Each Tuesday, I’ll take a look back at what some of the best food writers in Houston are covering. Good or bad…you’ll get my honest opinion. And just so we’re on the same page, I’ll disclose what relationship, if any, I have with each writer.

I. The Piece: Houston Tunnel Vision: New underground Fuddruckers brings endless soda choices — and limited menu ones by Sarah Rufca
The Opinion: This is really becoming a pet peeve of mine in food writing (From the piece)…“I’m not going to apologize for my Fuddruckers guilty pleasure.” Umm, you just did. Hell, I’m sure I’ve written lines like this as well, but why as writers must we apologize or even feel the need to justify the fact that it’s okay to eat at places like Fuddruckers? If it’s good, it’s good. Who cares where it’s from? Sarah nailed it on the wedge fries…so freaking good they are!  And I totally sympathize with the flat soda. That’s always a kick in the balls.
The Relationship: Don’t know her, never met her. Wish I had.

II. The Piece: Chef Chat, Part 2: Kiran Verma of Kiran’s by Matthew Dresden
The Opinion: Matthew does such a wonderful job with these EOW interviews. He tends to go beyond the fluff questions…like this one: “Houston doesn’t have many prominent female chefs–off the top of my head, there’s you, Anita Jaisinghani, Jamie Zelko, Monica Pope, and Claire Smith. Why do you think there are so few, and do you feel a greater responsibility to be a symbol or mentor?”. That’s some good sh*t. Kudos to Matthew!
The Relationship: We wrote together at EOW. FB friends, have met once.

III. The Piece: Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs by Katharine Shilcutt
The Opinion: It seems all my comment box complaining may have played a small part in the improved quality of this weekly piece. And although The Mighty Rib is unofficially banned from being mentioned, it’s good to see some other local blogs getting recent shout-outs (ex. my buddy from theferm.org). It’s a start. The bottom line…there needs to be better personal food blogger representation on this feature, helping to eliminate the cliquishness that resides in the Houston foodie scene.
The Relationship: Wrote together at EOW.

Hugo's quail

IV. The Piece: Hugo’s Regional Mexican Cuisine… the Test and Taste of Authenticity by Jack Tyler
The Opinion: I want to party with Mr. Tyler…or at least have a beer with the guy. I truly appreciate the time and effort he puts into each post. He’s teaching you something…and this article on Hugo’s is a perfect example of that. Our styles are polar opposites, but that’s the wonderful thing about blogging…the different of styles and opinions.
The Relationship: Never met him. FB friends and Twitter mates. Still want to have a beer with him.

V. The Piece: A visit to the church of fine dining for Houston Restaurant Weeks: It’s all about second chances by Steven Thomson
The Opinion: Take nothing away from Steven, he can write his food-loving ass off. But please…get. to. the. point. I’m all for back stories, but other than the fact that I’m a slow reader, it took me waaaaaay to long to get to the food portion of the article. Again, great food descriptions: “This entree bled testosterone, as evidenced by the informal mushrooms (which looked picked from Kroger rather than an actual field) and slightly overcooked squash that bordered on a stewed mush.”
The Relationship: Don’t know him. Never met him.