Articles for September 2nd, 2009

How To Cook Rack of Lamb Like Charlie Palmer, The Video

posted by Sarah Eveans | September 2nd, 2009 3:37pm | filed under Chefs, Cooking |

Colorado lamb rack with fingerling Lyonnaise and pancetta balsamic reduction.

Colorado lamb rack with fingerling Lyonnaise and pancetta balsamic reduction.

As Jennifer has mentioned, I got to cook with Charlie Palmer at his restaurant yesterday. Well, I didn’t really cook. I just asked questions and got sweaty, and left the cooking to chef Palmer and his exec, Scott Romano. Kyle Kearbey got it all on camera.

Watch the video here. Inspired? Make this dish tonight.

Good News For Healthy Diners: UFood Grill and Urban Taco in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 2nd, 2009 3:20pm | filed under Foodie People, Health Food, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 1 Comment »

From the copy and paste good news press release department:

Gina Puente-Brancato, Chief Executive Officer of Puente-Brancato Enterprises, announced today that her company will open UFood Grill and Urban Taco restaurants in Dallas County’s Parkland Memorial Hospital. Currently PBE owns and operates UFood Grill and Urban Taco locations, and 20 other businesses, in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

UFood Grill, which serves no fried food, is a natural for hospitals looking to provide diners with a quick-service restaurant offering “better-for-you” versions of traditional favorites, such as chicken wraps, whole grain rice bowls and specialty salads. Urban Taco, a modern Mexican taqueria, has been enhanced to serve authentic Mexican favorites with more nutritional balance.

Using all fresh ingredients, the menu includes items such as salads, urban tacos, and Mexico City tortas. PBE is hiring more than 100 positions for the two restaurants before their December 1st, 2009 openings. PBE is continually searching for “difference makers” who enjoy a smaller, fast-paced organization that recognizes individual contributions and fresh, new ideas. The company is hiring everything from cooks to cashiers, food preps, administrative, utility and management personnel. Interested applicants should call 972-574-6227 or email jobs@pbedfw.com.

1 Comment »

State Fair of Texas: New Food Fight

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 2nd, 2009 3:09pm | filed under Bacon, Baking, beer, Cheap trick for comments, Chocolate, Cooking, Food Fight! | 30 Comments »

The finalists for the Fifth Annual Big Tex Choice Awards were announced yesterday. A panel of three judges will decide Best Taste and Most Creative winners on Labor Day.

Perhaps we should have our own little voter’s poll below. Let’s Ranch It Up for these tasty tidbits. Or submit one of your own. Go crazy. Be creative–let’s try for 67 comments. K? Go.
Real Contestants:

Green Goblins – Cherry peppers are hollowed out, stuffed with spicy shredded chicken and guacamole, then battered and deep fried. Served three to a skewer and topped with queso.
Deep Fried Butter – 100% pure butter is whipped till light and fluffy, then specially sweetened with a choice of several flavors. The tantalizing mixture is surrounded by a special dough and quick fried. Served on a stick.
Twisted Yam on a Stick – A delicious, towering, spiral-cut sweet potato on a 13” skewer is fried to a delicate crispy texture, then gently rolled in butter and dusted with cinnamon and sugar.
Fernie’s Deep Fried Peaches & Cream – Sweet juicy peaches are coated in a delicious batter of cinnamon, ginger, coconut, graham cracker crumbs, eggs & milk, then deep fried to a crunchy golden brown on the outside, while luscious and sweet on the inside. Served on a plate drizzled with raspberry sauce and sprinkled with streusel topping & a dollop of whipped cream. A side of vanilla butter cream icing is provided for dipping.
Texas Fried Pecan Pie – A mini-pecan pie is battered and deep fried to a golden brown. Served drizzled with rich caramel sauce, then topped with whipping cream and chopped candied pecans.
Country Fried Pork Chips – Thin sliced pork loin is seasoned, surrounded by a tasty corn meal batter and deep fried. Served with sides of ketchup or cream gravy.
Sweet Jalapeno Corn Dog Shrimp – Shrimp on a stick is coated with a sweet and spicy corn meal batter, then deep fried to a golden brown and served with a spicy glaze.
Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroon – A peanut butter cup is wrapped inside a coconut macaroon fried and dusted with powdered sugar. Also available with a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream.

30 Comments »

Guessing Games: The Winners of The Grape “Free Burger” Gift Certificates

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 2nd, 2009 2:16pm | filed under Awards, Burgers, Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, Cheap trick for comments, Hippie revolutions | 10 Comments »
Some people think this is the best burger in Texas.
Some people think this is the best burger in Texas.

Listen up: Monday, Brian Luscher of The Grape offered 10 gift certificates to the first ten commenters to this post.

If you are Tx2Step, Elena34, Kyle, Ash, Melody, DarnellErwinFletcher, CD, MaggieP, Chuck, or Erik, e-mail me with contact information so that I can get the certificates to you.

