Articles about Dining
Avner Samuel Drops A Bomb
I just finished talking with Aurora’s chef/owner Avner Samuel and he’s got some big new plans in the works. He swore me to secrecy but I crossed my fingers behind my back. All I can say is that he’s making some big ch-ch-ch-changes and it makes me hungry. Now I will sit here at my desk and wait for him to come across the street and hit me over the head with a copper sauce pan for opening my big fat mouth. I just can’t keep a secret. Y’all want to guess?
National Hot Dog Eating Contest Coming To Plano
I love this event and I challenge any of you big mouths out there to participate in the upcoming Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Championship that will take place at Sam’s Club in Plano on June 21 from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The competition has been happening in Coney Island since 1916 and last year’s champion, Joey Chestnut (what a great name), ate 66 dogs in 12 minutes. The pig out was televised on ESPN. I want a member of the SideDish/FrontBurner Nation to bring the Yellow Mustard Belt to Dallas. Let me hear from you if you are serious. In the meantime, sign up here. (Mrs. Joey Chestnut has such a great ring to it.)
Programming Note: Let Your Ears Think Today
The first hour of Think today will feature sometime D Magazine contributor Rawlins Gilliland talking about street food. Read his story in the May issue of the “print product,” then call in to the show and ask host Chris Boyd how much she’s looking forward to seeing yrs trly in a swimsuit this summer at our neighborhood pool. You know, or you could ask a question about tacos. Whatever.
Think and Talk About Street Food Tomorrow
If you haven’t read D contributor Rawlins Gilliland’s sassy piece on street food in Dallas in this month’s print edition, do so here. Then, tomorrow, you can listen to Rawlins wax poetic on his adventures in outdoor dining with Kris Boyd on Think from noon to 1 p.m. Inspired by editing Gilliland’s story, I hit the Dallas Farmers Market this weekend for a piece or two of corn slathered with mayonnaise and butter from Paul’s Sweet Roasted Corn stand. There I found Paul standing outside of Shed One, shouting, “Come on baby, and get your corn. D Magazine loves us.” Yes, Paul, we do.
Abacus Is Open For Business
Kent Rathbun has just completed a complete makeover of starship Abacus. New menu; gorgeous digs. Rathbun is back in the kitchen. They had a quick soft opening on Monday and Tuesday nights and they’re ready for you now. Beet salad, anyone? Looks like tall food is making a comeback.
FrontBurner Is Lame Today
SideDish is not.
What is the Worst Meal You Ever Ate?
We are vomiting here.
Troy Aikman, Al Biernat And A Bunch Of Crazy Eights
As Associate Publisher Chris Kent Phelps and I were cooking up big plans for our business magazine, D CEO, over lunch today at Al Biernat’s restaurant, the great Al stopped by, ready as usual with an upbeat, offbeat tidbit. The latest: that former Dallas Cowboys QB Troy Aikman had picked Biernat’s to celebrate his eighth wedding anniversary earlier this week — and that everything about the bash involved an eight. Eight was Troy’s playing number; he was married to his wife, Rhonda, on the eighth of the month; and the couple sat Tuesday night in Al’s booth No. 8. Superstitious athletes, and all that.
Get Baked
Who knew? (Update: the Star-T did, among others, I’m sure.) This weekend is a big deal for bakers, as the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest takes place at the Fairmont Hotel April 13-15. One hundred recipe finalists compete for a $1,000,000 grand prize. Among those finalists are several hometown favorites. In particular, I’m rooting for Dallas baker Stephanie Hollowell and her Fudgy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Thumbprints. If any FrontBurnervian should happen to make his or her way to the Fairmont this weekend, I’d love a recap.
Rangers Home Opener … Yum
Oh, would that I were headed to the Ballpark in Arlington for this afternoon’s game. Makes me hungry just thinking about it. My top three concession-stand finds (excluding beer, natch): jalapeno bagel dog (though every year I wonder if it’ll be available), onion garlic fries with Old Bay seasoning (dunno why I said “onion.” Hunger pangs, I guess), then the catfish basket.
Commenters, your turn.
Update: Glad to see the commenters have carried on the discussion. A coupla points: 1. I can’t say with certainty that there will be bagel dogs. I wasn’t able to find ‘em last season. 2. The garlic fries are at the concession stand nearest the right foul pole. At least, that’s where they were last time I checked. Go, Rangers.
