On Monday, July 11, join Houston Food Finder associate editor/Edible Houston editor David Leftwich and Houston Food Finder editor and publisher Phaedra Cook as they host several local cookbook authors at the Houston Heights Association July meeting! The event is open to the public, starts at 6:30 p.m. and is held at the historic Houston Heights Fire Station, located at 107 West 12th. Admission is free and includes light refreshments. 

The Houston Heights Association (HHA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit civic organization that promotes and fosters friendship, goodwill and community spirit within and around the Houston Heights.

Featured Houston-area authors doing onsite presentations and book signings are:

• Sylvia Casares: owner/chef of Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, 2022 James Beard Award Best Chef: Texas semifinalist and author of “The Enchilada Queen Cookbook” 
• Eric and Shanna Jones: Dude That Cookz food blog and author of “Healthier Southern Cooking” 
• Shubhra Ramineni: author of “Entice With Spice” and “Healthy Indian Vegetarian Cooking” 

Additionally, signed copies of “Paulie’s: Classic Italian Cooking in the Heart of Houston’s Montrose District” will be available onsite from Paulie’s chef and owner, Paul Petronella. 

After the event, join us at Julep starting at 8:30 p.m. and meet Alba Huerta, Houston’s newest and first national-level James Beard Award winner. While you’re there, you can pick up a signed copy of her cocktail book, “Julep, Southern Cocktails Refashioned”. Julep is located at 1919 Washington.

Bonus: it’s also National Mojito Day. For the event, legendary restaurant owner and wine expert Pedro Garcia from El Meson is making paella starting at 7 p.m. (Hopefully, there will still be some by 8:30 p.m., but note that this is “while supplies last.”) Julep is serving three different riffs on the classic Cuban cocktail made with rum, lime, mint, sugar and soda, each hailing from a different place and time: 

• Classic Mojito: The original, Havana, 1910
• Queen’s Park Swizzle: Trinidad, 1920s
• Old Cuban: Created by Audrey Sanders of Pegu Club, NYC, 2000s

While quantities last, attendees will receive a special gift from Houston Food Finder, and a copy of the latest Edible Houston. The meeting schedule is below. We hope to see you there! 

July 2022 Houston Heights Association Meeting

6:30 to 7 p.m. Meet the authors and get personally signed cookbooks! Then, enjoy mixing and mingling with fellow guests over adult- and kid-friendly light refreshments. 

7 p.m.: Welcome by Houston Heights Association President Jason Starr

7:15 p.m.: Presentation by Phaedra Cook and David Leftwich

7:30 p.m.: Cookbook author presentations: Sylvia Casares, Eric Jones, Shubhra Ramineni

8 p.m.: Meeting adjourns

8 to 8:30 p.m.: Last opportunity to get signed books and meet the authors! 

8:30 p.m.: National Mojito Day after-party at Julep; signed books by James Beard Award winner Alba Huerta are available

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.