Articles for September 23rd, 2011

Does Casey Thompson Still Cook at Brownstone in Fort Worth?

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 3:20pm | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Food On TV, Restaurant News | 12 Comments »

Do you follow The Casey on Twitter. I do. She’s a busy gal. In the last two weeks she has “had dinner with good friends,” filmed a commercial for Healthy Choice, cheffed at a fundraiser in St. Helena , admitted she “hearts Justin Bieber,”and made an appearance at Sam’s Club in Plano. Oh, I buried my lede. Yesterday she tweeted: “At the new la Condessa in Napa! So tasty! I live in napa!”  Brownstone still lists her as executive chef. I’m just curious. Tweeting her now…

UPPITY DATE: This just in:  @DSideDish: of course I am!

DOUBLEUPPITY DATE: And another!@DSideDish: between Napa and endorsements and cooking for events… I am pretty elusive!

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Sneak Peek: The Layover with Anthony Bourdain

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 3:01pm | filed under Bring it!, Celebrity Diners, Food On TV |

Tony’s gotta brand new bag: “The Layover” starts November 21 at 8PM Dallas (CST) on the Travel Channel.

Restaurants at the New Omni Dallas Convention Hotel

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 2:46pm | filed under Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 3 Comments »

Soon we can all meet for cocktails at the Uptown Terrace at the Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel.

Here are a few details I just learned about the restaurants going into the new Omni Dallas Convention Hotel. Duh, Bob’s Steak and Chop House, the brand is now co-owed by the hotel chain. Other food and beverage spots include The Owners Box (“sports lover’s dream with state-of-the-art 16-foot screen with full-service bar and authentic menu”), Texas Spice (“captures the true flavor of Texas with an emphasis on local ingredients and southern style offering a twist on hometown classics”), Uptown Terrace (“4th floor of the hotel with views overlooking downtown Dallas with comfortable lounge seating, cabanas, a full-service bar, LCD HDTV’s, and fabulous food”), and Lobby Lounge (signature cocktails in the lobby). There is a spot called Morsels on the hotel’s website, but my Deep Throat failed to mention it. Here’s the link. Chef names will be announced next week.


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Photo Essay: Jennifer Rubell’s Made in Texas at the Dallas Contemporary

posted by Charlotte Tobin | September 23rd, 2011 1:20pm | filed under AgriBusiness, Events, Food is art. Art is Food. |

This mountain of freshly made chips was placed not only to look interesting, but for benefit-goers to snack on. Taking the first chip from the may have felt strange, but breaking boundaries is a major part of Legendary Presents. In addition to the aesthetic appeal, artist Jennifer Rubell says she hopes they taste good too, adding with a laugh that “if it doesn’t taste good, it’s all for naught.” (Photo by Desirée Espada)

Last night, intern Jessica Melton and photographer Desirée Espada attended the LEGENDARY event at Dallas Contemporary that featured Jennifer Rubell’s Made In Texas multifaceted art installations. Seven platforms displayed the human labor that is most often hidden inside the kitchens, factories, and warehouses of Texan businesses. Each platform was a living scene taken directly from a factory, workshop, or enterprise in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It was a gorgeous night.

See it for yourself below.

Continue reading "Photo Essay: Jennifer Rubell’s Made in Texas at the Dallas Contemporary"

Ate it for $8: Thai Tanee Café in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 12:06pm | filed under Ate it For $8, Ethnic Food, Restaurant News | 3 Comments »

Kristy Alpert sends this report.

Overview: From the outside this place looks a bit sketchy. The billiards place next door was already blasting music at 11am (who are these people playing pool in the middle of the day?) and people were sitting on the curbs of the nearby pawn shops. However,  the interior of Thai Tanee is styled like an Asian Pottery Barn with sheer drapes, warm colors, and fresh flowers at each table. Most patrons order take out, but this place is a great spot to chill out while eating some amazine Thai food. Music warning: they play a lot of Yanni.

