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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Nov 7, 2014 10:50:11 GMT -5
Next meetup? We should go at an off-peak time, though. That place gets loud and hard to hear friends in.
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Post by Liz n Dick on Nov 7, 2014 11:32:11 GMT -5
Oh my god. I'm really hoping, it just so happens, to fit a trip to Dallas in next October. I fully expect to get duck spaetzle when I'm there, dammit!
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Nov 7, 2014 11:54:32 GMT -5
Oh my god. I'm really hoping, it just so happens, to fit a trip to Dallas in next October. I fully expect to get duck spaetzle when I'm there, dammit! And the State Fair. Gotta try them fried sriracha balls and fried pumpkin pies.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Nov 10, 2014 8:54:05 GMT -5
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Nov 10, 2014 16:46:30 GMT -5
We should definitely do the next meetup there. I have a couple friends who want to meet the Snapes, also.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Nov 10, 2014 17:16:30 GMT -5
Like a Saturday or Sunday afternoon should be off-peak, unless their lunch crowd has grown. The Saturday afternoon that originally inspired this thread was pretty quiet. I've never been on a weeknight, but I hear they get pretty busy. The author of the spaetzle article said it was slammed on a Thursday night.
Another thing I like about The Blind Butcher is that it's just a short walk from The Bottle Shop, a good place to fill up my growler and continue drinking if the taps at TBB don't appeal.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Nov 10, 2014 22:40:02 GMT -5
Yeah, I went on a weeknight and it was slammed indeed. So I would prefer a Sat. or Sun. afternoon. Not going to be able to make any until after Thanksgiving, however, and I doubt my friends will either. We'll call it the TI Christmas Sausagefest.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Nov 24, 2014 12:14:13 GMT -5
Another good meetup idea, and I'm happy to make this in addition to The Blind Butcher meetup would be if the Holy Grail does their Santa's Secret Stash week again. I think it's the week before (or maybe of) Christmas, and they bust out their rarest, most prized, often aged bottles from the cellar.
At last year's is when the Mrs. and myself tried the Brew Dog Paradox Jura, an ultra-rare beer I still think about to this day. $20 for an 11.2 ounce bottle felt scandalous until that first taste. Hell, I'd spend more.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 6, 2015 16:49:08 GMT -5
Another good meetup idea, and I'm happy to make this in addition to The Blind Butcher meetup would be if the Holy Grail does their Santa's Secret Stash week again. I think it's the week before (or maybe of) Christmas, and they bust out their rarest, most prized, often aged bottles from the cellar. At last year's is when the Mrs. and myself tried the Brew Dog Paradox Jura, an ultra-rare beer I still think about to this day. $20 for an 11.2 ounce bottle felt scandalous until that first taste. Hell, I'd spend more. So...what happened there? Did y'all go? Sorry, I've sort of been a wanderer the last month or so, and will be until February. Trips to Houston, San Antonio, and North Carolina. Next month we should do the Blind Butcher, though. P.S. EARTHQUAKE!
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Post by pairesta on Jan 6, 2015 17:11:26 GMT -5
Another good meetup idea, and I'm happy to make this in addition to The Blind Butcher meetup would be if the Holy Grail does their Santa's Secret Stash week again. I think it's the week before (or maybe of) Christmas, and they bust out their rarest, most prized, often aged bottles from the cellar. At last year's is when the Mrs. and myself tried the Brew Dog Paradox Jura, an ultra-rare beer I still think about to this day. $20 for an 11.2 ounce bottle felt scandalous until that first taste. Hell, I'd spend more. P.S. EARTHQUAKE! What the hell is going on up there. Your food's getting better, your getting ebola and earthquakes, WTF.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 6, 2015 20:05:34 GMT -5
Just had another earthquake! The afternoon's was 3.5, tonight's was 3.6.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jan 7, 2015 9:01:58 GMT -5
Nine earthquakes in the area all told. Wow! Over here in Wylie/Plano, we didn't feel any of them.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 7, 2015 9:07:09 GMT -5
Nine earthquakes in the area all told. Wow! Over here in Wylie/Plano, we didn't feel any of them. I felt three (one woke me up at 1AM), and missed the other two in my area because I was getting sloshed at a new kebab/wine bar. Northern Oklahoma also had a zillion quakes yesterday, and is also fracking-heavy.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jan 7, 2015 9:14:01 GMT -5
