Needless to say, there is more to the story and hopefully I will hear back soon from both sides.

Rick Orr's wife picked out this Tabbedout groomscake for their wedding last June. (photo by Ben Godkin)

Rick Orr, co-founder and EVP of Tabbedout, is a smart guy, but it’s not something he shoves in your face when you meet him. At least, that’s not what happened when I first encountered him and his then-fiancée at a little bistro in Austin last summer.

When Orr explained the concept of Tabbedout during our interview, I thought, “How neat,” and pushed it right out of my head. I was there to write about their nuptials, so wedding colors and flower arrangements seemed more important at the time. Since then, that conversation about his company has followed me to Dallas, where it’s hard not to notice people like Scott Reitz singing the praises of this iPhone and Android app.

This is how it works on smart phones: You download the sucker for free, enroll your basic billing info, and then you can open, view, and pay your tab at participating restaurants from the convenience of your phone.

When I met Rick Orr in June 2011, only a few places in Dallas had adopted Tabbedout. Now it’s good to use at 50 different locations in the DFW area, and I’m sure it will catch on like wildfire as soon as other bartenders realize how many more drinks they can make when they’re not busy closing tabs.

“It’s really important for the staff to understand that the average tip is above 20%,” says Orr. If customers want to pay below the minimum tip amount, then they’ll have to manually pay for the tab themselves.

It’s a win-win situation for customers and merchants. Customers have control of the close-out, and they don’t have to wait 30 minutes for the tab anymore. Merchants, on the other hand, can focus on service instead of sliding credit cards through machines.

For Orr, it’s a huge accomplishment to break into the DFW market. ”I grew up close to Dallas and lived there right out of college, so it’s personally important that we do well there.”

Executive Chef Cris "No H" Vasquez holds a Champion Dog. D.J. Pridemore eats the whole thing. (Photography by Micah Nunley)

I’ve already outlined how the Rangers will win the World Series. I’m now prepared to tell you how to plan your caloric intake when you attend a game. The Yu-Darvish moment of late yesterday took place as the Rangers food service management team—Shawn Mattox, Casey Rapp, Philip Wheatley, execuchef Cris Vazquez—revealed their heavy hitter: The Champion Dog ($26.00 with fries). It’s a 2-foot-long-all-beef hot dog topped with shredded cheese, sauteed onions, and chili. The Champion Dog, also sold as the Boomstick (Hi! Nellie!) in the general concessions area, is meant to satisfy four people. However, I watched an eating competition where D.J. Pridemore, a producer for 105.3-FM The Fan, ate a whole one all by himself. He smoked his opponent, the DMN’s Brandon Formby, who never saw the bun (made by Empire Baking Company) coming. Mr. Formby learned that baseball food, like baseball, is a now game of inches.

So Ranger food fans, here’s is news: Vandergriff Plaza (behind centerfield) has been renovated into a food court with FOUR new restaurants, Ryan’s Express 34, Smokehouse 557, Taqueria, and American Dog. They surround the bronze statute of Nolan Ryan. They’ve also added two smoking hot lounges, the Captain Morgan Club and the Batter’s Eye Club). The Kid’s Zone has been moved indoors (thank you) to the south end of the first floor. And the press box will feature sushi for the Japanese media.

Jump for Food Facts and Fun Pictures For Rangers Fans.

Four new restaurants surround the bronze statue of Nolan Ryan. (Photography by Micah Nunley)

The view from the Batter's Eye Club. (Photography by Micah Nunley)

*The one-pound hot dog is so big it actually has two names. Inside the Captain Morgan Club, it’s the Champion Dog. At concession stands outside Sections 16 and 42, it’s the Boomstick (a nod to outfielder Nelson Cruz).

*The Batter’s Eye Club (pictured above) is where I will be seated when, after winning the World Series in GAME FOUR, I watch the players hoist manager Ron Washington over their heads and pass him around the infield like a rag doll. The enclosed 150-seat (air-conditioned!) party suite sits in dead center field. The previously unused space will generate bazillions of dollars: tickets start at $75 a game but the 6,250-square foot room with theater seats, full-service bar, buffet line, and restrooms will be utilized mainly for groups and rentals. Individual seating will be on a game-by-game basis. The view is spectacular.

