My first few trips to Napa Valley only had to do with the wine….it is, after all, the birthplace of the American wine movement.  Why in the world would I go to a wine mecca and waste all that time in restaurants….grab a baguette and a piece of cheese and go.

Thank goodness through the years I have been convinced to enjoy meals at places like The French Laundry, REDD, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Brix, Oenotri, La Toque, Morimoto, Bottega and even a short drive out of Napa to Chez Panisse in Berkeley opened my eyes to incredible flavors with California flair created by passionate, enthusiastic, farm-to-table chefs.  Now, the food is as much a purpose in visiting Napa as the wine.

Jump

Next month a new wine and food festival launches in Napa Valley with a focus on the farm-to-table food (or in many cases throughout the valley, the backyard garden-to-table food) of Napa Valley, followed of course by the wine of the region….it is Napa, you can’t do much without a glass of wine.

November 17-20, 2011 marks the inaugural Flavor! Napa Valley weekend with chefs, wine experts and wine makers from around the valley, with a few special guests from around the country, coming together to create a festival celebrating what makes Napa Valley so special – great food, incredible wine and joyous friendships.

Over the course of the four days chefs like Top Chef All-Stars winner, Richard Blais; original Iron Chef, Masaharu Morimoto; Easy Entertainer and Bottega owner, Michael Chiarello; and 3 Michelin Star Chef, Christopher Kostow of The Restaurant at Meadowood will teach and entertain guests with culinary demonstrations and wine tastings.

The big event of the weekend brings dozens of regional chefs, including Tyler Florence, Michael Chiarello, Christian Ojeda, Christopher Kostow, Ken Frank, Stephan Barber and more together with stellar Napa Valley wine from wineries such as Cakebread, Rocca, Staglin, Krupp Brothers, Faust, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and so many more for The Appellation Trail: Tasting Napa Valley.  An adventure for all of your senses, as these artistic chefs with paint pictures with their plates, making palates water, which will be easily washed down by the 100+ wineries featured at the event.

Tickets for The Appellation Trail and many other events, like the demos with Richard Blais and Morimoto, along with wine tasting seminars from Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible and Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor for Food & Wine, are available now, but are filling up fast.  Take this opportunity for a Napa Valley gourmet experience like none other, it should be a thrilling, food lovers weekend. An added bonus, net proceeds from the inaugural festival will benefit the scholarship fund at the Culinary Institure of America at Greystone in St. Helena.

Patron Tequila has created a series for this summer called “The Art of The Drink,” which includes tasty recipes from mixologists around the country.  There are a few that look tequila tantalizing including the Rubia Bonita, from Chicago’s Blackbird mixologist Kyle Fountaine; to the Tequila Mockingbird from Greg Seider, mixologist and co-owner of The Summit Bar in New York.

Rubia Bonita
3 oz. Patrón Silver Tequila
½ oz. Aperol
½ oz. simple syrup
Dash of orange bitters
1 oz. lime juice
1 cup cilantro
4 strawberries
In cocktail shaker muddle cilantro and strawberries together with the lime juice. Build rest of ingredients. Hard shake for 10 seconds. Double strain in rocks glass with ice.

Tequila Mockingbird
2 oz. Patrón Silver Tequila
1½ oz. watermelon basil puree (Blend 2 cups chopped watermelon with 7 basil leaves)
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
3/4 oz. agave mix (mix 1/2 water with 1/2 light or amber agave)
1 slice muddled jalapeno pepper
In cocktail shaker muddle jalapeno pepper. Build rest of ingredients. Add ice. Hard shake for 10 seconds. Double strain in rocks glass with ice.

Jumbie Trading Company has created a line of flavored rums that are the perfect base for warm weather cocktails.
Try their Rum Jumbie Pineapple Splash with orange juice; or their Coconut Splash with puréed strawberries and ice for a light version of a Strawberry Pina Colada with half the calories.  Or a good old Rum and Coke with their Rum Jumbie Vanilla Splash.  Add a lime for the full Caribbean experience.

Fiddlehead Cellars Fiddlestix Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir - From the Santa Rita Hills region of California, and surrounded by great company (Sanford & Benedict and Sea Smoke) this sustainable Pinot is rich, vibrant and everything good about California Pinot Noir.  Fruit forward with lots of cherry and raspberry the grapes really benefit from the regions cool nights and ocean breezes.  Aged 16 months in new French oak, and held in the bottle for a year before release creates a wine ready to be enjoyed now that is elegant and approachable. 

