Articles for April, 2009

$5 Lunch: Kuai Dumplings & Soups

posted by Sarah Eveans | April 30th, 2009 4:16pm | filed under cheap eats | 16 Comments »

img_0088In a few months, D Magazine is moving downtown. While this is very exciting news, we’ve all been a little sad about leaving our favorite lunch (and happy hour) spots behind, like Al Biernat’s, La Duni, and Mint.

This is all to say that when I was looking for my $5 lunch, I decided on Kuai Dumplings & Soups partly because of their downtown location. The restaurant is just a short walk from our new building, so I thought I would scope out a future lunch spot. I’ve also been craving dumplings lately and had heard pretty good things about theirs.

The dumplings were good. Here is a picture of the 8 pack of pork dumplings my friend ordered. They were hot, soft, and the pork filling had a nice bite of ginger. They cost $5.50. This is what I should have ordered. Jump for what I had (insert ominous sound here).

Continue reading "$5 Lunch: Kuai Dumplings & Soups"

16 Comments »

Somebody Help These Poor People: Two-For-One Edition

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 30th, 2009 3:11pm | filed under Restaurant News | 13 Comments »

We’ve cut back on posting people’s pleas for help because they never report back. We all give our best and they don’t even bother to send a thank you. These two folks promised they would send us details if we helped them. Here they go:

I’m throwing a party for around 90-100 on a Friday night but trying to keep the budget around $6k.  Want no further south than nw hwy and will go north to 121 off of the tollway.  Most of the guests are staying at the Marriot Legacy.  Don’t mind park and preston in plano either.  This is for a Friday night dinner of a Bar Mitzvah weekend.

And this gal:

Hey, I need a place with a patio, not Fearing’s maybe Dragonfly, that isn’t too upscale or prissy.

Help at will.

13 Comments »

Fairmont Dallas Is Celebrates 40th Anniversary

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 30th, 2009 3:02pm | filed under cheap eats |

And you get all of the presents: Like a four-course meal at the Pyramid Restaurant for only $40. Promotion runs nightly through June 30th. Details below. Continue reading "Fairmont Dallas Is Celebrates 40th Anniversary"

Dallas Restaurants On Twitter Update: Victory Tavern

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 30th, 2009 11:42am | filed under Twitter, Twitter Deals |

From Victory Tavern: We are now on Twitter as well.  http://twitter.com/victorytavern. We promote Maverick’s Game Watching Specials, Beer Dinners, Wine Dinners, our new Stimulus Dinner Specials and Lunch Trio.

National Restaurant Survey Results: What’s Hot

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 30th, 2009 11:02am | filed under Restaurant News, Travel, Twitter, Wine & Spirits | 9 Comments »

I’m readying myself for the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago from May 16-19. I can’t wait to stroll around and check out all of the geeky new foodservice equipment, listen to some of the speakers (Hi, Steve!), and dine at Topolobampo.

Anywhoo, the NRA has released the results of annual their annual What’s Hot Chef’s Survey. They polled 1,600 chefs. The results are riveting. Check them out.

1.  Locally grown produce 89%
2.  Bite-size/mini desserts 83%
3.  Organic produce 82%
4.  Nutritionally balanced children’s dishes 81%
5.  New/fabricated cuts of meat 78%
(e.g. Denver steak, pork flat iron,
bone-in Tuscan veal chop)
6.   Fruit/vegetable children’s side items 74%
7.   Superfruits 73%
(e.g. acai, goji berry, mangosteen)
8.   Small plates/tapas/mezze/dim sum 73%
9.   Micro-distilled/artisan liquor 73%
10.  Sustainable seafood 71%
11.  Kitchen-safe Snuggies.

I snuck the last one in to see if you were still with me. If you would like to be with me in Chicago, add DSideDish to your Twitter.

9 Comments »

Owen Wilson Eats At Nobu

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 30th, 2009 10:52am | filed under Celebrity Diners |

And Dara Torres has been spotted several  times at the Crescent Hotel. Dallas is so cool.

J Dorian Cupcakes… Mmmmmm!

posted by Kyle Kearbey | April 29th, 2009 4:19pm | filed under Chocolate, dessert | 16 Comments »

cupcakes3We get lots of food sent to the office because they all want Nancy to write about them. We get Sprinkles at least once a week. Yesterday we got a special delivery from local chocolatier J Dorian: Besides a box of truffles, he dropped off a new product, cupcakes. Nancy doesn’t get too excited by all of the food sent to the office, but the rest of us in the office love it. Especially me–I could eat sugar all day long. So when NN put a box of 12 beautiful cupcakes on my desk yesterday, I got more than excited. (see picture.)

Continue reading "J Dorian Cupcakes… Mmmmmm!"