The Captain Morgan Club. (Photography by Micah Nunley)

*Captain Morgan Club (pictured above). This will be the place to hang when the Rangers are coasting through a game with an 11-run lead. You can’t see the grass from inside unless you watch it on one of the zillions of TVs scattered around the 9,000-square foot two-story bar/restaurant. As the name implies, there will be rum (home rum? sorry) and whiskey, and any other spirits carried by the Diageo brand. The wine list carries BV Coastal, Louis M. Martini, and Beringer, but I also spied a bottle of Barefoot, a bad hangover waiting to happen. The Captain Morgan Club will serve burgers, salads, sandwiches, barbecue, and the, soon-to-be-world-famous, Champion Dog. It will be open to the public before, during, and after games which will make it easy for you to celebrate a victory post-game Courvoisier VS. If you have the bucks, you can also rent the whole space.

*The Budweiser Bowtie at Vandergriff Plaza is the new name for the old area behind center field where you will find four new outdoor restaurants. The American Dog will feature four types of gourmet hot dogs, sausages, and hot dog sliders. The Smokehouse 557, equipped with a “specially built smoker,” will serve huge beef ribs, chopped beef sandwiches, turkey legs (ugh), and corn on the cob. You can find street tacos at Taqueria where they are also making their own flour tortillas. Chef  Vasquez says he doesn’t use any fat. “Only baking powder, flour, and water,” he said. He handed me a real hot one and I found it rather chewy. Perhaps the texture works for holding food long enough to get back to your seat without leakage, but, like I said, it was a little too elastic for my taste buds. The fillings were nice: plenty of fresh grilled, meats, onions, and peppers. Ryan’s Express 34 is all about Nolan Ryan’s beef. Here you will find four big and strong gourmet burgers such as the Tex-Mex burger where two patties are stuffed with cheese, griddled, topped with jalapenos, onions and pico de gallo, and served on fluffy pieces of Texas Toast.

Available at the Captain Morgan Club: Tuscan pasta, chicken Caesar salad. (Photography by Micah Nunley)

Clockwise from top left: Street tacos and home-made flour tortillas at Taqueria. Jalapeno burger at Ryan's Express 34. Tex-Mex burger on Texas Toast. (Photography by Micah Nunley)

*What about the new Japanese fans and media you ask? I’m glad you asked because I did. Ranger PR czar, Executive Vice President of Communications John Blake, expects 20 members of the Japanese media to travel with the team all season. He also predicts close to 60 will crowd into the press box when Yu Darvish pitches. “I have plenty of specials planned for the press box,” said Chef Vasquez. “We will have a sushi station in the Diamond Club, bento boxes with edamame, a whole California roll, and a seaweed salad at the Grab and Go stand.” He also says he’s experimenting with a hot dog and soba noodles. As the season progresses he will roll out new items geared to Japanese fans and media.

*There you have it. The Rangers have invested over $11.5 million to make you happy and fat. Thanks to the installation of new video boards and a high-tech in-park audio system last year, we should have nothing to bitch about. Unless Yu Darvish chokes.

Turkey leg, corn on the cob, beef ribs, and chopped beef sandwich from Smokehouse 557. (Photography by Micah Nunley)

]]> http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2012/04/03/the-texas-rangers-will-win-the-world-series-and-the-james-beard-award-for-best-new-restaurants/feed/ 5 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2012/03/20/new-bar-downtown-dallas-urban-park-gastro-bar/ http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2012/03/20/new-bar-downtown-dallas-urban-park-gastro-bar/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:39:33 +0000 Nancy Nichols http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=38273 A reader tweeted me a picture he took of a door in the Davis Building on Main Street. Anyone?

Julian Pagan of the Cedars Social. The hair stylist room. Photography by Jason Acton.

I dropped in to get a quick look at Hid In 2612, Michael Martensen’s newest pop-up bar in Deep Ellum. It’s gorgeous and fun and full of groovy people. The space is divided into four or five differently decorated spaces and some of Dallas’ finest bartenders are taking shifts at the bar. Food is available from Cane Rosso next door. I didn’t have time for a drink but I plan to get back before their last night which is Saturday Friday, February 10. They open at 8PM.

Go. Drink. Report.

Jump for photos.

