Articles about Dining
Hurry. Jaap van Zweden Saves the Lives of Two Men Having Lunch
Today, I was fortunate enough to have lunch with the good professor Willard Spiegelman and maestro Jaap van Zweden at Dali, in One Arts. About that I will say this: Jaap is probably my coolest new friend. All my other friends will surely understand that I won’t have much time for them in the coming months, as Jaap and I grow even closer. He told me he’s been going to Cowboys and Mavericks games. I will, no doubt, soon be invited to join him courtside. My family will dine with his at the Ritz, where he keeps a condo. We might going skiiing together this winter.
The highlight of the lunch, though, was when a brisk breeze swirled through the courtyard at One Arts, toppling two large shade umbrellas. One fell on empty tables. The other, which was shading our table, fell onto a two-top across the aisle from us, smashing a glass full of red wine, and threatening the lives of the two gentlemen there seated. They surely would have been decapitated if not for the quick thinking of my good friend Jaap, who lunged backward in his chair and, with his baton hand, managed to steady the sickle-like umbrella before it could do further damage. Bravo!
(Did I mention that I was over-served?)
Crow Collection Gets Its Patio On
Curious about the construction I’ve seen outside the Crow Collection of Asian art, on the corner of Flora and Harwood, I asked the museum’s director, Amy Hofland, what’s going on. Says Hofland:
It’s called Snuff Bottle Court (because of the snuff bottle installation) and will have a wisteria arbor (SHADE!); tables, chairs, wifi; an installation of Hokusai’s Great Wave in plant material on the back wall; lighting and very cool ambiance. We’re inviting Teiichi (Tei An) to come down for events (Late Nights with the DMA, Members’ Previews, etc. and on occasional lunch hours) to serve Japanese hand food and tea. Launches at the Late Night (we call it Zen in the City) on November 20.
Hofland says the space is for programmed events, but they are testing the market to see if maybe the space could work as a regular lunch spot. I say huzzah to that. I walk Flora Street every day to and from work. Now that the Arts District is (mostly) built, it’s time for the next step: street-level spaces that cater to daily life. And while I’m at it, I’m tired of looking at the back of the Belo Mansion, too. (P.S. The Crow has inspired me. My new bar is called Snuff Film Alley.)
Samar by Stephan Pyles Opens Tonight
“In the restaurant reviewing system, poor dining offenses are considered especially heinous. In Dallas, Texas, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad, known as the SideDish Victims Unit. These are their stories.”
Last night, Detective Andrew Chalk busted into a preview dinner at Samar by Stephan Pyles. He files this report.
The Dallas Health Department is Shutting Down Local Farmers Markets
Several successful weekend food markets have cropped up in the parking lots of Celebration, Bolsa, and the Green Spot. The Dallas Health Department has been making the rounds and has already closed down the operations at Celebration. Why? They require the markets to have “mechanical refrigeration” which means products stored on dry ice aren’t “legal,” and they say each vendor will need a $150 temporary permit and that you can only get 1 permit per quarter. We all know there are more than four sides to every story. The DHD insists they are protecting the public from unsafe food. On the other hand, several local vendors, who rely on these markets for income, are suffering. I’m just an old hippie stuck in the middle–can’t we all work together and figure out a win/win situation. I hate to report sad tales.
Party Over the Trinity on Friday
This Friday evening, the Trinity Trust Foundation is throwing what it’s calling a “bridge fair” on the Continental Bridge to celebrate the progress being made on the Marget Hunt Hill Bridge (full release after the jump). Santiago Calatrava will be in attendance. The band Boys Named Sue will play, and the foundation promises other “delectable delights.” Tickets cost $150, a price point established, I believe, to keep Jim Schutze from attending. D Magazine is a media sponsor, so I’ll be there. Look for me wherever the delectable delights are located.
The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas Hires a New Chef:
Yow. Zah. Big news from the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek: They’ve hired big-time chef Bruno Davaillon.
Mini-Mini-Mini Review: Smoke
It was jam-packed over at Smoke tonight, the new fancy-schmancy BBQ joint from the folks behind Bolsa (which celebrates its one-year anniversary on Saturday). It’s located in the former Cliff Cafe space at Hotel Belmont, and already appears as though it has given the boutique hotel a restaurant as in-demand as it is. Don’t know if that will last, but if nothing else the opening was a success. They said they had something like 1,000 RSVPs for the evening, and a ton of them actually showed, despite the rain.
This isn’t a real review because, given the size of the crowd and my impatience, I didn’t have a bite to eat — though they do have a menu that caters to vegetarians like me. So I’ll just review the actual place. (I will note that a friend did have two barbecue sandwiches, and declared them “[redacted] amazing!” So there’s that.) Ambiance-wise, Smoke reminded me of its name, more or less, dark and cool. What I liked best: there is an additional speakeasy-type entrance in the back, where a bar-lounge area is located. Another thing that reminded me of its name: it smells — all over, even down the street — like smoked meat. That may have to do with the half pigs smoking out front. Like all proper nouns mentioned here, I’m intrigued enough to say it’s worth the trip to Oak CliffWest Dallas. Sarah and Rhonda were there, too, so I’m expecting them to chime in in the comments.
Cici’s Pizza Recycles Organic Material
Is this the secret to offering unlimited pizza for $5?