Menu: Thai Tanee pretty much has what you’d expect in terms of appetizers and starters, with Thai dumplings ($4.95), chicken satay ($5.95), and my favorite Toms (Tom Yum and Tom Kha; $3.95 small, $7.95 large). Their entrees range from the classic Pad Thai ($8.50) and Kua Kai ($8.50) to five different varieties of curry ($8.50) including a pineapple curry. Their chef’s specialties of note include volcano shrimp ($13.95) and a red snapper in 3-flavoured sauce ($13.95/market price).

Jump. ขอบคุณคุณ!!

Continue reading "Ate it for $8: Thai Tanee Café in Dallas"

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March of Dimes Holds Signature Chefs Auction Sponsor Party in Dallas

posted by Andrew Chalk | September 23rd, 2011 11:25am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Charity events | 3 Comments »

Guests Gather at the Start of The Sponsor Party

The Texas Chapter of the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction is set for November 12 at the Fairmont Hotel. In preparation for the event, the organization held a party for sponsors Wednesday night at the home of Kent and Tracy Rathbun. Among the celebrity chefs attending were Abraham Salum of Salum and Komali, André Natera of the Pyramid Restaurant, and TJ Lengnick of Whiskey Cake. Michael Martensen of Cedars Social and the forthcoming High and Rye mixed up cocktails. Lead chef for November’s event is Kent Rathbun of Abacus, Jasper’s, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen, and Zea Woodfire Grill whose organization provided hors d’oeuvres. Wines and cocktails were provided by Moët Hennessy. Also present were event chairs Angela Nash and Dean McSherry and Ambassador Parents Rob and Whitney Strauss.

The Signature Chefs Auction of Dallas is an annual fundraising gala for the March of Dimes. Twenty top local chefs prepare food for the guests while premium wine tasting and exclusive live auction items are also included.  All funds benefit the March of Dimes mission to ensure all babies are born healthy. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. Premature birth is the most common threat to the health of babies in the United States, which affects one out of seven babies in Texas.

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Billy Rieger, Co-Founder of Kenichi, Found Dead in Aspen Apartment

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 10:58am | filed under Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Billy Rieger, left, with Kevin Williamson at 2008 Texas Outlaw Party in Aspen.

I was stunned when I read the Outburst on Pegasus. Billy Reiger, one of the most vibrant personalities in the restaurant business, was found dead Tuesday in his North Mill Street apartment in Aspen. Apparently someone who knew Reiger was worried about him and called the police. They discovered Rieger, who had hung himself, according to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office, in his apartment. The whole story is here.

Billy always hosted the Texas Outlaw Party at Kenichi during the annual Aspen Food & Wine Festival. The annual party, organized by Dallas’ Jeffrey Yarbrough and Kevin Williamson of Ranch 616 in Austin, was attended by Texans who made the annual trek to Aspen and a long list of national celebrity chefs and restaurateurs including Mario Batali, Jaques Pépin, and Nieporent, and Emeril Lagasse. Once everyone was gathered around and drinking Texas wine, Billy would make a dramatic entrance on his huge Harley. One time I saw him motoring down a street while standing on his cycle. He threw his arms out to the side and yelled, “I love you, guys!” He was a lover of life with an incredibly generous soul. R.I.P., Billy. Aspen and Texas will never be the same without you.

UpPDATE: Christopher Wynn’s story.

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New Code Compliance for Lowest Greenville Ave. Starts Tonight

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 9:52am | filed under Bars, Bureaucratic red tape, Buzz Killer!, Hot Links!, I Hate it When That Happens, press trips, Restaurant News |

Last night Avi S. Adelman, the Cesar Millan of Barking Dogs, walked the streets at midnight with Dallas Code Compliance officers as they “educated” business owners on new regulations that start tonight. Basically bars and restaurants must to have a late-night permit to be open after midnight. If they don’t, they get a ticket and this happens. Cesar, I mean Avi, has the whole story with pictures.

Food Feedback Friday

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 9:00am | filed under Food Feedback Friday | 10 Comments »

Dishers, where did you dine and what did you eat this week? Here is what you reported last week.

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