Delicious thoughts: After last weekend's Swell Season concert I was jonesin' for some breakfast, especially a salty breakfast. AND I wanted French fries. Odd combo, but at 12:30 in the a.m., there were few places close to home to provide that fix. Thankfully, a trip to Brazil is possible at all hours of the day, and my meal didn't disappoint. And BONUS: My waiter let me take the Swell Season poster that was hanging on a hallway bulletin board. That was the icing on the cake of my fabulous evening ...
Smashburger, a casual food chain with locations in 11 states, opened its first Dallas branch with a tasty preview. Located just below the Addison Improv, the new restaurant is so named for the preparation of its burgers -- they're smashed whilst on the grill, in order to give them a nice sear and a juicy center. And, wow, is that technique workin' for 'em: My All-American burger (below) was exactly as I prefer such sammiches -- thick, dripping with juices, and revealing a perfect ribbon of pink as I bite into it. One of my companions felt that it was too greasy, but I corrected him: "juicy, dude -- it's juicy!"
... I finally connected with a friend I'd been meaning to hang out with for ages. What a fun night out! We met at Trece, which, along with Villa-O across the street, offers a special free menu on Monday nights. Free, with a capital free!! Now, of course, they must hope that most patrons will buy a bottle of wine or two or order a specialty cocktail or three. And who wouldn't want to -- I felt nekkid in this lavish, low-lit spot until I had martini glass in hand. And my Pomjito didn't disappoint -- sweet but not cloying with a tiny bit of tartness, it woke up my taste buds, just in time for the grub. I started with chicken nachos (above), which pretty much filled me up. But I still had a fish taco entree coming! I could only stuff down one fabulous fried snapper taco before my stomach waved the white flag.
From Trece, my friend and I made an unusual detour to Oak Cliff, so he could get a haircut. Yes, a haircut appointment at almost 10 at night. He gets his hair cut and styled at Sweet 200, which I had previously thought was either a bakery or an organization of local businesses. Nope! It was the cutest little salon you ever did see, with wood floors, big suspended mirrors at each station ... and a pool table. Nice! So as homeboy got styled, I worked on my game.
Once boyfriend got his hair did, it was off to the Library bar at the Warwick Melrose hotel. Sadly, we missed the fabulous Monday night happy hour, but we found a cozy corner, listened to the singing pianist and caught up on major dish, cocktails in hand. A fabulous evening all around.
And the beloved frozen yogurt chain -- opening its first U.S. branch outside of NYC and LA -- landed with a splash. A giant spotlight and a velvet rope greeted the store's first customers last night, with guests partaking of free fro-yo goodness until 10 p.m. In addition to the crowd snaking out the front door, there were people angling to get into the VIP room next door (above). As the pink champagne flowed and a DJ spun tunes, servers balanced trays of every flavor of Pinkberry, and a long table was stocked with bowls full of fruit, cookie and even breakfast cereal toppings. It was like the wildest salad bar I'd ever seen (below)!
As I was led around the store by Pinkberry CEO Ron Graves, I ordered a cup of original-flavor yogurt (right) topped with coconut macaroon and Oreo crumbles. When Graves described the original flavor as tart, I actually cringed. I'd tried other fro-yos that were tart, and they tasted like creamy sherbets -- not what I expected. But Pinkberry had a creamy richness and intensity that made me forget about the other wannabes. NOW I understand the obsession!! And that was before I proposed to my cup of passionfruit yogurt -- fantastic!
Notably, Dallas is the first branch to offer chocolate Pinkberry, which was a decadent-yet-low-fat luxury. Look for more on the new branch of the fro-yo pioneer in next week's Quick.
