2011 September 09

Articles for September 9th, 2011

Gandolfo’s New York Deli Honors First Responders in Dallas

posted by George Lewis | September 9th, 2011 7:29pm | filed under Food Trucks | 1 Comment »

Gandolfo’s NY Deli food truck would like to emphasize their New York heritage as well as give back to the local community in the spirit of 9/11. On Saturday and Sunday, any first responders in uniform or with an official ID will get a free sandwich at the Gandolfo’s truck. On Saturday, you can find them at Sunnyland Furniture at the intersection of Spring Valley and Coit Road from 11am – 6pm. On Sunday, Gandolfo’s will be at White Rock Lake, Buckner and Lake Highlands, from 11am until the pastrami is gone.

1 Comment »

What to Drink Now: Out of the Ordinary Italian with a Taste of Sassicaia

posted by Hayley Hamilton | September 9th, 2011 4:31pm | filed under Wine & Spirits, Wine Pairing | 1 Comment »

Italians are known for great art, high fashion, comforting food and incredible wine. The later part of this week Kobrand, an import and marketing company of fine wine and spirits, will welcome many great Italian wine makers to town for a trade tasting, along with a handful of wine dinners and consumer tastings, including a stunning dinner at Nosh with the legendary, award-winning winery, Sassicaia. (I will update with addtional tasing opportunities when I hear of them.)

To get into the Italian mood I have been sampling a few options from throughout the country. Here are a few stand outs, of which some have been sent for editorial consideration.

There is a new artisan Prosecco out called Voveti from created by the Ferrer family of Spain, best known for their Spanish Cavas, and the Collavini family of Italy. Both family run wineries teamed together to create a sparkler that is sophisticated and with great finess, focusing on the freshness and vibrancy great Prosecco is known for. Crafted with entertaining in mind, this is an ideal apperitif filled with golden apple, ripe peach and honeydew with a creamy texture and frothy mousse, and of course, lots of tiny bubbles. Continue reading "What to Drink Now: Out of the Ordinary Italian with a Taste of Sassicaia"

1 Comment »

Tim Love’s New Woodshed Smokehouse Opening Soon

posted by Sarah Reiss | September 9th, 2011 3:28pm | filed under BBQ, grand opening, Grilling, Openings/Closings, Restaurant 101, restaurant business news, Restaurant News | 3 Comments »

Hunk on the range, Tim Love, is poised to open Woodshed Smokehouse over near the zoo in Fort Worth. Bud Kennedy over at The Star Telegram has the skinny.
Launch window: late October.
Menu: six to eight meats per day.
Beers: 30, on tap.
Check out his coverage here.

3 Comments »

Al Biernat Shares 2011 KRLD Restaurant Week Results and a Recipe

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 9th, 2011 2:20pm | filed under KRLD RESTAURANT WEEK 2011, Recipes | 1 Comment »

Al's rocket lettuce salad. (Photo by Gustav Schmeige)

I just spoke with Al Biernat and asked him how his restaurant “performed” during restaurant week. He was happy to report he is writing a check today for $30,579 and sending it off to the charities supported by KRLD Restaurant Week. [North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Home] “This was a record year for us,” Biernat said. “Our total sales for the month of August were up 18 percent. August used to be our dog days but we’ve really been happy with how Restaurant Week works for us and the charities. It’s win-win.”

I asked Al to break down his restaurant week participants by the week.

8% Preview weekend

44% First Week

30% Second Week

18% Third Week

Selfishly, I took advantage of the moment and asked Biernat for the recipe for Al’s Rocket Lettuce salad. It’s a great late summer salad and I want to make it tonight. Anybody else want to share your numbers with us, we’re here 24/7.

The now not-so-super-secret ingredients are below.

Continue reading "Al Biernat Shares 2011 KRLD Restaurant Week Results and a Recipe"

1 Comment »

I Wish To No Longer Be Called “Beautiful Lady.” Is That Too Much To Ask?

posted by Sarah Reiss | September 9th, 2011 12:34pm | filed under Rants, Really?, restaurant service | 21 Comments »

Last night, after yet another painful waiter experience that started with, “Hello, beautiful lady,” and ended with “Would the lovely ladies like dessert?” I have decided that it’s time to say enough! Enough with the obsequiousness. Enough with the platitudes. Enough! Nancy called attention to the issue of false fawning in her recent review of Marquee, so perhaps we’re all more sensitive to it now. But no one likes to be shined-on. Do they?

Here are the facts: I am neither beautiful nor a lady. Don’t really aspire to be. So why lay it on so thick? (My late-grandmother, by the way, once threw a fork at a waiter who called her “young lady.” She was 92 at the time.)

I can tolerate waiter-interruptus, and I understand that service comes with a fair dose of insincerity, but it’s the bald-faced “lovely lady” lie that’s so grating. Give me a pro, a server I can admire for his gentility. Give me a server who knows his food, who’s willing to give an opinion and make a joke. But leave the buttering-up in the kitchen.

Is it just me? Or do other people long for a end of the pandering, too?

21 Comments »

Brews News: Chick Beer? Chick Beer??

posted by Sarah Reiss | September 9th, 2011 12:11pm | filed under beer, Breaking News, that's just wrong. | 3 Comments »

I’m really not sure what to say about this.

3 Comments »

Burger Girl in Uptown is Closed

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 9th, 2011 11:49am | filed under Bring it!, Closings, Cult Cuisine, margaritas, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News, Slow News Day, tequila | 12 Comments »

A commenter in another post pointed out he showed up to eat at Burger Girl and found it closed. I understand the once building that once housed Chez Gerard and Cubanita has already been leased by another restaurant group and will be making an announcement on a new concept early next week. Until the, we’ll wait. Unless you want to guess.

12 Comments »

Eat This Now: The School Daze from Good 2 Go Taco in Dallas

posted by Daniel Walker | September 9th, 2011 10:30am | filed under best of big d, cheap eats, Eat This Now!, Tacos | 5 Comments »

Nothing says “thank goodness those little brats are back in school again” like a taco. And where else on earth are you going to find a meatloaf taco besides Good 2 Go. The “School Daze” taco may be a an homage to the thousands of school lunches across the country serving up a questionably eatable mystery meat loaf with instant mashed potatoes flakes, but luckily the love poured into this brilliant creation is unmistakable and the flavors are more than splendid enough to cast away any scarring memories of school cafeteria food from your younger years. And this meatloaf can be enjoyed without having to endure the company of “Stinky Joey” making musical farting noises with his armpits or “Billy Braces” picking broccoli out of his head gear for 15 minutes ( I do, however, miss the chocolate milk).