Caution: Eating hundreds of mini hot dogs could do irreparable damage to washboard abs.

Former Dallas Star and all-around good guy Mike Modano will be at The Stand on June 2 from 2pm – 4pm. The casual hot dog spot is hosting an Mini-Hot Dog Eating contest and Mo will be there to “cheer on contestants and possible chow down on some mini-hot dogs as well.” You can register to be a contestant for $25. If you win, you’ll get a check for $1,000. Proceeds will go to the Mike Modano Foundation, an entity that supports at-risk children.

Full details below.

The Stand in Dallas Presents:

Dallas’ 1st Annual Mini-Hot Dog Eating Contest

On Saturday, June 2nd, The Stand on McKinney Avenue in Dallas will host the 1st

Annual Mini-Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Contestants will compete for a Dallas first: their face painted on a 15-foot by 60-foot

wide mural off McKinney Avenue for an entire year next to some of Dallas’ most

generous philanthropists.

Other prizes include cash prizes and Big D bragging rights. For contestants, the

registration cost is $25 and open now online at www.TheStandDallas.com.  All

proceeds will benefit the Mike Modano Foundation, founded by Dallas hockey-

legend Mike Modano, helping at risk children in the DFW area.  Modano himself will

be there to cheer on contestants and possible chow down on some mini-hot dogs

as well.

First Place will win $1,000 and their image for everyone to admire on the

restaurant’s wall next to others who will win their spots through an upcoming

auction.  Second place will win $500 and third $250.

The 1st Place finisher will also be recognized at The Standʼs LIVE AUCTION on

June 16th for the remaining seven positions on the mural which will also benefit the

Mike Modano Foundation.

So grab your friends and your appetite and come out to The Stand on June 2nd

and show off your eating skills! You could be crowned the champion and be

immortalized in The Standʼs mural of all things greatness in Dallas, TX.

WHEN: Saturday, June 2nd

WHERE: The Stand, 2916 McKinney Ave., Dallas, Texas 75204

TIME: 2pm – 4pm

HOW: Register online at www.TheStandDallas.com

Benefitting: The Mike Modano Foundation

Lunch at Franklin BBQ in Austin. Left to right: R. Nicholas McWhirter (Vaughn's photographer), David Hale Smith (Vaughn's agent), Tony Bourdain (iced tea?), Daniel Vaughn (self).

Daniel Vaughn, known to most of you as BBQ Snob and the man behind the blog “Full Custom Gospel BBQ”, is sitting at a table at Franklin Barbecue in Austin with Anthony Bourdain. Vaughn is filming a No Reservations episode on barbecue. Doubtless Vaughn has introduced Bourdain to the delicate terms–snot, smoke rings, sugar cookies–he uses to describe the delicacies of barbecue. Still waiting to hear Tony’s opinion of Texas barbecue. (Sitting pretty close there, Daniel!)

As Carol told you a couple of weeks ago, Bourdain’s Ecco publishing company has optioned Vaughn’s book-in-process, Prophets of Smoked Meat, a full-color tour of the best Texas barbeque joints he’s visited since he first got hooked on the ‘cue. Rock on BBQ Snob. Send us at least a text when you get your own show.

Pictured from left to right: Event & Sales Director, Julia “Smelly Pirate Hooker” Garton, Owner /Operator, Mike “I look Like a Blueberry” Schoder, and Will Ferrell.

Will Ferrell was hanging out at Sundown at Granada this afternoon. Ferrell is in town on a press junket to promote his new movie “Casa de Mi Padre.” The film opens on March 16.

The besties: Adam Gertler (left) and Lisa Garza (right)

Adam Gertler, host of Kid in a Candy Store, dropped by Sissy’s last night to pay his fellow season four contestant of The Next Food Network Star, Lisa Garza, a visit. Garza officially opened Sissy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar with Chef Jeffery Hobbs on Monday, serving Southern comfort food. Looks like this big kid enjoyed the fried chicken, red fish, squash puppies, pork ribs, and cookies and milk that he sampled. A loyal source says he LOVED Sissy’s hot sauce (the same one that I mentioned in yesterday’s post) and thinks Garza’s place will really take off.

