Entry in progress. Penniless lexicographer taking a break.—B.P.
 
 
Christie’s Seafood & Steaks (Houston, TX)
Mr. Theodore Christie was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1885. He arrived to this country in 1905 fresh from Robert University in Constantinople. He worked as a court interpreter in New York City and,
as an added activity, became involved in hotel and restaurant management.
 
In 1917, he went to Galveston, Texas and opened a small food and drink stand on the waterfront. Many customers asked why he did not make some sort of fish sandwich. After countless experiments, he came up with the Fish Sandwich which met with instant approval by his customers. It became a nationally popular product in various forms. The most popular of this was the “fish stick.” In 1939, he moved his business to the Medical Center location in Houston. Word-of-mouth and the popularity of the Fish Sandwich put Christie’s on the map. He was selling up to 10,000 weekly. His next invention was a dish that included an assortment of seafood. This seafood platter came to be known as Christie’s Fisherman’s Platter. It was another first and instantly copied nationwide.
 
Mr. Christie was serving fried shrimp as well, but had heard of a method used in Louisiana that split the body of the shrimp for better seasoning. He worked on this for a few days and came up with French Fried Shrimp with the tails left on. Properly seasoned, the correct breading and our famous Remoulaude sauce made this dish wildly popular. Once again, every restaurant in the Gulf Coast area imitated Mr. Christie’s idea and began selling fried shrimp. Thus came the phrase “Always Imitated: Never Equaled!”
 
James Christie and his family moved the restaurant from the original Medical Center location to the present Westheimer location in 1979. Three Generations have insured the existence of the Gulf Coast Institution. Using the same recipes, we make all soups, salad dressings and sauces on the premises every day. We are not affiliated with any other Christie’s anywhere.
 
We are the ORIGINAL. We pride ourselves in purchasing the freshest and highest quality seafood and steaks available.
 
18 September 1916, Washington (DC) Post, City Bulletins, pg. 10:
Harvey’s Seafood Platter Today, 12 to 3, 6 to 8:30, 50c
Clams Casino, Crab Flakes Newburgh, Fried Oysters, Potato Salad and Slaw. Other seasonable delicacies.
11th and Pa. ave.