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Restaurant Bits and Bites

From the copy and paste press release department.

Hi Nancy. Would it surprise you to know that if we all ate out just one more time a week, we’d pump $118 million [ed. note: billion] back into the economy over the course of a year?  We learned that, and a lot of other surprising info about the connection between the restaurant industry and the overall economy – which led our agency down the path of creating a video that we’re just crazy enough to think might encourage a few folks to change their perspective on eating out. We’re calling it Eat Out for a Change.  Here’s a link to the video.

Côtes du Coeur Society. The Trinity River Chef Showdown on Thursday, October 29 6:30 – 9:00 PM at the Milestone Culinary Arts (4531 McKinney Avenue) Join us for great food, wine and a friendly cooking competition between the celebrated Chefs of Dallas and Tarrant Counties! Featuring Chef Richard Chamberlain as Master of Ceremonies and a surprise panel of judges. Chefs of Dallas: David McMillan and George Brown vs. Chefs Tarrant: Brian Olenjack and Jon Bonnell. Wine generously provided by Grailey’s Fine Wine benefiting the American Heart Association. Here is a link to tickets and more information.

Fish City Grill. Did you know that October 25th is National Pasta Day? To honor that delicious, versatile dish, and to help out our local food banks during a time when the depressed economy has greatly affected their donations, Fish City Grill is partnering with the North Texas and Tarrant County Food Banks to give back to the community in celebration of National Pasta Day! October 25th through October 31st, at participating Fish City Grills and Half Shells locations, customers bringing in a donation of mac & cheese, pasta, or pasta sauce will receive $3.00 off of their purchase of the new Shrimp Mac ‘n Cheese or any of the new Hearty Item Menu offerings. So while helping to fill local food bank pantries, participants can fill their bellies at the same time!

Stone Crabs at TJ’s. Sweet, Succulent Claws Avail Every Weekend In Season. Florida Stone Crab Claws are one of the most delicious treats from the sea. The large claws are closer in size to a lobster claw than a crab. And the meat?  Oh the meat!  So sweet, so sumptuous, so fresh.
Stone Crab Claw fans know that you dip the crab in a special mustard sauce that we at TJ’s carry all year round (creatively called “TJ’s Special Mustard Sauce”, 3.99/cup). SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED Never trust a “fresh” seafood market that doesn’t run out of things (think about it), so guarante your orders by Wednesday for Saturday pick up. After Wednesday, Stone Crab Claws are first come/first serve (you can still call ahead after Wednesday to reserve from what we have.) Stone Crab Claws are Market Price…we expect them to be apprx 19.50/lb this weekend. Depending on availability the price could drop deeper into the season. 214-691-2369.

The Cultured Cup in The Plaza at Preston will be featuring work from local potter Ginny Marsh.  Ginny specializes in handmade Wabi Sabi style pottery, a form of pottery that draws from the traditions of the Japanese tea ceremony.  They will be demonstrating how to make matcha (Japanese powdered green tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony) in some of her bowls and she will be available to talk about the process of making them and present them in beautiful wood boxes. Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 24-25) from 1-5 p.m.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant. Set to open its doors to the second Texas location on November 9 at Park Lane and Central Expressway – 8060 Park Lane Suite 125 Dallas, TX 75231. The restaurant will feature an on-site brewery that adheres to the 500-year old German purity law Reinheitsgebot (Rine-HEIGHTS-ge-boat), which states that beers are made from only four ingredients—barley, hops, water and yeast.  Gordon Biersch will offer the definitive culinary experience with its universally inspired, but uniquely American, menu and award winning signature, hand-crafted beers.  A patron can enjoy a Märzen Barbecue Burger while sipping a crisp lager that has been brewed on site or engage in a cocktail from the full service bar while noshing on a Grilled Chilean Sea Bass. Jump for more.

