Overall, 2010 was a pretty good year. It wasn't perfect by any means. Yes I made mistakes and there were things I would have done differently but I did a lot of things right, including indulging my inner foodie and starting this blog. But I'm always trying to grow (unless we're talking about my waistline, which I'm trying to shrink) so I like the idea of New Years resolutions and thought I would share mine with you.
1. Improve my wine palette. I love wine. A lot. I drink a glass of vino (or two, okay, maybe 3) just about every day. I know the basics. I can tell you when I like something and when I don't. I like Argentine and Spanish wines but couldn't name one and, in a taste test, probably couldn't tell you which is which (and if I did it would be complete luck, trust me). I'm completely clueless regarding French wines altogether. So how do I go about improving my palette? Well, I think one answer is . . . drink more wine! And go to things like Get Your Wine on Wednesdays at the Grape or Wine Chat at the Mansion. And start writing down what I drink and what I taste when I drink it. And . . . possibly convince one or two of the sommeliers who read my blog to take pity on me and tutor me on occasion ??? I'll buy. :)
2. Eat (or drink) at a place I've never been to at least twice per month. I'm like everyone else. I get in a rut when it comes to my nights out. This blog helps because I feel like I need to have a new foodie adventures to write about but, still, there's a whole bunch of places, new and old, in Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts I have never tried. Richardson has some amazing Chinese food places that are still foreign to me (ba da dum). And a bunch of new restaurants will be opening in Deep Ellum soon. Need to get out of my 3 mile radius and have some foodie fun! Who's in?
3. Be more adventurous in my food orders. This resolution may come as a surprise to those who know me. I'm one of the least picky eaters on the planet so if something is put in front of me, I'm going to try it and probably like it. I love going to wine dinners and the like because the chef gets to choose what I eat and I find myself eating things I would have never tried otherwise. But when it comes to me actually ordering for myself, I tend to select what I know I will like, rather than what looks interesting. Going to change that in 2011. I'm sure I'll be disappointed a time or two but I may find my new favorite dish in the process. It's all about the adventure, right? Besides, it will give me some funny stories to write about I'm sure.
4. Find a sports bar that I love to go to. I'm a sports girl. Screw the Today Show, I watch ESPN every morning. I love, love, love football (sigh, Cowboys). Come March, I will become obsessed with my brackets (yes, plural) I am always in some sort of sports pool (and usually owing money in the end) and post-season baseball is one of my favorite things in the world (go Rangers!). But, alas, I have yet to find a sports bar in Dallas that I can call mine. I've tried Frankies, Christies and the MAT but I don't feel the love. Need to get out and try a few more. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
5. Cook more. Being in a state of perpetual singleness (again, sorry Mom), I don't cook much at home for myself. Mainly because I hate doing the cleanup. But I love to cook and, when I set my mind to it, I'm pretty good at it. And I love to throw a party. Soooo . . . more dinner parties at my house are in order for 2011!!! Let me know if you'd like an invitation. :)
Wishing you all a very fun and safe end to 2010 (remember, taxis or designated drivers are your friends on NYE) and a glorious 2011. Cheers!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Restaurant AVA
So I have a confession followers. I am a "Dallas girl." And when I say that, it's not what you think. I haven't had "big hair" since 1991 (well, unless it's humid outside), I have had no silicone implanted anywhere in my body, I don't feel the need to wear much makeup and I could not give a flip what type of car my date drives (assuming I had a date). No, I'm a different breed of a Dallas girl. I'm the type of Dallas girl that hates going anywhere outside a 3 mile radius from my home. I don't know when it happened. When I moved to Dallas almost 10 years ago from Houston, where traffic was just part of life, I thought it was so weird how no one who lived in Dallas wanted to venture to 972, declaring it "too far." A fifteen minute drive? How on earth could that be "too far"? But the longer I lived here, I found myself becoming one of those people that did not want to venture outside her little circle. First, it was anything north of George Bush was "too far", then anything north of 635. Now, 10 years later, please don't ask me to go anywhere north of Northpark Mall unless transportation is provided. And, to make matters worse, now that I live in the Lakewood area, venturing west of Central feels like a chore. So when L and I decided to go to Restaurant AVA, in Rockwall(!) of all places, all I could think of was, "it's too far."
For the record, Restaurant AVA is not "too far." It is an easy 20-25 minute drive from Dallas on I-30 East and you should go.
Randall Copeland and Nathan Tate opened up AVA about 1 1/2 years ago. Dedicated to fresh produce and supporting small farms, AVA's menu changes daily. In a nod to Chef Randall's Green Room days, a chef's tasting menu is available. 5 courses for $50. If you are hungry, just order it. We did.
We started with an amuse of a crostini topped with goat cheese and grapefruit. It was a great, refreshing bite. Our first official course was a salad with house smoked salmon, along with all the sides you normally expect with bagels and lox (onions, egg, capers, etc.), just minus the bagels. The house smoked salmon was delicious. It tasted very fresh, without too much of a smoky flavor.
Our second course was a scallop on top of a risotto. I wish I could tell you what kind of risotto we had but I don't think anyone told us. The scallop was cooked perfectly but, unfortunately, it was over-seasoned. Too salty. L and I ate every bit of our risotto and both of us left half of a scallop on our plate.
No worries, because the next two courses wowed. They were eaten in almost complete silence except the occasional "yum", "so good" or "mmmm, bacon onion jam". You know the food is good when it can get me to stop yammering.
