LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Dec 15, 2015 15:32:43 GMT -5
Well done, man. I thought it read very well and had some great humor in it. Morbidly curious, I had to look up the menu to confirm the pricing thing. Bizarre! I've never seen anything like that. Where did you find that photo? That looks like a new, updated menu - one of the spelling errors is fixed and the price of the pizzas went up. Which shows that when our pizza was "overcharged," actually it was correctly charged but they had given us the old menus with the lower prices. I searched Google images for "Patrizios menu." Maybe the different locations have slightly different menus, layouts and prices? And don't you mean the price of the apizz's have gone up? |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Dec 15, 2015 15:40:31 GMT -5
Where did you find that photo? That looks like a new, updated menu - one of the spelling errors is fixed and the price of the pizzas went up. Which shows that when our pizza was "overcharged," actually it was correctly charged but they had given us the old menus with the lower prices. I searched Google images for "Patrizios menu." Maybe the different locations have slightly different menus, layouts and prices? And don't you mean the price of the apizz's have gone up? Oh, yeah that's possible. I'm really really happy my editor didn't delete my "taking apizz" joke. It's good for the general public to know just how low my comedy tastes can sink. |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Dec 15, 2015 17:35:22 GMT -5
Off to try McAllister's new joint, Filament, tonight. Excited, because:   om nom nom |
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dＬᵒ
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𝓐𝓻𝓮 𝓦𝓮 𝓒𝓸𝓸𝓵 𝓨𝓮𝓽?
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Post by dＬᵒ on Dec 15, 2015 19:33:19 GMT -5
Ron Howard Voice Keep us updated on any hate mail you get, especially from restaurants.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Dec 15, 2015 23:55:37 GMT -5
Off to try McAllister's new joint, Filament, tonight. om nom nom om nom nom status: confirmed Fantastic grits and braised greens...in their "pot liquor"...topped with a fried egg Creamy-dressing fingerling potato salad with chives and breadcrumbs...topped with flawlessly-grilled octopus Cauliflower side dish...served in cast iron, looking and tasting almost exactly like mac'n'cheese Housemade hot sauce...aged in bourbon barrels [in happy place] Tagging LazBro for reasons. |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Dec 16, 2015 0:40:27 GMT -5
Off to try McAllister's new joint, Filament, tonight. om nom nom om nom nom status: confirmed Fantastic grits and braised greens...in their "pot liquor"...topped with a fried egg Creamy-dressing fingerling potato salad with chives and breadcrumbs...topped with flawlessly-grilled octopus Cauliflower side dish...served in cast iron, looking and tasting almost exactly like mac'n'cheese Housemade hot sauce...aged in bourbon barrels [in happy place] Tagging LazBro for reasons. Cauliflower and cheese are BFFs. Was Matt there? Seems like an open kitchen kind of joint. |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Dec 16, 2015 8:36:51 GMT -5
LazBro it is indeed an open kitchen, but Matt's back to FT33 I think. Cody Sharp was alternately manning the grill and the pass, though.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Dec 16, 2015 15:14:59 GMT -5
om nom nom status: confirmed Fantastic grits and braised greens...in their "pot liquor"...topped with a fried egg Creamy-dressing fingerling potato salad with chives and breadcrumbs...topped with flawlessly-grilled octopus Cauliflower side dish...served in cast iron, looking and tasting almost exactly like mac'n'cheese Housemade hot sauce...aged in bourbon barrels [in happy place] Tagging LazBro for reasons. Cauliflower and cheese are BFFs. Was Matt there? Seems like an open kitchen kind of joint. |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Dec 21, 2015 15:20:02 GMT -5
Doing New Year's Eve at the Grail this year. We've done one of their beer dinners before and really enjoyed it. I can't say I'm blown away by the beer selections this time around, but the menu stood out to us, because it has no seafood. Since Mrs. Snape doesn't eat any seafood, we appreciated that. I've never tried the Jester King Petit Prince, because who wants to spend that much money on a 2% beer, but I welcome the chance to finally try it.  |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Dec 23, 2015 11:35:07 GMT -5
Village Baking Co. makes good stuff. This is in no way an admonishment of them. But does it ever feel lame to you that it feels like every good restaurant that doesn't bake in-house uses bread from this one place?
