Articles for February 8th, 2013

Into Shelley’s Belly: Hofmann Hots in Trinity Groves Just Opened Today

posted by Matthew Shelley | February 8th, 2013 1:02pm | filed under Business, Food, Good Service, hold on to your effin hat, Hot dogs are the new hamburger, Into Shelley's Belly, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 43 Comments »

Hofmann Hots exterior (left); Himalayan dog (right) photos by Matthew Shelley

I rolled my smokes up into my sleeve, polished up with some nice pomade (Dapper Dan’s to be exact), and hustled my way over to the media event for Hofmann Hots on Wednesday night. I love any chance I get to cross the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, and this night was just swell with good vibrations. I stormed in with jazz hands flaring and mouth watering for some juicy hot dogs. The first thing I noticed was the commanding presence of the mastermind behind this new joint, Phil Romano. He hugged me with his eyes, so I thought it appropriate to ask him for a picture. Success. We discussed contemporary metal music, swan migration in South America, and swapped a few recipes for our favorite soufflé. While none of that actually happened, Mr. Romano was warm and welcoming and seemed wildly enthusiastic about Hoffman Hots, in spite of all this lawsuit craziness that’s going down.

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Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year This Weekend, February 8-10

posted by Carol Shih | February 8th, 2013 12:06pm | filed under Chinese New Year, Food, Holidays | 4 Comments »

Exhibition organised by the National Heritage Board at the Exhibition Room, Gardens by the Bay (via Flickr)

We haven’t done Friday Fun Fact time in a while, have we? Here’s a good one: Starting February 10, we’ll be heading into the Year of the Snake, according to the lunar calendar. For Chinese people, this is a very sad event. Nobody likes snakes. Dragons are powerful and revered, and people do their best to have weddings and babies during the Year of the Dragon. (I was born a snake, but that didn’t stop my relatives from giving me dragon necklaces and bracelets to remind me of my Zodiac failure.)

On the upside, I’m making dumplings and eating nian gao with my family on Saturday. Even though the new year starts on Sunday, it’s customary to have a big fishy family feast the night before. We eat, drink, and exchange red envelopes.

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the Year of the Snake, here’s where you should head this weekend:

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Megan “The Hofmann Hots Hottie” Lucas is The Woman Behind Zaccanelli Lawsuit

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 8th, 2013 10:57am | filed under Food, Hot dogs are the new hamburger, Hot Links!, restaurant business news, Sylvan|Thirty | 5 Comments »

Timmy has  an update on the story we reported yesterday: Phil Romano is suing Hofmann Hots CEO Frank Zaccanelli for misuse of funds. . Apparently, Zaccanelli was supporting Megan Lucas, a former hostess at Nick & Sam’s. The first Hofmann Hots, at 340 Singleton Blvd.,will open in ten minutes. Should be a bobby dazzler.

UPDATE: Timmy is just off the phone with Megan. She claims they used her to oust Zaccanelli. Stay tuned.

Tim’s UPDATE:

First, though, about that mugshot: Lucas says she got a ticket in Highland Park for throwing a cigarette butt out a window. When she didn’t pay that ticket, she was arrested.

Now the lawsuit. In short, Lucas says it’s all bunk, that Romano et al. were trying to use Lucas to squeeze Zaccanelli out of the business. She says that she met Zacanelli while working as a server at Nick & Sam’s. She says she went through three interviews before Zaccanelli hired her as the director of social media and marketing, disciplines she studied at the Art Institute. Lucas says her relationship with Zaccanelli has always been a professional one.

Continued…

 

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Greenz Salads in Uptown Gets Major Makeover

posted by Jacie Scott | February 8th, 2013 10:20am | filed under Food, Restaurant 101, Salads, Sandwiches |

Greenz interior (photo by Jacie Scott)

Greenz Salads, the Uptown destination for eccentric salads and then some, has recently upped its fresh factor. The 9-year-old café is now rocking a fresh paint job with new artwork, and a fresh, young face at the reigns. Casie Caldwell, founder of Greenz Salads, has introduced Joel Stabile as the new franchisee of the original location in the heart of Uptown. Stabile, who worked for Brinker International and Pappas Bros. before joining the Greenz team, jumped at the chance to take on his first ownership responsibility, and hopes to add to the restaurant’s fresh facelift. “I knew the product was here, it was just missing the right person,” says Stabile. “My goal is to get it back to where it’s thriving again.”

For those who may need a refresher, Greenz boasts a casual feel with fine dining taste, and salads that are anything but ordinary. You won’t find your typical cobb or garden salad here. Instead, picture seriously huge portions of adventurous combinations, like mixed greens topped with poached pears, goat cheese, strawberries and candied pecans tossed in an apple-chamomile-honey vinaigrette. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, there’s the fan favorite, Chipotle Chicken salad, with shredded chicken, tomatoes, jack cheese and toasted pecans in a zesty chipotle cream dressing with crispy tortilla strips.

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SideDish on TV Audition: Neysa Osborne and Food Trends of 2013

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 8th, 2013 9:30am | filed under Food, Put SideDish on TV! | 16 Comments »


Today marks day ten of my campaign to pursue Wick Allison to put SideDish on TV. I’ve put out a call to anyone interested in hosting their own show. So far, we’ve viewed five contenders. You can watch their audition tapes below the one I present now.

Meet Neysa Osborne:

Neysa Osborne, cookbook connoisseur and aspiring author, works by day as a Independent Corporate Insurance Broker. She grew up in small town Virginia as a high school athlete before attending a university in Tennessee and graduating with a double major in Health Science and Management. Neysa grew up living a ranching life style and as an adult has continued to surrounding herself with horses and cattle and ranching. Her passion for cooking leads her to seek out all of the newest and trendiest restaurants and find all of the latest kitchen tools and gadgets. In addition to cooking and reviewing cookbooks, traveling and golfing are favorite pastimes. Neysa is also in the process of starting a new foundation in honor of her niece, which will be called the Sheena V Foundation, to benefit childhood cancer research and indigent Native American Indians.

Let’s hear it for Neysa!

Here are the past auditions:
RICHARD S. POLLOCK   That Sports Girl, Gina Miller    Dave Little   Meika Johnson    Nathan Brown   Blaine Duhe

 

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Food Feedback Friday

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 8th, 2013 9:00am | filed under Food, Food Feedback Friday | 7 Comments »

Dishers, happy Friday! Where did you dine and what did you eat this week? Here is what you reported last week.

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Good 2 Go Gals Colleen O’Hare and Jeana Johnson Now Occupy Former York Street/Watel’s Building

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 8th, 2013 8:55am | filed under Business, Celebrity Chefs, Food, Hot Links!, Is Eat Dallas Groovier Than Oak Cliff?, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 3 Comments »

Jeana Johnson and Colleen O’Hare. (Photography by Kevin Marple)

Teresa “Gubbshoe” Gubbins reports Colleen O”Hare and Jeana Johnson of Good 2 Go Tacos took over the former York  Street space just days after Rene Peeters,who operated Bistro Watel’s in the space for nearly two years, closed the doors.

The couple has been searching for another space since they severed ties with Acme F& B last October.  (Has anybody been there lately?) The tiny kitchen will feel like home to O’Hare, she worked alongside chef Sharon Hage for a couple of years.

According to TGubb, the duo won’t be doing fine dining or hot dogs.

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