In culinarythymes.com: Cooking with Pernod: Halibut with Shallot Butter Sauce Summer Picnic Menu: Herb Garden Lemonade Luis' Spanish Gazpacho Mustard Seed Salmon Potato Salad with Leeks, Capers & Dill Corn on the Cob with Tarragon Butter Whirley-Pop Tons of Recipes Honey: 3 Vinaigrettes and Honey-Citrus Lacquered Wild Salmon Cooking Classes A Shiraz to Share Gourmet Grilled Cheese Wine Events Pernod Cocktail High 5 for Think5 The Cornbread Gospels Food Snob's Dictionary Fun, Foodie Events Wine Country Tour CD Culinary Tours & Travel Food & Wine Festivals Gigi's, The Grove, Tiny Boxwoods, Brasserie Max & Julie

RESTAURANTS: Houston Dining Notes Locally-owned Gigi's Asian Bistro & Dumpling Bar (5085 Westheimer, Galleria II, 713.629.8889) is a refreshing alternative for a dining option at the Galleria. We more than two occasions, we've enjoyed the perfectly fried clamari with three sauces, our favorite a spicy mayonnaise; and the green chili curry....The Grove (1611 Lamar, 713.337.7314, www.thegrovehouston.com) is a beautifully designed restaurant at Discovery Green Park. We dined on deviled eggs topped with caviar and unctuous chorizo and a fisherman's stew rife with seafood, just wished there'd been more of that yummy broth. Returned the evening of an Astros game to see the place hopping....Tiny Boxwoods (3614 W. Alabama, 713.622.4224) is located in a lovely setting overlooking Thompson-Hanson Nursery. The ladies-who-lunch crowd dine on BLTs and salads at this delightful spot...We thoroughly enjoyed Brasserie Max & Julie (4315 Montrose, 713.524.0070). Rack of lamb with frites was thoroughly French and enjoyed with a lovely burgundy recommended by the sommelier. Dolce Vita I could not stop talking about the pizza at Dolce Vita after a recent visit. The tallegio pie blended the eponymous Italian cheese, pears, baby arugula and truffle oil on a perfectly crisp crust. What a great blending of flavors ñ this is why we go out to eat, to experience the creative, sublime blending of flavors from a top chef like Marco Wiles. (His high-end DaMarco is exquisite.) On our most recent visit, we sampled the pancetta and parsley, salad. A layer of Italian parsley and a few thinly sliced red onions are sprinkled with pecorino cheese. At table, thickly chopped pancetta (Italian bacon) and some tasty grease are spooned atop. Yum. Salads are fresh and delightful whether it is baby arugula salad with roasted tomatoes or the shaved Brussels sprouts with pecorino. Dolce Vita is cozy, fun and delicious. 500 Westheimer, 713.520.8222, www.dolcevitahouston.com Rioja Rioja has been at the top of our list for a visit, since moving back to Houston this fall. We'd tasted Nacho Fonseca's paella at the Houston Polo Club's International Paella Festival and it was tops. So one evening we settled in for tapas and paella. We were delighted that not much had changed in the 2 years since our last visit. Fonseca's paella, traditional in style and studded with calamari, shrimp and his housemade sausage, is richly flavored with perfectly cooked Valencia rice, and a crunchy soccorat around the bottom edge that disappeared quickly. We ate it our favorite way, with a squeeze of lemon over top and a little garlic tinged alioli on the side. Tapas were delightful -- shrimp in garlic and olive oil, a sublime tortilla. Nice wine list with helpful staff to guide diners through it. Rioja has flamenco on the weekends. Enjoy this taste of Spain in west Houston. 11920-J Westheimer Houston 77077, 281.531.5569, www.riojarestaurant.com Sugarbaby's Cupcake Boutique It's a happy place, Sugarbaby's. It's girly -- all black, white and pink -- and my daughters and I loved it. The cupcakes did not disappoint. My favorite of the bunch was the pink strawberry flavored cupcake made in honor of breast cancer month and topped with pink ribbon sprinkles. Usually I am a white cupcake or chocolate girl, but I am looking forward to returning to grab another Sweet Strawberry. Sugarbaby's features other pastries like bite sized tarts and cheesecakes and individual bundt and pound cakes, and serves tea and Dean and Deluca coffee. There's a party room, too. 3310 South Shepherd Houston, TX 77098 713.52.SUGAR www.ilovesugarbabys.com Reef The first attempt to visit Reef was sidelined thanks to a sick kid, so we were anxious to schedule another visit. The babysitterís scheduled opened up on a Monday night, but we were hesitantóseafood on Monday night can be sketchy. But the full room of patrons didnít mind and Reef delivered. For starters, we sampled the ceviche which was fruity, slightly smoky and reminiscent of the real deal weíve nibbled beachside in Mexico. The thick crabcake with a delicate crust was served atop a sweet, sour and hot slaw. Weíd been to Bank under Caswellís reign and appreciated his exquisite blending of flavors. We ordered grilled redfish over brocolini topped with finely chopped green bell pepper. Grilled scallops over polenta with a mushroom ragu was a nice play on shrimp and grits. A delightful buttermilk pana cotta served with strawberry sorbet was the perfect end to this dining experience. The interior design of the place, specifically the cool colors (aqua and blue) and textures (polished concrete and pearlized table tops) are a metaphor for the fresh seafood found within. Reef is a rare, and welcomed blend of unpretentious atmosphere and food prepared by a chef who is at the top of his game. 2600 Travis Houston, TX 77006 713.526.8282 www.reefhouston.com Ouisie's Table So comfortable, so elegant, so unpretentious. That's Ouisie's Table. Elouise Jones' restaurant features regional flavors of Texas, the Gulf Coast and the South. You'll find southern favorites like CFS, but also lots of fresh fish on the menu and there's always a special with exciting flavors. This is where we get our oyster fix with the Fried Gulf Coast Oyster Lunch. If the weather's nice, dine on the patio. If you've got a big group, the wine room is fun. 3939 San Felipe Houston, Texas 77027 713.528.2264 www.ouisiestable.com Goode Company Seafood Signature Texas style, but not in the big belt buckle, big hair sort of way. Subtle, excellent fare from the sea found here. We love the Campechana Extra, a plate of raw oysters, mesquite grilled flounder, shrimp with two salsas, shrimp and oyster po-boys, gumbo, the list goes on. Family friendly ñ itís loud and the kids love it too. Donít miss Goodeís famous pecan pie. 2621 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77098 713.523.7154 www.goodecompany.com