This post is sponsored by Broken Barrel. All opinions are mine alone.
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Broken Barrel: A Taste Beyond the Norm
Last Wednesday, I joined a dozen Houston influencers at Broken Barrel in the Woodlands for a private media dinner hosted by Chef Hilda Ysusi. I was excited about attending the event because Broken Barrel recently opened in February 2017 in Hughes Landing’s famous restaurant row.
Broken Barrel may look like the upscale eateries in the Woodlands. Yet, I noticed something different when I met Chef Hilda and tasted her cuisine. Chef Hilda’s experience and culinary background expand around the world. Which naturally caught my attention since I love traveling and tasting the flavors from diverse cultures. This is what elevates Broken Barrel’s dining experience to a new level. The menu entrées at Broken Barrel combine Asian, Latin, and Mediterranean influences that result in surprisingly unique taste. Broken Barrel’s cuisine is a taste beyond the norm.
Chef Hilda greeted us with happies on the patio! She said, ” I want you to experience my style of dining when I’m out with friends and family.” We toasted to that and kicked off our evening with cocktails and appetizers outside on the patio.
With a refreshing Prickly Pear Moscow Mule in hand, I watched the sunset from the patio. It was the perfect way to unwind after a hectic day at the office!
Prickly Pear Moscow Mule perfect for sipping on the patio!
We nibbled on three appetizers: karaage, crispy olives, and paella arancini. The karaage is part of Broken Barrel’s happy hour menu. It’s a Japanese Fried Chicken that’s served with a garlic aioli dipping sauce. The crispy olives are fun poppers that are kind of addictive. I love salty, briny foods so this was my favorite starter. The paella arancini were tasty as well.
Crispy Olives with Garlic Lemon Aioli
Karaage and Paella Arancini
After all the guests arrived, we moved into the main dining room for a seated dinner. Broken Barrel’s modern decor with high ceilings, modern fixtures with industrial details created a relaxing atmosphere. The textures of brick, glass, wood and metal with subtle pops of color bring an energy of culture and global sophistication. Chef Hilda mentioned that she designed and implemented the concept for her restaurant. She credited a few of her friends who pitched in to help Chef Hilda bring her dream of owning a restaurant to life.
Broken Barrel Interior Photo by Chuck Cook
Our dinner started with items from the brunch menu. We sampled the duck quesadilla and the stuffed french toast. Both entrées were delicious. The duck quesadilla featured a cheese “tortilla” stuffed with pulled duck and veggies. I only took a small bite because I knew we had a lot of dishes to sample but I wanted more of the duck quesadilla! The stuffed French toast filled with cinnamon cream cheese and coated with a cornflakes crust paired well with the spiced syrup. It too was a crowd pleaser.
For brunch, I recommend ordering a few dishes to share with your brunch bunch. This way you can enjoy an array of bites!
Stuffed French Toast with Cinnamon cream cheese, topped with cornflakes crust and served with a spiced syrup.
Duck Quesadilla with a Cheese “tortilla” stuffed with pulled duck and topped with pickled veggies!
We continued our family-styled dinner with entrées from Broken Barrel’s lunch and dinner menu. Our tastings included Patatas Bravas, Not Your Ham & Cheese, Shrimp Fried Rice, Market Fish, Baby Beets, Cochinita Piblil Tostones, Zucchini Salad, and Spinach Stuffed Chicken.
I loved the fresh flavors and unique food pairings. Most of Broken Barrel’s food is on the healthy side. Made with organic grains and veggies. You can taste the difference and the quality of the ingredients. One of my favorite dishes was the Spinach Stuffed Chicken on a bed of couscous and topped with grilled eggplant and pesto. Another unforgettable dish was the Zucchini Salad. I asked Chef Hilda how to prepare it and she told me to make it. So for Easter lunch, I made the Zucchini Salad for my family. And they loved it too!
Here are a few of my favorite bites that caught my attention.
Not your Ham & Cheese Sandwich made with Prosciutto, goat cheese, red wine jelly and topped with arugula.
Zucchini Salad with
Squash ribbons tossed with feta, red onion, peanuts, and cilantro.
Baby Beets on
Orange, Greek yogurt sprinkled with crackling dust. This is amazing!
Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast on a bed of couscous, topped with sun dried tomato and grilled Portobello.
Market Fish (Red Fish) on a Greek style quinoa drizzled with Uruguayan chimichurri.
S’mores Casserole is a hot, rich, chocolatey goodness topped with toasted marshmallows.
I highly recommend dining at Broken Barrel. It’s perfect for a casual, upscale dining experience. For those beautiful days you want to dine alfresco, the Broken Barrel’s lake view patio is a perfect choice. From brunch to happy hour, Broken Barrel is a great place for socializing with friends. Chef Hilda loves entertaining and wants her restaurant to a place where people can come, relax, eat well, and create memories.
So if you are looking for a place for a party or private event, Chef Hilda told me that Broken Barrel can accommodate private parties on-site or they can do corporate and event catering at your location!
About Chef Hilda Ysusi
Chef Hilda with fresh baked zucchini bread.
Born in Mexico City, Ysusi pursued her culinary passions early, traveling to Switzerland in 2005 to study in a le Cordon Bleu sanctioned culinary and pastry program while still a teenager. Ysusi staged at Jean Georges and DB Bistro Modern in 2009 and received two degrees from the renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, in Baking and Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Wanting to expand her repertoire, Ysusi externed at series of diverse concepts: Bourbon Steakhouse, Nestle Professional and finally Sushi Maki, where she was hired on as a Corporate Chef in 2014.
Now Hilda brings her experience and passion to bear with her own concept, Broken Barrel based in The Woodlands, Texas at Hughes Landing. This restaurant and bar features shareable plates infused with global influences; a varied and extensive wine list; beers on tap; and a full bar with a gin-focused cocktail menu.
Hilda’s roots, plus her experience in a variety of different cuisines, has led to her modern yet classical style now seen in this vibrant new concept, Broken Barrel.
*Bio provided by Cultivate PR
Taste & See for Yourself
A photo with Broken Barrel Executive Chef and owner, Hilda Ysusi.
Thank you, Chef Hilda Ysusi for inviting me to the Broken Barrel media dinner. I truly enjoyed your style of dining. From cocktails and appetizers on the patio to the seated dinner inside the main dining room, I loved the presentation of the food, the attentive staff, and the ambiance of Broken Barrel. The dishes I sampled were like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. Unique and fresh with layers of complexity. Broken Barrel cuisine is definitely a taste beyond the norm!
Taste & See Life friends, if you are in the Woodlands, make sure to dine at Broken Barrel at Hughes Landing’s restaurant row. You’ll be glad you did!
Go taste and see for yourself and let me know what you think!
A generous parting gift of Grilled Zucchini Bread!
1950 Hughes Landing Blvd #1900 | The Woodlands, Texas 77380 | 713-389-5628
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