order over $20; 20% off 6-11 bottles; 25% off of a case or more.

Postino Wine Café

Multiple Locations

The Heights (642 Yale St) location will be offering curbside pickup on the full menu as well as Free delivery so the community can enjoy signature bruschetta, artisan cheeses and cured meats and handcrafted paninis at home. Postino is featuring special curbside packages as well as $15 bottles of wine togo.

Guests can stay updated on the latest and greatest Postino news including specials, and re-opening dates at https://www.upwardupdates.com/. Follow Postino on social for at home recipes and cooking tips.

Remember, for every bruschetta board prepared to-go, Postino will donate a meal to No Kid Hungry.

Delivery services: UberEATS, DoorDash, Grubhub and Postmates.

Curbside packages below:

• Date Night-In $25: Board of Bruschetta / 1 Snacky Thing / 1 Salad

• Kickback Pack $45: Board of Bruschetta / 3 Snacky Thing / Cheese Board

• Wine To-Go 2-pack $30 / 4-pack $55

State of Grace

3258 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77098 (832) 942-5080

While the main dining room is closed, State of Grace is offering to-go orders via phone for in-store pickup and curbside starting 3/18. Online ordering and delivery will be available by Wednesday, March 25th. Guests can enjoy dishes such as hushpuppies ($10), burrata ($12), farm salad ($9), “good breed” chicken ($27), pharmacy burger ($13), and more! The adjusted hours of operation during this time are 11am-9pm Sunday through Thursday, and 11am-10pm Friday and Saturday.

Steak 48

4444 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77027 (713) 322-7448

In an effort to protect our community, we will be closing our dining room to the public effective March 17 for the next 15 days. Steak 48 will continue to remain open and available for curbside pickup orders with the adjusted hours of 12 NOON to 9PM daily. Simply place your order on the phone and when you arrive, give us a quick call and one of our staff will run your order to your vehicle and process your payment.

Superica & La Lucha

1801 N Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX 77008 (713) 995-3215

Starting March 18th, classic Tex-Mex and gulf seafood dishes from Superica and La Lucha are available via online ordering or phone for in-store pickup, curbside, and delivery straight to your door. While the main dining room is closed, guests can place orders online at www.superica.com or by calling Superica at 713-955-3215 to get some of their favorite dishes including La Lucha’s fried chicken ($19.95 / $36.95), pharmacy burger ($12.95), and Superica’s El Lopez ($20), Delta style hot tamales ($12), a variety of fajitas and enchiladas, and more! The adjusted hours of operation during this time are 11am-9pm Sunday through Thursday, and 11am-10pm Friday and Saturday. For in-store pickup, orders will be picked up at Superica.

The Naturalist Bar and Lounge

InterContinental Hotel – Medical Center, 6750 Main St. (713) 422-2779

Elegant and savory Mediterranean flavors of The Naturalist bar and lounge at the InterContinental Hotel – Medical Center are now available at their Grab and Go station with breakfast options available from 6:30 to 10:30 am and lunch and dinner from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. Delivery services are also available for orders of $75 and more.

Rice Village Restaurants

Black Walnut Cafe | 713.526.5551
Sunday-Thursday, 7:00am – 10:00pm
Friday-Saturday, 7:00am-Midnight
Take-out Only

Brown Bag Deli | 713.520.6100
Monday-Sunday, 10:30am – 4pm
Take-out Only

D’Amico’s Italian Market | 713.526.3400
Monday-Thursday, 11:00am – 10:00pm
Friday-Saturday, 11:00am – 11:00pm
Sunday, 12:00pm – 9:00pm
Take-out Only

Hopdoddy | 281.557.2337
Monday-Sunday, 11:30am – 8:00pm
Take-out Only

Jason’s Deli | 713.522.2660
Monday-Sunday, 8:00am – 10:00pm
Take-out & Delivery Only

Le Peep | 713.523.7337
Monday-Sunday, 7:00am – 1:30pm
Take-out Only

Mendocino Farms | 713.487.0965
Monday-Sunday, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Take-out Only

Politan Row | 346.204.4948
Monday-Sunday, 11:00am – 7:00pm
Take-out Only

Shake Shack | 346.998.2820
Monday-Sunday, 11:00am – 8:00pm
Take-out & Delivery Only

Sixty Vines | 281.800.8808
Monday-Sunday, 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Take-out Only

Susiecakes | 713.521.2253
Monday-Saturday, 10:00am-8:00pm
Sunday, 11:00am-5:00pm

Sweetgreen | 832.720.7500
Monday-Sunday, 10:30am – 9:00pm
Take-out & Delivery Only

