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Best German Restaurant in America: Bavarian Grill in Plano

That is what the press release from Inga Bowyer, president of Germandeli.com in Colleyville says. Let’s get the details.

Over 400 German restaurants, located throughout the United States participated in this first year of the search for the “Best German Restaurant in America.” Bavarian Grill, located in Plano, Texas, garnered almost one third of all the validated votes cast during the two-month online voting period. They also received the majority of positive judging forms from “undercover judges,” and the restaurant scored well with teams of expert judges who dined incognito at the highest scoring German restaurants. Health Department inspections were also reviewed to confirm a consistent “A” rating for the restaurant.

The goal of the annual competition, according to Inga Bowyer, president of GermanDeli.com, is to recognize German restaurants that serve up a truly ethnic experience. According to Bowyer, Bavarian Grill’s classic German entrees like schnitzel, sauerbraten, bratwurst, and roasted ham hock are complimented by a selection of over 50 different imported German beers.

Das ist alle! Lassen Sie uns essen!

UPDATE: We will be celebrating this Wednesday, October 14 at 7 pm with a victory party where we’ll be presented a plaque by Inga Bowyer, President of GermanDeli.com.  We’d love for you, and any Side Dish readers, to join us for the celebration!

Best Chocolate Cake in Dallas? Take Two

Dishers, you failed to guess the origin of the chocolate cake in the picture. You want a clue? I have a prize burning a hole in my pocket. Lemme see: look at the picture, not the cake.

Best Chocolate Cake in Dallas?

Last October I posted a picture of a tall chocolate cake and asked Dishers to name their favorite chocolate cake. The cake I pictured came from Nick & Sam’s. I’m still searching through the list and looking for the best and came across this one. Have you eaten this cake? Can you tell me where it’s from? There is a prize somewhere on my desk waiting for you…

New Sweet Release from Kessler Cookie Company

We’ve been big fans of the sweet boys over at Kessler Cookie Company and their Oak Cliff baked goodness for quite some time. We even named their oatmeal cranberry walnut cookie the city’s best cookie back in 2004. Just found out that KCC is producing an exclusive cookie for Dream Cafe: the Dream Ranger cookie is a blend of oatmeal, chocolate, and coconut. You can find it at both Dream Cafe locations (Uptown and Addison).

State Fair of Texas: New Food Fight

The finalists for the Fifth Annual Big Tex Choice Awards were announced yesterday. A panel of three judges will decide Best Taste and Most Creative winners on Labor Day.

Perhaps we should have our own little voter’s poll below. Let’s Ranch It Up for these tasty tidbits. Or submit one of your own. Go crazy. Be creative–let’s try for 67 comments. K? Go.
Real Contestants:

Green Goblins – Cherry peppers are hollowed out, stuffed with spicy shredded chicken and guacamole, then battered and deep fried. Served three to a skewer and topped with queso.
Deep Fried Butter – 100% pure butter is whipped till light and fluffy, then specially sweetened with a choice of several flavors. The tantalizing mixture is surrounded by a special dough and quick fried. Served on a stick.
Twisted Yam on a Stick – A delicious, towering, spiral-cut sweet potato on a 13” skewer is fried to a delicate crispy texture, then gently rolled in butter and dusted with cinnamon and sugar.
Fernie’s Deep Fried Peaches & Cream – Sweet juicy peaches are coated in a delicious batter of cinnamon, ginger, coconut, graham cracker crumbs, eggs & milk, then deep fried to a crunchy golden brown on the outside, while luscious and sweet on the inside. Served on a plate drizzled with raspberry sauce and sprinkled with streusel topping & a dollop of whipped cream. A side of vanilla butter cream icing is provided for dipping.
Texas Fried Pecan Pie – A mini-pecan pie is battered and deep fried to a golden brown. Served drizzled with rich caramel sauce, then topped with whipping cream and chopped candied pecans.
Country Fried Pork Chips – Thin sliced pork loin is seasoned, surrounded by a tasty corn meal batter and deep fried. Served with sides of ketchup or cream gravy.
Sweet Jalapeno Corn Dog Shrimp – Shrimp on a stick is coated with a sweet and spicy corn meal batter, then deep fried to a golden brown and served with a spicy glaze.
Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroon – A peanut butter cup is wrapped inside a coconut macaroon fried and dusted with powdered sugar. Also available with a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream.

