Epicurean exploration EATERIES SERVE UP THEIR CULTURAL TAKES ON SEAFOOD SEPTEMBER 2025 $10.99 COASTMONTHLY.COM 645485005999 HOMESICK CRAVINGS FOOD FOR THE TEXAN SOUL SIP INTO A NEW SEASON A COCKTAIL TO TRANSITION FROM SUMMER TO FALL SEPTEMBER 2025 PLUS: MAKING MAHJONG MEMORIES RAINBOW CONNECTION CHEF CELEBRATES FOOD, FRIENDS AND FUSIONMarylouise@CaravellaCoastal.com • www.CaravellaCoastal.com 13655 FM 3005 Suite B, Galveston, TX 77554 (Corner of 12 Mile Rd and FM 3005) 801 EAST BEACH DRIVE BC #2305 | PALISADE PALMS Beachfront | 4 BR | 4 BA | 2,689 SQ FT Featured Listing Marylouise Caravella, | Owner/Broker (713) 598-6719 14459 Spyglass Circle | Beachside | Pirates Beach West14454 Spyglass Circle | Beachside | Pirates Beach West14450 Spyglass Circle | Beachside | Pirates Beach West 1243 Pilot Lane | Waterfront | Airport Homesites11511 Beachside Drive | Beachfront | Beachside Village Galveston is my Home. Galveston is my Business. COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2025 3 1510 Marina Bay Dr., Bldg 124, Clear Lake Shores, Texas 77565 281.334.00064 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2025 SepTeMber 2025 | VOLUMe 18 | ISSUe 9 2858 68 FEATURES 14 EPICUREAN EXPLORATION eateries from French to Japanese serve up their cultural takes on seafood 28 CULINARY HOMESICK BLUES Far away from the state, Texans crave everything from beaver nuggets to barbecue 68 CIRCLE OF JOY For years, friends have gathered weekly at island resort for the magic of mahjong 72 BRACING FOR THE ‘BLOW’ book tells life story of the last known survivor of the 1900 Storm 34 MICHELIN MAN Island-born cocktail inventor wins esteemed industry award 58 SEIZING THE CLAY Island company hopes its handmade ceramics become family heirlooms“My exceptional Galveston team is marketing premier properties from the beaches to the bay — from historic treasures to high-rise condos!” NOTHING COMPARES to WHAT’S NEXT. BEACHTOWN | 729 Ramsar Road 4-5 BR | 3 BA | +/- 2,386 SF Last list price $999,880 EVIA, The Preserve At Grand Beach, Laffite’s Cove Stellar new construction. Mesmerizing lake, golf course and West Bay vista sites. Gourmet island kitchens. Grand downstairs primary suites. Colossal screened porches. 1, 2 and 3 story plans. Priced from the $650’s Proudly marketing for over 15 years! SOLD 4210SURFDRGALVESTON.COM607ELEVENTHSTGALVESTON.COM PALM BEACH | 4210 Surf Drive Divine beachside haven. Stunning ocean vistas. Impressive chef’s pro-grade kitchen. Alluring primary suite with luxurious marble bath. Excellent short term rental income. 4 BR | 3 BA | +/- 2,498 SF | MLS 90386812 Offered at $1+M Co-listed with Kiki Wilson EAST END HISTORIC DISTRICT | 607 11th Street Historic Greek Revival icon - ca. 1874. Double gallery verandas overlooking lush gardens. Gorgeous finishes & updates. Epicurean island kitchen. Colossal paver patio. Oversized garage. Expansive primary suite . 3 BR | 3 BA | +/- 2,810 SF | MLS 44517721 Offered at $724,880 BEACHTOWN | 2445 East Seaside Drive 4-5 BR | 4.5 BA | +/- 3,528 SF | MLS 44246365 Offered at $4.2+M listed by Leslie Buratti HISTORIC DISTRICT | 613 9th Street 2 BR | 2 BA | +/- 1,183 SF | MLS 67375258 Offered at $388,880 Contact me with all your Real Estate needs. Jim Rosenfeld BROKER ASSOCIATE MTSIR Circle of Excellence Award Winner MTSIR Hall of Fame Member Texas Monthly Magazine Five Star Realtor 2012-2025 Galveston Historic Home Tour Major Underwriter 2011-2023 Houstonia Magazine Best Of Houston Realtor 2016 Trulia and Zillow Five Star Rating 713.854.1303 Jim.Rosenfeld@sir.com THE GALVESTONIAN | 1401 E. Beach Drive, #509 1 BR | 1 BA | +/- 576 SF | MLS 71108686 Offered at $374,800 NEW PRICE TIKI ISLAND | 1302 & 1306 Maui Drive +/- 16,596 SF LOT | MLS 38028394 Offered at $974,880 NEW PRICENEW PRICE NEW PRICE6 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2025 22 ON THE COVER Cioppino, an Italian Amer- ican seafood stew. Food and prop styling by Creative Director Melissa Rivera. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds DEPARTMENTS 22 DOWN HOME Houston chef creates a magical and multicultural seafood feast at island home 38 DOWN THE HATCH This cocktail named after a popular fishing fly transitions from summer to fall 42 TASTE OF TEXAS With this recipe, haters will learn to love okra 44 GAME ON Getting the garlic butter sauce right is key to this dove breast dish 46 DESSERT ISLAND Malted milk powder can add toasted and toffee-like flavor to desserts 50 TREASURE TROVE From aprons to copper pots, modern kitchen is filled with vintage memorabilia 54 COUNTER CULTURE Couple makes the kitchen in their 1895 home more useful while honoring history 62 HOMEPORT Owners have added their own touches to a refurbished 1874 island house 54 76 HOOKED ready your gear for the best fishing of the year 80 YOU WEAR IT WELL This stylish couple believes life and fashion should be fun 82 PARTY