So...what happened there? Did y'all go? Sorry, I've sort of been a wanderer the last month or so, and will be until February. Trips to Houston, San Antonio, and North Carolina. Next month we should do the Blind Butcher, though. P.S. EARTHQUAKE! I fell off the map for a month there, too. We did manage to get to the Grail for Santa's Secret Stash. List wasn't quite as inspiring as last year, but I did enjoy the hell out of the Prairie Bible Belt. When I ordered the beer, the server asked if I was a Prairie super fan. I said, "Not a super fan, but I can't say I've ever disliked one of their beers." She then went into a story about some all-Prairie night they'd had at the bar recently where it was standing room only from 5:00 on, they never got the take-home glasses that the brewery was supposed to provide, everyone was bitchy, and she basically hated Prairie fans now. I'm wondering what she'd have told us if I said yes. Anyway, you can see the full Santa list here, if interested: myemail.constantcontact.com/Santa-s-Secret-Beer-Stash.html?soid=1102807289669&aid=hjPSiRp8TgwWe're in for Blind Butcher next month, absolutely! I was actually pondering it this month since I have a birthday coming up, but I just learned today that the original location of Neighborhood Services has recently completed a full renovation and has an updated menu. Since that place is, on food alone, probably my favorite restaurant, I think we're going to check that out instead.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 15, 2015 16:39:34 GMT -5
Hey Pairesta, any cool Houston finds in the loop? My friends and I are heading down two weekends from now. A friend there is already insisting we go to Caracol.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jan 15, 2015 17:38:46 GMT -5
So I'm going to Neighborhood Services on Saturday, where I haven't been in probably more than 2 years, and I'm so excited. Since we still have to pick up baby at some point, we're doing an early dinner then finding a place to have a couple beers before heading back. Haven't picked that place yet.
I love you, NS, but you are in a craft beer desert.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Jan 15, 2015 19:03:44 GMT -5
Hey, that's my neighborhood! ...and you're right. I haven't been there in a year myself; tell us everything!
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Post by LazBro on Jan 27, 2015 13:27:12 GMT -5
Bijoux is closing.The Mrs. and I went once for our anniversary. Had their 9-course tasting menu. One of the best meals of my life. Might be worth checking out before it's gone forever.
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Jan 27, 2015 13:29:19 GMT -5
In other news, on the way back from San Antonio our crew stopped at the Czech Stop in West, Texas. Made our bellies fat with kolaches, of course, but the surprise for me was the loaf of day old rye bread they had for just over a buck. OMG. Light but rich, feathery but buttery ... made some killer pastrami sandwiches Sunday night, and I'm making rye croutons for soup tonight.
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Post by pairesta on Jan 28, 2015 9:39:52 GMT -5
Inexplicably, I never made it to Bijoux. It was always on my radar to get there but kept getting shuffled back in priority. Which is weird, because it was the true heir to the throne of Lola after it closed, and we loved Lola.
Guess their reconcept to a more casual bistro during the week didn't take. And I totally forgot they had that second restaurant.
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Post by pairesta on Jan 28, 2015 10:02:21 GMT -5
Hey Pairesta, any cool Houston finds in the loop? My friends and I are heading down two weekends from now. A friend there is already insisting we go to Caracol. So you'll be here like, this weekend? I totally missed this, sorry. Caracol is white hot right now. You may have difficulties getting in. Caracol's sister restaurant is Hugo's, which is our favorite restaurant in Houston. Never had a bad anything there in the decade-plus I've been going. Authentic, real deal, interior Mexican. Anvil Bar & Refuge is one of the forerunners of the whole craft cocktail movement. It's centrally located to alot of places so it's a nice meeting point. If you get there early-ish (before 7:30) you should have plenty of space. Pax Americana is a pretty good, but very popular also, new spot. Lots of fun. Small plates. Big fan of Dolce Vita, a pizzeria/osteria type place. We went to Coltivare in the Heights and that was alot of fun, another meal where almost everything except the roasted chicken pizza was fantastic. But again it's very popular and you'd have to get there before 6:30 or you're looking at an hourlong wait. There's Underbelly, a critical darling, that's pretty good, but can be a little inconsistent. Right next door is Hay Merchant, Houston's answer to Blind Butcher (actually, BB is Dallas' answer to Hay Merchant since it was open about two years before!). Avoid Uchi. Had an incredibly disappointing meal there for our anniversary last fall. But it's doubtful you'd even be able to get in since they're on a three week wait for reservations on the weekends. There's also always Reef, the Gulf Coast seafood spot, probably our #2 favorite in Houston. Again, haven't ever gone wrong there. Get the sliders! They even have a spinoff sliders spot called Little Bigs that's good for a late night snack.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Feb 10, 2015 12:07:53 GMT -5
Thank you!
I'll trade back a few Houston recommendations of my own.
Fat Bao, on Westheimer east of the Galleria, is a fun Asian place: you get all the steam buns you could imagine, for something like $2-3 each. Not the cheapest ever, but plenty tasty and messy.
