Houston's Fearless Critics

Good news -- The updated version of Houston’s best restaurant guide hits the shelves tomorrow! That’s right: The Fearless Critic is back with even more outlandish, outrageous, and hilariously rad reviews. Since the last guide was published two years ago, Houston has gained and lost restaurants with only slightly more grace than a Hollywood starlet. Here’s your chance to find out which ones are worth the effort, and which are already on the road to the glue factory.

Houston was The Fearless Critic’s test market to create an undercover council of local food writers and bloggers, and I had the distinct honor to be included in the mix. We ranted and raved, argued and ate our way through just about every restaurant in town. And I do mean argued; at one point we jammed the WWW by throwing out 200+ emails per day, all in the name of declaring a best burger. Our spats resulted in a straight-forward, no-holds-barred, kick-in-the-pants restaurant guide that offers a “brutally honest” picture of Houston’s culinary landscape.

And yes, we did give one burger the coveted blue ribbon -- but I could never deprive you of the chance to devour this *exceptional* piece of contemporary literature by teeing up the answer on a little old blog. The only shortcut on the path to gastronomic excellence is to buy the book yourself. Sorry :)

Quinceanera X3 Photo Exhibition

The site for the exhibit.

It was a birthday party but it featured our Photo Exhibition. We took 20 framed photographs and they were well received. We have tried not to repeat any of the images we have framed therefore really making them originalz. We do carry the small prints just in case someone wants to order one of the ones we have done but for the most part they look at what we have in inventory at the time and buy from there.

This one was an outside show and I must admit the frames looked really nice under the daylight. Only four frames sold but two of them were big frames so it was worth our while.

Setting up the display area.

Now that I've done five shows I think I know what works and what doesn't and it's time to start applying all that learning experience into future shows. So far I am having fun doing this, it is rewarding to see our frames hanging on our friends and relatives homes but it's time to take this to the next level and maybe start attending church fairs and arts and crafts shows. That is going to be my next goal. I'll keep you posted.



And in the images above you can see how the whole thing looked once it was set up. I was very pleased with the way it came out and we did get very good reviews again.

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The Quinceañera X3


So we left for La Puente, California on Friday at around 5:00 pm and by 11:30 we were sitting at Rambo's enjoying some very delicious tacos. It's cooling down some in Phoenix and the humidity which is common for this time of year has not shown up yet, yey! So I was expecting the same for California. Actually it's usually cool at night but when we got there it was still hot. I slept on the couch with a fan pointing my way and the ceiling fan going as fast as it could.

The next morning we were greeted with hot temperatures and high humidity. The shower actually felt like a sauna, I had taken a white shirt for the party but when I tried it on I started sweating big time, I don't know what material it is made of but it wouldn't breath so I had to change it and wore a black polo type shirt that actually felt a lot better. We Phoenicians can endure extreme heat but for us it is a dry heat. The humidity there is more than I can take, I love visiting but I wouldn't want to live there.

The party went on as planned, there was a good turnout but apparently freeway closures due to a big accident may have prevented for more guests to show up. If that was not the case then they missed a good party and a great time.

We had some great tasting birria with rice "frijoles puercos" and an array of different salsas, I am sorry to say but I had to have doubles. The food was super tasty. To wash it all down some water, sodas, beer, wine, and tequila, and believe I tried it all, but no, I didn't get drunk, I spaced them out throughout the whole afternoon to where I actually enjoyed each drink.













The dancing and entertainment came via ourselves as we started the karaoke machine and we sang mostly all night.


A peaceful moment for reflection was provided by Father Adolfo as he blessed Chely, blessed the moment, and pray for all of us.


We had so much fun, ate great food, had some liquor, sang some songs, and basically just enjoyed a good party. At the end of the day, the birthday girl the quinceañera X3 was happy with the outcome and that's all that mattered.

Here is the Quinceañera X3


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Last Mango in Guaymas

Yesterday, with regret,  I ate the last mango of the season. It was one of those big spotty, unlovely green ones from the Guaymas market, and it was perfectly ripe, sweet and delicious with a sprinkling of walnuts.

Time zooms along, leaving me breathless and overwhelmed. I feel a little nostalgia for the recent past, when I felt only a little whelmed. But the bonus is that autumn is here, and early mornings are almost chilly, so we leave off the air conditioning until late in the afternoon.