Our third course was grilled quail. This quail was so freakin good we both forgot about our table manners and picked up the little quail legs to suck every last bit of meat from the bone. Poor taste? Perhaps. Tastes good? Definitely. The quail was on top of a celery root puree and topped with something called bacon onion jam which was amazing. There was also foie gras ravioli that was so good I wanted more.
Our fourth course was a beef tenderloin topped with a quail egg, along with carrot puree and red wine jus. There was also roasted cauliflower. Again, home run. They were so good. The tenderloin was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. We actually couldn't finish this dish and asked for a doggie bag. Guess what I'm having for dinner? :)
But wait there's more! We had our "pre-dessert" pomegranate sorbet. Wait, wah? Pre-dessert? I would have been quite content to end there but we apparently still had an actual dessert to come. It was an apple upside down cake with granola and apple ice cream. The cake was a tad too sweet for me (but I don't have a big sweet tooth) but loved the apple ice cream with the granola.
Service was a bit spotty. A stainless ramekin of butter was put on our table when we first sat down but we did not get any bread until after the second course and then only after I asked. When L told our server that our scallops were too salty, he stared at us blankly and then quickly took our plates away, as if he did not know what to say. But I can forgive little service hiccups if the food is good and the food is definitely good at AVA.
Just go. It's not "too far." I promise.
http://restaurantava.com/
Well, followers, this is going to be my last post before Christmas and maybe my last post of 2010. Thank you so much for being on this little journey with me. Happy Holidays and I hope you will follow my little foodie adventures in 2011. Until then . . . Cheers!
For the record, Restaurant AVA is not "too far." It is an easy 20-25 minute drive from Dallas on I-30 East and you should go.
Randall Copeland and Nathan Tate opened up AVA about 1 1/2 years ago. Dedicated to fresh produce and supporting small farms, AVA's menu changes daily. In a nod to Chef Randall's Green Room days, a chef's tasting menu is available. 5 courses for $50. If you are hungry, just order it. We did.
We started with an amuse of a crostini topped with goat cheese and grapefruit. It was a great, refreshing bite. Our first official course was a salad with house smoked salmon, along with all the sides you normally expect with bagels and lox (onions, egg, capers, etc.), just minus the bagels. The house smoked salmon was delicious. It tasted very fresh, without too much of a smoky flavor.
Our second course was a scallop on top of a risotto. I wish I could tell you what kind of risotto we had but I don't think anyone told us. The scallop was cooked perfectly but, unfortunately, it was over-seasoned. Too salty. L and I ate every bit of our risotto and both of us left half of a scallop on our plate.
No worries, because the next two courses wowed. They were eaten in almost complete silence except the occasional "yum", "so good" or "mmmm, bacon onion jam". You know the food is good when it can get me to stop yammering.
Our third course was grilled quail. This quail was so freakin good we both forgot about our table manners and picked up the little quail legs to suck every last bit of meat from the bone. Poor taste? Perhaps. Tastes good? Definitely. The quail was on top of a celery root puree and topped with something called bacon onion jam which was amazing. There was also foie gras ravioli that was so good I wanted more.
Our fourth course was a beef tenderloin topped with a quail egg, along with carrot puree and red wine jus. There was also roasted cauliflower. Again, home run. They were so good. The tenderloin was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. We actually couldn't finish this dish and asked for a doggie bag. Guess what I'm having for dinner? :)
But wait there's more! We had our "pre-dessert" pomegranate sorbet. Wait, wah? Pre-dessert? I would have been quite content to end there but we apparently still had an actual dessert to come. It was an apple upside down cake with granola and apple ice cream. The cake was a tad too sweet for me (but I don't have a big sweet tooth) but loved the apple ice cream with the granola.
Service was a bit spotty. A stainless ramekin of butter was put on our table when we first sat down but we did not get any bread until after the second course and then only after I asked. When L told our server that our scallops were too salty, he stared at us blankly and then quickly took our plates away, as if he did not know what to say. But I can forgive little service hiccups if the food is good and the food is definitely good at AVA.
Just go. It's not "too far." I promise.
http://restaurantava.com/
Well, followers, this is going to be my last post before Christmas and maybe my last post of 2010. Thank you so much for being on this little journey with me. Happy Holidays and I hope you will follow my little foodie adventures in 2011. Until then . . . Cheers!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Mansion on Turtle Creek
I had been to the Mansion restaurant several times before throughout the years (under both Tesar and Fearing) and had always been underwhelmed. The bar was always fun but otherwise I never quite understood what all the fuss was about. I mean, can you really be considered a 5 star restaurant when your most popular dish is tortilla soup?
But I had been hearing good things about the changes that were happening at the Mansion since Bruno Davaillon came on board. I had tried and adored Chef Davaillon's food at CFF (mmm, blood sausage) and I thought that maybe it was time to give the Mansion another chance. Hunter Sullivan played at the Mansion Bar last night so L and I decided to get dressed up and have dinner there before catching the show.
We were sat at the front of the restaurant which was an area I had never sat in before. The restaurant has several different rooms (a concept which Dean Fearing took with him to the Ritz) which allows for a very cozy feeling. The restaurant feels very modern, yet traditional.
