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Chow, Baby is not good at maintaining automobiles. I often wish I had a grown-up around to nag me about things like getting my oil changed and my tires rotated. So it wasn’t that big of a surprise when my car broke down the other day. I had it towed to a mechanic in Arlington, near where I lived during my lengthy tenure at the University of Texas at Arlington (I was on the 8-year plan). my transmission may have gone on the blink, but my food karma was working like a charm. Thanks to the breakdown, I ended up enjoying good meals at two very different eateries.

By the time my car and I reached the mechanic’s shop, it was lunch time, and I was famished. Luckily, his garage is on Pioneer Parkway, not far from a place I’d been dying to try: Shisha Cafe (2301 Pioneer Pkwy., Pantego.), a new-ish Mediterranean grill and hookah lounge.

The ambience at Shisha is a cross between a smoky bingo hall and a Middle Eastern fast-food chain. Plumes of smoke hung in the air from hookahs. Blaring on the television was a Middle Eastern music video channel that I found alternately fascinating and annoying (to be fair, I would have found an all-English-speaking video channel just as annoying and not at all fascinating). the red pleather tablecloths were dingy and full of what I assumed were burn holes from rogue tobacco embers. It’s pretty clear that the building itself started life as a fast-food outlet, and the Shisha décor neither hid nor improved on those origins.

On the server’s recommendation, I ordered the chicken shawarma, which comes with a choice of salad ($7.49). I went for the Greek salad with a tangy Greek dressing over lettuce, olives, tomatoes, and goat cheese. the tomatoes looked dull and tasted bland, like they’d been pre-sliced by a food distributor, but the tang of the dressing rescued the salad. the shawarma — shaved pieces of marinated chicken breast — tasted unbelievably fresh. the garlicky, mayonnaise-like sauce blended well with the chicken’s curry and lemon marinade. the dish was served with moist rice and more of the dull tomatoes.

My car needed an overnight stay, so I hitched a ride home with a friend and resigned myself to being stuck at Chow, Baby HQ all weekend. I’m a fan of delivery, but I’m an even bigger fan of the fact that Winslow’s Wine Café (4101 Camp Bowie Blvd.) now serves lunch and is within walking distance of my current apartment.

Late on a Saturday afternoon, the dining room was mostly empty, but it’s still a very inviting environment. Winslow’s oozes chic from every molecule of its bright wood-tone décor and stylish blue banquettes.

My guest and I started with the fantastic clam chowder ($4), a classic New England version with potatoes and a bit of spice in the broth. we were a little less impressed with the salmon bruschetta appetizer ($8). the raisin and tomato chutney overpowered the salmon — all I could taste was the sweetness of the raisins and the layer of goat cheese slathered on the toast points. It wasn’t bad — I just wanted to taste more salmon.

The entrées were both excellent. the crab cake sandwich ($15) was more of a DIY project than a sandwich. Small but flavorful crab cakes sat atop toast points brushed with olive oil. A bacon-and-blue-cheese remoulade was spread on top, with lettuce, red onions, and fresh tomatoes on the side. the chicken pesto pizza ($15 for a small) was thin-crusted with grilled basil pesto chicken, mushrooms, artichokes, and a creamy bechamel sauce base. I’m usually leery of gourmet pizzas, but this was remarkably restrained, elegant, and delicious.

I still don’t know when my car will be ready, but I know that Winslow’s is going to be seeing a lot of me until it’s fixed. I probably won’t stop at Shisha when I pick up my car, but the food there is well worth a try. I just don’t care for the smoke — whether it’s billowing from a hookah or from under the hood of my car.

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<a href="http://www.fwweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5217:on-foot-for-food-&catid=69:chow-baby&Itemid=395tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.fwweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content”>On Foot for Food

Paul Jatta’s Brøndby eliminated in the Danish Cup

Gambian youngster Paul Jatta and his Danish superligaen outfit Brøndby IF presented little opposition for FC Copenhagen on Thursday night, allowing a trio of goals in a rough 15-minute span to come crashing out of the Danish Cup.