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Stone Elephant Opens on Abrams in East Dallas

Michael Kobelt (Rawlings @ The Ballpark in Arlington and Charlie Palmer @ The Joule) and Timm Zbylut (former GM at Lee Harvey’s) have teamed up to open the Stone Elephant across from Jakes at Skillman and Abrams. Right now they are serving a limited bar and grill menu and will be expanding the list to include home-style features and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. They have big screen TVs, a stage for bands, karaoke, pool tables and video games. Details to follow.

Mini-Review: Maple & Motor Burgers and Beer in Dallas

Fried baloney sandwich.

Move over Wingfield’s, there is a new contender for Best Burger in Dallas. Maple & Motor Burgers and Beer is open for business and they make a great burger. I just popped in to the new joint on Maple across from Elliot’s Hardware and bought a fried baloney sandwich and a cheeseburger. I had to give the baloney sandwich to a co-worker because, after one bite, I was afraid I would eat the whole thing. The sandwich consists of a thick slice of star-cut baloney fried on the griddle and nestled between layers of mayonnaise, tomatoes, and lettuce, which is called  Cincinnati-style. You can also order it Cowboy style—cup-fried and filled with chili, cheese, and chopped onion. Could be the best new hangover cure.

I didn’t just stumble into this place. Last week I received an e-mail from owner Jack Perkins who alerted me to the opening along with a note saying that the “four families of Mexican Food” on Maple Avenue–Ojeda’s, Avila’s, Rosita’s, Herrera’s—have taken Jack under their wing and treated his crew like family.

A great new cheeseburger in town.

But back to the burger. It’s a half a pound of freshly ground grilled beef on a perfectly toasted bun–crisp not soggy–and covered with a thick slice of melted cheese. The fries were crisp and passed the “no bend” test. And it’s cheap: the cheeseburger and baloney sandwich are both only $4.50 each and fries are $1.75. Jack was there along with his lovely self-described “wing woman” and they could not have been nicer. I overheard Jack talking to his cooks. He was instructing them on how to cook the burgers. “Make it perfect before you make it fast,” he said. “I don’t want any food critics coming in here and complaining that it isn’t perfect.”

Get Your Love Shack Burger Fix at Austin City Limits

A music-loving tipster just sent me this info: Fort Worth’s favorite cowboy hat-wearing chef, Tim Love, is bringing his Love Shack to Austin City Limits this weekend. I’ve never been to the festival before, but apparently there’s an Eats Food Court in Zilker Park where restaurants set up shop and serve food. Oh, here’s the list of restaurants. Love’s burgers will fit in just fine with Torchy’s Tacos (yes please), Amy’s Ice Cream, and more. Almost makes me wish I was going.

Does Dallas Need Another $16 Burger?

Smoke's $16 burger

Full disclosure: I’m a Cliffdweller and love/hate that the 75225 crowd have discovered how cool life south of the Trinity can be. (Overheard one night at Bolsa: “Oh my gawd! Look at that taco hut across the street, y’all. Have you ever seen so many in your life?” So many what? You figure it out.) That said, I was stoked that the Bolsa owners and chef/co-owner Tim Byres took over Cliff Cafe — a decent hotel restaurant at The Belmont — and reimagined it as a frou frou smokehouse. So, far I’ve been loving the meats (sweet paprika and fennel seed sausage = savory goodness) and breakfast (my new favorite home for biscuits and gravy) at Smoke. But the EB&D Loaded Up and Truckin’ burger is almost as ridiculous as its name: Burgundy beef (so far, so good) topped with bacon, a farm egg fritter, sharp cheddar, onion, tomato, and lettuce all on a griddled honey bun. Two bites into it, my hands were dripping with meat juices and egg yolk, my jaw hurt, and I admitted defeat. It was simply too much of everything. Dissecting the burger, I appreciated the well seasoned beef patty cooked a perfect medium as well as the lightly fried poached egg. But bacon on a burger needs to be crisp. This was thick cut and, alas, flabby. For $16, it was an orgy of competing tastes and textures my mouth couldn’t appreciate. Nor do I appreciate this burger trend of piling everything between two buns, charging almost $20 for it, and declaring it “gourmet.” No. Gourmet is a burger where I can actually taste and savor the beef. So far, I really like Smoke. But this burger bugged me. Am I alone on this issue, SideDishers?

