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Post by NewHereAgainoZach on Aug 13, 2014 11:46:27 GMT -5
"Chickens go in; pies come out."
"What kind of pie?"
"...Apple."
"My favorite!"
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dＬᵒ
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𝓐𝓻𝓮 𝓦𝓮 𝓒𝓸𝓸𝓵 𝓨𝓮𝓽?
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Post by dＬᵒ on Aug 14, 2014 0:18:20 GMT -5
That looks horrid to me.
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Post by NewHereAgainoZach on Aug 14, 2014 2:17:57 GMT -5
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Aug 14, 2014 9:25:02 GMT -5
Oh my god, that pork pie looks so amazing. My favorite local farm store sells a variety of little meat pies at their butcher counter, and I have to just pretend they're not there, or I'd eat them every single day. They do one that's fresh sausage with a baked egg set in the center of it. ::drools::
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Post by NewHereAgainoZach on Aug 14, 2014 12:10:31 GMT -5
Oh my god, that pork pie looks so amazing. My favorite local farm store sells a variety of little meat pies at their butcher counter, and I have to just pretend they're not there, or I'd eat them every single day. They do one that's fresh sausage with a baked egg set in the center of it. ::drools:: Like a Scotch egg? |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Aug 14, 2014 12:28:57 GMT -5
So far my personal Restaurant Week lineup includes: Dallas Fish Market Canary by Gorji Tei-An Nonna Waiting for a friend to pick a 4th one. Updated Nonna was delicious. Can't disagree with the rave reviews of their lobster ravioli, although they paired it with a gruff red wine, which was strange. Also partook in a non-RW menu at Bolsa which was predictably fantastic. |
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Post by pairesta on Aug 14, 2014 13:06:44 GMT -5
My wife used to work for Gorji. She said he's a complete lunatic, and so we'll never go to one of his places. She's mystified by his success.
Post when you go to Tei An!
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Post by Liz n Dicksgiving on Aug 14, 2014 13:19:31 GMT -5
Yes, exactly that! Thank you -- I couldn't remember what it was called and it was driving me a little bit crazy.  |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Aug 14, 2014 13:29:28 GMT -5
My wife used to work for Gorji. She said he's a complete lunatic, and so we'll never go to one of his places. She's mystified by his success. Post when you go to Tei An! Huh! Any particular lunatic stories? I only met him briefly and he seemed nice enough, but, you know, anyone can seem nice when you randomly bump into them. |
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Post by pairesta on Aug 14, 2014 13:35:46 GMT -5
It was a long time ago that she worked there and told me about him, so I'm hazy. I know there was one where they got into an argument, she left the restaurant to get away from him, and he followed her into the parking lot to her car screaming at her.
It's the restaurant business though. Chef/owner, there all day every day, open to close. Can't be good for the psyche.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Aug 15, 2014 8:17:16 GMT -5
Yes, exactly that! Thank you -- I couldn't remember what it was called and it was driving me a little bit crazy. Went to a place in Fredericksburg, TX some years back and ate at a microbrewery/restaurant that made mini-Scotch eggs using quail eggs and spicy sausage. Divine. The proportions were just right. |
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Post by pairesta on Aug 15, 2014 10:48:19 GMT -5
Goodbye, Dallas.
While I'm really excited to get to Houston and its own amazing food scene, there's some unique qualities about Dallas I'm going to miss. I think the food scene has exploded here, too, in just the past three or four years, and finally diners are getting more adventurous and wanting more than just ritzy steakhouses. Here's five unique foodie spots I'll miss in Dallas, that may not be around in Houston:
1. Tom Spicer's FM 1410 Market: This small storefront wedged between Cafe Urbano's two locations sources produce for top restaurants in the city. There's always wild mushrooms available, his salad greens make the best salad I know of, and there's always something interesting he's got that he'll try to get you to try. There's no place like him in Houston that I know of.
2. The Grape: One of the happiest things I can think of is a cool evening, their patio, and my first jet cold martini has arrived. I'm smiling just writing about it right now. Always reliable food, they really upped their game once Brian and Courtney Luscher bought it.
3. Local Yocal: Beef raised by the owners, free range organic chicken and eggs, local goods like honey and olive oil. Shopping here is always an inspiration that makes for a memorable meal.
4. Jimmy's: This Dallas institution has steadily grown from a convenience store with an aisle devoted just to Italian goods to being a full-on Italian market, featuring an all-Italian wine section, a deli, and butcher shop. Coming here at Christmas has been a ritual for us for more than a decade now; they stock up on panetone, nougat, and other seasonal treats.