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Dec 23, 2015 14:42:54 GMT -5
Village Baking Co. makes good stuff. This is in no way an admonishment of them. But does it ever feel lame to you that it feels like every good restaurant that doesn't bake in-house uses bread from this one place? We get a lot of Empire in central Dallas too, but yeah. Speaks to the general crappiness of American bread-baking, I think... |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jan 12, 2016 13:13:54 GMT -5
Hey Ron Howard Voice, does the Observer ever send contractors to do media dinners? I'm going to be at the media preview night for Julia Pearl, Tre Wilcox's new place in Plano, and I wondered if I might see you. Next Thursday night, Jan 21. Sorry you didn't get the gig - I have been loving the variety of pieces while the inmates run the asylum - though I have to say the new lady, Beth Rankin, seems like she'll be pretty cool. Beer fanatic. Gotta love a beer fanatic. |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 12, 2016 14:06:04 GMT -5
Hey Ron Howard Voice , does the Observer ever send contractors to do media dinners? I'm going to be at the media preview night for Julia Pearl, Tre Wilcox's new place in Plano, and I wondered if I might see you. Next Thursday night, Jan 21. Sorry you didn't get the gig - I have been loving the variety of pieces while the inmates run the asylum - though I have to say the new lady, Beth Rankin, seems like she'll be pretty cool. Beer fanatic. Gotta love a beer fanatic. I'm going to a media dinner tonight! Maybe Tre's PR people didn't invite any of us, or invited one of the other writers, or the invite got lost in a spam filter or something. Pity, that sounds like fun. (The story of tonight's media dinner is weird. It's for Filament in Deep Ellum. My friend Michelle and I went there, twice, because I'm reviewing it [review filed last week, will get published on the 19th]. Shortly after our second visit, Filament's PR rep invited the two of us, and only the two of us, to rep the Observer at the media dinner. Decidedly weird situation, and potentially ethically uncomfortable one, but after I made it clear to the PR rep that we aren't official Observer reps, just freelancers, and after sneakily using a line of questions to determine that they seemed not to know we'd just eaten there, they still wanted us to show...) Beth seems really cool. And the job news is actually pretty good, because it turns out they want to farm out more/most reviews to freelancers now. (Beth's background is in serious journalism - she started on the crime beat - and she'll be expected to come up with news stories, analysis, and trend pieces that cover not just DFW but the whole region.) So, no full-time job for me, but lots more free food. |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jan 12, 2016 14:45:12 GMT -5
I'm going to a media dinner tonight! Maybe Tre's PR people didn't invite any of us, or invited one of the other writers, or the invite got lost in a spam filter or something. Pity, that sounds like fun. (The story of tonight's media dinner is weird. It's for Filament in Deep Ellum. My friend Michelle and I went there, twice, because I'm reviewing it [review filed last week, will get published on the 19th]. Shortly after our second visit, Filament's PR rep invited the two of us, and only the two of us, to rep the Observer at the media dinner. Decidedly weird situation, and potentially ethically uncomfortable one, but after I made it clear to the PR rep that we aren't official Observer reps, just freelancers, and after sneakily using a line of questions to determine that they seemed not to know we'd just eaten there, they still wanted us to show...) Beth seems really cool. And the job news is actually pretty good, because it turns out they want to farm out more/most reviews to freelancers now. (Beth's background is in serious journalism - she started on the crime beat - and she'll be expected to come up with news stories, analysis, and trend pieces that cover not just DFW but the whole region.) So, no full-time job for me, but lots more free food. I've never been to one before, so I'm excited for it. I think it'll be a blast, plus free food from Tre Wilcox and his Executive Chef. Bully on the ever growing freelance budget. I know you proposed the topics for your general interest pieces. What about the reviews? Are they assigned, requested, fought over? |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 15, 2016 18:22:16 GMT -5
LazBro love the temporary username. Reviews. Scott bequeathed a list of reviews he had been planning to do, which we all divvied up one each. Then I was the first person to get assigned a review #2...and then also #3, because the interim guy completely forgot to come up with a new list. He sent me a panicky email Tuesday asking (a) how quickly I could do one, and (b) what I wanted to do because he had no ideas. I guess I should have said something super fancy...but instead it's gonna be Milk & Honey, the super-traditional Israeli deli (they close before sundown Friday "for candle lighting"). FT33 was awesome, of course. Holy cow. A charcuterie board that was more like a whole tree trunk: duck rilletes, two kinds of salami (differing in fat content and the diameter of the grind), smoked pressed duck tongue, house-made mustard with a big hit of horseradish... the PR girl, the DMN rep (Sarah Blaskovich), and the CultureMap bigwig (Jennifer Chininis? [sp?]) all had very respectful, dainty amounts of charcuterie and then stopped, in anticipation of the next course. Michelle and I were like "great, we don't want to look like greedy freeloading pigs but WANT WANT WANT". Eventually when a waiter came by to clear the log, I very politely took all the pressed duck tongue because mmmmm. Then came smoked trout salad with radicchio. And a beef tartare spiked with Thai chili, peanut, and various pho ingredients. And smoked beets in sauerkraut vinaigrette. And spicy pork ricotta tortellini served in a bowl of ham hock broth. And "duos" of chicken and duck. And... oh yeah like 5 glasses of wine, plus unnecessary refills. Briefly met McCallister, but he was on his way to check up on Filament. Michelle piped up and asked Matt, "How are you satisfied with Filament so far?" He answered that he liked it and thought they were doing cool things. "I have some critiques, but I also have critiques of myself."
