Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen

"Houston’s iconic “Enchilada Queen” Sylvia Casares of Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen continues her quest to teach locals how to perfect enchiladas with her latest holiday gift set. Each bundle features a set of the chef’s sauces, including a chili gravy, salsa verde, and a red salsa; a hardbound copy of The Enchilada Queen Cookbook; and a decorative tea towel — all of which is conveniently nestled in a rectangular baking pan that’s meant for baking enchiladas. Available for pick-up at Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen locations." - Brittany Britto Garley

"Head to the domain of Houston’s enchilada queen, Sylvia Casares, where you’ll find more than 15 different types of enchiladas, fajitas, heartwarming sopa de fideo, a Mexican-style Caesar salad, and hearty entrees, like grilled Chilean sea bass, that help give a culinary tour of cuisine throughout Mexico and Texas." - Brittany Britto Garley

"If you weren’t able to make it to one of chef Sylvia Casares’ tamale-making classes this season, both locations of her restaurant Sylvia’s Enchiladas will offer chicken, pork, and a combination of the tamales for $22 a dozen through December 31. For those ordering in bulk, buy five dozen and get an additional 12 tamales for free. Orders can be made by phone or online." - Brittany Britto Garley, Megha McSwain

"Just after Hurricane Harvey’s rains subsided and the storm blew through Houston, Sylvia Casares went to her Mexican restaurant Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen to survey the damage. Fortunately, the Eldridge Parkway location of the popular Tex-Mex spot was mostly unscathed right after the rain stopped. Still, the waters continued to rise. Casares and her team had enough time to wade through the water outside the building to come inside and do a little damage control. They moved furniture and equipment to higher ground so that it would not become water-logged, and disposed of food ruined by several days without electricity. Still, the water that eventually poured into the building meant that sheet rock, insulation and wood had to be ripped out and replaced. Over $62,000 in remediation costs later, including multiple treatments to eradicate any potential mold growth, Casares still knew that she was one of the lucky ones. Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen reopened just two weeks after Harvey made landfall, and its dining room has been buzzing ever since." - Amy McCarthy