You’ve seen this guy, right? Peanut butter jelly time is the number one indicator of poor website design. Sparkling mouse trailers, glimmering lights, dancing bananas — these are the hallmarks of your 13-year-old daughter’s MySpace page. Poorly chosen music played in a loop, excessive flash and clunky navigation also indicate…
I’m over super-sized onion rings. They first made their appearance at steakhouses and burger joints but have become increasingly popular at bars everywhere. Often stacked like a tower to the heavens, they arrive precariously ready to topple and litter your table in shards of fried breading. Katy Trail Ice House…
I know better, more flavorful beers exist. When I go to the Meddlesome Moth I always ask for something tart and rustic. Not the sour lambics loaded with fruit, but the naturally fermented old world beers with a lot of funk. I love sour beers with musty and barnyard flavors…
Chandeliers run down the dining room hall, casting a warm light on walls lined with barn boards floor to ceiling, wooden deer trophies and end-grain tables. The space would seem mundane if not for the occasional well-chosen splashes of color. Lush red velvet pads the seat backs of a bench…
You can’t put lipstick on a pig. Well I suppose you could, but then we’d have another set of issues to discuss. At any rate, this is the phrase that jumped into my head when I tore into the chicken-fried steak at Tillman’s Roadhouse a few weeks ago. The kitchen…
It’s tough being a gulf oyster. The BP oil spill devastated Louisiana oyster beds, and then a historic Texas drought reduced river flows into Galveston Bay, seriously increasing the bay’s salinity. Predators and disease are thriving and threatening the already hobbled industry. Now the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality has…
In preparation for Greek Fest I was warned: “Beware of bees with your loukomades.” The fried dough balls, dripping with honey, seemed the perfect attractor for a violet swarm. I pictured myself going all Chris Farley as I ran through the festival. Bees! There were no bees, though. I ate…
“Good Beer, Uncommonly Poor Food.” The headline did not leave a lot to be desired when Hanna Raskin penned a scathing review of the gastro pub last summer. Browning lettuce in salads and greasy stringy pork crowned a menu described as ranging from unpleasant to horrific. Owner Corey Pond undoubtedly…
Pho is everywhere. The piping hot, spice-laden broth filled with noodles, various meats and garnishes has become the darling of Asian soups and for good reason. When prepared right it’s transcendent. But don’t let its ubiquity pigeon-hole you into a Pho-only rut. Throw your palate a change-up and head to…
This past Friday I zipped over to Central Market and sat in on a beer tasting event with Greg Engert. The class was part of Brewtopia, a marketing event touting discounted beers and tastings that ends September 27. Engert’s class used various cheeses to demonstrate how to pair beer with…
Greek Fest was a plate-smashing success this weekend. Saturday around noon there was a sizable but fast moving line that ushered people into a courtyard that reeked of savory, delicious lamb. The weather was warm, but there was a stiff breeze and a tent provided some shade for those who…
There will be people watching at Private Social tonight. A private VIP party planned as a precursor to tomorrow’s grand opening, promises a red carpet and a number of local and National stars. Tony Romo and his wife are listed as attendees, confirming collapsed lung-age is no big thing–if he…
On the heels of Leslie Brenner’s hyper-delicious Italian food photo orgy, news of another Italian restaurant has landed in my in-box. Francesco Farris will open Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana next month on Lovers Lane, just west of Neighborhood Services, Bijoux, and Fireside pies. The restaurant will feature a fettuccine bolognese,…
Travel + Leisure readers recently voted on their favorite foodie cities in America. Dallas clocked in at number 32, ahead of only Orlando, Vegas and Anchorage and behind San Antonio (10), Austin (15) and Houston (24), and more or less every other city of note. According to Travel + Leisure:…
Deep Ellum has always been a music hub; what’s been missing is good food. Lemongrass and Local have been producing decent eats for some time, and Uncle Uber’s Sammich Shop is a welcome addition to the ‘hood, but for the most part Elm, Commerce and Main streets have catered to…
Wild Salsa isn’t your standard Mexican-American restaurant. It’s not buried in a suburban strip mall but perched smack in the middle of downtown, across from the lush grass, sculptures and dog walkers of Main Street Garden. There’s also an air of polish here that might be missing from your salsa-drenched…
After weeks of gorging on tacos, pizzas, burgers and sushi, plus similarly indulgent consumption of beer and booze, the Observer’s Best of Dallas 2011 issue is here. Want to know who’s got the best pizza pie or the best hangover cure in Dallas? Check out our 2011 Best of Dallas…
Oh Tex Mex, must you be such a gut bomb? The heavy cream sauces, beans laden with lard and cheese cheese cheese. I’ve eaten at a few local spots, and while the selection in Dallas is undoubtedly better than other cities, it’s still Tex-Mex. It’s still a little boring. I…
Comments come in many forms, and this one fluttered in on a twitter stream. Within a day of the sort-of-soft opening, the foodnicks were chattering about Deep Ellum’s new sandwich shop, Uncle Uber’s (2713 Commerce St.). Twitter user @imccanntx laid down the gauntlet shortly after we posted a quick look…
While most everyone I talked to had a blast at Oktoberfest, there were a few bitter beer faces. The complaints are always the same for event’s like these centering on cost, supply of food (HOW CAN THEY RUN OUT OF SCHNITZEL AT A GERMAN FEST!?) and lines. Getting to events…
While skimming through Eater’s news feed this morning an item caught my eye: “More Pie Fives On Order; Northeast Pumpkin Shortage”. The pumpkin shortage stuck out because I thought I remembered seeing it last year. I switched from canned to fresh pumpkin a few years back for my annual pumpkin…
Last night my family and I putzed around Richardson looking for some decent ethnic eats. I Yelped and I Googled and I finally decided that Sing Kee Chinese BBQ looked like a decent spot for a late meal. When I walked through the door, the clouds swelled behind me, and…
