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Society Bakery Sells Whoopie Pies; The WP Trend Is On

Last week, Nancy told us about whoopie pies at Tart Bakery and and Maple & Motor Burgers and Beer. One more, and whoopies were a trend, she said. Well, here’s our third: Society Bakery is selling them, and they brought us some to try. In the box: chocolate mint (gourmet Thin Mint, they say), brown sugar, bread pudding, and spice. The pies are saucer-sized and make a great cupcake alternative, IMO. My favorite was the brown sugar. Loved the maple whoopie filling, which is like vanilla frosting but much less sweet. The cake-to-frosting ratio will also likely be appealing to pepole who get overwhelmed with mile-high frosted cupcakes.

If these look good to you and you want a sample, stop by Society tomorrow night from 6–8 for their joint open house with the Corner Market. They will be giving away samples of these new flavors as well as some of their other goodies.

Tart Pastry Boutique in Dallas Turns Five and Makes Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Tart Bakery is making whoopies!

Lookout cupcakes, here comes the whoopie pie craze. Are you familiar with Tart Bakery? You know,  the little shop pastry chef Kristen Massad opened in 2004 where the storefront looks like a spray painted rah-rah sign for an upcoming football game? We never thought the place would make it, but make it they did—Massad’s little shop that turns out cakes, pies, and petit fours is turning five. (Thanksgiving tip: order one of their turkey wreaths (croissant rings stuffed with turkey) for your office party.) Or a couple dozen pumpkin-spice whoopie pies! Maple & Motors Burgers and Beer also makes a chocolate version of the whoopie pie called the chocolate gob. One more sighting and whoopies will become an official trend. 5219 W. Lovers Lane at Inwood Rd. 469- 335-8919.

Material Connection of the Day: Peanut Butter Cookies From J. Dorian Chocolatier

Today we received a basket of peanut butter cookies from J. Dorian, welcoming us to our new offices. Dorian Isenberg, as you know, is one of our very best friends. He likes to bring us cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. When I stopped by his shop recently–I was taking some white cupcakes with raspberry filling to a baby shower–I told him that I thought it was a real bummer that no one could make a decent peanut butter cookie. Most of the time they are too dry or too sweet. (Do you know of a place? Let me know.) Then I asked if he had thought about adding PB to his repertoire. He assured me he was working out the final recipe. And today we’re taste-testing.

The texture is perfect–the right balance of crumbly and moist. And here’s a revelation–it actually tastes like peanut butter, as opposed to some overly sweet sugar-dusted, dried-out hunk of cardboard. The verdict: “The best peanut butter cookie I’ve ever eaten,” declared one Web-ette. I concur. Later I will report how well they freeze, because that’s where they’re going–straight to my freezer to pull out on another rainy day.

Material Connection of the Day: Free Cupcakes from Citizen Sweet in Dallas

Hmm. Looks like the cupcake industry is trying to beat the new FTC guidelines that go into effect on December 1. Once the rules kick in, I can’t eat a free cupcake without telling you I accepted a free cupcake. The same goes for other products such as food, wine, or free dinners. The revised rules require you to disclose how you received the products you review or endorse. So, I’m not going to review these—I hate cupcakes anyway. You can send all you want but I’m not eating any of them or writing about them. The cupcakes in the picture were sent, unsolicited, to our offices at 750 N. Pearl St. Suite 2100, Dallas  75201. They come from Citizen Sweet.

Best German Restaurant in America: Bavarian Grill in Plano

That is what the press release from Inga Bowyer, president of Germandeli.com in Colleyville says. Let’s get the details.

Over 400 German restaurants, located throughout the United States participated in this first year of the search for the “Best German Restaurant in America.” Bavarian Grill, located in Plano, Texas, garnered almost one third of all the validated votes cast during the two-month online voting period. They also received the majority of positive judging forms from “undercover judges,” and the restaurant scored well with teams of expert judges who dined incognito at the highest scoring German restaurants. Health Department inspections were also reviewed to confirm a consistent “A” rating for the restaurant.

The goal of the annual competition, according to Inga Bowyer, president of GermanDeli.com, is to recognize German restaurants that serve up a truly ethnic experience. According to Bowyer, Bavarian Grill’s classic German entrees like schnitzel, sauerbraten, bratwurst, and roasted ham hock are complimented by a selection of over 50 different imported German beers.

Das ist alle! Lassen Sie uns essen!