Dallas Restaurant News: Bits and Bites

From the copy and paste press release department:

Molto Formaggio. “MF has sourced an exciting new line of handcrafted cheeses from Switzerland and Bavaria that will be new to area consumers. Among the finds that will be introduced this week at both Molto Formaggio shops are Forsterkase, Scharfe Maxx, Heublumen, Bavarian Limburger (organic), and Challerhocker. Molto Formaggio is pleased to announce that they will be receiving shipments for both Thanksgiving and Christmas of the world famous Vacherin Mont d’Or cheese.  These one pound pieces are only produced 3 months out of the year and are truly the most luscious and wonderful cheeses made in the world.  Customers must preorder these cheeses for delivery in November or December as they will surely be sold out due to the limited quantities available.”  HP 214-526-0700. Preston Forest 214-361-9191.

Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen. “Introducing Heart-Healthy Lunch Items and $10 Menu Choices. Chef Kent Rathbun has created heart-healthy menu items including, Grilled Chicken Breast with Portobello Mushrooms, Ricotta, Rosemary Olive Oil and Mache Salad; Salmon Burger; Heirloom Tomato Dallas Mozzarella Salad with Avocado Green Goddess Dressing; Tassione Farm Field Green Salad with Roasted Lemon-Sherry Vinaigrette; Grilled Chicken Breast with California Avocado, Paula’s Cottage Cheese and Avocado Yogurt; and Shrimp, Crab and Lobster “Coleslaw” with Cilantro-Lime Dressing. All heart-healthy menu items are designated by a red heart. In conjunction with these items on our everyday menu, Chef Rathbun will offer a Heart Healhty Blue Plate Special for lunch and dinner until September 5. Starting September 14, on each Monday our Blue Plate Special will be Heart Healthy. Come join us and feel good again! Chef Rathbun has also added new $10 menu items on our lunch menu. Enjoy Carr Valley Mammoth Cheddar Grilled Cheese, Chef’s Choice Taco Plate of the Day, Salmon Burger and Grilled Flatbread and Hummus with Feta Cheese.”

The Pyramid Restaurant. On Friday, September 25th, the Pyramid Restaurant will host a Spaten Beer Pairing Dinner. Executive Chef jW Foster will pair his exciting “modern American” cuisine with the legendary German beers from Spaten. Details and menu below.

Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef. “Dallas-based longhorn co-op Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef, which is owned and maintained by several Dallas residents that also own other Dallas-based business. Mike Crawford, not only owns Red Peak Ranch, he owns and operates a marketing firm here in Dallas. The Texas longhorn co-op has just joined the Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program. Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef is currently being served at Local in Deep Ellum and at Opa! Grill on Preston. Full release below.

Chick-fil-A.  “Free Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich to all customers wearing any sports-related apparel on Labor Day to celebrate the second-annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff football game!This year’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game will feature University of Alabama against Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.” (more…)

Mini Review: DallasChocolate.org Tasting and Dinner in Dallas

We had to stare at this for 75 minutes without tasting.

Allison Hatfield files this report:

Chocolate comes in many forms. My faves: the kiss and the fountain. I never met a marshmallow kabob I couldn’t improve with a pass through a shower of molten chocolate. I even bought a mini chocolate fountain so I could have one at a housewarming (I later tried to turn it into a cheese fountain, but that’s a story for another day).

Anyway, my relationship with chocolate has previously been that of a rather low-end consumer. And I’m fine with that, but I was also excited to expand my horizons at Saturday’s chocolate tasting and dinner hosted by DallasChocolate.org.

From bean to bar.

