Articles for August 31st, 2009

Cookbook Author Sheila Lukins, R.I.P.

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 31st, 2009 5:25pm | filed under Baking, Celebrity Chefs, Cooking | 6 Comments »

TG just informed me that popular author Sheila Lukins passed away yesterday. She was 66. The  Silver Palate Cookbook written by Lukins and Julee Rosso in 1982 is a classic. I suggest we all pick one recipe and cook it in her honor. I love this one.

6 Comments »

Sigel’s and Boisset Family Estates Taste for a Cause

posted by Hayley Hamilton | August 31st, 2009 3:44pm | filed under Wine & Spirits |

I am always looking for an opportunity to drink superb wine and meet passionate wine professionals.  If a worthwhile charity is involved the process is so much tastier.  Happily, an occasion for all just came through from Sigel’s for a tasting at their Greenville Ave location on September 10th with Boisset Family Estates:

Sigel’s and Boisset Family Estates (DeLoach Vineyards, Lyeth Estate and Oceana Riesling) are partnering with Feed the Children and The Central Dallas Food Bank to help alleviate hunger in Dallas by participating in Boisset’s “Fight Against Hunger” campaign. From July through December 2009, every bottle of wine from these wineries will supplement three meals for a family in need in the U.S. Sigel’s is featuring special pricing in our stores to encourage our customers to support these efforts.

Join us at Sigel’s – Greenville on Thursday, September 10th  from 5-7:30pmas Jean Charles Boisset, president of Boisset Family Estates, will be on hand to lead us through a tasting of his current releases from Oceana, Lyeth and De Loach. As a special treat he will also lead a pre-sale tasting of his upcoming releases from the stellar 2007 Burgundy vintage – featuring wines from Domaine de la Vougeraie and Jean Claude Boisset Estate.

We encourage everyone who attends to please bring a donation of canned goods to augment the donations provided by Jean Charles. On September 11th we will orchestrate a food drop where Feed The Children brings a semi-truck of food and supplies to donate to local families  in need selected by  the Dallas Central Food Bank.   At this event, we will be donating over 50,000 pounds of food to provide more than 200,000 meals via 2,000 food & care boxes for the families selected by the Central Dallas Food Bank. 

 

Wines to be Tasted:

Domaine de la Vougeraie – Vougeot Blanc les Prieure 07; Gevrey Chambertin Evocelles 07;
Vougeotles Cras 07; Pommard 07

 

Jean Claude Boisset – Chassagne Montrachet 07; Pommard Chaponnieres 07;
Nuits St Georges Charbonnier 07; Savigny les Beaune 07

 

California Estates – Oceana Estate Riesling 07; De Loach Chardonnay 07; De Loach Chardonnay OFS 06

De Loach Pinot Noir Russian River 06; De Loach Pinot Noir California 07; Lyeth Meritage 06

 

Let’s Play on SideDish: Guessing Games and Prizes for Comments

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 31st, 2009 3:37pm | filed under Awards, Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, Cheap trick for comments, Contests, Food Fight!, Foodie People, Twitter | 45 Comments »

foodfightLast week was a very slow news week. To spice things up, I played a few games like “Guess the Best Onion Rings Restaurant ” and “What is the Worst Meal You Ever Ate.” It was so fun that we spun off a game inside the game: “Uncle Nancy’s 67th Commenter.” If a person became the 67th commenter, they got a prize. Why 67? As my mom used to say, “Because.”

However, like in all games, somebody broke the rules. Chef Brian Luscher of The Grape posted 11 times straight to hit 67 and then expected to win. Obviously fame has gone to his (beat, beat) head. I scolded him in the thread. He feels so bad he offers this as an apology:

Tio Nancy,
You wrote: “Luscher, out of the game. To the showers. Disqualified. Call Pat Sharpe and have her take you to Wingfield’s. Best Burger? Make onion rings like these and we’ll talk.”

Ouch. Please forgive my double espresso fueled bout of mid- Restaurant Week buffoon-ery.  I hope I didn’t ruin your tea party.  Here is what I propose to remain in the good graces of you and your constituency of SideDish Nationales;

1. I will make you those exact onion rings. [it's a secret how I will pull it off]
2. I am inviting you and your “Be the 67th Commenter” winners in for burgers and said onion rings.
3. I will provide 10 gift certificates for burgers at The Grape for the next ten commenters.

Yow. Zah. HERE ARE THE RULES. Over the next few weeks, I’ll post a question designed to attract a zillion comments. Each time a person becomes the 67th commenter, they will be eligible for special dinner at The Grape. [So far, we have three “Uncle Nancy’s 67th Commenter” winners:  Sexy Jeff (Worst Meal), Brad (Onion rings), and George (Best Meal).]