UPDATE: We will be celebrating this Wednesday, October 14 at 7 pm with a victory party where we’ll be presented a plaque by Inga Bowyer, President of GermanDeli.com.  We’d love for you, and any Side Dish readers, to join us for the celebration!

Cinnamon Roll Savior: Society Bakery

Yesterday I asked you guys where to get a good cinnamon roll around here (hint: not at Donuts). I got lots of great suggestions I can’t wait to try. I think Tootsie’s will be one of the first on my list, since we will be in our new offices Monday (!) and I will probably need a treat. I’m bummed that I went to the Fair last weekend before I knew about the greatness of the cinnamon roll there, especially because I searched for something I wanted to eat all night (besides a corny dog, of course) and ended up with taffy. TAFFY.

Anyway, I wanted to give a shout-out to Society Bakery, who sweetly delivered a box of cinny rolls to the office yesterday after reading the blog. This was very nice of them, and they came just in time for lunch. My first thought was, “uh oh, we might have an icing situation here.” I thought it might be–GASP–cream cheese frosting. While their version of a CR looks like a cupcake, the icing not as thick as it appeared, and sweet and buttery and delish. Not a glaze, but still good. The goo factor (looking at you, Brad), was medium, but I still got a good sticky coating on my fingers when I peeled the layers of the roll away (my prefered method of eating the CR). Overall, this was a slightly non-traditional CR but I liked it. A lot. Next up: Tootsie’s, or possibly Bubba’s this weekend.

Wednesday Morning Cinnamon Roll Search

Good morning Dishers. I woke up with a cinnamon roll craving this morning and stopped at the closest place to the office, the creatively named “Donuts” store on Lemmon next to Toy’s. This is what I got. It looks and tastes more like a glazed doughnut with cinnamon than anything else, and my craving isn’t satisfied. Where can I get a good cinnamon roll like grandma used to make, not a Honey Bun lookalike?

New Cookie Company In Carrollton: ZitaCookies

Anybody tried ZitaCookies on Old Denton Road in Foodie Town, I mean, Carrollton? It’s a mom shop (pop has another job) dedicated to baking fresh cookies. Owner Zita DeGraffenreid delivers in town, mails orders all over the place, and offers a Cookie of the Month program. Check it out and report back. 972-245-4100.

Guessing Games: Chicken Fried Steak From Ranchman’s Café in Ponder Texas

Okay, I win this round. Maybe if I’d given you guys a few more clues (or a freakin’ map), you might have guessed Ranchman’s Café as the restaurant that serves the chicken fried steak pictured below. (Anywhoo, congrats to Shelbyg75 for being commenter #67.)

Ranchman’s Café has been a figure on what remains of the Texas Blackland Prairie around Ponder (east of Denton) since 1948. (Or 14 years after Bonnie and Clyde attempted to rob the Ponder State Bank just down the street.) The spirit of long-time owner and founder Grace “Pete” Jackson lives on under the ownership of Dave Ross who worked as a cook for Pete in the 70s while he attended UNT.

I discovered Ranchman’s in 1970 when I was a freshman at UNT (them NTSU). My friends and I used to rent horses in Denton, ride across the land, and tie our fillies to the railing at the old post office across the street from Ranchman’s. We feasted on hand-cut steaks that Pete chicken-fried in a pan and homemade pie and napped under the big pecan tree down the road.

Fast forward to last Sunday when my mom, her friend Ann, and I drove up for a nostalgic dinner. The place looks the same: the linoleum on the original tables has been worn down to the wood. Instead of pan-fried T-bones, the kitchen tenderizes round steak, dips it in flour, and milk tosses it in a deep fryer. Almost everything on the side is fried: green tomatoes, squash, and most of the vegetables-of-the-day. Ranchman’s Café make Blythe Beck’s naughty food look like spa cuisine. Enough reading, watch the video for a tour of the restaurant and a chicken fried steak cooking demonstration. Reservations: 940-479-2221 (pre-order baked potatoes.)

Dallas Observer 2009 Best of Dallas® Food List: What do You Think?

Please don’t sue me for using your cover art.

I’m stuck at home in my little glass house. I see a few pebbles on the floor and I think I will toss them.

