Articles for August 13th, 2008
Doug Brown’s Amuse to Become Sala
Yes, this has been reported everywhere else already. But in case you don’t know, chef Doug Brown of Amuse is moving that concept to Victory Park and turning Amuse into Sala, a Tex-Mex eatery. Menu items include the “Holy Trinity,” an appetizer of queso, guacamole and pico de gallo (yes please), fajitas, enchiladas and Mexican mimosas (sparkling wine, orange juice, and Cuervo gold).
You can enjoy Amuse in its current incarnation until August 23. It will reopen the first week of September as Sala.
More Great Drinking Deals, This Time from Sevy’s
Amy Severson sends along this note on the heels of my Nove post:
Just to let you know: Sevy’s all-day, everyday prices for beer are $3.50 domestic, $4.50 import. Our house wines by the glass average $7 and our bartenders know what a REAL pour is. Patio weather is just around the corner so keep us in mind!
Sounds great, Amy. Is it time to drink yet?
Owner of the Grape Extends Restaurant Week Challenge!
Brian Luscher, owner of the Grape on Lower Greenville, sends this message along to SD nation:
Hi, this is Brian Luscher, Chef/Owner of The Grape. I invite you to check out our restaurant week menu at http://www.thegraperestaurant.com/menu.php
There are some great reservation times still available by phone 214.828.1981 or online at opentable.com.
No hassles. No arguements. Complimentary valet is always provided.
We warmly welcome all restaurant week diners!
I want you to come to my restaurant, The Grape, and rate us against anyone else participating.
A good time is to be had by all!
Someone go and do it!
Olea Med Bistro Offers Gold Medal-Worthy Menu Items
Just because the Olympics are in Beijing this year doesn’t mean we should forget where they originated (or forget to eat foods from that place). Hence, Olea Mediterranean Bistro is offering up Greek foods to eat during August. How does goat cheese crostini, moussaka, and/or spanikopita sound? Yep, opa! is what we thought you said. Greek wines are also discounted during this promotion. Jump for all the details.
More Nove News: Free Food & Cheap Hooch
Wow. One visit to Nove and you’d think I’m in love. Lets just call it friends with benefits. In this case, the benefits are great happy hour specials. On Fridays, enjoy $5 import/$4 domestic beers, $8 house wines (in a city full of $15 pours, that’s a steal), and complimentary hors d’oeuvres that the restaurant calls “random acts of kindness.” The love fest starts at 5pm and lasts all night long. Cue the Barry White music.
Mini Review: Craft’s New Lunch Options
Anthony Zappola, the new chef de cuisine at Craft, has rolled out a few changes: Look for larger, home-style portions at lunch (more like dinner service) and new lunch menu items. The menu isn’t exactly the same from day to day, but the next time you stop by Craft, I suggest you order the pork shoulder. When I visited Craft to try the new items, Zappola said the dish was essentially pork confit with a kind of homemade molasses gastrique; the pork is topped with tomatoes (they’re so sweet it’s almost impossible to identify them) and couldn’t be better. It’s now on my last-supper list.
Also new to the menu: Skate wing (ours was upstaged by the pickled pressed radishes that topped the dish) and a zingy scallop-jalapeno-avocado appetizer (it isn’t listed as ceviche, but that’s essentially what it is), among a handful of others.
If you haven’t had Craft’s take on strawberry shortcake, it’s a doozy: think rose cream on shortbread cookies with a side of strawberry frozen yogurt and a nice sampling of berries.
Restaurant Week Resys Still Available at Second Floor
This was in my junk mail folder for some reason…obviously the first date won’t work, but the rest are still relevant:
The Second Floor Restaurant at the Westin Galleria still has openings for the days of August 11, 18, and 25. When calling The Second Floor at 972.450.2978, be sure to request a Restaurant Week reservation. Bon Appétit!
Disher Review #5: Jaspers
Okay, so this is going to be a combo. A reader and I both went to Jasper’s last night (hey friend! I was the one in the orange dress, did you see me?) and we ordered almost the exact same things. His review will be up first, and then I’ll add my thoughts, with pictures, after that. Cool? Jump.
Live Blogging from the Texas Sommelier Conference
This weekend I will be heading down the Austin for the Texas Sommelier Conference. I will be live blogging all-day on Sunday and Monday between seminars. Be sure to tune in. Expect highlights, pics, and interviews with local sommeliers and the Master Sommeliers in town to judge the Texas’ Best Sommelier contest and lead seminars. In preparation and training for the working weekend, I am on a strict diet of Viognier and New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, increasing the number of glasses I drink each day. One of my poor co-workers is training for a marathon. Training for a sommelier conference is much more fun. Texas’ Best Sommelier will be announced Monday evening.
Restaurant Week Review: Nove Italiano
This one was risky. I’ve heard so-so things about Nove but thought I’d skip the usual suspects (Fearing’s, The Mansion, etc.) and give the fledgling Victory Park some of my money for Restaurant Week. Good call. Yes, the decor is kind of Vegas tacky: lots of sparkling lights, ridiculously high ceilings making the dining room overly cavernous, and a trio of framed famous Italian paintings in LCD that rotate. Kind of like an Italian Disneyworld. But the food was good: rigatoni bolognese (with beef, pork and lamb - nice!), Kobe flat iron steak, a refreshing chilled tomato and cucumber soup, and chocolate torta with pistachios and creme fraiche. Not great but really good. Best of all, Jay Stalnaker — our waiter — made the night a complete joy, explaining the food without overdoing it, steering us through Nove’s Italian wine list (by the way, Tuesday nights all bottles are half-price — sweet), and making the night a complete joy. Often times during Restaurant Week, many eateries rush their patrons out the door to seat the next table. Jay and Nove took their time with us. The extra attention was appreciated.
Screen Door: Lunch Edition
I went there for lunch yesterday with a friend. After being told that we would not be able to get a table because they were full, we opted to sit at the bar, which was better (read: quicker) anyway. Still, the place was hardly packed, but whatev. As Todd said here, the lunch was tasty, but to my mind (pocketbook?) a tad pricey. I had a meatless salad with four ingredients (arugula, goat cheese, asparagus, and two piddly roasted tomatoes), and it was $14. Really? (Saving grace: generous flecks of black truffle in the vinaigrette.) My friend had a generous portion of shrimp and grits for $19, with the biggest shrimp I have ever seen. Things I liked: the spiced sweet scones, pre-meal, were delicious. And the bartender was a sweetheart and kept the water poured without being on top of us. Also, valet is free at lunch, and the Arts District location is really easy to get in and out of (off of Woodall Rogers and back onto Central). I’ll go back, if only just to drink. Though probably not this.
Fedora Restaurant Needs a Chef
Restaurant 101 girl Gina Campisi needs your help. Her restaurant, Fedora, is opening soon in One Arts Plaza…however, they need a chef. They had one–his name is Patrick Stark, he has a mohawk, and he left to pursue a TV career–but now he’s gone, and they’re looking for an executive chef who can do solid, upscale Italian. Is that you? Email fullsleeve@gmail.com.
Disher Review #4: York Street
Good morning lovely Dishers and Dishettes. I hope everyone had a wonderful and satisfying night of eating last night (I definitely did. More on that later.) Here’s the first review of the morning: York Street. Jump for it.
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