Alan checks out our hotel shuttle, which would take us to Caracol.
Several weeks ago, more than 40 East Tennesseans headed to Houston on an art trip arranged by Knoxville Museum of Art Curator Stephen Wicks and Krishna Adams, also of the museum.
As Alan and I got ready that Thursday to hop in the car and head to the airport, I noticed our latest edition of Wine Spectator magazine had arrived. I tossed it in the car to read on the plane. And lo and behold, what did it feature? A listing of the best restaurants in Houston! Woohoo!
Our schedule showed we had Friday night to plan on our own so as soon as we landed, I called a recommended restaurant, Caracol, for a reservation. The aforementioned Stephen Wicks, our leader, said he wanted to go with us, as did our buddies Mark and Cathy Hill.
The guys waiting in the bar at Caracol. From left, Alan Carmichael, Mark Hill and Stephen Wicks.
It turns out Houston is really hopping on Friday nights. The earliest seating we could get was 8:30, which we thought was fine — until we discovered it was impossible to get a cab at our hotel, ZaZa. The doormen felt bad for us and offered us the hotel shuttle, which normally only goes within a five-mile radius of the hotel itself. The restaurant was some 20 minutes away. We caused quite the stir when we arrived at the hip upscale eatery because the hotel shuttle was outfitted with a set of longhorns. “Who ARE you all?” asked one patron who was waiting in line for his table.
The food at Caracol is high-end Mexican with an edge toward seafood. It is the brainchild of Mexican chef Hugo Ortega and his business partner wife, Tracy Vaught, and is themed to reflect the tastes of the Mexican coast. Caracol is a Spanish word for sea snail or conch. I’m not saying you should go to Houston just for this restaurant, but please go to this restaurant if you are ever in Houston!
Caracol has only been open a year and it definitely is an “in” spot to go on a Friday night. Even though we had a reservation, the hostess said we would have to wait for a table. We retired to the bar and ordered margaritas and martinis. Soon, the hostess approached and asked me if it would be OK if she seated us in a private room. My old suspicious reporter’s instincts kicked in and I said, “Show me the room.”
She ushered me to the beautiful Marea room, the restaurant’s wine room, which features a boat hull ceiling and a stunning portrait of underwater life by artist Charley Harper, whose art also adorns the main dining room. The ambiance was enchanting. “This will do,” I said, trying not to act too excited. We went back to the bar to retrieve the others. “Score!” I thought to myself.
The crowded — and noisy — main dining room of Caracol. The art is by Charley Harper.
Our lovely private dining room with the boat hull ceiling.
Best bite of the trip: wood roasted oysters with chipotle butter. They were so good, we ordered another round of them.
Alan’s starter was lobster cocktail bites in endive leaves.
Cathy and Mark Hill in front of a huge Charley Harper piece.
The more I looked at it, the more sea creatures I saw in it.
See what I mean?
Alan in front of all that wine!
Oaxacan fish and shrimp soup with dried chiles, casuelitas de masa, tomato, green beans and squash was my main course.
Alan had a whole snapper.
Mark loved his tortilla, refritos, pipian verde, seared scallops, and caramelized cauliflower.
Cathy had crispy rolled pork tacos, avocado-tomatillo salsa, crema fresca, and queso fresco.
This unbelievable dessert Alan ordered is called “El Coco.” It is served with a mallet needed to smack it open!
The server gave Alan some coaching on the best technique to crack open the chocolate ball that is designed to look like a coconut.
And there you have it! The inside is filled with coconut buttercream icing, coconut ganache, coconut streusel and whipped coconut.
When we left, the once-crowded dining room was nearly empty, allowing a great view of this Charley Harper squid.
Go!
This trip was really about art. In our next post, I’ll tell you about that. But to me, Caracol was a huge highlight!
What an exquisite evening that somehow started in a longhorn, literally, car.
That dessert will be hard to ever beat!
There is a technique to breaking the chocolate layer of the dessert. I hope I can repeat it . . . sometime.
We really got lucky this time, Maria!
Alan: I’m sure it will all come back to you when you need it!
Charley Harper is one of my favorite artists!
Wow. That all looked delicious, but I’m especially intrigued by the oysters.
I had never heard of him before, Sara. But now I’m just crazy about his stuff. It was so perfect in this particular setting.
OMG……..my chocolate radar went into overdrive when I saw the dessert…….looks and sounds heavenly!!!
This looks and sounds extraordinary — adding to my list in case I ever visit Houston!
Regina: Alan, at first reluctant about visiting Houston, is now plotting to return!
Lauren: Yep. You need to do that!
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