Yesterday morning, Pegasus ran a story criticizing the hiring practices of Lisa Garza as she ramped up for the opening of Sissy’s, her new Henderson Avenue fried-chicken joint. The story focused on a request in Garza’s job posting that instructed prospective front-of-the-house staff to submit a picture in tandem with…
There’s a trend I’ve noticed Dallas dining establishments that I think is growing and am certain should come to a stop. If you’re a frequent steak eater, you’ll know what I’m talking about. You order a rich, red California cabernet and a massive rib-eye steak — not some tiny baby…
I don’t usually get into making predictions, but this one’s just too easy. Off-Site Kitchen, the new breakfast-and-lunch spot from the Neighborhood Services group, opened today, and word is getting out fast. They don’t have many seats inside, maybe eight or nine stools, but they’ve got loads of patio seating…
Last November we reported that Smithfield, the world’s top pork producer, had recommitted to phasing out gestation-crate confinement at all of its facilities by 2017. Soon they could have incentive phase the questionable practice out more quickly. McDonald’s announced yesterday a new initiative to phase out the use of gestation…
Everyone holds dear a few suspect dishes from their past, usually from questionable chain restaurants. Because we like to watch him suffer, Scott will occasionally review those foods. This week: Chili’s Chicken Crispers, a long-lost love of Observer editor Joe Tone. I’ve had chicken tenders maybe eight times in my…
It’s Monday again, and after a few treacherous Tex-Mex experiences, I’m ready to celebrate with a meatless meal I actually enjoy. One place on the table is Judi Restaurant and Bakery, which quietly opened last summer at 850 South Greenville in Richardson. I’m surprised there hasn’t been more fanfare. The…
We made it. Another week has come to a close, and after spending a decent amount of time recovering from my Super Bowl hangover, I’m ready to do it all again. But first there’s a week to wrap. Endive, perhaps? This week I reviewed Private Social and bitched about tepid…
I’m getting ready to embark on a pretty serious brisket taco excursion. The thought is: Trying the same dish at many different restaurants provides context about how individual restaurants interpret a particular preparation. Basically, I’m about to spend an entire day eating nothing but tortillas stuffed with stringy beef. Before…
Earlier this week I heard that Matt McCallister, the chef at Oak Cliff’s Campo, had put in his two weeks. I tried to call the chef to confirm, but we’ve been playing phone tag for days. I did get in touch with a manager there, who basically told me the…
Michelle Obama joined the folks from Top Chef this morning, as part of her tour celebrating the second anniversary of her “Let’s Move!” initiative. The folks from Bravo staged a mock cooking competition in front of scores of crumbsnatchers (who didn’t look that fat to me, by the way) from…
Valentine’s Day is coming, which pretty much sucks for everyone. If you’ve got a special someone, you’re guilted into going out and having your wallet gutted by a triple-digit, prix fixe, mediocre meal. Have fun with that. And if you’re not coupled up, you get to spend the evening alone…
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United has released a new restaurant guide. The 52-page guide makes no mention of food quality, ingredient sourcing, or a customer’s dining experience, but instead focuses on how well restaurants treat their employees. Wages, benefits and advancement opportunities are evaluated across more than 180 restaurants, giving silver…
My first run-in with Private Social came just after the restaurant, helmed by Top Chef alum Tiffany Derry released its lunch menu. I noticed the noodles right away. Leslie Brenner and I had been begging Dallas for a proper Japanese noodle house, but it has never materialized. Perhaps a decent…
When Private Social opened last fall, the occasion was marked with a red-carpet affair. Literally, the rug was rouge, and it was rolled out for the city’s socialites, both actual and aspiring, all craving a first look into Uptown’s latest offering to the upscale dining gods. The pseudo-celebrities were out…
When we got notice of a new taco shop opening, we immediately considered our lunch plans solidified. Taco Stop, the new taco stand that opened this Monday in the Design District (1900 Irving), has a lot going for it with respect to Observer employees. For one, it serves tacos, which…
I know you’ve been there. It’s late on a Tuesday and your boss has just handed you your ass on your last project. You’re tired. You’re stressed. You need a drink. And despite having a few bottles of wine on hand you don’t have a corkscrew to open any of…
Last week we let you know that Michelle Obama would be coming to town to promote her Let’s Move initiative, an effort to fight childhood fatness through better nutrition and exercise. Now we know a little more about the First Lady’s visit. Bravo tells us today that Top Chefs Richard…
I remember my first encounter with truffles vividly, probably because it was a simultaneously euphoric and traumatic experience. I was on a date at Al Tiramisu, a basement Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C., which I picked because I’d gotten a personal email from the chef. White truffles were here, it…
Back in August, I posted about the perils of brunch and proclaimed breakfast the superior morning meal. I’d just had a croissant at Zaguan Bakery and thought the black coffee and newspaper culture of the breakfast crowd was infinitely more appealing than the mimosa-drenched brunch set. The croissant I had…
When I stumbled into Yutaka on Friday night without a reservation and was told I’d have to wait an hour to sit at the sushi bar, I wasn’t disappointed. I left my name at the stand and walked two doors down to Sharaku, the Izakaya owned by the same folks…
The First Lady is headed to Dallas next week. A news release posted to the White House press page details the schedule for Michelle Obama’s three-day trip, which will celebrate the anniversary of her Let’s Move! initiative. She’ll spend Thursday evening and Friday morning in the DFW area, meeting with…
This Sunday, Americans will eat more food than on any other day, with the exception of Thanksgiving. On Super Bowl Sunday we shamefully watch others with the sports skills we wish we had, and use excessive amounts of food to comfort ourselves for our own lack of stamina and hand-eye…
