Articles for February 26th, 2010

6th Annual Savor Dallas Next Friday

posted by Hayley Hamilton | February 26th, 2010 4:48pm | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Chefs, Festivals, Savor dallas, Texas Wine, Wine & Spirits | 5 Comments »

When Jim White, and co-founder, Vicki Briley-White, started Savor Dallas in 2005 to showcase Dallas’ top chefs, restaurants and food, paired with some of the best local, national and international wines available, they likely had only hoped it would have grown to what it is today – one of the largest gatherings for foodies and wine lovers in the region. 

Each year it gets bigger and better, and 2010 looks as if it will not disappoint.   

Beginning Friday, March 5, the AT&T Performing Arts District welcomes Savor Dallas with the “Arts District Wine Stroll” starting at The Dallas Museum of Art through the Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center, The Winspear Opera House and the Wyly Theater.   From 5pm-7pm guests will stroll through each venue tasting and toasting wine from Cakebread, Grgich Hills Estate, Mumm Napa and Texas Winery Fall Creek Vineyard and distillery Dripping Springs Vodka, to name a few with snacks from the One Arts Plaza restaurants. Continue reading "6th Annual Savor Dallas Next Friday"

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Let’s Kick a Dead Horse: Il Mulino in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 26th, 2010 11:58am | filed under AgriBusiness, Ethnic Food, Foodie People, How to Open a Restaurant 101, Murmur, Procrastination is part of the creative process, Restaurant News, Reviews | 18 Comments »

Some of the comments under yesterday’s comments post about Leslie Brenner’s picks for Best French Restaurants went a little east of France. Like to Italy. At one point I wrote:

“It took you a year of eating red-sauce Italian food and steak au poivre to come to the conclusion that the majority of Dallas diners do not have adventurous palates. (R.I.P Il Mulino)”

The line caused several commenters  to steer off topic and question the quality/authenticity of IL Mulino. I used IL Mulino as an example of a restaurant that failed here because Dallas diners refused to accept the, for Dallas, adventurous menu. “Authentic” Italian or not, whatever that is around here, is not the issue. Whatever Il Mulino was—gasp, modern Italian?! New York Mob Italian?! French Italian?!—it was, in my opinion, a good restaurant. Why? Because, without going back to my notes or reviews, I can clearly remember (and taste) the food I ate—the ravioli in champagne sauce, the Dover sole, the complimentary appetizers.  Strong taste memories are hard to come by when you eat food for a living.

Il Mulino was expensive—Dallas doesn’t like to pay for high prices for Italian unless they are in New York or Los Angeles or Italy. However, they don’ t blink at forking over $50 for an 8-ounce filet of beef. It’s a reality of  how the majority of palates and pocketbooks in this city roll.

On another note, I don’t like using the term “authentic” to describe food from another country. For the sake of argument, an Italian recipe can be authentic but unless all of the ingredients are sourced in Italy, the resulting dish is not truly authentic. Chew on that one. And spit it out below.

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Pancakes, Pinkberry, and Pizza Diet: Working

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 26th, 2010 9:47am | filed under Uncategorized | 13 Comments »

I am stuck at a doctor’s appointment so I willl attempt to post ffrom my phone. Sounds silly, right! Well, it is now required for all D bloggers. Good times. Anywhoo, as some of you know, I have been on a dangerous eating regime which I’m sure could be exlpained by a therapist. (if you are out there I am listening.) For the last two months I have eaten large quantities of Pinkberry, pancakes, and pizza outside of my working meals. I feared the nurse as she steered me to the scale. I’m down 2 pounds!!! Somebody pinch me!

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Restaurant News: Bits and Bytes

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 26th, 2010 8:25am | filed under Celebrity Diners, Events, Groceries, Restaurant News, Wine & Spirits | 1 Comment »

Wine dinner on a Wednesday at Castello Banfi. OMG, that looks like Karen Cassady from Central Market!

Jimmy’s Food Store. Good News: John Mariani (no, not that one) of Banfi Vintners will be at Jimmy’s on March 3. This John Mariani is the  CEO and family proprietor of Banfi Vintners the distributor for wines produced at Castello Banfi in Montalcino, Italy. Great Italian wine at good prices. I haven’t met Mariani, but I’ve toured the wine-making facilities at Castello Banfi. If you are planning a trip to Italy, I suggest you make reservations at the restaurant on property and please take time to tour the balsamic vinegar cellar. Details and wine below the jump.

Eddie V’s. Eddie V’s Restaurants, Inc. owners and longtime friends Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles have announced that they will open their Dallas Eddie V’s Prime Seafood this April at Avondale and Oak Lawn. They will begin taking reservations for their first evening, April 19, 2010, in early April. The seating capacity is–beat, beat–300. Full release below the jump.

Central Market. Take out Italian from the Central Market Deli—they offer “fresh pastas and sauces. Their stuffed pastas include a hearty ravioli loaded with mozzarella, basil and tomato; half-moons, or mezzaluna, pasta filled with shrimp, lobster and cheese; spinach-stuffed rigatoni and more. Tender fettucini, ricotta cavatelli and rigatoni require just a few minutes of cooking before revealing velvety noodles. And with eight fresh sauces such as prosciutto-loaded Filetto di Pomodoro, creamy Champagne with a hint of red pepper, or rich Alfredo, you can mix and match to create your own perfect pasta menu. Don’t forget the Parmigiana Reggiano!” Yes, don’t forget the cheese.

Tre Amici Prime Steakhouse & Seafood. This spot is now open for lunch and chef de cuisine Chris Hughes has a new menu. Bottles of wine are 25 percent off. They have a nice piano bar featuring Adrian King, which is pretty groovy. Deets below. Continue reading "Restaurant News: Bits and Bytes"

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