5. A booming barbecue scene: nowhere has the barbecue renaissance been more acutely felt than in Dallas, which has in 5 years gone from having its best BBQ spots being in Ft. Worth to having the #2 joint in the state (Pecan Lodge) on Texas Monthly's esteemed Barbecue list. Moreover, with Lockhart Smokehouse opening a Plano branch, that means that great 'cue is (um, was) 10 minutes from my doorstep. And then there's Hutchins up in McKinney and their new branch in Frisco, 10 minutes again away from my office.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Aug 27, 2014 10:40:58 GMT -5
Slightly Overdue Restaurant Week Report
1. Bolsa. This was not a restaurant week menu, just timing. Dee-licious. Really everything was at a very high level, including the cocktail and the "chocolate bomb" dessert. I was a little worried because they had just overhauled the entire menu, nullifying my friend's recommendations, but neither I or my date could go wrong.
2. Nonna. Very tasty food. A friend who stuck to lasagna was rewarded with some uncommonly delicious lasagna (probably a result of the sausage and the slightly burnt edges). Lobster ravioli is just as pairesta advertised it. The wine pairings were inept, though: you got a heavy, tannic red with your main course, no matter what your main course was, so I had to steal a bite of lasagna after each swig, because spiky red wine does not work with lobster.
3. Canary by Gorji. I have no doubt Chef Gorji is kookoo for Cocoa Puffs, as pairesta's wife attests, but he really turns on the charm with customers. Or at least, most of the time. My friend tried eating her Texas quail with a fork and knife and Gorji emerged from the kitchen to shout, "If you don't eat that quail with your fingers, I will never serve you again!" He was only about two-thirds joking. After deducing that our party of three had successfully split every single item on the entire Restaurant Week menu, he rewarded us (achievement unlocked!) with a "tomato smoothie," a puree of tomatoes and cream and Bailey's, served in a martini glass. The petit filet was a flawlessly cooked steak, so perfect I would hold it as a gold standard.
4. Tei An. The best meal I've had all year in the United States. Service quality is at about a midpoint between the two extremes you guys described: they're not your friends, exactly, but they are very professional, considerate, and descriptive. We augmented our RW menu with three more courses, because we are gluttons, but it was absolutely worth it. Sashimi: outstanding. "Soba bolognese": outstanding, and not as confusing as it sounds. Ramen: outstanding (though my friend, who lived in Singapore for years, is scandalized at how much it costs). But the real home run was a daily special, fresh figs wrapped in prosciutto and then very lightly fried tempura-style. The tempura batter was not insanely thick, like it is at low-quality Japanese places, so you could still admire the fig and its perfect texture. Oh gosh. That was amazing. I'm hungry.
P.S. Saturday, made a visit to Jimmy's (oh so great prosciutto in my fridge right now) and my first-ever visit to Tom Spicer's. I emerged with a little brown bag of wild "shrooms" that I paid cash for, and was pleasantly surprised when dinner that night did not cause any hallucinations.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Sept 9, 2014 14:16:38 GMT -5
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Sept 9, 2014 14:27:08 GMT -5
They dunk the whole sandwich in gravy? What? Just...what?
Also:
"the first guy to make gyros on sight [sic]"
Is this article really implying that no Greek place in Dallas has a spit they use to make gyros??!?
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Sept 9, 2014 14:31:17 GMT -5
Dallas Food Diaries: September So Far
Murray Street Coffee Shop in Deep Ellum continues to deliver on the fresh sandwiches and drinks. You only need a half sandwich, not a whole; my half sandwich left me feeling very full.
A second visit to Maple & Motor was attended by serious skepticism, after I was let down by the burger the first time. Sorry, folks...the burger is meh. On the other hand, the fries are good and doused in salt, the tater tots are gloriously crunchy, and the brisket sandwich (I added grilled onions and grilled jalapenos) beats the pants off the burger.
Tonight, taking a friend to Yutaka for Japanese.
This weekend, heading to the basketball dome to see Aziz Ansari do funny things. Looking for suggestions on a dinner place near Victory Park and/or near a DART station in that general vicinity. Anybody got a tip?