With Copenhagen entering the game on a rare three-game winless streak, the best hope that the continually struggling Brøndby squad had was to take advantage of any residual desolation on the part of their visitors.

Paul Jatta’s Brøndby had fired former head coach Henrik Jensen earlier in the week after a run of poor results left them on the edge of the drop zone, with assistant Auri Skarbalius taking the reigns on a permanent basis.

With his first task a daunting visit from powerhouse Copenhagen, the former Lithuanian player saw his team effectively lose the game in a relatively short span of beginning several minutes before the break.

A 37th-minute was left to fall into the area by the Brøndby defense, and 25-year old Senegalese midfielder Pape Patè Diouf rushed in to send it over the line for 1-0. they struck again one minute before the half, as Cesar Santin found Dame N’Doye with a nifty back-heel, allowing the Senegalese striker to hit a low shot for the two-goal lead.

Copenhagen struck again in the 52nd minute as Sölvi Geir Ottesen Jónsson rose high to head in a corner. the silver lining of the loss is that it will allow Paul Jatta’s Brøndby to focus on their increasingly troublesome league campaign, where they will host 6th placed team Aalborg BK on Sunday.

Last Updated (Friday, 28 October 2011 15:12)

<a href="http://westcoast.gm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=532:paul-jattas-brondby-eliminated-in-the-danish-cup&catid=39:sports&Itemid=60tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://westcoast.gm/index.php?option=com_content”>Paul Jatta’s Brøndby eliminated in the Danish Cup

Columbia is certainly not well known for its selection of Lebanese-style eateries.

In fact, the city boasts only a handful of restaurants sprinkled throughout the area that serve up the typical Middle Eastern fare.

However, a quick stroll down Gervais Street will land you right in the heart of the Vista, and right at the front door of Mezza, a newly opened bistro and hookah lounge that’s putting a modern spin on some classic Lebanese favorites.

From an outside perspective, Mezza somewhat resembles many of the dining establishments the Vista has come to be known for: a nicely furnished bar at the front, followed by a simple seating area with white tablecloths under low lighting that glows from fashionable hanging shades.

It is only when you are seated at the booth or table of your choice that you can really take in what is a combination of classic style molded with a few twists that keep the restaurant looking fresh and modern.

The exposed air ducts are layered over a high ceiling, and the open brick work at Mezza’s front door keeps things comfortable and far from feeling overdone and stuffy.

And unlike many other more traditional Lebanese restaurants, Mezza’s house music of choice includes a variety of dubstep tunes that keep the vibe feeling new and hip. The walls are decorated with a culture clash of classic and modern paintings, all of which are for sale.

The best way to describe Mezza’s extensive menu of Lebanese dishes is fresh and diverse, serving up an assortment of typical cuisine mingling with some more contemporary choices.

The selection of appetizers is almost as expansive as the entrees themselves, giving diners the option of choosing between cold starters like hummus or baba ghanoush, an eggplant dish mixed with tahini sauce and garnished with olive oil.

The hummus, adequately priced at $4.95, was served chilled with soft, warm pita bread slices and tasted freshly made with a consistency that was perfectly balanced between thick and easily spreadable.

There are, of course, hot appetizers to choose from as well, including Phoenician fries sautéed in garlic and lemon and topped with feta cheese for $6.50, as well as another Lebanese favorite: falafel croquettes molded from fresh garbanza beans and served with a sides of lettuce, tomato, pickle and tahini sauce for the same price.

As for the main courses, Mezza offers an assortment of options to fit any taste and budget. there are four salads offered for under $10, including the tabbouleh salad crafted from a mixture of parsley, wheat, tomato, onions, olive oil and lemon juice that tasted crisp and light with a colorful array of textures and flavors.

There are also six wraps on the menu for less than $9 each, served on warm pita bread garnished with tomatoes, lettuce and pickles.

Diners can select from the falafel wrap or the traditional kafta kabab, a Middle Eastern style meatloaf served with hummus, as well as other wraps, including pitas stuffed with shrimp, chicken or beef.

Moving further down the menu brings diners to entrees with slightly heftier price tags.

