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Articles about Buzz Killer!

Today is National Peach Cobbler Day: I Dare You to Find a Fresh Peach

Several of you smarty pants sent me snarky emails about the not one, but two posts we ran yesterday on National Grilled Cheese Day. Apparently a couple of  folks on our staff were so jacked up about NGCSD they couldn’t contain their joy. What’s the shame? Almost every food has a day, week, month, or a year. Like many other holidays we celebrate, these celebratory days are designed to keep marketing people employed.

In the spirit of supporting job growth in the United States, I bring you three foods you can eat this weekend that will stimulate gastric juices and the economy. (BTW, yesterday’s frenzy over the GCS overshadowed the fact that is was also National Licorice Day. Bummer for licorice, eh?) Today is National Peach Cobbler Day. I bet there isn’t a fresh peach in the northern hemisphere so you may have to celebrate Del-Monte style. Tomorrow is National Pecan Day! Dig that! And Sunday is National Glazed-Spiral Ham Day, not to be confused with National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day. You already missed that one.

I’m saving my calories for Eat Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies off George Clooney’s Belly Day! What day are you saving your calories for?

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 13th, 2012 10:36am | filed under Buzz Killer!, Making Up Is Hard To Do | 5 Comments »

Somebody Help This Poor Restaurant: American Express iPhone Coupon

A frustrated restaurateur, who chooses to remain anonymous, asks fellow indie restaurants the following question:

We had a guest present an iPhone coupon from FourSquare at our restaurant yesterday. The deal is “spend $5, get $5 off.” The problem is we never signed up for couponing or advertising or ANYTHING with this company. The guest was very upset when he left. He kept showing everyone the coupon on his phone. He took the $5 out of the waiters tip – and told the waiter he was doing it because he was so pissed off about the iPhone coupon. We took the $5 out of petty cash and made the waiter all good. I’ve since learned the deal is a “Support Small Businesses” program agreement between American Express and Foursquare. American Express will give you $5 off your Amex statement when you log in on Foursquare at these places. Fortunately, we’re on that list. Unfortunately, nobody every informed us of the promotion so we could prepare our employees. Any other restaurants out there having problems with this? Other customers? Thanks.

posted by Nancy Nichols | March 28th, 2012 11:26am | filed under Buzz Killer!, restaurant business news | 15 Comments »

Graham Dodds is New Chef at Central 214 in Dallas

Chef Graham Dodds has pig--I mean big--plans for Central 214.

Former Bolsa chef Graham Dodds is the new executive chef at Central 214. He replaces Blythe Beck who left the fancy digs at the Hotel Palomar in late August. Dodds’ farm-to-table philosophy is a perfect fit for the direction management wants to steer the hotel’s restaurant. (Hah!) After his departure from Bolsa in mid-September, Dodds considered doing his own thing with an investor. “I loved being a part of the Oak Cliff community and watching it grow,” Dodds said in September. “But I have a five-year-old daughter and a mortgage to pay.” It looks like a steady gig with benefits turned out to be the better decision. He starts his reign on Monday.

Once he’s up and running, you can expect the buzzwords to roll: locally sourced ingredients, classic farm-to-table cooking, marathon-running chickens, artisanal baked-with-hypersensitive-heat breads, free-range bees with PhDs, penthouse-raised pork, unmolested meat, and “wholesome family” cheese with both parents, curds and whey. Sorry, I got carried away while waiting for a callback from Graham.

Ring, ring. H-h-hello? “Hi Nancy, it’s Graham. I am so excited,” Dodds says. “It’s a great fit. I’ve worked with a lot of people who have worked with this company [Kimpton Hotels] and everybody has great things to say about them.” Although nothing has been decided, there has been some talk of renaming the place and reworking the interior. [Although the name wasn't originally intended to represent farm-to-table, it kinda works with Dodds' cooking.]

“Graham, please don’t speak in press release,” I say. “I want to know what you are going to do with your bee hives? What floor will they be on?” [Dodds has made his own honey from his 20 hives for years.]

“Well my bees are way down this year,” Dodds says with a tear in his voice. “I’m down to 3 hives. I moved them to Eden Creek Farms and a neighbor did some crop dusting and I think it may have drifted over.”

“How in the hell are you going to make up for that loss?”

“Well, I plan to delve into nose-to-tail cooking,” Dodds said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to explore.”

Fill in your own kicker here.

posted by Nancy Nichols | December 20th, 2011 7:21pm | filed under Buzz Killer!, Local/Slow Food, Restaurant News | 2 Comments »

City Throws Monkey Wrench in Sigel’s Winter Food Truck Festival

This just in from Sigel’s:

Due to increased requirements from the City of Dallas we have made a decision to cancel the Winter Food Truck Festival on Nov. 12th. It will be rescheduled.