10 Comments »

Will Central 214 Top Chef Blythe Beck Bottom Out on TV?

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 2nd, 2009 1:35pm | filed under Bacon, Baking, Celebrity Chefs, Chefs, Contests, Cooking, dessert, DideDish CheeseHead, Food On TV, Foodie People, Restaurant News, Reviews, Travel, Twitter, Vegetarian/Vegan, Wine & Spirits, Wine Dinner Wednesday | 29 Comments »

central214ashxIs reality TV good for the career of a chef? I don’t watch enough to have an educated opinion but, from where I sit, it looks like more top chefs bottom out after their 15 minutes, or months, of fame. Casey who? Tre what? Lisa Garza is where? Dig what I’m shooting at you?

Next girl up is Central 214’s Blythe Beck. She will star in The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck on Oxygen. I’ve never really understood the naughty kitchen concept. So I checked the shows website. It says:

Blythe Beck, the fiery young chef and star of Oxygen’s upcoming series The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck, shows off her distinctive sexy American cuisine, her cutting edge Dallas restaurant, Central 214, and her loud and flamboyant staff. The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck is certain to cook up the drama both in and out of the kitchen. Oxygen follows executive chef Blythe Beck, a 29-year old Texas native, who is plus-sized in stature and personality, and her colorful crew at Central 214, inside and outside the kitchen as they interact with the Dallas elite and the local university students.

Monday night I went to Central 214 to check it out and write a mini-review. Sadly, I didn’t see waitresses in garter belts or waiters wearing thongs, but I did find the Door Whores. And calories. Lots of calories. What is sexy about calories? I guess we will find out when the show starts on September 22nd. Somebody tell me this is a good thing.

29 Comments »

Dallas Restaurant News: Bits and Bites

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 2nd, 2009 9:05am | filed under Bacon, beer, Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, cheap eats, Chocolate, Events, GO TEXAN, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News, Wine & Spirits | 2 Comments »

From the copy and paste press release department:

Molto Formaggio. “MF has sourced an exciting new line of handcrafted cheeses from Switzerland and Bavaria that will be new to area consumers. Among the finds that will be introduced this week at both Molto Formaggio shops are Forsterkase, Scharfe Maxx, Heublumen, Bavarian Limburger (organic), and Challerhocker. Molto Formaggio is pleased to announce that they will be receiving shipments for both Thanksgiving and Christmas of the world famous Vacherin Mont d’Or cheese.  These one pound pieces are only produced 3 months out of the year and are truly the most luscious and wonderful cheeses made in the world.  Customers must preorder these cheeses for delivery in November or December as they will surely be sold out due to the limited quantities available.”  HP 214-526-0700. Preston Forest 214-361-9191.

Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen. “Introducing Heart-Healthy Lunch Items and $10 Menu Choices. Chef Kent Rathbun has created heart-healthy menu items including, Grilled Chicken Breast with Portobello Mushrooms, Ricotta, Rosemary Olive Oil and Mache Salad; Salmon Burger; Heirloom Tomato Dallas Mozzarella Salad with Avocado Green Goddess Dressing; Tassione Farm Field Green Salad with Roasted Lemon-Sherry Vinaigrette; Grilled Chicken Breast with California Avocado, Paula’s Cottage Cheese and Avocado Yogurt; and Shrimp, Crab and Lobster “Coleslaw” with Cilantro-Lime Dressing. All heart-healthy menu items are designated by a red heart. In conjunction with these items on our everyday menu, Chef Rathbun will offer a Heart Healhty Blue Plate Special for lunch and dinner until September 5. Starting September 14, on each Monday our Blue Plate Special will be Heart Healthy. Come join us and feel good again! Chef Rathbun has also added new $10 menu items on our lunch menu. Enjoy Carr Valley Mammoth Cheddar Grilled Cheese, Chef’s Choice Taco Plate of the Day, Salmon Burger and Grilled Flatbread and Hummus with Feta Cheese.”

The Pyramid Restaurant. On Friday, September 25th, the Pyramid Restaurant will host a Spaten Beer Pairing Dinner. Executive Chef jW Foster will pair his exciting “modern American” cuisine with the legendary German beers from Spaten. Details and menu below.

Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef. “Dallas-based longhorn co-op Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef, which is owned and maintained by several Dallas residents that also own other Dallas-based business. Mike Crawford, not only owns Red Peak Ranch, he owns and operates a marketing firm here in Dallas. The Texas longhorn co-op has just joined the Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program. Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef is currently being served at Local in Deep Ellum and at Opa! Grill on Preston. Full release below.

Chick-fil-A.  “Free Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich to all customers wearing any sports-related apparel on Labor Day to celebrate the second-annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff football game!This year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will feature University of Alabama against Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.” Continue reading "Dallas Restaurant News: Bits and Bites"

2 Comments »

2009 Restaurant Week: Reader Reviews

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 2nd, 2009 9:05am | filed under Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

readerreviews_krld20091Comments are open. Operators are standing by.

1 Comment »