It's been a month for miracles. I always used to think I'd have my own home when pigs fly. And then they did this month,  at the Royal Melbourne Show in Australia. My guess was that they were ejected from spring-loaded cages, but no, they have some sort of Astroturf-covered rubber launching pad, so they must have been trained to jump. Animal advocates deplore the practice, but doesn't he look like he's enjoying his flight? Some pig. Hope he had a nice, cushy landing.


The Capt is preparing our new condo for the big move while I finish production on our annual antique map guide, which keeps this boat afloat. Friday he and an amiable Mexican friend, Hector, finished disassembling the concrete bed, which turned out to be constructed like a sandbox—a frame of brick, filled with sand, overlaid with a little rebar and then iced like a cake with a layer of concrete. Contrary to rumors, they did not find Jimmy Hoffa in there. Today our Scottish friend Tim is going to help haul out the broken brick, cement and sand with a wheelbarrow. Then we'll go shopping for a queen-size mattress, and if such a thing can be found in Mexico, the Capt will go ahead and construct a wooden bed frame to fit. Otherwise, we'll go with a matrimonio, the old-fashioned double bed. Our king-size would take too much space, since half of the room is reserved for a music studio.

A friend of a friend gave us two bookcases, an unexpected blessing since the house we're leaving has all its shelves built-in. A couple in the Ranchitos sold us their oak entertainment center for a good price and then threw in a dishwasher that works fine, just needs its rusty baskets replaced. The jury's still out on whether I'll actually use it much, but it would be great to have for dinner parties.


Did I mention we have water issues? Last night I had just washed the last dish (by hand) when the water went dry...again. All over San Carlos there are cries of "Oh, no!" "Merde!" "Blimey!" and other expressions too salty to be repeated as people turn on their faucets and get nada. It's very unpredictable; sometimes we get water all day and it's shut off at night.  But yesterday it was off most of the afternoon, and when I got up at four I found it on. The big problem is that the water doesn't run long enough to fill the tinacos. There are mournful complaints on the Viva San Carlos internet forum, about homes where not a drop has been seen for days, so we should count ourselves among the lucky ones. Someone called for the governor to be brought in to deal with the water company, which was said to be operating with only one well (there were three before Jimena). Somehow I doubt Governor Bours would be much help, particularly since it's the gringos who are doing the complaining. The Mexicans, who are in the majority here this time of year, haven't said a word. Meanwhile the water trucks are doing a brisk business. And we continue to see streets flowing with water from broken pipes.

As I might have guessed, the library where I volunteered last fall was severely damaged in the storm, with all the books on the lower shelves ruined and mold growing by the day to destroy the rest. I couldn't unlock the door, and the library jefe, Pat, advised me that I needed to kick the door in.  We'll have to organize a work party soon to salvage what books we can, haul away the rest, and then have the whole place treated for mold. 

Today I'm taking a break with my friends, for a brunch benefit at the (ahem!) Yacht Club,  with entertainment by the local Athletic Club bailarenas. Photo ops abound!

Glimpses of the Burning Man

I've always been curious about the Burning Man happenings. (That's what I call them, being a throwback from the Sixties.) I'd probably go, if
1) I could stand the idea of spending a week camped out in the Nevada desert in September.
2) if I thought I was still wild, crazy and energetic enough to fit in with that geeky/techie/radical/dadaist/stoned-out-of-their-cranium-on-self-expression crowd.
3) if I hadn't just put myself in hock by buying my first home, probably precluding any travel adventures for the next five years.

But I found something that's almost as good, at least for voyeurs who prefer their comfort zone, in this video. It's definitely worth bumping up to full-size to get an idea of the flaming bizarreness of this unique event.


Evolution (Burning Man time lapses) from Delrious on Vimeo.

Nikki Graduates

This is the historic Orpheum Theater in Downtown Phoenix.


What started four years ago finally culminated today. Yes my little girl got her Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design degree from The Art Institute of Phoenix.

A grand Graduation Ceremony was held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Phoenix on Thursday September 24, 2009.