Whole Foods Readies To Get A Whole Lot Bigger
Let’s see, the Whole Foods store in Preston Forest is 52,000 square feet; the new one going up in Lakewood will be in the 40’s. Park Lane city store will be in excess of 80,000. That’s a lot of green groceries. Now comes word that WF is adding a second store in Tarrant County along the new 121 Tollway at the to-be-built Edwards Ranch Road. They’re talking 2010 for start-up construction which is more than this once bright-and-beautiful project at Victory Park can say.
Looking For A Good Deal on Art And a Good Cause?
I’m sorry to learn that local freelance photographer Juan Pulido, “Johnny” as his friends call him, recently fell while on a shoot and broke his back. To make matters worse, he has no insurance to pay his medical bills. So tomorrow a group of local artists have put together a fundraiser that will include a bitchin’ silent auction of their work. Details: Brokeback Fundraiser, Saturday, April 5 from 2 - 6 PM at the Opening Bell Coffee, located in the basement of the South Side on Lamar Lofts (1409 S. Lamar). For more info or to make phone donations: 469-2333-2534; 214-454-6270. Music by IRas Mali; food by Texas Caribbean Foods. Artists donating work after the jump. (more…)
My Favorite Answering Machine Message
Taco Loco (214-748-8226) takes its name seriously.
Another Day, Another Dallasite Hits National Foodie TV
This time, I am so not surprised. Lisa Garza, wife of Gilbert Garza, co-owner of Suze, and designer of a line of vintage inspired aprons, Couture Caviar, has been selected as a contestant on what some people call the most challenging food fights on TV, The Next Food Network Star. The show starts its fourth season on Sunday, June 1 at 9PM. Lisa watching party? Oh, yes. She is easy on the eye. And a born promoter. You go, girl.
Pizza Hut’s Bad Timing
Dallas-based Pizza Hut is expanding its menu items to include family-size pasta dishes and to promote the shift, the company is changing the logo on its Dallas North Tollway HQ to “Pasta Hut.” (Mmm. j/k) The sign change may happen as early as tomorrow, but it says here:
An official announcement of the company’s “name change” is scheduled for Tuesday, April Fool’s Day.
My guess, people will assume (and some might hope) it’s a joke.
2008 James Beard Foundation Awards Nominees Announced
The New York-Las Vegas-Yountville-centric nominees for James Beard Foundation awards just came over the wire. And again most of Dallas’ talent was overlooked. Fearing’s is nominated for Best New Restaurant and York Street’s owner/chef Sharon Hage is nominated for Best Chef in the Southwest. New York design firm Mucca Design is nominated for their work at the recently opened La Condesa at Victory. Fearing’s is up against Anthos (New York), Central Michel Richard (DC), Osteria Mozza (LA), and Osteria (Philly). Here is the whole list. Read it and weep. Winners will be announced on June 8th. Wolfgang Puck, murmur.
Avanti Owner Rumored To Be Dead
Several people have e-mailed me to say they’ve heard that Jack Ekhtiar, owner of three Avanti restaurants in Dallas, died last night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Update: A distraught employee at the McKinney Ave. location just confirmed the rumor. No details. Developing.
Randy Travis Eats Mexican Food
Spotted: Neo-traditional country crooner Randy Travis and his wife, Lib, chowing down with another couple today at Pappasito’s Cantina on Lombardy Lane. Lib was looking to be wearing a platinum-blonde Cleopatra wig. No word on whether Randy was “Diggin’ Up Bones” in his combo platter.
Basquiat Painting Still For Sale
MAASTRICHT, HOLLAND—Ahoy, FrontBurnervian art lovers. Last night I celebrated the close of the first day of TEFAF with 149 of my newest best friends in the international media at a dinner in the Fort Sint Pieter which is located about 50 feet above sea level in the nosebleed section of Maastricht. All of the “critics” at my table were buzzing with reports of the day: one reporter witnessed a $500,000 earring sale at Graff Diamonds (the gal wore them out) while another didn’t get the price of a rare teapot transaction that was, according to her, “at least a couple of million as it was a one-of-a-kind.” (Whatever, if I had a million dollars, I’d buy you a teapot.) But before dinner I slinked back into the exposition to see if “Red Skull,” the battle scarred Basquiat was still up for sale. It was and this time I had my trusty little pocket camera. Above left is the complete painting; to the right, a close up of the notch taken out when the painting fell. Somewhere in rock n’ roll hevean Jean-Michel is undoubtedly having a good laugh. Meanwhile, in Maastricht, the show goes on.
Kent Rathbun Takes Iron Chef Honors
If you picked Food Network over The Oscars last night, you already know Abacus’ Kent Rathbun was on Iron Chef America. There was a watching party at the restaurant last night. Sarah Eveans was there.
