Articles for June 3rd, 2011

First Take: Vitality House Cafe in Richardson. What’s To Come Of A Healthy Menu That Doesn’t Knock Your Socks Off?

posted by Sarah Reiss | June 3rd, 2011 12:16pm | filed under Health Food, Hippie revolutions, Openings/Closings, questionable judgment, Restaurant News | 8 Comments »

Vitality House Cafe falafel bites. (Photo by Sarah Reiss)

Richardson has a lot to recommend it. Affordable housing, decent public schools, and a kaleidoscope of dining options. Newly opened Vitality House Cafe on Coit Road seemed like it would fit right in as a welcome health-food addition. We all know that the North Texan tolerance for mediocre dining is low; it’s sink or swim for new restaurants. Those with any staying power—even strip mall holes-in-the-wall—have menus that you tell your friends about.

Now, I’m all about the healthy eating. Really. No sarcasm here; just ask my long-suffering husband. I make my own salad dressing, stay away from saturated fats, eat at least three servings of fruit every day, and recently started churning out my own pasta. I tell you this not so that you’ll want to pelt me with tomatoes, but to say that I can attest, first hand, that healthy food can taste really effing great. The antithesis, however, is more prevalent: healthy eating that saddens and disappoints. Bites that, in the words of Harry Potter, make you feel like you’ll never be cheerful again.

jump for the lowdown… Continue reading "First Take: Vitality House Cafe in Richardson. What’s To Come Of A Healthy Menu That Doesn’t Knock Your Socks Off?"

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New Ethiopian Restaurant in Dallas? That Gives Us a Solid (and Lucky) 13.

posted by Sarah Reiss | June 3rd, 2011 10:47am | filed under Ethiopian, Ethnic Food | 4 Comments »

Just in case you missed it in our current issue, we took a couple pages to declare our love for all things Ethiopian in Dallas. BBQ expert, Daniel Vaughn, wrote to me just now with the following tip:

I was looking through the recent CO’s for the City of Dallas and found that a new Ethiopian place has received their certificate of occupancy. Not sure if they’re open yet.

Sheba’s Ethiopian Kitchen
8989 Forest Ln. (NW Corner of Forest and Greenville)

Now Dallas has 13…

I feel a drive-by sleuthing coming on.

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Ate it for $8: Tortas La Hechizera in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | June 3rd, 2011 10:31am | filed under Ate it For $8, Ethnic Food | 2 Comments »


The pambazo at Tortas La Hechizera in Dallas.

This week, Kristy Alpert, our cheap-eats reporter eats a torta and lives to tell about it. Let’s give her a hand.

This week my husband and I ventured over towards Love Field for tortas at La Hechizera on Maple Avenue. We are both huge fans of sandwiches and we love Mexican food, so it seemed like a perfect fit.

Even though this small restaurant has two other locations in Dallas and one in Fort Worth, stepping into the  Maple Avenue location was like opening the door to  a tiny restaurant in Mexico. Most of the clientele are Hispanic and Spanish it the predominant language.  You can watch Spanish soap operas on their 32-inch TV and you can’t miss the pulsating Latin music blasting from the speakers. And the place was packed.

Jump for an amazing sandwich.

Continue reading "Ate it for $8: Tortas La Hechizera in Dallas"

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Saturday is National Cognac Day

posted by Hayley Hamilton | June 3rd, 2011 10:01am | filed under Events, Silly Reasons to Celebrate, Wine & Spirits | 1 Comment »

It would seem that there is a day for everything…National Margarita Day…National Vodka Day…National Tequila Day…earlier this week it was even National Running Day, which I celebrate as I run to get my glass for National Champagne Day.  June 4th celebrates the beauty of Cognac. 

Just in time there are a few new products available in the market.  CAMUS Cognac is the 5th largest Cognac brand in the world, and the last independently owned Cognac house now run by the 40 year old Cyril Camus, bringing innovation to the brand with the launch of Borderies XO.  A premium Cognac filled with flavors of violets, hazelnuts and wildflowers with a smooth, silky texture and lengthy finish reminiscent of a good single malt scotch, and retailing around $150.  

If that price point is a bit steep try the new Rose from Courvoisier blending Cognac with premium French red wine grapes.  Aromas of blackberry, vanilla and honey lift from the bottle when opened followed by ripe peach and cherry flavors.  A well rounded, velvety liqueur best served chilled on its own, or mixed with your favorite Champagne or sparkling wine, and retailing for about $25 a bottle. 

Both are just hitting the Dallas market this month, just in time for their special day.

1 Comment »

Restaurant Review: Lockhart’s Smokehouse in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | June 3rd, 2011 10:00am | filed under BBQ, Restaurant News, Reviews | 3 Comments »

Ribs from Lockhart's Smokehouse in Dallas. Photo by Kevin Marple.

Daniel Vaughn’s take on Lockhart’s Smokehouse in Oak Cliff. Kevin Marple performs magic (above) with his camera.

No forks. Use this as an excuse to get more familiar with your brisket on a primal level rather than a reason to struggle with spoons and knives as many diners insist on doing. The restaurant doesn’t offer barbecue sauce either. The folks here claim it’s an homage to the sacred smoked meat temples of Central Texas, and although the owners have offered blanket amnesty to those who insist on smuggling in their own bottles, there’s no need. Tender and smoky Black Angus brisket slices with a layer of beautifully rendered fat cap demand to be consumed, salty fat and all, without forks or sauce. Unfamiliar to Dallasites is the beef clod, which is a shoulder cut rich in intramuscular fat.

Rest of the story.

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Food Feedback Friday

posted by Nancy Nichols | June 3rd, 2011 9:00am | filed under Food Feedback Friday | 17 Comments »

Hey, Dishers. Where did you eat this week? Did you find something fabulous? Did you find something foul? We’d love to hear your thoughts on your latest restaurant experiences. Here’s what you reported last week.

17 Comments »

Somebody Help These Poor Fans: Miami Heat

posted by Nancy Nichols | June 3rd, 2011 7:53am | filed under Bad critters, GO MAVS!, Goats! | 11 Comments »

They’ve been Dirked! Dallas is about to host a few fans from Miami Heat fans. Shall we tell them where to go eat?

11 Comments »