Now, if you are pinching pennies, don't go have dinner at the Mansion. I mean, let's face it, when you go to eat at a place named "The Mansion", you can expect to part with some serious cash for dinner. Most entrees are in the $40s, some in the $50s. There's a 5 course tasting menu for $115 per person and if you'd like wine pairings, add $60 more. The tasting menu looked good but it looked like too much food for us. The good news is that each of the items on the tasting menu is available ala carte. Here's the current menu for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.mansiononturtlecreek.com/i/pdf/mansion_restaurant_dinner.pdf
I started with the East Coast Oysters Mignonette and Horseradish. I love oysters and these were very nice. Clean tasting with an oniony vinaigrette with a little side of horseradish sauce (I would have preferred just horseradish). L had the Lobster Cannelloni. At $32, she was a little hesitant to order it but sometimes a girl just needs some lobster. The lobster meat with on top of the cannelloni, and it looked very nice as well.
For entrees, I ordered the Roasted Pheasant. I'll admit, the main reason I ordered it was because it came with brussel sprouts and, as my loyal followers know, I love, love, love brussel sprouts. My pheasant was well season but, unfortunately it was slightly undercooked. The brussel sprouts were very small but tasty. The dark meat/chestnut ravioli, however, was the star of this dish. It had a rich, meaty taste that reminded me of empanadas for some reason. I was sad there was only one.
L had initially ordered the Venison from the tasting menu. L likes her meat cooked through, almost well done (sigh, still love her) and asked that her venison be done so as well. Our server came to our table and explained (copying Chef's French accent) that the chef recommended that she order something else because cooking the venison that way would ruin the integrity of the dish. We appreciated Chef Davaillon's honesty. It wasn't about ego. It was about wanting the guest to receive the best dining experience. L ordered the filet, medium well, instead. It came with duck fat fries, which L, who isn't a duck fan, wasn't quite sure about so she asked for brussel sprouts instead. She got both. I tried the duck fat fries and found that they tasted good but I like my fries to be slightly more fried.
We took a look at the desert menu, which looked divine, but we decided we would much rather have some chocolate martinis at the bar instead of dessert. So to the Bar we went. It was packed (as it usually is when Hunter Sullivan plays) but we were eventually able to get some seats at the bar. The chocolate martinis are so very good. Each bartender does theirs somewhat different. One was big on chocolate syrup. The other made his with more cream. Both were delicious and I consumed three before the end of the night. Would have probably done better calorie wise if I had stuck to dessert, but oh well.
The Mansion Bar rolled out a new winter drink menu recently which I posted on facebook the other day. I didn't want to mix too much so, sorry folks, I did not try them out. The bartender did give me a sample of his hot toddy. Whoa. L described it as Christmas flavored moonshine (it was apple brandy) and it was a pretty accurate description. It made my eyes water, cleared my sinuses, and burned all the way down. It was too much for me and I'm a scotch and whiskey girl. I took a couple of sips and passed it on to the guy from New York standing next to me who was in town on business and trying to convince me that all guys from NY are not a$$holes. Note to said guy, you would have been more convincing if you weren't staring at my cleavage while making your argument.
So did the Mansion win me over? Well, I can say this, it was definitely the best dinner I have had at the Mansion but I still feel that there are plenty of places in this town where you can get just as good of a meal for considerably less money. I think the Mansion will go into my rotation as a great once a year treat when I want to celebrate a special occasion or just want to dress up. I did have a wonderful time though. It was a great holiday Saturday night with one of my dearest friends. Thanks L!
Cheers!
But I had been hearing good things about the changes that were happening at the Mansion since Bruno Davaillon came on board. I had tried and adored Chef Davaillon's food at CFF (mmm, blood sausage) and I thought that maybe it was time to give the Mansion another chance. Hunter Sullivan played at the Mansion Bar last night so L and I decided to get dressed up and have dinner there before catching the show.
We were sat at the front of the restaurant which was an area I had never sat in before. The restaurant has several different rooms (a concept which Dean Fearing took with him to the Ritz) which allows for a very cozy feeling. The restaurant feels very modern, yet traditional.
Now, if you are pinching pennies, don't go have dinner at the Mansion. I mean, let's face it, when you go to eat at a place named "The Mansion", you can expect to part with some serious cash for dinner. Most entrees are in the $40s, some in the $50s. There's a 5 course tasting menu for $115 per person and if you'd like wine pairings, add $60 more. The tasting menu looked good but it looked like too much food for us. The good news is that each of the items on the tasting menu is available ala carte. Here's the current menu for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.mansiononturtlecreek.com/i/pdf/mansion_restaurant_dinner.pdf
I started with the East Coast Oysters Mignonette and Horseradish. I love oysters and these were very nice. Clean tasting with an oniony vinaigrette with a little side of horseradish sauce (I would have preferred just horseradish). L had the Lobster Cannelloni. At $32, she was a little hesitant to order it but sometimes a girl just needs some lobster. The lobster meat with on top of the cannelloni, and it looked very nice as well.
For entrees, I ordered the Roasted Pheasant. I'll admit, the main reason I ordered it was because it came with brussel sprouts and, as my loyal followers know, I love, love, love brussel sprouts. My pheasant was well season but, unfortunately it was slightly undercooked. The brussel sprouts were very small but tasty. The dark meat/chestnut ravioli, however, was the star of this dish. It had a rich, meaty taste that reminded me of empanadas for some reason. I was sad there was only one.