I just scanned through the Dallas Observer’s 2009 Best of Dallas® Food list. It reminds me of that Who song. What is it, Kirk? Something about the new boss and the old boss? YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Bomp, bomp, bomp. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Dave Fairies, I have a quick question: Does the Observer repeat “Bests” if, when the next year rolls around, no one else  fills the category as “Better®?” (That’s mine, dude.)  This is a serious question and I ask it because I have to deal with the beast of ‘Bests” and understand the difficulty at uncovering them. So, Mr. Fairies, do you roll over “Bests” from year to year by moving them into different categories or because they are the “Best” of their original category? Let’s go through the list together and see. Jump with me. It’s not far. (more…)

Greek Food Festival in Dallas Starts on Friday

This upcoming weekend, September 25-27, is the 53rd Greek Food Festival in Dallas. There will be “thousands upon thousands” of Greek pastries, overflowing cups of coffee (a new addition this year), and “heaping plates of gyros and grilled souvlaki.” And dancing, lots of dancing, music, and goodies to buy. Click here for more info or jump for details. (more…)

Best Chocolate Cake in Dallas? Take Two

Dishers, you failed to guess the origin of the chocolate cake in the picture. You want a clue? I have a prize burning a hole in my pocket. Lemme see: look at the picture, not the cake.

Best Chocolate Cake in Dallas?

Last October I posted a picture of a tall chocolate cake and asked Dishers to name their favorite chocolate cake. The cake I pictured came from Nick & Sam’s. I’m still searching through the list and looking for the best and came across this one. Have you eaten this cake? Can you tell me where it’s from? There is a prize somewhere on my desk waiting for you…

State Fair of Texas: New Food Fight

The finalists for the Fifth Annual Big Tex Choice Awards were announced yesterday. A panel of three judges will decide Best Taste and Most Creative winners on Labor Day.

Perhaps we should have our own little voter’s poll below. Let’s Ranch It Up for these tasty tidbits. Or submit one of your own. Go crazy. Be creative–let’s try for 67 comments. K? Go.
Real Contestants:

Green Goblins – Cherry peppers are hollowed out, stuffed with spicy shredded chicken and guacamole, then battered and deep fried. Served three to a skewer and topped with queso.
Deep Fried Butter – 100% pure butter is whipped till light and fluffy, then specially sweetened with a choice of several flavors. The tantalizing mixture is surrounded by a special dough and quick fried. Served on a stick.
Twisted Yam on a Stick – A delicious, towering, spiral-cut sweet potato on a 13” skewer is fried to a delicate crispy texture, then gently rolled in butter and dusted with cinnamon and sugar.
Fernie’s Deep Fried Peaches & Cream – Sweet juicy peaches are coated in a delicious batter of cinnamon, ginger, coconut, graham cracker crumbs, eggs & milk, then deep fried to a crunchy golden brown on the outside, while luscious and sweet on the inside. Served on a plate drizzled with raspberry sauce and sprinkled with streusel topping & a dollop of whipped cream. A side of vanilla butter cream icing is provided for dipping.
Texas Fried Pecan Pie – A mini-pecan pie is battered and deep fried to a golden brown. Served drizzled with rich caramel sauce, then topped with whipping cream and chopped candied pecans.
Country Fried Pork Chips – Thin sliced pork loin is seasoned, surrounded by a tasty corn meal batter and deep fried. Served with sides of ketchup or cream gravy.
Sweet Jalapeno Corn Dog Shrimp – Shrimp on a stick is coated with a sweet and spicy corn meal batter, then deep fried to a golden brown and served with a spicy glaze.
Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroon – A peanut butter cup is wrapped inside a coconut macaroon fried and dusted with powdered sugar. Also available with a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream.

Will Central 214 Top Chef Blythe Beck Bottom Out on TV?

Is reality TV good for the career of a chef? I don’t watch enough to have an educated opinion but, from where I sit, it looks like more top chefs bottom out after their 15 minutes, or months, of fame. Casey who? Tre what? Lisa Garza is where? Dig what I’m shooting at you?

Next girl up is Central 214’s Blythe Beck. She will star in The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck on Oxygen. I’ve never really understood the naughty kitchen concept. So I checked the shows website. It says:

Blythe Beck, the fiery young chef and star of Oxygen’s upcoming series The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck, shows off her distinctive sexy American cuisine, her cutting edge Dallas restaurant, Central 214, and her loud and flamboyant staff. The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck is certain to cook up the drama both in and out of the kitchen. Oxygen follows executive chef Blythe Beck, a 29-year old Texas native, who is plus-sized in stature and personality, and her colorful crew at Central 214, inside and outside the kitchen as they interact with the Dallas elite and the local university students.

Monday night I went to Central 214 to check it out and write a mini-review. Sadly, I didn’t see waitresses in garter belts or waiters wearing thongs, but I did find the Door Whores. And calories. Lots of calories. What is sexy about calories? I guess we will find out when the show starts on September 22nd. Somebody tell me this is a good thing.

