America's
For FLAVORImage: Ceviche flight tasting, a dish at the new Americas restaurant from chef Michael Cordua which will open in River Oaks in September.Credit: Jack Opatrny
Michael Cordúa speaks to inspire the staff before opening the doors to their newest Américas Restaurant Friday, April 25, 2008, in The Woodlands. Michael Cordúa and his family expand their restaurant venture of Artista, Churrascos, Amazón Grill, Cordúa Catering and Américas. ( Kevin Fujii / Chronicle )
Credited with introducing Houstonians to South American food, portrait of Michael Cordúa (left) Nicaraguan-born American restaurateur and owner of Cordúa Restaurants with his son David Cordúa, 26, photographed at Americas Restaurant in the Galleria, one of his five restaurants Friday, May 29, 2009, in Houston. ( Johnny Hanson / Chronicle ) (FOR LA VOZ)
For FLAVORImage: Taquitos (softshell crawfish, bacon-wrapped quail, plantain-crusted shrimp, beef shortrib), a dish at the new Americas restaurant from chef Michael Cordua which will open in River Oaks in September.Credit: Jack Opatrny
For FLAVORImage: Signature churrasco steak at the new Americas restaurant from chef Michael Cordua which will open in River Oaks in September.Credit: Jack Opatrny
For FLAVORFOR BOTH:Image: Barbecue pork arepas, a dish at the new Americas restaurant from chef Michael Cordua which will open in River Oaks in September.
For FLAVOR
Image: Ceviche, a dish at the new Americas restaurant from chef Michael Cordua which will open in River Oaks in September.
Credit: Jack Opatrny
(For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, December 9, 2008)Belen Bailey, left, making Chocolate cake and Lucuma. Belen makes pastries and ice cream out of fruits imported from her native Peru. Erika Godomar, right, is the owner of Parrilleros Taste of the Americas restaurant, where Belen shares space in the kitchen.
Veronica Valenzuela, a pastry chef at the Americas restaurant in The Woodlands, creates one of her masterpieces. Valenzuela left her job as a social worker in El Paso to come to Houston and took classes at the local Michael's store learning cake decorating before enrolling at a culinary school in Houston.
54. Americas
The Cordua family’s flagship restaurant, newly relocated to River Oaks, cements their status as the local restaurateurs who have bet big on stunning modern design, making it echo and reinforce their South American menus with considerable wit. The food is not as consistently impressive as it once was, but the high points show why the Cordua’s influence continues to be felt: butterflied churrasco steaks bathed in chimmichurri; miniature pulled-pork arepas; the clever corn-masa “fettucine” (tallarines) with lobster sauce and achiote grilled shrimp and little cob-smoked crab fingers. Desserts, including the landmark tres leches cake, continue to impress; and the stylized rainforest dining room is a source of pure Seuss-like delight. This restaurant could and should rank higher on the list.
Cuisine: South American
Entree price range: $$$-$$$$
River Oaks: 2040 W. Gray St., 832-200-1492
Woodlands: 21 Waterway Ave., 281-367-1492
Web: cordua.com/americas
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