L had initially ordered the Venison from the tasting menu. L likes her meat cooked through, almost well done (sigh, still love her) and asked that her venison be done so as well. Our server came to our table and explained (copying Chef's French accent) that the chef recommended that she order something else because cooking the venison that way would ruin the integrity of the dish. We appreciated Chef Davaillon's honesty. It wasn't about ego. It was about wanting the guest to receive the best dining experience. L ordered the filet, medium well, instead. It came with duck fat fries, which L, who isn't a duck fan, wasn't quite sure about so she asked for brussel sprouts instead. She got both. I tried the duck fat fries and found that they tasted good but I like my fries to be slightly more fried.
We took a look at the desert menu, which looked divine, but we decided we would much rather have some chocolate martinis at the bar instead of dessert. So to the Bar we went. It was packed (as it usually is when Hunter Sullivan plays) but we were eventually able to get some seats at the bar. The chocolate martinis are so very good. Each bartender does theirs somewhat different. One was big on chocolate syrup. The other made his with more cream. Both were delicious and I consumed three before the end of the night. Would have probably done better calorie wise if I had stuck to dessert, but oh well.
The Mansion Bar rolled out a new winter drink menu recently which I posted on facebook the other day. I didn't want to mix too much so, sorry folks, I did not try them out. The bartender did give me a sample of his hot toddy. Whoa. L described it as Christmas flavored moonshine (it was apple brandy) and it was a pretty accurate description. It made my eyes water, cleared my sinuses, and burned all the way down. It was too much for me and I'm a scotch and whiskey girl. I took a couple of sips and passed it on to the guy from New York standing next to me who was in town on business and trying to convince me that all guys from NY are not a$$holes. Note to said guy, you would have been more convincing if you weren't staring at my cleavage while making your argument.
So did the Mansion win me over? Well, I can say this, it was definitely the best dinner I have had at the Mansion but I still feel that there are plenty of places in this town where you can get just as good of a meal for considerably less money. I think the Mansion will go into my rotation as a great once a year treat when I want to celebrate a special occasion or just want to dress up. I did have a wonderful time though. It was a great holiday Saturday night with one of my dearest friends. Thanks L!
Cheers!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Salum
Went to Salum for lunch on Friday. I forgot they serve lunch, and I'm so happy that K suggested it.
Salum is one of my favorite restaurants in Dallas. I have eaten there several times for dinner and have always enjoyed it. Never a bad meal and always great service. Chef Abraham's rack of lamb with mushroom bread pudding is one of my favorite dishes. I have the recipe and am dying to try it. Anyone want to volunteer to be my guinea pig?
The lunch menu is diverse and extremely well priced. Salads, sandwiches, entrees. http://salumrestaurant.com/menu.html I had a portobello panini with goat cheese and tomatoes. It came with your choice of fries, vegetable fries or salad. I chose the salad. It was simple but good. And did I mention is was $8.50? K ordered a caesar salad which had white anchovies and a parmesan chip. In addition she had curry shrimp on naan with the vegetable fries. K really enjoyed it.
The service was very nice and attentive. Chef Abraham even served us our lunch. He spent the entire time we were there spending time with his guests. He's one of the nicest chefs in Dallas.
Salum is also one of the prettiest restaurants in Dallas. White tablecloths and muted tones, it's a nice place for a business lunch or a romantic dinner. Definitely go. I know I'll be back.
Cheers!
Hillstone
So I met a friend at Hillstone last night for drinks. If that name doesn't sound familiar, it's the old Houston's off Preston, just South of Northwest Highway. I'm just going to call it Houston's because, well, that's what it's always been to me and and just about everyone else in Dallas.
I've always liked the bar there. It is a big, oblong wooden bar where you can see the people sitting across from you which makes getting your flirt on a whole lot easier. It tends to skew towards a slightly older single crowd (not, like, Eddie V's old. More like mid 30s to mid 50s old), and since I'm currently at the younger end of that spectrum, my chance of getting a drink or two bought for me by a nice man is higher than average. I'm not ashamed to admit that is why I like this place. Let's face it, sometimes all a single girl needs is a little attention from the opposite sex . . . and vino she didn't pay for. ;)
They've kept the menu pretty much the same as Houston's. The prime rib is still there. The spinach dip looks the same. The french dip and chicken sandwich are still on the menu. And they still serve the matchstick fries. All good enough, although I've always thought Houston's was a bit overpriced for what you get.
And that brings me to this:
WHATEVER YOU DO -- DO NOT ORDER CHIPS AND SALSA AT HILLSTONE!!!!
This is why -- you will be charged NINE EFFING DOLLARS for effing chips and salsa. You know, that stuff they give you for FREE with unlimited refills at every single Tex-Mex joint in the country? Hillstone thinks theirs is worth NINE EFFING DOLLARS. Trust me, it's not. No chips and salsa is worth NINE EFFING DOLLARS. I don't care if it's laced with gold and cocaine. I just had lunch at Salum, one of the best restaurants in Dallas in my humble opinion, and my portabello mushroom panini with goat cheese and tomatoes and a small salad was $8.50. NINE EFFING DOLLARS for mediocre chips and salsa. Outrageous.