Franciscan Estate Merlot - Classic Napa Valley Merlot is the best way to think about Franciscan.  Some people shy away from Merlot, but I find I have been enjoying it more and more lately.  Maybe I am just looking for some lighter wine options to a Cab, but still something with great weight and mouthfeel – both of which this Franciscan Merlot has.  Crafted slowly in small lots the wine is filled with currant and plum flavors with notes of licorice creating a jammy, vibrant wine.   

Treana Red from Hope Family Winery - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, I found this to be an interesting and unexpected wine from the Paso Robles region of California.  Witha  goal to make a wine with longevity and drinkability the wine a blend of the wineries best barrels of Cabernet and Syrah, to create a powerful, hearty wine from the Cabernet, with the inviting spiciness from the Syrah.  I didn’t know exactly what to expect from this blend and was pleasantly surprised. 

Antler Hill Syrah- Smoky, spicy Syrah from Biltmore Estates Winery.  Named after the hill the Inn on Biltmore Estates resides on, this wine is filled with the smoky bacon fatty notes that I love in Syrah.  A mear 400 cases of this Napa Valley wine were made after 18 months of French and American oak aging, adding richness and complexity.  The wine is very approachable and ready to be enjoyed now, preferably with dark chocolate.

Or, if mixed cocktails or bold reds won’t fit the palate today, just give in to the pleasure of a perfect shot, served neat, of The Macallan 18 Year Old Scotch.

Tomatoes should be fun, not depressing.

Buy local. Eat seasonal. Hug a farmer. Kiss a chef. When the economy gets tough, we love our neighbors, right? As mighty “Agent Orange” Monsanto poisons our bodies with abused cattle, chickens, and ugly carpet, we turn to each other and clasp hands in unity. WE SHALL FIGHT YOU WITH OUR ORGANIC GARDENS! THE CHICKEN WE PUT IN OUR POT WILL LIVE IN OUR BACKYARDS! BASIL IS THE NEW PARSLEY!

It’s all a lovely idea and great mantra to live by. Facing shrinking 401-ks would be easier if people could be nicer to each other, right? Put on your best John Belushi: But, nooooooooo.

This morning, I am disillusioned. The older I get, the more I want to get in a red time machine and go back to the peace-love-and-Woodstock of the ‘70s. I know I can’t and I know I have to put yesterday behind me. I need to get on down the road.

Oh, yesterday? Let me back up.

You know how you get when you are really busy and things pile up and you feel like the earlier you get up, the faster you fall behind? You spend weeks (months?) trying to climb to that mental plateau where you can lie low on cool flat ground and let a soothing sense of accomplishment wash over your soul. For a day, an hour, a minute, you might take a deep breathe and feel good about yourself.

Sometimes in your salmon-like frenzy, just before you get to that sweet spot, something little jumps in your way and you freak out in the darkness. It’s always a little thing—a car cuts you off; a waiter forgets your wine; your husband switches the channel just when the jury reaches a verdict on Law & Order. Whatever, you snap. Like a dragon.

Yesterday, I snapped. It happened at a fruit stand in Eustace, Texas. I’ve passed the place twice a week for five years on my way to my family’s home in East Texas. I used to know the farmer that ran the place. He must have sold the business or died.

Yesterday, I was coming back with some East Texas goodies for a Father’s Day celebration. I’d picked herbs from my garden and had a cold bottle of East Texas Semillon from Kiepersol Estates—all I needed was a bunch of Noonday onions and a bag of local tomatoes. What a groovy gift—so earthy, so hippie, so now.

I stopped at the shack in Eustace. I took one look at the tomatoes and knew they weren’t grown in the dirt of Texas. They were shiny and yellowish red, not dull and blue/red like “ours”. They were nestled in a rustic woven basket with a handwritten sign—you know they misspell on purpose! “Tomaters, $5.50”  I asked the guy where they came from. “Texas,” he said without looking up. “Where in Texas?” I asked in a distinctly bitchy tone. “I dunno,” he said with a sneer.