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Post by pairesta on Sept 9, 2014 14:40:00 GMT -5
GODAMMIT DALLAS I GAVE YOU 15 YEARS TO DO THIS |
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Post by pairesta on Sept 9, 2014 14:45:01 GMT -5
They dunk the whole sandwich in gravy? What? Just...what? Also: "the first guy to make gyros on sight [sic]" Is this article really implying that no Greek place in Dallas has a spit they use to make gyros??!? I don't know if it's "gravy" so much as it is a delicious beefy jus made from the drippings from the roast. It is awesome. I don't know why the article describes it that way unless it really is a little thicker. And they might be meaning making the gyro meat itself onsite. There was an article on one of the food media sites a year or two back lamenting that most Greek places in Dallas import their gyro meat from the same distributor. |
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Post by pairesta on Sept 9, 2014 14:47:13 GMT -5
Dallas Food Diaries: September So FarMurray Street Coffee Shop in Deep Ellum continues to deliver on the fresh sandwiches and drinks. You only need a half sandwich, not a whole; my half sandwich left me feeling very full. A second visit to Maple & Motor was attended by serious skepticism, after I was let down by the burger the first time. Sorry, folks...the burger is meh. On the other hand, the fries are good and doused in salt, the tater tots are gloriously crunchy, and the brisket sandwich (I added grilled onions and grilled jalapenos) beats the pants off the burger. Tonight, taking a friend to Yutaka for Japanese. This weekend, heading to the basketball dome to see Aziz Ansari do funny things. Looking for suggestions on a dinner place near Victory Park and/or near a DART station in that general vicinity. Anybody got a tip? Yutaka was my favorite sushi place in Dallas. It's too bad they closed their little bar two doors down; you go put your name in at Yutaka, go to their bar, have a sake flight and some grilled or fried meats, then your table's ready. |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Sept 9, 2014 14:50:21 GMT -5
I did that once (the little bar wait deal). It really was fun, and the grilled meat was what my friend really wanted to try.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Sept 9, 2014 14:56:22 GMT -5
They dunk the whole sandwich in gravy? What? Just...what? Also: "the first guy to make gyros on sight [sic]" Is this article really implying that no Greek place in Dallas has a spit they use to make gyros??!? I don't know if it's "gravy" so much as it is a delicious beefy jus made from the drippings from the roast. It is awesome. I don't know why the article describes it that way unless it really is a little thicker. And they might be meaning making the gyro meat itself onsite. There was an article on one of the food media sites a year or two back lamenting that most Greek places in Dallas import their gyro meat from the same distributor. Confirmed and confirmed. "Gravy" is the colloquial term for beef juice. Wagyu beef juice. And they really do dip the whole sandwich. I'd heard that about the 2nd part, too. Sad, but generally when I get gyro meat I enjoy it. Love the stuff at Ali Baba in Richardson. |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Sept 10, 2014 12:25:51 GMT -5
I did that once (the little bar wait deal). It really was fun, and the grilled meat was what my friend really wanted to try. We ended up going to Rise instead. Friend discovered too late that she hates tarragon, so we traded souffles. The manager was super concerned and offered to bring her something else, but we couldn't even finish the souffles we had. I need to go back with someone else because (a) I believe in sharing all food, (b) she doesn't like goat cheese, mushrooms, or chili peppers. Some friends are hard to keep. Pumpkin souffle special was very well-spiced. To my amazement, multiple tables were speaking French. |
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Sept 10, 2014 12:40:47 GMT -5
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Sept 10, 2014 12:43:20 GMT -5
Love Rise. The last time I went to Rise the kitchen was unhappy with the puffiness of my crawfish/old bay souffle (I thought it was fine), so they brought me another one. Joining me at the table were Mrs. Snape who doesn't eat seafood, a friend who is allergic to shellfish, and a friend who grew up on the East coast and has vowed to never eat Old Bay again.
I call this story, "The Time The Lascivious Snape Ate Two Crawfish Souffles in One Sitting."
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Post by NewHereAgainoZach on Sept 15, 2014 16:30:44 GMT -5
Love Rise. The last time I went to Rise the kitchen was unhappy with the puffiness of my crawfish/old bay souffle (I thought it was fine), so they brought me another one. Joining me at the table were Mrs. Snape who doesn't eat seafood, a friend who is allergic to shellfish, and a friend who grew up on the East coast and has vowed to never eat Old Bay again. I call this story, "The Time The Lascivious Snape Ate Two Crawfish Souffles in One Sitting." It's a whale of a tale! You're no man; you're a remorseless eating machine! Y'arr... |
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Oct 7, 2014 13:38:44 GMT -5
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Post by pairesta on Oct 7, 2014 13:57:41 GMT -5
Ha! I spent alot of time reading about that yesterday. I still go to the Dallas food blogs out of habit.
Man, I really don't know why people have it in for Brenner so much. Nancy Nichols especially has it in for her and lurrvs stirring the pot. I've certainly disagreed with her reviews before (her dismissal of the Grape, and just last week criticizing Pecan Lodge's wine service) come to mind, but it just seems so nasty and personal against her with other people. I think Tesar totally overreacted to her review. And again, here, this Proof + Pantry move doesn't sit well with me either. It's very clever and I admire the lengths they're going through on it, but it just seems nasty and vindictive.
Oddly enough down here in Houston it's pretty much the same thing with the Chronicle's critic, Alison Cook, who I really do like. But lots of restaurants have made a big deal, similarly, of "banning" her, and again, for not terribly bad reviews. It's weird.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Oct 13, 2014 12:19:35 GMT -5
The new Ebola case lives a few blocks from The Grape.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Oct 23, 2014 7:52:04 GMT -5
Ron Howard Voice Not sure if you're a fan our sour beers or not, but apparently Strangeways on Fitzhugh is doing an all sour tap list all week. 35 sour beers on tap, they claim. It's my favorite class of beer so that sounds absolutely amazing to me, and I'm bummed I just found out today and will have no time to check it out. Never been to the bar either, so not sure its vibe: www.facebook.com/Strangewaysdallas
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Nov 7, 2014 9:43:12 GMT -5
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