Articles about Dallas Foodie

Thanks to Khloe Kardashian, International Bakery Cuban Dulceria is Selling More Cortaditos Than Ever

posted by Carol Shih | March 20th, 2013 9:21am | filed under ''Sections, Baking, Breakfast, Coffee, Dallas Foodie, Dallas Must-Do List, Food | 6 Comments »
Sara Vazquez (right) and her sister, Rita (left), stand behind the counter (photo by Carol Shih)

Sara Vazquez (right) and her sister, Rita (left), stand in front of a photo of their grandparents (photo by Carol Shih)

On February 19, the day after an episode of Kourtney and Kim Take Miami aired, the phone line at International Bakery Cuban Dulceria blew up. The two sisters/owners, Rita and Sara Vazquez, began receiving a flood of calls about their coffee. “Ever since that show where Khloe Kardashian got a cortadito, we’ve had clients asking if we have them,” says Sara.

When a male customer of theirs – one who doesn’t come regularly – drove all the way from Dallas to their small bakery in Carrollton just for a morning cortadito, that’s when the Vazquez ladies knew something was up. “We went online and researched it,” says Rita. As soon as she read about Khloe’s crazy caffeine rampage for cortaditos on the “B**ch Slapped” episode, everything began to make sense.

Cortaditos are Cuba’s version of cortados. They’re usually served in a glass, but International Bakery Cuban Dulceria’s version comes in a yellow foam cup. Ascension Coffee would probably deem this practice blasphemous (they don’t let you take their cortados to-go because it ruins them, they say), but the sisters claim that their cortadito sales have increased 85% since the show aired. This small cup – with a half shot of espresso, steamed milk, cottony foam, and sugar – has brought cortadito fame to Carrollton. The ladies are right about their coffee, too. It’s good. A little sugary for me, but I can see why other people would drive 30 minutes for this. A two dollar cortadito paired with a flaky guava pastry? Muy bueno. What an excellent breakfast for less than three dollars.

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The Food Boutique to Open in Dallas Design District This Spring 2013

posted by Carol Shih | January 14th, 2013 11:34am | filed under Business, Dallas Foodie, Groceries, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News | 3 Comments »

I’m about ready to pack my bags and sign a lease with 1400 Hi Line Tower, which is quickly becoming the epitome of luxury living. Desiree Espada just alerted me to this blog post on dallasdesigndistrict.com about a new grocery store that’ll be feeding the hungry residents of 1400 Hi Line with its coffee bar, beer and wine on tap, cheese and fruit plates, and pre-made lunch boxes. The Food Boutique is headed by Creative Culinary Concepts, a local group of entrepreneurs comprised of Cory Schell, Adam Alfia, Brian Payson, and Alex Waldvogel. According to the blog post author, Kendall, “The Food Boutique will deliver to Design District residents and neighborhood offices.”

Don’t forget that Central Standard, the restaurant/bar by Restaurants America, has yet to open at 1400 Hi Line as well. No idea when that’s happening, but the PR contact for Restaurants America says maybe, maaaaybe April of this year. Restaurants America is pretty busy these days with the opening of Mockingbird Taproom (just opened on January 5), and the soon-to-be-open Shops at Park Lane’s Boca Chica, a tapas and tequila restaurant, at the end of February 2013.

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Dallas’ First Walking Food Tour Takes Place in Uptown

posted by Carol Shih | June 4th, 2012 9:59am | filed under Dallas Foodie, Dallas Must-Do List, Events, flying solo | 2 Comments »

Sfuzzi's frozen drinks—Red Bull and vodka, a frozen blueberry mojito —and portobello mushroom fries served with a tomato basil aioli sauce.

D Magazine intern Teo Soares braved the heat to attend a two-hour culinary tour on Saturday, June 2.

When I stepped out of my car, the thermometer on the dashboard read 89°. At that moment, the idea of a walking food tour in Uptown Dallas seemed misguided.

The concept came to Jodi Phillipson during a trip to Chicago two years ago. “I was looking for things to do, I got on TripAdvisor, and I saw this food tour thing … and I thought, ‘Why doesn’t Dallas have one of these?’” she says. Back in town, Jodi founded Food Tours of America with two friends. The company will debut its Uptown tour on June 9th. Tours will cost $45 and will run on weekends and occasionally weekdays.