Then I heard a dog scratching from the inside of a trailer sitting in the hot sun near the shed. “Is there a dog in that trailer?” I asked. “I dunno,” he hissed. He lit a cigarette and blew smoke in my direction. I walked over the wooden trailer and tried to open the door. Not only was it locked, there were no windows and the poor thing was crying. As I readied to chew the sneering dude’s ass out about the dog, I looked down. There was a pile of fly-infested cardboard boxes stamped “Tomatoes: Product of Florida.” And I snapped. Hoohah! Flip City.

Yes, it seems small. Eustace isn’t Iran and the poor guy is just trying to make a buck–he has cigarettes to buy. But that three minute exchange took a big bite out of my heart on so many levels. I hate it when that happens.

P.S. Speaking of Father’s Day brunch, just got a message in my in box from Go Fish and Dallas Fish Market. Both restaurants are offering 25% off brunch this Sunday. Dallas Fish Market is $35 per person; Go Fish’s brunch menu is à la carte. Both have kids’ menus.

Of course, anyone is welcome to participate, not just lucky dads. My dad doesn’t even know how to turn on a grill, so this isn’t an option for me. A Hasty Bake oven will also be raffled off. For reservations call 972-960-7774.

With cocktails….  Yes, Dad loved the tie, he cherished the paperweight, he still wears the cuff links….but for a wine and food lover like me and my Dad, fine wine and spirits are always appropriate.  Here are some ideas if your Dad is the same. 

Pogo’s Wine and Spirits is having a “stay-cation” wine sale, that I interpret as a “grab some great wine while you can” sale.  Sale prices good through June 20th.  Some selections include:

Clos de L’Obac 2004 Prirot reg. $79.99 SALE $59.99, 95 points, The Wine Advocate.

Domaine Lafond Chateauneuf Du Pape Roc Epine 2006 reg. $42.99 SALE $29.99,
89 points, The Wine Advocate.

La Valentina Bellovedere 2003 reg. $54.99 SALE $39.99, 90 Points, The Wine Advocate.

Tikal Amorio 2007 reg. $34.99 SALE $29.99, 92 points, The wine Advocate

Crush Wine Shop has a 1/2 case special, while supplies last, for 2005  Jayson Pahlmeyer  Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir for $39.99 a bottle (normally around $65 each).  Hall Cabernet Sauvignon is also on sale for $29.99 a bottle, normally around $40.  Both are incredible NapaValleyCabernet.  Each worth every penny at full price, sale prices make it extra special for Dad (or yourself.)

Sigel’s Wine and Spirits is holding a Tommy Bahama Rum tasting on June 12th and 13th at their Fitzhugh and Addison locations.  Each location is  raffeling off Tommy Bahama store gift cards for Dad in the amount of $125 each.  Stop by for a taste of Tommy’s Ultra Premium Rum, try to win a gift card, and take home a bottle of Miner Family Oakville or Stagecoach Cabernet.  Sigel’s is the only shop in town carrying this Napa favorite.   It is worth the trip to try it.

For the Scotch lover a single malt is the only way to go, and Macallan always delivers.   Earn bonus points withDad withanything from the Maccallan10 year old, filled withhoney, oak and fruit and witha reasonable price point around $40, to the impressive Macallan18 year old Sherry Oak single malt.  This selection is filled with dried fruit, cloves and toffee on the palate, and around $150 a bottle, is for the Dad that knows great Scotch and wants to celebrate it.  For the Dad that sees Scotch as sustenance, Macallen has created the 30 Year Old MacallenMasters of Photography Collection.  Each bottle is a work of art, with a photo by fashion photographer, Rankin, at the Macallen Estate adorning the label.  With a price point around $1700, this is a bottle that Dad will cherish for many years. 

Sam’s Wine and Spirits out of Chicago has an idea for the Dad that may want to learn a little more about the nuances of wine, that you might get to enjoy as well.  Wine tasting kits, to go….each kit comes with 4 carefully selected bottles of either red or white, whatever your preference, with tasting notes, pairing ideas and more.   Each kit is only $49 and can be ordered through Sam’s and shipped directly to Dad.

Herredura, from the heart of Mexico’s tequila producing region makes 100% blue agave tequila, and they have a flavor to fit any Dad’s taste.  From their Blanco with a hit of vanilla, perfect for mixing in Dad’s favorite Margarita, to their Herradura Selección Suprema .  This sipping tequila is aged for 3+ years in American Oak,  lending deep, sweet spice and floral flavors with a long, impressive finish. 