This could be all yours for one weekend.

Eater Dallas and Park Cities People may have talked about this already, but in case you’ve been hiding in a cave: Marquee Grill Execuchef and “Top Chef Allstar” Tre Wilcox is auctioning himself off for charity. You heard that right, ladies. It’s time to start bidding on Charitybuzz. Winner gets to spend two days in the kitchen (a weekend of their choice) with the hunky chef and enjoy a Chef’s Tasting on Saturday night. All the proceeds go to the Bridge Breast Network, and the bidding ends on February 29 at 1:22 PM CST.

Whoever wins the auction has my permission to post a minute-by-minute, play-by-play blog of the entire experience on Sidedish… maybe.

If anyone knows how I can plant myself on that coveted RSVP list, let’s talk. I’ll pay you in almonds.

Anthony Bourdain on stage at the Majestic Theater in Dallas. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)

Last night, Anthony Bourdain fans packed the Majestic Theater. Baseball be damned, the worshipers of All-Things-Anthony showed up to lay themselves at the cowboy-booted feet of their hero.

Tony walked onto the stage at 8:10 and greeted the audience: “I am a whore. I am in every way compromised, jaded, bought and paid for, including my nice f—ing jacket.”

For the next hour and 45 minutes, the crowd hung on his every word. He was loose, casual, at ease, good-natured, straight forward, no bull. He was exactly the guy you see on TV, except, in person, you could see just how fine he wears boot-cut jeans.

After the show, we got to hang out with Tony and watch him sign books and greet his fans. Hundreds of folks bought books and stood in line to get his autograph. He walked into the VIP room and he very calmly said, “Look, I’m here and I’m not leaving until every book is signed, every picture is taken. I’m not in a hurry, so grab some food, have a drink, relax.”

I plan to write a longer report, but my day job calls. In the meantime, I’ll post the pictures that Tony most graciously allowed our photographer, Elizabeth Lavin, to shoot. Oh, and John “Jimmy Sears” Tesar was there. I mean everywhere. If you notice him in every shot, it is because he tried to get in every shot. At one point I thought he was going to start signing copies of Bourdain’s Medium Raw. He could have. That’s how he serves his burgers.

On to the show.

Bory Taft, Leena Varehese, Kim Chang Chung Lee. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)

The Tony, The Tesar, The Brad. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)

Linda Tucker scores a photo op. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)

Bethlehem? No, the VIP room at The Majestic Theater after Anthony Bourdain's show. (Photo by ELizabeth Lavin)

Tesar hogs the spotlight. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)

A Bourdain. A beer. A book. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)

Nobody went home hungry. (photo by Elizabeth Lavin)

Leave it to Ben & Jerry’s

Emcee Scott Murray Tells The Chefs About The 50LB Anchovy He Landed. Sleeping peacefully in the background (L to R) are David C. Smith, John Tesar, Janice Provost, Brian Luscher, Samir Dhurandhar and Jim Severson. Those with X-Ray vision will be able to see James Neel behind Scott Murray.

Holy Anchovy! The AIWF Caesar Salad Competition may be an annual event in its 20^th year but the organizers behind the event have no intention of letting the format get stale. So this year, the organization that brought you the competition that often leads to a winner who wins for an ingredient that is far removed from any ingredient in the traditional Caesar salad is mixing it up. The competitors will all be previous winners of the competition. The winner will a kind of Grand Fromage of Dallas Caesar Salad Competitions.

Of the 19, 12 are still in town and this week the AIWF introduced them at the Westin Galleria Hotel, which is where the competition will be held. Without further delay, the role of honor..

