Articles about cake
The History of Sushi Cats
A bachelorette party sushi cat (photo via laughingsquid.com)
Sometimes, I know, I blog about the stupidest things. I am not ashamed to say that this is probably going to be one of them.
But I don’t care if I make your brain cells shrink or not, these sushi cat portraits are works of art. (Thanks, Raya, for finding them.)
Jump below for the history of sushi cats. It’ll make all you kitty-cat people happy.
Kathleen’s Sky Diner on Lovers Lane is Closed
Kathleen's peppermint cake photographed by Kevin Marple.
I’m waiting for a phone call from owner Robert Ellington, but my sources say Kathleen’s Sky Diner is closed and the Salvation Army trucks are on the way to make a pick up. Apparently it’s an issue with the landlord.
Robert and Kathleen Ellington opened as Kathleen’s Art Cafe on Lovers Lane in 1988. It was the place to hang. Literally, for local artists. The Ellingtons created one of first spots to feature the works of local artists, all of which were for sale. The bakery next door has always been a favorite source for peppermint chocolate cake, carrot cake, and other baked treats. A few years ago, the restaurant was reconcepted and renamed Kathleen’s Sky Diner.
Hopefully Robert will call me back and I’ll have better news: Like they’ve found a new location.
UPPITY DATE: I’ve talked with some of the staff at Kathleen’s. They are very sad and disappointed. They were proud to work there, loved the food, and will miss their regular customers. Most of them worked there because it was a locally owned, close organization and they are shocked that Robert would just close the doors without notice.
Gladys Aston, Matriarch of Aston’s Bakery, Died on Monday
Gladys Aston passed away on Monday August 20 after a long illness. She was 75. Gladys worked side by side with her husband Richard, and later her daughter Mary Miller making cakes for the residents of the Park Cities and Dallas at the now 78-year old Aston’s Bakery.
Born in Minnesota on March 28th 1937, Gladys Irene Johnson was the 11th of 12 children. Her parents were small farmers. She worked at National Foods as a baker, and met Richard Aston who was doing an internship for Dunwoody College. They married, and in 1970 moved with their daughter Mary to Dallas where Richard’s father had opened Aston’s Bakery in 1934.
This afternoon Amy Severson stopped by the bakery and spoke with Mary. Mary said that even when her mother was no longer able to come into the bakery, she would call several times a day to find out if everything was being handled correctly. Her mother’s concern for taking care of their customers extended to her dying wish to her husband: “If I die overnight on a workday, please don’t call Mary [to help me] because there’s nothing she can do and she needs to get them [customers] their cakes.” When Mary took over the day-to-day operations and moved it to Lovers Lane, she became the first of the third generation to run the bakery.
Gladys is survived by her husband, Richard, daughter Mary and husband Jeff Miller, and grandchildren Garrett and Mallory. Services will he held on Monday, August 27th, 1:00 at North Dallas Funeral Home. Donations in Gladys’ memory may be made to either Operation Kindness or The Family Place.
12 Comments »Bon Appétit Features Two DFW Eateries in its “Top 50 Best New Restaurants of 2012″
by Desiree Espada
Holy cow, Bon Appétit just named Oak and Woodshed Smokehouse as two of its Top 50 Best New Restaurants of 2012. Oak comes in at #29, and this is what the magazine has to say about it:
This swanky Design District spot is home to what might be Big D’s most talented restaurant trio: chef Jason Maddy, pastry chef Sarah Green, and bartender Abraham Bedell. Expect global flavors with definite Germanic leanings—think schnitzel, strudel, and spaetzle.
LOOK FOR
Grilled Bandera quail; quark spaetzle; Gianduja chocolate panna cotta
WE LOVE
A huge oak tree outside the restaurant inspired the name and decor, including wallpaper and a projected tree image that changes with the seasons.
by Kevin Marple
Woodshed Smokehouse, which TG reviewed for this month’s issue, was #46. Bon Appétit completely forgot to mention the ramen that TG so loves. How could they?
You’ll know chef Tim Love’s latest spot by the dozens of picnic tables fronting on Fort Worth’s beautiful Trinity River trails. The open-air, waterfront restaurant does Texas ‘cue two ways: “Traditional Q” and “New Q”, with nods to Mexico. The food is monumental; bring a small village to help you out.
LOOK FOR
16-hour smoked beef shin; chicken skin tacos
WE LOVE
Curious about what’s in the smoker? Just check the flag flying at the entrance.
Congrats to our two photographers, Desiree Espada and Kevin Hunter Marple, for their featured photos in the article! SideDish+ Desiree + Kevin = 4eva.