All entrees from the grill, including kafta kababs over basmati rice and a mixed grill of chicken, beef and kafta with yogurt, are served with house salads with prices ranging from $14 to $17.

However, Mezza also offers items to share among groups of two to eight people. The petite Mezza meal serves two to four diners and comes with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, grape leaves and falafel, all for $30. Mezza serves up all these favorites and more, tacking on additional items like Phoenician fries, mixed grill, kibby balls, fattoush and shanklish at a price of $95.

The signature entrees include beef and chicken shawarma platters, which consist of meats that are shaved to order after marinating on the spit all day. The beef shawarma, served with basmati rice and tahini sauce was delicately moist and rich in flavor, and provided plenty of food at the cost of $13.

Oven selections are also available for $6 and under, dishing up manakish cheese, oven baked with mozzarella and akkawi cheese and manakish zaatar, freshly baked dough topped with thyme, olive oil and sesame seeds.

Walking out the back door of Mezza brings patrons to the hookah lounge, an open patio area just outside where customers can choose from a variety of shisha flavors to share at any one of the many seating options.

Mezza is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

<a href="http://www.dailygamecock.com/mix/item/2142-mezza-lebanese-bistro-hookah-lounge-introduces-middle-eastern-fare-to-vistatag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.dailygamecock.com/mix/item/2142-mezza-lebanese-bistro-hookah-lounge-introduces-middle-eastern-fare-to-vistaTue, 20 Sep 2011 03:21:08 GMT 00:00″>Mezza Lebanese bistro, hookah lounge introduces Middle Eastern fare to Vista

Hey,

I was talking to my Mum and I think she's agreeing to me being able to get a Hookah to smoke Shisha with. I know you can get I think 3 hose Hookahs in Joynt Venture in the city for aprox. $100. but I don't know much about them and yeah, I was wondering where I could get a good Hookah and some good Shisha (Flavoured tobacco)

Any info would be awesome!

Thanks

Where's a good place to purchase a Hookah and Shisha in Perth?

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<a href="http://www.standard.net/stories/2011/09/08/clean-air-rule-targets-smoke-hookahstag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.standard.net/stories/2011/09/08/clean-air-rule-targets-smoke-hookahsFri, 09 Sep 2011 05:05:57 GMT 00:00″>Page Not Found – Error 404

with all the help i was given about a week ago on not getting bigger thick clouds of smoke, i still cannot produce any clouds..

i've tried countless things/ advice that was given to me, including only use one layer of foil, fluff the shisha/dont over pack, poke better small holes, put milk in the base, and wait 30 to 45 seconds between each hit…

and after all this advice I STILL cannot get big thick clouds of smoke..

so please hookah experts, give me advice..

btw if u havent read my previous questions…

i have a extra large 40 inch khalil mamoon hookah, starbuzz shisha, phunnel bowl, and chronic hookah quicklights… AND stiill cannot get clouds..
PLEASE HELP!!

… wow. if you're STILL not getting good smoke, then there's always the possibility that there's a leak somewhere. something isn't air-tight.

– are you using grommets?
– Does the grommet the goes under your bowl make it air-tight?
– perhaps you have a leak in the stem
– perhaps there's a leak in the hose
– is the hose grommet air-tight?
– is the grommet for the bowl (biggest one) air-tight?

Any hookah experts? please help now!?

That don't necessarily card? Yes, I'm 18, but my friend is 17. We've grown up smoking hookah as it is part of our culture and we would like to go to a restaurant or hookah bar to smoke some shisha, but he is afraid they will not let him. can someone help us out?
9 minutes a

Hookah bars/restaurants in Houston?

http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-6200-hookah-km-tefnut-1hose-hookah.html
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-6244-mini-scepter-1-hose-hookah.html
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-96-scarab-1-hose-hookah.html
http://www.thehookah.com/the-bambino-mya-saray-mini-hookah.html

As you can tell, the price range is just about 50 dollars. Personally im looking for thick clouds, but I dont know about my roomates preferences. any ideas? Which one should we buy?

My roomates and I are buying a hookah and we are considering these:?