Delicious thoughts: Yes, this is almost as far from fine cuisine as you can get, but sometimes you just want something tasty and familiar. And after a night of clubbing, my tummy tends to want breakfast, and sometimes only IHOP will do. Once there, I have to order my standby: the Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity. There, I wrote it. I had an ex who refused to say it, merely pointing to it on the menu and telling the waitress, "I want that." Boo! But, ahhhh, how everything on the plates come together nicely ... the sodium-saturated sausage links or bacon; the fluffy hotcakes with apples and whipped cream pooling atop them; the somewhere-between-over-medium-and-over-hard eggs. Top it off with milk or OJ, and you've got yourself one helluva after-hours meal.
As part of Hard Rock Cafe's "Pinktober" celebration benefiting cancer support center Gilda's Club North Texas, the restaurant is silent-auctioning a black and pink guitar signed by singers Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift (above, autographing the axe). The auction is only part of the celebration: a $10 ticket gets you into the Halloween-themed party, emceed by Dallas Maverick Jason Terry. With a $30 VIP ticket, you're invited to a private reception with Terry and receive a memento signed by him and one drink coupon. The fun starts at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, and tickets are limited, so get a move on!
Delicious thoughts: Along with escargots, duck confit is one of my all-time favorite French dishes. I suppose you kinda can't go wrong with an already flavorful, tender bird being roasted in its own fat. Although I enjoyed this entree, with herbed polenta, at a recent wine-pairing dinner, the duck confit is a permanent fixture on Toulouse's menu.
After dinner there, you may want to order a dessert that's not only good to your tastebuds, but good to the community. Through Nov. 1, all of the Lombardi restaurants -- Toulouse, Taverna Pizzeria Dallas, Ristorante Cibus/NorthPark, Penne Pomodoro/Snider Plaza and Penne Pomodoro Lakewood -- will offer a dark chocolate mousse dessert for $7, the proceeds of which will benefit America SCORES. Through sports activities and creative pursuits, the organization inspires youths in urban communities to lead healthy lifestyles.
In this week's issue of Quick, we shared 50 fabulous things to do on the town in Big D. Agree or disagree? Have some better ideas? Wanna skewer us for an omission? Let it all out and leave a comment for us. You'll feel better that you did.
Where:Buzzbrews, 4154 N. Central Expressway. 214-826-7100. Also at 4334 Lemmon Ave. 214-521-4334
Delicious thoughts: When the clubs have kicked you out and you're among the starving lounge lizards that wants a bite to eat, it's hard to find better eats than at Buzzbrews. Their version of migas is pretty standard, with hearty chorizo, peppers, onions and tortilla strips. But the black bean refrieds are out of this world. I could've eaten a whole bowl of it and called it a night. Good, filling stuff.
Ever had happy hour in the sky? Well, now's your chance. Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck just launched its own happy hour, and it's perfect for having a raise-your-pinkie kind of time after work.
Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., the restaurant offers a rotating menu of "tiny temptations" such as kobe beef sliders and tempura spicy tuna sandwiches. In addition to the five daily small plates, there'll also be five offerings of beer, wine and cocktails, with food and bevs priced at $5.60 each -- get it? Then get up there ...
Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, 300 Reunion Blvd. 214-741-5560.
I attended the open-to-the-public launch party at Kush (above), the new lounge and hookah bar on Lower Greenville. Since there were free glasses of champagne and vodka cocktails being served, the crowd was pretty good -- all the hookah tables outside were taken. Inside, the vibe was ... eh, kinda nondescript. There were quite a few older folks and suburban-looking adults -- totally not the typical Greenville crowd. But no one really moved or mingled, and no one certainly danced, until the belly dancers shimmied in the middle of the bar, that is.
Delicious thoughts: After my chocolate fudge-judging gig on Wednesday, I walked out of the Creative Arts building DYING for something salty. Along the path back to my car, I spotted a turkey leg vendor and thought that'd be perfect. Too, I hadn't had a turkey leg in at least a decade, which made having one doubly perfect. MAN, was it delicious. Smoky, tender, with a little bite from the turkey skin. Wow. But then it happened -- what always happens when I have a turkey leg. About 20 bites in, I was done. Completely over it. Moving on. But it was hella tasty while the thrill lasted ... until next decade, turkey leg.