The four years Nikki spent at Ai were long and hard. I saw her losing her sanity more than once due to deadlines and cash problems but with the support of her husband and family and her perseverance she finally did it. They celebrated their commencement into the next stage of their training, it is time to start thinking how to make that education pay off big dividends, not to mention loans that will need to start being paid very soon.

The marquee says it all.


I'll be honest, graduations are emotional, and important, but they are boring, I am seriously thinking that my daughter Michelle can offer her party planning services for future graduations. Maybe a little music, key note speaker, music, presentations, music and singing, diploma presentations, surprise celebrity guest, more music, some more singing, and why not let's throw in some dancing too, and since they have a culinary department have them serve hors d'œuvres... just sayin'

*Note to self: Not too bad of an idea! Joe Cool, you are a genius.

I think after they called Nikki's name the second most exciting thing was when some fool --(Whom shall remain nameless... Loyito) blew an air horn in my ear and made me jump from my seat.

The required photo session started promptly after the ceremony, we took pictures with Nikki for about half an hour and then the kids decided to go celebrate with pizza.

I am really proud of my little girl and we are already talking her into not stopping there and go beyond the Bachelors and pursue the next step in her education. Unfortunately it's sort of a never ending game but the future belongs to those that prepare themselves.

In my case with my limited schooling I reached my limit a long time ago, and regardless of how much I know and or how valuable I am the corporate world will not give us a chance to advance. Education is key and the only way to be successful. Trust me I'm in management and I know.

And now, please enjoy the following images from another milestone event in our lives.

Mi chica, our graduate, and I.


Michelle, Nikki, and Juan.


Photo op with the guys.


And then with the gals.


And lastly with her son, whom was more interested in making ugly faces for the camera.


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Finally, after a long month of inactivity and funds shortage we finally were able to raise the frame count to 21 pieces and we are now ready to travel this coming weekend to the beautiful City of La Puente, California where we will join my younger sister in her birthday celebration which as per her request will feature a melo-duckworth originalz exhibition and sale.

I really do have high hopes for this one but then again I always do for all exhibitions. It will be interesting and fun to mix it up a bit, being featured in a birthday celebrations has it's pros and cons. The worst thing that can happen is that I don't sell anything which to this day has not happened yet but on the other side of the coin we don't lose anything since we'll be having fun at the party anyway.

I think my sister's idea of featuring us at her birthday party was a good one and I guess we'll soon find out if the idea is going to pan out or not.

Wish us luck.

Mi little sister and I.
Image courtesy of Duckworth Photography


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Another steenkin' badge for my collection


Earth at night, from the Smithsonian website

The general wisdom is that you can't do anything about the weather. That it would be like trying to put in an order with God: "Today we'd like a sunny afternoon for the baseball game, please, and some rain tonight for the tomatoes."

The growing consensus is that we have already done something about the weather, but there are measures we could take to counteract the mistakes of the past or at least slow down the present pace of deterioration. There are others, including good friends of mine, who say it's foolish and arrogant trying to alter God's plan…we get what we get.

I'm not going to go into the arguments right now, first I need to do some homework. I'll just point out the blue badge to the right, announcing this year's Blog Action Day for Thursday, October 15. Click on the badge and you'll find out probably more than you'd ever want to know about this very well-organized event.

Climate change was the overwhelming choice this year when the Blog Action Committee put several topics to a vote. And the vast majority of them don't even live in San Carlos/Guaymas/Empalme where Jimena roosted for two days like a hen on her eggs, soaking us in more than 25 inches of rain and forcing 75,000 of our less fortunate out of their homes.

Last year I didn't find out about Blog Action Day until the day itself, when quite a number of fellow bloggers sounded off on the subject of poverty. What a coincidence, I muttered. Duh!

Party Extras

I would like to share these two images with all of you. It's not often that both families are together. On mi chica's side only one brother couldn't make the trip to Arizona and is missing in the picture.


Mi chica and her family minus one brother that could not attend the fiesta.


And this is Mi Familia.


I have a true belief that family should always come first, without a family we are nothing. Even when sometimes things don't go as they should there are always occasions that will reunite most if not all family members. I was blessed to have everyone that mattered celebrating with me last Saturday.

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While on the subject of family my little sister will have a birthday too. She has dubbed her celebration "Quinceañera X3".

The background on this invitation is Chely's actual "Quincea ñera" dress" More on this on a future post.


