Almost a month ago, I got a chance to go to Houston for a cultural event of a lifetime. Some dope bloggers in Houston invited bloggers from all over the United States to share with us some of their favorite Black businesses. The event started Friday afternoon and was jammed packed with activities until Sunday evening.
The hosts kept saying Houston was full, but I felt like this trip was a way to convince us to move. So it’s definitely on my radar now.
In this post, I’ll share everything we did during our Houston Hosts Black Bloggers 2021 experience.
Friday
We kicked off the weekend with lunch at Micos Hot Chicken. Unfortunately, I was late, so I only got to nibble, but it was good! Their chicken sandwiches with coleslaw were the perfect mix of texture and flavor.
Our second stop was Kale Me Crazy, a restaurant that offers healthy alternatives, perfect for after a workout of a light meal that won’t make you feel heavy. They also have a variety of lattes and health shots to get that energy boost you need.
After taking a quick break at our hotel, we got picked up in our Alto and headed to Kindred Stories. You’ve seen my booklists! You know I was in heaven! It was the cutest bookstore and the best place for happy hour. We had drinks and snacks and, of course, bought books.
After happy hour we went to the famous Lucille’s. We all met upstairs to have a special chef’s dinner just for us. We got to meet the owner (who was celebrating the ownership of the land) and the chef. It was three courses of yumminess, and drinks came with each meal.
Saturday
We met at Inner Me Studios for a morning pole workout session and breakfast. Donuts were from Glazed The Doughnut Cafe. They had every kind of donut you could think of and more!
After our workout, we got changed hopped on the bus to start our Nom Noir Cultural Tour. This tour was amazing! And I’ve done food tours nationally and internationally.
Our first stop was The Breakfast Klub. The line was around the corner, but we were able to jump the line and head straight to our table. We had fried chicken, grits, spinach and mushroom omelet, and these fried muffins.
Next, we headed over to a Jamaican spot called, The Reggae Hut. We had plantains, meat patties, jerk chicken, rice and peas, and shrimp.
We drove around the famous Third Ward and got a history lesson. We also stopped by (we stayed on the bus) Beyonce’s childhood home and continued on our way.
Our next stop was Ray’s BBQ Shack, where we had bbq, of course!
We continued our tour through Third Ward and got to see the George Floyd Street Mural.
Project Row Houses was our next stop. The nonprofit turned row houses into mini museums. Each house hosts an artist’s work for several months.
I don’t think our tour would be complete if we didn’t stop and get some sweet treats! Right around the corner from the Project Row Houses is a fantastic bakery called Crumbville. The Blueberries & Cream Cheesecake was to die for yall!
Saturday Night
We only made two stops Saturday night, but they were the icing on the cake.
First, we had some bomb bbq at Fainmous BBQ. And I’m picky about my bbq yall. I have pitmasters in my family that can run circles around a lot of bbq joints. But I was thoroughly impressed by Tennessee-style bbq. The food was on point, including the sides! Oh, and Makers Mark was there to serve us up some delicious cocktails. And I love a good cocktail.
After dinner, we went to Kiss. It’s a nice-sized lounge with great food (yes, we ate again) and great drinks. 90s r&b is my thing, and the DJ played all the hits.
Sunday
First of all, I’m so glad I took off work Monday because Sunday Funday was, as the kids would say, lit!
We started our day at 5015 Bar. They had a DJ, bomb drinks, and good food! Then, I got a chance to put some non-Texas friends on to Ranch Water. I completely forgot it was a Texas thing!
We left the bar and went to My Southern Brand’s event, where we had catfish and spaghetti! I’m from St. Louis, and everyone from the Midwest knows that catfish and spaghetti are a paired meal (argue with yo mama). The catfish was fried to perfection!
My flight was delayed, so I could make one more stop before heading back to Dallas. Candle-making class at Love and Make. I love candles, so this was a super fun experience, especially blending our fragrances.
And that’s it, folks. That’s my rundown of the Houston Host Black Bloggers 2021. It was a beautiful, community-building experience that indeed highlighted some of the best Black businesses in Houston.
Make sure you follow all the super talented hosts on Instagram: Black Girls Who Brunch, The Queen of Yum, Dash of Jazz, My Southern Brand, Bless the Belly, and Houston Hosts.
Our sponsors showed us so much love too! Thank you, H-E-B (I can’t wait to see you in Dallas). Alto rideshare (use code MNIKOHL10 for $10 off your first two rides) drove us everywhere in Houston, and I don’t know if you know about Houston traffic, but they were a lifesaver. And finally, Houston First and Black Restaurant Week.