Giacomo's was my favorite Italian (authentic, not red-sauce) place in Houston when I was in college. I need to return to see if it's still good. Once upon a time, they had great shrimp diavolo and fresh pasta.
Petrol Station made us a fine, massive burger with pickled jalapenos, and has a great beer list, but there was a 45 minute wait for burgers, which is silly. Great backyard to lounge in when the weather's nice.
Two great wine bars downtown: La Carafe (cash only; one of the oldest buildings in the city) and Public Services (despite the corny hipster name, very classy service and some amazing wines by the glass).
District 7 in midtown has maybe (?) the best brunch in the city, certainly the most atmospheric, because at least as of last fall, people hadn't discovered it and jammed it with hour waits, which meant we had the $1 mimosas pretty much to ourselves.
Market Bar, located in the Phoenicia grocery store, also delivers a great brunch. Maybe you want pizza with pear slices, or maybe you want lamb and waffles. To my surprise, I liked the pizza best.
Special Chinatown Section: - Fu Fu Cafe. My first love, about which I can't think rationally anymore. The service is the kind of cold and unfeeling where you just know the food will be great. Usually there are only 2-3 non-Asians. Hot pot on request. There is also a Fu Fu Restaurant around the corner, which is totally different. - Chinese Cuisine. Better dim sum than any place in Dallas, as far as my friends and I can figure out. Loved the BBQ buns; broccoli rabe were a little overcooked. - In general, the entire 9888 Bellaire strip mall looks like a series of foodgasms. There are places we haven't tried yet specializing in Shanghai noodles & dumplings, Hunan, Szechuan, and Malaysian cuisine. And a duck joint. - Chinatown now has a Little Sheep, China's own big chain.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Feb 11, 2015 11:34:14 GMT -5
Friday-Monday Dallas Unrestrained Hedonism Romp
Friday night: happy hour cocktails at Parliament, Uptown's newest craft cocktail bar (and its best). Happy hour is Mon-Sat 5-8 and any time it's raining. Then, a bottle of wine around the corner at Alcove, where good wines by the bottle are somehow under $30. Saturday: the Italian Stallion and grocery shopping at Jimmy's Food Store, then a newish Cuban joint called The Latin Pig in Plano. Sunday: in line before opening at the Pecan Lodge. 'nuf said. Monday: friend's birthday dinner at Rise. Crawfish souffle.
Time to go on a diet.
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Post by pairesta on Feb 11, 2015 12:37:34 GMT -5
Did you like Latin Pig? I hope they make it. The owners are so friendly.
I cannot believe there is no Jimmy's equivalent in Houston. Houston even has a bigger Italian population, but nope.
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Feb 11, 2015 13:08:18 GMT -5
Did you like Latin Pig? I hope they make it. The owners are so friendly. I cannot believe there is no Jimmy's equivalent in Houston. Houston even has a bigger Italian population, but nope. Oh man, that's tragic. I did like Latin Pig. The yucca fries were a bit overcooked, compared to those at Mario's or C Senor (a new sandwich stand in Bishop Arts), but the service was great, the main course was good, the arroz congri* was freaking fantastic, and there was so much food I couldn't believe it. *for those who don't know: rice with black beans, pork, and bay leaves
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LazBro
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Post by LazBro on Feb 12, 2015 21:30:47 GMT -5
Ron Howard VoiceBlind Butcher, afternoon of either Saturday or Sunday, February 21 or 22? Technically we'll also be celebrating her birthday (and hopefully a new job to boot), but it'll just be the two of us plus whoever from TI-land shows up. Are you interested?
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Post by Ron Howard Voice on Feb 14, 2015 20:59:49 GMT -5
Update: parental visit canceled, free all weekend 21/22. Not sure of my friends.
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Post by LazBro on Feb 18, 2015 17:25:59 GMT -5
Tonight, b-day dinner for the Mrs. with her father's side. Babe's Chicken. Alright, alright, alright.
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Post by LazBro on Mar 3, 2015 9:10:20 GMT -5
Tom Spicer has died.I'm sad to have never met the man, but I know I've eaten his delicious produce all over town. Great loss for Dallas right here. I feel like his wife, Ann, blaming Tom's death on "organic causes" is a bad joke. But then, maybe I'm just a bad person.
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Post by pairesta on Mar 3, 2015 9:38:08 GMT -5
Tom Spicer has died.I'm sad to have never met the man, but I know I've eaten his delicious produce all over town. Great loss for Dallas right here. I feel like his wife, Ann, blaming Tom's death on "organic causes" is a bad joke. But then, maybe I'm just a bad person. Holy shit. Oh my god. Oh god. This is terrible.
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