Fast Asian Fusion With A Funny Name

Some of the gals in the office have been raving about the food from Yumi To Go, a new take-out or delivery-only spot on Lemmon Avenue next to Park Place Bently. In particular, they swoon over the Asian chopped chicken salad. You may have dodged one of their chartreuse mini delivery cars that hop around Oak Lawn like neon green water bugs. Last night on my way home from work, I stopped in. In all honestly, I almost turned back. It was hard to make myself go into such a happy looking place with such a cheery name. Yumi? Who says that? Anywhoo, I walked in to find one of the owners, Steve, smiling from behind the counter. I didn’t catch his last name, but he told me he used to be a corporate chef at Brinker International and now he and a partner are doing there own thing. I ordered a couple of salads and he filled me in on the menu. When I asked him what his favorite dish was, he replied, “The sesame snap chicken that is wok fried in a sweet and sour sauce.” Without any hint of sarcasm, I innocently uttered, “Yummy.” He (metaphorically) jumped me. “See! Isn’t it a great name? Yumi. See, everybody gets it.” I was caught, trapped by my own limited vocabulary. Twenty four dollars later, I was on my merry (meri?) way with enough food for two meals and some fried cheesecake rolls for the gals in the office. Today, I walked into the kitchen and found them unloading bags of food that had just been delivered by Yumi To Go. I won’t go on record as saying the food is yummy, but I will say I ate one Asian chicken salad for dinner last night and another for lunch today.

Tre Wilcox Keepin’ Busy in Pebble Beach

Former Top Chef contestant and Abacus chef Tre Wilcox is a busy man these days.  A report from foodie blog Eater LA finds Wilcox in Pebble Beach cookin’ it up at the first annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival (recognize that shirt? Ya, I thought so), held last weekend in Cali. Other chefs in attendance: Thomas Keller, Ming Tsai, Todd English, and many more.

Thursday Night Special of the Day

Word comes that Social, the restaurant at the Hotel Lumen, is offering half-priced bottles of wine on Thursday nights. From 5-10pm, we can all sip for less. Sounds good to me, especially because we are always looking for happy hour specials around here, before getting frustrated and driving to the Monk (again).

On a sidenote: I’ve never been to Social, and I’m wondering if it’s overrun with college students, given its location across from SMU. Anyone?

Another Day, Another Dallasite Hits National Foodie TV

This time, I am so not surprised. Lisa Garza, wife of Gilbert Garza, co-owner of Suze, and designer of a line of vintage inspired aprons, Couture Caviar, has been selected as a contestant on what some people call the most challenging food fights on TV, The Next Food Network Star. The show starts its fourth season on Sunday, June 1 at 9PM. Lisa watching party? Oh, yes. She is easy on the eye. And a born promoter. You go, girl.

Put Some Gay Into Your Day

As my good gay buddy Ed always says, “Mary, it takes a fairy.” And he’s right. Every morning I begin my day with a little ditty from the clever folks over at Gay List Daily . Bright and concise, these boys love them some Dallas and they cover dining, events, clothes, and everything in between. It’s like a gay mini-version of D Magazine. Without a Trey.

Expensive Publicity Stunt Hits SideDish

One Ms. Leala M. Ansari, from the Dallas office of GlolinHarris and representing Nestle, sends word that Nestle USA is retiring the name of it’s popular candy bar, Butterfinger, and changing it to The Finger. Yea sure, and pigs fly and men don’t think about sex every 15 seconds, they just want to cuddle. (Or is it pigs want to cuddle and men fly? I get so confused.) Anywhoo, if it’s true, this being April Fools Day and all, I’ll be handing them out on a regular basis. If you have any questions, feel free to call Ms. Ansari at 972-341-2552. Call her if you don’t have a question. Just be nice and say hello.