About 40 foodie types met at Milestone Culinary center in the afternoon to hear Alan McClure and Steve DeVries—world-class artisan chocolate makers and founding members of Craft Chocolate Makers of America—talk about harvesting, fermenting, roasting, grinding, refining, and conching (I still have no idea what that is). It was a high-level education on the sometimes low-tech business of making chocolate, from beans to bar. And it was pure torture. Not because these guys aren’t really smart and interesting, but have you ever spent 75 minutes sitting in front of eight kinds of chocolate without eating any of them? Try it, friends.

When we’d finally learned enough to appreciate what lay ahead, we crunched on bittersweet nibs (roasted then crushed cocao beans) and let a large piece of untempered chocolate melt on our tongues—as happy as Charlie with the golden ticket.

Rhonda Ruckman, formerly of Doughmonkey made us cry.

All that learning worked up an appetite for the chocolate-inspired dinner that followed the tasting. Passed hors d’oeuvres included crostini with lavender goat cheese and nibs. Sit-down fare was summer greens with a savory chocolate tower (chocolate on a salad—really), herb-crusted salmon with a chocolate balsamic glaze, and dueling desserts of chocolate cake and chocolate tart from Doughmonkey extraordinaire Rhonda Ruckman. (We miss you, Doughmonkey.)

More photos here.

Who Makes the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in Dallas?

I want to eat a dozen chocolate chip cookies today. Tell me where to go. (For cookies, Kirk.)

DallasChocolate.org Offers Dinner With Famous Chocolate Makers

Hurry, there are only a few seats left for the August 22nd dinner with chocolate makers Steve DeVries (DeVries Chocolate) and Alan McClure (Patric Chocolate). Desserts will be by Rhonda Ruckman (Doughmonkey). In addition to the dinner, there will be a lecture and guided chocolate tasting by the two chocolate makers from 2-4:00 p.m. Reservations for both events here. Menu below. (more…)

Twitter Dining Review In Dallas: Join Me Tonight

I’m headed out to do a dining review. See if you can guess my location. (DSideDish)

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…)

Restaurant Review: Legally Blonde In Dallas

Chef Eric Shelton. What does he have in store for Mama Mia? Greek food!

Omigod, omigod you guys. Last night I took one of my perfect nieces and her almost perfect BFF to see Legally Blonde at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Natch, we were undernourished and running late. We decided to take the easy way and eat at the Music Hall. Yow. Zah. Not only was the food lovely, it was fun.

The dining room, managed by Culinaire (Nicola’s, Coast Global Seafood) International, and kitchen have been overhauled. The restaurant even has its own name—M. And chef—Eric Shelton. Chef Shelton designs a menu around each musical. For Happy Days, it was roast beef sliders and shakes; bangers and mash for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But I have a feeling he hit his stride with Legally Blonde: the buffet included “Bend and Snap” peas, “Oh My God You Guys” salad, and a “Carvard University” meat slicing station. Okay, you think it’s corny? Then you have a chip on your shoulder. My girls, who know every song and dance movement of this show, loved it. The festive food followed by a fabulous show combined to create an evening the three of us will never forget. Seriously.

SideDish Movie Screening: Julie & Julia And Whole Foods In Dallas

Okay Dishers, you’ve heard about the movie, read my review, and are already sick of the trailers on TV, BUT I bet you still want to see this flick for FREE. I have 5 pair of tickets to give away. All you have to do is fill out this tiny little form for a chance to win 2 tickets to see Julie & Julia next Thursday, August 6th at 7:30 p.m. at the Angelika. Then you can thank Karen Lukin of Whole Foods for making it happen. If you want to get psyched for the movie or you just happen to be in Preston Forest next Monday (August 3), Whole Foods is hosting a “We Remember Julia” cooking class at 9:00 a.m. It is also free. Begging for freebies is always encouraged. Bring it. (You have to see the fake yawn scene.)

UPDATE: NYT article on food prep for the movie.

