Articles for April 18th, 2011

DallasChocolate.org Announces Dates for Chocolate Conference 2011

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 18th, 2011 4:39pm | filed under Chocolate, Events | 3 Comments »

This year’s salute to chocolate presented by DallasChocolate.org will take place at the Addison Conference Center on August 27.

Full press release below. Continue reading "DallasChocolate.org Announces Dates for Chocolate Conference 2011"

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Bob Sambol of Bob’s Steak & Chop House Pleads Guilty to Felony Theft

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 18th, 2011 3:59pm | filed under Food Crime, Steakhouses | 12 Comments »

DMN’s Jennifer Emily reports Bob Sambol, founder of Bob’s Steak & Chop House, pleaded guilty this afternoon to felony theft. Sambol was accused of taking $300,000 from an investor to make improvements on the restaurant. The improvements were never made.  Sambol will repay the debt. He received 10 years of deferred adjudication. I reached Bob on his cell. “It’s settled. It’s over,” Sambol said. “Business is great at Bob’s and there is a bright future to look forward to.”

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Dallas Must-Do List: Mariano’s Frozen Margarita

posted by Lisa Collins | April 18th, 2011 2:42pm | filed under Dallas Must-Do List, Tex-Mex |

Lisa raises her glass.

I’m not sure if living in Texas for more than 10 years makes me qualified enough to be considered a Texan, but I do know I have acquired quite a few Texan traits over the years, especially having to do with my palate. I now understand what queso means, stomach jalapenos, crave tacos, and every now and then I need a good margarita. Typically I satisfy my Tex-Mex and tequila cravings by making the rounds between Mi Cocina, Mattito’s, Javier’s, and Taco Diner.

When reading that every Dallasite must drink a frozen margarita from Mariano’s Hacienda, I knew I was up for the job. It would be my 11th stop towards completing the Things Every Dallasite Must Do.  I headed to Skillman Avenue, not knowing if I should expect a small family-run operation or a busy restaurant. What I found was surprisingly large and festive, though quite empty.

Continue reading "Dallas Must-Do List: Mariano’s Frozen Margarita"

Power Outage Hurts Restaurant Business on Knox-Henderson

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 18th, 2011 12:33pm | filed under Restaurant News | 4 Comments »

Several readers have asked me to find out why several restaurants were dark on Friday night. This just in from Consilient prez, Tristan Simon.

Unfortunately it’s true – almost all of the North Henderson block was without power for much of Friday night before being restored around 8:30 pm. We lost the night altogether at Hibiscus and Alma, while we were able to salvage the last part of it at Fireside Pies and The Porch. Strangely, Victor Tango’s never lost its juice (and enjoyed a terrific evening as the only restaurant open on North Henderson). Such are the perils of living in the windswept plains of North Texas!

All together now: Thanks, Tristan!

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Eating Lebanon: The Adventures of Chef Chad Houser, Randy Potts, and Chef Kamal Mouzawak

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 18th, 2011 10:00am | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, Ethnic Food, Special Report, Travel | 4 Comments »

Kamal keeps his table at home looking beautiful and filled with produce from the market. Photo by Randy Potts

A year ago, chef Chad Houser of Parigi and his freelance-writer buddy Randy Potts decided to take a trip together. Houser mentioned Tel Aviv and Potts started googling restaurants along the eastern Mediterranean. Tawlet kept popping up, a farm-to-table restaurant in Beirut owned by Kamal Mouzawak, dubbed by the NYT as the “Alice Waters of the Middle East.”  Potts emailed Kamal about Houser and the possibility of him cooking in Beirut as a guest chef.

Today they landed in Beirut. For the next two weeks the duo will tour the farm-to-table scene in Lebanon with Kamal Mouzawak. We will carry Randy’s updates and Chad’s pictures here on SideDish.

Our Arrival

Beirut sits on the Mediterranean, sandwiched between the sea and the mountains. In the same view you can see sand and palm trees, and, in the distance, snow-capped mountains and ski resorts, only a few hours drive away.  The city is full of pale white high rise buildings with balconies covered with lines of laundry hanging out to dry.  It is loud.  Some streets smell like piss or a fishy smell from the sea.  Then suddenly you turn a corner and the street will remind you of New Orleans or Paris or Southern Italy – pink and green buildings, gables on the balcony, cafes, Vespas weaving through the cars.  But the sight of policemen wearing fatigues and police stations surrounded with sandbags are unnerving.

Jump. Continue reading "Eating Lebanon: The Adventures of Chef Chad Houser, Randy Potts, and Chef Kamal Mouzawak"

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Monday Morning Food Porn by Kevin Marple

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 18th, 2011 9:40am | filed under Food Porn, Kevin Marple | 4 Comments »

Street corn at Alma by Kevin Marple.

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Chef Gareth Dickey Hits It Out at The Park in Dallas

posted by Andrew Chalk | April 18th, 2011 9:00am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Patio Dining, Valet Parking, Wine & Spirits | 17 Comments »

Saturday Ijust attended a press event at Park. I liked the food. But there were many things surrounding the event that make it harder than it should be to enjoy Chef Garreth Dickey’s menu items. I have put together some of them in a list at the bottom.

Jump.

Continue reading "Chef Gareth Dickey Hits It Out at The Park in Dallas"

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Final Report: Buffalo Gap Food & Wine Summit 2011

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 18th, 2011 8:30am | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, Chocolate, Festivals, Foodie Video, GO TEXAN, North Texas Wine, party, Texas Wine, Travel | 2 Comments »

Last night’s dine around dinner and wine tasting took place on the grounds of Perini Ranch. Chefs and wineries cooked and poured for over three hours. I was a bad reporter. I didn’t take notes or shoot many pictures because I wanted to just experience the evening. However, I ended up with a few videos and pictures that paint a picture of some of my fondest memories. (Earlier reports here and here.)

I was most impressed by chef Marco J. Martinez of Matt’s Rancho Martinez. Marco is the youngest son of the late, great Matt Martinez, Jr. Marco created a “Southern plus prairie plus Texan” dish which consisted of a thick waffle covered with smoked rabbit and jalapeno cole slaw. I’d give second place to Chef Tim Byres of Smoke. He served melt-in-your-mouth ribs with a sassy chimichurri sauce and blue cheese spiked grits. As always, Jacques Pepin floated around the crowd chatting and sampling the food by Texas chefs. He is perhaps the kindest man in the business.

Go below for video and pictures. And make plans to attend next year (April 20-22). It’s an intimate event and the proceeds go to supporting graduate fellowships to students studying vititculture and/or enology at Texas Tech.

On with the show. Watch Jacques Pepin drink red wine. Katherine Clapner spin sugar. Greg Bruni make my favorite new wine!

Continue reading "Final Report: Buffalo Gap Food & Wine Summit 2011"

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