Articles for May 2nd, 2012

Lucky Gives Rousing Speech at The Chesterfield’s Happy Hour

posted by Carol Shih | May 2nd, 2012 7:03pm | filed under Booze News, Bring it! | 25 Comments »

Lucky’s supporters are gathered at The Chesterfield right now, grateful as ever that Lucky is back. One faithful customer (who usually visits the bar 2 to 3 times a week) told me that he hasn’t been back to The Chesterfield ever since Lucky got kicked out. (Except for this one time when he dropped in to tell The Chesterfield he wasn’t coming back ’til Lucky was reinstated.)

“No Eddie, no us!” declared the gentleman. Well, sir, it looks like Lucky isn’t going to budge without a fight.

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Bob Sambol: “I Have Not Moved From Dallas”

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 2nd, 2012 6:27pm | filed under big hot dogs, restaurant business news | 7 Comments »

Former Bob’s Steak & Chop House founder Bob Sambol, just called me. “I heard somebody on Facebook said I had moved to Rochester. WTF?” I was driving so I had to pull over to investigate. A quick perusal of FB showed nothing. When I get home I will investigate.

Sambol, who left his position at The Mercury last month, is in Syracuse, New York. “I am not moving here. I live in Dallas. I am working on a business deal here. It has not closed so I don’t want to talk about it right now.” More after I get to a real computer.

Still not at a real computer update: Friend called and said it was on Steven Doyle’s Facebook page. I can’t link to it from this app on my phone. Linked.

Bob will not be directly involved with running any restaurant.

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Dallas Police on the Scene, Again, at The Chesterfield

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 2nd, 2012 3:57pm | filed under Booze News, Delusional behavior, Food Fight! | 19 Comments »

Lucky and police officer at 3:30PM . (Photo by Carol Shih)

Last Thursday, Ed Bailey, majority owner of The Chesterfield, called the police and attempted to have one of his minority owners, Eddie “Lucky” Campbell, removed from the premises. The operation failed.

According to Campbell, Gary Van Gundy, president of Edward C. Bailey Enterprises, showed up with an attorney a little before 3PM today and the police were asked to have Campbell removed.  “Yes, they’re here right now,” said Campbell from his cell phone. “They are trying to have me removed from the property.” Campbell showed the officers the lease which is in Campbell’s name. “They tried to say I was trespassing,” Campbell said. “But I’m not.”

Bailey and Campbell are locked in a bitter battle over how to operate the Chesterfield. Both teams are lawyered up and won’t get into specifics. Bailey owns 51% of the business but his name is not on the lease agreement. “Look, I’m here right now and I’m starting a huge all-night happy hour starting at 5:30 today. I am reinstating the staff that Bailey fired and those who walked out in disgust,” Campbell said. “These people have kids and need to work. Our disagreement is a private matter about business and I want to get it resolved.”

I asked him how he planned to run a business with an unhappy partner. “It’s difficult,” Campbell said. “I’m not a lawyer. Ed and I disagree on how to run this business. As far as I’m concerned, I’m still operating The Chesterfield.”

19 Comments »

Alternative Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

posted by Carol Shih | May 2nd, 2012 12:00pm | filed under Cinco de Mayo, Events, Holidays, Tacos | 1 Comment »

Nightlife Editor Raya Ramsey just listed a bunch of places to get your drink on for Cinco de Mayo, but I can barely hold down my liquor, so I’m celebrating Cinco de Mayo the only way I know how: with food and more food.

Here are my destination picks for May 5:

Continue reading "Alternative Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo"

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Good Asian Grub: Charm Juk’s Rice Porridge

posted by Carol Shih | May 2nd, 2012 11:33am | filed under Good Asian Grub | 8 Comments »

There’s always that food you crave most when you’re lying in bed with a fever. For me, it’s rice porridge – a soupy bowl of fluffy white rice  topped with seaweed, pork sung, and green onions to fill the stomach and ease the throat. It makes me feel better every single time; I’ll swear my life on it.

When I recently discovered Charm Juk, a restaurant entirely devoted to rice porridge and nestled between the H Mart and Yogurtland in Carrollton, I knew I was a goner. Sometimes you fall in love without even taking a first bite.

Continue reading "Good Asian Grub: Charm Juk’s Rice Porridge"

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Chalk Talk: Sigel’s Benchmark Pinot Noir Tasting Showcases 45 Wines

posted by Andrew Chalk | May 2nd, 2012 10:26am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine & Spirits | 1 Comment »

It was a packed house at the Park Cities Club on Tuesday night for Sigel’s grand tasting of 45 Pinot Noir wines from around the world. I was there as an invited guest. France, California, Oregon and New Zealand were all represented as servers poured small samples and attendees dined on heavy hors d’oeuvres of herb-crusted beef tenderloin, smoked chicken quesadillas, New England style crab puffs, and artisan cheeses and fresh fruit.

I was struck first by the uniformly high quality of the wines. Almost all were ‘good’ or better. I was also impressed with the range of prices. There was something for every budget: The wines raged from  $13.99 to $90. Additionally, it was impressive to see how the different Pinot Noir growing regions are now distinguishing themselves. The French wines were leaner and more earthy. The California wines– Santa Rita Hills (Central Coast), Carneros (Napa/Sonoma), Napa and Russian River Valley (Sonoma)– were fruit forward. The Santa Lucia Highlands were fruity but very delicate. New Zealand seems to be making a Burgundy style and Oregon is one-step removed from Burgundy and leaning towards California.

All of these wines are available at Sigel’s and discounts from the tasting may still apply. At the risk of starting a food fight, here are my recommendations and ratings (prices are in the format discount/regular):

Continue reading "Chalk Talk: Sigel’s Benchmark Pinot Noir Tasting Showcases 45 Wines"

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Cinco De Mayo in Dallas: Where to Down Those Tequila Shots and Don Those Sombreros

posted by Raya Ramsey | May 2nd, 2012 9:36am | filed under beer, Cinco de Mayo, tequila, Tex-Mex | 6 Comments »

Cinco de Mayo at Mattito's. photography by Jerry McClure

It’s that time of year again. Time to load up your amigos and head to the local Mexican watering holes for mariachi music, discount drinks, and too much tequila. Check out our list of 10 best bets for getting in the spirit of the annual fiesta.

CHUY’S
11 am to 11 pm
Drink This: All day happy hour with $3.95 house margaritas, $7.25 house Texas martinis, and $2.75 domestics along with Corona specials and onsite alcohol promotions
Festivities: Tune in to the sounds of a mariachi band at 7 pm.

HACIENDA ON HENDERSON
11 am to 11 pm
Drink This: $5 margaritas
Festivities: It’s a whole block party full of live music, mariachis, and DJs. If you get bored, head to the dunk tank, onsite photo booth, or giant Jenga. Bring a receipt and prove you caught a cab there, and the $5 cover is waived.

Continue reading "Cinco De Mayo in Dallas: Where to Down Those Tequila Shots and Don Those Sombreros"

6 Comments »

Checking in on Ranchman’s Café in Ponder, Texas

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 2nd, 2012 9:17am | filed under Nostalgia, Travel | 2 Comments »

I just received an email from a reader. She asked if Ranchman’s Café in Ponder, Texas was still good. The small comfort food restaurant, which has been open since 1948, used to serve the best chicken fried steak and pies in the area. The kitchen used to pan-fry a thick T-bone steak. Now they use pounded patties. I haven’t been since October, 2009 when I wrote this post which includes a video of them making CFS. when I shot this video. Any of you been recently?

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