Articles for July 29th, 2009

Wine and Dine with Frasca

posted by Hayley Hamilton | July 29th, 2009 10:10pm | filed under Awards, Celebrity Chefs, Local/Slow Food, Wine & Spirits |

I know we focus on all things Dallas, but over the weekend I had the pleasure of taking a cooler weather get away to Denver, that included an incredible Lyle Lovett concert at Red Rocks, a fun Colorado Rockies game, and an outstanding meal designed by two James Beard Award winners.  Based on the oversold flight out on Friday afternoon, there were many Dallasites with the same idea in mind.

If you find yourself in Denver, then dinner at Frasca, a short drive away in Boulder, is a must.

Why?  Talent and passion, accented with award winning grace from owner and 2008′s James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef: Southwest,” Food and Wine Magazine’s “Best Chef, 2005,” and recently competing on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and owner, 2003′s James Beard Foundation “Outstanding Wine Service” recipient and  ”Wine Director of the Year” from San Francisco Magazine, and James Beard 2008 “Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional” nominee, Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey. Jump for more.

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Join D Magazine’s Facebook Page: I Will Get A Massive Raise

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 5:10pm | filed under Celebrity Diners | 8 Comments »

Easy as cherry pie.

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Separated At Birth? Christopher Wynn And Chef Grant Achatz

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 3:59pm | filed under Celebrity Diners, Chefs, Restaurant News, Travel | 1 Comment »
cwynn1 grant_achatz_large
Christopher Wynn Chef Grant Achatz

Just opened my James Beard Foundation Newsletter and thought they were running a big picture of DMN scribe Christopher Wynn. Nope, the article, “Where Grant Achatz Likes To Eat In Chicago”, had nothing to do with CW. Where does the chef who favors molecular gastronomy love to eat? Jump for his list. Where does Christopher Wynn love to eat? Let’s guess.

Continue reading "Separated At Birth? Christopher Wynn And Chef Grant Achatz"

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Nana Inducted Into Nation’s Restaurant News’ Fine Dining Hall Of Fame

posted by Jennifer Chininis | July 29th, 2009 2:56pm | filed under Restaurant News |

Speaking of in boxes, Nancy, I got this one yesterday: Nana has been inducted into the 2009 Fine Dining Hall of Fame by Nation’s Restaurant News. You know, I went to Nana–back when it was Nana Grill–for prom night, forever cementing it in my mind as the go-to special occasion restaurant in Dallas. I fell in love with it all over again at a semi-recent media dinner.

The other 2009 honorees are Barolo Grill in Denver; Blue Ginger in Boston; Bouley in New York; Herbsaint in New Orleans; Naha in Chicago; Michael Mina in Las Vegas; Michael’s on East in Sarasota, Fla; New Rivers in Providence, R.I.; and Slanted Door in San Francisco.  Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in Berkeley received “Fine Dining Legend.”

SideDish Movie Screening: Julie & Julia And Whole Foods In Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 2:51pm | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Chefs, Chocolate, cocktails, Contests, Cooking, dessert, Events, Foodie People, Groceries, Murmur, Reviews | 16 Comments »

juliaOkay Dishers, you’ve heard about the movie, read my review, and are already sick of the trailers on TV, BUT I bet you still want to see this flick for FREE. I have 5 pair of tickets to give away. All you have to do is fill out this tiny little form for a chance to win 2 tickets to see Julie & Julia next Thursday, August 6th at 7:30 p.m. at the Angelika. Then you can thank Karen Lukin of Whole Foods for making it happen. If you want to get psyched for the movie or you just happen to be in Preston Forest next Monday (August 3), Whole Foods is hosting a “We Remember Julia” cooking class at 9:00 a.m. It is also free. Begging for freebies is always encouraged. Bring it. (You have to see the fake yawn scene.)

UPDATE: NYT article on food prep for the movie.

