Convenience Big Store: 🥢 Inside a landmark Japanese restaurant

We're in what I call Peak Houston, a time of unparalleled activity in Space City, good and bad. The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is still popping, allergies are rocking hard and we're going crazy about the cost and scarcity of crawfish throughout the Gulf Coast.

It's the perfect time of year to head outside and enjoy al fresco dining at one of your favorite restaurants, or grab a drink at a bar with a patio. Just take a Claritin if you need it.

- Timothy Malcolm, Chron Deputy Managing Editor of Texas Culture

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For Starters

Le will compete in a special truffle episode of Chopped next week.

Houston chef goes from dish-washer to TV competition

The rising star has only been cooking for about seven years.

Woman finds boiled spiders in her bowl of crawfish

I'll take the crawfish shortage, thank you.

Houston's Turkey Leg Hut has long been popular.

Controversial Turkey Leg Hut to pay $900k lawsuit

A four-year lawsuit ends with a judge telling the owners to pay up.

Blue oyster mushrooms farmed at Lone Star Mushrooms in Houston, Texas.

Why you might be seeing new mushrooms at your grocery

Lion's mane used to cost almost $40 a pound. But things are changing fast.

Pastries and cafe bites are found in abundance at Paris Baguette.

International bakery debuts third Houston location

South Korea's Paris Baguette opens in West On West center, bringing fruit tarts and red bean pastries.

Tacos are good and should be more expensive.

$10 taco in Houston? Heck, tacos should cost more.

We should pay for the work behind the food.

Located on the buzzy Montrose Boulevard, Nippon has been a Houston staple since 1986.

Nippon remains one of rarest Japanese restaurants of its kind

The Yoshidas brought the legacy of the old Tokyo Gardens with them (but not the guzei bridges or big koi pond).

Last Bite

Here's some other news and notes on our radar:

-- Even more Turkey Leg Hut news: The restaurant's Museum District-area business office was destroyed by fire during the early morning hours of March 9. The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed.

-- Lovers of famed Chicago-based Italian beef and hot dog chain Portillo's got some good news this week, as the restaurant announced its Houston-area arrival will come later this year.

-- One of Houston's best restaurants of 2023, Little's Oyster Bar, just revealed a new seasonal menu with dressed oysters, crawfish croquettes, prime-grade dry-aged ribeye and plenty more. Listen, I'm not telling you it's a wise investment to make reservations ... OK, I'm telling you its a wise investment to make reservations.