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Worth The Wait. Phoenicia Finally Opens

by David Theis

Urban and urbane, downtown Phoenicia finally opens

The news that the downtown Phoenicia had finally opened on Monday shouldn’t have come as a surprise, as the date had appeared in the media, but still it did. After all, we’d heard it was on the verge of opening so very many times over the last 10 months or so that we’d started to believe it would never happen. So when we read on Eater that the dreamed-of market had opened, we jumped right up and headed downtown, before the Phoenician owners had time to change their minds.

Once there we were even more dazzled than we’d expected to be. We love the original store, which still boggles the mind with its sheer volume and variety of eats from around the world, but we have to admit that it feels like a warehouse. But the downtown store is beautifully designed and lit. It offers many more items than we’d expected; really, we’d mostly just expected a bar and deli with a small grocery attached. But in addition to the imported goodies—the first stand we saw was filled yerba mate, in a variety of brands, no less--the store covers pretty much all the basics as well. For us East Side residents, this (along with the upcoming Georgia's downtown) will serve as a real grocery store.

But that’s not why we loved it so. Instead we thrilled in how very urban it is, with all of its snug, two-story expanse put to good use. The store would not be out of place in San Francisco or Manhattan, but, in a pragmatically Houston touch, it also offers free parking.

It also offers the very cool looking MKT Bar, which came as a lovely surprise. We were just looking for the restroom when we wandered into the humming and happy bar, which will be open until 2 am on weekends. It features 10 or so beer taps, a wide variety of wine, and waiters hurrying in and out of the room, carrying in food from the deli.

So yes, we’re enthused. Given its proximity to Discovery Green, this can be a signature gathering place for the city. Our only worry is that it might be too cool. Will it be a signature gathering place for the city? Houston is thoroughly international, of course. But will enough international Houstonians drive downtown for their Turkish crackers and Armenian wine? Clearly the Phoenicia owners have bet that they will.

And we’re betting that, once Houstonians see this store, they’ll come back for more.

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Our hearts go out to Sylvia Casares of Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen as we hope she will make a quick and speedy recovery after a tragic incident this week concerning her business partner and boyfriend.

March 21 and Houston committee members and local artists will demonstrate their crafts and sell bowls at the Whole Foods Market on Kirby. Benefiting the Houston Food Bank in conjunction with the Empty Bowls Houston event. Whole Foods plans to donate 5 percent of the day’s sales from all four area locations to the Houston Food Bank.

Oxheart opened this week. Among the Uchi’s and Underbellys of the culinary scene Oxheart is right up there with them. Be sure to put it on your to-try list for March.

This Monday, March 19th The Last Chef Standing Restaurant Challenge will kick off at The Tasting Room from 6 - 8 p.m. The competition will have local restaurants compete against in each other in a bracket-style competition to determine a People’s Choice Winner over the course of five rounds.

Be sure to check out Eater Houston’s Amber Ambrose’s interview with Lyle Lovett on growing up in Klein, Texas and some of his favorite restaurants in Houston like Ninfa’s on Navigation, RDG Cafe Annie and the like.

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America’s Favorite Cookie turns 100 years old this week. That’s right we’re talking about you - Oreo.

Underbelly is officially open at 1100 Westheimer Rd. We’ve got reservations.

Paul Qui of Uchiko a sister restaurant to Tyson Cole’s Uchi wins Top Chef Texas.

Underbelly is now accepting reservations. Make yours here.

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Liberty Station’s annual Chili Cookoff will be March 10th. The cookoff will benefit Young Texans Against Cancer. Team Entry is $25 per team get more info here.

Houston may have just been ranked the #1 most overweight city, but at least we’re not the most obese. We’ll leave that spot for our friends in Dallas.

James Beard Award Semi-Finalist Nominees were released this week. This year, Houston has six chefs in the running, that’s one more than last year.

Sprinkles Cupcakes is featuring a limited edition cupcake to honor the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s opening of the Japan Gallery. The special cupcake features Cherry Blossoms and will be available until March 20.

Johnny Mandola named General Manager of Damian’s Cucina Italiana, located at 3011 Smith St., Houston, TX 77006.

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Trader Joes is said to open in The Woodlands first, then Montrose as originally expected in the Alabama Theatre but now we’re hearing Memorial too on S. Voss near San Felipe.

Uchi opened February 2nd and now a month later, Katsuya schedules to open it’s doors March 2nd. Must be something in the water.

Cinq Chef Jeramie Robinson is leaving Houston for Austin as Chef Tyson Cole offers him a job with Uchi Austin.

Acclaimed Mexican chef Aquiles Chávez opens his upscale Mexican and seafood restaurant this Saturday — La Fisheria. Filming for the new show Aquiles in Houston begins soon.

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Guadalajara Bakery will close it’s doors February 29th after 45 years in business. The new building owners have decided to turn the well-loved taco-spot into a bar. The Chavez family has no plans to reopen their doors elsewhere.

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Jonathan Jones steps down from XUCO XICANA.

New York City’s famous restaurant LE CIRQUE launches a series of pop-up restaurants, with one of them in Houston. New executive chefOlivier Reginensi hosts the pop-ups; he started his culinary career with Le Cirque in 1993 and is excited to be back.

EATSIE BOYS food truck sits down for an interview with Eater Houston on their one year anniversary.

THE RAILYARD, a River Oaks bar, is a finalist in the 2012 Nightclub & Bar Awards for “Small Wonder Bar of the Year,” only one of two Texas bars to reach the finals. The other nominee is STATS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL of Tomball, TX as a finalist for “Sports Bar of the Year.”

GEORGIA'S MARKET opens a downtown store January 27th. With four distinct sections, is there anything Georgia’s doesn’t have? Complete with the famous all-day buffet, an organic grocery store, a second-floor area meant to be a reading loft and last? The cellar soon to start serving up local microbrews and sustainable wines that can also be found up stairs in the grocery.

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