Articles for August 12th, 2009

More Tasting Around Town

posted by Hayley Hamilton | August 12th, 2009 10:00pm | filed under Special Offers, Wine & Spirits |

Following up on Nancy’s  wine tastings and sales here are a few more opportunities.  Mark your calendar for:

August 15th at La Cave, their second “Cave Dweller” tasting from 11am-1pm. This complimentary tasting will feature New World summer style options, including wine from Chile, California, South Africa and more.  RSVP required by August 13.  214-747-9463.

Next week is busy at Veritas.  August 18th Veritas Wine Room , winner of the “Best of Big D Lawyers That Pour,” partners with Dallas Uncorked a French wine tasting fr0m Rhone, Loire, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and more.  Tickets through dallasuncorked.org.  August 19th they also welcome local crooner Ricki Derek.  What can be better than a beautiful bubble, or sensuous Cab enjoyed while listening to the soothing sounds of a well loved Dallas favorite.

Stephan Pyles continues with their fantastic summer patio happy hour, with the addition of an $8 Passion Chile Margarita, voted one of the top 10 cocktails in Dallas. This is in addition to specially priced Champagne and wine, and paired with complimentary flat breads.

There is a new online outlet for wine in Dallas, and they will deliver to your door with in 24 hours.  Vintage Wine is a new online outpost that ha a good selection and boasts temperature controlled delivery in “Dallas, TX” for a minimum $50 order of at least 3 wines (otherwise they will ship via Fed Ex.)  They also have a “knowledgeablestaff” that can help you with selections; not sure who the staff is though.  Love the option and support local ideas.  They are running a few specials as well, including Conundrum for $19.00 a bottle.

In addition to Sigel’s incredible wine sale, stop by the Fitzhugh location on August 19th from 6-8 for a Gin tasting of up to 20 different special and unique gins.  RSVP to Dimitrios,214-635-3162 for details on obtaining your Gin passport.

SideDish Supper Club: On Sale Now

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 12th, 2009 3:38pm | filed under Chefs, Food Porn, Foodie People, Local/Slow Food, Restaurant News, SideDish Supper Club, Silly Reasons to Celebrate, Wine & Spirits | 6 Comments »

supperclubA few months ago, I wrote about my yearning for great Tuscan food in Dallas. Where does a girl go for wild boar and pici pasta?  I am not alone. Many locals return from feasting in Tuscany and go into gastronomic withdrawal upon return.

On September 17, I will offer you the perfect cure. Nonna chef Julian Barsotti and I have been digging through Tuscan cookbooks for months.  We have come up with a dazzling menu. We asked The Italian Wine Guy, Alfonso Cevola, to come up with some fantastic wines and he did. Click on the SideDish Supper Club icon to the right for the menu. (Or click here.)  We will be discussing the menu and wine in more detail soon.  Hurry, the seating is limited. Go. 214-521-1800.

6 Comments »

Greenville Avenue In Dallas: Restaurant Memory Lane

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 12th, 2009 12:57pm | filed under Burgers, Ethnic Food, Food Porn, Murmur, PR People, Restaurant News, Skinny bitches, Wine & Spirits | 7 Comments »

littlegusYesterday, an old gal could not remember the name of a restaurant on Greenville Ave. But you guys freakin’ nailed it–DiPalma’s. Thanks to you, the reader is out of therapy and back at work today. However, there are a few other questions and memories floating around my inbox.

Memory:  I still have DiPalma’s recipe for chicken lasagna and remember their lemon sauced pasta — it was a great place…

Question: We used to live within spitting distance of Il Sorrento (Hillcrest and Northwest Highway) and went there for all celebrations and we miss it terribly. Do you know of another old world Italian restaurant that perhaps reminds you of Il Sorrento that we can claim as ours so we can relive our youth of smoky piano bars, palm readers, and eating way too much Gorgonzola gnocchi?

Money question: What is the name of that great hamburger place that was also on Greeneville at the same time as DiPalmas? They served breakfast too.

Answers: 1) Share the recipe for chicken lasagna. 2) The last palm reader I witnessed was at Patry’s on W. Lovers Lane. 3) There are no more smoky rooms in Dallas and almost every “marinara sauce” Italian restaurant in Dallas tastes like Il Sorrento. (With the exception of table side Caesar salad and the roaming bread guys with the silver hot boxes.)

However, I do know the burger place—Little Gus’, the original Greek “cheeseburger cheeseburger” spot frequented by an eclectic mix of artists, trial lawyers, judges, politicians, journalists, musicians, and carpenters. It was a great spot run by cousins Pete Lucas and Tony Mantzuranis.  I dug into my nostalgic t-shirt drawer and present this picture for your approval.

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KRLD Restaurant Week In Dallas: Love It? Like It? Hate It?

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 12th, 2009 9:32am | filed under April Fools, Celebrity Diners, cheap eats, Chefs, Food Fight!, Food On TV, Foodie People, Hippie revolutions, hold on to your effin hat, Mistakes I made, Rants, Restaurant News, Reviews, Silly Reasons to Celebrate, Skinny bitches, Travel, Wine & Spirits | 40 Comments »
Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators.
Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators.

I realize a lot of you love to dine out during KRLD Restaurant Week/Month. You get a three-course meal at these restaurants for $35 and some “proceeds” go to the North Texas Food Bank. Win-win, right?

Over the years, I’ve talked to a many restaurant owners, chefs, and servers who aren’t crazy about the promotion. Perhaps given the current state of business they’ve changed their tune. I’d like to know.

Anywhooo, last year, the finest ferret at PegNews, Teresa “Vicky Christina” Gubbins, wrote the piece I wish I’d written about Restaurant Week. Here is the hot link to her story which officially makes this “Link To Teresa Gubbins Week.”  (Group hug.)

At the risk of going all Eatsblog on you, I would like to know: Why do you like restaurant week? Why do you hate restaurant week?  I will tell you this: it is the worst month of the year to be a dining critic. Okay, let’s rumble like we’re on Las Ramblas.

SideDish, an equal opportunity hot link provider.

40 Comments »