I’ve reached out to Sigel’s to get the skinny on what those increased requirements are. You’ll know as soon as we do…

UPDATE: See George’s post above for the full deets. Go, George!

posted by Sarah Reiss | November 4th, 2011 11:42am | filed under Buzz Killer!, Food Trucks | 2 Comments »

XX Caesar Salad Competition at Westin Galleria Gets Rowdy

Hail the real Caesar! (photo by Mark M. Hancock/Dallas Morning News)

According to several attendees of Sunday’s XX Caesar Salad Competition, the charity event ended with a quite a bang. SideDish reporter Andrew Chalk was leaving the Westin Galleria tonight when he heard emcee Scott Murray yelling from the Senate floor stage. “At first I thought it was the live auction and somebody had just made a big buy,” Chalk said. “Then I realized he was shouting abuse at some guy in the audience.”

I contacted AIWF rep Freda Ballas. “We did have some people complain about him [Murray] using the f-word,” Ballas said. Both Ballas and Chalk tell the same tale. Murray was onstage pulling names from the raffle bowl and announcing winners. You buy a ticket and a number is called. Simple. Tonight, a nice little girl put her hand in the bowl and pulled out a ticket and handed it to Murray. Instead of announcing a number, Murray read out a name.

Some dude near the stage yelled something to the effect of “This is rigged,” and Murray went nuts. From various reports Murray say words to the effect of: “If somebody thinks I have control over the tickets I pulled, you can meet me outside right now and I’ll give you a check for $500.” Meanwhile, Del Frisco’s chef, David Holben, was busy packing up his knives. He won the competition.

Somewhere, both Julius Caesar and Caesar Cardini are smiling. Holben’s victorious salad was an extra-garlic-and-anchovy version of Cardini’s original. Murray battled like a gladiator.

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 30th, 2011 9:17pm | filed under Buzz Killer!, Celebrity Chefs, Food Fight!, I Went to College for This?, Post World Series Depression, Really?, questionable behavior, questionable judgment | 11 Comments »

Eater Editor Andrea Grimes Calls it Quits

Andrea Grimes announced she is leaving Eater—and Dallas—to move to Austin. That means Eater needs an editor. Ya want to blog with the big boys? Now is your chance.

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 25th, 2011 1:21pm | filed under Bring it!, Buzz Killer!, C.J. Wilson is on notice | 9 Comments »

Restaurants Beware: New Order Scam is Making the Rounds

Last year,  hundreds of restaurants in the U.S. were ripped off by a caller who placed a large catering order to be picked up by a delivery service. The caller instructed the restaurant to add a $500 to the credit card bill and give it to the delivery service. I know it sound ludicrous that anyone would fall for this, but obviously some folks did. 

This morning comes word that a new scam is making the rounds. This time, it’s switched to an email:

How are you doing today? This Mr. John Morgan speaking, I will like to place an order to go, can i speak with the owner about the order? My Mom birthday is coming up on the 20th of October and i will like to place an order for 150 grill chicken sandwich with salad individual pack for the 150 guest, It will be pick up by 3pm on the given date, So can i know the price per person and the total cost for the order plus tax. Can i have your full restaurant address and your name so i can forward to the carrier that will be coming for the pick up of the order once the food is ready by 3pm on the given date and i want you to promise me and assure me you going to prepaire (sic) the food nice and delicious.

If you get this email and fall for it, I have no sympathy for you. If you get one, let me know.

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 17th, 2011 9:00am | filed under Bad critters, Buzz Killer!, Food Crime | 10 Comments »

Chef Richard Chamberlain Plans to Pop Up a Restaurant Called Element in Addison

Okay folks, I have a serious question. This pop-up restaurant stuff is getting out of hand. What is the difference between catering a two-night event and a pop-up restaurant? I suppose I should ask Richard Chamberlain. He is “opening” Element, a “two-night only pop-up restaurant” to celebrate the opening of Addison’s Vitruvian Park. It’s an outdoor “restaurant” with a theme. (Catering job!) Here’s Chef Chamberlain:

“The theme of the restaurant is based around elements: water, earth, iron and fire. Live music, theatrical lighting, fine wines and four courses of delicious food prepared in an open kitchen will make for a once in a life time experience.”

Live music? Oh, no! That song! I am sure this will be a lovely celebration. The Elements menu is below along with all the details you need to know.

