A poster on Houston forum is bashing Chicago (Paris, Elburn: waterpark, houses)

[Drover]

I'm still trying to figure out how this guy figures Houston has more culinary diversity than Chicago does.

Chicago might have had a chance to quadruple its population too, except it was already way more populous 50 years ago than Houston is today, was already built up from border to border, and it didn't get to annex a bunch of open space around it either because there was none. Chicago already had its growth spurt before anyone ever noticed Houston was even there. There was nowhere left to put any more people except out in the 'burbs.

[sweetpotater58]

Chicago, it is a great place to live, work and visit. Houston-well, let's say it has warm winters as a plus, but not much else.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Austin is cool. I'd live there.

No you'd be disappointed there. I ended up going down I-35 to San Antonio after spending the afternoon in Austin when I ran out of things to do there. It's just a small town with a horrible traffic problem. The Riverwalk was the highlight of the day, much cleaner and more enjoyable than walking down 6th Street (in Austin) and smelling pee on the sidewalk.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Wow, what an nice,classy realtor. Remember-"Word Of Mouth" = new clients.A member on this forum is moving to Houston and just sold his house on the North SHore, I will point this thread out to him, wouldnt want someone like this as his realtor. I had to live in Houston for 5 years. I have been to purgatory.

Sorry, it's the Angeleno's words--not mine. Don't shoot the messenger!

[AaronK]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Have fun. I am sure you will be less bored out there.

More to do outside. Relatively cheaper homes.

[raleightransplant]

Originally Posted by Drover

I'm still trying to figure out how this guy figures Houston has more culinary diversity than Chicago does.

Chicago might have had a chance to quadruple its population too, except it was already way more populous 50 years ago than Houston is today, was already built up from border to border, and it didn't get to annex a bunch of open space around it either because there was none. Chicago already had its growth spurt before anyone ever noticed Houston was even there. There was nowhere left to put any more people except out in the 'burbs.

This is very true. People who live in the sunbelt are experiencing the growth that hit places like Chicago many years ago. That doesn't equate to Chicago, Boston or NYC being "dead"--they've just hit that natural stabilization period that all places eventually hit. I think at some point you may not necessarily need or want to grow by leaps and bounds in population. I think Chicago's entire metro area is somewhere around 8-9 million people..if there was a decrease in CHI's population it would probably have been the exodus to Chicago's own suburbs.

From where Chicago sits currently--there's no real need to grow like Atlanta on top of that...for one thing it's really not feasible for a healthy living environment. Houston, Phoenix and other new-growth metros have more space now, but will also feel this pinch as those places get crowded and people look for the next place to move to. With global warming in the picture, I do see reverse migration happening down the line and probably to places where fresh water exists, like the Great Lakes region.

[coog78]

Originally Posted by sweetpotater58

Chicago, it is a great place to live, work and visit. Houston-well, let's say it has warm winters as a plus, but not much else.

I'll give Chicago the last of the three you mentioned. Houston takes the first two. The cold is a bit much in Chicago for those who are not used to it, just as the heat is too much in Houston for the same reason. Chicago is no doubt a great food city, but besides the authentic pizza, has no cuisine that is not readily available and just as authentic in Houston.

I've been all over the world and never encountered the diversity of cuisine I can get here in Houston anywhere else besides NYC. There of course is a three letter explanation for this, O-I-L. The industry that drives the Houston economy is global and has attracted worldwide migration, bringing their food and culture with it. Chicago has had the same benefits for decades and going on a century.

For all the hoopla that LA and San Francisco get as food cities, they are actually much more limited than what I get at home, NYC or Chicago.

[via chicago]

I'm not sure how anyone could make the claim Houston is a better restaurant city than Chicago...hell, even the Wall Street Journal had this to say:

In Chicago, Chef Trotter is the dean of a scene that surpasses New York's as a thrilling place to eat.

Food That's Still Fresh After 20 Years - WSJ.com

Food and Wine Magazine's rating of the top 10 restaurant cities for 2008:
1. Tokyo
2. Paris
3. New York City
4. London
5. Barcelona
6. Sydney
7. Madrid
8. Chicago
9. Stockholm
10. Vancouver, Canada
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/...s-go-list-2008


GQ rated Chicago as the "Best Restaurant City in America"
http://men.style.com/gq/features/lan...d=content_4414

Chicago boasts more AAA five diamond restaurants than any other city in the nation -- Alinea, Arun’s, Avenues, Charlie Trotter’s, Everest, Seasons and Tru.

Grant Achatz of Aliena was named "Outstanding Chef" at the James Beard Awards

SAVEUR magazine named Chicago “America’s New Culinary Star”




Shall I go on?

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by coog78

Chicago is no doubt a great food city, but besides the authentic pizza, has no cuisine that is not readily available and just as authentic in Houston.

Really? Here's just one example - what does Houston have that compares to Alinea or Moto?

And even more important - what compares to Hot Doug's?

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Drover

Most of what passes as barbecue in this town, particularly ribs, is abysmal.

That's been historically true on the Northside, but the Southside has plenty of great BBQ places - Barabara Ann's, Lem's, Leon's, Uncle John's...

It is great seeing places like Smoque, Honey One, and Willy's open on the Northside. Hopefully the travesty that is Carson's will no longer define "ribs" in Chicago.