I've always liked the bar there. It is a big, oblong wooden bar where you can see the people sitting across from you which makes getting your flirt on a whole lot easier. It tends to skew towards a slightly older single crowd (not, like, Eddie V's old. More like mid 30s to mid 50s old), and since I'm currently at the younger end of that spectrum, my chance of getting a drink or two bought for me by a nice man is higher than average. I'm not ashamed to admit that is why I like this place. Let's face it, sometimes all a single girl needs is a little attention from the opposite sex . . . and vino she didn't pay for. ;)
They've kept the menu pretty much the same as Houston's. The prime rib is still there. The spinach dip looks the same. The french dip and chicken sandwich are still on the menu. And they still serve the matchstick fries. All good enough, although I've always thought Houston's was a bit overpriced for what you get.
And that brings me to this:
WHATEVER YOU DO -- DO NOT ORDER CHIPS AND SALSA AT HILLSTONE!!!!
This is why -- you will be charged NINE EFFING DOLLARS for effing chips and salsa. You know, that stuff they give you for FREE with unlimited refills at every single Tex-Mex joint in the country? Hillstone thinks theirs is worth NINE EFFING DOLLARS. Trust me, it's not. No chips and salsa is worth NINE EFFING DOLLARS. I don't care if it's laced with gold and cocaine. I just had lunch at Salum, one of the best restaurants in Dallas in my humble opinion, and my portabello mushroom panini with goat cheese and tomatoes and a small salad was $8.50. NINE EFFING DOLLARS for mediocre chips and salsa. Outrageous.
I feel better now.
Cheers!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tei-An
Went back to Tei-An in One Arts Plaza last night for dinner. I'd been there with Dr. L once before but just for some tea and ramen noodles so I was looking forward to a full meal there with one of my favorite foodie friends.
We ordered a bottle of wine. The wine list is a bit limited but well priced so we ordered an Erath Pinot Noir which was not good. No problem, what else would we like to try? We switched to the Huntington Cabernet (which used to be the Rattlesnake Bar at the Ritz' house) and it was just fine and at under $40, the price was right.
We ordered a chef's choice menu which has a Japanese word but I don't remember it. They have two levels -- $50 and $80. We chose the $50 and let the food fun begin.
We started with the white seaweed salad. Yum, so good. The white seaweed looks a little bit like mini egg noodles and it has a bit of a crunch to them. The salad itself was very refreshing, just enough acid to really make it a balanced dish. I will definitely order this again.
The next course was a sashimi platter -- 3 different types of fish, uni and octopus (2 pieces per person each). So fresh and delicious. There was a ton of uni which I took one piece of and let L have the rest. It actually was the best tasting uni I've ever had but I just don't like the texture of uni and don't think I ever will. The sashimi platter alone was probably worth the $50 we paid. Simply great.
We then had some tempura squid, which was really nice. Next course was beef tongue which was just delicious. The chef uses the very back of the tongue and then cooks it so tender it tastes like pot roast. To be honest, I didn't realize it was tongue until after I had eaten it. I'm generally opposed to eating anything that can taste back, but it just goes to show that lots of food issues are more mind over matter. Just try it without thinking. You might like it.
We then decided to have dessert. L isn't a dessert girl but she insisted that I try the desserts at Tei-An. So glad we did. We let the chef choose and got soba ice cream with black honey and tiramisu with caramel sauce. Love, love, lova soba ice cream and I am now obsessed with finding this honey. It had a rich, smoky taste to it that was divine. The tiramisu was good too -- not too sweet and very creamy.
The service was very nice and attentive. Chef Teiichi Sakurai stopped by a couple of times to say hello and make sure we were enjoying the evening. Nice man.
I'm definitely going back soon. I haven't even tried the soba noodles yet which is what Tei-An is known for. Since it's in One Arts Plaza, maybe I'll go before the next show at the Winspear I go to. There's a trolly that will take you from One Arts to the Winspear on theatre days. That sounds like a plan.
Cheers.
We ordered a bottle of wine. The wine list is a bit limited but well priced so we ordered an Erath Pinot Noir which was not good. No problem, what else would we like to try? We switched to the Huntington Cabernet (which used to be the Rattlesnake Bar at the Ritz' house) and it was just fine and at under $40, the price was right.
We ordered a chef's choice menu which has a Japanese word but I don't remember it. They have two levels -- $50 and $80. We chose the $50 and let the food fun begin.
We started with the white seaweed salad. Yum, so good. The white seaweed looks a little bit like mini egg noodles and it has a bit of a crunch to them. The salad itself was very refreshing, just enough acid to really make it a balanced dish. I will definitely order this again.
The next course was a sashimi platter -- 3 different types of fish, uni and octopus (2 pieces per person each). So fresh and delicious. There was a ton of uni which I took one piece of and let L have the rest. It actually was the best tasting uni I've ever had but I just don't like the texture of uni and don't think I ever will. The sashimi platter alone was probably worth the $50 we paid. Simply great.
We then had some tempura squid, which was really nice. Next course was beef tongue which was just delicious. The chef uses the very back of the tongue and then cooks it so tender it tastes like pot roast. To be honest, I didn't realize it was tongue until after I had eaten it. I'm generally opposed to eating anything that can taste back, but it just goes to show that lots of food issues are more mind over matter. Just try it without thinking. You might like it.
We then decided to have dessert. L isn't a dessert girl but she insisted that I try the desserts at Tei-An. So glad we did. We let the chef choose and got soba ice cream with black honey and tiramisu with caramel sauce. Love, love, lova soba ice cream and I am now obsessed with finding this honey. It had a rich, smoky taste to it that was divine. The tiramisu was good too -- not too sweet and very creamy.