Year     Chef                             Restaurant

1994     Kent Rathbun                Abacus, Jasper’s, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen

1996     George Brown                George Catering

1997     Jim Severson                 Sevy’s Grill

1998     James Neel                   Tramontana

2000     Samir Dhurandhar          Nick & Sam’s, Nick & Sam’s Grill, Coal Vines

2001     Gilbert Garza                 Suze

2002     Doug Brown                   Beyond the Box , Dish

2003     Brian Luscher                The Grape

2004     David Holben                 Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse

2007     Janice Provost               Parigi Restaurant

2008     John Tesar                    The Commissary

2010     David C. Smith               Westin Galleria Dallas.

As emcee Scott Murray reminded the attendees, the aim of the event is to raise funds for AIWF programs to educate children about good nutrition.

The reception was hosted by David C. Smith, Executive Chef of the Westin Galleria, and winner of Caesar Salad Competition XIX.

The event is October 30^th, 1pm-5pm (you will be back before the evening Cowboys game). Tickets are available through the AIWF Dallas Chapter web site. Given the talent on duty, this sounds to me like one of the big events of the fall.

This is the prize.

Teiichi “Teach” Sakurai, the hardest working man in the noodle business.

On August 8, Tei-An is throwing a bash to celebrate their 3^rd year at One Arts Plaza. According to tradition, that means you must bring a gift made of leather. (Oh boy, this guy will have a field day!)

But seriously, the party will feature food, drinks, and Hunter Sullivan’s three- piece band.

Jump for the five Ws.

WHAT:             Award-winning, five-star restaurant Tei-An will celebrate its three-year anniversary on Monday, August 8, 2011. The lounge, dining room and rooftop will be open for guests to enjoy the stunning views of downtown Dallas while indulging in Tei-An’s one-of-a-kind Japanese cuisine.
A $10 admission charge will include a variety of Japanese summer hors d’oeuvres.  Restaurant patrons can also enjoy complimentary Japanese beer, sake, wine and soft drinks.  Local jazz star Hunter Sullivan and his three-piece band will also be on-site performing throughout the night.

WHEN:             Monday, August 8, 2011 at 7 p.m.

WHERE:         Tei-An
One Arts Plaza
1722 Routh St., Suite 110
Dallas, TX 75201

ADMISSION: Admission is $10 and the event is open to the public. A percentage of the admission fee will be donated to Japan Red Cross Society to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

For more information about the event, contact Yosuke Fukuda, Rooftop Lounge Director at 214-220-2828 or Kate Hall at kate@powerpublicrelations.com. Tei-An is located at One Arts Plaza, 1722 Routh Street in Dallas. For more information about dining at One Arts Plaza, visit www.artsdistrictdining.com<http://www.artsdistrictdining.com/>.

Would you like to eat dinner with this man?

Tweeter up, Dishers! Tomorrow is the MLB All-Star Game. Don’t give a twit about the game? Me either! But Evan Grant, the Dallas Morning News Rangers beat writer and The Ticket contributor, and I are going to auction a special dinner for two to raise money for the family of Shannon Stone, the Ranger fan who died tragically on Thursday night. You will have a chance to bid on having dinner with Evan and me which is funnier and more interesting than any reality TV show.

Besides Happy Hour prices all night, there will be trivia games and prizes. Rangers swag and baseball tickets, and FREE garlic fries…Check it out. It’s all happening at Gordon Biersch in the Shops at Park Lane. Hope to see you there. Deets.

Hello, Dallas! Come and get it!

In-N-Out in Dallas is open for business. 7940 N. Central Expressway.

Jump to meet super-hero, Mr. Carl Van Fleet.

The hardest working man in the burger business, Carl Van Fleet, Vice President of Planning and Development.

Deel Lincoln's bubble-themed chandeliers. (photo by Sarah Reiss)

Here’s what you need to know about Dee Lincoln’s second Tasting Room & Bubble Bar:

Two levels, Cedar Springs, yummy flatbread, pillows that feel like silky lamb’s fur, loads of reflective surfaces, excellent bubble-themed chandeliers, many many Park Cities babes in booty accentuating get-ups, wine dispensaries, valet, outdoor patio.

Observe…

jump to check out some pics…

Outdoor patio (left), the view from the second floor mezzanine (right). (photos by Sarah Reiss)