SideDish Movie Screening In Dallas: Julie & Julia

Last night, the Dallas Museum of Art and Arts & Letters Live hosted a private screening of Julie & Julia. If I have to write even one sentence to describe what this movie is about, you might as well skip this post and go here.

Several Dishers attended, and I await their reviews below. I am not a movie reviewer, but the following is my Sybil-esque recap. (I say Sybil-esque because I had two strong and separate reactions to the film.)

Full disclosure: I have not read Julie Powell’s book or blog. I am extremely jealous of her rags-to-riches-by-blogging success. Also, other than Lions for Lambs, the movie she did with Tom Cruise, I have enjoyed watching every film Meryl Streep has ever made. (“I haaad a faaaarm in Aaaafricaaa…..” slays me every time.) Okay, here goes: (more…)

DallasChocolate.org Announces Chocolate Events in Dallas

On August 22nd, Alan McClure of Patric Chocolate and  Steve DeVries of DeVries Chocolate will be in Dallas for several chocolate-related soirees. DallasChocolate.org is bringing two of the country’s most respected bean-to-bar chocolate makers here for a weekend of delicious and informative events. Full details after the jump. In addition, pastry chef Rhonda Ruckman (Doughmonkey) will craft desserts featuring Patric and DeVries chocolates. (more…)

All The Cookie News That’s Fit to Print: Creme de la Cookie Opens in Snider Plaza in Dallas

My Red-Headed Woodpecker prefers nuts to cookies.

First comes news that the FDA is suggesting that consumers should not eat refrigerated raw cookie dough or bake the Nestle Toll House products because there could be a risk of spreading E.coli through handling or on food-preparation surfaces. There haven’t been any deaths reported, but the government has received 66 reports of illness in 28 states. (Is there a slight chance that these folks ate the whole package?) This morning, Nestle issued a voluntary recall. Hmm.

However, there is some good cookie news. Yesterday,  a little bird flew into the Dan Koller’s office upstairs and sang to Overheard: Crème de la Cookie is opening in Snider Plaza. It didn’t take long for super sleuthly songbird TG  to tweet about the sweet shop. I’ll bet Leslie “Catch a Falling Star” Brenner is already typing the back story of this “delectable journey for your taste buds.” (I wonder if J.T. Lemley  will deliver tomatoes to you while you wait.) Anywhoo, they open today in the space formerly known as Doughmonkey.

New Summer Flavors at Paciugo Gelato

Teresa over at Pegasus News reports that the West Village Paciugo Gelato is sporting a new look and new flavors. I dropped by after lunch to try a scoop. Today’s flavor was Texas pecan sea salt caramel. One word: Tasty. Who doesn’t love a little sweet with their savory? Other new flavors include Texas peaches and strawberry sorbet and—the one I really wanted to try—chocolate jalapeno. “Ugh,” replied my co-worker when I described it. Me? I think chocolate goes great with spicy flavors like red chili and curry. Has anyone had Paciugo’s choc-jalapeno creation? I’m dying to taste it.

Crumbs Homemade Pies Does It Old School

There are few things that make me swoon more than an old fashioned chocolate cream pie. It brings back memories of Sunday after-church lunches at Wyatt’s Cafeteria with ladies in hairnets dishing out pre-fab, perfectly round chicken fried steaks, soggy green beans, and, yes, the aforementioned chocolate cream pie with its thick, silky custard and mile-high whipped cream topping. Crumbs Homemade Pies’ kicks it old school just like the beehived beauties of dearly departed Wyatt’s but the Oak Cliff baker’s sweets are infintely better. Crumbs is fairly new—not even a year old—and I got to sample its wares last weekend. I had a hard time deciding which was the best: the coconut cream, banana cream, or chocolate cream. (Yes, I tried all three. Oink, oink.) Find out for yourself. You can reach Crumbs my email (crumbshomemade@gmail.com) or phone (214-538-2538). All cream pies are only $16 each as is the lemon meringue. The bumble berry is $30. (Full disclore: I forgot to snap a pic when I sampled. The pie pictured left isn’t Crumbs’. I just wanted to make you hungry.)

