Heights Tribune - Jenni`s Noodle House

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Texas Renaissance Festival -Jenni’sThy
Noodle
House
Merriment
Awaits!!All Good in the Neighborhood
by merriment
Diane Mosier,
Heights
Thy
awaits! The longtime
Texas Renaissance
Festival resident
will open its & food lover
gates for its 36th season on October 9th and 10th as it kicks-off this year
a delightful
addition
to theFill
Heights!
Opened
withWhat
an Oktoberfest
themed
weekend.
your tankards
and joinas
theLady
Na- Van) to support and raise 8 kids. Mama
only 3
months
Noodle
House has
was a talented cook with a gift for preparing
tion’s
largest
andago,
mostJenni’s
acclaimed
Renaissance
theme park for aTran
boisterous
Bavarianthe
celebration.
Gueststocan
test their lungs in the Alpine
Yodelconverted
neighborhood
a noodlehood.
great,
authentic meals for large groups. She started
ing Contest
or compete
in a
Polka Dancing
Contest. Those with acooking
craving and serving from her house. In fact, Mama
Although
Jenni and
hubby,
Scott, had
for Kielbasa can compete in a Bratwurst Eating Contest sponsored by
successfully opened 2 other neighborhood noodle
Tran has always been very well regarded in the
Boars Head. Revel in the sights, sounds and smells of this authentically
houses,
they
had
always
wanted
a
Heights
location.
Asianadcommunity for her culinary skills.
recreated 16th Century British village as it embraces the Oktoberfest
When
visiting
her
masseuse
on
East
20th,
Jenni
Although
a tough business, Mama was able to
venture.
the traditional McDonalds-type play ground, Scott
and Jenni bought a 12,000 lb concrete pipe for the
kids to play in and even provide the chalk for kids
to leave their artwork. Didn’t I say that my first visit
was rainy? No worries. Umbrellas are by the front
door to keep you dry if you’re caught out in the rain.
Although Mama Tran passed away a few short
and Scott crossed the street and peeked in the
support her children in her restaurant businesses.
years ago, her authentic recipes, without short cuts
The
Texas
Renaissance
Festivalbuilding
welcomes
more
than 400,000Jenni,
gueststhe 6th of 8 children, was there every step of
vacant
Day-Old
Mrs. Baird’s
at the
corner
or preservatives, are proudly passed on to all of
annually
whoOxford.
enjoy hundreds
of costumed performers
in over
of 20th @
It was instantaneous.
Jenni’s showcasedthe
way, watching and learning but vowing never to
us through Jenni. In fact, a recommendation that
200 daily performances. Visitors meander along shaded cobblestone
eyes didn’t see an old, sad concrete block structure.
go into the restaurant business. After a trying real
I personally love is the “Mama Tran Spicy Shrimp
walkways lined with more than 340 shoppes overflowing with unique
In
her
imagination
it
was
transformed
into
a
lively
estate,
a
brief
time
as
a
flight
attendant,
and
finally
Soup,” which you probably won’t find this anywhere
arts and crafts or offering delicious foods and beverages. All ages are
neighborhood
restaurant.
My
first
experience
with
as
a
Manager
at
Barnaby’s,
Jenni
thought
that
a
else. Jenni will be the first to tell you that these
amused by the games of skill and thrilled by the human-powered rides. A
Jenni’sday
Noodle
House
Monday evening
recipes are because Mama Tran was a master at the
perfect
ends with
the was
RoyalaFireworks
display held at dusk. coffee house with international coffees would
(usually the worst week night for most restaurants).
be perfect.
art of cooking, never compromising.
The
Festival
held
Saturdays,
Sundays
and Thanksgiving
FridayConsulting
OcIt was
rainy isand
humid
– generally
dismal.