Local Pickle Concern Concocts New Frozen Pickle Treat!
Loyal readers of the “print product” will recall this story (scroll down) about Garland’s Goldin Pickle Company and its struggles with the FDA over saltiness and serving sizes. The story contained one of my favorite paragraphs that I’ve written in my career:
Despite the piping times at Goldin Pickle Company, printing new pickle juice labels proved cost-prohibitive. Plus there was a possible public-relations problem that could pop up from saying that one serving would contain 1,640 milligrams of sodium. Production was stopped.
Well, now there’s a new pickle product in town. Out of Carrollton (by way of Seguin) comes Bob’s Pickle Pops and its Pickle Sickle, “the bizarre tasting ‘pickle’ craze from Texas you can’t get enough of.” They even have their own song.
Arlington Is Fat City (Fort Worth and Dallas Not Far Behind, So To Speak)
So Men’s Fitness thinks we’re fat, ranking Arlington, Fort Worth, and Dallas as the #2, #4, and #6 fattest cities in America. Maybe it’s genetic, but it’s hardly news for anyone who looks at their fellow patrons at the mall. But could this tidbit from the Star-Telegram be true?
No doubt this helps explain yet another Arlington phenomenon last year — a new restaurant opening on an average of every 9.6 days.
Discuss.
Best Bloody Mary Buffet in Dallas?
Is it Frankie’s or Ozona’s? Or someplace else I haven’t heard of that has a bloody Mary buffet? Drop some tippling knowledge on us, FrontBurner Nation.
Stainless Steel Chef… The Movie
Remember D’s Stainless Steel Chef from a couple of weeks ago? If not, here’s a couple of posts to jog your memory. Better yet, watch the video. The talented and capable Kyle Kearbey just put the finishing touches on the way-cool vid of the way-fun evening. Check it out.
Mum’s The Word At The Mandarin Oriental
Hmm. What is going on at the Mandarin Oriental? You’d think they would be out there scouting the world for a big-name restaurateur to set up shop in their deluxe spot. There was silly rumor circulating that Charlie Palmer was going in to the restaurant, which turns out to be is totally false. However, now comes word that the whole project—hotel and all—may be “on hold.” Those words didn’t come from folks at Hillwood or the MO, they were spoken by my super-insider snitch. So, with a grain of salt, I report that Hillwood, who is building the hotel which to be run by MO, has closed down their very elaborate preview center. Sounds like they aren’t trying to woo anyone at the moment. Maybe it’s just too early– the hotel/residences isn’t scheduled to open until 2010, but I’m still more than just a little bit curious.
Sorta Celebrity Sighting
Jim Lites celebrated his “50 plus” birthday at Bob’s on Lemmon.
The Winner for Give-Up Headline of the Week: The “Mighty Good” Quinn
My wife and I stopped by The Quinn in Oak Cliff late-ish Friday night for dinner and a few drinks. I usually like to separate eating and heavy drinking by an hour or so, but I made an exception. Glad I did, because it has some of the best bar food in town. Also, if you miss the Gypsy Tea Room, go ahead and swing by. You’re likely to see more than a few familiar faces (what up, KP?).
Another Reason Why I Love DFW’s Terminal D
I fly a lot therefore I spend tons of time at DFW. It’s always a treat when my flight leaves from Terminal D because it’s a great place to eat and shop. And drink. Like the night my flight to Italy was delayed and I was so happy to find La Bodega Winery open for business. Now comes word that the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors agrees with me. They just named La Bodega Winery, located at Gate D14, “2007 Retail Concessionaire of the Year.” Take that Miami. And Chicago. And Atlanta.
Re: A Very Preliminary Report on Last Night’s Stainless Steel Chef Competition
A co-working FrontBurnervian just reminded me of the best line from last night. It came from our sozzled staff photographer, Elizabeth “The Spider Monkey” Lavin, who was eager to meet the very ripped chef Tre Wilcox. When I introduced the two, the first words out of Elizabeth’s mouth were: “I don’t like to eat.” Then she asked Tre — three times — if he’d like to join her and some of the other D girls at the after party. Tre very politely declined the offer. (Which, honestly, I thought was the wrong move.)
