Articles for January 11th, 2012

Eric Nadel Reviews Sundown at the Granada

posted by Nancy Nichols | January 11th, 2012 1:13pm | filed under Foodie Video, Game 6 Almost Killed Me, Go Rangers!, Pre World Series Depression, Restaurant News, Reviews, Vegetarian/Vegan | 4 Comments »

Mark Abuzzahab and Eric Nadel at Sundown at the Granada. Photography by Jason Acton.

Most of you know Eric Nadel as the voice of the Texas Rangers. This year, Eric begins his 34th year as a Rangers broadcaster in 2012, his 18th as the lead radio voice. The other day, he picked up his seventh 2011 Texas Sportscaster of the Year Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. When he’s off the air, he practices his new hobby as a concert promoter. He’s helping a few female singers  get gigs. His current hot property is Daphne Willis. 

Nadel loves to eat. He leans towards vegetarian food most of the time, but he can be seduced by a bitchin’ burger every once in a while. When he travels, he sends reports of restaurants he discovers in American league cities. Last night he was invited to a “friends and family” preview dinner at Sundown at the Granada. He was so excited when he finished he dashed off this quick review and sent it to me at 11:41PM.

Most people were eating burgers and sliders but we found a very wide range of vegetarian options and we tried four of them, all of which were great. We had stuffed avocados (you get three different kinds on a plate), a chopped salad (with kale, sweet potato, avocado and all the normal veggies too), homemade veggie burger, and a succulent quinoa-black bean-sweet potato dish with avocado sauce. Unfortunately I totally forgot to take pictures. If tonight was any indication, you will really like this place. They are buying locally produced ingredients such as grass fed beef and free range chicken whenever possible, avoiding the Sysco type distributors whenever they can. The owner and his wife are vegan primarily for health reasons, but he says he has no trouble giving the public whatever they want to eat. He has come up with a big vegetarian selection with lots of taste, great seasoning. It’s the best tasting vegetarian food I have had in Dallas. And the other people were raving about the burgers. The chef is the guy who has been catering for the bands at the Granada.

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Lazaranda Mexican Seafood Grill Open in Addison

posted by Nancy Nichols | January 11th, 2012 11:16am | filed under Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 2 Comments »

This family-friendly seafood spot is operated by Mario Letayf and Antonio Marquez who operate five restaurants (La Bonne Restaurants, Muelle 17, Muelle de al Lado and La Méjico) in Monterrey, as in Mexico. The name stems from “zaranda” a term used in Mexico when seafood is cooked over a fire. The menu offers four methods of grilling their fish: “Zarandeado, a house special mix of garlic, mustard, chipotle and soy sauce; Rancho, crushed red pepper, mayonnaise, olive oil and a touch of soy sauce; Grilled with olive oil, a touch of mayo, salt and pepper; or Talla, marinated in achiote and served with grilled pineapple.” Lazaranda is located along Addison Walk, 5000 Belt Line Rd. More info here.

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Eat This Now: The Salami e Funghi from Cavalli Pizza in Irving

posted by Daniel Walker | January 11th, 2012 10:30am | filed under Eat This Now!, italian food, Meat, pizza | 4 Comments »

A few years ago, when I first came to Dallas, I was quickly told I had to try Cavalli Pizza.  Indeed, Cavalli may have been the first restaurant I ever ate at in Texas.  It was both a blessing and a curse.  A blessing, for I dreamed and envisioned the entire Dallas pizza scene to be equal to Cavalli in quality and flavor. A curse, for I quickly realized that, for the most part, Cavalli was an anomaly in the pizza world.  My standards were set high, and there was no way I was lowering the bar for the strings of tasteless pizza garbage many other pizza joints presented. Most people know that they were the first in Dallas to throw around the term “VPN certified”, an accolade which at first meant little more to me than a Citysearch recommendation, but which I have now come to associate with quality and a strict attention to detail.

Jump for more. Continue reading "Eat This Now: The Salami e Funghi from Cavalli Pizza in Irving"

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What To Drink Now: Oscar Worthy Cocktails

posted by Hayley Hamilton | January 11th, 2012 9:35am | filed under cocktails, Wine & Spirits |

We have just passed the best time of the year for film fans, as Hollywood shines in November and December with some of the best movies of the year.   And, over the next few weeks SAG, Critics’ Choice, Golden Globes, People’s Choice and of course, the prized Academy Awards, will be handed out to celebrate the films of 2011….and with the awards come the galas and the dresses and the jewelry and the flare and the festivities with hours and hours of best and worst dressed shows wrapping around every awards event.

Be a part of the fun with cocktails fashioned after this year’s favorite films. From Girl With The Dragon Tatoo to The Decendants to My Week With Marilyn to The Artist to Harry Potter to 50/50 to Albert Knobbs to W/E, this was an impressive year in film. Here are a few ideas matching my favorite films of the year.

In honor of the astounding
Girl With The Dragon Tatoo:

Smoking Dragon Shot

.5 oz Lucid Absinthe
.5 oz Midori Melon liqueur
.5 oz lemon-lime soda
1.5 oz pineapple juice
Drizzle of grenadine

Combine Lucid, Melon liqueur, lemon-lime soda and pineapple with ice and shake.  Strain into a chilled shot glass and drizzle grenadine into the mix. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Oscar Worthy Cocktails"

Gas Station Tacos: La Casita at the Valero Station Near LBJ and Central Expressway

posted by Chris Baccus | January 11th, 2012 9:18am | filed under Gas Station Tacos |

Christopher Baccus loves cars and gas station tacos. We find that very attractive.

Christopher Baccus is a taco junkie and blogger. Not just any kind of taco, primarily those found in or near gas stations. In his last report he took you here. This week he presents…

La Casita Tacos

Not long ago I was tooling south on Central Expressway and I caught a quick glance of what looked like a taqueria sign next to a Valero Gas Station.  It was tucked back off North Central just past the High Five (where 635 and 75 intersect).Weeks later I returned and tried to find the Valero station but not even Google Maps could find it.  I ended up eating at a nearby favorite Taqueria Dulce.

The next time I made my passage down 75, I spotted another landmark: there’s a Motel 6 near the Valero. Google Maps found the motel (even without its light on) and led me to La Casita.  The taqueria is nestled between a market and tax preparation business.  It does not share interior space with the gas station.  La Casita offers a few tables draped in blue vinyl tablecloths with some tall counter space for solo diners.

Let’s get to the tacos. Continue reading "Gas Station Tacos: La Casita at the Valero Station Near LBJ and Central Expressway"