Guessing Games: The Winners of The Grape “Free Burger” Gift Certificates

Some people think this is the best burger in Texas.

Listen up: Monday, Brian Luscher of The Grape offered 10 gift certificates to the first ten commenters to this post.

If you are Tx2Step, Elena34, Kyle, Ash, Melody, DarnellErwinFletcher, CD, MaggieP, Chuck, or Erik, e-mail me with contact information so that I can get the certificates to you.

Are You Going To El Paso?

Go hungry.

Shannon Wynne Will Open New Restaurant In Dallas: The Moth

Veteran Dallas restaurateur Shannon Wynne has signed a lease on the “old Ann Sachs tile space” in the Design District (High Line & Oak Lawn) and will open a restaurant/bar called The Moth. Veteran is a nice way to describe Mr. Wynne, in reality he is a crafty, no-bs geezer. Ask him a question and he gives you a straight answer.

Here is a transcript of our phone conversation. (more…)

Greenville Avenue In Dallas: Restaurant Memory Lane

Yesterday, an old gal could not remember the name of a restaurant on Greenville Ave. But you guys freakin’ nailed it–DiPalma’s. Thanks to you, the reader is out of therapy and back at work today. However, there are a few other questions and memories floating around my inbox.

Memory:  I still have DiPalma’s recipe for chicken lasagna and remember their lemon sauced pasta — it was a great place…

Question: We used to live within spitting distance of Il Sorrento (Hillcrest and Northwest Highway) and went there for all celebrations and we miss it terribly. Do you know of another old world Italian restaurant that perhaps reminds you of Il Sorrento that we can claim as ours so we can relive our youth of smoky piano bars, palm readers, and eating way too much Gorgonzola gnocchi?

Money question: What is the name of that great hamburger place that was also on Greeneville at the same time as DiPalmas? They served breakfast too.

Answers: 1) Share the recipe for chicken lasagna. 2) The last palm reader I witnessed was at Patry’s on W. Lovers Lane. 3) There are no more smoky rooms in Dallas and almost every “marinara sauce” Italian restaurant in Dallas tastes like Il Sorrento. (With the exception of table side Caesar salad and the roaming bread guys with the silver hot boxes.)

However, I do know the burger place—Little Gus’, the original Greek “cheeseburger cheeseburger” spot frequented by an eclectic mix of artists, trial lawyers, judges, politicians, journalists, musicians, and carpenters. It was a great spot run by cousins Pete Lucas and Tony Mantzuranis.  I dug into my nostalgic t-shirt drawer and present this picture for your approval.

The Grape In Dallas: The Best Burger in Texas Now Available Mondays

You all know that other monthly magazine in Austin named the burger at The Grape the Best In Texas. Many of you were not happy to find out that the burger is only available on Sundays (11:30am-10pm). Not so, now you can sample the 10-ounce patty covered with Vermont white cheddar, peppered bacon, and Nathan’s horseradish half-sour pickles and Dijonaise on Mondays (4:30pm-10pm) as well. Anybody tried? Spill it.

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…)

Tim Love Opens Another Love Shack In Fort Worth

If you want to be among the first to try out the new Love Shack location (817 Matisse St.) in the So 7 development in Fort Worth, then head on out tomorrow, 11 am-2:30 pm, or Thursday, 11 am-midnight, for trial service and 50% off food. (Actually it started today, but, well I got busy and didn’t blog in time.) Anyway, the more fun news, I think, is the For the Love of Lamb event going on this Sunday, August 2. It promises to be a Lamb Burger Bonanza with some of the area’s top burger chefs: Blaine Staniford (Grace), Jason Boso (Cowboy Chow, Twisted Root), Jon Bonnell (Bonnell’s), Aaron Staudenmaier and TJ Lengnick (Abacus), Scott Freeman (The Porch), and Scott Romano (Charlie Palmer). Plus there’s live music, kids’ crafts, and tattoos. And it’s free if you RSVP to loveshacklamb@baltzco.com.

