Articles for October 14th, 2010

There’s MoMo’s … and Then There’s MoMo Italian Specialties

posted by Sarah Reiss | October 14th, 2010 2:05pm | filed under Foodie People, Groceries, Neighborhood restaurants | 13 Comments »

OK, Dallas. There’s something that needs clearing up: MoMo Italian Specialties on Forest (awesome) is not the same as MoMo’s Pasta on Knox. I know, I know, they have the same name (they used to be affiliated). However, after the split, MoMo Italian Specialties on Forest (a.k.a. the original) retained the on-site fresh pasta making rights, the traditional recipes, and the loyalty of a devoted group of foodies who’d rather you didn’t know about it lest they not be able to get a table on a Friday night.

jump with me; here’s where it get’s really interesting… Continue reading "There’s MoMo’s … and Then There’s MoMo Italian Specialties"

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Napa Vintners Take On Dallas

posted by Hayley Hamilton | October 14th, 2010 12:45pm | filed under Chefs, Wine & Spirits |

Over 60 of Napa’s best Vintners invaded Dallas Wednesday pouring some of their finest at both a trade event in the afternoon, and a customer event benefiting The March of Dimes in the evening.  Wine makers from Rocca, Shafer, Miner, Couquerel, Honig, Rambauer, Peju, Ceja and more poured the latest vintages to happy patrons taking an opportunity to connect, and hopefully further develop their following.  The afternoon festivities included about 60 Napa wineries and over 250 samplings, the big event for the evening took place at the Frontiers of Flight museum with 20 of Dallas top chefs and 40 Napa wineries pairing together to raise money for the March of Dimes.  Here are a few favorites:

John Truchard of John Anthony Wine

As I was riding up the elevator at Cityplace for the afternoon tasting I met Jonathan Truchard of John Anthony wine.  Growing up in the Truchard family he knew this was a business he had to step in to, but on his own.  After several years working as a vineyard manager, helping such wineries as Dallas own Coquerel Winery get off the ground, he decided to start making his own.  The best, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes planted in the early 1990′s in Napa’s Oak Knoll district.  Smoky cherry and licorice flavors with balance and a smooth finish. Continue reading "Napa Vintners Take On Dallas"

Taj Mahal Surprises With Outsider Charm and a Mystery Woman

posted by Sarah Reiss | October 14th, 2010 12:15pm | filed under Ethnic Food, Spicy foods | 7 Comments »

Aloo chat

Like everyone, I tend to overlook the restaurants out there that have been around forever, imagining a tired menu and service worn thin by too many years of sameness.

So, when a restaurant in this category actually wins me over, I tend to springboard in the opposite direction and spread the good news like Scrooge on Christmas morning. All of which is to say that while I may have slogged through the door at Taj Mahal last night, I emerged transformed.

jump for the rest of the story… Continue reading "Taj Mahal Surprises With Outsider Charm and a Mystery Woman"

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Rehashing the Obvious: DMN’s Restaurant Star Rating System is Still Broken

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 14th, 2010 12:07pm | filed under Go Rangers!, Procrastination is part of the creative process, Restaurant News, Reviews | 27 Comments »

The restaurant reviewers at the Dallas Morning News can’t win for losing. Each Wednesday when their reviews hit the web, readers who take the time to comment still seem confused by the number of stars assigned to a review. Sometimes there are more positive statements than negative, yet the restaurant receives only two stars.

It’s a difficult and complicated task to coordinate reviews and stars. But if you have to keep explaining your method, you should know whatever you are doing is not working and you are not serving your readers. Let’s go back.

Continue reading "Rehashing the Obvious: DMN’s Restaurant Star Rating System is Still Broken"

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Decadent Dinner Party for the Holidays for Only $10,000

posted by Krista Nightengale | October 14th, 2010 11:05am | filed under catering, Christmas, Hanukkah |

I live across the street from Neiman Marcus. So not only have I seen the unveiling of its 2010 Christmas Book, but I also have a fantastic view of the store as it preps for the holiday season. Nothing made me happier than seeing their Christmas trees outside the building lit up last night.

All this to say: I’m in the mood for the holidays. And I’m not the only one. We got a press release announcing that Nicola’s Ristorante Italiano and Culinary Connection are doing a $10,000 decadent dinner party. Not only will you get chef Sascia Marchesi’s fine cooking in your kitchen, you’ll also get to keep the tableware the dinner is served on (the dishes will even be loaded into the dishwasher at the end of the night). To see the menu and get more details, jump!

Continue reading "Decadent Dinner Party for the Holidays for Only $10,000"

Dallas Chefs to Participate in World Go Vegan Week

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 14th, 2010 11:01am | filed under AgriBusiness, Vegetarian/Vegan | 10 Comments »

Go Vegan Week is a worldwide celebration of compassion and sustainability organized by Mercy for Animals. It takes place this year from October 24 through October 31. So far five Dallas restaurants (Salum, The Second Floor, Tillman’s Roadhouse, Bijoux, Stephan Pyles Restaurant) will be creating vegan dishes for Go Vegan Week Dallas. Why vegan? The press release says:

“On today’s factory farms, animals are crammed by the thousands into filthy, windowless sheds, wire cages, gestation crates and other cruel confinement systems. These animals will never root in the soil, build nests or do anything that is natural to them. They won’t even feel the sun on their backs or breathe fresh air until the day they are loaded onto trucks bound for slaughter. Animals on factory farms have little to no legal protection. Cruelty that would be illegal if it were inflicted on dogs or cats, such as neglect, mutilation, transport through all weather extremes, and gruesome and violent slaughter, is commonplace in animal agribusiness. Yet farmed animals are no less intelligent or capable of feeling pain than are the dogs and cats we cherish as companions.”

Okay then, whose hungry? will you participate? Details below. Continue reading "Dallas Chefs to Participate in World Go Vegan Week"

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Lakewood 1st & 10 to Open Plano 1st & 10

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 14th, 2010 9:48am | filed under Bars, beer, Go Rangers! |

What that’s old cheer about 1st and 10, do it again. Well, Lakewood 1st & 10 , our Best of Big D choice for Best Sports Bar, is doing just that. They are opening Plano 1st & 10 at the corner of Spring Creek and Coit this afternoon at 5 with a soft opening with a limited menu similar to the one in East Dallas. Just in time for tomorrow night’s opening game of the ALCS staring C.J. Wilson and the Texas Rangers! Plenty of TVs inside and out. Will they serve claw and antlers on the menu? Dunno. Have to wait and see.