Houston, who knew?

My weekend in Houston was surprising. It was not only fun, but also veggie-filled. I had no problems getting my morning veggies in before a day on the town. Staying at the Hilton may have eased my search: Friday and Saturday mornings, I feasted on their buffet with a made-to-order omelet with red onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and fresh spinach along with some V8, yogurt, grits, and fresh fruit. I couldn't have asked for a more filling, nutritious breakfast.

Sunday morning, we went to Island Grill, where I had another omelet, but washed it down with a nice cup of freshly juiced vegetables called the Emerald Isle Cooler.

I also fell in love with Ruggles Green, where I ordered fish tacos piled high with cabbage. And Taco Milagro, where I had what is possibly the best guacamole ever to pass my lips.

But the highlight of my visit was, believe it or not, a grocery store. I spent at least as much time in Central Market as I did in the museums, and I wandered around in probably more awe of their goods, though it's tough to compare lemon infused salts to Magritte paintings. This place, however, never stopped revealing new wonders: from Buddha's hands (citrus fruit) to Perfect Food bars, green supplements to gourmet chocolate caramel peanut butter bars, cast iron tea pots to bulk red quinoa and gluten-free flours, I never considered grocery shopping a true cultural experience. I felt sorry for Whole Foods, though the Houston Whole Foods I checked out did offer an impressive raw foods bar.

Add to the surprisingly healthy scene an amazing district of museums complete with Picassos, Magrittes, and the like, some sculpture gardens, an entire museum dedicated to crafts and in particular "extreme tea," and a decent tea house, and I'm as nourished -body and soul- as could be.