Dish-Houston

Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, today announced that it will celebrate Grand Openings of three new restaurants in the next 4 weeks in the greater Houston area.

July 27 - 4130 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77504 (9:30AM Grand Opening with Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell)

July 30 - 2330 South Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77019 (9:30AM Grand Opening with Houston area VIPs)

August 12 - Terminal E (Post-Security), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, TX 77032 (Operated by noted travel retailer Hudson Group)

Earlier this year, the brand opened new restaurants in Missouri City near Sienna Plantation and in the Westchase District of Houston. Dunkin’ Donuts franchise partners now operate 6 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the greater Houston area, and the three additional locations opening this summer along with a previously announced opening this fall in the Humble area will bring the count to 10. The new location on Shepherd will offer Free Coffee, medium size hot or iced, from July 22 – August 6. The new location in Pasadena will offer Free Coffee, medium size hot or iced, July 23 – August 13.

The new restaurants will be open from 5:00 am – 11:00 pm, 7 days a week and will employ approximately 30 crew members each. The restaurants will have comfortable seating and will provide a welcoming environment for guests to enjoy Dunkin’ Donuts’ food and beverages in a friendly and fun atmosphere. All locations will offer a complete menu of Dunkin' Donuts’ internationally recognized coffee, lattes, donuts and bakery goods. The restaurants will also serve items customized with flavors adapted to suit local taste preferences for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacking – any time is Dunkin’ time!

Heating up the menu for the new restaurants, Dunkin’ Donuts will introduce the new Hot & Spicy Breakfast Sandwich and Hot & Spicy Wake-Up Wrap. The Hot & Spicy Breakfast Sandwich includes a spicy omelet featuring jalapeno peppers, red bell peppers and pepper jack cheese with habanero, served with two slices of bacon and a slice of white cheddar cheese on a plain bagel. The Hot & Spicy Wake-Up Wrap includes one-half of the spicy omelet, served with one slice of bacon and a slice of white cheddar cheese on a flour tortilla. Both are available through August at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide.

Now that they've made it hot and spicy they will need to help Houstonians keep it cool so they're offering a Raspberry Lime Coolatta® frozen drink! Featuring a sweet lime flavor with a hint of raspberry, the Raspberry Lime Coolatta is available for a limited time at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide. Dunkin’ Donuts offers several varieties of Coolattas to beat the heat this summer, including new Berry Blast, featuring a burst of pomegranate and blueberry taste; Hot Chocolate Coolatta, a refreshing frozen treat with rich, milk chocolate flavors that lets you love Hot Chocolate in a new, unexpectedly ‘cool’ way; and Minute Maid® Orange Coolatta, a favorite orange flavor in a refreshing frozen drink. Dunkin’ Donuts also just introduced Original Blend Iced Coffee K-Cup® packs, a new variety of the brand’s popular K-Cup® packs for use with the Keurig® K-Cup® Brewing System. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Iced Coffee K-Cup® packs are available through August at participating Dunkin’ Donuts as well!

So prepare your sweet tooth...and apparently your entire pallet and set your gps for your local Duncan Donuts! After all, America Runs on Duncan!

Most folks have that one restaurant that is a childhood memory for them. That special place your parent or grandparent would take you for your one on one time together. Le Peep is absolutely one of those for 3 generations of Houstonians.

Turns out, Le Peep is actually a franchise based in Colorado and came to our beloved Houston in 1987. One of the owners in the partnership, Brendon Murphy, started with the original Houston location in Rice Village as a manager in 1995 before moving to the Westheimer/610 store which, since opening it's doors has been the number one grossing Le Peep in the United States! (That location, indecently is the store DISH'S Memaw used to take us to for our special dates.)

It is more than a legacy for the clients, Le Peep is one of those few places in town where the staff almost as regular as the clientele. Claudie Norris Jr. started with Le Peep when they first opened their doors here in Houston as a bus boy 25 years ago and has worked his way up to running his own store! Manager Amanda Mendez has been with the Shepherd location for almost 4 years now. She is the voice behind the Le Peep Houston social media. Her start in the food business came from Jason's Deli but her heart is with the customers. She started the social media for Le Peep knowing it would be a great way to keep in touch with current clients and get to word out to others. (Follow the on Facebook or Twitter) Social media isn't just having your name established on the different outlets. It's actually having a voice, speaking to your clients and interacting with them regularly. Amanda understands this and if you FB or tweet her you will get a personalised answer. That personalised touch is what has made Le Peep so successful in the Houston area for almost 30 years. Brendon, one of the managing partners who started as a manager over 15 years ago...you will still see him working in the stores almost every weekend.

The stories of their favorite clients is like hearing someone regale you with their family history. One lady and her son come down to the Shepherd location once a month because her son won't eat at any other breakfast place. His favofire is their chocolate chip pancakes. They live in Conroe! That is testament to how loyal folks can be when you give them good service.