Cookbook Author Sheila Lukins, R.I.P.

TG just informed me that popular author Sheila Lukins passed away yesterday. She was 66. The  Silver Palate Cookbook written by Lukins and Julee Rosso in 1982 is a classic. I suggest we all pick one recipe and cook it in her honor. I love this one.

Where There is Fire, There Will be Smoke Restaurant at The Belmont Hotel

This announcement comes from the copy and paste press release department:

Belmont Hotel Debuts New Restaurant “Smoke”
Serving Hardwood Cooking From Scratch

DALLAS, TEXAS (August 31, 2009) – A slow burn thick with Southern style arrives in Dallas this September with Smoke. Fresh from a renovation and concept overhaul, the Belmont Hotel’s restaurant reemerges as a homage to an old fashioned smokehouse, with hardwood cooking from scratch and authentic southern flavors. Led by Chef/Co‐Owner Tim Byres, inspired by his recent travels to America’s smokehouse roots, Smoke will offer patrons a culinary experience that satisfies both the palate and soul. Employing time‐honored cooking techniques and recipes with a commitment to local ingredients, Smoke is down‐home cooking done right. JUMP!

(more…)

Who Makes the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in Dallas?

I want to eat a dozen chocolate chip cookies today. Tell me where to go. (For cookies, Kirk.)

Dallas Food & Wine Events & News

Chipotle. Free food giveaway during tax free weekend. If you buy a burrito, order of tacos, salad, or bowl on Tuesday, August 18th or Wednesday, August 19th you’ll receive a free entrée during tax free weekend on August 21st-August 23rd.

Sacred Cellars is offering another “Steal of the Week.” 2005 Flora Springs “Trilogy” Napa Valley. 95 points – Wine Enthusiast. 93 points – Robert Parker/Wine Advocate.
$34.99 per bottle + sales tax (where applicable) and $7 shipping, or free local pickup available.

La Duni Latin Kitchen and Coffee Studio at NorthPark Center. Co-hosting with Bacardi Rums to present a hands-on Mojito Class on Thursday, August 27 from 6:30-7:30pm (registration begins at 6pm).  Learn the three methods of classic Mojitos cocktails, one shaken, one muddled, and one fired while enjoying light bites from the award-winning la Duni kitchen. Cost is $17 in advance and $22 in advance. [Ed note. I have no idea what that means.]  Reservations are required. 214-987-2260.  Capacity is limited. La Duni Latin Kitchen & Coffee Studio is located on Level One beneath AMC NorthPark 15 Theaters facing the beautiful Center Park, 8687 N. Central Expressway Suite 1516 in Dallas, TX.

Café Lago. From owner Gabriela Kovacic: “Ron Jones, a product of the White Rock area and passionate musician will be performing Thursday the 20th. He will be joined by Darwin Martin on the keyboard these fellows are pros! Their smooth and eloquent execution of some classic pieces along with his amazingly accurate version of Pink Floyd will have you calmly enjoying the evening, sipping on Sangria and amazed at his talent. The benefit to being at Cafe Lago when Ron performs is that you never know who else will drop by – could be a drummer, percussionist, trumpet player, or maybe a soft subtle jazz singer! Also, Kerri Arista, the Cafe Lago Sweetheart as we call her, is currently on a challenge to write 50 songs in 90 days. Her craft at songwriting has evolved beautifully and her sweet renditions of her many songs give Cafe Lago diners a warm environment.  She sings Friday Nights 14th & 28th. Come this Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. and taste more than 17 sparkling wines from all over the world.  See which sparkler is as good as Champagne but at a fraction of the price.”

FUQUA Wines. Summer Wine Series, Cont. Sparklers 2. This will be a blind tasting.  Besides all of the sparklers, we will also taste our FUQUA wines as well.  This tasting is limited to 16 people and costs $18 per person.  Buy your ticket and make your reservations at here.

Cake Ball Company. “The Cake Ball Company offers an array of delicious hand-held confections inspired from Robin Ankeny’s mother’s family recipe. After starting a family, Ankeny began using the recipe to make the miniature, coated desserts for gatherings with family and friends. Soon her cake balls were in such high demand that the next obvious step was to make cake balls available to everyone and open The Cake Ball Company in Dallas with the help of Deb Corley and Charlotte Lyon. Each cake ball is approximately 1.25 inches round and made over a two-day process that involves baking and blending the cake balls with creamy icing before dipping them into a beautiful confectionery coating.”

