Articles for March 29th, 2012

Hipsters, Brace Yourself: Wal-Mart is Definitely Moving into Lower Greenville

posted by Carol Shih | March 29th, 2012 2:15pm | filed under Breaking News | 6 Comments »

The face of world domination (photo from libertyguys.com)

The DMN reports that the Walmart empire is taking over the former Whole Foods and Blockbuster space, replacing it with a Neighborhood Market store that’ll be open to the public in September. Wal-Mart promises to bring 90 new jobs to the area and support community projects, but it’ll also be really, really close to the new Trader Joe’s.

Looks like there’ll be some grocery wars waging in Lower Greenville later this year…

6 Comments »

Wine-ing and Dining at The Grape Winemaker Dinner

posted by Carol Shih | March 29th, 2012 10:51am | filed under Wine & Spirits, Wine Pairing |

Mike Richmond and Eric Swindle (left); Bouchaine Estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Bouche d'Or Late Harvest (right)

Mike Richmond, an Oak Cliff native, speaks romantically about wine. He’s the general manager of Bouchaine Vineyards, a winery tucked into the hills of southern Napa Valley near San Francisco. While the sun set over Greenville Avenue on Tuesday evening, Mike was kind enough to share his love for wine at The Grape, where Brian Luscher’s cuisine and Bouchaine Vineyard’s wines sang harmoniously together for the Winemaker Dinner I was invited to.

Jump for some mouth-watering courses. Continue reading "Wine-ing and Dining at The Grape Winemaker Dinner"

Restaurant Review: Private Social in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | March 29th, 2012 10:00am | filed under Celebrity Chefs, Reviews | 15 Comments »

(from left) Chef Derry opts not to work the room, and pan-seared scallops. (Photography by Kevin Marple)

Dallas can’t claim many celebrities as its own. With few exceptions (Hi, Don Henley!), if they make it big, they leave us. That’s why Troy Aikman can’t get through a meal at the Highland Park Village Mi Cocina without a guy coming up to his table to shake his hand. We’re starved for celebrities. Which also explains why we make so much fuss over our famous chefs. Louboutin-heeled ladies fawn like groupies when in the presence of Kent Rathbun, Dean Fearing, or Stephan Pyles.

Television has elevated at least four of our chefs to national fame. Bravo’s Top Chef has featured three from North Texas: Tre Wilcox (then of Abacus), Tiffany Derry (then of Go Fish Ocean Club), and Casey Thompson (then of Shinsei). Kooky restaurateur and caterer Lisa Garza (then of Suze) mesmerized and polarized fans when she competed on The Next Food Network Star. These days, it’s easier to get in touch with Brad Pitt than Lisa Garza.

None of the aforementioned chefs won the big prize. All four returned to the Dallas area and, eventually, starred in new restaurants backed by investors. After her appearance on Top Chef, Thompson left her post at Shinsei and co-founded Brownstone in Fort Worth. After losing in the finals, Garza operated an upscale catering company for several years and has opened Sissy’s Southern Kitchen & Bar on Henderson Avenue. After Tre Wilcox packed up his knives, he juggled consulting and private gigs before he landed center stage at Marquee Grill in Highland Park Village. And Tiffany Derry, who couldn’t sell a piece of halibut at the now-defunct Go Fish while she competed on Top Chef, is now ruling the kitchen at Private Social.

Jump for the rest.

15 Comments »

Grant Morgan is No Longer Chef at Bailey’s Prime Plus

posted by Nancy Nichols | March 29th, 2012 9:06am | filed under As the Restaurant Turns | 2 Comments »

A couple of weeks ago, Andrew Chalk told me Grant Morgan had left his post at Bailey’s Prime Plus. I emailed Morgan and never heard back from him. Turns out he has been traveling out of the country. Chalk also reports former Bob’s GM, Ken Kuczwaj in now GM at Bailey’s Park Lane location along with some of the servers at Bob’s. His job is to put butts in empty seats. Chalk predicts Michael Ehlert, the chef owner Ed Bailey hired to get The Chesterfield up and running, will become the executive chef of a new high-end modern French restaurant backed by Bailey  later this year. (Isn’t his lease at HPV Patrizio up this year?) Meanwhile, there’s a job opening for an executive chef at Bailey’s Prime Plus.

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Thursday Fun: What is the Perfect Name for a Dallas Beer?

posted by Nancy Nichols | March 29th, 2012 8:57am | filed under Brews News, Making Up Is Hard To Do | 4 Comments »

Last night, a beer-making man asked me for my opinion. He wanted me to listen to some of the names he is workshopping for a Dallas-brewed beer. I told him I get paid for my opinions. (In truth, all of his ideas were moronic and demanding payment for my golden ideas was an easy way out of stating the obvious.) After we hung up, I thought of you. All of you who are so devilish and clever. He should consider himself lucky I’m tossing his question out there for all of you to answer. Do it. I swear if he uses any of them, I will get paid. For you, of course. Go.

4 Comments »