The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!



Diverse Dining List

Latin Bites in Houston

9/11/2011

1 Comment

 

Peruvian Food in Houston
​
​
Lorrie has not been to Peru, but she is the only person I know who has ever been to this amazing tiny restaurant, tucked into the Art/Warehouse District of Houston. (I didn't even know there was such a thing)  5 Bonus points for taking me to a part of Houston I've never visited!
Picture
This old building may not have been built by the Incas, but there is a great deal of charm to the worn exterior. In fact those block-like stones sort of look like the stacked stonework of Machu Picchu! 

People Encounter

​I have used the word adventure often, when describing these food outings!  I also appreciate people encounters, when evaluating these excursions.  But I never realized you could start racking up points before even entering the restaurant!  2 Bonus points for a people encounter before dining!
Picture
We met these 2 fellows after parking the car and asked if we could photograph their retro VW Van. John ( guy in yellow) owns Dharma Cafe, known for great brunches and Jazz nights. Our friend in the hat, owns a shop called "Grow Your Own" ??  I think we're talking vegetables here??

​Tattoos

​I was busy getting a business card from John, when I turned and saw Lorrie and Shari enjoying a view of  tattoos.  
Picture
Shari and Lorrie are both artists, so I understand their curiosity about the design. But I'm amused by their body language. It looks as though they are keeping a polite distance from the tattooed creature on John's arm.

Roberto
​
​
Once inside, we met Roberto Castre, the gracious and talented chef and owner of Latin Bites. He was born and raised in Lima, Peru and also attended culinary school in his country. Although the dishes he creates for Latin Bites are a fushion of many internationl foods, he puts his Peruvian roots into all of his cooking. 
Picture
Roberto said he would try out a new dish on us. He experiments and changes his menu often. No wonder the New York Times gave this tiny restaurant a good review!  It's like no other in Houston!

Dressed in White
​
It would be fun to say I called ahead and asked about the color of the china, to make sure we matched.  ​
Picture
But I promise you, it was just good luck. 1 bonus point for matching our plates! 

Now honestly, the food was absolutely mouthwatering!  I have a limit of 5 points for food, but my rating system makes no sense at all. I'm giving Latin Bites 6 points for food!

The Feast

​
I had no idea our appetizers would come out looking like this! "Delicate flavors and sophisticated appearance" Those are words I read later in a review. How true!  
Picture

Here we have empanadas filled with beef tenderloin and Arepitas, which is cornbread dough stuffed with Oaxaca cheese, plus 3 meats AND Tacu Tacus, rice and bean cakes served with 3 meats!  Perfect!

A Special Dish
​

​​This is the dish Roberto created for today. We told him to come up with a name, but forgot to ask before we left. Let's call it The Lo-Sha-Be, for the 3 diners who first sampled the dish!
Picture
​After devouring many appetizers, we split this heavenly feast 3 ways. The pork with special spicy rub, melted in the mouth. The discs of turnip-like goodies on top, were a nice surprise. I can't remember all the details about the sauce... chopped zucchini and other goodies. But I know it was a perfect addition. 

We also shared a fruity Peruvian drink, of blended apples, raisins, blue corn, orange and cinnamon. The only thing missing was a shot of Pisco, Peru's National alcoholic beverage. At their new location in December, they will be able to served Pisco!

More Family
​
​
We were getting ready to leave when Roberto's wife and cousin introduced themselves. I told them I'd been to Peru and had never eaten anthing close to this delicious.
Picture
They seemed pleased, but then cringed when I told them I had eaten guinea pig and alpaca on my trip many years ago. Once again I learned to not make assumptions about cultures! For years I thought everyone in Peru ate those 2 animals.  2 Bonus points for learning that!
​

So on top of delicious food and fun people encounters, we must throw in 2 Bonus for interesting fellow diners (no pics) and 1 Bonus for some nice, possibly Peruvian music playing softly.  We will be sure to try out their new location after December!

TOTAL OF 19   POINTS FOR LATIN BITES!!!
​

1 Comment
Susan Sagert
9/11/2011 08:18:13 am

So lovely to see you two together under the archway! Miss you both very much!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
       The Dining Blog

    This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food.  Below, you can read how this started.


    On
    July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year!  (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to  join me, on some unusual dining adventures.  I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise.  Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining.  I have continued  blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned  along the way!
    ​

    Locations and types of dining adventures,  are listed further down.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    August 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    000 The Beginning!
    00 BBQ
    00 Cookbook Adventures
    00 Drive Ins
    00 Drive Ins Diners Cafes
    00 Houston Area
    00 Saloons & Taverns
    00 Themed Restaurant
    00 Tiki Time
    0 Alabama
    0 Arizona
    0 Arkansas
    0 California
    0 Colorado
    0 Florida
    0 Georgia
    0 Idaho
    0 Illinois
    0 Iowa
    0 Louisiana
    0 Michigan
    0 Mississippi
    0 Missouri
    0 Montana
    0 Nevada
    0 New Mexico
    0 New York
    0 North Carolina
    0 Oklahoma
    0 Oregon
    0 South Carolina
    0 South Dakota
    0 Tennessee
    0 Texas
    0 Utah
    0 Vermont
    0 Virginia
    0 Washington
    0 Washington D.C.
    0 Wyoming
    1 In Belize
    1 In Canada
    1 In Chile
    1 In Curacao
    1 In France
    1 In Guatemala
    1 In Italy
    1 In Mexico
    1 In Roatan
    1 In Thailand
    Afghani
    Argentine
    Basque
    Belgian
    Belizean
    Bengali
    Bermudian
    Bosnian
    Brazilian
    Cafes
    Canadian
    Chile
    Chinese
    Columbian
    Cornish
    Costa Rican
    Cuban
    Curacao Island
    Czech
    Danish
    Diners
    Dominican
    English
    Ethiopian
    Filipino
    French
    French Basque
    French Creole
    German
    Greek
    Guatemalan
    Honduran
    Hopi
    Houston Area
    Hungarian
    Indian
    Indonesian
    Iranian
    Iraqi
    Irish
    Italian
    Italy
    Jamaican
    Japanese
    Korean
    Lebanese
    Malaysian
    Mexican
    Mongolian
    Moroccan
    Nepali
    New Hampshire
    New York
    Nigerian
    O
    Pakistani
    Palestinian
    Peruvian
    Polish
    Portuguese
    Puerto Rican
    Russian
    Salvadoran
    Scottish
    Spanish
    Swedish
    Swiss
    Taiwanese
    Thai
    Turkish
    Uruguay
    Venezuelan
    Vietnamese

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!