Mardi Gras has come and gone, and with it comes the Lenten season! Even if you’re not participating in Lent, I have a few ideas for lunch and dinner that everyone will love in the Houston area. Plus, a few new wine finds that pair great with lighter meals and seafood.
Lent in Texas is especially tasty because of awesome Tex-Mex spots like El Toro. This spot has long been Houstonians’ “go-to” Tex-Mex spot — it opened in 1960! You’re in for a treat every time you go to El Toro with Tex-Mex favorites made with the highest quality ingredients. They’re offering a special for Lent and right now you can enjoy a delicious grilled salmon with mango pico de gallo and tamarind glaze, perched on top of a layer of fresh grilled asparagus. Their fish sandwich is a towering spectacle of fried red drum with chili garlic mayo, slaw and slices of fresh avocado — delish!
If you’re eating seafood, you’ll love it with the Rose Rock Pinot Noir. It’s a lighter style wine from Oregon that has just enough brightness, but won’t overpower what you’re eating.
Another amazing idea for a meat-free dinner is the Stuffed Baked Potato Factory. These potatoes are ginormous and packed with so many creative fillings! We recently tried “The Super Freak” with fresh Gulf shrimp, chicken, alfredo sauce, cheese, onion and chives, all layered inside a massive baked potato you can share with a friend! Since we’re in crawfish season, get ready for “The Crawdaddy.” It’s loaded with crawfish and creole sausage, but you could omit the meat for a Lent-friendly spud. But meat lovers, I wouldn’t leave you out! You’ll love “The Trash Can” with SEVEN different meats including beef, chicken, pork and beef sausage, pork, turkey and bacon.
With these lighter meals, you’ll love the Fleurs de Prairie Rosé Cotes de Provence. You can find it under $15 a bottle at H-E-B. Another great wine for lighter meals is the Ruffino Il Ducale Pinot Grigio, which goes great with salad.
As always, I found all of my wines at H-E-B!
My Wine Finds
Rose Rock Pinot Noir
Fleurs de Prairie Rosé Cotes de Provence
Ruffino Il Ducale Pinot Grigio
Special thanks to my friends at KPRC Channel 2 in Houston for all the fun!
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