Food For Thought 4.14.09

“Stevia is supposed to offer a non-dangerous natural alternative to sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners, and that’s why it’s supposed to do well. It doesn’t have the calorie punch of sugar; it doesn’t have the bad image of HFCS.” (Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst with Chicago-based Mintel International,…

Raw Power

Is the raw revolution about to heat up? Johnny Raw Appleseed and Brian Hudson, masterminds behind Bliss Raw Café & Elixir Bar, believe so. And Sting, Demi, Donna Karan, and countless other high profile celebs all agree. Clearly the raw foods movement is no longer subject to tree-hugger culture. It’s…

Short Orders: Fuel City

Fuel City801 S. Industrial Blvd.214-426-0011The filling stations/taco stand has quite a following.In the wee hours of just about any weekend, people spill from bars and somehow find themselves here–uncomfortably close to Lew Sterrett, swaying in long lines, awaiting a little hangover prevention. In the daylight, the station becomes a stop…

Drink, If You Brought ‘Em

Strictly BYOB places bother me.Yes, I know about the pernicious restaurant mark ups. In general, management will triple the price of lower cost wines and double the more expensive labels. They often tack on rather impressive corkage fees for those who insist on carting in a bottle, as well. Bring…

How ‘Bout Them Knockers: Izmir Market & Mediterranean Deli

Izmir Market & Mediterranean Deli3607 Greenville Ave.Dallas, TX 75206214-824-8484Promised delivery time: 45 minutesActual delivery time: 40 minutesAmazing phone voice, lady version (I’ll explain): 11Option for a side Greek salad instead of chips: 5Super-nice delivery dude: 10Large dose of snappy pickles: 13That first bite of cool hummus on warm, soft pita:17Filling…

Checking ‘Single’ On Your 1040?

There are plenty of reasons to drink on April 15, particularly if you just checked off “single” on the marital status portion of your 1040 form. From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, The Single Gourmet will meet at Sevy’s Grill in Dallas for dinner paired with Merryvale wines. For…

10 Questions: Laura Young

As general manager of Maximo, she sets the tone. Her touch lends a sense of calm beauty and easy elegance–the stuff that helps make certain guests have a positive experience. Young learned to handle the front of a house from one of the best, handling maitre d’ chores for Tristan…

Food For Thought 4.13.09

“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…

Sloppy Seconds: A Fistful of Quail Eggs

Big week here for hard-boiled western flavor on City of Ate. From Dave’s review of Tex-Mex offerings at the months-old Maximo — whose reputation, apparently, preceded it into town — to Tabasco-infused tequila that’ll keep you ridin’ numb in the saddle, it’s been one long, dusty trail from Monday morning…

Question Of The Week

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…

And The Winner Is…

So much to choose from this week.We loved everything about this post on the blog Eating in Dallas by one Margie. It was passionate, provocative…and unfortunately about a month old. Another blogger, this time Dallas Eats, went on quite a wonderful tirade. But she also writes for City of Ate…

Chewing the Fat: Brown-Baggin’ It in Big D

The AP reports a recent trend among restaurants to offer free or reduced corkage fees, meaning there’s never been a better time to BYOB.The report admits the evidence is mostly anecdotal and the initial searches weren’t too favorable. But in Dallas, a few newly opened restaurants have refused (thus far)…

Handle The Proof: Prairie Fire

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…

To Make Brunch, You Gotta Break A Few Eggs

Sure, the holiday foods we most associate with Easter may be chocolate bunnies, Cadbury Eggs and the occasional pastel hardboiled thing. Believe it or not, though, some people supplement those necessities. As is the case every year, many restaurants are offering Easter brunches. Below are a few that piqued our…

10 Questions: Eddie Garza

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…

Food For Thought 4.10.09

“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…

Review and Gallery: Maximo

Maximo, the subject of this week’s restaurant review, approaches Tex-Mex and margaritas with all the humility its name implies.For more shots of the tableside guacamole setup, margaritas and down-home, aw-shucks ambience, check out Sara Kerens’ slideshow here…

Girl Drink Drunk: Frankie’s Sports Bar & Grill

Frankie’s Sports Bar & Grill is loud when the Stars are playing. Frankie’s has a surprising balance of ladies and gents. Frankie’s has Freedom Fries and a Freedom Dip sandwich on its menu. The first two are kinda cool, but had I realized the latter before deciding on GDD location,…

Short Orders: Cowboy Chow

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…

Veggie Girl: Nana

It only took one vegetarian to convince Nana chef Anthony Bombaci to draw up a meat-free tasting menu. “They made reservations, they told us they were vegetarian and they paid for their food,” Bombaci recalls. “And we served them meat.” After their visit to Nana, Bombaci got a letter–“snail mail,…

Appetite For Instruction: Ceviche Martini

Demonstrated by Michelle Carpenter of Zen Sushi After 21 years behind a sushi bar, Michelle Carpenter knows a thing or two about fish. “It’s very interesting–there’s a lot of thought that goes into it,” the owner of Zen Sushi says of her specialty, known for its delicate balance of textures…

Think About It

Invented by University of Texas at San Antonio medical student Vinicio Montes to help his fellow students stay mentally focused, Nerd is the latest niche energy drink to enter the marketplace. Unlike the candy Nerds, however, each can contains only a single flavor. The twist with this energy drink is…