I served as a taster in this morning's State Fair of Texas food contest -- my very specific category was chocolate fudge with additions (nuts, candy, marshmallows, e.g.). Now, I'm not the biggest fan of sweets or chocolate, but some of these babies were super delish! Two of the most creative, that turned out to be really tasty, had a) coffee and b) pistachios and cranberries in them.
Anyway, after sampling 10 different fudges, me and my partner were told we'd also need to take on the nut roll category. OY!! My gums were already singing after fudge No. 6! Some of the nut rolls and logs looked and tasted like a pure sugar center surrounded by caramel and nuts -- not much help on the dental front. And that wasn't even the end of it! We then had to taste the 14 winners of each category to pick an overall best in show! My pick didn't win, but it didn't really matter -- lots of folks took home a ribbon, and everyone seemed to have the dandiest time. So did I! If you have a chance, you should try to catch one of these contests, especially when winners are announced. People get so giddy, you'd think they won the Nobel Prize. Hilare ...
Delicious thoughts: Having visited the Windy City twice this summer, I enjoyed my share of Chicago dogs -- the juicy link, the neon-green relish, the mustard and the steamed bun. Om-nom-nom. Thankfully, I don't have to travel to Illinois to get a pretty great approximation. Eddie's Deli, in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot at Abrams and Northwest Highway, makes a mean Chicago dog, right down to the pickle spear on top and the Vienna brand hot dog. And that's not the only Chicago-tastic dish you can get -- I can't wait to return for an Italian beef sandwich!
Opening weekend, I tried the deep-fried peaches and cream, which took honors for the best tasting new fried food this year. The verdict? Meh ... it tasted like the peaches had been frozen before being fried, and even though they were thawed once they were plated, the peaches were surprisingly devoid of juiciness or flavor. Their crisp coating was flavorless, too -- in fact, the only thing that sprang out at me was the acidic taste of the raspberry sauce drizzled under the peaches. WTF? Very glad I split this with my sister ...
Yeah, there are tons of bars to crash at to watch tonight's game against the Carolina Panthers, but how many of them serve sushi? Geisha House and Roppongi Lounge will host a free-admission party where guests can enjoy free sushi from 6 to 8 p.m. with a drink purchase and watch the game on four plasma TVs and one huge screen. Pitchers of Roppongi Ritas or sangrias can be had for $20 whilst you watch the 'Boys clobber -- we hope! -- Carolina.
I did it. I had the much-ballyhooed deep-fried butter at the State Fair. Judged as this year's most creative new fried food, the buttery balls of dough were ... creative. Unlike with last year's most-popular treat, deep-fried bacon, I couldn't eat more than one bite. When I stuck my plastic fork into one of the cherry-sauced (YES, y'all, that's cherry sauce, not ketchup) dumplings, a fountain of melted butter spurted out and mixed with the puddle of cherry to create a fruit-and-oil spill. As my friends looked on, I snarfed down half a butterball. It was ... buttery. And doughy. And I was done. On to the fried green tomatoes!
Saturday night I attended the opening-night bash for Stephan Pyles' latest local restaurant, Samar. The cuisine available for tasting at the new downtown spot reflected a fusion of Middle Eastern and Indian foods and flavors: samosas (potato and chocolate), piping-hot pitas and hummus, marinated cheeses and a Lebanese-esque beef quesadilla-like dish were all I got a chance to sample, because this place was PACKED! Although belly dancers drew a sizable crowd to the patio, things were elbow-to-elbow indoors, especially at the bars, where the food and the signature drink, the Pama-infused Samartini, had everyone glued to their spots.
Still, the nibbles and sips I had were flavorful, and the harem-esque decor quite delightful. Probably the best part of the evening, however, was the people-watching ... or should I say fashion-watching? Shout-out to the gent who wore a handsome pinstriped button-down paired with tight shorts.
