Articles for February 24th, 2011

That Old Familiar Longing Strikes Again—Thank Goodness for Gio’s Half-Sours

posted by Sarah Reiss | February 24th, 2011 2:24pm | filed under Delis, Diets are stupid, Nostalgia | 7 Comments »

Word on the street is that Gio’s Deli is importing half-sour pickles from Carnegie Deli in NYC. As someone whose relationship to half-sours is borderline fanatical, and whose cell phone screen saver is a picture of her husband eating a half-sour (follow the jump if you don’t believe me), I am scarcely able to contain myself. In fact, the only news that could make me happier would be if they were importing them from Katz’s. For newbies to the deli scene, half-sours are a hard-to-find form of pickle that is extra crisp, bright green in color, not dill, more salty than vinegary, and generally only available in a real New York deli or on Delancey St. (Some companies have tried to jar them for the mass market, but the results are always a disappointment.)

What about you? What’s the food from your past—particularly reminiscent of a certain city—that you pine for?

Continue reading "That Old Familiar Longing Strikes Again—Thank Goodness for Gio’s Half-Sours"

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KRLD Restaurant Week 2010 Celebrates Record Charity Donation

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 24th, 2011 1:29pm | filed under KRLD Restaurant Week 2010 | 3 Comments »

After last August’s KRLD Restaurant Week/Month, I asked one of our interns to contact all of the restaurants that participated and conduct a brief survey. The results are here. I did this because most of the pre-event chatter among the trade was  negative. Many of the chefs and restaurateurs I’d spoken with were disappointed with advance reservations and most of them predicted a dim result.

However, today comes word from the organizers:

Last summer’s popular dining event raised more than $605,500 for its supporting partners — the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) in Dallas and Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth — with more than 100,000 prix fixe dinners served in 138 restaurants across Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant County.

The 2010 KRLD Restaurant Week tally reflects more than a $100,000 increase over the previous year’s charitable contributions.  As North Texas diners and participating establishments increasingly embrace the campaign message, “Dining Out’s a Good Deed, Helping Families in Need,” KRLD Restaurant Week organizers are honoring those local eateries that donated the most in 2010.

In case you want to get in shape before next summer’s extravaganza, the dates for the main week will be August 15–21, 2011.

Jump for the official press release. Continue reading "KRLD Restaurant Week 2010 Celebrates Record Charity Donation"

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Somebody Help This Poor Girl: Ladies Who Lunch Quietly

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 24th, 2011 1:00pm | filed under Celebrity Diners, Restaurant News, Skinny bitches | 21 Comments »

A concerned husband writes for advice. His wife needs your help. So, go.

My wife (40-something) is looking for a cool, “hip” restaurant for lunch.  She is taking her best friend out for the friend’s birthday.  Some place that they can have great food, great service, and talk without raising their voices.  Any suggestions?

Without raising their voices? Guess I’m not on the invite list.

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Morton’s The Steakhouse Opens With the Cattle Baron’s Ball Entertainment Reveal Party

posted by Sarah Reiss | February 24th, 2011 11:00am | filed under Events, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 4 Comments »

Jacquelin Sewell (far left) and Sara Fay Egan (far right) co-chaired the reveal party, Jennifer Dix (center) is the 2011 Cattle Baron's Ball chair.

Our new editorial intern Katie Minchew braved crowds of socialites to attend last night’s Cattle Baron’s Ball Entertainment Reveal Party at the brand new Morton’s The Steakhouse. Take it away, Katie:

Last night, the new McKinney and Pearl location of Morton’s The Steakhouse hosted a location-preview reception followed by the 2011 Cattle Baron’s Ball Entertainment Reveal Party. In attendance: reveal-event chairs Sarah Fay Egan and Jacquelin Sewell, along with the 2011 Cattle Baron’s Ball Chair, Jennifer Dix.

jump to read more Continue reading "Morton’s The Steakhouse Opens With the Cattle Baron’s Ball Entertainment Reveal Party"

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First-Take Review of Komali—the Hits and the Misses

posted by Sarah Reiss | February 24th, 2011 10:05am | filed under Openings/Closings, Restaurant News, Reviews | 13 Comments »

Antojitos Mexicanos at Komali. (photos by Desiree Espada)

The setup: What you expect from Komali and what you get from Komali are not so much different as muted variations of each other. You expect a solid, flavorful, and surprising menu of items that, while you might not have heard of them before, are certain to be masterfully played at the hand of Uptown restaur-entrepreneur Abraham Salum.

That’s not quite what you get. The space, while attractive and sleek, has a sort of paint-by-numbers-with-a-kitschy-fireplace-thrown-in vibe, and the menu, for all its promise, is peppered with dishes that fall short of their descriptions.

And as much as we want it all to work (we really do), our experience with Komali left us underwhelmed.

Click here to read the full review.

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Komali in Dallas Aims High

posted by Andrew Chalk | February 24th, 2011 10:04am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Restaurant News | 9 Comments »

Ed. Note: I posted Andrew’s take on Komali earlier this morning. I didn’t realize that Sarah Reiss was also posting her first take on Komali. Somebody took down Andrew’s post but I’m putting it back up because today is officially “Let’s Talk About Komali Day” and we will move on tomorrow.

When I saw Salum owner Abraham Salum last week, he invited me to sample the menu at his new restaurant, Komali. Since he knows what I look like so I cannot review his places. I accepted his invitation so that I could describe the restaurant and explain what it is like to eat there. More anonymous souls from this site, will review it a little later.

Jump. Continue reading "Komali in Dallas Aims High"

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Attack of the Heart Attack Grill in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 24th, 2011 9:48am | filed under Burgers, Newfangled condiments, Nutjobs, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News, Silly Reasons to Celebrate | 15 Comments »

If you look like this, you can sling burgers to 350-pound men. Or work at D Magazine.

Ladies and gentlemen, and I use the terms loosely, it is officially raining burgers in Dallas. The latest twist on ground beef between two buns is Heart Attack Grill from Phoenix. I would have thought yesterday’s press release a joke if I hadn’t passed the original location in Phoenix a couple of years ago.

Their motto? “Treating anorexia since 2005.” Their objective? “Always keeping the patient’s budget in mind, you’ll have the comfort of knowing that all your meals are absolutely free once you reach the 350 pound goal weight. Imagine the joy of knowing you’ve finally achieved something!” Their sales pitch? “Doctors agree that continually cycling body weight up and down is one of the very worst things a person can do to themselves. That’s why our program is focused upon keeping your weight in an extremely stable, gradual, and constant upward slope.”

Whatever. You won’t have to wait long to be served a Quadruple Bypass Burger®, an order of Flatliner Fries®, a Butterfat Shake®, and a Taste Worth Dying For®–they are opening a location on Market Street in Dallas in June.

Looking for a job? “Imagine earning a great salary while giving away free food to people who weigh over 350 pounds!”

I have a sense of humor but this kinda makes me sick. Check out their website and give me your opinion. Have they gone too far or am I officially a fuddy duddy?

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