An Impromptu and Perfect Lunch

Last week I made a spur of the moment decision to dine at RDG+Bar Annie, Robert Del Grande’s elegant restaurant in the Galleria section of Houston. I ordered the Restaurant Weeks menu, and for $20 was treated to three courses … All very good, one excellent. I started with a chilled corn soup – the excellent course – and proceeded to a nearly perfect hanger steak and frites, closing with a chocolate brioche bread pudding. The soup was creamy, fresh roasted corn, touch of spiciness imparted by a dollop of smoked chile, garnished with cotija. I drank a 2011 Jean-Louis Chave Côtes du Rhône ‘Mon Couer’ and am now ordering a case of this beautiful wine.

A lovely touch I encountered in the restaurant … Actually, two lovely touches: a framed handwritten letter from Julia Child to Chef Robert Del Grande hangs on the wall, and when the hostess (I later found it that it was Mimi Del Grande I was talking to) saw the book I was reading, a volume of Johnny Apple‘s NY Times dispatches, she told me that he and his wife, Betsey, were frequent guests . She added that his business card was still in her wallet, and produced it for me. I like how food and passion connects us.

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3 Comments

  1. Do Bianchi

    Great post. Love RDG, too. Did you see Greg Morago’s “remembrances of Julia by Houston restaurateurs” summer 2012? It’s worth checking out.

    Btw, my signed note by Johnny Apple is one of my most prized possessions! We have much to discuss! 🙂

    • James Brock

      Hello, and thanks for the comments. Looking forward to meeting you.

  2. Tom Tebbutt

    James – I’m an old friend of Nick Stout’s from his days of covering the French Open tennis for the IHT. I will be in Paris this week and wondered if you know how I could contact him.
    My email is [email protected].
    Tom Tebbutt

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