Delicious thoughts: As I'd blogged earlier this week, I had a fabulous Spanish dinner at Abacus, featuring Mediterranean-inspired treats, meaning lots of shellfish and lots of manchego cheese! The centerpiece of the meal that night, however was the paella in broth. Served with plump mussels and brimming with tender shrimp and chorizo dice, the dish was a taste sensation -- all that savory goodness paired with the smoky bread shot the entree out of the ballpark. Go and try it -- you only have until next Wednesday to savor the Spanish menu. Don't say I didn't remind you ...
Continuing with my Abacus-raving (see below) ... I sampled the Spanish menu there last night. Fabulosity on a plate! And in a glass -- we had wine pairings. First we started off with the Big Daddy signature cocktail, which was a sweet, lemony delight! I was afraid of it being too puckery, but the sweet and sour balanced out the tartness. Next up was a plate of traditional Spanish bites: manchego croquettes, Serrano ham, pan con tomate, manchego chunks and olives and almonds. What's not to love?
Post-tapas, we had clams drowning in garlic, herbs and brothy deliciousness, with a butter-drenched side of thick toast. Just look at those succulent little morsels up there. The thought "taste explosion" kept running through my head -- I didn't want the dish to EVER end.
Also on the limited-time Spanish menu are foie gras (which I skipped), a soupy paella with mussels, shrimp and diced chorizo, and a star-anise-flavored Calatrava pudding. The five-course menu is $45 without the wine pairings, and you better hurry to Abacus to enjoy it -- the menu will only be offered until Sept. 30.
Before you get your undies in a bunch wondering how you can afford a fine-dining joint like Abacus in the middle of a recession, know that the Knox-Henderson-area restaurant is trying to help out. Not only do they have recession-beating deals all week, but on Wednesday nights, eats in the luxe bar are half off! And -- bonus -- if you stick around for the late happy hour from 9 p.m. to close, you can enjoy $2 off all beer, wines by the glass and cocktails! So treat yourself to a bev and a specialty sushi roll, recessionistas and recessionistos.
Delicious thoughts: Finally, we move away from Bishop Arts eats and branch out. I visited Dixie House on Gaston recently, and since I know the once-independent home-cooking restaurant is now owned by Black-Eyed Pea, I was surprised to find a non-BEP dish on the menu -- fried chicken. Not tenders, mind you -- bone-in chicken. It was worth the extra time it took to cook it fresh, too, and arrived hot and perfectly juicy and crisp. Yes, I was already stuffed on the fantastic yeast rolls and sweet cornbread, but did I finish the chicken anyway? Yup-yup. And the piping-hot broccoli-rice casserole. And the mashpots -- you gotta get them with brown gravy, instead of cream gravy. It's divine. Not something I'd eat very often, but a nice, calorie-blitzy treat.
I've known for months that beloved local celebu-chef Blythe Beck was having a reality show filmed about her kitchen life at Central 214. Still, I was pleasantly shocked to see her in living color on my TV the other day, on the Oxygen network. The ad showed clips of the upcoming debut season, and from the looks of it, food, drinks and drama will be on the menu.
Central 214 is joining in the pre-show excitement, hosting watching parties every Tuesday when The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck airs. To ratchet up the fun factor, the restaurant is offering drink and food specials to enjoy while watching episodes. The fun kicks off next Tuesday at 9 p.m., though it's recommended you get there earlier to snag a seat. Go support our local lady!
DART's new Green Line is up and running, and that means ... easier access to local happy hours!! Meridian Room, right across the street from the gleaming new Fair Park station, is celebrating with happy hour all day on Mondays and half-price food on Wednesdays. That's worth hopping off the train, wouldn't you say?