The service was very nice and attentive. Chef Teiichi Sakurai stopped by a couple of times to say hello and make sure we were enjoying the evening. Nice man.
I'm definitely going back soon. I haven't even tried the soba noodles yet which is what Tei-An is known for. Since it's in One Arts Plaza, maybe I'll go before the next show at the Winspear I go to. There's a trolly that will take you from One Arts to the Winspear on theatre days. That sounds like a plan.
Cheers.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Brackets
So I stopped by the new sports bar, Brackets, which has taken over the old Trader Vic space at the Hotel Palomar. I have been excited about this place for awhile now. I pass by it every day on the way to work, and I've been looking for a sports bar that isn't on McKinney to watch some games. Plus, Jay Jerrier, the nicest pizza maker in Dallas, is attached, and I always like to see good people succeed.
They have completely de-tiki-fied the space, with not a tiki torch or pink umbrella in sight (although I understand a few remnants of Trader Vics remain in some storage units around the Palomar). Concrete floors, open ceiling and lots and lots of TVs. There are also a couple of ping pong and pool tables and a Wii dedicated TV area. Would be a fun location, if there were any people there.
Alas, the place was dead. They are still in their "soft opening" phase, with the official opening next Friday, but they seem to have their act together. I asked the bartender how business has been, and he admitted that daytime has been tough but they've been comfortably busy on weekend nights. Must be tough to open up a Dallas sports bar the week after the college games have stopped and during a season where the Cowboys defined suckage in their own special way. It's going to be a great place to watch the NCAA basketball tourney though so I hope business picks up.
I perused the menu. It looks really good. Lots of choices. Salads, sandwiches, sliders, entrees, etc. http://bracketsdallas.com/menus/Lunch-and-Dinner.pdf The beer list is pretty solid but the wine list I found curious because there were so many $99 bottles. This is a sports bar, right? I find it weird enough that some people (ie, my friends) drink wine at a sports bar (I'm a a firm believer you should eat steak at a steakhouse and drink beer at a sports bar) but who on earth would order a $99 bottle of wine at one? Strange.
We started with the tempura asparagus and green beans as an appetizer. A little greasy (and the asparagus a little chewy) but the sriracha mayo dip was super good as was the plum sauce that accompanied them.
But I was there for the Il Cane Rosso Pizza. The pizza oven is open to the dining area so you can see your pizza being fired if you'd like. I was not disappointed. The special of the day sounded great -- spicy pulled pork with peppers and onions -- but it sounded a little to spicy for us. We ordered the Tuscan instead. Tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, hot sopressata (which I was told was a type of cheese), and Jimmy's sausage. It was delicious (although adding Jimmy's to anything makes it taste better). I can't wait to go back to try a few more pies.
The service was good. We sat at the bar and Kevin took care of us well. The manager stopped by to get our impressions and a promise from us to come back again. Don't worry, we will. You should try it too.
Cheers!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ziziki's
Went to Ziziki’s at Travis Walk last night for A’s birthday. Ziziki’s is one of A’s favorite restaurants so I wasn’t surprised when she picked it for her birthday dinner location. I just have never felt the Ziziki’s love. I don’t know what it is. Maybe just going to Travis Walk makes me miss its glory days. You remember those days, back when you’d partied til the wee hours at Sipango’s or drank mojitos on Wednesday at Samba Room, or had a great meal and some wine at Il Sole (so miss their calamari). Now we are stuck with Trece and Villa-O which are just so, eh.
I don’t know what it is. Or maybe, I do.
Here’s the thing about Ziziki’s – I order the exact same thing there each and every time I go – lamb salad. It’s a good greek salad covered in well seasoned and (usually) tender lamb, but that’s my order. When I mentioned that to the folks at my table, I was amazed at how many said the exact same thing – when they come to Ziziki’s they don’t know why they bother to look at the menu because they always order the same thing. Now, not everybody orders the same thing I do. Some people order the Chicken Slouvlaki. Others order the Salmon Salad. But they all have their “dish” and that’s what they order. And maybe that’s what Ziziki’s is – the place where you go when you have that craving for that one thing. And that’s, okay, I guess. I just prefer to be more adventuresome when I dine, that’s all.
We started with some appetizers. Hummus and Dolmades. Ziziki’s has artichoke hummus which is good but I really prefer regular old chickpea hummus, myself. The dolmades were good but, wow, were they garlicky. (More on that in a moment.)
My lamb salad was as it always is and forever shall be. They did go a little lean on the salad toppings. I think I had 2 grape tomatoes, a couple of olives and a smattering of feta. I forgot to tell them no onions (I like cooked onions but not raw ones), but they were cut so thin I hardly noticed them. But I did get a generous helping of well-seasoned and tender lamb which was much appreciated because the last time I ate at Ziziki’s the lamb on my lamb salad (did you think I had ordered something else?) was really tough. 3 others at my table ordered the salmon salad, which is the lamb salad, 86 the lamb, and substitute salmon. (Give you 2 guess what the chicken salad consists of). They all made happy plates but when our server laid their plates down, I thought salmon had a bit of a fishy smell. K had her usual order -- the chicken slouvlaki with salad instead of potatoes -- which is basically the chicken salad but with the chicken in a pita and the salad on the side. Hmmm, maybe that’s why everyone orders the same thing every time they go to Ziziki’s? Their menu is basically different variations of the same thing. Yawn.
