Articles for November 11th, 2010

Small Approaches to Big Indulgences on Seasons 52 Dessert Menu in Plano

posted by Sarah Reiss | November 11th, 2010 10:00pm | filed under dessert, Diets are stupid |

Seasons 52 minis. Small bites with big YUM!

OK, we love this. In an effort to minimize the impact on your waistline during the holiday glut (at least that’s what we want to believe), Seasons 52 in Plano’s Shops at Legacy is offering the Pumpkin Pie Mini Indulgence so that we can all enjoy the pleasure of a great dessert while simultaneously side-stepping much of guilt. But the minis are not just limited to pumpkin pie (although the ginger-snap crust makes it must-try); think rocky road, pecan pie, and chocolate peanut butter mousse.

But here’s my favorite part: if you go on their website or Facebook page, you can take an online personality quiz that matches you with your perfect mini-indulgence match. Find out if your personality is more mocha macchiato or key lime pie, then perform your own taste test to see if they nailed you. But, to be fair, you’ll have to try all of them and report back.

jump for the recipe… Continue reading "Small Approaches to Big Indulgences on Seasons 52 Dessert Menu in Plano"

Beaujolais Festival November 19th

posted by Hayley Hamilton | November 11th, 2010 8:49pm | filed under Chefs, Festivals, Wine & Spirits | 2 Comments »

We have posted a few times about the upcoming Beaujolais Festival but I just got the list of sponsors and participants this year, which seem to be better than ever for their 27th festival.  Festival wine selections will come from all over France – Bordeaux, Rhone, Burgundy and obviously, Beaujolais, along side selections from throughout Texas.  Pairing with the wine will be bites from over 20 Dallas restaurants including  La Duni Latin Café, Lavendou Bistro Provencal, Parigi, Salum Restaurant, Sambuca Uptown, Scardello Artisan Cheese, and more.  Tickets are available here, with discounts on four or more. 

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FOX MasterChef Casting Pays a Call on Dallas on Dec. 4 & 5

posted by Sarah Reiss | November 11th, 2010 3:39pm | filed under Food Fight!, Food On TV, hold on to your effin hat | 1 Comment »

Gordon Ramsay wants you!

Talent scouts and producers of Gordon Ramsay’s MasterChef will conduct an open casting call in Dallas on Dec. 4 & 5 as part of their nationwide search for those few, perfect, talented, everyday, and moderately insane at-home cooks anxious to publicize their culinary snap in the show’s second season. (For the uninitiated, the show consists of Ramsay and fellow judges Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot “coaching and critiquing contestants in a series of challenges designed to test their palates, knowledge, and determination.”)

So, home cooks, now’s your opportunity to flash your signature dish where it counts. We don’t know the location yet, but in the meantime visit masterchefcasting.com to glut yourself on information, forms, and the like.

First stop, that well-worn spot in front of your own Jenn-Air; next stop the utter cluster-cuss that is reality TV.

Bonne chance!

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Chef Kent Rathbun and Central Market Team Up for 2011 North Texas Food Bank Calendar

posted by Sarah Reiss | November 11th, 2010 2:53pm | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Events, fundraiser, Groceries, Thanksgiving |

The cover of the 2011 benefit calendar.

North Texas Food Bank has teamed with Chef Kent Rathbun and Central Market to create NTFB’s 2011 Hunger & Thirst calendar. Sure, the calendar is $19.95, but the $24 worth of coupons to Central Market inside more than make up your investment, and the Rathbun recipes included inside the calendar will have you burnign through those coupons in no time.

And here’s the kicker: since 100 percent of the proceeds from the calendar go directly to the food bank, one calendar = 80 meals.

To get the word out, Central Market, Chef Rathbun, and NTFB staffers will be getting together at both Central Market locations to have some fun in the name of food. Come on out and meet them.

Thursday, November 16 from 6 – 8 PM – Central Market – Dallas (5750 E. Lover’s Ln.)
Saturday, December 4 from 10 – 12 noon – Central Market – Plano (320 Coit Rd.)

Ribbon Cut on Green McDonald’s in Irving

posted by Sarah Reiss | November 11th, 2010 2:27pm | filed under Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 6 Comments »

We sent D intern Taylor Walker to check out the new mega-McDonald’s in Irving. Let’s see what she had to say about this gi-normous adventure in green design…

The Massey family (from right) Heath, Gale, Bill, and Chanda.

I’m confident that the readers of this blog, smart as you are, are well aware that today is Veterans Day, but how many of you know what new holiday was celebrated yesterday throughout the city of Irving? That’s right, thanks to Mayor Herbert Gears, November 10, 2010, shall now forever be known as “Irving Boulevard McDonald’s Restaurant Day.”

Kudos to those of you who remembered to celebrate!

Patrons, staff, and city officials came out to celebrate the opening of a new 7,800 sq. ft. uber-McDonald’s at 302 W. Irving Blvd., the largest built in the U.S. in the past 20 years. The project has been credited with spearheading the revitalization of the city’s Heritage District.

jump to read the whole story… Continue reading "Ribbon Cut on Green McDonald’s in Irving"

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Thanksgiving Wine Deals…Buy Now to Save

posted by Hayley Hamilton | November 11th, 2010 11:12am | filed under Holidays, North Texas Wine, Thanksgiving, Wine & Spirits |

There are a handful of wine deals I have run across to save for holiday stocking up.  Buy now and save a few bucks.  If you have more, please comment.

Central Market  has Veuve Clicquot this week for $37.99….one of the lowest prices I have seen in a while! And, buy 6 bottles or more of any wine and get 10% off.

Our friends at Siduri in Sonoma have a few great packages for the holidays all of which include free shipping, more available via their website:

RUSSIAN HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
2009 Novy Russian River Valley Gewurztraminer
2009 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2007 Novy Russian River Valley Syrah
 Gift Pack for only $60 including shipping.

 SINGLY UNIQUE, COLLECTIVELY EXTRAORDINARY
2008 Siduri Sonatera Vineyard Pinot Noir
2008 Siduri Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir
2008 Siduri Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
Gift Pack for only $99 including shipping. Continue reading "Thanksgiving Wine Deals…Buy Now to Save"

Kent Rathbun’s Scallop Raises Funds for Food Bank

posted by Andrew Chalk | November 11th, 2010 8:28am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Chefs, Foodie People, fundraiser | 1 Comment »

Philanthropy on a plate: chili-seared sea scallop, chipotle corn mash, tequila-lime cream, and micro-cilantro.

Yesterday, Hayley Hamilton reported that Kent Rathbun is introducing a Double Rewards Dish at Abacus, Blue Plate Kitchen, and Jasper’s Plano. The mere ordering of the dish triggers an interbank transfer to North Texas Food Bank from Capital One Bank for twice the price of the item.

Today we have the details, and a pic. The dish is a chili-seared sea scallop with chipotle corn mash, tequila-lime cream, and micro-cilantro. The sweetness of the corn and smokiness of the chipotle are a subtly enticing combination. The cilantro is micro only in size. In taste, it is full-sized and booms out of this dish loud and clear.

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