(more…)

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 13th, 2011 9:43am | filed under Buzz Killer!, Celebrity Chefs, Food is art. Art is Food., Restaurant News, catering, pop-up restaurant | 13 Comments »

Oak Cliff Restaurateurs Keep Secrets About New Restaurants

So, I’m avoiding real work and searching for the scoop on Sissy’s Fried Chicken on Henderson. We all know the general rules of posting CO permits:  The name on the permit in the former Hector on Henderson spot could be the real name of a home cooking or “place holder” for a gay bar. We won’t know until somebody either calls me back or I get lucky on the internet. Owners change names all the time after they’ve applied for a permit.

Anywhoo, I’m digging away and get off task. Oh, look! I find a permit pulled for a restaurant at 624 642 W. Davis. I’m not telling you the name of the LLC because Teresa Gubbins will be all over it like hot on fried bubblegum. I contacted several HIGH PROFILE restaurant people in The OC for info. Oh yes, they all know who and what it is, but none of them are talking. Okay, guys. I’ll remember that the next time you send me a press release about your new bartender or your fall brunch menu. Hah! Two can play this game. Grrr.

posted by Nancy Nichols | October 6th, 2011 12:54pm | filed under Best Gay Hangout Restaurant Evah!, Buzz Killer!, Food Crime, Go Rangers!, I Went to College for This?, I'm a sucker for a man in flannel, Keep Dallas Douchey!, Mixology is fancy for bartender, Overprivileged chimps, Pre World Series Depression, Restaurant News, RudeDudes, Vote for me!, Welcome to Dallas. Now go home., make mine a double, questionable behavior, questionable judgment | 17 Comments »

Fire at Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse On Inwood Road in Dallas

From Sonny Bryan’s: Last night at approximately 11:00PM, a small fire broke out in two unattached storage sheds behind the main building at the original location of Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse on Inwood Road.The Dallas Fire Department was able to put out the fire before it spread, but the two side doors to the restaurant were damaged in order to allow firefighters access to the building to ensure no one was inside. No staff or customers were present, and no injuries were sustained by responders. The fire is still under investigation. The restaurant is currently closed, but management anticipates being open again for business this weekend. Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse will continue to keep the public posted via the restaurant’s Facebook page .

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 28th, 2011 9:09am | filed under BBQ, Buzz Killer!, Hole in the wall, Restaurant News, hold on to your effin hat | 1 Comment »

New Code Compliance for Lowest Greenville Ave. Starts Tonight

Last night Avi S. Adelman, the Cesar Millan of Barking Dogs, walked the streets at midnight with Dallas Code Compliance officers as they “educated” business owners on new regulations that start tonight. Basically bars and restaurants must to have a late-night permit to be open after midnight. If they don’t, they get a ticket and this happens. Cesar, I mean Avi, has the whole story with pictures.

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 23rd, 2011 9:52am | filed under Bars, Bureaucratic red tape, Buzz Killer!, Hot Links!, I Hate it When That Happens, Restaurant News, press trips |

Fun or Foul: Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream

I have no words.

UPPITY DATE: This link from a adult beverage wholesaler.

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 13th, 2011 1:55pm | filed under Buzz Killer!, Crazy Technology, Groceries, I Went to College for This?, Junk Food, Newfangled condiments, Really?, Silly Reasons to Celebrate, Slow News Day, Stupid terms for food, Wasted Calorie, Yum is Dumb, cheap eats, dessert, hostess gifts, make mine a double, sassy pants, that's just wrong. | 9 Comments »

Fasten Your Seatbelts; Brownstone Exec Chef Casey Thompson Has Teamed Up with Sam’s Club

In the most out-of-left-field news of the morning, it seems that Top Chef contender, former Shinsei execu-chef, and current execu-chef at Brownstone,  Casey Thomspon (Brownstone), has actually joined forces with Sam’s Club to (as the press release says) “provide restaurant-quality, simply delicious mealtime solutions.”

I could rewrite the release for you here, but it reads best in its original format:

jump to read the release… (more…)

posted by Sarah Reiss | August 29th, 2011 1:07pm | filed under Buzz Killer!, Celebrity Chefs, Chefs, Cooking, Peripatetic chefs, chickens, questionable behavior | 7 Comments »

Two Things That Have Already Ruined My Day

1. Ann Hathaway is going to play Ruth Reichl in Garlic and Sapphires. I would have picked Tina Fey

2. Groupon for tickets to see Stevie Nicks. I feel old.

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 8th, 2011 10:28am | filed under Bad critters, Buzz Killer!, Hippie revolutions, Nutjobs, Overprivileged chimps, Skinny bitches | 4 Comments »

Three Chickens With Your Name On Them. Thanks For the Friday Buzz Kill, HuffPost

OK, so I started writing this post because I found the Cara Parks’ article on Huffington Post—Chickens Outnumber People Three To One—salacious in a food-nerd sort of way. But now I’m finding the data a little horrifying.