So I went home, got ready for bed, brushed my teeth, flossed (see Dr. Cortez, I do floss sometimes) and gargled with some mouthwash. Why is she telling us this, you ask. Well, despite my impeccable dental hygeine, I woke up with the biggest case of garlic breath I think I have ever had in my life. That’s great if you want to keep the vampires away but not so great if you want a good morning kiss from your sweetie. Thank goodness I'm single, right? (see Mom, it does have it's advantages). But this was no ordinary garlic breath. After another round of brushing, flossing and gargling, it was still there and I had a plane to catch. Great, I'm going to be banned from Southwest for stinky breath. Luckily, I found the cure for Ziziki garlic breath at Love Field -- Cinnabon coffee. Just another handy dandy little tip for living from WiDiDallas.
Cheers!
And btw, thanks to all who are now "liking" WiDiDallas on facebook. It's a work in progress but I really appreciate. it.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
WiDiDallas is Facebook Official
It's still a work in progress but feel free to "like" WiDiDallas on Facebook. In addition to my blog posts, I'll be trying to give those who "like" me, updates on what food and wine events are happening in the DFW area.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Chefs for Farmers FW
Sorry, my loyal 10 or so WiDiDallas followers. This thing called "earning a living" seems to have put a cramp in my blogging style. But now that I see that light at the end of the tunnel (which may or may not be an oncoming train), I have some time to blog about the fantastic event I went to on Sunday, Chefs For Farmers Fort Worth.
The dinner was held at Times Ten in Fort Worth. No long table in a field this time which I was grateful for since, well, it's December and freaking cold outside. Instead there were 3 long tables in one big room. Although there were only about 25 more people there than the last one, it felt like there were 3 times as many. Guess being indoors instead of a vast field changes the perspective.
L and I were running late and got there just before things started. So, alas we missed the Il Cane Rosso pizza that served as an appetizer. No infamous bacon wrapped dates this time so the toothpick count was zero (sad face). We grabbed a glass of x10 white and sat down in one of the last seats available. Thank you C for saving them for us!
Here's a run down of the courses. Every one of them delicious.
Amuse: Roasted Sunchoke Soup. Matt McCallister. A perfect amuse bouche. So many complex flavors in one little shot. The soup was topped with a parsley foam and the shot glass was rimmed with salt. Delicious. Not embarrassed to say I tilted my head back to make sure I got every bit of what was contained in the shot glass. Not that I have any experience in doing shots, mind you . . .
Course No. 1. Blue crab and white gazpacho cocktail with a hint of white truffle. Jon Bonnell of Bonnell's Restaurant (paired with Dunham Cellars Riesling, Columbia Valley 2008). I wasn't too sure about this dish since I would never think about ordering gazpacho in December but it was a knockout. A ton of crab and not too much white truffle. Would love to have some for lunch today. The pairing was nice as well. It was a bit sweeter than the dry rieslings I have previously tried but the sweetness of the wine contrasted nicely with the acidity of the gazpacho.
No. 2. Assiette of smoked fish, turnips, pickled radish, smoked roe and melba. Blaine Staniford of Grace (paired with Distefano Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, 2009). I heard later that this was either people's favorite or least favorite dish. For me, it was my favorite dish of the night. I think the naysayers were probably turned off by the smoked fish aspect, since it is such a strong flavor. But I love smoked fish so I reveled in this dish's beauty and taste. Yum. The Sauvignon Blanc was a nice complement as well.
The dinner was held at Times Ten in Fort Worth. No long table in a field this time which I was grateful for since, well, it's December and freaking cold outside. Instead there were 3 long tables in one big room. Although there were only about 25 more people there than the last one, it felt like there were 3 times as many. Guess being indoors instead of a vast field changes the perspective.
L and I were running late and got there just before things started. So, alas we missed the Il Cane Rosso pizza that served as an appetizer. No infamous bacon wrapped dates this time so the toothpick count was zero (sad face). We grabbed a glass of x10 white and sat down in one of the last seats available. Thank you C for saving them for us!
Here's a run down of the courses. Every one of them delicious.
Amuse: Roasted Sunchoke Soup. Matt McCallister. A perfect amuse bouche. So many complex flavors in one little shot. The soup was topped with a parsley foam and the shot glass was rimmed with salt. Delicious. Not embarrassed to say I tilted my head back to make sure I got every bit of what was contained in the shot glass. Not that I have any experience in doing shots, mind you . . .
Course No. 1. Blue crab and white gazpacho cocktail with a hint of white truffle. Jon Bonnell of Bonnell's Restaurant (paired with Dunham Cellars Riesling, Columbia Valley 2008). I wasn't too sure about this dish since I would never think about ordering gazpacho in December but it was a knockout. A ton of crab and not too much white truffle. Would love to have some for lunch today. The pairing was nice as well. It was a bit sweeter than the dry rieslings I have previously tried but the sweetness of the wine contrasted nicely with the acidity of the gazpacho.
No. 2. Assiette of smoked fish, turnips, pickled radish, smoked roe and melba. Blaine Staniford of Grace (paired with Distefano Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, 2009). I heard later that this was either people's favorite or least favorite dish. For me, it was my favorite dish of the night. I think the naysayers were probably turned off by the smoked fish aspect, since it is such a strong flavor. But I love smoked fish so I reveled in this dish's beauty and taste. Yum. The Sauvignon Blanc was a nice complement as well.