Recently, I was interviewed by Seth Bracken, a promising young reporter with Utah State University’s student newspaper, for a story he was doing on gay male parents. I found his enthusiasm and desire to write a positive gay story refreshing.

as we talked, it became clear to me how different our lives were as gay men. No, not because I have kids and he doesn’t. not because he and his boyfriend probably go dancing on Friday nights while I’m sitting on the couch watching a Disney flick with the boys.

No, our lives are different because at literally half my age, Seth’s experiences are shaped by four decades of gay and lesbian rights.

The way I see it, I owe being a gay dad to a bunch of drag queens, who in 1969 stood tall in their heels, said, ‘enough is enough,’ and fought back against police harassment.

Now I can’t imagine that the ladies at the Stonewall Inn on that evening forty years ago dreamed that what they did would lead to Harvey Milk becoming the first openly gay man elected to political office. or that queer couples would be raising kids. or that same-sex marriage would be a viable issue.

But it all started there. and as I explained to Seth, each subsequent gay generation has had it easier than the one before us. and, hopefully, we’ve made it easier for the generations coming after us. We’re all links in a chain of history.

That’s why in spite of recent setbacks to gay marriage – like the recent vote in Maine and Proposition 8 in California – I firmly believe that same-sex marriage will be a reality in all 50 states. It’s no longer a matter of if, but when.

And that’s where my sons come in. They’re a link in the chain, too.

My number one goal in life is to make sure that the boys grow up to be happy, well-adjusted men. I think that’s a challenge for any parent, but it’s especially difficult when you consider that Kelly and I are slightly whacky gay guys!

Unlike straight parents, however, we have an added pressure for raising “successful” kids. We owe it to those who fought for us. Those drag queens took it on the chin – literally – so I could live openly as a gay man. The bullet that shattered Harvey Milk’s skull also shattered laws banning gay adoptions.

My kids walk in the world every day as the sons of gay men. There’s no escaping that fact. whether they like it or not, whether they understand it yet or not, they’re seen as representatives of gay society.

It’s a mighty weight on these kids, but the reality is that children of gay men and lesbian women are an extension of queers everywhere.

I figure it’s similar to the reminders my parents gave my siblings and me every time we walked out the door. not only were we representing ourselves, we were representing our family, and thus every Greek person.

Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t become a father to advance any cause. and I’m not training my kids to be little gay rights activists. but I’m also not naïve. I know that the kids of gay people, and our kids’ friends, will be powerful allies in the fight for causes like full marriage rights.

That’s why I’m confident we’ll see universal marriage sooner rather than later. The tide is on our side. and it’s growing.

You know, it seems that the tide is always on the side of gay people. Think about it. within my lifetime we went from being arrested in bar raids to raising children. That’s pretty freakin’ amazing.

I shared this sentiment with the son of some friends recently. he came out during his senior year at a private Catholic high school. in a brilliantly-written “manifesto,” which he nailed to the school doors ala Martin Luther, he announced that he is gay, and exposed the rampant homophobia he witnessed in his classmates and the administration alike.

He never could have done that, I explained to him, had it not been for the links in the gay chain that came before him.

Kelly and I owe our parenthoods to those links. We owe it those who lost their lives, or broke a nail, to be the most fabulous gay dads we can.

But we also owe it to Seth, the young college reporter. We need to be a link in the chain for him, so he can marry his boyfriend if he so desires. so they can adopt kids if they want.

Hmmm, maybe they can practice by babysitting mine!

Want more Who’s your Daddy? Check out the blog: Christopher-whosyourdaddy.blogspot.com

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<a href="http://qsaltlake.com/2011/08/04/q-goes-red-then-pink/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://qsaltlake.com/2011/08/04/q-goes-red-then-pink/Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:20:01 GMT 00:00″>Links in a Chain

wanna start my own little business
where can i buy abunch of pipes,bongs and hookahs for cheap online?
even if i have to order a set or unit or 100 or whatever
something like $3.75 to 5.00 glass pipes

and glass bongs for 10 to 15 dollars or like a set of 100o them to order

then hookahs for about 10 to 15 dollars too or cheaper

Cheap wholesale bongs and pipes and hookahs to buy online?