I am a fan of Igourmet.com, and they have a special treat for Dad…or any food lover in your life…the “trio of briefcases” includes a fully functional briefcases packed with grilling sauce delights, meaty salamis from France, Germany and Italy, and cheesy selections including Beemster Extra Aged Gouda and Denhay Farms Mature English Cheddar.  The entire pack is on sale for about $80, and shipping is free until Father’s Day.

Blue Mesa
Father’s Day Brunch hours:  8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Price: $16.95 per person (includes champagne, Mimosas, coffee, tea or soft drinks). Children 6-10 years are $6.95, and children 5 and under are free.

Mercury Restaurant

Executive Chef Chris Ward
To Host Father’s Day Buffet Brunch
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sunday, June 21, 2009

Mercury Restaurant Executive Chef Chris Ward will celebrate dads with a Father’s Day Buffet Brunch featuring a Prime Rib, Leg of Lamb and Pork Loin Carving Station, Seafood, Fried Chicken & Waffles, Homemade Vegetables and Salads, Breakfast selections and over twenty desserts. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sunday, June 21st. The Mercury Restaurant, 11909 Preston Road. $49.95 for adults; $24.95 for children ten years and younger. For reservations, please call 972-960-7774.

Chris Ward’s Father’s Day Buffet Brunch Menu

Carving Station
Prime Rib
Leg of Lamb
Pork Loin with Cherry Sauce

Fresh Shellfish Station with Ice Sculpture
Chilled Shrimp
Marinated Crab Claws
Oysters on the Half Shell
with Cocktail Sauce and Remoulade Sauce

Seafood & Chicken Station
Chicken Enchiladas
Salmon with Stirfry Vegetables
Halibut
Fried Chicken & Waffles
Smoked Salmon

Breakfast Station
Eggs Benedict
Omelet Station
Pancakes
Bacon and Sausage

Salad Station
Oriental Chicken Salad
Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Chilled Asparagus with Champagne Vinaigrette
Calamata Bread Salad
Deviled Eggs
Fruit Platter
Cheese Platter
Caesar Salad

Homemade Vegetables Station
Cream Spinach
Broccoli
Potato Puree
Macaroni and Cheese
Cream Corn
Jalapeno Cheese Grits

Dessert Station
Napoleon
Pecan Pie
Rice Pudding
Caramel Flan
Tres Leches
Chocolate Mousse Cake
Carrot Cake
Chocolate Mousse
White Chocolate Cheesecake
Brownies
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Tiramisu
Shortcake
Mini Tarts
Croissants
Biscuits with Cream Gravy
Butter and Raspberry Jelly,
White Chocolate Mousse
Mini Pastries
Cream and Chocolate Eclairs

Cru
Cakebread Cellars Father’s Day Wine Dinner
Reception 6:30pm – $75/Guest
1st Course
Grilled Jumbo Asparagus melted Cambozola cheese and tarragon vinaigrette
Sauvignon Blanc, Cakebread Napa Valley, California 2006
2nd Course
Warm Lobster Salad micro & field greens, lobster ragout & hollandaise
Chardonnay, Cakebread Napa Valley, California 2006
3rd Course
Grilled Kobe Steak & Texas Quail gorgonzola roasted potato gratin
& sautéed green beans
Merlot, Cakebread Napa Valley, California 2005
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cakebread Napa Valley, California 2005
Dessert Course
Six Spice Macademia Peach Crumble with vanilla ice cream.

Blue Goose
In honor of Father’s Day, The Blue Goose Cantina will feature the perfect combination:  $2.00 Miller Light beer and Alambrado de Puerco for $13.95 (regular price $15.95), thusly treating all dads to mouth-watering Mesquite Grilled Pork Tenderloin medallions with a teeming mug of brew. 11am-11pm.

La Duni
La Duni McKinney & Oak Lawn celebrates Father’s Day Sunday, June 21, with a special 3-course brunch.  Cost is $29.95 per person, gratuity, beverages and tax are additional. La Duni NorthPark will offer both the preset menu for limited reservations or an ala carte menu for walk-ins.
Reservations are required for seatings between 9:00am and 3:30pm, every 30 minutes.