No. 3. Rocky's Micro Beet Salad with Baby Fennel and Watercress Goat Cheese, Baby Leek Ranch and Sunflower Sprouts. Dan Landsberg (paired with Dunham Cellars Chardonnay, Shirley Mays, Columbia Valley 2009). I was happy to receive a second helping of the goat cheese because my dining companion L has her evil goat cheese aversion but this salad didn't wow me. The micro greens were difficult to eat. For some reason my knife refused to do its job and cut the stupid stems. It was probably user error I'm sure. Plus, I love beets and it just didn't feel like there was enough of them or enough flavor from them. Maybe I was expecting something macro out of micro beets. Who knows.
The wine, although not a standout, did have a great story. Shirley Mays is actually the wine makers grandmother who died of breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds from this wine's sale goes to support breast cancer charities. I, for one, am always willing to drink for a good cause.
No. 4. Braised pork shank with cheddar apple dumpling. Dena Peterson Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (paired with Dunham Cellars Syrah, Columbia Valley, 2006). First, Chef Peterson managed to sneak some bacon in the braised pork shank and, as you know, I'm a big fan of bacon. But it wasn't the pork that stood out for me in this dish. It was the cheddar apple dumpling. It was not so much a dumpling but a really compact cheddar apple pie. Simply perfect on a cold December night. Sorry, don't remember much about the wine. Too dazzled by that dumpling, I guess. (um, that's what she said?)
No. 5 (dear waist line, I'm sorry). Stracotta of burgundy pasture beef on chickpea panissa, shiitake and bright lights chard. Michael Morabito of Colonial Country Club (paired with Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate XII, Columbia Valley, 2006). When we were served our dish, L looked down and said "wait, I need a new knife." Never fear, L, there was no need for a knife. The beef was that tender. While this dish was good, it wasn't a stand out for me. The dish was cooked well and the flavors were well-balanced but I honestly think that I was so full at this point I was kind of done. Of course, we still had dessert . . .
No. 6. Pave with homemade creme fraiche, and crystallized organic lavender. Zach Townsend of Pure Chocolate Desserts (paired with Dunham Cellars, Late Harvest Riesling, Columbia Valley, 2008). I'm not sure what a pave exactly is, but it sure tasted like a chocolate cake to me. I liked the touch of crystallized lavender. Just enough so it didn't taste like you were eating soap (which is a bad thing. Trust me. My mom is old school and I had my mouth washed out with soap on more than one occasion growing up.). This final course tasted fine but was a bit too heavy for me after all that food I just had consumed. Would have preferred something more mousse like perhaps.
After dinner we then drove out to the country (like FW isn't country enough) and had a bonfire. So glad I went. There was a guy with a guitar singing Cowboy songs. There was a little 4 year old cowboy who decided he was going to the be the host with the most in his 10 gallon hat. There was hot chocolate. There was a Rahr beer keg. Did I mention there was a bonfire which Matt McCallister wanted to make as high as possible?
As we were lounging by the fire, out of the blue a horse with an Indian in full war paint comes charging at us. Eeek. Indian was not so terrifying when my little 4 year old cowboy friend walked up to him and said, "hi Kevin." Adorbs.
Dan Landsberg then showed up with some homemade marshmallows for roasting. I haven't roasted marshmallows by the campfire since my Girl Scout days. Oh, so good. This experience really kind of put the Tillman's smores to shame. Just can't duplicate a real live bonfire in a restaurant. Fire marshall would probably frown upon that. Though it would be totally cool.
Yet another fantastic CFF event. Can't wait until the next one in March. WiDiDallas knows the scoop but can't share it quite yet. Trust me. It's going to be amazing. You should go!
Cheers!
No. 6. Pave with homemade creme fraiche, and crystallized organic lavender. Zach Townsend of Pure Chocolate Desserts (paired with Dunham Cellars, Late Harvest Riesling, Columbia Valley, 2008). I'm not sure what a pave exactly is, but it sure tasted like a chocolate cake to me. I liked the touch of crystallized lavender. Just enough so it didn't taste like you were eating soap (which is a bad thing. Trust me. My mom is old school and I had my mouth washed out with soap on more than one occasion growing up.). This final course tasted fine but was a bit too heavy for me after all that food I just had consumed. Would have preferred something more mousse like perhaps.
After dinner we then drove out to the country (like FW isn't country enough) and had a bonfire. So glad I went. There was a guy with a guitar singing Cowboy songs. There was a little 4 year old cowboy who decided he was going to the be the host with the most in his 10 gallon hat. There was hot chocolate. There was a Rahr beer keg. Did I mention there was a bonfire which Matt McCallister wanted to make as high as possible?
As we were lounging by the fire, out of the blue a horse with an Indian in full war paint comes charging at us. Eeek. Indian was not so terrifying when my little 4 year old cowboy friend walked up to him and said, "hi Kevin." Adorbs.
Dan Landsberg then showed up with some homemade marshmallows for roasting. I haven't roasted marshmallows by the campfire since my Girl Scout days. Oh, so good. This experience really kind of put the Tillman's smores to shame. Just can't duplicate a real live bonfire in a restaurant. Fire marshall would probably frown upon that. Though it would be totally cool.
Yet another fantastic CFF event. Can't wait until the next one in March. WiDiDallas knows the scoop but can't share it quite yet. Trust me. It's going to be amazing. You should go!
Cheers!
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