Lauren McDowell

Houston

Food and Lifestyle Writer at Freelance

Strategy Director at The 5+8 Show

Writer/editor/eater/reader/square. I am a sucker for olive oil cake

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Articles

The Texas Rice Farmers Wading Into Crawfish Territory — Louisiana Farm Bureau News

2 months ago | lafarmbureaunews.com | Lauren McDowell

While Louisiana still harvests majority of the freshwater critters, these Texas farmers are steadily gaining ground.
Everything You Need to Throw a Crawfish Boil

2 months ago | texashighways.com | Lauren McDowell |Tyson Bird

Recommended EquipmentPropane burner (minimum 100,000 BTUs)Propane tankCooking pot (120-quart holds one sack of crawfish, averaging 35 pounds)PaddleHeat-resistant gloves70-quart crawfish washer bucket, such as Cowboy’s brand out of Missouri CityHeat-resistant bags for optional add-insScoopCrawfish traysPaper towelsBibsWet wipesOptional add-insPotatoesAndouille sausageCornMushroomsBrussels sproutsShrimpEggsStep 1Select the appropriate amount of crawfish for your boil.
The Texas Rice Farmers Wading Into Crawfish Territory

2 months ago | texashighways.com | Lauren McDowell |Tyson Bird

The murky bottom of a Sour Lake rice field tugs on Jake Tortorice’s waterproof boots as he travels from one wire trap to the next. Maneuvering a small push boat—what resembles a buoyant shopping cart—he inspects wriggling crawfish for size and health. Only the finest specimens will make their way into plastic pails and depart this area of Beaumont in 35-pound sacks, bound for restaurants and backyard boils within a 100-mile radius.
Will the Special Water from Your Brita Make You Feel Loved and Looked After?

2 months ago | pointsincase.com | Lauren McDowell

There is a glass of water by your bed. To someone else, it looks like an ordinary drinking vessel. But it’s not. That’s because the team at BRITA™ has been to your home and done something to it. Is the water contaminated? No. Is it in a special glass? Not really. Was it, as you so desperately wish to believe, placed there by the nurturing hand of a loved one or significant other? Of course not. The water in this cup was filtered by your very own, brand new BRITA LOVE™ Filtration System.
Hamsa team brings an exciting new take on Mediterranean food to Houston

Oct 7, 2024 | opentable.com | Lauren McDowell

Hamsa team brings an exciting new take on Mediterranean food to Houston Expect food influenced by a wide range of countries, including Spain, Morocco, and Greece.
How H-E-B Tailors Its Stores to Each Neighborhood

Jun 25, 2024 | houstoniamag.com | Lauren McDowell

Each H-E-B store is tailored to its neighborhood. Image: Anthony RathbunNothing tells the story of a community quite like its neighborhood grocery store. The everyday rhythm of life is captured in the produce aisle, as a shopper inspects greens for a family-favorite meal. It’s seen in the wine aisle, as someone decides whether to choose a Texas red or a French white for a dinner party. It’s present in the easy-to-heat entree held by the single student waiting in the self-checkout line.
Galveston Bay Has an Oyster Problem, but Help Is on the Way

May 23, 2024 | houstoniamag.com | Lauren McDowell

Oysters are vital for the region’s ecosystem. Image: Nicki EvansOn a beautiful sunny day, as the waves of Galveston Bay roll gently against the backdrop of a blue sky, it’s hard to imagine the devastation Hurricane Ike brought to the Texas Gulf Coast more than 15 years ago. Communities like San Leon, located on a small peninsula just north of Galveston Island, have largely rebuilt the homes and businesses ravaged by the storm’s surge flooding and wind damage.
Here are Houston’s 12 most beautiful restaurants

Apr 18, 2024 | opentable.com | Lauren McDowell

Houston’s most beautiful restaurants are also its most transportive. These stunning spots confirm that it’s not just about what’s on the table that defines an epic meal—it’s also about what surrounds you. A Mexican beauty channels a chic glass treehouse with endless chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows. Neon-lit decor and eclectic art shuttle diners to Madrid at a lively tapas spot.
3 reasons to hop on a booking at Th_Prsrv, a one-of-a-kind Choctaw-Thai restaurant near Houston

Apr 4, 2024 | opentable.com | Lauren McDowell

For nearly a year, two acclaimed Houston chefs have been dazzling locals with what’s one of the most original restaurants to open in the country recently. At Th_Prsrv in Kemah, just outside of Houston, the all-star team of James Beard Award winner Benchawan Jabthong Painter and acclaimed chef David Skinner have come together to put their Thai and Choctaw heritages, respectively, front and center.
Editor’s choice: Houston’s 12 best restaurants

Mar 18, 2024 | opentable.com | Lauren McDowell

Living in Houston means being spoiled for choice when it comes to making the next dinner reservation—the city’s multicultural communities make for an equally diverse restaurant scene. Whatever my mood, there are places that excel at all kinds of flavors, from seriously spicy Thai delicacies to top-tier Southern classics.