Articles for May 18th, 2012

Monica Greene is Making Some Changes: She’s Leaving Monica’s Aca Y Alla to Open Monica’s Nueva Cocina and ME Lounge

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 18th, 2012 3:44pm | filed under Best Gay Hangout Restaurant Evah!, Breaking News, Celebrity Chefs, Chick Chefs Rule!, ChirpyChirpy, Hippie revolutions, I'm about to get fired, margaritas, Mexican Revolution, party, restaurant business news, Restaurant News, sassy pants, SideDish Readers Are Smart People, Silly Reasons to Celebrate, youthful spontaneous restaurants | 22 Comments »

Monica Greene has never been afraid of change. Moments ago she told me she is leaving the business of Monica’s Aca Y Alla in Deep Ellum to her partners who will close the restaurant at 2914 Main Street, remodel the space, and reopen as a yet-to-be-named Mexican restaurant. Monica is moving all of her energy over to the iLume Building on Cedar Springs where she has been in the planning stages of opening Tajin. When the Sushi Axiom closed, Monica decided to take the space and open up the walls of Tajin into the space and create a new concept. The 7,600-square food space will now be Monica’s Nueva Cocina and ME Lounge. It was a difficult decision for Greene to leave Deep Ellum where she has been a major player for over 20 years. More on the food later. Monica has written a letter to YOU. It’s below.

UPDATE: Monica is on her way to Houston. I got lucky when she answered her cell phone. “This [move] has been a real struggle for me,””Greene said. I’ve always been committed to urban development. I believe in Dallas but unfortunately the area [Deep Ellum] has taken a long time to develop. It’s time for me to expand and open my doors to a larger audience.”

I say, you go girl. It’s a great move. She has been in, what I would call, an abusive relationship with Deep Ellum for a long time. It’s time she made a fresh start. That girl has some balls. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

Continue reading "Monica Greene is Making Some Changes: She’s Leaving Monica’s Aca Y Alla to Open Monica’s Nueva Cocina and ME Lounge"

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Southern Comforts Roadhouse Grill to Open in Dallas

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 18th, 2012 3:41pm | filed under I'm about to get fired, Little Miss Snitch, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 1 Comment »

Yep, that is what the website says. According to Little Miss Snitch, the restaurant will occupy the vacated Victoria Hall space at Andrew Ormsby’s catering space on Ross Ave. Should be open at the end of July.

UPDATE: Little Miss Snitch sez she thinks it will be operated by Mr. Ormsby. Open in late July.

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Guess the Name of This Dallas Restaurant

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 18th, 2012 3:25pm | filed under Best Gay Hangout Restaurant Evah!, Cheap trick for comments, Contests, Cult Cuisine, game, hold on to your effin hat, How About This Weather?, How to Open a Restaurant 101, I Went to College for This?, I'm about to get fired, Making Up Is Hard To Do, Merguez Sausage Hunt, My Happy Pills Are Working, Nutjobs, Overprivileged chimps, Peripatetic chefs, Procrastination is part of the creative process, questionable judgment, Restaurant News, SideDish Bump! | 20 Comments »

We had so much fun the first time we played this game. Let’s play it again. Can you guess the name of this restaurant?

20 Comments »

Restaurants America Strikes Again: Central Standard to Open in The Dallas Design District

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 18th, 2012 3:04pm | filed under Bad Names For Restaurants List, Keep Dallas Douchey!, Openings/Closings, restaurant business news, Restaurant News | 7 Comments »


Team, I mean Restaurants America has landed in Dallas and is now spreading their mighty wings across the city. The multi-concept restaurant company operates seven brands and about 20 restaurants in Illinois, Texas, and Florida. In Dallas, they operate Primebar in Uptown, Townhouse Kitchen + Bar in North Dallas, and the soon-to-open Park Tavern across from Bailey’s Prime Plus on Park Lane. (Avner Samuel has confirmed he will not be the chef at any of these restaurants.) Recently, RA leased the space formerly known as Vapiano in Mockingbird Station. (I have it on good authority that concept will not be called Nosh Euro Bistro. I can’t confirm that Cafe Med has been ruled out. However, Mockingbird Taproom seems to be on the leader board.)

Today comes word: Restaurant America is putting a gastro sports pub in the Design District. It will be called Central Standard. Note to RA: you should have called the restaurant in Mockingbird Station Central Standard, IJS. No matter what they call it, the space is located in the ground floor of 1400 Hi Line, a 23-story, 314-unit multifamily project that is expected to open this summer and be completed in early 2013. Central Standard is expected to open in Fall 2012.

The press release says nothing about the food. Which begs the question: what is a gastro sport? Followed by:  what is gastro sports food? Balls? Wings? Ducks? Oh the possibilities are endless.

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Vote in the 8 Great Plates Competition, Help the North Texas Food Bank Receive $10,000

posted by Carol Shih | May 18th, 2012 2:26pm | filed under Charity events, Ethnic Food |

Okay, Dallas. Here’s your time to rise and shine. There’s a show on Bravo I’ve never seen called “Around the World in 80 Plates” hosted by Cat Cora and Curtis Stone which follows 12 chefs globetrotting from continent to the other. This show inspired Chase Sapphire to partner with the Tasting Table for a charity they are dubbing the 8 Great Plates competition. Ten different cities were selected for this charity, and Dallas is one of them, which means Dallas foodies (that’s where you come in) can vote for their favorite international dish among eight local contenders that serve cuisines that’ve been featured on “Around the World in 80 Plates.”