The Grape
Treat Dad to a special Father’s Day brunch (June 21) at The Grape on Greenville, 10:30am-2pm. Chef/Owner Brian C. Luscher will feature the weekly a la carte brunch menu in addition to some favorites for Dad’s special day including In-House Dry Aged Ribeye, Texas Eggs Benedict, and Chef Brian’s all time-favorite Homemade Bratwurst Plate with all of the Fixin’s (Baked Beans, Old Fashioned Potato Salad, Deviled Egg, Beer Braised Onions and House-Made Mustard).
Additionally, The Grape will be open for dinner at 5:30pm serving the popular a la carte blackboard menu.

Maximo
Maximo will celebrate Father’s Day with a special buffet on June 21.  Maximo will be taking reservations for any size party, and guests will enjoy menu items from five different stations, including a cold and sweet station, an omelet station, a grill station, a hot entrees station and a sweets and refreshing station– all for $26.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids.  The menu will also feature Maximo’s famous guacamole prepared tableside complimentary with any buffet order.  In addition to the regular menu, they will be firing up the patio grill and preparing fresh fajitas and filet mignon.  Guests can enjoy bottomless Mimosas, Blueberry Mimosas or Blood Orange Mimosas for an additional $5.  Children age 5 and under eat for free.10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Maguire’s
MAGUIRE’S Restaurant will celebrate Father’s Day this year with a special menu beginning at 10 a.m.  Guests can enjoy menu items such as the Stuffed French Toast, the Quiche Lorraine, the Mesquite Grilled Burger and Classic Cobb Salad.  The menu will also feature specialty entrees such as the Braised Short Rib, the Mesquite Grilled Pork Chop and the Crabmeat Crusted Tilapia.  Pricing is a la carte. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Alamo City Grill
Offering our brunch menu from 10-3pm, as well as our regular menu, featuring CAB filet mignon topped with veal demi merlot sauce, grilled asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes for $22.99.

Olenjack’s
Olenjack’s Grille is working up a feast for its annual Father’s Day Brunch.
The event will feature about 30 mouthwatering entrees and desserts for Dad to devour.
The main buffet station caters to every appetite, whether it’s beef, pork, chicken, salmon,
or shrimp. Three of the Olenjack’s specialties made just for the occasion include
Beef Brisket w/ Creamy Horseradish Sauce & Jus,
Baked Bourbon French Toast Bread Pudding w/ Maple Syrup, and Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins.
Reservations are required by calling Olenjack’s Grille at (817) 226-2600.
Olenjack’s holds Sunday brunches only during high holidays.
For more information about Olenjack’s Grille, visit www.OlenjacksGrille.com.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION:
Sunday, May 10, 2009
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
770 Road to Six Flags East, Suite 100
Arlington, Texas
PRICE:
$30 per adult
$14 per child

Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill
Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill will be open for Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday, June 21st from 10:30am – 2:30pm.  And both Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill and Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House will be open for dinner from 5:00-9:00pm serving our regular dinner menu with the following special available.
**Father’s Day Special**
Kobe Beef Sirloin and ¾ lb of Alaskan King Crab Legs
Served with Roasted Onion Mashed Potatoes
$39.95 for Dad’s only.

Del Frisco’s/Sullivan’s
The father’s day menu’s feature three-courses and a glass of wine. Del Frisco’s is $45, and Sullivan’s is $39.

NICOLA’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO
CELEBRATES FATHER’S DAY WITH
MASCHIO FEST (MACHO FEAST)

Manly Meat Entrees Include Grilled Veal Chop And Porterhouse Steak
Plus A Complimentary Bresaola and Goat Cheese ‘Cigar’

This Father’s Day, give dad a break from grill duties and some time away from the “man cave” with a special dinner at Nicola’s Ristorante Italiano, 5800 Legacy Drive, in The Shops at Legacy. Nicola’s is offering a special Father’s Day menu on Sunday, June 21 from 4 to 9 p.m. featuring an Italian twist on traditional meat and potatoes fare. Additionally, each dining dad will receive a complimentary Sigaro di Bresaola con Caprino, an air-dried, salted beef “cigar” stuffed with goat cheese.

