Dragonfly: It’s a Beautiful Meal

“In here, life is beautiful. The girls are beautiful. Even the orchestra is beautiful!” The line from Cabaret pops into my head as we drive up to impeccably manicured Hotel ZaZa, home to Dragonfly restaurant. The valets appear out of nowhere and graciously help us from the car. “We’re here…

Chef Erron Star Depew: It’s OK When She Slices at TopGolf

Erron Star Depew is the chef at the new TopGolf location in Allen. Yes, you heard me right. Chef. TopGolf. Allen. Just because folks are swinging clubs doesn’t mean they don’t want to eat well too. At least that’s what Depew figured when she created the groovy menu that includes…

Don’t Pass the Grey Poupon: One Man’s Journey Through Mustard

For as long as I have had functioning taste buds, mustard has never really been my thing. What I’m saying is: I haven’t given mustard a full-blown, balls-to the-wall chance in several years. Maybe it’s because I have persuaded myself I loathe it and forevermore want nothing to do with…

Supper Club! Smoke Chef Tim Byres Sends Along His Menu

Supper Club at the Kessler, (presented by City of Ate)our dinner series that features local chefs whipping up bad ass food alongside local tunes, is happening soon (June 8 y’all.) This month’s chef is Tim Byres of Smoke. Oh yes, we’re excited too. Chef Byres will prepare a four-course meal…

A Dead Chicken Can Still Cluck

First things first: This story does not end with me killing and dismembering a chicken, although that was my goal when I signed up for a poultry-processing workshop. Unfortunately, watching the demonstration bird meet its maker caused the following symptoms: cold sweat, field of vision darkening around the edges, seeing…

Unnatural Umami: How Soy Sauce Took a Shortcut Past Organic

Several years ago, the discovery of the carcinogenic compound 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol in soy sauce was generating concern throughout parts of Europe and Asia. A United Kingdom study directed attention to the matter in 2001.It turned out that low levels of 3-MCPD had been present in processed foods for decades and had…

It’s Been Three Weeks: Was In-N-Out Burger Worth the Hype?

The Frisco and Allen locations of In-N-Out are three weeks old today. You’ve had time to digest the Double-Doubles, the well-done fries, and that one girl has, hopefully, wiped away her tears.Opening day was a manifest destiny of meat. Some travelers had “In-N-Out or bust” on their cars, and others…

Mayuri Makes a Move

Earlier this month, Mayuri, “one of the oldest Indian restaurants in the DFW area,” according to its owner Lalith Thota, moved from its location at Highway 114 and O’Connor Boulevard, where it had been serving diners for 14 years. Mayuri now serves its “typical ethnic Indian food,” including a seven-day-a-week…

Revolving Doors: Restaurants Come In, and They Go Out

The month of May has proven to be an eventful one. The Californian mega-chain In-N-Out Burger made its Texas debut in Frisco and Allen, The Cedars Social finally celebrated its grand opening, and plenty more new culinary establishments have popped up along the way. Not to mention, a few have…

Tea and Spice, Actually Nice

I’m skeptical of the value of pepper spray and sending people to the hospital, two things that appear on the resume of capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers. So when I found Prometheus Springs Capsaicin Spiced Elixir, a bottled tea whose quirkiness and individuality hinges on the shock of…

Some Food Tips for When You’re Dumb Enough to Camp

With summer here, inevitably someone is going to suggest I give up the burden of air conditioning, properly prepared food, washed hair and a comfy mattress to enjoy the pleasures of sleeping on dirt, swatting mosquitoes and eating unrefrigerated food badly prepared over a smokey fire. This, supposedly, is done…

Get Your Memorial Day Drink and Eat On

Memorial Day weekend, a time to stock the cooler, spark up the barbecue, and hang out with friends and family. The holiday is here, and we have a list of local spots that will be celebrating the long weekend by offering up fun, affordable parties. Idle Rich Pub (2614 McKinney…

A Guy’s Guy: Food Network’s Fieri is Awesome, Dude

There may be no other Food Network personality worthy of not just one but, count ’em, two Screen Bites reviews than Guy Fieri. Already the raucous center of a previous appreciation of his kitchen-bound program, Guy’s Big Bite, which single-handedly proved that Fieri possessed more cooking chops than his gelled…

The Taco Trail Ends With Z

City of Ate’s Taco Trail ends today. It was a good run, but I’m moving on. (That doesn’t mean I’ll cease writing about tacos. How can I not play on the taco jungle gym that is Dallas?) While deciding on the final City of Ate venue, I considered three restaurants…

Q de Cheval Chef Rex Turner Focuses on Texas Tastes

The InterContinental Hotel has gotten a multimillion-dollar face-lift. A new lobby and meeting rooms were part of the deal, but perhaps the biggest addition is the new restaurant Q de Cheval, which opened in mid-February. Now they have a new chef too, Rex Turner. You might recognize the name. Most…

Sfuzzi: Bacon on Pizza and People-Watching Make Us Happy

Happy Eating highlights a restaurant happy hour food menu, keeping you informed of what deals there are out there. This week, we’re fighting the crowds at Sfuzzi for a slice of pie…pizza pie. Where: Sfuzzi, 2533 McKinney Ave. When: 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 4 p.m.-close Monday. The Scene: Evenings are…

Malai-gn Yourself With Southeast Asia For Brunch

This weekend, Malai Kitchen will start serving brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Co-owner, Yasmin D. Wages says that it was always their intention to serve brunch at Malai since “we’re in West Village and brunch is a major part of the Dallas dining scene. We…