“If people don’t like smoke, they don’t have to come in. I’ve been running this place for 29 years, and I haven’t forced anyone to come in here yet. Having said that, we’re going to follow the letter of the law.” (Tom Willard, general manager of Milo Butterfinger’s, on the…

Several destination restaurants observe a ‘no reservations’ policy, asking that guests wait until a table opens. Does this unfairly penalize those who plan ahead for dinner?Results from last week, in which we asked “if the owner of a restaurant serves you, do you still have to tip?”Yes 4  No 1…

The two ingredients that comprise a prairie fire can, on their own and in the right quantities, easily dispose of just about anyone’s ability to function in an upright and lucid manner. Mix tequila and Tabasco together and you have…well, the closest thing to kerosene most of us will ever…

In October of last year, he started a blog, Dallas Vegan dedicated to vegan dishes–right here in the land of prime beef.That, of course, was his reason. In a city full of steakhouses and Tex-Mex restaurants, it could be difficult to find a decent vegan meal…beyond Cosmic Cafe and Spiral…

“Let’s be real here–Jesus was a dude who loved to feast.” (a publicist with the literary PR firm Phenix & Phenix in a press release touting the book Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith by Lois Tverberg and Ann Spangler…

Cowboy Chow2801 Commerce St.214-742-2469One caveat before we get started: Playing on the flat screen during lunch on my most recent visit to Cowboy Chow was Sergio Leone’s epic tale of greed and revenge in Europe’s old west–and pretty much the greatest movie ever made–The Good, The Bad And The Ugly…

His offbeat comedian is known for appearances on The Tonight Show, The Daily Show, NPR’s Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me and other top programs. That’s not bad for a Harvard graduate.Rocca first hit it big writing for children’s television. But his unique approach and wry insights eventually led him into politics…

“Kosher, black, smoked, Celtic, Hawaiian–salt lovers have never had it better. But there’s a downside to this desire: We may be shorting ourselves on iodine, and that could spell trouble for the thyroid gland.” (John Hastings, writing in Bon Appetit. Seems there’s never a trend in food that is all…

Subway is the new Domino’s–the place that sustains America’s college students and helps its workers fight off the pangs of hangover. But the sub shop chain has become so much more, enduring crowds of office drones at lunch and tailgaters on weekends, for example. Of course, that doesn’t mean their…

You wouldn’t think a book on aprons would stir up such a fuss. But when Geisel’s The Apron Book hit the stands, it earned loads of critical praise (“the pattern of life remembered though a homely object,” said Jackie Lyden on NPR) and reached best seller status.Her second volume, The…

“Coke’s messages were totally unacceptable, creating an impression which is likely to mislead that Coca-Cola cannot contribute to weight gain, obesity and tooth decay.” (From a statement released by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission regarding an advertising campaign run by the Atlanta-based soft drink company. Coca-Cola’s ads labeled as…

The answer: our subscription newsletter (Hot off the Grill is a clever title, no?) compiling on one handy electronic page the city’s more interesting culinary events, specials, openings and closings and more. In the current issue, learn about about Steak Nite at Off the Grid, a “picnic-style party” held every…

If you’ve been around the city’s hottest clubs, you know Trimmer or one of his DJ crew.Known as the 12-Inch Pimps–a reference to album size–they play somewhere in Dallas every night of the week. Weekends might find Trimmer at one location, Jonny 5 at another and perhaps Kean playing somewhere…

“Consumers are more concerned about the safety of food served in restaurants than food available from supermarkets, about a 15 percentage point difference. However, feelings about food safety in restaurants have remained relatively unchanged whereas the number of consumers who feel confident in the safety of foods in supermarkets is…

Tupinamba12270 Inwood972-991-8148Eddie Dominguez’s place is the restaurant equivalent of the Grapevine Bar–an unassuming, colorful, come-as-you-are kind of place.If you’ve never been to the latter (conveniently located across the street from our offices) or if you can’t ignore for a moment the bar’s reputation, then consider Tupinamba one spot where the…

A couple good things have come out of the recession, when you stop and think about it. Some of the high end restaurants trimmed their prices, for one thing. Prix Fixe menus have become the rage. Places like Blue Collar Bar and Kent Rathbun’s new place celebrate the depression era…

Every couple minutes, a little ping from the computer tells food writers another email from some public relations person somewhere has arrived. Yes, we complain about the pestering. But without Thomas and her ilk, news of grand openings, upcoming events, menu changes and the like would be slow to filter…

“We’re in a recession, hard times. We shouldn’t be hurting business. I’m not saying, ‘Let’s take away this issue.’ We’re just saying, ‘Let’s give these businesses some time.'” (Tennell Atkins, member of the Dallas City Council, on an effort to delay the city’s smoking ordinance, which bans lighting up in…

If the owner of a restaurant serves you, do you still have to tip?…