The indoor outdoor room. The frame room. Photography by Jason Acton.

A wall; the ceiling. Photography by Jason Acton.

A drink; another wall. Photography by Jason Acton.

Look for the sign in the window. Photography by Jason Acton.

At least now I know what I want for V Day: bacon freakin’ chocolate candy. Whoever mails me a box, wins.

Jump for dates, times, and locations.

Katrina Markoff of Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Pre-Chocolate Festival Visit
Truffle Class on Saturday Morning, Feb 4 at 10 a.m. in the Dallas Central Market Cooking School
Truffle Class on Saturday Afternoon, Feb 4 at 4 p.m. in the Fort Worth Central Market Cooking School

Bertil Akesson of Akesson´s:
Meet the passionate cocoa planter who travels from Madagascar to Brazil to supply the world with the most authentic chocolate and exotic foods.
At Central Market Dallas on February 12 from 12pm-3pm
And Central Market Plano on February12 from 4pm-6pm

Dave Owens of Bissinger’s
Meet the former restaurant owner, long time vegetarian, 30-year culinary expert and mastermind behind Bissinger’s.
At Central Market Dallas on February 10 from 11am-2pm.
At Central Market Plano on February 11 from 12pm-3pm.
At Central Market Fort Worth on February 11 from 3pm-6pm.

Alan McClure of Patric Chocolate
Meet the head chocolate maker behind what Food & Wine Magazine awarded “Best New American Chocolate,” using only a handful of pure and natural ingredients.
At Central Market Dallas on February 10 from 3-6 p.m.

Fritz Knipschildt
Meet owner of Café Chocopoligie, Fritz Knipschildt as he shares his story and passes out samples of his one-of-a-kind artisan chocolates.
At Central Market Dallas on February 12 from 12-3 p.m.
At Central Market Plano on February 12 from 4-6 p.m.

Shawn Askinosie of Askinosie Chocolate
Meet the philanthropically-minded chocolate entrepreneur named “One of 14 Guys Who Are Saving the World” By O, The Oprah Magazine.
At Central Market Plano on February 13 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
At Central Market Fort Worth on February 13 from 3-6 p.m.

Lauren McCusker of Xan Confection
Meet the new hotshot on the chocolate scene and the creator of Xan Confection’s “Lifestyle Line,” featuring non-dairy and gluten-free chocolates that are vegan, low-glycemic and low-calorie.
At Central Market Fort Worth on February 13 from noon-2:30 p.m.
At Central Market Plano on February 13 from 4-6 p.m.

Photo by Elizabeth Lavin.

Once a month writer Moira Muldoon walks into a bar and lives to write about it. This month she explores Goodfriend Beer Garden in East Dallas.

A couple of guys in their late 30s chatted with me over a tree stump stool at Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House, the new East Dallas pub. They live down the road, were hanging out. My friend Susan arrived, ignored the big TV, and slid onto the couch next to me. Her hair and coat smelled crisp like winter. The guys left, and we stretched out our legs a bit.

Susan murmured something about how she’d forgotten that people go out at 9 on a Thursday night. Though she was once a hipster and still has the style to show for it, she now has a year-old daughter and a lot more Thursday nights at home. She lives down the road from Goodfriend, so the trip to the bar was easy, and, in fact, she and her family are big fans of Good 2 Go Taco next door.

Follow her here.

Pull up a chair at Sundown's cozy bar. (photography by Jason Acton)

Sundown Tea (photography by Jason Acton)

The Concept: Sundown at Granada is the Granada Theater’s neighboring restaurant and bar with a long list of draft beers and hand-crafted cocktails. Although I’m sure you can grab a bite pre-show, I would be filled with panic watching a line get longer next door while shoveling down the last forkfulls of food and chugging the rest of a beer. This is a perfect spot, however, to discuss your favorite act post-performance and perhaps mingle with band members, who are sure to wander over for a bite.

Who’s There: Thirty-somethings interested in enjoying some quality time together. (Rather than 20-somethings hollering over their third round of Jager bombs.)

