After 18 years working his way up in the restaurant industry—from dishwashing, serving and bartending to managing high-end establishments in Houston—Cristian Lopez Mbratt opened a neighborhood eatery in his own community of Cypress.
Having worked at Tango & Malbec in the Galleria area and Costa Brava Bistro in Bellaire, the Cypress Creek Lakes resident said he was ready for a shorter commute. Mbratt said he wanted to bring a fast-
casual concept to the suburbs that was also healthy.
“I said, ‘This is my neighborhood, so why don’t I bring something fresh here?’” Mbratt said. “The main idea is to bring the [city] to the suburbs with a full bar, nice atmosphere, trendy music.”
Gourmand Kitchen opened last fall serving traditional American recipes with European touches, incorporating Mbratt’s culinary experiences in Italian, Spanish, French and Argentinian cultures.
“A gourmand is a person who likes to eat and drink very [well],” Mbratt said. “However, it’s difficult to find health and flavor in the same dish.”
The menu features items, such as kale salads, quinoa bowls, fresh pasta, cauliflower steak, orange glazed salmon, fish tacos, burgers, shrimp and grits, brie en croute and truffle fries. Most dishes can be customized for vegans as well as for people with gluten-free, keto and paleo diets.
Mbratt said ingredients are sourced from local bakeries, farms and ranches, and sauces are made in-house. In addition to the regular lunch menu, Sunday brunch features avocado toast, eggs Benedict, crepes and omelets.
Fresh cold-pressed juices, coffee, petit Mason jar desserts and child-friendly options are also on the menu. Mbratt said he is in the process of developing a tapas menu for the bar, catering services, wine dinners and other events.
“It’s a growing area, and the young people moving from the city expect a high-quality concept,” he said. “I enjoy seeing people laughing and sharing my creations because there’s part of me in every dish.”
9818 Fry Road, Ste. 130, Cypress
281-304-2544
www.gourmandkitchen.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-9 p.m., Fri-Sat. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Mondays