My
with her Mom every step of the way,
The entertaining menu highlights noodles of
tober 9th through November 28th, 2010 with a total of eight magically
husband, a friend & I had just done the “where do
Jenni found a suitable first location on the East side
all kinds: dumplings, vermicelli, spring rolls and
themed weekends: Oktoberfest - Oct. 9 & 10: The Festival will open
you
wantfortoaeat
…no no
… where
dowon’t
you want
to miss, sponsored
of Downtown, near Kim Son. Well, Mama set up a
rice noodles. For more American tastes, there are
its
doors
Bavarian
adventure
you
want to
eat”
routine
when
I
remembered
that
our
daughter,
kitchen
in
the
space,
which
dictated
that
Jenni’s
not
some very nice soups, salad, and rice dishes. As
by MillerCoors. 1001 Dreams – Oct. 16 & 17: Take pleasure in all things
Carli, had
recommended
that weA try
Jenni’s. Night’s Dream.
only serve the rich coffees of the world but maybe
for the food, it’s all good. My favorite is the Mama
mystical
inspired
by Shakespeare’s
Midsummer
continued
on p.I6didn’t know how much could be done
Truthfully,
a few noodle
dishes.
With
Mama
Tran at
side,
Tran
Spicy
Shrimp
says
the SepRadio
Music
Theatre,
located
at her
2623
Colquitt, will
open
You’ll
NeverSoup.
ForgetJenni
the End
of to
thetryWorld!
with a cinderblock building until that night. It feels
demandingtember
that she
never take
prepared
Beef.
My daughter
recommends
theSat2 through
November
20,short
2010. The showLemongrass
will play every
Thursday
and Friday
at 8:30, and
at 8:00
and 10:30
p.m.
Never
theMe
EndCrazy,and
of the World!
is an original
comedy
by Steve
comfortable and welcome when you walk in the
cuts, Jenniurday
cooked,
served,
bussed
andYou’ll
ran her
firstForgetStir
the curry
dishes are
excellent.
I
Dillard,
the most popular televangelist
thethrough
world, has
determined,
the help
the
door. Jenni’s trademark, bright red and yellow walls,
restaurant Farrell.
24/7 forJiffy
the first
six years.
won’tingo
the whole
menu with
because
halfof
the
Mayan
calendar,
Nostradamus,
Hollywood,
and
his
own
hunches,
the
exact
moment
the
world
is
going
feature huge Black & White photos of her trips to
Somewhere in that early time frame, Scott
fun is roaming around the menu with your friends
to come to an end, and how much he should charge people to get into the event. Admission is $24.00.
Vietnam and the front and rear walls of the building
entered the picture. He was editor of Houston
and family.
Reservations are strongly suggested, call 713-522-7722 or visit www.radiomusictheatre.com.
are completely glassed for viewing the street and
City Life and experienced in marketing. As Jenni’s
By the way, they weren’t kidding about the
Bayou
City Art
Festival Downtown
Jenni’s
the backyard. The atmosphere invites you to visit
Noodle House gained
in popularity,
it became
“Money Back Guaranteed Desserts”.
The Dessert
and stay a while, which we did. Even on a dreary
apparent that they needed a “neighborhood” type
cooler is next to the drinksNoodle
– so, save House
some room
Bayou
City Art
Festival
announces
Jeannie Maddox
theaFeatured
Monday night, the place was busy and lively.
of location;The
Scott
jumped
into
the role
as full-time
and as
take
look. As forAll
beverages,
try
the Green
Good in the Neighborhood
Artist for the 39th Annual Bayou City Art Festival Downtown, which takes
There’s an upbeat, positive vibe from Jenni’s.
restaurateur
and
never
looked
back.
Tea
sifted
from
brown
rice.
Do
you
like
rich coffee?
place on Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, October
by
Diane
Mosier,
longtime
Heights
There’s a sense of fun and nonsense as seen in the
While Mama
Tran
was
teaching
Jenni
things
Then
order
Vietnamese
coffee
with
condensed
milk.
10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
resident at
& food
menu items – like Stir Me Crazy, Sexy Salad, Art
like – good soup starts with the bone not some soup
Jenni’s does not sell alcohol
any lover
of the 3 locations
What
a delightful
painting
createdfor
specificallybut
foryou
this are
festival
Car Curry and “Money Back Guaranteed Desserts”.
base, ScottMaddox’s
and Jenni
were “Colleen”
scoutingwas
a location
freeand
to bring
your
own withaddition
a BYOBto the
Heights! Opened only 3 months
is
a
part
of
Maddox’s
Swimmers
Series.