P.S. All of those restaurants listed above are in our restaurant directory. So check it out for more info.

Texas Monthly Is Wrong: Barry Popik Knows The Hamburger Was Not Invented In Texas

The August issue of TexMo with the Best 50 Burgers in Texas cover story is out. And Barry Popik of Austin is hoppin’ mad. Not because Pat Sharpe thinks The Grape has the best burger in Texas, but because Blackie Sherrod wannabe Gary Cartwright claims the hamburger was invented in Texas.

Barry is a lawyer and lives in Austin and is a contributor-consultant to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, and the Yale Dictionary of Quotations. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen’s Comments on Etymology. He is recognized as an expert on the origins of the terms Big Apple, Windy City, hot dog, and many other food terms, and he is an editor of the Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. He posts commentary on Americanisms to the American Dialect Society email list, ADS-L, where he has over 7,000 archived posts since 1996. The dude knows what he is talking about, Cartwright.

Barry sent me an e-mail this morning at 1:38 a.m. It  reads:

It’s not true. Any simple Google for “Fletcher Davis” would have found my work. Anybody would have asked me. I have two young children now, but I work for free.

[Cartwright wrote:] “The documentary evidence supporting this claim is strong: An article filed from the World’s Fair by a reporter for the New York Tribune described a sandwich called a hamburger, made by an unknown vendor.”

Has he [Cartwritght] seen the actual article? Has any of us found the 1904 New York Tribune citation? Why is it missing in the ProQuest digitization of the New York Tribune? Why is it missing in the Chronicling America digitization of the New York Tribune? Even if shown to exist, the 1904 newspaper article wouldn’t prove anything. There is no other documentary evidence from any historical newspaper. Zero. Zip. Nada. STRONG EVIDENCE?

As I discovered several years ago, there is a citation for “hamburgers” in the 1883 New York (NY) Sun. Hamburger sandwiches were served in the 1890s in Chicago, in Los Angeles, in Dallas, and even in Montana and Hawaii.There is no reason whatsoever to conclude that everyone got the idea from tiny Athens, Texas.

[Cartwright wrote:] “There it was dubbed ‘hamburger,’ a term apparently coined in derision by St. Louis citizens of Teutonic extraction who viewed as barbaric the culinary practice, native to Hamburg, Germany, of devouring large handfuls of ground beef, sometimes raw.”

Yep, the name “hamburger” was coined in St. Louis in 1904. This is beyond incompetent.

The Texas Monthly has fact-checkers and access to Google searches, no?

I’m sure Mr. Cartwright wrote this piece just to get Barry all ticked off so that a wild fire of talk about his article would spread across the blogosphere. Facts be damned, it’s all about links and hits. Dishers, we might as well strike the first match.

SideDish Winner: Best Burger In Texas Contest

Disher Peter Quinones won the Guess the Best Burger in Texas According to Texas Monthly Contest. Chef Brian Luscher of The Grape is so blown away, he is going to give Peter, a “burgers for two” dinner. Good times. (I continue to write about the Texas Monthly Best Burger in Texas so that you will become so tired of reading about it you will not buy the magazine. Have I succeeded?) PQ, details coming your way.

Why SideDish Wasn’t Up This Morning And Contines To Be Slow

Wick’s explains the slow down and crash on FrontBurner. Pat Sharpe promised burger winner today. If the site is slow, follow us on Twitter: DSideDish.

Texas Monthly Best Burger in Texas: Winner Is In Dallas

Okay Dishers, Texas Monthly foodie (HAH!) Pat Sharpe has given YOU a clue. The best burger in Texas, according to that skinny bitch in Austin, IS IN DALLAS. Here’s the deal:

If I told you, they’d have to kill me. But let me say this: It’s in Dallas. (You’re number one, you’re number one . . . .) It would be about the fiftieth — no, hundredth– place that would come to mind when you think, “I’m in the mood for a burger.” But once you had it, no other would do. Pat.