I hit a lounge party at the soft opening of Bailey's Prime Plus, a new steakhouse in the Park Lane development. The bar area was swank-casual, dotted with soft red seating and bathed in light from tall windows and funky red chandeliers. A private dining room held numerous appetizers to snack on, with the tasty standouts being decadent crab cakes, supremely fresh shrimp cocktail and hearty Kobe sliders. Yum. I didn't get to sample any of the signature cocktails being whipped up at the handsome bar -- I stuck to the complimentary house red wine, which was delightful -- but living so close to this new outpost of Bailey's, I'll definitely be back to do so.
After the Bailey's bash, I headed to the House of Blues for the Moskova Affair, a fete to celebrate the launch of Stoli's new apple-flavored vodka. The cocktails were flowing freely, but the centerpiece of the show was the Vau de Vire Society, a troupe that performed an exotic blend of ballet, burlesque and circus trickery. Fascinating. Between the evening's complimentary cocktails and the fluttering dancers, my head was abuzz ...
Hatch green chile is in popping up in so many places, I'm shocked there's not a Hatch-tini or Hatcherita. Joining the trend is Plano's new bar-restaurant Urban Crust, which is serving a pie full of the spicy pepper. In addition to roasted Hatches, the pizza is loaded with sirloin, pepper jack cheese, queso fresco, cilantro and shoestring onion rings. Mmmm.
The dish sounds great, but you knew there had to be a cocktail involved here, right? Whilst the chile pizza is available -- through the month of September -- you can pair it with Urban's $5 drink of the month, the Absolut Crush, a blend of ruby red vodka, orange liqueur and fresh orange juice.
Delicious thoughts: Wow, there's a whole lot of good eats up and down Davis St. -- last week's dish was from Tejano's restaurant, and now, it's Bolsa that's captured my heart. Again. This dish actually preceded the sausage pizza I wolfed down on my last visit to Bolsa. It's a rich, creamy poblano soup topped with hearty flakes of sharp white cheddar cheese. Once the cheese softened to a stirrable consistency, so did my heart. The soup had a sumptuously velvety mouthfeel, and the sharpness of the cheese went well with the mild spiciness of the pepper. My companion and I wanted to lick our bowls clean. But we kept it classy.
What you're looking at above is a slice of pizza paradise. Sunday night marked my third visit to Oak Cliff eatery Bolsa, and I ordered the same thing yet again -- Jimmy's sausage flatbread. I've never veered off this course, and you can see why (and maybe you've tasted why). The crumbly Italian sausage gets a little kick from the banana pepper slices as sauce and melty cheese round out the flavor. Mmmm. And the pizza crust? I generally never eat crust, but every shred of this pizza was gone.
Just as delicious was a treat from Bolsa's expanded cocktail menu -- the Oak Cliff Creeper (below). Basically a vodka-spiked fruit punch slushie, it was definitely potent enough to make me want to slow my roll and crawl home. Can't wait for my next Bolsa visit ... and pizza.
What better time to unveil a new foodie feature than during the final days of Restaurant Week 2009? I LOVE taking photos of the dishes I eat at local restaurants ... heck restaurants anywhere. I'll be sharing what's on my plate once a week. So let's eat!
What: Sour cream chicken enchiladas
Where: Tejano Mexican Restaurant, 110 W Davis St.
Delicious thoughts: Couldn't you just melt into that plate up there? Or at least lick your monitor? This creamy, spicy dish, accompanied by Mexi-rice and dotted with jalapenos, is hands-down one of my favorite sour cream chicken enchilada dishes in town (it would be my No. 1 had I never eaten at Herrera's). On this occasion, I paired my entree with a puffy taco, a San Antonio specialty that's hard to find in these parts. So delish. Better yet, pair this bad boy with a margarita. Happy tummy guaranteed ...
Or perhaps I should call this an update of yesterday's Hump Day Happy Hour. I indeed took advantage of Monica's Wednesday drink special, enjoying 75-cent margaritas with the purchase of my entree. Have to say I've never been thrilled by the fare at the Deep Ellum location, but the fish tacos I had last night -- with perfectly fried fillets topped in chipotle mayonnaise and wrapped in flour tortillas -- was a home run of a dish. And the house queso was outstanding, as well, a cut above many others I've had. But the star of the show, of course, were the cheap margs -- cheap in price only. They were perfect cocktails, all, and I'm glad there was a three-drink limit with the special price -- I could've sipped these all night! Be warned -- the place fills up quickly on cheap marg night, so get there early ...