To get warmed up, get goin’ on Luscher’s deal. The first ten commenters today get gift certificates to The Grape.

45 Comments »

Somebody Help This Poor Girl: Emergency Edition

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 31st, 2009 2:17pm | filed under Celebrity Diners, Cheap trick for comments, Mistakes I made, Murmur | 20 Comments »

bad_girlI hate to overburden you people with work and I normally wouldn’t post two SHTPG items in one day, but this gal is in deep doodoo. Her tear-stained e-mail just arrived. She is miserable, help her off the ledge.

O.M.G. you guys, I totally forgot my boyfriend’s birthday. He is the kindest, gentlest, most giving man in the world and he just had to remind me that today is his birthday. To make things worse, this weekend he heard me planning a birthday party for one of my friends and he even loaned me the money to buy my friend’s birthday present. I feel like Jethro Tull’s heel. I need to pull off a miracle. I’ll do anything. Can your SideDish readers help me?

Make her hurt, peeps. How could anyone be so selfish and unthoughtful?

20 Comments »

Where There is Fire, There Will be Smoke Restaurant at The Belmont Hotel

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 31st, 2009 1:58pm | filed under Bacon, Baking, Bars, BBQ, beer, Celebrity Chefs, Openings/Closings, PR People, Restaurant News | 7 Comments »

This announcement comes from the copy and paste press release department:

Belmont Hotel Debuts New Restaurant “Smoke”
Serving Hardwood Cooking From Scratch

DALLAS, TEXAS (August 31, 2009) – A slow burn thick with Southern style arrives in Dallas this September with Smoke. Fresh from a renovation and concept overhaul, the Belmont Hotel’s restaurant reemerges as a homage to an old fashioned smokehouse, with hardwood cooking from scratch and authentic southern flavors. Led by Chef/Co‐Owner Tim Byres, inspired by his recent travels to America’s smokehouse roots, Smoke will offer patrons a culinary experience that satisfies both the palate and soul. Employing time‐honored cooking techniques and recipes with a commitment to local ingredients, Smoke is down‐home cooking done right. JUMP!

Continue reading "Where There is Fire, There Will be Smoke Restaurant at The Belmont Hotel"

7 Comments »

Somebody Help This Poor Man: Pretzels in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 31st, 2009 9:57am | filed under catering, Celebrity Diners | 13 Comments »

pretzel-man-largeHe has a friend in need:

My friend is looking for large soft pretzels. Salted. Hope someone knows of a good place. Looking to get them for a party at the end of September.

Go my resourceful Dishers. Bend over backwards to help. (Wonder if Empire Bakery would make them? Thanks to Green Grapics for the photo.)

13 Comments »

JW Foster of the Pyramid Restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel Wins Best Caesar Salad in Dallas Competition

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 31st, 2009 9:08am | filed under Awards, Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, Events, Food Fight!, Openings/Closings, Recipes, Skinny bitches |
When life gives JW Foster lemons, he (center) makes Caesar Salad.
When life gives JW Foster lemons, he (center) makes Caesar Salad.(Thanks to Lee Fuqua for the photo.)

JW Foster of the Pyramid Restaurant and Bar at the Fairmont Hotel won the title of Best Caesar in Dallas at the 18th annual Caesar Salad Competition presented by those wacky and wonderful folks at the AIWF. Why did JW win? “Because he made the best salad,” said attendee Lee Fuqua. “We didn’t eat any of the side dishes we just ate the salads and judged the salads.”

You see a few years ago, chefs that entered the competition began to add charming side dishes such as foie gras and lobster to their salad. Once the voting public had downed a glass or two of wine they were so happy to bite into a mass of protein, they would vote for the sexy protein and not the salad. A huge rift developed in the voting masses that flock to this annual event.

But it sounds like JW Foster wooed lettuce lovers back to a semi-straightforward Caesar with his version that, according to the Teegster, “consisted of Romaine hearts dressed with anchovies, Dijon mustard, garlic, egg yolks, Texas extra virgin olive oil, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces, vinegar, lemon juice and lemon zest, Texas “parmesan” and Romano cheeses with rosemary brioche croutons.”

Daniel Nemec of Kirby’s Steak House took second place and Eric Dreyer of Fearing’s at the Ritz Carlton came in third. For the next year, FW Foster will reign over a peaceful Caesar Salad-lovin’ community.

2009 KRLD Restaurant Week: Reader Reviews

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 31st, 2009 8:32am | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, cheap eats, Restaurant News, Restaurant Week 2009, Reviews | 10 Comments »

readerreviews_krld20091Comments are open. Operators are standing by.

[UPDATE: Craft, Capital Grille, Fearing's, Pappas Bros Steakhouse.]

10 Comments »