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Italian Wine Sale: Vin Classic Wines In Plano

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 2:27pm | filed under Wine & Spirits |

From the Department of Cut and Paste:

Stock your cellars with these great summertime deals on delicious Italian wines. In addition to the Super Bargains listed below, all other Italian wines in the store will be on sale at 15% off. Sorry, no phone or email orders taken for this sales event. Vin Classic Wines location only (The Shops at Legacy, Plano) 7/29-8/01/09.

Italian Wine Super Bargains below.

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From My Inbox: Food Events And Happenings In Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 2:19pm | filed under Cooking, Events, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News, seafood |

*EatZi’s Market & Bakery’s Summer Series Cooking Classes
featuring the culinary creations of Chef Jay Valley the tricks of the trade inside the kitchen of Hunger Busters’ new facility. (Details below the jump.)

*Lookout Oceanaire! Coming to Uptown in November: Ocean Prime.

*Swirl Winery is excited! They are teaming up with Sushiya and have a zillion events in August. (Deets below.)

*George Clooney added you as a friend on Facebook. WHOOPS, dang personal mail. I really should get a separate account. Carry on. Continue reading "From My Inbox: Food Events And Happenings In Dallas"

Texas Wine Events In Dallas: August Is Going To Be Fun

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 1:19pm | filed under Chefs, Events, Foodie People, GO TEXAN, North Texas Wine, Reviews, Texas Sommelier Conference, Texas Wine | 2 Comments »

Texas has 177 wineries and 280 commercial vineyards. The folks behind GO TEXAN want to discuss them all. Hence, the GO TEXAN DrinkLocalWine.com Conference 2009, set for Aug. 14 & 15 at Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts Dallas. Plan to hang with local wine writers, food bloggers, columnists, sommeliers, producers, and growers.

The conference will include three seminars, focusing on trends in Texas wine, the distinctive grapes that Texans are using to make those wines, and how consumers can work to get more regional wines in stores and restaurants. The final event of the day will be a Texas Twitter Tasting, moderated by Russ Kane of Vintage Texas, where participants will “be able to taste some of the state’s top wines and blog or Twitter at the same time.” Full schedule here.

Then on Sunday and Monday, August 16 and 17th, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and the Texas Sommelier Association will host the Annual Texas Sommelier Conference (TexSom), at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Colinas.

The general public is invited to attend five classes on Sunday, August 16th and the grand tasting on Monday evening, August 17 where wine professionals and the public meet to taste world-class wines and witness the  announcement of Texas’ Best Sommelier 2009.

Each class offers at least six wines to taste and lasts one hour and fifteen minutes. Courses open to the public include: Pinot Noir, Sake, Austria, Rioja, and Northern Rhone.

Speakers include some of the nation’s top wine professionals: Master Sommeliers (MS), Certified Wine Educators, one Master of Wine (MW) and other respected wine educators.

A separate set of courses, designed exclusively for the trade and media, are offered on Monday. Click here to register for both the public and trade sessions.

Jump for schedule and more details. Continue reading "Texas Wine Events In Dallas: August Is Going To Be Fun"

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Wine Dinner Wednesday

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 1:13pm | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Events, Wine & Spirits, Wine Dinner Wednesday | 1 Comment »

winedinner-150x150This week’s selection of wine and beer dinners includes The Libertine Bar, Hector’s On Henderson, Maguire’s, Nana, Victory Tavern Grille, Dali WIne Bar, Sigel’s, Abacus, and Hibiscus. Continue reading "Wine Dinner Wednesday"

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Rant Recall: Houston’s In Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 29th, 2009 12:31pm | filed under Mistakes I made, Restaurant News, Reviews | 28 Comments »

houstonLast month I wrote:

I don’t get Houston’s. Sorry, I have better things to do than to wait 45 minutes and pay $17 for a French dip sandwich. If I hear one more restaurateur describe a new concept as “it’s kinda like Houston’s but…” I will scream…There is some magic fairy dust somewhere in their corporate being. Somebody explain it.

About forty of you told me, quite nicely, where to shove my opinion. So I decided to give it another try. Jump for my love of Houston’s. Continue reading "Rant Recall: Houston’s In Dallas"

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