James Beard award-winning chef Chris Shepherd says live fire is an ingredient in some of his favorite foods at Houston restaurants.
On this episode of âEat Like a Local with Chris Shepherdâ, he takes us to an Italian restaurant and a Tex-Mex restaurant which gained acclaim by cooking with an open flame.
Stick around for the full show, because Shepherd also takes us into his backyard to share his technique when he fires up dinner outdoors!
âEat Like a Local with Chris Shepherdâ is your guide to the best food in Houston. Watch new episodes Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KPRC 2.
Watch the live fire episode of âEat Like a Local with Chris Shepherdâ in the video player above
Rosie Cannonball
1620 Westheimer Rd. | Houston
What itâs known for: Flavorful food with fresh, local ingredients cooked over live fire
How Chris describes it: From the appetizers to dessert, the food at Rosie Cannonball is magical. Chris says no matter how many times he goes, he never gets tired of the delicious dishes.
Felipe Riccio is a chef and partner at Rosie Cannonball. He told Shepherd his father was from Naples, and he loves Italian food, but he wanted to bring in flavors from across southern Europe. The restaurant incorporates elements from other countries, including France, Spain, and Greece -- with live fire at the center of the cuisine.
Candente
4306 Yoakum Blvd. | Houston
What itâs known for: Tex-Mex with a barbeque twist, including tortillas made with brisket fat
How Chris describes it: âWhat makes this so special, mesquite -- lots and lots of mesquite. They have a beautiful grill inside and everything is cooked over live fire. If I go travel around the country, go meet my chef friends, the one thing they ask for is, bring the tortillas, bring the rice and beans from Candente, every time.â
Michael Sambrooks, Candente owner, grew up in Houston. He wanted to have an âold-school Tex-Mex place with the big flat melted cheese enchiladasâ, but he knew if the restaurant was going to stand out, they needed a twist -- and that came by incorporating live fire into everything they do.
đ„More âEat Like a Localâ picks for restaurants that cook with fire
- Coltivare: 3320 White Oak Dr. | Houston
- Al Aseel Grill: 8619 Richmond Ave, Ste. 100 | Houston
- El Hidalguense: 6917 Long Point Rd. | Houston
Bookmark the Eat Like a Local website, so you can find more restaurants serving up great food near you. Weâll be adding restaurants to the map every week.
Watch new episodes of âEat Like a Local with Chris Shepherdâ Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KPRC 2.