RIVER OAKS SHOPPING CENTER

Americas | 832-200-1492
Free Delivery for Bottles of Wine When Placing a Food Order; All Wine Bottles are 50% Off!
11:30 – 7:30 pm

Brasserie 19 | 713-524-1919
11 am – 9 pm
Curbside & Delivery Only

Cacao & Cardamom | 281-501-3567
Tues & Wed 10:30am – 6:30 pm
10% off Online with Code: CACAO10

Epicure Cafe | 713-520-6174
Monday-Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm
Take-out & Curbside + 10% Off Your Order

Izakaya Wa | 832-548-1889
Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am – 8 pm
Take-Out Only

La Griglia | 713.526-4700
Monday-Saturday, 11 am – 8 pm
Take-Out Only

La Madeline | 713-526-9666
7 am – 7 pm
Take-Out & Delivery

Macaron by Patisse | 713-965-7359
12 pm – 6 pm
Take-out & Delivery

Perry’s | 346-293-8400
11am – 10pm
2-Course Lunch for $29, 3-Course Lunch or Dinner for $45, 4-Course Dinner for $50
50% Off Wine With Food Purchase
Take-out & Curbside Only

March 23, 2020

Stuck Inside? Check Out This Nordstrom Sale!

I’m updating this listing as I find all the things I love — from clothes to housewares, beauty to accessories. Nordstrom never does a 25% off sitewide sale (usually their major sales are just Anniversary related, with the focus on new fall items) so this is BIG.

Personally, I’m stocking up on comfies, beauty, and a few special pieces that will be ready to wear once this quarantine is a thing of the past. I hope you join me in checking out my picks, shopping thru my links, and having a little fun while we’re all staying safe!

March 18, 2020
Travel Guide: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Swimsuit: HERE | Sunglasses: HERE | Earrings: HERE | Flip-Flops: HERE

Nothing soothes the soul quite like a girls trip — plus I’ve been LONG overdue for a long weekend of relaxation and fun. So when Breathless Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic reached out, I didn’t hesitate to dive right in.

Swimsuit: HERE / HERE

My sweet friend and fellow Houston blogger, Madison Payne, was thrilled to join me on the trip. Neither of us had been to the DR before, but had heard that it was becoming a new hotspot for beach vacations.

From the moment we arrived at Breathless, we were greeted with smiles and hospitality! Madison & I were whisked away in a golf cart for a quick tour of the property (it’s massive!) and taken to the Exhale Club — an upgraded, VIP experience that you can select when booking your reservation at Breathless. I highly recommend selecting Xhale (more on that in a bit!)

Swimsuit: HERE | Sunglasses: HERE | Earrings: HERE | Flip-Flops: HERE

THE AMENITIES

Breathless Punta Cana is a MASSIVE resort — it’s very walkable but you can ask for a golf cart ride if needed. The paths are well-lit at night, there’s staff everywhere to help you out if you’re lost, and wherever you stay, you can bet that a pool and food will be just a few steps from your door!

There’s a state of the art spa, a stunning fitness center, an amphitheater area for nightly performances, and more!

Breathless has 750 guest suites, full of contemporary, colorful interiors and spacious layouts. There was plenty of breathing room for Madison & I, and we were thrilled to see all the counter space in the large bathroom as well (it takes a lot for two girls to get ready!) Our balcony view was nothing short of phenomenal, and we loved sitting outside listening to the ocean AND scoping out the big pool scene before heading down.

THE VIP EXPERIENCE

If you upgrade to the VIP experience, you will also have access to a lounge for Xhale members only! Not only does it offer additional privacy and expanded pool and lazy river access, the clubhouse also starts serving alcohol earlier (and later) than the other bars, plus yummy grab & go food that make it easy to indulge at your convenience! There is also a bar on the beach just for Xhale guests, providing another layer of convenience when you need a refreshment but want to keep your sand in the toes awhile longer.

We were also thrilled to find out that we had a butler, David, who would help make our every wish come thru during our stay. Whether we wanted coffee and champagne in the morning, needed dinner reservations, or had any questions at all. Having a go-to point of contact made us feel comfortable and kept the entire stay seamless!