When You Enter, Make a Beeline For: A cozy spot. Long gone are the dramatic reds and blacks that made up M Street Bar. Now you’ll find warm, dark woods and earthy accessories that inspire visions of a lakefront cabin or old library (or both, mixed together). Head to the lounge area, which features vintage-looking chairs and rugs. All that’s missing is a fireplace. I would like to recommend the patio with its long tables befitting groups, but the stinky smoke from the chiminea left us smelling like we’d returned from a camping trip.

photography by Jason Acton

What We Drank: A few cocktails, a few beers. (Food starts this Friday.) We did what I think one should do at fancy cocktail joints: ask the waiter to have the bartender to make his favorite drink. Our server didn’t look thrilled when we asked for “something spicy, whatever the bartender likes.” Either way, he brought us a Sundown Tea, a housemade tea concoction spiced with jalapeno, and a Cucumber Cilantro ‘Tini. Both were tasty, if a little on the sweet side. The beer menu boasts 60 options. Our beer snob buddy is calling it a list of “good” options, “not stellar.” Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Wild, Samuel Smith’s seasonal Winter Warmer, and the Left Hand Milk Stout got us excited, but we wouldn’t mind seeing a few one-of-a-kind rotating drafts. Although the kitchen wasn’t open yet, a few samples of soon-to-be-served Mexican Pizza was passed around. It was spicy and delicious.

A peaceful nook for cocktails and conversation. (photography by Jason Acton)

What They’re Wearing: Casual stuff. Jeans will do, but if you head over gussied up, don’t fret. You’ll still fit right in.

When the Crowd Arrives: We settled in on a Friday after work, and the bar had plenty of patrons but also plenty of elbow room.

Bottom Line: Sundown is in its beginning stages. Happy hours aren’t yet in place, and food isn’t being served until this Friday, January 13. All in all, though, we’ll call it a decent bar experience that left us feeling like we were hanging out in a friend’s living room. But we’re excited to go back for food and a post-show nightcap.

Check out our Party Pics gallery from Sundown.

No Guns: Dallas cowpokes at Shooters are armed with tacos. (Or is that a iPhone?)

Shooters, home of “street and gourmet tacos, burgers, wings, salads, and other standard pub fare to go along with those delicious tacos,” opened on Saturday night. It’s located at AT&T Plaza in Victory Park directly across from the main entrance of the American Airlines Center. The two brains behind the business are Kenichi’s general partner Joshua Babb and Kenichi chef Bodhi Durant. Babb promises the “lowest prices in Victory Park ironically brought to you by the people who have the highest prices in Victory Park-ie, Kenichi.”  Yow. Zah. That’s the kind of balls-to-the-walls spirit I like to see in Victory Park. Bring it on dudes.

The Red Heart. (Photography by Elizabeth Lavin)

Each month, Moira Muldoon walks into a bar and writes about it. Here’s her look at the Bolla Bar at the Stoneleigh Hotel. Gotta tip for Muldoon? Leave it below.

At first glance, the Bolla Bar at the Stoneleigh Hotel is borderless. It’s hard to tell if you’re in the lobby or actually in the bar itself—or if somehow you’re in both at once. People wheel suitcases through. The sparkling chandeliers and the plush satin seating wrap around square marble columns and convey opulence and elegance. The smooth arch of the bar itself, a wooden semicircle, a proscenium of sorts, is lovely.

Rooms at the Stoneleigh start at $219, and the service at the bar is solid, the way you’d expect from a high-end hotel with a much-vaunted art deco style and a list of whites by the glass that start at $8 (happy hour wines are $5). When my glass neared empty, a server appeared. Water was refilled consistently, unobtrusively. My friend drank cosmopolitans, remarking that each was different in taste and texture and that each was good.

Stay with her.

Tate's bartender makes a "Quila Smash," right. (photography by Jason Acton)

The Concept: Another place for bartenders to have love affairs with their carefully crafted cocktails. Classics inspire the menu. (A gimlet, the Aviation, and a “Beautiful Cigar Girl” grace the drink lineup.)

Who’s There: What appeared to be young business professionals (early 30s) packed the place to let loose on the bar’s second night of business (last Thursday). It was a relief to rub elbows with the grownup versions of the typical McKinney Avenue weekend crowd. Surprisingly, even though the mixologist’s concoctions were the obvious choice when ordering, we saw the usual suspects lined the bar. (Red wine, vodka soda, etc.) But once one person ordered something fancy, it spurred his neighbors to make more inspired selections.