Admittedly, when DISH hits up Le Peep we always indulge in the eggs benedict. It's a childhood thing, but if you peruse the menu you will notice there is a full lunch including burgers! There is another little secret about which you should know! Le Peep caters! From Italian food to burgers to everything in between, including BREAKFAST, Le Peep will cater your lunch, dinner, or even wedding! Yes, wedding. Brendon said there are folks, like DISH, who's happy memories are based around Le Peep and they wanted the restaurant to flavor their wedding. We imagine the eggs benedict would be pretty yummy next to cake =)

See you for brunch soon, DISHIES!

Houston will welcomed a touch of New York’s West Village with an exciting, new restaurant: Trattoria Il Mulino. An off-shoot of the famed Il Mulino New York, Trattoria Il Mulino offers a casual, family-friendly dining experience in a lively atmosphere with a menu emphasizing classic Italian cuisine from the Abruzzi region of Italy while incorporating the bounty of Texas culinary products available for the kitchen. Some of the most popular dishes at Il Mulino New York are featured, along with the more traditional pizzas, pastas, and lighter dishes. Trattoria Il Mulino offers an extensive wine list along with an outstanding bar menu and an array of specialty cocktails.

The interior design of Trattoria IL Mulino, as its’ name implies, creates a fun, come as you are atmosphere for guests. The open concept design with pickled cedar, natural red brick, large exhibition kitchen and four private wine rooms adds an element of elegant contemporary Italian design. Custom-designed wood dining tables, sans table cloths, add to the sense of authentic old-country ambience and cuisine. The Bar area creates an intimate, sensual mood with a large contemporary backlit bar and comfortable leather bar stools.

At Trattoria Il Mulino, Executive Chef Michele Mazza embraces the Abruzzi tradition of “la panarda,” a decadent feast sometimes lasting up to 24 hours in the old country. Since the 16^th Century, the Abbruzi region has been celebrated throughout Europe for its superior culinary tradition. Notorious sticklers for freshness and simplicity, Abruzzi chefs have been sought after by aristocrats the world over for their savory recipes and abundant portions. Staples of Abruzzi cuisine include olive oil, tomatoes, lamb, and hot peppers, as well as a variety of cured meats, goat’s milk cheeses and superbly textured pastas.

Trattoria Il Mulino Trattoria will offer its guests a superior dining experience centered around the finest Abruzzi cuisine. A wide array of elegantly presented dishes will be served in a lively bistro environment with a superior level of customer service.

 To keep the menu fresh and in season, dishes are changed regularly and reflect local culinary influences. Choose appetizers, pizzas, pastas, entrees or desserts from the extensive menu. The authentic Abruzzi recipes are prepared in a traditional open kitchen with only the finest ingredients and an incredible eye for detail. The charcoal grill and wood-burning pizza oven make for a cozy ambience and an array of delicious aromas. The Italian wine selection is extensive, featuring moderately priced offerings as well as more exclusive vintages. With its teeming bar, communal tables and exposed brick walls, the Il Mulino Trattoria exudes a lived-in, casual grace with an undertone of sophistication.

But what really sets Trattoria Il Mulino apart from other bistros in their price range is the food. From the eggplant caponata to the veal chop with sage and garlic, each dish is prepared with a commitment to superior quality, presentation and taste. Simple favorites like the rigatoni bolognese redefine Italian comfort food, while the savory nuances of dishes like the seared red snapper with cherry tomatoes, garlic, pancetta and white wine over broccoli rabe befit a more sophisticated palate.

One of the specialties of the house at Trattoria Il Mulino is the house-made Grappa which has been a tradition in Northern Italy for centuries utilizing recipes handed down through the generations. Trattoria Il Mulino uses those recipes to create a variety of house-made, infused grappas such as Pear, Blueberry, Strawberry, Fig, Raspberry, Apricot, and Raisin.  The process consists of taking the distilled spirit and fermenting it with the fruit of your choice.   We allow time, Mother Nature, and a little love to create these delectable digestifs.  As a finale to your meal, we serve a complimentary pour of house-made Limoncello.

Trattoria Il Mulino t the new Westin Houston Memorial City will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 945 Gessner at I-10. For reservations, please call (832) 358-0600.

Come on DISHIES! You know you want it and now you can have it "Just the way you like it"!

TUESDAY JUNE 22, 2010 Stop by any Whataburger for a free breakfast!!

The free Breakfast on a Bun event is part of Whataburger Serves. It's all about building employee team spirit and morale, customer appreciation fun moments with free food and community builders that support groups in need.

Did you know that WHATABURGER is Texas based??

It's soo true!! Whataburger has focused on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since 1950 when Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger as a small roadside burger stand in Corpus Christi , Texas!!

Dobson gave his restaurant a name he hoped to hear customers say every time they took a bite of his made-to-order burgers:  “What a burger!” Within the first week, people lined up around the block for his 25 cent, all-American beef burgers served on five-inch buns. Today, the company is headquartered in San Antonio , Texas , with more than 700 locations in 10 states with sales of more than $1 billion annually.

Now THAT'S a success story DISH can take a bite out of!!