16 Comments »

Sigel’s Sign Comes Down: The Sky Cries

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 29th, 2009 2:00pm | filed under Wine & Spirits | 10 Comments »

dscn2892Stopped in for the sign “funeral” at Sigel’s this morning. Sad, the store on Lemmon and Inwood is closing. The sky even shed a few tears as director of retail operations Bruce Carleton and I stood and watched the old gal come down. So the obvious question: Where in the Sam Hill is the sign gonna go? Carleton has been in touch with the cities of Dallas and Addison about getting the sign declared a landmark so it can be resurrected at another Sigel’s location. (That’s what happened years ago when the Lucas B&B peeps managed to keep their sign up on Oak Lawn in front of Pappadeaux.) It would be a shame to see this gem disappear like the poor old Tiki Man from Trader Vic’s. (He is suffering from terminal termite infestation. Slow death.)

10 Comments »

Sara Johannes at Dallas Farmer’s Market on Saturday

posted by Sarah Eveans | April 29th, 2009 10:59am | filed under Chefs, Cooking |

Speaking of farmer’s markets, word comes that Five Sixty chef Sara Johannes will be cooking at this week’s DFM Chef’s Cooking Class Series. Guests will learn how to make a three-course meal with the following dishes:

Grilled Korean Beef “Kalbi” Shortribs, Spicy Kim Chee
Green Thai Curried Seafood with Japanese Eggplant, Thai Basil and Crisp Ginger
Ginger-Peach Crumble with Crème Anglaise

The class is $25 if you order early and $30 at the door. 214-653-8008 for reservations. Jump for more info.

Continue reading "Sara Johannes at Dallas Farmer’s Market on Saturday"

Kotta Sushi In Frisco

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 29th, 2009 10:48am | filed under cheap eats, Restaurant News, Travel, Wine & Spirits | 4 Comments »

Color me fish-hating-and-stupid, I’d never heard of Kotta Sushi in Frisco until two minutes ago when a lively little press release popped into my inbox. (Nice.) In fact, I’d completely forgotten about The Shops at Starwood. Anywhoo, if you have been you’ll be happy to know they are offering some deals. If you haven’t eaten there, perhaps you will and you’ll tell us all about it. It’s BYOH.

Continue reading "Kotta Sushi In Frisco"

4 Comments »

More On BYOB: You Say You Want A Revolution? Let’s Revolt.

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 29th, 2009 10:35am | filed under Beverages, BYOB, Food Fight!, Hippie revolutions, hold on to your effin hat | 22 Comments »

Last week Ms. Amy Severson raged against the “Dewhurst Bill” which would changes the rules surrounding  BYOB. She makes a lot of good points. If you want to read about the national BYOB movement, Glazer’s Alfonso “MW” Cevola provides a list of links over on The Blend.  I gotta say, I’m with Ms. Amy on this issue—allowing looser controls on BYOB means more paperwork and less profit for restaurants. They already have enough to deal with. Sorry, Alfonso, I’m sure that wasn’t the emotion you expected when you sent the link. Grrr.

22 Comments »

Meet “Take Home Chef” Curtis Stone

posted by Todd Johnson | April 29th, 2009 10:11am | filed under Events, Food On TV, Foodie People | 4 Comments »

chef_image2TLC “Take Home Chef” star Curtis Stone–he of the frosted highlights and teeth so blindingly white it makes my head hurt on the few occassions I watch his show –will host a cooking demonstration and sign copies of his new cookbook Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone this Saturday at the Knox-Henderson Sur La Table. Wear sunglasses. You’ve been warned.

4 Comments »

Shots And Murmurs: Specialized Farmers Markets

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 29th, 2009 10:06am | filed under Hippie revolutions, Local/Slow Food | 12 Comments »

Bolsa is hosting a market this weekend. So is Northaven Gardens. Lots of folks are casing in on the eat-local-and-kiss-a-famer movement. Makes me wonder why none of this energy is going towards the Dallas Farmers Market downtown. Is it better to spread the love to a neighborhood business near you or create a vibrant food, farmer, and producer friendly site downtown that would attract locals and visitors from other cities? Certainly, we can find someone to toss fish around? We’ve got plenty of characters in this city. Don’t we?

12 Comments »

Bolsa’s Farmers Market This Weekend

posted by Todd Johnson | April 29th, 2009 9:52am | filed under Events, Local/Slow Food |

bolsaAnyone who attended Bolsa‘s inaugural farmers market last month knows it was a great hit. So do the owners of the popular Oak Cliff cafe. In fact, they’re doing it again this Sunday as well as the first Sunday in June and July. Vendors include Texas Bee Honey Guild, Eden Creek Farm, Becker Vineyards, Micaelita’s Salsa (of which I bought two tasty jars), Lucky Layla Farms, Burgundy Pasture Beef, Crumbs Homemade Pies, and more. But go early. The event starts at 11am and the good stuff (free samples) tend to go fast. Oh, and if you want to dine at Bolsa, good luck. I was there at noon and had to wait an hour for a table.

Wine Dinner Wednesday: Dallas And Fort Worth

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 29th, 2009 9:49am | filed under Uncategorized |

winedinner-150x150Here is an updated list of wine dinners coming your way. This week we’ve added Hector’s,  a premium wine tasting atPappas Bros., and a unique beer dinner at Press Box Grill. Plus:  Canary Cafe, The Mercury, Chamberlain’s, and Bonnell’s.