When You Enter, Make a Beeline For: The big table by the door, if you’re bringing a crowd, or a seat at the bar. When specialty cocktails are the name of the game, always buddy up with a bartender. The space is small (like, Nonna small) so be prepared to stand.

Don’t Miss: Sampling the cocktails. I ordered “something-fruity-with-champagne-but-not-too-sweet” and got a Southern Belle, which isn’t on the menu. I was pleasantly surprised by the champagne, bitters, vodka, and apricot combo. My drinking partner mentioned he liked whiskey and got a Tate’s Sazerac with cognac, rye, agave nectar, bitters, and absinthe. I liked watching the barman light it on fire first, but my friend was disappointed by the “girly” taste. We were both happy with the Blackbird Julep with Chambord, citron vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a decorative pile of berries on top. It tasted like fresh fruit and sugar toned down by the fresh lemon. Drinks are made on the spot, and the bartenders are careful but fairly quick. (Talking to you, Cedars Social.)

What They’re Wearing: The customers matched the wait staff, in stylish business casual with loosened ties, sans jackets. You could get away with anything, but I’d stick to jeans and blouses for ladies and jeans and sweaters or button-downs for guys.

Cocktails are carefully crafted, but you won't be waiting long. (photography by Jason Acton)

When the Crowd Arrives: It was hoppin’ at 11 pm. The hostess danced by the doorway, large groups were laughing and ordering Tate’s versions of Irish car bombs, and the bar was full. Be patient. A spot for you will open up.

What You’ll Hear: The jams of choice were rap and hip-hop.

Overheard: “This is my jam!” as our neighbor threw his fists up to Notorious B.I.G.’s “Big Poppa.”

Bottom Line: I felt right at home at the cozy wood bar, romantically lit by candlelight. I’ll be back with a group for a table, another Blackbird Julep, and taste of their small plate menu served before 10 pm. (caramel corn and peanuts with chili spices, jalapeno-spiced two-step meatballs, and mini chili cheese dogs are calling my name.)

Check out our Party Pics gallery from Tate’s.

Bar Crew at The Chesterfield

The Chesterfield, the tony new bar backed by Ed Bailey and manned by Ed “Lucky ” Campbell,  opened somewhat softly on Friday night. It is in the old Doc Bell’s BBQ place on Main Street in downtown Dallas.  Sumptuous old couches have been moved in and the well-stocked bar ready to “celebrate the golden age of cocktails”  runs down one exposed brick wall of the oblong space. It’s urban sophistication in the glass and in the space.

Jump for my favorite thing.In the  back is a portal into the galley kitchen. The tiny space is  not a problem for  Chef  Michael Ehlert. In fact, his workspace at The Chesterfield  is wide-open acreage compared to some of the places  he worked in NYC. (Most recently Ehlert was at DBGB.)

Campbell was so psyched about the location, he signed the lease a year ago without a penny in the bank. He is totally convinced  he is right about choosing  downtown. Campbell looked at other locations, including Bishop Arts (and Kepler 22b for all I know), but decided  nowhere offered the vibrancy and economics of downtown.  Of course it’s  Ed Bailey’s money on the line, a fact that helps Campbell sleep at night.

I think that this place could be stratospherically successful. [Ed. note: Huh?] It combines the sophistication and lack of starchiness of  a Stephan Pyles establishment. Come in jeans, or in your suit after work, or in a tux on your way to a holiday party or the symphony. Sample flatbreads and small plates from a chef who joins the band of Dallas chefs who have spent time working in a world-class environment. I hope the food offered  allows Ehlert to display his talents. And you can be sure that Lucky’s bar and mixology crew is going to have their heads banged until they are among the best in town.

Chef Michael Ehlert is slicing brioche. That means there must be foie gras nearby...

D will return to review it anonymously at a later date. For now, check it out. 1404 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75202. 214-741-2811.

"Boss, the icemaker is turning out cubes that are two feet across but our glasses are only three inches across. What should we do?" Get bigger glasses!

Autumn Leaves at Victor Tangos (photography by Matthew Shelley)

I spent the last week researching bars serving up holiday cocktails in Big D. Then photographer Matthew Shelley and I made our way around town to give them a look and a taste. Here’s our toast to our new favorite holiday-inspired cocktails. Cheers.

