I’ve done a decent amount of travel around Dallas as part of my own personal taco crusade. But unfortunately, my taco radar is pretty much dark across the taco dense region just east of Harry Hines and north of Northwest Highway. A few establishments have crossed my path in this area, but one experience in particular which involved a tiny, no-name roadside taqueria, lack of electricity and refrigeration and a putrid, spoiled pork barbacoa taco, has left such a sour taste in my mouth that I rarely adventure there these days.
Luckily, I was redirected back to the area by the highly respected taco tycoon, Jose Ralat-Maldonado of Taco Trail fame. When this dude tells you to make a trip somewhere, it’s best not to question his authority. This particular outing brought me to a previously unheard of joint called La Nueva Fresh and Hot. I am a sucker for fresh, I’m a sucker for hot, I’m even a sucker for neuva. How could I go wrong? I couldn’t.
Read on amigos…
Sorry, I’m a little late to the welcome-Eater Dallas party, but here goes. Today Eater Dallas officially opened for business. The announcement comes from editor, and former Dallas Observer writer, Andrea Grimes:
Eater Dallas will make sure the best food and drink news—and, let’s face it, sometimes the worst of same—boils to the top. We combine original reporting with tips, rants and raves from users, and also round up what’s happening in the rest of the food media around town and nationally. Food porn, recipes and reviews aren’t our thing, but readers who come back to Eater Dallas every day will never be out of the loop when it comes to the Dallas dining and drinking scene. Eater Dallas joins a national network of Eater sites, which stretch from New York City to D.C. to Chicago to San Francisco. With the co-launch of Eater Houston this morning, Texas is the only state to boast three Eater locales: Austin, Houston and Dallas. (We shouldn’t leave out Eater Atlanta, which also launches today. Hi, Atlanta.)
As one of my favorite comics Martin Mull used to say, “Let’s not say au revoir, let’s just say hors d’oeuvres.” This morning Dave Faries, creator of Critic’s Guide, writes:
We’re still tweaking the information and accounting for the ebb and flow of restaurant life—closures, openings, new chefs and so on. But the arrival of the Fearless Critic guide to Dallas-Fort Worth allows me to shut down the current iteration of Critic’s Guide and start work on a revamp. It should be fun.
According to Teresa “Dallas Dudette” Gubbins, Steven Doyle,the man formerly known as Dallas Dude, has launched a new foodie website. Crave is a “life-sized Etch-A-Sketch that we’ll shake up for you on occasion.” Doyle has a big staff of reporters and vows to cover “food and cocktails we will also explore the art scene which we view as totally under-served in DFW.” Congrats to Doyle, he’s one hard working dude.
A couple of weeks ago a commenter, who goes by El Smokeador and operates a meaty blog called El Smokeador y Smokehopper, left a comment with a link to his recipe for brisket cooked with Butterfinger candy bars. I printed it out and plan to try it soon. This morning, El Smokeadore and his co-blogger, Smokehopper, send another creation: chicken friend smoked brisket. (I love the idea of using a leaf blower to stoke a fire, but I would suggest you proceed with caution.) I think this guy is wacky enough to be included in our blogroll. Et tu, oh brutal ones?
Christine Cochran and Katy Purwin have started a food blog geared “towards recipes for the twenty something foodie.” It’s called Young & Hungry. Shall we add them to the blogroll?
Earlier in the week, I introduced you to Susan Marx and the Foodie in a Warzone blog she writes from her kitchen in Kabul, Afghanistan. Today she sends you a message:
I just saw your lovely post and link to my new blog on the Dallas Food and Wine blog and wanted to thank you very much for the support! This is something that is quite close to our hearts, and in light of the recent attacks in Kabul, something we do for sanity as well – your support is much appreciated. Warm regards,Susan.
Dishers, I say we add her to the blogroll on the right. Perhaps with a little support from us, Susan can find a little peace. And we can get some great recipes! What do you say?
