Cultural Diversity in Houston: Hookah

     One of my favorite things about our great city is the wide range of different cultures we have here.  I've always wanted to live in a city with a "China Town".  Coming from a small town outside of Beaumont, having a real DOWNtown is exciting enough.  I come from Port Neches, where our "downtown" is literately 1 street with 2-3 stop lights no more than 2 miles long.  Moving to Houston really opened my eyes to all that I was missing in life.  Being here for over 7 years now, I consider myself a Houstonian and all that entails.  I'm an avid fan of the Rockets, Texans, and Astros, I live for our music scene, and I love our diverse food choices more than the average person.

     Since this a blog, and I have plenty of time to elaborate on what I love about our city, let's focus on one of my favorite things to do.  When I first moved to Houston, I was immediately dumped into a school 3-4 times the size of my small town school.  I made friends pretty quickly and started to see all of things I wouldn't experience in Beaumont.  One of the first things I was introduced to, and the topic of this entire post, was hookah.  Some of my friends from back home don't even know what a hookah is!  For those of you that are reading this, let me break down a little history of hookah.

     The exact place and time hookah was birthed is unknown.  Many believe it started in India after the European introduction to tobacco to India some time between 1542-1605.  There were some obvious concerns when using tobacco, so the hookah system was brought to light in order for people to smoke tobacco but have it "purified".   In many Arab cultures, hookah is smoked as a part of their culture and traditions.  Luckily for us, hookah has spread all over the world including North America, UK, Brazil, and many other countries.

          As you can see in the above image, it's a little harder to smoke this than just lighting a cigarette.  With a hookah, you put the shisha (flavored tobacco) in the bowl and cover it with tin foil with holes poked in it.  You then place a red hot coal on top of the foil providing the heat necessary to burn/cook the shisha.  It creates a smoke that travels down the stem into the base and is purified through the water and comes out of the hoses as a very light, flavorful vapor.  It's hard to notice you're even inhaling anything since it's so light.  It's not until you blow out a roomful of white smoke that you realize how much your lungs can hold.

     I have a few local favorites here in Houston to go and sit, relax, and smoke hookah.  I'll start out with my newest discovery with an old friend that goes above and beyond any other place I've been to.  Byzantio Cafe & Bar on W. Gray in Midtown is amazing!  The atmosphere is EXTREMELY laid back.  We're in the perfect season to sit outside and enjoy the weather.  With Houston's no smoking inside law, this makes Byzantio a great stop for great food, good hookah, and a relaxing atmosphere.  It's Greek inspired menu hosts a variety of yummy food like Greek salads, gyro pizza, sandwiches, and "special plates".  I highly suggest heading out here on a weeknight other than Thursday to enjoy a great meal and the beautiful weather.  If you're looking for something a little more lively, Thursday nights, they have belly dancing!

     Ranosh Cafe is a great little gem that is pretty undiscovered by most of the Houston population.  It's located on Fondren in between Richmond and Westpark.  The setting and ambiance here really make you feel like you're a part of the culture.  Most of the patrons are of middle eastern descent, which just makes the quality and the authenticity of the establishment a huge plus in my book.  Walking past the long line of cars and full parking lot, you enter a wrought iron gate into an outdoor state of bliss.  Fountains, palm trees, and amazing landscaping cover the grounds.  A large covered patio with heaters and fans make it comfortable to sit outside no matter what the weather is like.  There is a very small building that you walk into to order your food and hookah from.  Service here is a little slow just because of the mass of people there every day.  Once you get past the wait, the hookah is fresh, the food is absolutely to die for, and the mint tea will leave you only wanting to order another pot.  This place is great and one of my favorites easily.

     If you've never experienced hookah, you're missing out.  I'm a personal owner of a beautiful green 3 hose hookah that makes it's home either on my coffee table or on my patio.  It's definitely a favorite frequently used by any/everyone that comes over to visit.  It's a party favorite and a great conversation piece.  So, to all my friends out there, if you EVER want to relax and smoke a little hookah at my place or anywhere else in Houston, let me know!