Black Swan Saloon's Pecan Pie Flip

VICTOR TANGOS
Order: Autumn Leaves
What is it?: A whiskey drink with orange and mint notes
Ingredients:
Rye Whiskey
Allspice Dram
Green Chartreuse
Simple Syrup
Angostura and Peychaud Bitters
Flamed orange disk
Mint sprig
Tastes like: Our favorite new drink. The caramelized orange and crushed mint that top the drink create an olfactory experience as delightful as drinking the spiced whiskey mix.

BLACK SWAN SALOON
Order: Pecan Pie Flip
What is it?: Pecan-infused bourbon martini
Ingredients:
Pecan, vanilla bean, and chamomile-infused bourbon
Drizzle of maple syrup
Heavy whipping cream
Whole egg
Tastes like: What pecan pie should be: creamy, sweet, nutty, and buzz-producing. It also happens to be the cocktail that inspired the creation of this list.

Mulled Wine and Homemade Eggnog available at BlackFriar Pub, Idle Rich Pub, and The Old Monk in Dallas (photography by Matthew Shelley)

BLACKFRIAR PUB, IDLE RICH PUB, and THE OLD MONK
Order: Mulled Wine
What is it?: Spiced wine, served warm
Ingredients:
Red wine
Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, orange flavors
Carmelized sugar
Tastes like: You should be in front of a fireplace on a bearskin rug. It soothed away all our cares. (Including work, sorry boss.)

BLACKFRIAR PUB, IDLE RICH PUB, and THE OLD MONK
Order: Eggnog, available starting December 10
What is it?: Eggnog made from scratch
Ingredients:
Secret eggnog recipe
House-spiced rum made at sister bar Renfield’s Corner
Tastes like: Heaven. The consistency is spot-on: not too thin, not too thick. The rum complements the eggnog without destroying the creamy flavor.

The Boston Warmer and Dutch Leaf cocktails at The People's Last Stand (photography by Matthew Shelley)

THE PEOPLE’S LAST STAND
Order: Boston Warmer
What is it?: Warm, rum-spiked drink
Ingredients:
Courvoisier
Rum
Hibiscus tea syrup
Lemon juice
Hot water
Tastes like: Tea for grown-ups with discerning palettes.

Order: Dutch Leaf
What is it?: Spiced gin martini
Ingredients:
Gin
Ginger liquor
Allspice Dram
Simple syrup
Coffee beans
Nutmeg
Tastes like: Christmas in a martini glass.

Things That Make You Go Hum and the Holiday Dark and Stormy at Private Social (photography by Matthew Shelley)

PRIVATE SOCIAL
Order: Things That Make You Go Hum
What is it?: A botanical-flavored concoction with absinthe
Ingredients:
Hum Liqueur
Strega Liqueur
Absinthe
Demerara simply syrup
Lemon juice
Tastes like: We’ll try to explain the flavor—sweet, floral, spicy, citrusy, exotic—but you’re better off just trying it yourself. Bartender Rocco Milano describes it best as a “culinary experience in a glass.”

Order: Holiday Dark and Stormy
What is it?: A festive twist on the classic rum and ginger beer drink
Ingredients:
Rum
House-made ginger beer
Vanilla simple syrup
All Spice Dram
Tastes like: The original, but better, richer, warmer, and with a manly kick.

Rum Diary and Rum Cocoa at Pyramid Bar (photography by Matthew Shelley)

PYRAMID BAR
Order: Rum Diary
What is it?: Twist on the Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
Dark rum
Spicy orange bitters
Sugar
Steamed pineapple juice
Star anise pod
Tastes like: Fall. The orange bitters, pineapple, and aromatic experience of the star anise, all warmed, are cozy.

Order: Rompope Hot Cocoa
What is it?: A fusion of eggnog and hot chocolate, spiked
Ingredients:
Santa Clara Rompope Mexican eggnog
10 Cane Rum
Hot cocoa
Tastes like: Eggnog and hot chocolate. But better because it’ll get you buzzed.