Continue reading "Wine Dinner Wednesday: Dallas And Fort Worth"

Progressive Tasting Party with Flavors From Afar and Molto Formaggio

posted by Todd Johnson | April 28th, 2009 10:43am | filed under Cheese, Chocolate, Events, Wine & Spirits | 1 Comment »

I love this idea. And two of my favorite epicurean outposts to boot. Flavors From Afar and Molto Formaggio are hosting a progressive tasting party featuring Italian goodies May 8-10. The event includes antipasti and sweets paired with wines at Flavors and cheese and wine at Molto. Each shop will also offer gift bags stuffed wtih Tuscan olive oil, fresh tomato sauce, pizza dough, pistachio-chocolate crunch cookies, Tuscan wine, cheese, amaretto cookies, and more. The cost is $100 per couple and sounds like a foodie must-do. Make reservations today.

1 Comment »

One Last “Best Fried Catfish” Nominee

posted by Todd Johnson | April 28th, 2009 10:20am | filed under seafood | 4 Comments »

Last week, I asked who had the best fried catfish in Dallas and you, sweet SideDishers, replied with much golden crispy enthusiasm. Top Cat and Flying Fish ran away with it though there were a few intriguing suggestions. (Aligator Cafe? I’m so there.) Just received one late contender in my inbox:

Believe it or not, Dick’s Last Resort uses farm-raised catfish from Mississippi and hand breads each piece. Great stuff!

And now you know.

4 Comments »

Monica Greene Returns To Dallas For A Visit

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 28th, 2009 10:01am | filed under Foodie People, Restaurant News | 12 Comments »
Monica Greene is cool, calm, and collected.

Monica Greene is cool, calm, and collected.

Yesterday I grabbed a quick lunch with Monica Greene. She was in town to visit family, particularly her 2-year-old grandson, and to cast her early vote. She’s still living in Aspen and running a small vegetarian/vegan bistro on the top floor of the Explorer Bookstore & Bistro. The Aspen restaurant is closed for renovations so she’s taking it easy. Monica gets offers “all the time” to come back to Dallas and open a new restaurant. Right now she is content–after 16 years, Monica’s Aca y Alla is still doing fine.

Monica is deeply committed to healthy cooking and eating. I pressed her for future plans but she wouldn’t say much. All I got was this: she wants to come back at some point. She is thinking about doing an organic, healthy Mexican spot in the old Arcadia Movie Theater space on Greenville.  She promises if she does another restaurant, it will “have a name you can pronounce.” Monica also said she would like to be in the kitchen instead of the front of the house. “I’ve been cooking a lot lately,” she said. “I never had the confidence in my cooking to cook at Monica’s.”

Confidence? Monica Greene without confidence? That’s like hearing Superman say he is afraid of flying.

12 Comments »

Starck Club Documentary Screening Will Be Followed By A Party At Dali

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 28th, 2009 9:21am | filed under Events, Openings/Closings, Silly Reasons to Celebrate | 38 Comments »

One of my few/many memories of the Starck Club was finding Stevie Nicks not so elegantly wasted and passed out  in the “ladies” room. One of her false eyelashes perched on her cheek like a dead butterfly. Her black eye makeup ran like skinny sideburns down both sides of her face. Lacey patterns of white powder were scattered across the front of her gauzy red dress. I put my hand up and covered one eye just to make sure there was only one Stevie Nicks on the toilet.

I’m sure the new documentary Warriors of the Discotheque will contain many such stories. The time was the mid-80s when most club-goers consumed massive doses of designer drugs and had random, meaningless sex with strangers. Sometimes I miss the spontaneity of the 80s; other times I can’t believe I survived them. If you have a memory of the Starck Club, leave it below.

Here’s the news: There is going to be a screening of Warriors Of The Discotheque, The Starck Club Documentary at 7:00 pm on April 30 at the Angelika Film Center. The following evening, May 1, Dali Wine Bar at One Arts Plaza will host The Ultimate Silver Anniversary Starck Part. Former Starck DJ Mark Ridlen will spin Starck tunes. The film makers, both former Starckers, Joe Alexandre and  David McDonald, will be there. Attention promoters: I checked Stevie Nicks’ tour dates–she will be in Dallas at the AAC on April 30. She plays Houston on May 2. I’d love to share a glass of bubbly with her at One Arts. Get busy.
Film info: 214-821-3456 (USA Film Festival). Contact Ann “Hippie Chick” Spicer at Dali: 469-385-9360. BYOE .

38 Comments »

Can Somebody Help This Poor Girl: Cheap Eats Monday

posted by Sarah Eveans | April 27th, 2009 12:52pm | filed under cheap eats | 13 Comments »

We haven’t done one in a while, so here we go:

Tonight I’m meeting a friend, who is in the same broke boat, for dinner and I wanted to see if there were any deals (outside of the Early Bird specials offered by cafeterias).

I know the Libertine does half price food nights on Sundays and Meridian Room entrees are half price on Wednesday nights, but I ‘m not sure about other places and thought the Side Dish nation might be able to help.

I know State and Allen Lounge does half-price pizza on Monday nights. Other ideas are appreciated.


13 Comments »

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