I'll be leaving for La Puente California yet one more time. My third road trip in two months. I am excited to attend her party. She chose to host a melo-duckworth originalz photo exhibition in conjunction with her party so I am definitely double excited.



To see the detail please click on images to enlarge.


Images courtesy of: Michelle Duckworth of Duckworth Photography
Invitation art by: Nikki Duckworth

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Food in the News

Just plain weird...
A North Carolina man -- who admits that he tends to gulp his food while eating -- suffered from unexplainable coughing fits, fatigue, and pneumonia-like symptoms for two years. Doctors finally locate the problem: A piece of a Wendy’s spork lodged in his lungs.

Closer to home...
Workers at Tampico Seafood on Airline in the Heights had a hell of a night last Friday when they were robbed at gunpoint and then held hostage once police arrived on the scene. Fortunately this one has a happy ending for everyone except the gunmen.

Most exciting of all...
Former Chez Panisse chef launches a line of ready-to-heat meals available at Costco. The line offers four dishes (polenta, penne bolognese, braised beef, and turkey meat loaf), all organic, no preservatives. The meals serve five, and none sells for more than $14. Just one more reason to luuurve Costco!

And Then They Danced For Me

Ha, ha, ha bunch of liars, you keep telling me that the suspense is killing you, well I am here to wrap it all up. So far it's all been fun, and we haven't even started dancing yet. Some of my friends had to leave early and they were starting to say good bye when mi chica stopped them and asked them to sit down just for a few more minutes.

Next thing I know my microphone shy chica is holding a microphone and talking to the guests. She told us that all the girls in my life (at least they represented all of them) had prepared a dance for me and they were about to perform it. She proceeded to let us know that my two daughters, two of my grand daughters, my goddaughter, three of my sisters, my sister in law, and my daughter in law, along with my nieces were going to perform their original version of "El Jarabe Zapatio". (Yeah, she even changed the name of the song).



I had no idea they had planned this for me and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was told they practiced maybe once back in June and then again before they actually performed it. My goddaughter wasn't even part of the group but she learned it in just a few minutes.



I was surprised to see that the Mexican motif carried even in the way they were all dressed. They all looked so pretty as "The Adelitas" with their rebozos. I caught a glimpse of mi chica dancing along with all of them from the side lines like a proud mama.

After that awesome performance we started to dance and kept dancing until past midnight. For the first time in a long time we were not asked to turn things off by the cops. We ended the fiesta when we wanted and not when the neighbors wanted.

I don't normally drink and yet I got five or six bottles of tequila. We opened two of them and we started drinking shots. I kept up with everyone else and yet didn't even feel buzzed. Oh, I was drunk alright but I felt fine all the time. The same could not be said for some of my drinking partners. (can you say barf) All I can say is... lightweights. lol -- My hangover consisted of a mild headache which was immediately taken care of by two aspirins.

Well, that pretty much sums up the fiesta. It was extremely well planned and executed, the guests had fun, my family had fun, but most importantly I had a blast. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful wife... errr chica that loves me enough to put herself through months of stress just to carry this through.

Thanks to all that participated and celebrated with me this milestone in my life.






































All images on this post courtesy of Michelle Duckworth Photograhy.
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A Charro Came and Sang For Us...

Not one, not two, not three but four cakes. How awesome was that?

So, the guests started coming in and it didn't take long until we had a pretty full backyard. My biker buddies, Mustang fellow club members, karaoke friends, work mates, and of course my huge family.

There was still plenty of daylight, mi chica asked everyone to please take a seat, I was still taking pictures when she said, "To you I order you to take a seat". I knew then she had some sort of a surprise. The music started playing a little louder than before, it was a popular Mexican song and I was about to start singing on my own when this mariachi looking señor comes out from inside the house microphone in hand and singing a the top of his lungs.

This guy was great, good singing backed up by good comedy. Gabriel Garcia is his name and besides singing he also teaches music. He gives guitar lessons, singing lessons, art lessons, and acting lessons. (480) 522-9515 and (480) 329-1035 or email at principecharro07@yahoo.com

Wow, mi chica had hired an entertainer to sing to us while we ate. LOL Except the food people were an hour late which thanks to the singer was not too bad a wait. Besides the food was worth the wait as the tacos were sooooooo tasty. It has become very popular among us Mexicanos to hire a caterer that prepares what we call a "taquisa". The plate consisted of tacos with three different choices of meat, salsa bar, rice and beans, ummmmm, ummmmmm, ummmmmm, tacos, you can't ever go wrong if you serve tacos at a party.