It’s Brownie Saturday at Sur La Table

I can already tell you where I’m going to be this Saturday. I love brownies. Love. Them. And both area Sur La Tables are hosting a free brownie workshop this Saturday, May 9 at 11am. You’ll get baking tips and sample rich, gooey, chocolate treats. While you’re there, check out this cool new baking pan (pictured left): it’s specially designed to give each brownie its own crisp edge (which is the best part of the brownie if you ask me).

Next Weekend: Taste Of Addison

Yow. Zah. When did May get here? Almost forgot to tell you about Taste of (Bill) Addison next weekend. It starts Friday, May 5th 8th at 5:00 pm and runs until Sunday at 6:00 pm. Concerts by Jack Ingram, Old 97s, Foreigner, and Bowling for Soup. Taste Showcase will feature Ted Allen, Tre Wilcox, Richard Chamberlain, Dorian Isenberg, Mansour Gorji, and a slew of other chefs. You can find all of the details here. SideDish will be there bloggin’ and tweetin’.

Question: What’s Your Favorite Sweet Release?

Yesterday was a rough day here at D’s World Headquarters. Editors were late with stories. Artists were late with photographs. And I was trying to design—because that’s my job or so says my biz card—a 23 page feature in 48 hours. Ah stress. How did I relieve it? Take a look to the left: Venezuelan rum truffle chocolate cake with custard from La Duni. Soothed by the thick, rich ganache and hopped up on more sugar and caffeine than should be legal, I soldiered on with my design and even tweeted about the cake on our SideDish Twitter account. Which got me thinking: which sweet or fatty foods do SideDishers turn to for comfort? Comments are on, and if anyone says veggies or fresh fruit, I’ll smack you in the face with a canoli.

J Dorian Cupcakes… Mmmmmm!

We get lots of food sent to the office because they all want Nancy to write about them. We get Sprinkles at least once a week. Yesterday we got a special delivery from local chocolatier J Dorian: Besides a box of truffles, he dropped off a new product, cupcakes. Nancy doesn’t get too excited by all of the food sent to the office, but the rest of us in the office love it. Especially me–I could eat sugar all day long. So when NN put a box of 12 beautiful cupcakes on my desk yesterday, I got more than excited. (see picture.)

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Progressive Tasting Party with Flavors From Afar and Molto Formaggio

I love this idea. And two of my favorite epicurean outposts to boot. Flavors From Afar and Molto Formaggio are hosting a progressive tasting party featuring Italian goodies May 8-10. The event includes antipasti and sweets paired with wines at Flavors and cheese and wine at Molto. Each shop will also offer gift bags stuffed wtih Tuscan olive oil, fresh tomato sauce, pizza dough, pistachio-chocolate crunch cookies, Tuscan wine, cheese, amaretto cookies, and more. The cost is $100 per couple and sounds like a foodie must-do. Make reservations today.

Dorian Isenberg Of J. Dorian Chocolatier in Dallas Helps Design A New Chocolate Line

For the past year Dorian Isenberg, owner of J. Dorian Chocolatier, has been consulting on a new chocolate line called Chocolanté, created by Puratos Chocolate, sister company to the producers of the popular Belcolade, “The Real Belgian” chocolate. Isenberg is just back from the unofficial chocolate capitol of the world, Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the new product was unveiled.

In Kenosha, Isenberg was selected as one of the “Key Opinion Leaders” for “combining the traditional Belgium chocolate techniques with the taste profile of the American Consumer.” Oh, I could so go there, but I’ll leave it all up to you. Use your First Amendment right to comment while we still have it. Jump if you love recipes.

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Spit Out That Peep! The Most Fattening Easter Candies

Just in time for this holiday weekend, Newsweek reports on the eight Easter candies that will pack on the most pounds. A Reese’s peanut butter white chocolate egg has 11 grams of fat?!? Oh great. There goes lunch.