THE FOOD

Madison & I were happy to sample as much food as possible — the French bistro, the Mexican cocina, a buffet, and a whole lot of room service! Room service quickly became our favorite feature, because we were often able to eat while getting ready for the day / night, or able to have a late bite after enjoying the resort’s nightlife. I loved the Ceasar Salad and the Margherita Pizza on the late-night menu!
Bodysuit: HERE | Skirt: HERE | Heels: HERE
THE DRINKS

At Breathless (and next door at Now Onyx too) all of your beverages are included. Madison and I quickly got acquainted with the local beer, El Presidente, which is an easy-to-drink light beer that hits the spot every time. We also enjoyed our share of Champagne, frozen cocktails, and wine — all in the name of research of course! 🙂

The bars are spread conveniently across the resorts and swim up pool bars mean you don’t even have to hop out of the water to get a refill.

Swimsuit: HERE | Hat: HERE | Earrings: HERE

THE PARTIES

Breathless hosts a variety of parties, and many of the returning guests we talked to said the party-atmosphere sets the resort apart from others in Punta Cana. Guests in their 20s danced right alongside others in their 60s — everyone is there to have fun!

We experienced a Breathless Foam Party our first night there and it was a blast — picture foam shooting out of cannons into and across a huge pool, bass-pumping dance music and lights, and guests playing in the suds or danced alongside the water.

Parties aren’t limited to the night — an afternoon champagne toast turns into champagne showers, as men in swimsuits pop celebratory bottles and launch into a dance formation to wow the afternoon pool crowd. Each day at Breathless features unique programming, parties, and performances. But ultimately the choice is yours: with a property this large, there’s plenty of opportunity to get in on the excitement or take in the beautiful views and relax.
THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY OPTION

One of the most appealing aspects of Breathless is that it’s right next to (a very, very short walking distance from) NOW Onyx Resort, a family-friendly beachfront resort.

Now Onyx opened three years ago (and a huge section of it just opened in Nov 2019!) so it is brand new, modern, beautiful, and TONS of fun. It features a huge waterpark-style lazy river, several water slides, stunning swim-up bars, and tons of rooms with terraces that open directly to the newest pool! Add in 20 more restaurants, lots of pools, and even more beautiful beachfront, and it’s another slice of paradise.

I couldn’t help but feel drawn toward this beautiful property and immediately envisioned coming back to stay here with my boys. It was very kid-friendly, but not at all limited to just families.
THE SAFETY

Many of you asked if we felt safe in the Dominican considering previous media reports of safety concerns. I can tell you with 1000% certainty that I never felt anything less than safe, comfortable, and taken care of while at Breathless & Now Onyx. The staff we interacted with were kind, courteous, and respectful, and the other guests we met were fun, friendly, and personable. We met several people that became our vacation pals, and it was easy to make plans to meet at a pool or bar or the beach and swap stories everyday.

Also, there were multiple nights that I walked back to the room by myself, and never once worried about safety. My best advice — wherever you are, at home or abroad — is to always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

Swimsuit: HERE | Sunglasses: HERE

THE SUMMARY

The beauty of Breathless is it’s an all-inclusive resort: no need to pay for each meal, each drink, even room service — everything is included! This makes it so much easier to savor your time and experience without worrying about paying the tab.

Breathless and Now Onyx share an impressive beachfront. The sand is stunning, the water is gorgeous and warm — it’s the ideal beach for tanning, relaxing, and playing in the water too! Chic cabanas are also available to rent, and we enjoyed living it up one afternoon in our two-story cabana overlooking the beach!

The Breathless / Now Onyx Resorts setup is especially appealing to me. Both resorts are HUGE with countless pools and restaurants to choose from. Even though they’re two different resorts, they are just steps apart and when staying at one, you have access to the other, so it’s a two-for-one! I would *love* to come back again and stay at Onyx so I can bring my kids and watch them play in the sand or splash around in the lazy river.

Special thanks to Breathless Resort for hosting us on this incredible vacation. Please let me know if any of you have questions about Punta Cana, Breathless, or Now Onyx — I’d be happy to help!

XOXO,

Keli
March 4, 2020
Sticking To Healthy Eating With Green Chef
We’re now two months into 2020 and I’m making progress on my efforts to eat healthy — thanks in large part to Green Chef! You’ve heard me talk about Green Chef a few times now because it’s become such an important part of my lifestyle. Anything that simplifies healthy eating and saves time (and money) is a win in my book, so I’m thrilled to share my latest experience with you — plus an AWESOME discount too!

One of the best surprises of my Green Chef journey so far has been the *confidence* it’s helping me build in the kitchen. I’m now making dishes that I didn’t think I could make, like meatloaf, falafel, and soup! The little victories have encouraged me to make time for cooking even when I don’t have a Green Chef meal around, and to me, that’s a big change.

THE BASICS

Green Chef offers several different healthy options for a variety of diets: Paleo (free of gluten, dairy, grain, and soy), Keto (low-carb, gluten-free), Balanced Living (meat, seafood, and vegetarian), Plant-Powered (vegetarian / vegan), and Family (meat, seafood, and veggie options.)