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 15, 2016 18:28:11 GMT -5
BTW tried Small Brewpub last night. The dining room is basically also the brewery: you're surrounded by bags of hops, kegs, and all the equipment. Service was abysmal (there are no waiters, but there are tables, and nobody really ever explained if you have to order at the bar, or what the hell was going on), but the food was good. Food was very...I dunno, intellectual? Like, it didn't make you FEEL good. It made you THINK good. Fried mushrooms with a bit of kraut and pickled onions; fried winter squash fritters topped with slices of pickled pigs' feet (!). Pickling was a super big deal there. We got two plates with their house-fermented onions, which don't involve vinegar so it's technically not pickling. There was a goat cheese left to sit inside olive oil for two weeks. Face bacon, of which my dear friend was blonde enough to ask, "is that really from the pig's face??" And, kind of absurdly, quoth the waiter, "Our butter has apples in it, but it's not apple butter."
But it was good! As was their wild ale. Not a pilsner fan, but I recognize the black pepper pils as objectively good. If I'd wanted to get drunk, I'd have followed up with Byzantium, an 11.5% ale that somehow involves Turkish figs. Shit. I really want that. Ummmmmmmm Snapes what are you doing this weekend?
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Jan 27, 2016 11:45:42 GMT -5
Okay, pairesta, I didn't want to horn in on the Pairesta-focused nature of this thread, but let's hijack it for a "Hey, Liz n Dick" moment. I'm two months away from visiting Dallas, and I need to be looking at menus RIGHTNOW so I can maximize looking forward to all the delicious foodstuffs. Pecan Lodge is on the list. Where else do I need to be dreaming of eating? |
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Post by pairesta on Jan 27, 2016 12:05:58 GMT -5
The title of the thread should probably more accurately be called "the Dallas Dining thread" or "Where LazBro and Ron Howard Voice ate while pairesta stews in jealousy" since I moved on page three or four. So they'll know more recent places. Other than Pecan Lodge, it's hard to recommend stuff from my end. I'd imagine you have better Italian and just as good sushi, so my next picks wouldn't really be that unique for you. I'm trying to think of great Mexican or Tex mex but am blanking. |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 27, 2016 14:12:35 GMT -5
Okay, pairesta , I didn't want to horn in on the Pairesta-focused nature of this thread, but let's hijack it for a "Hey, Liz n Dick" moment. I'm two months away from visiting Dallas, and I need to be looking at menus RIGHTNOW so I can maximize looking forward to all the delicious foodstuffs. Pecan Lodge is on the list. Where else do I need to be dreaming of eating? Pecan Lodge The Blind Butcher (quite possibly my #1 pick, because the veggies are so great too) Knife ($$$$) Tacos and MexEl Come Taco and Tacos La Banqueta (Mex-Mex street tacos) Velvet Taco or Resident Taqueria (gringo tacos) Mario's (Tex-Mex, Salvadorean, Central American) If You Wanna SplurgeFT33 Knife (see above) Tei An Cultures CollidingRapscallion Filament Jimmy's Food Store Small Brewpub basically everything in either Koreatown, but especially SSam, Koryo Kalbi, or the food court (!) at Super H Mart Drinks Drinks Drinks DrinksCocktails: Parliament (one of my top five favorite bars...on earth), The Theodore (a Wes Anderson-themed bar...really), Henry's Majestic, Proof & Pantry Wine: Bodega Wine Bar, The Wine Therapist, FT33, Filament Beer: The Meddlesome Moth, The Blind Butcher, Small Brewpub, Braindead Brewing, The Libertine |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Jan 27, 2016 14:32:45 GMT -5
Palaces of Glorious MeatsPecan Lodge The Blind Butcher (quite possibly my #1 pick, because the veggies are so great too) Knife ($$$$) Tacos and MexEl Come Taco and Tacos La Banqueta (Mex-Mex street tacos) Velvet Taco or Resident Taqueria (gringo tacos) Mario's (Tex-Mex, Salvadorean, Central American) If You Wanna SplurgeFT33 Knife (see above) Tei An Cultures CollidingRapscallion Filament Jimmy's Food Store Small Brewpub basically everything in either Koreatown, but especially SSam, Koryo Kalbi, or the food court (!) at Super H Mart Drinks Drinks Drinks DrinksCocktails: Parliament (one of my top five favorite bars...on earth), The Theodore (a Wes Anderson-themed bar...really), Henry's Majestic, Proof & Pantry Wine: Bodega Wine Bar, The Wine Therapist, FT33, Filament Beer: The Meddlesome Moth, The Blind Butcher, Small Brewpub, Braindead Brewing, The Libertine ::pushes aside everything on to-do list:: ::starts googling:: Thank you!! |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jan 27, 2016 15:49:14 GMT -5