From
the
flat,
white
surface
of
Before we met, I visited the website, www.
a big move. The first move was to Montrose and
charge of $4. Jenni’s ago,
Noodle
House – Heights can
Jenni’s Noodle House has
canvas, aThe
swimmer’s
head
two dimennoodlesrule.com, to learn a little about the owners
the secondMaddox’s
was to Uptown.
weird part
of erupts,
this breaking
seatpast
92 folks
comfortably,
has
ample parking and
sional bounds, eyes closed, face sheathed in water, seeming more real converted the neighborhood to a
Jenni and hubby, Scott. Again, there’s a sense of joy
story is that
Jenni
originally
envisioned
a
portable
is
available
to
host
parties.
It’s
a perfect match for
noodlehood.
than the object from which it springs. The waters of the pool and the abwhen you visit their page. You find out immediately
“Noodle Truck”.
Actually,
she
envisioned
a
fleet
the
neighborhood.
I
ran
across
an old Vietnamese
stracted shapes of the body beneath it are just striking in their clarity. As
AlthoughJenni’s
Jenni and
hubby, Scott,
that Jenni is an unabashed Madonna fan; she is
of them. While
checking
into this
possibility
and a consistent
Proverb
might
big adventure:
the featured
artwork,
“Colleen”
will create
theme that
across
the describe
had
successfully
opened
2 other
Festive billboards,
posters,
and t-shirts. “Venture all; see what fate brings.”
passing down family recipes; and that she loves
running 2 restaurant
locations,
Scottprograms
and Jenni
neighborhood noodle houses, they
fun and word games – look for the noodleisms and
were renovating a home and temporarily rented a
Jenni’s Noodle House,
602 East 20th @ Oxford,
had always wanted a Heights loca“Jeannie’s
is stunning
surprising,”
Art Colony
Association
play along. Of course, as always, I was very curious
bungalow on
Oxfordwork
in the
Heights.and
Jenni
said that
Houston,
TX Board
77008. Phone:
713-862-3344. Website:
President Michael Piana said. “We are thrilled with the featured artwork tion. When visiting her masseuse
about how Jenni’s Noodle House found its way to
she quicklyshe
adjusted
to
Heights
life
but
found
that
www.noodlesrule.com.
Also
on
Facebook
on
East
20th,
Jenni and
and Scott
created and look forward to viewing the pieces she will showcase at
crossed
the
street
and
peeked in
our neighborhood.
she didn’t want
to
drive
more
than
a
mile
or
two.
Twitter.
Hours:
Mon-Sat
11
a.m.
–
10
p.m./
Sunday
the upcoming Bayou City Art Festival Downtown.”’
Day-Old
Mrs. and
Baird’s
The Tran family, Dad, Mom and 8 children, were
Imagine that? Anyway, the opportunity to open in the
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wi-Fi. the
Veryvacant
affordable.
Casual
building
at
the
corner
of
20th
Known
for right
her works
photorealism,
especially her
Swimmer
Series,
U.S. allies when South Vietnam surrendered. For
Heights was
literally
downofthe
street.
family
friendly.
BYOB with $4 cork charge. Party @
It was instantaneous.
Maddox’s
work
has
spanned
three
decades
of
remarkable
success.
Her 2Oxford.
their safety, they were airlifted to Guam to start a
The concept is refreshingly simple. Grab a menu,
dates are available.
other family owned Jenni’s:
Jenni’s eyes didn’t see an old, sad
larger-than-life
oil
paintings
have
been
acquired
by
national
and
internanewTexas
life. Jenni’s
Dad had
already
he for its 36th
walkseaup to the counter and order and then self serve
(Montrose) 3111 S. Shepherd @ Alabama and
The
Renaissance
Festival
willdecided
open itsthat
gates
tional collectors, and can be found in The Wiregrass Museum in Dothan, concrete block structure. In her
son
on October
9th and
10th
as it in
kicks-off
this
year with an
Oktowanted
the children
to be
raised
Houston.
After
your
beverage.
It
is
totally
cool
that
a
picture
of
what
(Uptown) 2027 Post Oak
@ Westheimer.
imagination
it was transformed into
AL and in the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, FL, as
berfest
themed
weekend.
visit www.texrenfest.com.
continued
on
p. 13
relocating
the family,
Mr. For
Traninfo,
unexpectedly
passed
you order is
displayed
on
the
cashier’s
monitor
and
continued on p. 8
away leaving Mama Tran (also known to many
there are other unexpected touches. Instead of