Sometimes you need a really good happy hour deal that goes well past 7 p.m. Luckily, Monica's in Deep Ellum's got your back. Every Wednesday until 10 p.m., the Tex-Mex resto serves 75-cent house margaritas with the purchase of an entree. (For all you lushes out there, they cut you off at three drinks.) This is why Monica's is the site of a girls-only happy hour amongst my friends tonight. Perhaps I'll see you there, too ...
Good news: A new nightclub and restaurant are joining the downtown scene. Downside: Both will be in the downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel. Still, the news release makes it sound pretty darn fantastic (of course). Will you check it out? Read a snippet from the release after the jump ...
I had the chance to sample the menu at the upcoming steakhouse Bailey's Prime Plus, located in the new Park Lane development across I-75 from NorthPark Center. The menu will be pretty much the same as the one at the chain's Cedar Hill location (except the North Dallas site will also offer baked potatoes as a side), and the decor will be similarly as lavish, too. Above is a photo of the unfinished bar, featuring some of the most comfy seating I've ever had the pleasure to set my tuchus in, and funky red chandeliers and tall windows. Next door is a giant central dining room, featuring banquettes framing a water fountain and a row of trees. There'll be a couple of private dining spaces as well.
But what about the food? The kitchen churned out a little of everything: wet-aged filet mignon, a crisp fillet of Texas-raised striped bass, and a slew of sides including a sweet, polenta-thickened creamed corn I wanted to marry. That scoop of goodness in the lower corner? Peruvian potato mashpots, topped with a bit of bleu cheese. Mmmm.
The restaurant plans to keep the bar open till 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, bringing in DJs and serving up small-plate snackies. Since it's literally two minutes from home, I will prolly be checking it out with some frequency. Even more exciting (to me, anyway), general manager Chris Rowberry promised (jokingly? I hope not!) to engrave my name into one of the red velvety seats in the lounge. You better believe I'll hold him to that ... stay tuned, chickadees.
Sometimes you want to enjoy a fine glass of wine for a happy hour treat, and when that craving hits, you can satisfy it -- and your hunger -- at Vickery Park. Every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., the Henderson Avenue haunt takes half off the price of a bottle of vino when you buy a large order of mussels or a cheese board. So even though Vickery's a pretty casual joint, feel free to raise your pinkie finger a bit and class up your happy hour.
I set a personal record in enjoying three -- count 'em, THREE -- Restaurant Week dinners this year. All of them were delish in their own ways, but one dining experience set the bar high. Shall we ...?
Charlie Palmer at The Joule: As I noted earlier, this downtown restaurant set the bar really high ... and my later dining experiences couldn't quite match it. Wish I'd eaten there last! You've seen the sumptuous salmon, but marvel at the sides -- olive oil mashed potatoes and silky creamed spinach. Old favorites cooked with a little extra something.
The fro-yo provider to the stars is at last opening an outpost in Dallas in early November.
Pinkberry, which counts singer Taylor Swift and The Hill's Lauren "Lo" Bosworth among its fans, has a pretty rabid following, especially in California and New York. So ardent are the franchise's fans that Groupie (capital G) events are held to celebrate new stores and fans are encouraged to connect by sharing stories and photos at pinkberry.com or on Facebook.
Big D's location at Preston Royal Village will be the yogurt chain's first to be situated outside of NY or Cali. How special are we?
It'll be interesting to see how Pinkberry fares here, what with a frozen yogurt joint seemingly opening in every strip mall. Perhaps its name recognition will make it the cream of the crop. I'm not sure what sets it apart from the rest, but, who knows? Maybe I'll be extolling its virtues, too. Stay tuned ...
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