Father’s Day menu items include Costelleta Di Vitello Al Chianti, Grilled Veal Chop with Chianti wine reduction ($34) or Fiorentina Al Ferri Con Aglio E Pomodori Stagionati, a 22-ounce Porterhouse Steak served with roasted garlic and sun dried tomatoes ($35). There’s also Pasta Amore ($19.95), a two-course feast including never-ending pasta. For the first course, dads can choose between Insalata Cesare, Nicola’s classic Caesar salad, or Antipasto Misto, an assortment of Italian cured meats and marinated vegetables. Then it’s Pasta Festa, and endless tableside service of any of three pastas created daily on site.  Pastas and sauces include: Orecchiette alla Checca, “Little ears” pasta; Casarecci alla Bolognese, handmade pasta with savory meat sauce; Fusilli Spaccati alla Luciana, “Leaf shaped” pasta; and Rigatoni con Melanzane (tube pasta with brinjal) served with Pomodoro con Ricotta Salata.

Additionally, Nicola’s will serve its complete full menu including award-winning pizza, lasagnetta, and baked fish cooked to perfection on the in-house imported wood-burning oven; or other favorite dishes like zucchini fritti, calamari, and the legendary Focaccia Nicola. Guests are encouraged to make reservations by calling (972) 608-4455. Additional information can be found online at www.nicolaslegacy.com.

TJ’s Live Lobsters for Dad

Take them home live for a fun Father’s Day kitchen adventure.

–Let TJ’s par-steam and split lobsters for Dad’s grill.

–Let TJ’s steam & crack lobsters FOR FREE if all you want to do is eat!
TJ’s Market & Catering
214-691-2369
www.tjsmarketandcatering.com

Nana Offers Hoegaarden Dessert for Father’s Day
Steaks and Beer Dessert?
Father’s Day has long been associated with steaks and beer . . . but a beer dessert?  Only at the award-winning Nana, well-known for its delectable molecular maze of culinary ingredients and flavors, can one find a Hoegaarden dessert to soothe dads’ taste buds.  On Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21 from 6pm – 10pm, Nana will offer fathers a complimentary Hoegaarden dessert (with purchase of entrée). Of course, Nana has plenty of beef options for the manly appetite including Mesquite Grilled Prime N.Y Strip, Filet of Prime Beef and the popular 45 Day Aged Grilled Prime Bone-in Ribeye.  Reservations are recommended by calling 214.761.7470.  Visit www.nanarestaurant.com for complete details.

What exactly is a Hoegaarden dessert?  Inspired by his favorite beer, Chef Anthony Van Camp, disciple of Nana Executive Chef Anthony Bombaci, restructures the liquid into foam peaks and serves on top of chilled yogurt-olive oil cake, coriander ice cream, fresh oranges and lychees, and orange peel confit.  The result is a refreshing, moist and tasty Father’s Day gift!

Nana is a restaurant with an inimitable sense of luxury and wonder, where its service, panoramic view of the city, and upscale American cuisine created by internationally-acclaimed Executive Chef Anthony Bombaci are simply astonishing.  Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 6pm – 10pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm – 10:30pm.  Nana is located on the 27th floor of the Hilton Anatole Hotel at 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX  75207.  Reservations are available by calling 214.761.7470.   www.nanarestaurant.com

GIVE DAD WHAT HE REALLY WANTS FOR FATHER’S DAY – A GRILLED-MEAT FEAST
Texas de Brazil Gives Dad a Break from the Grill this Father’s Day

WHAT:          Father’s Day is just around the corner and what better gift to give him than the thing all dads love: MEAT. Texas de Brazil provides the perfect opportunity to provide Dad with as much meat as he desires featuring their signature Churrascaria-style gourmet meats. Texas de Brazil is famous for these meats which are slow roasted over an open flame and sliced and served tableside. Choices include but are not limited to the House specialty “Picanha”, Brazilian Sausage, Leg of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Chicken Breast wrapped in Bacon and the Parmesan Pork Loin. Also known for their distinctive salad bar which has up to 75 items and a sushi bar including but not limited to, Brazilian black beans with pork, imported cheeses, artichoke hearts and grilled Portobello mushrooms.
The Brazilian-serving style and rustic atmosphere of Texas de Brazil allows families to enjoy an overall entertaining dining experience, complete with excellent service and exquisite food. The dining concept of Texas de Brazil is simple: guests pay a flat rate, inclusive of salad bar and sushi area (selected locations), meats and side items and are provided with as much or as little meat as desired, which is sliced and diced tableside by the Gauchos. Let dad take the night off from grilling and have each dish served to him tableside and ready to enjoy!