Over the weekend, I was privileged to be at the family lake house in East Texas in the company of four of my five perfect nieces and one nephew. We did a lot of cooking (thank you Richard Chamberlain for the brisket recipe) and we made ice cream. We ate handfuls of Texas blueberries, tomatoes, and peaches. One of my five perfect nieces, Jamie (churning the ice cream), wants to be a chef. The other three want to be food critics. Katie, Hannah, and Mia have started Kid Kritics, a blog about food. So far, they have two reviews up. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly.
“Young Fashionista” Laura Kostelny is our staff expert on The Bachelor. She blogs her hilarious reality TV thoughts quite regularly over on ShopTalk. Anywhoo, I bring up Laura and The Bachelor because Melissa Rycroft, the former Dallas-Cowboys-Cheerleader-turned-Glazer’s-Distributors-employee-turned-The Bachelor- bachelorette-turned-Dancing-with-the-Stars contestant was in Dallas yesterday to clean out her office at Glazer’s. She was accompanied by dancing partner Tony Dovolani. Thanks to Glazer’s guru and On the Wine Trail in Italy blogster, Alfonso Cevola, for the links and the photos. Back to you, Laura. (photos courtesy of The Blend. Tony Dovolani helps Melissa Rycroft move while James LaBarba gives her the last paycheck.)
I wrote this notice yesterday when Amy Severson, the author of our Restaurant 101, sent me the notice, but I forgot to hit publish. DETAILS! Why are there so many. Anywhoo, a blogroll please for The Dallas Cook Book. Adam, could you add it to our ring of honor to the side. Keep her warm.
Whoopsie-doodle, I mean winner. (What would I do without Spell Check?) Anywhoo, I just intercepted a secret DMN company memo announcing:
“Bill Addison will receive a national Association of Food Journalists award for restaurant criticism. The other finalists are: Will Ferrell for Talladega Dinner Nights and M.F.K. Fisher’s Recipes from the Grave. The ranking of the three awards will be announced at a conference in October.”
Kidding, so, so, so kidding. Way to go, Freckle Face, I hope you beat the pants off of your true rivals Lee Klein of Miami New Times and Tom Sietsema of The Washington Post-it.
I like it that people like to talk about food, but I really love it when people like to read about food because it keeps my mortgage payments somewhat current. And I welcome sadists readers who get so into the food scene they start their own blogs. Like Scott Dearmore, a Disher who loves burgers. In between loving burgers, and a serious man crush on Tim Love, Dearmore, has “three incredible kids and an awesome wife.” And now, a burger blog: The Full Grown Burger. So burger on, dudes. Adam, the blogroll please.
My husband and I had lunch recently with some friends (at The Counter. It was decent. Get the sweet potato fries.), and the wife mentioned in passing that she had started a food blog. She has always been interested in cooking and baking, and her collection of cookbooks dwarfs my entire library. But, even knowing all that, I am still impressed with her effort (especially since she has a 1-year-old and a part-time law career to boot). I guess these online amateur foodie outposts are more prevalent than I think. That true?
As my good gay buddy Ed always says, “Mary, it takes a fairy.” And he’s right. Every morning I begin my day with a little ditty from the clever folks over at Gay List Daily . Bright and concise, these boys love them some Dallas and they cover dining, events, clothes, and everything in between. It’s like a gay mini-version of D Magazine. Without a Trey.
It may not be the Pulitzer but in the world of wine and wine blogging it’s a big deal. Especially when your name is Alfonso Cevola, the Italian Wine Director at Glazers, and your name is being tossed around with the likes of Eric Asimov for two American Wine Blog Awards (Best Writing and Best Graphics). His enchanting blog, On the Wine Trail in Italy, is always listed on our blogroll so I’m sure you’re familiar with his tales from the trails. If not, get hooked today. Chances are that he’ll win and he’ll go all suave bolla on us. Ya think? Naw. So vote here and vote often.