2012 Southwest Foodservice Expo Report: Nielsen-Massey Fine Vanillas
Andrew Chalk chats with Beth Bizegaio of Nielsen-Massey Fine Vanillas about the slow, cold extraction of vanilla beans.
1 Comment »Special Report: Cupcake Camp Dallas 2012
The prize-winning team at Sugar Ray's Bake Shop
Last Saturday, cupcake lovers flooded the halls of St. Mark’s School to partake in Dallas’ 2nd annual Cupcake Camp Dallas. After attending the camp last year, there was no way I was about to miss this year’s event. Not only did is showcase some of the most talented, creative bakers in the Dallas area, but all proceeds go to the LEAP foundation, a group of volunteer physicians and support staff who provide free surgical care to needy countries around the world.
This year’s event was, as expected, bigger and better than ever. More than 7,500 cupcakes were donated by the professional and amateur bakers participating in the camp. I kid you not when I say, I probably brought home close to four dozen cupcakes, because, you know, it was for charity, and I was just doing my part. The ingenious use of cake and frosting in all its glorious varieties was again a pleasure to partake of and I look forward to Cupcake Camp Dallas’ return next year.
As decided by an esteemed panel of judges, a number of awards were handed out. My beloved, Trailercakes, brought home first place in “best of show,” “best frosting,” and “best tasting cake” for their Oreo cookie and salted caramel cupcakes. And let me just say, they deserved it. Other top winners included Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop, runner-up in “best of show” with their lemon ricotta cupcake, Sweet Pea Bakery,” winner of “best of show, best frosting, best cake-amateur division” with their raspberry lemonade cake, and Dallas Cake Club in ‘best appearance.”
For information on next year’s Cupcake Camp visit their website here.
Jump for more photos…
Continue reading "Special Report: Cupcake Camp Dallas 2012"
2 Comments »Eat Cupcakes for Charity at Cupcake Camp Dallas 2012
Attention all sugar junkies, prepare yourselves for Dallas’ biggest bake sale of the year, Cupcake Camp Dallas is back and bigger than ever. This year’s event will see over 25 professional bakeries and 19 amateurs all donating more than 7,500 cupcakes for charity. The event benefits the LEAP foundation, a non-profit organization composed of volunteer physicians and support staff who provide free surgical care to children and adults with deformities.
This year’s event is being held on June 2nd at St. Mark’s School of Texas (10600 Preston Rd, Dallas) from 1-4 PM. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
Many well-known Dallas bakeries, including Society Bakery, Dimples, Trailercakes, and Tart Bakery will be in attendance, but this is also a wonderful opportunity to taste of the talents of many excellent bakers from all around the Dallas area that you may be less familiar with. A full list of bakers can be seen here.
Last year’s event was such a huge success, the camp is expecting to double its attendance this year. We’ll have a full report of the camp for you here at SideDish after the event, but trust me, this is one eat-a-thon you will not want to simply admire through the glowing pixels of your computer monitor.
3 Comments »Somebody Help This Poor Girl: Impressive Birthday Cake in Dallas
She wants Doughmonkey but she can’t have it. Hear her plea:
20 Comments »I wondered if you might be able to assist. The last time I bought a really fancy birthday cake was when Doughmonkey in Snider Plaza still existed. I remember it fondly: a shocking turquoise dome with a Curacao liqueur glaze and orange chocolate filling. It was a great bargain at under $50 too. Now I find myself in need of an impressive cake again, but don’t know where to look. I am not in the market for a trompe l’oeil sculpture smothered in fondant, just a really delicious but fancy and beautiful cake, preferably under $50 or so. Any ideas?
Report From 2012 Savor Dallas: Top Ten Dishes Served at International Grand Tasting
Mint chicken salad from The Mint. (Photography by Elizabeth Lavin)
The popular International Grand Tasting at Savor Dallas 2012 took place on Saturday night at Irving Convention Center in Las Colinas. Organizers noted the move from Dallas to Irving was to make it easier for the residents of Fort Worth to attend. Any worry that the change in venue would deter event patrons was quickly dispelled once the doors swung open. The place was packed, people shuffled around tightly, filling the venue as guests got the opportunity to hob-nob and rub elbows with some of the finest chefs in DFW. The food and drink were, of course, spectacular as chefs were well prepared to excite and surprise their guests this year.