A Very Preliminary Report on Last Night’s Stainless Steel Chef Competition
Thanks to all who joined us, to the Milestone Culinary Arts Center for hosting, to the judges for judging, and especially to the six great chefs who each prepared two dishes that included the secret ingredient, red snapper. This year’s competition was another great success. Take this as one indicator: at last year’s Stainless Steel Chef Competition, we went through 12 cases of wine. This year we plowed through 15 cases before making a run to the liquor store to procure more. Your winner this year — in something of an upset, given the celebrity of some of the other contestants — was David McMillan, of 62 Main. We’ll have more photos taken by people equipped with something other than an iPhone, and the incomparable Kyle will soon have video to share. Meantime, here’s some snaps to tide you over. First, a shot of Nancy that she’ll probably ask me to take down when she gets to work. Next, Shannon Wynne shows his true colors. And, finally, the contestants (from left): Casey Thompson (Shinsei), Tre Wilcox (formerly of Abacus), Kelly Hightower (Kavala Mediterranean Grill), Kevin Maxey (Craft), Tim Love (Lonesome Dove), and David McMillan.
Dying Hard Rock Cafe Donates Organs to Feargal McKinney
Remember Tecole? It’s now called the BlackFriar Pub, and it is furnished with some of the innards from the Hard Rock. I don’t know how Feargal does it. Just down the street from the Old Monk, he has opened the Capitol Pub. Does the new place cannibalize the old? Not to my eye. Both seems busy. And now he opens a bar directly across the street from his other bar, the Idle Rich. You can’t stop him. And it doesn’t even look like you can contain him. The full release about the BlackFriar:
Update: Shame on me. The Capitol Pub ain’t a Feargal joint. To my misinformation giver: you will pay.
RE: Whole Foods
Sly? JJ? Hello!
Is Victory Park a Success or Not?
Several commenters to my earlier post about Ron Kirk getting all high-fivey over the success of Victory have said quite the contrary: Victory ain’t a success. They cite two bits of proof: 1) declining liquor sales and 2) rent subsidies. Let’s take a close look at the former. The following numbers are for sales in August, September, and October.
Ghostbar — $444,561 — $553,876 — $591,954
Kenichi — $127,378 — $97,413 — $104,457
N9NE — $189,768 — $157,009 — $209,762
Nove — $128,978 — $86,589 — $98,243
Victory Tavern — $39,602 — $51,036 — $81,692
I don’t see a downward trend here, at least not over that three-month period. Now, Ghostbar is down year-to-yea, about 25 percent (the other places are too young to have year-to-year data). But Ghostbar is a weird animal. Their October 2007 liquor sales could have been inflated by one huge convention. It’s also possible that half a mil in sales is their sweet spot, and the higher numbers from a year ago were the result of curiosity. All the people who were only ever going to visit once have gotten that visit behind them. Maybe these numbers are all below projections. That would be cause for concern. But I don’t see declines.
As for rent subsidies (a year free, or charging a percentage of sales), that’s only a problem if it wasn’t in the business plan to begin with. And I suspect it was. That’s how you build a critical mass of retailers. Tenants attract other tenants. You have to sweeten the deal to get those first storefronts filled.
Burger Talk
Over here.
A Question Of When To Review A Restaurant
I’m tucked away in Midway Hollow, a Treasure to Keep, writing a restaurant review for the March issue of D Magazine. Ever the professional procrastinator, I called a quasi-colleague to chat about the pile of notes on my computer screen that must congeal into a fluid, award-wining document before the end of the day. In the course of our conversation, my quasi-colleague says, “Dude, you can’t write about that place. It’s only been open for a couple of months.” To which I say, “Dude, I can write about it the day it opens if they are charging full price.” Then he went all Big Lebowski on me and threatened to chop off my toes. As my good friend George Tirebiter used to say: I never lie and I’m always right. Capice?
Don’t Scalp Your Stainless Steel Chef Competition Tickets
Because Tre Wilcox will be mad. Right, Timmy?
Thanks, Cowboys. The Restaurant Business Is Going Down With You
Just got off the phone with a noted Dallas restaurateur who is furious at the Cowboys. “%!@#$,” he screamed. “My place was full of Giants fans this weekend. It would have been full of Green Bay fans next weekend. Nobody is buying anything– steaks, cars, you name it. They just ruined the local economy.” I’ll buy that. And this.
SideDishing
Thanks, Tristan.
Restaurant Inspection Reports Are On SideDish Blogroll
Jack, I mean Trey, if you’ll triangulate your coordinates here you’ll find a link to the results of the Health Department’s food inspection scores for Dallas restaurants. Copy that?
Don’t Cry To Me
Several folks have written to me about getting tickets to D Magazine’s Stainless Steel Chef Competition on Jan. 24th at the Milestone Culinary Arts Center. People, I warned you. Now, it’s all sold out. Rock it.
All material copyright © 2008 D Magazine. All rights reserved.
