Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations Season 3 Episode 21 Houston

Houston, Texas is a city bursting with flavor and cultural diversity. In this episode of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations, host Andrew Zimmern dives into the unique cuisine that makes Houston a food lover's paradise.

Andrew begins his culinary exploration at a local breakfast joint where he tries traditional Southern biscuits and gravy, accompanied by crispy fried chicken and bacon. He also samples kolaches, a pastry stuffed with various sweet or savory fillings, popular in Texas.

Next, Andrew heads to the vibrant, multicultural neighborhood of Montrose, where he visits a Lebanese bakery, French macaron shop, and a Colombian deli. At the deli, Andrew tries Colombian-style hot dogs topped with crushed potato chips, quail eggs, pineapple sauce, and a unique pink sauce made of mayonnaise, ketchup, and herbs.

Andrew also experiences Houston's love for Tex-Mex cuisine, visiting a restaurant famous for its fajitas, sizzling hot plates of meat and vegetables that diners assemble themselves. He also tries Tex-Mex staples like enchiladas smothered in chili and cheese, and chile con queso, a cheesy dip often served as an appetizer.

But Houston's food scene isn't limited to Southern and Tex-Mex fare. Andrew also gets a taste of Houston's vibrant global cuisine, starting with Korean-style fried chicken tossed in sweet and spicy sauce. He then heads to a Nigerian restaurant to try jollof rice, a savory dish made with rice, tomatoes, and a spice blend that varies by region. Andrew also samples Ethiopian cuisine, including injera, a sourdough flatbread used to scoop up flavorful stews and vegetables.

One of the most unique stops on Andrew's Houston food tour is at a Vietnamese-Cajun crawfish joint, where he experiences the combination of traditional Vietnamese flavors with Southern seafood. The crawfish are boiled in a spicy sauce with garlic, butter, and Vietnamese spices, creating a unique fusion dish that Houstonians love.

Andrew also explores Houston's famous "Fifth Ward" neighborhood, known for its soul food. He visits a family-run restaurant that has been serving up fried chicken and pork chops for over 50 years. The restaurant also offers unique specialties like neck bones, pigs' feet, and chitterlings, which Andrew tries for the first time.

Finally, Andrew heads to the historic downtown district to try the city's signature dish, the "Original" Ninfa's beef fajitas. The dish was invented by Ninfa Laurenzo at her now-famous restaurant, which started as a small taco stand in the 1970s. The fajitas are made with marinated skirt steak, grilled to perfection and served with house-made tortillas, rice, and beans.

Overall, Houston's food scene offers a unique blend of cultures, flavors, and traditions that make it a must-visit destination for any foodie. From Southern comfort food to global fusion dishes, Houston has it all.