While nearly every dish our small group sampled was delightful, we thought we would pay homage to some of the most exciting and delicious dishes presented this year. So here are (in no particular order) our picks of the Top 10 Best Bites of the 2012 Savor Dallas International Grand Tasting…
The Hole Thing: The Latest in Donut Decadence
(photo by Regina Peterman)
I’m not at all ashamed to profess my love for donuts. Some may label these decadent morsels of fried dough a “guilty pleasure,” but when I sink my eager teeth into the perfect donut, I feel no guilt at all, simply a euphoric rush of gustatory satisfaction which no other breakfast pastry can provide. Last year, I presented my list of the Best Donuts in Dallas, but since that time, we’ve seen some notable changes on the Dallas donut frontier. The beloved Hypnotic Donuts traded in their inconspicuous habitation of a pizza joint in North Dallas for a vibrant new shop in East Dallas. Other donut shops, such as Pookie’s Donuts on Lemmon Ave, who donut bombed D Magazine a few weeks ago, and Denton Square Donuts who I visited previously, are also getting in on the donut love currently wafting through the air around Dallas.
Jump for a hole lot more…
Continue reading "The Hole Thing: The Latest in Donut Decadence"
8 Comments »Rockstar Bakery Throwing a Party to Launch Their New Whoopie Pie Truck
(photo by Jarrod Fresquez)
We could all use a little more whoopie in our lives. This Friday, Dallas will see the launch of its first whoopie pie truck brought to us by the fine people at Rockstar Bakeshop. Of course, Rockstar is not new to Dallas by any means, as they have been camping out behind a whoopie-strewn table now for months in conjunction with some other trucks around town. Rockstar, which specializes in rock-themed whoopie pies, have finally put the finishing touches on their new digs and will be cruising the streets starting this week. And to kick it all off, they are throwing a party this Friday, March 9 from 5-8 PM at Dowdy Studio (located just behind Good 2 Go Taco). Rockstar has decided to christen their sweet new ride “Layla,” after the legendary Clapton tune. (Apparently “Cocaine” was not quite sending the right message.)
Might as well jump! Continue reading "Rockstar Bakery Throwing a Party to Launch Their New Whoopie Pie Truck"
2 Comments »Good Asian Grub: Thai-rrific
Praram with shrimp
Thai-rrific was a North Dallas favorite until it moved to Oak Lawn last year. And since I live around there, I am sure glad it did.
Despite the Cedar Springs address, the restaurant fronts Throckmorton Street. Big windows provide a view of the well-lit dining room and its diners: concrete floor, tables topped with white paper over white clothes and black banquettes, two-tops and four-tops of boys from the hood drinking bottles of wine they brought in themselves.
We were seated at a half banquette/half table set up in a cozy corner and proceeded to fill our bellies.
We started with the pik gai yut, or stuffed wings. Our waitress said it was the house specialty. Essentially it was two large chicken sausages shaped like wings. What I mean by that is that ground chicken was mixed with cilantro, onions, rice, and lemongrass and kind of formed into wing shapes before being roasted and sliced and presented in a brown sauce. Lip-smacking good.
Continue reading "Good Asian Grub: Thai-rrific"
Top Twelve Bites I Put in My Mouth in 2011
Mi Dia: The best bite I put in my mouth in 2011.
There’s a common sentiment among restaurant critics: We have to eat a lot of poor quality and mediocre food before we taste something memorable. But, oh baby, when that over-the-top bite hits your mouth, you know you’ve found it. Something about the drink, dish, or dessert pushes it above the hundreds of thousands of other bites you’ve taken over the year.
The following items rocked my senses in 2011. In no particular order, and off the top of my head, they are:
- Italian “English” muffins at Eatzi’s. (Extra points for the McCutcheon’s preserves.)
- The Scarf Dancer cocktail at Marquee Grill and Bar.
- Fried avocados at The Commissary.
- Ox eyes stacked enchiladas at Mi Dia From Scratch. (Blue corn tortillas, beef, cheese, and onion enchiladas, topped with New Mexico red & green chile sauces, crema & fried eggs. (The best bite of the year.)
- Lemon cake at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.
- Steamed swordfish with a salad of fresh summer greens at Lucia.
- The salad of chopped iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, and crispy prosciutto at Maggiano’s. (A good chopped salad is hard to find.)
- A double-double animal-style burger at In-N-Out Burger. However, the fries are forgettable.
- I got straight past the pizza and Cane Rosso and dive face first into a Cuban sandwich: a magnificent mess of tender Berkshire pork shoulder braised with beer and onions; layered with prosciutto, baby Swiss cheese, and horseradish pickles; and piled on puffy, hot bread spread with spicy mustard and Calabrian chile aioli.
- The green curry chicken served in an iron pot at Malai Kitchen.
- The charcuterie plate at The Grape.
- The slow-cooked oxtail scented with hoja santa and served with a cob of roasted corn and masa dumplings at Mesa.
