Our weekly My Top 5 series highlights Houstonians who are creating Houston’s flavor, character, and culture, while revealing their own favorite ways to explore, engage, and enjoy their downtown in Houston. This week we’re pleased to feature accomplished chef and sommelier Erin Smith, who co-owns the soon-to-debut Feges BBQ with her partner Patrick Feges. The highly anticipated restaurant is opening this winter in the Shops at Greenway.
My Top 5 Things to Do in Houston
by Chef Erin Smith
- Running in Memorial Park – Houston has done a great job of revitalizing parks around Houston, so there are many great running options now. For the longest time, Memorial Park was in a league of its own. You can always tell when the weather is nice because the park is full of runners.
- Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino – I discovered this gem when I lived in Upper Kirby. The menu is fantastic, and Lynette Hawkin’s execution is always on point. When I got into wine a few years ago, I realized how phenomenal her wine list is. Seriously, amazing bottles of wine at great prices! The patio is pretty great as well.
- Better Luck Tomorrow – I just like making Justin Yu cook me brunch at this great little spot on Yale in the Heights. (Side note: the food, cocktails, and wine are not to be missed and the vibe is great!)
- Picnics at Menil Park – I fell in love with picnicking when I lived in NYC. We would take bottles of wine and food to Central Park and spend our whole afternoon just hanging out and people watching. I was very happy to discover I could carry on my favorite past time on the Menil lawn. And the people watching is just as interesting.
- Houston Ballet‘s The Nutcracker – My family has a long tradition of going to The Nutcracker every holiday season. We’ve been going since I was a little girl, and I’ve fallen in love Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and of course the rats! I can’t imagine the holidays without thinking of The Nutcracker so it broke my heart when the Wortham flooded during Harvey. The arts are such a wonderful part of Houston’s culture.
About Chef Erin Smith
Houston chef and sommelier Erin Smith is perhaps best known for her win over three rival chefs on the Food Networks series Chopped. After graduating at the top of her class from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, she joined New York City’s acclaimed Per Se restaurant, working under the culinary leadership of Thomas Keller and Jonathan Benno. Following positions with Italian Wine Merchants and Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in New York, she returned to her native Houston in 2010 to serve as executive chef of Plonk! Beer & Wine Bistro. Prior to launching Feges BBQ with her partner Patrick Feges, she polished her repertoire as culinary director at Clumsy Butcher, executive chef of the JW Marriott Downtown, and sommelier at Camerata at Paulie’s in Montrose.
