We first met chef LJ Wiley in 2009 when he was working the kitchen at Yelapa, creating playful Mexican dishes we’d never really seen around these parts. He has since moved on, but he’s got a new project in the works that will most likely be green with heavy Old World influences. LJ likes his foods hand-held and informs us that “sea urchin will certainly come into play somewhere – it’s way underutilized in this town.” Follow him on Twitter @L_J_Wiley. In the meantime, here are his five rules to eat by:
1. Ask for your chef’s recommendation. If your server is well trained, he’ll know what to recommend and if your chef is well trained, he will know what to tell them. This is eating well by playing it safe.
2. Go somewhere where the menus are not in English, because these people have known how to make great food for centuries. Do your research before you go so you’re not completely disoriented. Ask for whatever the specialty is, not for “what is good.”
3. Go eat with well-traveled culinary professionals or connoisseurs. They are the ones who are less likely to call themselves foodies and more likely to just get really geared up when you mention that hot new restaurant down the street. You should trust them.
4. One of the keys to truly enjoying food is getting past your “dislikes” by trying them again and again until you can find some good in them. Look at it like studying and analyzing the experience – why would anyone actually enjoy eating oysters, pork belly or tongue?
5. Learn the names of your local farmers, fishmongers, butchers and artisans. Ask them where to eat. This way, you’re sure to get the real stuff and not just some song and dance from your server about how our restaurant uses all local “blah blah blah.” You can find these people here in Houston at any of our growing number of farmers’ markets.