My question: What is behind that bone? (Photo by Melanie Dunea from the book, My Last Supper)

Anthony Bourdain will be at The Majestic tonight. Tickets are still available. I understand there will be a Q&A segment in the show. Can’t go? Send me your questions. I’ll try to get them answered.

Oh, and Tony. Tonight is the sixth game of the World Series. Our Texas Rangers could be champions before your show is over. You’ve will have hard core Rangers fans in the audience with DVRs recording the game. Please do not give game updates. That goes for you fans in the audience. If I see one of you on your cell phone getting game results, I WILL CUT YOU.

The Reyeses; their creamy flan de naranja. (photography by Kevin Marple)

Raul Reyes opened his first restaurant in 2008, a tiny place in Oak Cliff serving the colorful cuisine of his birthplace, the Veracruz region of Mexico. La Palapa Veracruzana was run by his family, wife Olga working as his co-chef, daughter Jaretzy taking managerial duties, and son Raul Jr. waiting tables. The seafood-centric menu snagged the palates of serious food lovers and critics in Dallas, but the kudos posted on food blogs and the glowing reviews couldn’t keep it alive. It closed after only a year.

“We never pulled an alcohol license,” Reyes says by way of explanation. “I couldn’t. My daughter was manager and she was only 17.”

Dejected, Reyes figured he would have to shed his chef whites forever and return to the construction business to support his family. Before La Palapa Veracruzana closed, Reyes had augmented his income by taking on handyman jobs. Chris Zielke, co-owner of Bolsa and Smoke, had hired Reyes to rebuild the bar at Bolsa, the popular farm-to-table restaurant in the Bishop Arts District. So Reyes showed up at Bolsa one day and told Zielke he’d closed his restaurant. Zielke encouraged Reyes to try again.

Stay with me.

Jump for the glorious cheeses.

Mozzarella Company, Dallas, TX

Paula Lambert

Goat Ricotta 1st place

Hoja Santa (Herbal Goat) 1st place

Pecan Praline Mascarpone Torta 1st place

Queso Blanco with Chile and Epazote 3rd place

Brazos Valley, Waco, TX

Rebeccah Durkin

Eden (Brie) 1st place

Brie (Brie) 2nd place

Cheddar 3rd place

Pure Luck Farm and Dairy, Dripping Springs, TX

Amelia Sweethardt

Hopelessly Blue (Goat Blue) 2nd place

Basket Molded Chevre 2nd place

Three Happy Cows, Dallas, TX

Edgar Diaz

Blueberry Drinkable Yoghurt 2nd place

Plain Drinkable Yoghurt 3rd place

Eagle Mountain, Granbury, TX

Dave Eagle

Birdville Reserve (Am-made Intl style) 1st place

Latte Da Dairy,  Flower Mound, TX

Dr. Anne C. Jones

Goat Cheese Truffles 2nd place

Empire Bakery

Meaders Ozarow

Sushi cone from The Blue Fish.

D Magazine intern Jessica Melton attended a press preview of the food that will be featured at Taste of Greenville Avenue (TOGA) this weekend.

We’ve all been there before. The age-old looping conversation of “I don’t know, what do you want to eat?”

Every now and then we get a break from having to make these awkward decision and pick an event like Taste of Greenville Avenue to satisfy everyone in our group. TOGA is taking place this Saturday from 10AM to 8PM at 4925 Greenville Ave. TOGA is a lot like Taste of Addison and Taste of Dallas, only it localizes the event by focusing on the businesses on Greenville Avenue. About 30 Greenville eateries will pick their best dishes and offer smaller portions—that cost about $3-$6—giving everyone the chance to try as many restaurants in one outing as they want.

Jump for food porn.

I got the chance to try out a few things that will be on the menu, and for the first time I realized the stranger something sounds–Candied bacon, brisket pies, and a sushi cone–the more delicious it is.

These local restaurants make it easy by telling you their history and what their most popular dishes are. I wasn’t too keen on the whole candied bacon thing at first, but when someone from The Grape told me themselves that their customers loved it, I couldn’t resist.

The same went for the brisket pies from The Original Fried Pie Shop and the meatball subs from Pho is for Lovers.

I may not know much, but after this culinary experience I know that from now on when there’s an opportunity to try something crazy, I’m going to take it.

As long as that something crazy is food.

Sushi from The Blue Fish.

Candied bacon from The Grape.

Pinkberry will be there,

Cherry and brisket fried pies from The Original Fried Pie Shop.

Meatball sub from Pho Is For Lovers.

