Olivia O’Neal is undeniably proud of the two pastry chefs creating treats for the new Sugar Mama’s East (2406-B Manor Rd.). Kendall Melton (formerly of Contigo) starts the day with breakfast pastries such as croissants, scones, muffins, and cinnamon rolls that can be enjoyed with a full complement of coffee drinks made from the house special Bootleg Coffee blend. Melton also whips up ice creams to pair with the plated desserts being created by Karina Akhavan (formerly of Bess Bistro and Walton’s Fancy and Staple). The plated dessert menu, debuting this weekend, will change frequently, and features pies, cakes, cheesecakes, macarons, and other specialties that can be paired with a selection of craft beers, wines, and bubbles. O’Neal tells us, “The ladies seem to love cupcakes and Cava.”

Speaking of breakfast pastries, Ned Elliott advises us that Foreign & Domestic (306 E. 53rd) is once again offering popovers, quick breads, and coffee from Greenway Coffee (Houston) and Cuvee Coffee (Austin) daily from 7-11am. A limited breakfast menu will also be available on weekends. Meanwhile, don’t miss this weekend’s pop-up pastry shop from Houston’s own sugar fairy, Rebecca Masson, of Fluff Bake Bar from 9am til the goodies run out on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Davis Tucker is about to open the second outlet of his North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery (5701 W. Slaughter) near Circle C. Executive chef George Powell will be running the kitchen at the new spot while head brewer Don Thompson and brewer Hayden Winkler are working on a roster of new craft beers to be brewed in equipment salvaged from the original Copper Tank brewery Downtown.

Chef Josh Watkins chatted with us last week while he was presenting a guest chef dinner at the Turtle Restaurant in Brownwood. Watkins says he’s busy developing multiple projects since his departure from the Carillon, but he isn’t ready to divulge details at this point.

The newest watering hole headed for the quickly developing Eastside will be Craftsman Bar (2000 E. Cesar Chavez) from Alexander Letichevsky in the former home of Cap’s Game Room & Bar.

This article appears in September 26 • 2014.

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