Read on… (more…)

posted by Sarah Reiss | July 29th, 2011 1:59pm | filed under Buzz Killer!, Food Invasion, I Hate it When That Happens, Politics of Food, hold on to your effin hat | 3 Comments »

Toddlers and Toques: Should Fine Dining Restaurants in Dallas Ban Children?

Tall toques and toddlers: good or bad idea?

Lots of chinwagging taking place in the webosphere. Fine dining restaurants, such as this place in Pennsylvania, are banning children under six years of age. I tend to dine early and have witnessed children who squeal and squirm while their parents sip wine and attempt to enjoy a fine meal. I believe it is a good practice to take children into fine dining restaurant. It’s important to learn manners at an early age. The only time it chaps my sass is when the parents don’t reprimand their misbehaving offspring or take charge of the situation. Take this recent example from a loyal Disher.

Jump for the shrilling report.

(more…)

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 15th, 2011 12:20pm | filed under Bad critters, Bring it!, Buzz Killer!, Cult Cuisine, Food Crime, Food Fight!, I Hate it When That Happens, Nutjobs, Ouiet Restaurants, Overprivileged chimps, Rants, Really?, questionable judgment | 33 Comments »

Hector’s on Henderson is Closing

A loyal Disher sends this sad news:

I’m a regular reader of the Side Dish blog, and I wanted to let you know that I got word today that Hector’s on Henderson is closed. My wife’s birthday is next weekend, and we had a party scheduled for approximately 18 people, but I got a call from Hector himself this morning letting me know of the closure. He didn’t want our party showing up next week to find a locked door. I’ve been there several times over the years, and I think it speaks to his credit that he called me personally.

I hate it when bad things happen to good people. Hector has been, and I’m sure always will be, a good Samaritan in  the Dallas dining scene. Details to follow.

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 8th, 2011 3:14pm | filed under Best Gay Hangout Restaurant Evah!, Brunch, Buzz Killer!, Celebrity Diners, Closings, I Hate it When That Happens, Restaurant News, hold on to your effin hat | 25 Comments »

John Tesar Closes The Table at One Arts Plaza in Dallas

John Tesar has decided to close The Table, the 12-seat tasting room inside The Commissary.The Table will close on August 1 but is scheduled to reopen around September 15 with a new concept. The press release says Tesar will retool The Table menu and  “spend the necessary time focusing on The Commissary and getting the service and other restaurant issues up to the standards that he has was known for at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.” I hope so. According to two of my friends who dined at last Sunday’s the lobster bake, the service “was the worst I’ve ever had.” And that person has had a lot of bad service. Go, John. Fix it and they will come.

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 7th, 2011 12:45pm | filed under Buzz Killer!, Celebrity Chefs, Chef's tasting, Closings, Cult Cuisine, Hippie revolutions, Long table dinners, Openings, Overprivileged chimps, Restaurant News, hold on to your effin hat, pop-up restaurant, youthful spontaneous restaurants | 13 Comments »

Post Holiday Brews News: Who Owns What?

What’s not to love about a Tuesday morning run-down of all of the buying/selling/contracting shenanigans going on in the Bud-Miller-Coors commercial brewing merry go round. For an amusing detailing of how it all spins out, read this Who Owns What article from the DrinkAmerican website.  It’s enough to drive you to homebrew.

posted by Sarah Reiss | July 5th, 2011 10:49am | filed under Brews News, Buzz Killer!, beer |

Sacred Cellars is Closed. Sacred Cigars is Open.

Where to find sacred cigars in Snider Plaza.

Silly me, I just noticed Sacred Cellars is no longer a cellar. I contacted owner Rudy Ced and asked him what was happening. He said:

I stopped ordering wine for my inventory around Oct 2010. In Nov 2010 I opened Sacred Cigars inside Snider Plaza. I sold all my wine in order to fund this new venture. Wine was fun and enjoyable, but extremely difficult to make any money at. Cigars are a better business model, more fun and I have a better location and more capacity to grow business wise.

Well said, Ced.

posted by Nancy Nichols | June 28th, 2011 1:10pm | filed under Buzz Killer!, Cult Cuisine, Really stupid joke, Slow News Day, Wine & Spirits, hostess gifts, questionable judgment | 8 Comments »

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