Reservations recommended.  Please contact the location nearest you directly for more info.

WHEN:       11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 21, 2009

WHERE:      2727 Cedar Springs Rd, Dallas, TX 75201
15101 Addison Rd Addison, TX 75001

COST:          $42.99

CLIFF CAFE OFFERS SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR DAD

THIS FATHER’S DAY

WHAT:

Give Dad and his grill a break this year by treating him to a memorable Father’s Day meal at the Belmont Hotel. Cliff Cafe will continue it’s traditional Sunday brunch on Father’s Day allowing diners to enjoy their infamous breakfast menu with indulgences like Sweet Potato Pecan Pancakes, Cranberry Orange French Toast and Almond Butter Oatmeal. Diners can also opt to order off the lunch menu that includes Burgers (beef, turkey or black bean), Meatloaf Sandwich and Egg Sandwich. Executive Chef Robin Gill Lacy will also be serving a special BBQ Brisket Sandwich with fries and a beer for $10.

At dinner, guests can enjoy new twists on old classics including Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese with aged blue cheese, Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, and Grilled Sirloin Steak with house made fries and grilled tomato.

WHEN:

Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21, 2009

Brunch Menu will be served from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch Menu will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dinner Menu will be served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE:

Cliff Cafe at the Belmont Hotel

901 Fort Worth Avenue

Dallas, Texas 75208

214.393.4141

www.belmontdallas.com

Trader Vic’s Dallas

Regular menu. Lounge opens at 4:00PM. Dinner from 5:30-10:30pm

5330 E Mockingbird Lane
At the Palomar
Dallas, TX 75205
ph:  214-823-0600

Cadot Restaurant

Celebrate Father’s Day
at Cadot Restaurant!

Father’s Day Menu
$30.00 per person

APPETIZERS/SOUPS/SALADS
GAZPACHO WITH SHRIMP
BABY ICEBERG LETTUCE, WITH BLUE CHEESE, ANNATTO SEEDS
LOBSTER RAVIOLI IN TOMATO BASIL CREAM
WATERMELON AND HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, BALSAMIC REDUCTION,
CANDY GINGER AND JULIENNE OF BASIL

MAIN COURSE
GRILLED SALMON FILET
WITH GINGER SPAGHETTI SQUASH ROASTED PEPPER SAUCE
PETITE FILET MIGNON BRAISED PEPPER CORN SAUCE
CRAB CAKE WITH SUBISE OF SPINACH-POACHED EGG
AND HOLLANDAISE SAUCE
SAUTEED CHICKEN BREAST
WITH MELTED BRIE CHEESE AND MUSHROOM SAUCE

DESSERT
WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESE CAKE WITH BERRY COMPOTE
BLACK FOREST CAKE
TIRAMISU WITH BAILEY CRÊME ANGLAISE
FRESH BERRY NAPOLEON

Call Now to Make Your Reservations
972-267-5700
www.cadotrestaurant.com

Cadot Restaurant (NW corner Preston and Frankford)
18111 Preston Road, Suite #120 · Dallas, TX 75252 · 972-267-5700

Watel’s Around Town

Events . Catering . Weddings & Receptions

Acclaimed cuisine, friendly service, jazz dinners,
cooking classes, wine tasting, and more
214 720 0323   www.watels.com

Father’s Day Brunch will be at 1804 Greenville Avenue

MENU

(subs and alterations welcome, we cook to please; just give us notice)

Aperitif

~

Soupe du Jour

~

Caesar Salad

~

choice of:

Chicken Breast Dijonaise

Veal Medallions w/ Creamed Port Reduction

Filet Mignon w/ Bordelaise

Grilled Salmon w/Mild Coconut Curry

Omelette of Your Choice

Eggs Benedict

~

Choice of Dessert

~

$39 per person

Reserve right away at 214 720 0323 with your menu choices as space is limited

COWBOY CHOW

CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY WITH BRUNCH AT COWBOY CHOW

WHAT: In honor of Father’s Day, treat the dad in your life to a hearty brunch at Cowboy Chow!

WHEN: Sunday, June 21, 2009

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MENU: French Toast with Drunken Blackberry Syrup

Four slices of Texas toast dipped in a cinnamon egg batter, grilled until golden brown and

topped with a generous drizzle of blackberry and orange liquor syrup.

