The Myth of Authenticity When you visit an ‘ethnic’ restaurant, you’re often looking for it to be ‘authentic.’ You want the cooks to look ‘authentic.’ And the clientele to look ‘authentic.’ I’m guilty of it, too. If I go to a Vietnamese restaurant, and there are more white people than Vietnamese people, and the decor…
Author: rebeccacmatlock
Truth BBQ
Because it’s not a Texas-based food blog without a BBQ post. The original Truth BBQ is located off 290, on the west side of Brenham. I went on a Saturday, arriving around 12:15. The wait was probably 30 minutes long – very reasonable for a Texas BBQ joint. And, to make things even better, there’s…
Romanian Food Fest
The Romanian Food Fest happens every fall in Colleyville, a suburb of Dallas. In 2021, it’s happening on November 6 and 7. There’s music, a lovely Eastern Orthodox church, and, of course, fantastic food. Romanian food is sometimes thought of as ‘peasant’ food because it’s cheap and hearty. Think cabbage rolls (stuffed with pork and…
Pho Bò To & Bò Né
Plug this place into your Google Maps and you’ll come upon a large Vietnamese strip center at the corner of Beechnut and Loop 8. Go down to the emptier, southern end of the strip mall and find the shop with the blinking red ‘Open’ sign and odd stone chairs out front that are shaped like…
Cedars Bakery
Cedars Bakery is in a Middle Eastern strip mall, near Hillcroft, Westpark Tollway and 59, and it’s the best spot in Houston for Lebanese flatbread – far better than We’re Dough. This hole-in-the-wall is frequented by Middle Eastern families enjoying a late breakfast together on the weekend. Cedars specializes in Lebanese flatbread, or mana’eesh. The…
Villa Arcos
Villa Arcos is a hole-in-the-wall taco joint in East EaDo (not the hip Truck Yard portion of EaDo) in Houston, full of Hispanic families enjoying their mid-day meal together. Park in front of the abandoned house and walk into the red-colored house with the bars on the windows. The extensive list of tacos is written…
Les Givral’s
UPDATE (JULY 2021): I am very sad to write that Les Givral’s has permanently closed. But hopefully you’ll still find the brief on banh mi and pho below helpful. It seems fitting that my first food post is Les Givral’s in Houston. Or, Les Giv’s, as we say. This is my weekly staple. If I’m…
Why a Food Blog?
Understanding people and the world through food The name of my blog, Eat Local, Eat Global, reflects my love for traveling through food, whether in the suburbs of Houston or halfway across the world in Hong Kong. Exploring other types of food allows you to travel to other places, experience other cultures, and understand other…
Eat Local, Eat Global 