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New Cookie Company In Carrollton: ZitaCookies

Sugar cookie with Key lime glaze.

Anybody tried ZitaCookies on Old Denton Road in Foodie Town, I mean, Carrollton? It’s a mom shop (pop has another job) dedicated to baking fresh cookies. Owner Zita DeGraffenreid delivers in town, mails orders all over the place, and offers a Cookie of the Month program. Check it out and report back. 972-245-4100.

Restaurant News: Bits and Bites

From the copy and paste press release department:

Cibus. Interactive Cocktail Class on Thursday, October 22, 2009 (6:30-7:30pm). Join Mixologist Marina Catania to “shake the martinis”at Cibus Café in Northpark Passed Appetizers. $20 per person. 214-692-0001.

Aurora. “Truffles.” October Cooking Class on Saturday, October 24th at 10:00 am
4-course lunch with wine pairings for $125 per person. 214-528-9400.

Celebration Restaurant. Dinner with Dialogue Series. The first dinner is October 5th. The subject is “Sustainability-The ability to meet our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. The Bruntland Commission.” Check the rest of the calendar here. Dinner 6-7 p.m.; Speakers 7-7:30; dialogue 7:30-? Reservations: 214-351-5681 or edlowe@celebrationrestaurant.com.

RA SUSHI.  A sake and sushi social on Monday, October 12. Learn sushi rolling and sake paring basics while you treat yourself to a selection of RA’s fresh sushi, appetizers and fine sakes. For $30, guests will enjoy a sushi rolling lesson and four courses paired with sake.  Space is limited, and reservations are required. 469-467-7400 to make a reservation.

French American Chamber of Commerce and Goody Goody Wine & Spirits.  Beaujolais Wine Festival Kick-off Party on Thursday, October 22, 2009. (Registration & Networking Reception – 5:30 p.m. Wine Tasting – 6:15 p.m.) The wine tasting will include (4) Crus du Beaujolais and (4) Bordeaux wines and hors d’oeuvres
Crus du Beaujolais Selection:
Domaine Bernard Santé, Juliénas 2007, Domaine Bernard Santé, Moulin à Vent 2006, Domaine Christian Bernard, Fleurie 2007, Domaine de la Roche St. Martin, Brouilly 2007

Bordeaux Selection:
Château Palihas, Bordeaux 2005, Château Larrivaux, Haut-Médoc 2005, Vieux Château Palon, St. Emilion 2005, Château les Graves de Julien, Bordeaux 2005

Milestone Culinary Arts Center. 4531 McKinney Avenue. 214-526-3942.

Jean-Michel Sakouh Moves His New Restaurant From Downtown to Knox Henderson

Not happening.

Jean-Michel Sakouh made a big deal about his new Jean-Michel’s restaurant in Mercantile Place downtown. According to Christopher “Achatz”  Wynn, Jean-Michel has changed his mind. He scooped up the coveted, albeit ill-fated, Il Sole/Ari’s Wine Bar space on Travis.

New State Fair Chow: Stuffed BBQ Wings

Just found out that the sweet folk at Thai-rrific — great Thai food in Northwest Dallas — are serving their popular stuffed chicken wings at the State Fair this year for the first time. For the fair, they’re serving a barbeque variation, stuffing the wings with beef, potato, onion, and noodles and then smoking them. You can find them at Smoky John’s BBQ booth.

Chapman Chile House in Dallas in Peril, Ctd.

I just spoke with Fran Chapman. She is in her car and headed to the Dallas Farmers Market. “I have movers behind me with a refrigerator,” she said. “I will be open today as soon as I can pay my fee.” She will be in Shed Two selling 32-ounce containers of Chapman’s chili and packages of stuffed jalapenos. Y’all, head down to Shed Two. It’s a perfect fall day to load up on chili.

Chapman Chile House in Peril

Pour yourself a another cup of coffee, this is a sad tale. Remember when I told you about the Dallas Health Department shutting down the Farmers Market at Celebration by requiring vendors to have mechanical refrigeration? I just got off the phone with Randal Chapman of Chapman Chile House in East Dallas. He says the DHD has also shut down Green Spot and Bolsa (unconfirmed). “Losing those Farmers Markets was really huge for us,” said Randall. “We were supplementing our income at them every weekend.”

Oh, it gets worse. Check out the blog post from Chapman’s website yesterday (T/H to CB ):

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
The Will To Survive:

We may not be able to overcome the location, size and hours we are open. Our son, Graham, and me have had flu symptoms all week so I have not been in to help Fran. It seems clear that the owner of the building has no interest in renovation and therefore we will not be able to expand. I need to focus all my efforts on finding a job so we can at least keep our house even if we have to close the kitchen.
I apologize if this sounds doom and gloom but it looks like we need some kind of miracle.

Health Department issues aside, Randal and Fran are cursed with a “slumlord” who refuses to “get the construction of our expansion” going. (The tiny spot on Carroll and Worth has plans to add an additional dining room.) “He tells us the building isn’t for sale,” said Randall. “But he doesn’t care about this place. He bought it in the mid-80s and it’s just chump change to him.”

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