I got the Vegetarian Plan — designed to feed two people, but in my house there’s enough food for me to share with the two boys and occasionally have enough for lunch the next day. Green Chef also offers Family Plans; more on that later.

There is no long-term commitment with Green Chef. You can freeze your subscription at any time, so if you’re on vacation or have a busy week of dinner plans ahead, just log in and skip a week. While some of the ingredients could be frozen and used later, the intent is for you to have the freshest food possible without running to the grocery store.

Nearly every ingredient that you need to cook the food is included in the box (except kitchen staples like salt, pepper, cooking oil, etc.) and because it arrives in protective packaging, you can trust that your items are arriving to your doorstep safely!

THE MEALS

Green Chef is a USDA certified organic company, so you can expect fresh, healthy ingredients in each box — free of GMOs, toxic pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, or steroids. Whew!

This week, my box included three meals: “Green Pea & Feta Falafel”, “Portobello Fajita Bowl”, and “Chard & Artichoke Quesadillas”. Each took about 45 min to cook and were delicious!! I was especially impressed with the falafal, because I’ve never actually made falafel before. I loved the kale salad that came with the pork meal, and that says a lot because I rarely eat kale!

The recipes are very easy to follow (even for beginners like myself) and the cards come with step by step photos for reference too! Here are a few photos we captured while making dinner one night — enjoy!
THE DEAL

Green Chef is extending a special offer to my readers! Get $80 off + free shipping on Green Chef!

This would make a fantastic gift for anyone (yourself included!) or just because — give Green Chef a try and let me know your feedback. Happy eating!

XOXO,

Keli
February 29, 2020
Frost It Forward With Random Acts of Kindness

Helping strangers like this man at the grocery store was SUCH an amazing experience!

In all of the hustle & bustle of the holiday season, it’s so easy to get caught up in our own little world. Running countless errands, finishing year-end work, planning for trips, decorating your home — we end up feeling overwhelmed instead of uplifted!

This year, I’m challenging you to a little something different. I’ve partnered with Frost Bank through their Opt For Optimism initiative to “Frost It Forward”: a campaign that aims to lift the spirits of another person through random act of kindness, and in turn, could leave you feeling grateful and optimistic.

“Frost It Forward” encourages all of us to perform random acts of kindness to help others.

THE MISSION

Frost provided me with a $100 cash card to spend on strangers however I saw fit. There are SO many people, causes, and agencies that could use some help and at first the flexibility overwhelmed me! But then I thought about the most basic needs that we could all relate to and it became clear: groceries and gas.

I helped a woman out by putting $20 of gas in her car!

THE PROCESS

I visited two different Houston grocery stores and met incredible people in the process. There were those who genuinely felt my offer of paying for their groceries was too good to be true and were skeptical, so they declined. Others passed on the chance to accept help, instead asking that I please help someone else who needed it more than they did. I was most moved by the overwhelming appreciation of the people who DID let me help them — because even though I was just putting $20 or $30 toward their weekly groceries, they were now able to buy gas that they’d otherwise need to wait to purchase.

This very grateful man at the grocery store was one of the wonderful people I helped.

In all, I directly helped four different people: one woman buying gas, another woman buying groceries, and two men at different grocery stores checking out as well. It made me want to do MORE!

Dropped a $10 Frost card into the bucket for The Salvation Army to use to help someone else.

Frost also provided five $10 cards to encourage others to use the money to help someone else. I dropped one of these cards into the Salvation Army bucket and gave the remaining gift cards out to strangers, who promised to use them to benefit others. Sure, I won’t know exactly how they were spent. But I think that my heart led me to the right players for this incredibly uplifting game.

With $100, we helped four people with everyday essentials like groceries and gas.

THE LESSON

At the end of the day, this was a success: I connected with real people, stepped outside my comfort zone, and accomplished my mission of helping people. And equally rewarding: I felt so encouraged, uplifted, and happy!

One of the women I helped at the grocery store!

Frost wants you to think about how you can have a similar impact in your neighborhood, community, city, or country. It doesn’t take a lot of money (or any at all!) to perform a random act of kindness, but the ripple effect it can create is priceless. Visit the Opt For Optimism website to see how you can get involved and help spread generosity!

Frost it Forward this holiday season to help a stranger!

I hope you take a moment this holiday season to do something special for someone else — and savor the gratitude, hope, encouragement, and inspiration you receive in return!

XOXO,

Keli

December 25, 2019