Last Saturday I joined Jodi and a handful of food writers and bloggers for a preview tour. We began our jaunt with miniature chimichangas, brisket nachos, and stuffed jalapeños at Primo’s Tex-Mex Grille. Sfuzzi, our next stop, served savory portobello fries and three frozen drinks, including a blueberry mojito that tasted of bright mint. At Bailey’s Uptown Inn, we tried two items from the Stand: Mac Daddy Dogs that came stacked with chili, bacon, onion rings, and mac-and-cheese; and brownies that were made with pork and beans but tasted like carrot cake.

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What to Pack in Your Picnic Basket This Summer

posted by Carol Shih | May 11th, 2012 10:10am | filed under Dallas Foodie, Dallas Must-Do List, Dog Friendly, Go local, Health Food | 11 Comments »

D Home editor Joslyn Taylor had this brilliant idea of doing a cross post. Since the weather has been kind of wunderbar, we thought it’d be fun if I picked out my ideal picnic basket foods while Joslyn paired them with pretty basket accessories.

Jump if you can’t wait for this weekend.

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Drink Beer, Eat Sausage at the German Fasching Fest this Sunday

posted by Carol Shih | February 16th, 2012 10:58am | filed under beer, Dallas Foodie, Dallas Must-Do List, Drinking, Ethnic Food, Events, Festivals, party | 1 Comment »

SAT analogy lesson for the day:

New Orleans : Mardi Gras ::
Germany : Fasching Fest ::

If you didn’t understand that, retake the SATs and jump below. Continue reading "Drink Beer, Eat Sausage at the German Fasching Fest this Sunday"

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New Bolsa Mercado Opens in Oak Cliff This Morning

posted by Todd Johnson | December 12th, 2011 11:04am | filed under Dallas Foodie, First Take, Groceries, oak cliff | 20 Comments »

Bolsa Mercado. Photography by Elliott Munoz

Just dropped into the new Bolsa Mercado this morning for its public debut and — wow — this place is a game changer for anyone shopping for quality groceries south of the Trinity. It fulfills the market part of the original Bolsa vision offering Tom Spicer greens, local cheeses, organic meats, house made sausage and pastries, a boutique wine/beer selection, gourmet dry goods, and more. Bolsa Mercado also offers sandwiches, panninis, gourmet to go items, and a first-rate coffee bar. Eventually, chefs Jeff Harris, Matt Balke, and team want to make as much in-house as possible and will offer catering from the market’s enormous kitchen, more than double the size of the tiny one at its sibling restaurant located two doors down. Happily, there’s enough diversity and everyday goods to encourage repeated visits. In fact, I’m already plotting my lunchtime return to try the wild boar tart.

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20th Annual AIWF Caesar Salad Competition in Dallas Is A Blockbuster

posted by Andrew Chalk | October 31st, 2011 9:28am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Celebrity Chefs, Charity events, Dallas Foodie | 1 Comment »

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Del Frisco's David Holben wins XX Caesar Salad Competition. (photo courtesy of Del Frisco's General Manager Gina Cook)

ery year the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) holds their Caesar Salad competition to raises funds for their “Days of Taste”program. Days of Taste teaches schoolchildren about healthy eating, nutrition, and raise the awareness of obesity in children. This year was the 20th competition and it was rather special. AIWF volunteers assembled 12 of the past winners to compete in a taste-off voted on by the 500 attendees. The AIWF volunteers did a fantastic job organizing this event despite some key personnel being hit by illness (and even a bereavement) immediately prior to the date. They should be proud of what they accomplished that made it such an instructive, enjoyable and contributing event. And congratulations to this year’s winner:  Del Frisco’s Chef David Holben.

One of the most interesting things about the Annual Caesar Salad Competition is that it has never been won by a Caesar salad! At least not one assembled by Caesar Cardini back in his speakeasy days. Chefs have gilded the lily by adding a protein-related side dish as, shall we say, a lagniappe. This year was no exception so, without delay, the chefs who made this the biggest AIWF fundraiser of the year, their year of victory and what they prepared in addition to their salad for attendees at the Westin Galleria this year.

A few general points:

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