The list is coming out mid-afternoon tomorrow. So they sayeth (the almighty “they”).

Okay, I have a prize. I don’t know what it is, but it won’t be a date with “the almighty ‘they’, Evan Smith,  it will be good. If you guess the winner of the Best Burger in Texas according to Texas Monthly, you will win it. Here is my guess: Taco Diner. GO.

Can Someone Help This Poor Man: Veggie Burger Edition

You might not know this, but our co-worker Zac Crain is a vegetarian. He is craving a veggie burger. Read on:

What places in town offer house-made veggie burgers?
Or, at least, non-Boca or Gardenburger or Morningstar Farms veggie burgers?
Essentially, burgers I can’t make at home.

My favorite used to be at the Stoneleigh P, but they discontinued it. I know
the Monk and Capitol Pub both have house-made veggie burgers. Looking for
some others.

Help? Anyone? (And for those who remember, we did post something about this about a year ago. However, most of the commenters spent more time debating the merits of a meat-free burger than giving helpful suggestions. Here’s hoping the pattern doesn’t repeat itself.)

I Had Lunch With Harvey Gough and All I Got Was Another Black Eye

Harvey threw this steak at me.

Seriously. Earlier this morning I walked into Buzzbrews on Lemmon and as I approached the table where sat one Harvey Gough, he reeled his hand back and threw a frozen steak at me. AGAIN.

It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in a cargo container on an isolated Air Force base in Uzbekistan with an ice pack on my eye after Harvey had hit me in the face with a frozen sirloin. In case you missed the escape, it’s all here in black, white, and red.

Anywhoo, Harvey and I never kissed, but we made up. He’s now happily married and has a gorgeous 4-year old daughter who looks just like her mother. Besides our trip in late 2002, Harvey has taken many missions overseas to feed the troops.

Harvey and I met today to discuss another (im)possible mission. I’m sure it will never happen, but it’s always fun to listen to “Harvey Stories.” I know, you either love him or hate him—the stories of his abuse to customers at his Goff’s Hamburger store are almost (he wishes) legendary. But he has some tales that, if published, would be a best seller. (Oh, let’s cast the movie!) I can’t tell you all of the things going on with Harvey—he’s got a few irons in the fire. But stay tuned. There will be news. Hey Harvey, DUCK!

Southwest Foodservice Expo: Reports From Day One

Gena and Mark Maguire. Mark will be sworn in as new prez of TRA tonight.

Yesterday, the Southwest Foodservice Expo opened for a three-day run at the Dallas Convention Center. I spent most of the day wandering the halls with InsideCorner’s Evan “Grumpy” Grant. We bumped in to PegNews’ Teresa Gubbins and Marc Lee, Mark and Gena Maguire, Herschel Walker, Amy Severson, Lee Fuqua, and Richard Chamberlain.

I hope the 12 Dishers who “won” an opportunity to roam the event will file their reports below. If you followed DSideDish on Twitter, you already know our knee-jerk reactions. If not, I’ve decided to post my report through pictures. Click on the box below for slideshow.

Southwest Foodservice Expo June 28, 2009

Burning Question: Who Has the Best Hangover Food?

How sad. I’m already planning my Sunday morning. But I have a party to attend Saturday night where the vodka will flow freely and the host is known for toxic Jell-O shots. I know. Classy. Anyway, I’m always looking for a great brunch/lunch spot for tasty food to soak up all the residual alcohol. I know greasy burgers are the common cure. (Howdy, Angry Dog!) But I’m looking for something a little different yet still effective. One of my new faves is the Hangover Helper at Kozy (pictured left): a mountain of scrambled eggs, ground buffalo, mushrooms, salsa, gauc, and spinach. That and a strong cup of coffee does the trick. So, SideDishers, what gets you through the morning after?