Peppermint Crush from J. Black's and Candy Cane Martini at Primebar in Dallas (photography by Matthew Shelley)

J. BLACK’S
Order: Peppermint Crush
What is it?: Grown-up hot chocolate
Ingredients:
Hot cocoa
Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
Rumple Minze
Whipped cream
Crushed peppermint
Tastes like: A drink made in adult Candy Land. It’s the perfect balance of alcohol and dessert flavor.

PRIMEBAR
Order up the: Candy Cane Martini
What is it?: Peppermint martini
Ingredients:
Vanilla vodka
Godiva white chocolate liqueur
Rumple Minze
Candy cane
Tastes like: Minty milk

Smoke Forbids from Cedars Social and the Cajun Christmas Shot at Hotel ZaZa's Dragonfly (photography by Matthew Shelley)

CEDARS SOCIAL
Order: Smoke Forbids
What is it?: Tequila concoction atop a house-smoked ice cube
Ingredients:
Blanco tequila
Vermouth
Agave nectar
Spicy bitters
Applewood-cured ice cubes
Lemon zest
Tastes like: A tequila drink to start but melts into a smoky medley.

DRAGONFLY AT HOTEL ZAZA
Order: Cajun Christmas Shot
What is it?: Sweet-but-peppery shooter
Ingredients:
Southern Comfort Firey Pepper
Cherry Heering liqueur
Lime juice
House-made almond simple syrup
Tastes like: Cherry limeade with a peppery kick.

Mochatini from Eddie V's and It's a Wonderful Life from Charlie Palmer at the Joule (photography by Matthew Shelley)

EDDIE V’S
Order: Mochatini
What is it?: Chocolate coffee-flavored martini
Ingredients:
Stoli vanilla
Godiva chocolate liqueur
Espresso
Tastes like: Alcoholic Starbucks without the cavity-inducing sugar rush.

CHARLIE PALMER AT THE JOULE
Order: Forbidden Fruit
What is it?: A pomegranate and acaí “wellness” martini
Ingredients:
Veev Acaí
Pomegranate juice
Aperitivo Americano
Cranberry juice
Simple Syrup
Tastes like: Juice. We could chug this fruity confection all day long. (But that would be dangerous.)

Update: Pyramid Bar’s chocolate drink is called Rompope Hot Cocoa, not Rum Cocoa.

Photography by Bud Force.

Each month Moira Muldoon walks into a bar and lives to write about it. Here is her analysis of the Anvil Pub. Spoiler alert: she’s a softy for punks.

The first time we went into the Anvil Pub, in Deep Ellum,  the server’s short, purple-tinted mohawk was on display. The second time, she was wearing a pirate hat. Neither time did we order the Russian Roulette pizza, with “bullet” slices spiked with cayenne pepper, but both times we laughed about it.

My husband and I found the year-old bar by accident, in a drive-by search for a pub on a Saturday night. I wanted someplace we could sit and talk and maybe snack. The Anvil just looked right. The chalkboard street sign, the guys smoking and taking IDs at the door, an open parking space down the street. The pub is airy and has a bike on the ceiling and a helluva beer selection (Pabst Blue Ribbon to Three Philosophers). Plus, the kitchen is environmentally friendly (no frying), and there are multiple vegan options. It’s local, mindful, bicycle friendly, and offers some good specials. On Wednesdays, all Texas pints (Franconia, Shiner, Fireman’s #4, and Rahr) are $2, and Texas vodkas are $4. The Anvil looks like what it is, a good pub, with a punk rock pizza I haven’t dared to order.

More.

Punk rock still lives a little in Deep Ellum, and I’ve always had a soft spot for punk. I like its directness, the straightforwardness of its nose-thumbing at traditional conventions about dress, appearance, and a host of other things. I know my mind is sharper when I challenge my long-held assumptions, when I listen to people who believe differently, when I am open to being swayed. Punk rockers visually remind me of that. Pirate hats, too.

And I need reminding. It takes a lot of work to challenge assumptions or habits, particularly in small, ordinary ways. Not long ago, my 18-month-old son and I were at swim lessons. He was tired and didn’t want to do whatever it was we were supposed to be doing. I started trying to get him to do the thing we were supposed to—and then realized I didn’t have to. He wasn’t ready, and there was no reason to make him. But after so many years of school, my first instinct was to comply with the teacher’s request for everyone to do whatever it was.

You’ll have to read the end here.