]]> http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2011/10/27/special-report-media-gets-a-preview-of-taste-of-greenville-avenue/feed/ 1 http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2011/10/26/lisa-garza-is-sissy-of-sissy%e2%80%99s-fried-chicken-in-dallas/ http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2011/10/26/lisa-garza-is-sissy-of-sissy%e2%80%99s-fried-chicken-in-dallas/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:12:02 +0000 Nancy Nichols http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/?p=32051

Lisa Garza and Travis Selcer. (photo courtesy of Lisa Greenwood Duffee)

We knew it all along, but were under strict orders not to publish until after her wedding. Lisa and Travis Selcer tied the knot last weekend and now she is ready to start her other new life as a restaurateur. “I am Sissy,” Garza says. “Sissy is southern slang for “sister” and I am developing every aspect.

Sissy’s Fried Chicken will open in the former Hector’s on Henderson space. Garza says it’s a “low-country” concept in honor of her Southern roots. “We will specialize in fried chicken and short ribs,” Garza says. She will also have a tea bar with tea-infused vodkas and specialty cocktails. The interior will be “very Billy Reid” and “like home.”

Garza has developed the menu and has used many of the dishes for her upscale catering business. She will not be the execuchef. “I will be the GM and run the kitchen,” Garza says. “I had a great teacher in Gilbert [Gilbert Garza of Suze] and I want to take the experience I gained owning and operating Suze. I would not be where I am without Gilbert.”

Hatsumi of Kuzu Design (Urban Taco, La Duni, Tei Tei, Brownstone) is doing the interior. Girl power!

McRib? Wie viel würze passt in einen burger!

Huh? Hasn’t this icky boneless mystery meat sandwich already had more comebacks than Donny and Marie? According to this, they’re rolling out the old queen on November 14. One interesting note in the story is that Germany is the only place where it’s always been available. WTF? Germany? McRib? Do you people eat this stuff? Food snobs speak up!

On Thursday, November 3, our arts and entertainment site FrontRow will come to life for “FrontRow Live presented by Chevy” at the Dallas Contemporary. Join us from 8 pm – midnight for a “highbrow lowbrow blowout” with three DJs, live musical performances, a short-film screening room, screen printing by The Public Trust’s Brian Gibb, and free beer (thank you, Michelob Ultra). There’ll also be a food truck park with some of our favorites: Nammi Truck, Ruthie’s Rolling Café, Bomb Fried Pies, Trailercakes, and Cavalli Pizza. Pearl Cup will have a pop-up coffee lounge if you want to go that route. Tickets are free; just bring some cash for food and coffee. Go here for all the details, and click here to get your FREE tickets.

Did you catch the word FREE. Those folks at FrontRow have all the fun.

Patio view from Stackhouse Burgers on Gaston.

Ben Spies: racer and restaurateur.

Last week, Gumshoe Gubbins reported the opening of Stackhouse Burgers in an old house on Gaston near Baylor. She spoke with Randy Kienast, one of the owners, and he told her all about the burger-based menu which will be cooked by James Rose, who was formerly at Bob’s Steak & Chop House. Kienast’s partner in the deal is his best buddy Ben Spies. Who is Ben Spies? I asked the question and got more than I could handle. I know nothing about motorcycle racing, but apparently Ben Spies is a big deal in MotoGP racing. (He is one of the top five. Bonus points if you can name the other four.) Here is a cut and paste bio:

If you’re a MotoGP fan, you already know that Ben scored his first victory in that series in June, riding for Yamaha at the Dutch TT. And that he was named 2010 Rookie of the Year after his sixth-place finish in the championship.If you’re a World Superbike fan, you know that he won that championship in 2009 (along with a record number of poles) competing on tracks he’d never seen before.

Spies owns several properties in Dallas, including a ranch and a place at the W Hotel. He is also an investor in Kenichi Dallas. Kienast says the restaurant is taking shape and will open “very soon.”

Fun to look at in the front yard. On TV? Not so much. Go Rangers.

Raya has told you where to go if you want to watch the game in public. However many of us prefer to view the game from the comfort of our own couch with a few friends and dogs. A commenter, who wants to party at home, asks what she can cook to represent each team. I know you will be tempted to say roasted a few Northern Cardinals. There are six of them in my front yard this very second. You can buy Nolan Ryan’s beef at Kroger and maybe do some toasted ravioli.

I say we get this party started! Get creative. Go Rangers!

Another Disher is excited about the game. So pumped that he is flying to St. Louis for the Games 1 and 2 (Thurs.). He wants your help.

I’m headed to St. Louis for the games. Any suggestions on where to eat.

Knock it out.

UPPITY DATE: Tim Byres is also one of the partners. Readjust naming program.