The tacos were so good the line was solid for well over an hour. Many came back for seconds, and so did I.


The entertainer had been hired for two hours but he stayed an additional hour courtesy of my brother in law and my sister. This guy not only sang nice but he also kept us laughing with a plethora of jokes. And additional surprise and definite crowd please was when his son whom I estimate was about seven or eight years old came out also dressed in his charro outfit and sang two songs to every ones delight.

El Charrito sang so good that he got the biggest ovation.


Even I had a turn at the mic as he graciously offer it to anyone who wanted to sing. So my sister and I sang a song but she claimed I kept singing in her tone. Hey I never claimed to be a professional. lol

My sister and I doing a duet.


As far as the food go, there was plenty of it. Normally food runs out within the two allotted hours for dinner, mi chica made sure and ordered enough to ensure that everyone was fed, heck most of us went for seconds and still the food didn't run out. Way to go baby!

The taco line kept forming for almost two hours, poor taco guy, he probably needed a brake but that was not about to happen. All of a sudden I saw mi chica take center stage holding a mic, she asked for our attention and pretty much came out with yet another surprise...

But that story will have to wait for the next post.

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The Fiesta

What an elaborate set up, there were plenty of tables for all the guests.
Notice the black clouds in the sky. Looked like rain.


And finally the day of the party came. Our California relatives got here on Friday night and Saturday morning. Everything was ready but to me everything was still a mystery, all I knew was there was a party about to happen but I had no idea of what mi chica had in store fore me.

I spent most of my morning in anticipation of what was to come, to kindda take my mind off things I run some errands in the morning, my black slacks were no where to be found so I had to go and find me a new pair, also buying some more beer and fresh flowers was in my to do list. Once that was accomplished I went back home and took a little nap, I found out earlier in life that naps are great time killers.

At around 5:00 pm mi chica and I headed out to my sister's house where the party would take place. Driving into Phoenix I noticed that the sky threatened to spoil things a bit, dark clouds had move in and we thought for sure a monsoon would visit.

Upon getting there they started putting the table decorations which had a plethora of Mexican related articles such as a Mexican hat, a Mexican soda, Mexican candy, and some Mexican toys. The flower vases were made out of "Salsa del Pato" hot sauce cans, and there was a tin luminary on each table. I am sure I mentioned before the party had a Mexican motif.



There definitely was a feeling that a Mexican Fiesta was about to happen. Just look at all those table decorations.


It took a good forty minutes to set all the table arrangements, everything look so good and pretty and then all of a sudden a gust of wind came and in 30 seconds undid every thing they had made so far, yes Mother Nature wanted to crash my party and it did.

Obviously I started taking pictures and capturing images as soon as I got there. The weather was a little on the hot side but it was bearable, normally our California guests complain a lot but I don't think I heard even one complain. Actually once the sun went down and the threat of a monsoon passed, we were getting this rather nice wind gusts that felt so good.

Ah, for those of you that still haven't met mi chica please allow me to introduce her to you. She planned this moment for the past six months along with my daughter. Yes I am lucky and I know it.


Exactly at 5:30 pm guests started showing up, and little by little a once empty backyard started getting full. The DJ got there early and immediately set his equipment up, the soft welcoming music started playing, yes we had all the makings of a fun party.

The DJ set up pretty early and started jammin' even before the guests had arrived.


But what happened next I leave for another post.

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Ta Daaaa!



I've been promising (threatening?) to upload one of the songs we're recording, and finally, here it is.

One of my favorite songs is the theme from the 1959 movie "Black Orpheus." The song has two different sets of lyrics. I prefer this much happier version, about Carnivale and its promise of excitement, romance and guitar-playing so beautiful it makes the sun rise. The other version, called "A Day in the Life of a Fool," is better known but somewhat depressing.

My accompanists are the Capt and our friend Daniel Perez Aguilar. Photos are from the Mazatlan Carnivale parade, 2008.

Black Orpheus (click to play)