The Sustainability & Environmental Services Department for Plano, Texas awarded Cici’s Pizza with its Environmental Star of Excellence, thanks to a recycling program that has kept 55 tons of organic material out of landfills since May 2008.
“Organic material,” huh? Do we need to put Chuck Heston on the story?
My Lunch with Mico
When Mico called last week to set up a lunch, I thought he might have three possible motives: (1) to cry in my soup over how unfair and wrong our cover story was; (2) to tell me that his life has turned around and he is on the rebound; or (3) to kill me.
He sounded upbeat on the phone, so it didn’t sound like No. 1. He called me “mi hermano,” which is what we’ve always called each other, so it didn’t sound like No. 3. I was delighted to find that it was indeed No. 2. The reason for my delight is that Mico and I are old friends, which is why I didn’t participate in the article on him or even read it until it went to press.
So I asked him how it feels to see himself on newsstands with a cover line that read “Mico’s Ruin.” He replied that he had been to hell and back; D Magazine hadn’t taken the trip with him, so he couldn’t expect it to know anything about the journey. He said 80 percent of the article was true, and he will be writing a letter to answer the 20 percent that wasn’t, which I said we would publish.
Nothing makes me happier than to report he looks great, seems full of energy, is as determined as ever, and most important of all, laughs easily at himself, at me, and at the world — and that is as it should be, cover story and all.
SideDish Readers Tell Gross and Funny Stories
Yesterday on SideDish, I asked readers to report the worst meal they ever ate in Dallas. Close to 100 people replied with their tales of woe. Really funny stuff.
Leading Off (8/18/09)
1. A Dallas County sheriff’s deputy was fired, and 14 other deputies were disciplined, for working at strip clubs in their off hours. The deputy who was fired also had been disciplined before, once for not reporting his phone number had changed and once for being untruthful. The lesson: I could never be a Dallas County sheriff’s deputy.
2. Police arrested a man and his son for the assault of a Southlake woman in a Chik-fil-A drive-through lane. The woman had honked at the men when she was ready to leave, because they were blocking her exit. Yes, I, too, hope the other inmates hear that they beat up a woman. I think they’ll treat those boys real nice.
3. Can’t improve on the lead from this story from the Star-T:
A man suspected of driving drunk is accused of ramming three cars early Sunday on a service road and a parking lot, making a U-turn on the road, and attacking one car with his pickup truck, police said today. Police arrested the driver after his truck became disabled and he got out of it, punched himself in the face, and sat down.
Arlington Loves Fast Food Joints
Besides two cool stadiums and one pretty cool bar (Cave’s Lounge), Arlington is apparently also known for its addiction to fast-food joints. That’s according to Men’s Health’s September issue, which named Arlington the No. 1 “Urban Waistland” in the country. It’s supposedly a measure of how addicted the residents are to fast food. For some reason, I can’t find the full list on the site, but Arlington is No. 1, Fort Worth No. 17, and Dallas No. 37. The mag’s methodology is pretty random (number of McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger Kings, and Taco Bells per capita + percentage of folks who say they eat fast food + obesity statistics), but, hey, it made me crave an Angry Triple Whopper (1360 calories, thank you), so who am I to complain?
SideDish Supper Club: On Sale Now
Do you yearn for great Italian food in Dallas? I’ve put together a truly Tuscan meal at Nonna you will never find again after September 17. But you’ll have to jump for the menu.
Dallas Dentist Offers ‘Cash For Chompers’ Program
Never underestimate the power of a dumb marketing idea. In this case, a Dallas dentist’s said to be getting national attention riffing on the federal “Cash for Clunkers” program with a “Cash for Chompers” offer: Turn in your old false teeth and get a $250 rebate on a new set. Hey; whatever works.
You Have 3 Days To Avoid Legally Blonde
And do avoid it, says Elaine Liner over at Theater Jones. But if you have a hankering to drop by the Music Hall, you can always skip the musical and visit to Legally Blonde the Restaurant, says Nancy Nichols.
Author of Julie & Julia Was In Dallas Last Night
Julie Powell spoke at Arts & Letters Live last night at the DMN. After she finished her talk, I walked up to her and told her I didn’t like her one bit.
If You Can Hula Hoop For One Minute, You Can Get 50% Off Your Stay At Hotel Palomar
I think this is serious. I mean, it’s not April Fool’s Day or anything. So here’s the deal: if you can hula-hoop for one minute at check-in, Hotel Palomar will give you 50% off your stay. If you make it only 20 seconds, then you get a free room upgrade. This offer is good through September 7 and is part of the Summer Playground package that starts at $199 a night. So, you know, if you want to get away without really getting away, this might be an affordable way to do it. What I don’t know is whether or not you need to BYO hula hoop. On a related note, I recently reviewed Central 214, the hotel’s restaurant. And that, friends, is worth a visit.
Texas Monthly Is Wrong: Lawyer Barry Popik Knows The Hamburger Was Not Invented In Texas
Texas Monthly writer and Blackie Sherrod wannabe Gary Cartwright claims the hamburger was invented in Texas. Austin lawyer and food historian Barry Popik knows he is wrong.
The Cheesecake Factory In Dallas: Love It Or Hate It?
I have a secret. Deep down, Wick really likes comments. Especially when it comes to food. I know because he is kicking up the dirt on SideDish. Food fight. BYOPitbulls.
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