They are having a birthday and are selling a special Birthday Cake flavor for $1.00 each on August 20. Deets here.

Big Fatty’s Flaming Foods In Valley View: Are You Ready For Your Close-up?

I parked on W. Lovers next to this car last night. I’m placing an order today. Cranberry Cayenne Hot Biscotti and Mistress Karlita’s Spanking Rub will be mine. Anyone?

Voila Bakery In Allen Is Closed

Speaking of  Teresa Gubbins, and feel free to do so below, she is reporting that Voila Bakery in Allen closed two weeks ago. Last Wednesday I dined at Cadot and they made a big deal out of the fact that the French baguette was baked at Voila. Had it been frozen for a while? Didn’t taste like it and even this guy can detect freezer burn on bread. I just spoke with folks at Cadot and they confirmed the bakery is closed and they are looking for another source. Dang.

DallasChocolate.org Offers Dinner With Famous Chocolate Makers

Hurry, there are only a few seats left for the August 22nd dinner with chocolate makers Steve DeVries (DeVries Chocolate) and Alan McClure (Patric Chocolate). Desserts will be by Rhonda Ruckman (Doughmonkey). In addition to the dinner, there will be a lecture and guided chocolate tasting by the two chocolate makers from 2-4:00 p.m. Reservations for both events here. Menu below. (more…)

Quick Lunch Review: The Chocolate Angel In Dallas

Watch your back, Celebrity Bakery. Here comes The Chocolate Angel. Two sisters, Sherrie McCall and Marcia Clingon, have turned their wholesale fudge operation into four locations of The Chocolate Angel, a bakery, café, and tearoom.

I was shocked to open the door of the location in Preston Forest–the room was full of women. The only men in the space were behind the counter. The menu consists of soups, salads, sandwiches, a quiche of the day, and baked goods. (The Richardson location serves afternoon tea from 3:30-5:30 p.m.) The Chocolate Angel feels a lot like Celebrity Bakery except when you are stand over the cookie case waiting to order, you don’t faint from sticker shock: lemon bars are $1.00, Neiman-Marcus recipe chocolate chip cookies are 85 cents, and cupcakes are $2.75.

JC and I were jonsing for cheese and cheese we did find. She went for the four-cheese sandwich sprinkled with garlic salt and grilled between two thin slices of sourdough. We were so hungry we forgot to ask which four cheeses were melted together. (more…)

Comfort Food In Dallas: What Comforts You

I am getting a little uncomfortable with the direction comfort food is taking. Can I blame it on the Gen Y population? Sure, why not. They don’t read SideDish. Gen Y’ers are more Britney than Julia.

While the overall trend in dining today is to eat sloooowly, the Gen Y’ers I know are more content to snack quickly. What happened to the good old days of turning on The Thorn Birds (before you knew Richard Chamberlain was gay), grabbing a spoon and a half gallon of ice cream, and eating the whole thing? Once, after I got turned down for what I thought was my dream job, I went back to my apartment, made a three-layer German chocolate cake, and ate every last crumb. Did I feel better? You betcha.

What is comfort food? At home it is one thing, but now restaurants are trying to comfort us in public. Take Kent Rathbun. (beat, beat…) He has gourmet comfort food. He isn’t alone; there are lots of folks making their mortgage payments by selling upscale mac and cheese. Isn’t gourmet comfort food an oxymoron? If you agree, then WTF is healthy comfort food? A lie? You betcha.

I was curious to see if there were any distinctive differences between generations when it came to constant cravings. I didn’t have to Google far to find this little salty tidbit. Jump with me. (more…)

Fried Pies Report: The Original Fried Pie Place In Richardson

I was cruising down Campbell this morning and spied The Original Fried Pie Place sitting in a dungy strip mall in Richardson. Inside business is no nonsense: cash only and fried pies. They make ten sweet fruit and cream pies, five sugar-free, and nine savory breakfast, lunch, and dinner pies. I bought peach, cherry, and chocolate.

If you love fried pies, you will like these. I found them to be very heavy on gooey filling and light on fruit, and the fruit used was canned or frozen, certainly not fresh. The chocolate was basically fried pudding. Most of the people in the office liked them— all of the pies were gone 20 minutes after I set them out. Hey, it was noon and I had a box of free food.

I’ll be by there again in a couple of weeks and will try the Polish sausage, potato, and cheese. The original shop is in Oklahoma City. The Richardson store opened about 9 months ago.