Nick and Kelli Barclay Do Dallas

I just returned from a lovely lunch at Salum with Nick and Kelli Barclay. Most of you remember Barclay’s, the popular modern Euro-British restaurant they operated in the darling Victorian house on Fairmount Street that now houses Lola. In 2000, they left Dallas and returned to Cornwall, Nick’s homeland in the southwestern tip of England. There, in the small town of Looe, they built their dream hotel/restaurant, The Barclay House.

After building a successful business and winning all kinds of awards, Nick and Kelli sold Barclay House about a year and a half ago and have been living in Looe with their “fingers in all kinds of pies.” However that hasn’t stopped them from keeping a toe in Dallas. There is even a possibility that their whole bodies, along with their three kids, will be back in business here in “a year or so.” While in town this week, they’ve been checking up on old friends like Dean Fearing and filling their bellies with Sonny Bryan’s barbecue. Leave them a message below. They’d love to hear from you.

Whole Foods Teams Up With Lauren Bush and Rwanda

See the bag pictured to the left? If you buy one at Whole Foods for $29.99, your purchase will provide 100 meals to the hungry children of Rwanda. The line of reusable totes was designed by supermodel and niece to the president, Lauren Bush(pictured), who is also the co-founder and CEO of FEED Projects and they go on sale today exclusively at Whole Foods in the United States, Canada, and the U.K. I have the zippered burlap—it fits nicely in the bottom of my purse and expands to the size of a large paper bag.

Sushi and Sunshine Poolside at Fuse

When I think of eating something by the pool, I usually re-think it and stick with a margarita. Or! A Coors Light. But the folks at Fuse want us to think sushi. They are offering half-price appetizers, sushi, and cheap (relatively) drinks during happy hour on their fun and breezy pool deck all summer long. Brisket potstickers? Check. Spicy tuna rolls? Check check. Dirty martinis? (!) Big check. And on the plus side, there’s no reason to wear a bathing suit, since you’ll be eating at a restaurant, and all. And beers are $3. Cha-ching! Jump for the details.

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Big D’s Dogs

I’ve been hearing good things about Big D’s for months and just now got around to stopping by. Should have gone sooner; the Thai Chili Dog (pictured) was greatness. Consisted of shredded lettuce, cilantro, green onions, fresh jalapeños, shredded carrots, and thai chile lime sauce. Plus you’ve got the 1/4lb kosher dog, all of which comes on a grilled potato bun. I always enjoyed the Chicago Dog at Wild About Harry’s, but they’ve got nothing on Big D’s.

Don, the owner, will likely be the one serving you up. His Myspace page says he graduated from the California Culinary Academy. Good thing too, Dallas has been deserving dogs like these for a while.

When I go back, I’ll be trying the Greenville Ave Dog (Shiner Chili, Shredded Cheddar, Tomatoes, Green Onions, Jalapenos, Homemade Ranch, and Hickory Smoked Bacon). I hear the Shiner Chili is worth the trip alone.