Where’s the Beef? Flavors From Afar This Saturday

Rusty Roth of East Texas’ Rusty’s Grass Finished Foods visits Flavors From Afar this Saturday 10am-3pm to tout the benefits of grass-finished beef. The handsome cowpoke will offer cooking tips and plenty of samples of his steak, burgers, and various sausages (chorizo, Polish, Italian, and more).

Quick Review: Topz Burgers

Can a burger be both healthy and delicious? I doubt it; Kristin Hull differs. Read all about it.

The Counter in Plano is Now Meatheads

The owners of The Counter in Plano have split from the L.A.-based mother ship. No longer a chain in the link, the burger spot is now called Meatheads. “Still good burgers,” said the nice man on the phone. “Just not build your own.”

Quick Review: Burguesa Burgers

Jeff “Which Wich, Genhis Grill” Sinelli’s newest concept, Burguesa Burgers, is cheap. Yesterday a burger, fries, and a drink was selling for 68 pesos ($5.00). The concept, designed for a Mexican clientele, accepts pesos and dollars. The menu is in Spanish. The little drive-though shack is painted neon orange and looks like a giant festive piñata next to the original Sonny Bryan’s on Lemmon. There are no tables, but there are a few parking spaces if you care to eat in your car. They serve hamburgers and cheeseburgers, soft drinks mixed with cane sugar, and shakes with tiny donuts on the straw.

Some cars are almost bigger than the restaurant.

We ordered two burguesas con queso, fries, and a strawberry shake. Our driver, a vegetarian, skipped on their offer to make a burguesa sin burguesa. We sipped the strawberry shake with remnants or real strawberry in the mix, and headed over to the patio at Whole Foods on Lemmon to eat.

Here’s the deal: the burgers are skinny meat, skinny bun. I like that. If you like thicker meat, order a double. The lettuce is shredded and the secret sauce (Cholula hot sauce-spiked mayonnaise) adds a nice kick. I would eat the burger again.

However, I never want to see the fries once more.  The skinny, limp, tasteless fries are served in a cup and hang over the sides like dead worms. Pick one out, squeeze it, and watch your appetite evaporate. I’m not a grease snob—I like a good shot of lard every now and then, but these pathetic half-cooked strings mixed with quarter-sized chunks of almost raw potatoes dissolved into a pasty mass. They leave a strong aftertaste of car exhaust—gassy, smoky, and toxic—in your mouth.

Our wacky art director, Todd, loves the Monumental, a ginormous burger/torta concoction with layers of beef, spicy mayonnaise, cheese, avocado, crispy tostadas (orange?), ham, and refried beans. Oh, and a whole pickled jalapeno.

The two other cars we observed were full of yuppie, white Americans. A Hispanic man stood on the street waving a sign and urging drivers to pull in. Burguesa Burger felt a little too American for comfort.

Chapman Chile Kitchen in East Dallas Demands a Return Visit

I have a friend who’s remodeling a house on Sycamore, so a couple of days ago, when we were checking on the progress, we drove by Chapman Chile Kitchen on Carroll Avenue. Intrigued, we stopped in–even though we’d already had lunch. This tiny little spot, open Tuesday-Saturday, boasts a short little menu of heat-packed items, although not all are super hot. We tried the stuffed jalapenos–we couldn’t leave empty-handed–which are more like baby chiles rellenos than those deep fried, cheese-stuffed versions we’ve come to know and love. These little beauties were jammed with chicken, three kinds of cheese, onion, lime, and cilantro, covered in Panko bread crubs, and baked. De-lish. Call ahead and they’ll make you a tray for a party. I told Sarah that we must go back for the Frito pie topped with homemade lean bison chili (spicy or mild). Speaking of bison, that’s what they use in the burgers, too–one with jalapeno and garlic mixed right into the patty, which is then topped with blue cheese. I’m. So. In.