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Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) – every year I say I will attend a restaurant, but every year I fail to do so.  What is HRW?  Taken from their website:

    What is Houston Restaurant Weeks?

Houston Restaurant Weeks in the largest annual fundraiser for America's largest food bank.

Planned by volunteers, HRW donates 100% of the funds raised to the Houston Food Bank.

Participating restaurants make donations to the Food Bank based upon how many brunches, lunches and dinners they sell during the event.

To someone like me, HRW is an opportunity to be exposed to places that I didn’t even know existed in the 4th largest city in America!  It is a chance to sample some really elegant places, often times, without breaking the bank in a time of economic uncertainty.  Yet, every year, I fail to make use of this now 5 week event, until this great year of 2015!  I looked at many of the places on the list, and came across one with a really cool sounding name and menu options – B & B Butchers and Restaurant.

There is an old adage that simply states that one should not judge a book by its cover.  This place is not raggedy on the outside, by any means.  This place has a pig as a logo.  This place has the word “Butchers” under the aforementioned pig.  One would be inclined to believe that you may have to take off your good footwear to walk in a place of this nature, but your inclinations would be really wrong.  This place is very well maintained, and if you like wine…well…you will not be whining about the selection! That joke was horrible wasn’t it?!?

I am not a drinker.  I cannot emphasis this enough.  A restaurant cannot give me an alcoholic beverage to dull my taste buds and senses!  In regards to spice level, this place cooks for everyone. My burger would have been perfect if they would have thrown some Louisiana spices in the meat mixture.  Just a liberal amount of Tony’s seasoning…or Slap Ya Mama spices could have truly set this burger on a planet of its own!  Outside of that catering to everyone spice level, the burger itself is supreme! The burger truly had great texture, and you can tell that the meat was fresh. The ingredients were fresh that was placed on top of it as well, with special crunch shout out to the onions and lettuce. The burger was perfectly complimented with white cheddar and a very hardy and thick applewood smoked bacon.  The fries that I was served are comparable to the McDonalds fries without the heaping mounds of salt normally placed on them at the Gold Arches. The fries truly had very good texture and very crisp crunch on every bite.

I actually started off my 3 course meal with the B&B beef and barley soup which is really good as well. Once again, if you add spices to it, the soup is perfect. The chunks of beef were really tasty and tender in the broth and the broth really had a homemade soup taste.

The third course I chose was the cheesecake.  I was told by the waiter that the owner has a favorite place in New York City that serves cheesecake the way he likes it.  Because of him wanting to get that authentic New York cheesecake taste, he flies cheesecake in from New York from that very favorited spot. The Cheesecake is light, fluffy and creamy and I truly enjoyed it with minimal toppings.

In regards to service, this place is top notch. The waiters are very observant and responsive. One good thing that I saw and loved was them changing the linens as each patron left their table for good. This restaurant is really clean, and even maintains clean standards during peak times.  They also have a purse tree looking contraption for the ladies to hang their purses high for added peace of mine while dining.




B & B Butchers & Restaurant


As aforementioned, if you actually drink wine, this place is definitely for you. There is an extensive wine selection here.  I was able to taste the “Soup de Jour,” which was the tomato and basil soup, which was also good and had a homemade taste.  I also tasted the sorbet trio which was also excellent on a hot, Texas summer!

All in all, you definitely should give this place a try.  Keep in mind, this place is elegant, so you will pay accordingly!  This place is 3 out of 5 on the frugal scale, 5 out of 5 on the service scale, and 4 out of 5 on a taste scale.  Roughly, this place is a 4 out of 5 for overall dining experience.  Don't forget to check out the butcher part of the restaurant. It brings a cool element to your dining experience.  You can actually order various cooked items from the butcher part of the restaurant, as well as pick up uncooked sausages, and many other butcher items, including that thick and delicious bacon.  This place is worth your time and experience.

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They did a "Steak Education Quiz!"  Eating and learning…no one would be against education if they had an almost Pavlov type reward system of that nature!

How does the Yelp Houston community manager, Farrah, do such wonderful events every time?  Definitely another score for her.  This event is a pure example why everyone should strive to become Yelp Elite.

 The Reserve at Katy - The Maltese Traditional Model Home

(www.PlayTimeCares.com) - I love West Houston, but more specifically, I love Katy, TX.  The area is an ever expanding community with more and more jewels popping up non-sop.  The area somehow manages to give you a small town feel in a decent sized city.