::pushes aside everything on to-do list:: ::starts googling:: Thank you!! Ah, you reached out to me on a day I have a FOUR HOUR MEETING right in the middle of the day.  And now I'm so busy playing catch up before starting my vacation tomorrow that I can't stay and play for long. Fortunately, Ron is the man with the plan. I would personally love to be there when/if y'all do Pecan Lodge. Two reasons: 1) It's fucking Pecan Lodge! 2) To see your face the moment you taste true Central Texas brisket. Other cool places I recommend, though not especially Texan or unique, just really good, would be: Cane Rosso (pizza; lots of locations for convenience's sake) Neighborhood Services (my favorite on food alone; get the schnitzel) Remedy (upscale soda fountain, kinda pricey) Luscher's (another meat palace, sausages mostly) |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 27, 2016 16:23:20 GMT -5
::pushes aside everything on to-do list:: ::starts googling:: Thank you!!
Remedy (upscale soda fountain, kinda pricey) 1. Seconded on being there for Pecan Lodge! TI meetup! 2. SHIT I FORGOT DESSERTS DessertsRemedy (ginormous, insane ice cream sundaes) The Blind Butcher (there is nothing I do not love forever about this place) FT33 (even if dinner is too $$$$, dessert is spectacular and only $9-10) Cake Bar (exactly what it sounds like) ...and the Tour des Chocolatiers... Chocolate Secrets, CocoAndre, Dude Sweet Chocolate, and Kate Weiser Chocolates |
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Jan 27, 2016 17:06:27 GMT -5
Clearly we have not planned enough time for our visit.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 27, 2016 19:05:57 GMT -5
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Feb 3, 2016 17:06:12 GMT -5
I think I might. Just gotta get my samples together. |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Feb 3, 2016 17:09:24 GMT -5
So Mrs. Snape picked Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse for her birthday dinner. Which was, uh, surprising. Apparently she's got two different people at work who love that place (one of whom has a permanent standing reservation) and talked her into it for all the game meats. I've never been and so am still excited to try it. But somehow, "steakhouse in the West End that has been there forever and no one ever talks about it" just doesn't scream special to me. Good, maybe, but not special.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Feb 3, 2016 17:40:14 GMT -5
So Mrs. Snape picked Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse for her birthday dinner. Which was, uh, surprising. Apparently she's got two different people at work who love that place (one of whom has a permanent standing reservation) and talked her into it for all the game meats. I've never been and so am still excited to try it. But somehow, "steakhouse in the West End that has been there forever and no one ever talks about it" just doesn't scream special to me. Good, maybe, but not special. Hey, write about it! Michelle and I wrote a piece last year where we briefly griped about how Dallas doesn't have enough exotic game, and the Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse publicist sent us an email inviting us to visit. (We did get the jobs by basically writing a possible story about a recent meal on spec, and they liked it.) |
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Post by pairesta on Feb 3, 2016 20:23:15 GMT -5
So Mrs. Snape picked Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse for her birthday dinner. Which was, uh, surprising. Hot take: Steakhouses suck. My wife picked one one year and I spent the next month passive-aggressively suggesting alternatives. "Are you sure? It's just that for the same money at this place that nobody talks about anymore, we could, say, eat at the best restaurant in the city. And I think one of the 9 courses we get there would be the best bite of beef you've ever had. But I mean, it's your birthday." |
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Post by pairesta on Feb 3, 2016 20:43:28 GMT -5
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Feb 3, 2016 21:05:21 GMT -5
Our trip is going to be wall-to-wall eating. Exactly how I like my vacations!  |
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And now I'm so busy playing catch up before starting my vacation tomorrow that I can't stay and play for long.