PICS Find out who made the local party scene 86 SAVE THE DATE Area events to keep your calendar booked 90 SHUTTERBUGS readers share their coastal photos 628 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2025 In Independent Living you can be who you were meant to be.... It’s never too late to discover new hobbies, start an exercise program, and make new life-long friends. Choose The Meridian Independent Living and let us take care of the little things ~ so you can live big! Enjoy our fine dining, coffee bar, on-site library, fitness room and movie theater. Spend some quiet time in our chapel. Participate in scheduled activities. Take a walk on the beach. Your days can be filled with all of this and more! The Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care gives the residents the support they need while they maintain their dignity and independence. On our Post-Acute Skilled Unit we provide Skilled Nursing and Therapy after a hospital stay where Medicare and Insurance will often cover your stay. We also offer Long-Term Care. At The Meridian, we are not just community... we are Family. Call us today or Book a Tour here! We can’t wait to meet you! www.themeridian-galveston.com Call today 409.763.6437 2228 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 77550 The Meridian is a Senior Living Community © Copyright: Coast Monthly is published by The Daily News. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. WEBSITE coastmonthly.com EDITOR Laura elder PUBLISHER Leonard Woolsey CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ DESIGN EDITOR Melissa rivera PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer reynolds Stuart Villanueva CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Aymiel Fleming Carla peoples Capt. Nate Skinner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Shannon Caldwell barbara Canetti phil Newton Laura pennino Capt. Nate Skinner GENERAL MANAGER/ CHIEF REVENUE DIRECTOR Michelle robinson ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Maureen beans Catherine boudoin Aymiel Fleming Jana Knoell Tara Mize Kristi Quigley MAILING ADDRESS p.O. box 1838 Texas City, TX 77592 EDITORIAL 409.683.5248 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 409.683.5202 STORY IDEAS editor@coastmonthly.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to editor@coast monthly.com. be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number. Coast Monthly reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. SUBSCRIPTIONS 409.683.5201TOMORROW Your BUILD GC.EDU | 409-944-GCGC Galveston College is now offering a new Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Business Administration degree, providing an affordable, accessible pathway to a four-year degree for students in the region. The new program began this fall. The BAS in Business Administration becomes the third bachelor’s degree available at GC, joining the Bachelor of Applied Science in Healthcare Management and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The new program supports local workforce development by preparing students with the skills needed in today’s competitive job market. “By expanding academic opportunities, we’re helping students gain the tools they need for long- term success,” said GC Director of Science and Business, Ana Sanchez, Ph.D. “This degree not only supports individual advancement but also strengthens the regional economy by building a more skilled workforce.” Like GC’s other bachelor’s programs, the new BAS is offered at a significantly lower cost compared to traditional four-year universities. Courses are delivered in a flexible online format, allowing students to balance school with work, family and other responsibilities. “Quality education should be within reach for everyone,” said Sanchez. “Whether you’re working full-time, caring for a family, or looking for a career change, this program is designed to fit your life.” Students with an associate degree can easily transfer credits to GC’s bachelor’s degree programs, making it a seamless option for those ready to continue their education and advance their careers. GC has served the community for nearly 60 years, offering programs that provide practical training and academic growth. With the launch of the BAS in Business Administration, the college continues its mission of expanding educational access and supporting local economic development. To register or for more information about the new BAS in Business Administration or other bachelor’s degree programs at GC, visit www.gc.edu, call 409- 944-1230, or email admissions@ gc.edu. Galveston College launched the Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration degree for Fall 2025. It is the college’s third bachelor’s degree offering. Galveston College offers new bachelor’s degree in Business Administration ADVERTISING FEATURENext >