While driving around another growing section of Katy, TX, I came across another model home area.  Intrigued by the surrounding homes and area, I had to stop in to see what this model had to offer...and I am glad I did. I came across a builder that I never experienced before, and I must say I am impressed.  Toll Brothers says they are "American's Luxury Home Builder" and I have not reason to doubt them!  Take a look at the video below.

Great up and coming community in Katy, TX

(www.PlayTimeCares.com) - I love West Houston, but more specifically, I love Katy, TX.  The area is an ever expanding community with more and more jewels popping up non-sop.  The area somehow manages to give you a small town feel in a decent sized city.

While driving around another growing section of Katy, TX, I came across another model home area.  Intrigued by the surrounding homes and area, I had to stop in to see what this model had to offer...and I am glad I did. Meritage Homes' model was just elegant!  Take a look at the video below.

(www.PlayTimeCares.com) - A Mack is only a MAC that is okay to be in this store. 

That’s horrible, and I apologize for trying to make myself un-traumatized from this experience!  I am a just a humble city guy that likes to eat his weight in delicious culinary items.  Nowhere in my quest to get the perfect beach ball body did I ever think I would wake up and say, “Playtime, let’s go to a makeup store and see if you can look pretty.” 

Truth be told, I did not say that today either, but yet I found myself going to a well-known makeup supplier so I can be “red carpet ready.”  What does that mean…and why is the carpet red?  The carpet is outside…make it an earthy color so it will not stain easily! 

Well, I was told to go to a MAC Cosmetics store and I was insured they would do the correct process needed.  I initially called ahead hoping that they told me that they do not do makeup fittings, but that was a fool’s dream.  A Mrs. Kim answered the phone and told me that they would be happy to fix me right up and that the process would only take 15 minutes at max.  I was already realizing that resistance was futile, and that I was going to be assimilated, so I just hoped in my truck, A MANLY TRUCK, and went to the store.

This particular location is located in a section of central Houston called Rice Village, and parking may worry you.  I saw plenty of paid parking lots around the area, but Kim let me know that they validated parking and to just find the parking garage right in their complex.  After viewing a parking garage that said they accepted validated parking for 2 hours or less, I was parked and in search of my pretty.

As I entered the store, I was greeted by all the employees, and no one even batted an eye that this relatively tall, fat and hairy man was standing in the doorway.  I was asked how I needed to be assisted by a guy with one of the well-manicured beards I have seen up close! 

The salesman, Charles Rojas, listened to all my demands of the puppet masters, which included getting a “Studio Fix Profile,” as well as an “Everyday Fix Profile.”  Charles grabbed a chair and was ready. 



Charles Rojas

I have questions though.  I am seeing mountains comprised of various shades of lipstick and they look real, and they looked like someone may have used them.  I had to know if they were display items or for use.  Charles informed me that they were for use, but were quickly sanitized after someone opts to use them.  With all sanitary issues out the way, I proceeded to be fixed…pun probably intended.

Charles explained the process.  I was first given a foundation of “Time Check Lotion.”  After that, they used “Studio Tech NW47,” and finished off the outside look with “Dark Deep Mineralize Skinfinish” powder. 

I had to admit that I barely could tell the stuff was on, and the many customers that passed through during my makeup application process said it looked well also.

Kim told Charles that there was one more product that would be to my liking and will probably be a tad bit closer to my natural skin tone.  She asked Charles to apply the “MAC Lightful C Tinted Cream with Radiance Booster Broad Spectrum SPF 30 – Dark Deep.”  Charles and the store patrons were pleased with this look.  I was actually more pleased with this look as well.

I tested it out all day.  I realized that I could get away with the makeup when my children, with special emphasis on my 17 year old son, did not realize I had makeup on.  They still didn’t believe it when I told them.


All in all, the trauma of having to be red carpet ready was not too bad.  I actually didn’t shave or groom myself at all so I could have the most manly makeup application experience as possible. The staff of MAC Rice Village is friendly, professional and patient. 

Video: Playtime gets serious about his TV career

 

All in all, the trauma of having to be red carpet ready was not too bad.  I actually didn’t shave or groom myself at all so I could have the most manly makeup application experience as possible. The staff of MAC Rice Village is friendly, professional and patient.