A Green Lunch
There is this quote of Anton Ego that I heard again tonight and is still ringing in my head: “In many ways, the word of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer their works and their selves to our judgment.” That is true: the critic (or the self-proclaimed critic, aka the food blogger) goes to a restaurant, eats the food, and writes about the food with respect to his expectation of what it should be. The expectation usually comes from a long list of preset rules that he goes through with check marks and x’s: beef is tender, vegetables are crisp, bread is crusty, truffles are included, lobsters were kicking the tank minutes before they turn red. But every so often, his expectation might come from friends’ recommendations. The judgment then includes not only the subjected restaurant or dish, it also indirectly includes the friend’s credibility. Whatever the (self-proclaimed) critic puts down in writing, be it positive or negative, he risks a part of his friend’s and his own credibility in his friend’s eyes, which is not a “very little” thing.
As such, I feel like tiptoeing with my words tonight. Der Miller has recommended Ruggles since last year and I was looking forward to their coconut crusted shrimps, but they only open for dinner. With 4 hours to go until dinner time, we swung by Ruggle Greens, where der Miller attested to be basically the same as its dinner sister, only more downtown-lunchy. It has take-outs.
The parking lot was packed. If we are to judge a restaurant by its number of patrons, Ruggles Green has no fear. If we are to judge it by price per fillingness, from this Berkeley-trained student’s perspective, Ruggle Greens is quite reasonable. I was full after an appetizer and half a dessert. Der Miller was full after two thirds of an appetizer and half a dessert, which kinda made me question my appetite. 😛
The hempenadas (hemp–empanadas?) ($9) were mealy, as expected of a hemp-and-wheat coat and a crowded filling of hemp seeds, raisins, beef, cheddar, and mozzarella.
The crab cake ($14), as der Miller put, was “bready”, but softened by its accompanying roasted tomato butter sauce. I’ve always liked the mini crab cakes that you can put all at once in your mouth like a sesame ball, break through the rough crunchiness into the sweet shredded meat, and repeat. I missed that with this Ruggles Green’s solo gargantuan version.
The bread pudding ($7), unlike the crab cake, didn’t have much “bread”. Coupled with a melting chocolate lace and vanilla ice cream, it sure was as warm, gooey, and chocolatey as puddings ought to be.
How would I rank Ruggles Green? Der Miller said that I’m a difficult eater, but he is one himself. His eyes showed neither approval nor disapproval of the food that day. For me, it is pleasant to see that the Houstonians are embracing the green fashion of today’s cookery, and that the Houstonian restauranteurs are making it a casual, affordable affair instead of some hippie hipster thing, which it isn’t. Although I don’t remember seeing any bamboo hats, I like that they show you how to stop junk mail. 🙂
Next time, I’ll go to Ruggles.
Address: Ruggles Green in River Oaks
2311 West Alabama, Suite C
Houston, Texas 77098
(713) 533-0777
www.rugglesgreen.com
*Bread pudding pictures credit: Jason Miller
Would love to forever get updated great web site! .
1I like this website very much, Its a really nice situation to read and incur info .
2I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
3A lot of thanks for all of the effort on this web site. Ellie really loves managing investigations and it’s really easy to understand why. Most people hear all regarding the compelling medium you offer very helpful steps through this web blog and recommend contribution from some other people on this matter while our favorite princess is in fact being taught a great deal. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. You are conducting a stunning job.
4I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
5I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You are amazing! Thanks!
6Usually I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice post.
7I’ve recently started a web site, the info you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
8Wonderful blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thanks
9I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.
10We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our whole community will be thankful to you.
11I believe this web site has some very superb info for everyone :D.
12I have recently started a blog, the info you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
13naturally like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll definitely come back again.
14Glad to be one of several visitants on this awful website : D.
15With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of unique content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement. Do you know any ways to help reduce content from being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.
16Hello There. I found your blog the usage of msn. That is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your helpful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
17Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a risky decision great post! .
18Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
19Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your website is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and simply couldn’t come across. What a great web-site.
20I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site :).
21Hi there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your posts. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics? Many thanks!
22Good day! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the nice information you might have right here on this post. I will likely be coming back to your weblog for more soon.
23I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
24Utterly pent articles, regards for selective information. “In the fight between you and the world, back the world.” by Frank Zappa.
25I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100 sure. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
26Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
27I in addition to my friends were actually checking the excellent tips and tricks on the blog and so immediately got an awful suspicion I never thanked the web site owner for those strategies. Those young men are actually as a result warmed to read all of them and already have surely been having fun with these things. Thanks for being really accommodating and then for utilizing such extraordinary things most people are really needing to be informed on. My personal honest apologies for not saying thanks to you sooner.
28Great write-up, I’m normal visitor of one’s site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
29Thanks, I’ve just been looking for info about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure concerning the supply?
30Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
31I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to reach my goals. I certainly enjoy reading everything that is posted on your website.Keep the posts coming. I enjoyed it!
32You have noted very interesting details ! ps decent site.
33Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!
34Some genuinely nice and useful info on this site, likewise I believe the pattern has excellent features.
35That is the appropriate weblog for anyone who desires to search out out about this topic. You notice a lot its almost arduous to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
36Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
37Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
38Valuable information. Fortunate me I found your site by chance, and I am surprised why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
39I dugg some of you post as I cogitated they were very beneficial very beneficial
40I was just seeking this information for a while. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this kind of informative websites in top of the list. Normally the top websites are full of garbage.
41I always was concerned in this subject and stock still am, thanks for posting.
42Thank you for any other fantastic article. Where else may just anyone get that kind of information in such an ideal manner of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
43Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
44Thanks for another great post. Where else could anyone get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such info.
45You completed certain nice points there. I did a search on the theme and found the majority of persons will agree with your blog.
46