Articles for December 12th, 2011

Your December 8 Weekly Food Truck Schedule in Dallas

posted by George Lewis | December 12th, 2011 1:34pm | filed under Food Trucks | 2 Comments »

This week, we add 3 Men and a Taco to our schedule.  This colder weather seems to be having more effect on mechanical issues for the food trucks, with both So-Cal Tacos and Gandolfo’s having problems last week.  Fortunately, the trucks, affectionately named “Woody” and “Brooklyn” respectively now have the generators going again.

Ruthie’s Rolling Cafe gets more love from our Eat This Now’s Daniel Walker.  Daniel writes: “Even if I had to eat her sandwiches in a dark alley behind the Wal-Mart while lying on a bed of nails inside a dumpster, I would have no complaints.”  And a month ago, our Kids Kritic wrote about Ruthies: “to sum it all up I love Ruthie’s!!!”  Dallas, I think we have consensus.

Green House is now offering their soups “to go” in larger sizes.  Regular readers know my opinion that Green House has the.best.soups.

Multiple food truck gatherings are taking place in the Arts District, Shops at Park Lane on Fridays at lunch, and on McKinney Avenue across from Primo’s late night Saturdays.

Here’s your weekly schedule.  As always, check Facebook and Twitter.  Trucks move, trucks break down, and some get booted by the police from their planned location.  Jump for the full schedule.

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First-Take Bar Review: Tate’s Craft Cocktails

posted by Raya Ramsey | December 12th, 2011 11:11am | filed under Bars, Beverages, cocktails, Mixology is fancy for bartender, Nightlife, Openings/Closings | 6 Comments »

Tate's bartender makes a "Quila Smash," right. (photography by Jason Acton)

The Concept: Another place for bartenders to have love affairs with their carefully crafted cocktails. Classics inspire the menu. (A gimlet, the Aviation, and a “Beautiful Cigar Girl” grace the drink lineup.)

Who’s There: What appeared to be young business professionals (early 30s) packed the place to let loose on the bar’s second night of business (last Thursday). It was a relief to rub elbows with the grownup versions of the typical McKinney Avenue weekend crowd. Surprisingly, even though the mixologist’s concoctions were the obvious choice when ordering, we saw the usual suspects lined the bar. (Red wine, vodka soda, etc.) But once one person ordered something fancy, it spurred his neighbors to make more inspired selections.

When You Enter, Make a Beeline For: The big table by the door, if you’re bringing a crowd, or a seat at the bar. When specialty cocktails are the name of the game, always buddy up with a bartender. The space is small (like, Nonna small) so be prepared to stand.

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New Bolsa Mercado Opens in Oak Cliff This Morning

posted by Todd Johnson | December 12th, 2011 11:04am | filed under Dallas Foodie, First Take, Groceries, oak cliff | 20 Comments »

Bolsa Mercado. Photography by Elliott Munoz

Just dropped into the new Bolsa Mercado this morning for its public debut and — wow — this place is a game changer for anyone shopping for quality groceries south of the Trinity. It fulfills the market part of the original Bolsa vision offering Tom Spicer greens, local cheeses, organic meats, house made sausage and pastries, a boutique wine/beer selection, gourmet dry goods, and more. Bolsa Mercado also offers sandwiches, panninis, gourmet to go items, and a first-rate coffee bar. Eventually, chefs Jeff Harris, Matt Balke, and team want to make as much in-house as possible and will offer catering from the market’s enormous kitchen, more than double the size of the tiny one at its sibling restaurant located two doors down. Happily, there’s enough diversity and everyday goods to encourage repeated visits. In fact, I’m already plotting my lunchtime return to try the wild boar tart.

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My Go-To Holiday Pot-Luck Party Recipe: The Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree

posted by Nancy Nichols | December 12th, 2011 11:00am | filed under Boxing Day, Bring it!, catering, Christmas, Cooking, Cult Cuisine, Dog Friendly, Hanukkah, Holidays, hostess gifts, I'm about to get fired, Merguez Sausage Hunt, Nutjobs, party, Procrastination is part of the creative process, questionable judgment, sassy pants, SideDish Bump!, Special Report |

My Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree contribution to D Magazine's holiday party.Circa 2008.

Three years ago, I introduced you to Charles Phoenix, the “Ambassador of Americana.” More importantly, I introduced you to his “recipe” for the Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree. (I made several for the D Magazine holiday party in 2008.  Co-workers still stalk me for my secret herbal ingredient.)

Well, thanks to SideDish, Phoenix’s  career and has catapulted over hosting grade school field trips and roller skating parties to doing national TV spots with Martha Stewart and commenting on NPR. (Rawlins in drag?) I think it’s time to bring back the Astro-Weenie recipe. Remember, as they say in England, you can always make one suitable for vegetarians. Mind your head.

Eat This Now: Bacon Tomato Grilled Cheese at Ruthie’s Rolling Cafe

posted by Daniel Walker | December 12th, 2011 10:30am | filed under Bacon, cheap eats, Cheese, Eat This Now!, Food Trucks, It's just lunch | 2 Comments »

We all know that making a decent grilled cheese doesn’t require a membership in Mensa.  I mean, I was making them at 7 years old…sure they were more often burnt to a black crisp than a nice golden brown, but I just called it “extra toasty.”  A number of joints around the country have popped up, determined to push the grilled cheese sandwich where it has never been before, including places like Cleveland’s Melt Bar and Grilled, Austin’s Chedd, and NYC’s Melt Shop.  So when I first heard about Ruthie’s Rolling Café, one of Dallas’ freshest food trucks dedicated to the humble grilled cheese, I was intrigued. Personally, I love the idea of dedicated cuisine.  If you do one thing, do it right, I always say…okay, I don’t actually say that very often, but if you are only doing one thing and you suck at it, you may want to reconsider the direction your life is heading.  I digress. I hoped that with Ruthie’s, this would not only be the beginning of a long, fruitful relationship between me and some beautiful sandwiches, but that Ruthie would pave the way for a grilled cheese revolution.

I am happy to report that Ruthie’s makes a mean grilled cheese.  Perhaps you have been reluctant to jump on the food truck bandwagon.  I know I have been, as I typically prefer, you know, chairs, air conditioning, and tables, but I can put all those niceties out of mind for some Ruthie’s.  Even if I had to eat her sandwiches in a dark alley behind the Wal-Mart while lying on a bed of nails inside a dumpster, I would have no complaints.

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Sneak Peek: The Chesterfield Opens Ever So Softly on Main Street in Dallas

posted by Andrew Chalk | December 12th, 2011 9:00am | filed under Andrew Chalk, appetizers, Bars, make mine a double, Mixology is fancy for bartender | 8 Comments »

Bar Crew at The Chesterfield

The Chesterfield, the tony new bar backed by Ed Bailey and manned by Ed “Lucky ” Campbell,  opened somewhat softly on Friday night. It is in the old Doc Bell’s BBQ place on Main Street in downtown Dallas.  Sumptuous old couches have been moved in and the well-stocked bar ready to “celebrate the golden age of cocktails”  runs down one exposed brick wall of the oblong space. It’s urban sophistication in the glass and in the space.

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