Most Pleasant Meal of the Year: Dinner at Lavendou. Sometimes the taste of the food is elevated by the overall dining experience. Usually it happens spontaneously. One cold, rainy evening I went to dinner at Lavendou with two dear friends. The dining room was crowded and festive, but not loud. The service was friendly, but not in-your-face. The food was delicious and the French wine stimulated our conversation for hours. We left full of more than food. We shared a meal that was more than just a sum of its parts on a cold, rainy Monday night.
7 Comments »What’s Making My Season Bright…
Hey folks, in case you didn’t know, it’s National Cupcake Day! And I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been this excited since National Bacon Day. If you actually need a reason to go out and stuff yourself full of cake and frosting, now you have one. And it’s totally un-American to ignore your national holidays. Buy some cupcakes, you owe it to your country.
Jumpers. Continue reading "What’s Making My Season Bright…"
1 Comment »Somebody Help This Poor Girl: Coffee Cake in Dallas
Eat this before you die. Photo courtesy of Crumbzz.
She’s a gay old gal who loves some cake with her coffee. Hear her plea:
Hi Nancy, I sent you an email last year and you suggested a certain coffee cake. I’m sorry I can’t remember where I bought it but it was yummy. Can you remember? I am having a house full of people during the holidays and like have several around and in my freezer.
Hmm. She likes to put people in her freezer? That’s kinda scary. Plus, she is relying on my memory? Right-o. Now go. (Actually I think it might have been Crumbzz. )
11 Comments »Season Two of Next Great Baker Airs Tonight: Dallasite and Former Drag Queen Chad Fitzgerald is a Contestant
Tonight Dallas baker Chad Fitzgerald will get his close-up on Next Great Baker. The show airs on TLC at 8PM. D Magazine intern Arti Sharma interviewed Chad. Get to know him before tonight’s show. He’s a former-teacher-turned-drag-queen-turned-baker. Join him for a debut party at Magnolia Hotel at 7PM.
Chad Fitzgerald claims he and his partner, Edward Navejas, owners of The Cake Guys in Duncanville, are just normal guys. But that is about to change. Since Fitzgerald returned from his appearance on Next Great Baker, the two have opened a second location on Oak Lawn across the street from Pappadeaux. He seems a little anxious when he tells me others have warned him of the potential transformation that could take place once the show airs. He’s nostalgic about the days he baked cakes in his own garage and is excited, and perhaps, a little uneasy about what the future will hold. It is uncertain if he will welcome fame or retreat from it. Continue reading "Season Two of Next Great Baker Airs Tonight: Dallasite and Former Drag Queen Chad Fitzgerald is a Contestant"
3 Comments »Dallas Bakeries Make Special Halloween Treats
I am getting loads of emails from local bakeries that are making all kinds of Halloween-themed goodies. I am starting this post and urge bakeries to post their treats in the comments section as I can’t possibly keep up with the onslaught. Mark this spot and continue to check back. Bakeries, let it roll.
Interview With Buddy Valastro of Cake Boss
Buddy Valastro whips it good.
Buddy Valastro of TLC’s hit show, Cake Boss, takes ten minutes to talk to D Magazine intern, Carol Shih, about his upcoming event on November 13 in Dallas. Sure, Buddy’s usually barking out orders in his New Joisey accent when he’s got to make a toilet bowl cake that actually flushes, but he’s really just a guy who loves his wife and four kids. Tell Buddy what cake you want, and he’ll whip it right up.
Here is a transcript of our recent phone conversation:
CS: Since you’re going to be in Texas on November 13, I have to ask: what’s your favorite thing about Dallas?
BV: Honestly, it’s my first time going to Dallas, so I’m excited to see the sites. There are so many great people who come to the bakery from Texas, I thought it was a place I owed it to the fans to go to and have a good time.
CS: What’s a talent or skill that not even your viewers know about?
Jump for it.
Continue reading "Interview With Buddy Valastro of Cake Boss"
1 Comment »It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Pumpkin Food in Dallas
Let's feast on pumpkin!
Oh, how I love anything made with pumpkin. Yesterday, I bought a dozen pumpkin bagels at Einstein’s. Starting today, I’m searching for anything made with pumpkin–desserts, soup, pancakes, bread, pasta—anything. If you see it or make it, let us know below.
21 Comments »Bronwen Weber of Frosted Art Bakery Wins Food Network Challenge: Lion King Cakes
This is a cake. I'm not kidding.
Last night, Bronwen Weber of Frosted Art Bakery and Studio in Dallas made the cake you see above. For her efforts, she was crowned the winner of Food Network Challenge: Lion King Cakes. The win marked her 14th medal from the Food Network Challenges (more than any other contestant), as well as her eighth gold (first place) medal, which is three more than the second best challenger. She is the queen of Lion King cakes for sure.
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