Why am I typing all these details out and making you read them? For every vote, Chase Sapphire is giving $1 to Feeding America, and Feeding America will then give up to $10,000 to the North Texas Food Bank. Your votes will be providing meals for your hungry neighbors in Dallas.

It’s quite easy. I’ll even break it up into three simple steps. Continue reading "Vote in the 8 Great Plates Competition, Help the North Texas Food Bank Receive $10,000"

From Tom Spicer’s Keyboard to Your Eyes: Spiceman’s FM 1410 Report

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 18th, 2012 1:32pm | filed under AgriBusiness, Events, Farmers Markets, Groceries, Hippie revolutions |

Tom Spicer

Greetings from Spiceman,

In case you haven’t heard, Mitch Kauffman at Urbano and I are throwing down what looks to be a sold-out wing ding in my garden at FM 1410. There may be some sections C (compost bin) seating or section R (red ant pile) seating available but I’m not certain about that. The event is next Thursday May 24th BYOB, 6:pm doors open, 6:30 pm Food (buffet) 7:pm Music, some seating (chairs) available but bring a blanket for sitting down on the garden floor. Some Urb-an’ Spice in the garden so to speak. My gumbo, his Chef Ke’o is pitt roasting a pig (w/out lipstick) and we’re both coming up with sides a couple of which I plan to make ala vegetarian (fresh shelled peas, salads, corn bread and mo’) .Ladies, please where garden flats/shoes, and dudes…. please, no spike heels and certainly no leather chaps cuz it may be a bit too warm.

Unedited inventory list below. Continue reading "From Tom Spicer’s Keyboard to Your Eyes: Spiceman’s FM 1410 Report"

Seeds of Africa Dinner Hosted By Bolsa Mercado

posted by Carol Shih | May 18th, 2012 12:11pm | filed under Charity events, Chocolate, Coffee, Desiree Espada, Ethiopian, Ethnic Food | 1 Comment »

Founder Atti Worku (left); Chocolate pudding cake with coffee ice cream (right) photos by Desiree Espada

Last night, Bolsa Mercado transformed into a delightful backdrop, playing host to founder Atti Worku and her non-profit, Seeds of Africa - an organization that provides a nurturing, educational community for young children and young adults in Adama, Ethiopia. Chef Jeff Harris prepared a four-course menu to approximately 60 Seeds supporters as I, an invited guest, witnessed this NYC-based non-profit introduce itself to Dallas.

Jump for more Desiree Espada photos.

Continue reading "Seeds of Africa Dinner Hosted By Bolsa Mercado"

1 Comment »

See This Movie Now: The Trip

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 18th, 2012 10:46am | filed under Food Movies | 1 Comment »

I’m sure I’m late to this party but if you are one of the few people who haven’t seen The Trip, I suggest you rent it now. The film stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (as themselves). Coogan has been asked to review restaurants in northern England and he persuades his buddy Brydon to ride along. The photography of England’s Lake District is stunning and the dialog over lollipops made out of duck fat with peanuts and other avant-guarde cuisine is smart and funny. Three restaurants I noted were L’Enclume, Hipping Hall, and Holbeck Ghyll. The movie is a condensed version of the BBC TV series with the same name which is now in my Netflix queue.

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Food Feedback Friday

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 18th, 2012 10:05am | filed under Food Feedback Friday | 9 Comments »

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

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A Peep at the Coops: The East Dallas Urban Coop Tour

posted by Carol Shih | May 18th, 2012 9:55am | filed under chickens, ChirpyChirpy | 1 Comment »

There is so much going on this weekend (i.e. Taste Addison, Crawfish Boil at Dodie’s, etc.) that it’s got to be hard deciding what to do and where to go. Let me see if I can help. Clear your schedule, drop what you’re doing on May 20, and go visit some chickens on the Peep at the Coops tour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. One of the most attractive aspects about living in Dallas is that we are surrounded by a creative niche of people who love chickens and build some of the wackiest, out-of-the-box coops for them. You’ll get to take a peek at 13 different coops, learn about backyard chickens in four different seminars, and possibly win the raffle for a mobile chicken coop. Most importantly, the money you’re paying for the tour is going directly to Stonewall Gardens at Stonewall Jackson Elementary, an outdoor lab where students learn about science and nature by actually connecting with the it. To sign up, email stonewall.gardens@yahoo.com.

Now it’s time for your favorite part of the week: Friday Fun Fact Time. Allow me to leave you with three random chicken tidbits in order to whet your appetite for Sunday. These will be sure to impress your date (not really).

Random fact #1: A tiny egg without yolk is sometimes called a dwarf, wind, or fart egg.

Random fact #2: Some ducks, like the domestic Muscovy Duck, are compatible with chickens. They patrol for slugs and are efficient foragers.

Random fact #3: According to the Egg Nutrition Center, a fresh egg has 72 calories with 6.3 grams of protein. It has a total fat of 4.8 grams and 186 milligrams of cholesterol.

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