Machacas

Two grilled flour tortillas stuffed with beer-braised brisket, fluffy scrambled eggs, jalapeños,

and crisp tortilla strips, topped with cheddar cheese and fire sauce. Served on a bed of

home fries.

Veggie Migas

Two grilled flour tortillas stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, sautéed onions, jalapeños and

crisp tortilla strips, topped with cheddar cheese and fire sauce. Also served on a bed of

home fries.

Cheese Grit Parfait

Layers of creamy cheddar cheese grits, crumbled bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs, topped

with cheddar cheese.

WHERE: Cowboy Chow

2801 Commerce Street

Dallas, Texas 75226

214.742.2469

ABOUT Cowboy Chow celebrates the diverse flavors and substantial tradition of Texas tacos and

COWBOY cast iron cooking. Proprietor and Chef Jason Boso’s hearty menu includes a variety of

CHOW: braised meats in flavorful juices including Lone Star beer, beef stock, jalapeño juice, tequila,

chicken stock, red wine, or bourbon…(and, yes, we do sample from time to time). We are

most proud of our brisket tacos but also serve additional delicious menu items including Dr.

Pepper braised beef ribs and mash tater parfait. Diners experience the soul of Texas

cooking with rustic flavors, slow cooked meats and a casual dining experience with family

and friends. Cowboy Chow is located at 2801 Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas 75226.

Lunch is served Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner is served

Thursday through Saturday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, please call

214-742-2469 or visit www.cowboychow.net.

Trader Vic’s

Executive Chef Mike Owens

Father’s Day Dinner

Mai Tai Lounge 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Restaurant 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm

New Executive Chef Mike Owens welcomes Dads and families to a celebratory dinner featuring items from the newly designed menu.  The Chef will add Father’s Day specials:  Bone-In-Rib Eye with Dark Beer Shallot Sauce, and a savory BBQ Halibut with Thai Potato Salad and Asian Cole Slaw.  Also enjoy a delicious Hawaiian Chocolate Cake filled with Peanut Butter Mousse and topped with vanilla bean ice cream!  Beer and Bourbon drinks – half price.

This Father’s Day, give Dad a gift he’ll actually appreciate.  See you at the Trader’s!

Reservations recommended.

214-823-0600

OpenTable.com

5330 Mockingbird Lane

At the Palomar

Dallas, TX 75206

SCREEN DOOR

CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY AT SCREEN DOOR IN ONE ARTS PLAZA

Three-course brunch created by Executive Chef Fitzgerald Dodd

Dine out with Dad in the Dallas Arts District at Screen Door, a modern southern kitchen located in One Arts Plaza, on Sunday, June 21, from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.  Father’s Day three-course brunch is $39 per person; reservations are recommended by calling 214.720.9111.

In honor of Father’s Day, Screen Door Chef Fitzgerald Dodd has created a special three-course brunch menu.  Highlights include first course choices such as a Hand Crafted Salmon Croquettes with black-eyed pea relish; Fried Green Tomatoes with Red Pepper Jam and Smoked Tomato Mozzarella and Summer Pea Soup.  Followed by main course selections including Country “Benedict” with poached eggs over house made sausage and buttermilk biscuits with smoked tomato hollandaise; Big Mama’s Fried Chicken with our original cracked pepper waffle and maple-brandy syrup; Thyme Roasted Halibut over haricot verts with exotic mushrooms, shaved red onions and sweet corn puree; Screen Door’s Shrimp & Grits, braised jumbo shrimp with house made turkey ham and stone ground grits; and Chicken Fried Veal Steak over buttermilk mashers, tiny green beans and roasted garlic gravy.

Brunch is not complete without your choice of Screen Door’s house made desserts, including Banana Bread Pudding studded with white chocolate and served with macerated strawberries and vanilla bean crème anglaise, Chocolate Bundt Cake served warm with mint chocolate sauce, chocolate cookie pearls, and fresh blackberries or Pineapple Fritters served warm with vanilla ice cream a la mode.  (Full menu is attached.)

Screen Door is located at 1722 Routh Street in the heart of the Dallas Arts District at One Arts Plaza.  To make reservations, call 214.720.9111 or visit us at www.screendoordallas.com.

Popolo’s

Celebrate Father’s Day at Popolo’s (June 21) with a special holiday brunch from 11 am – 2pm.  In addition to the popular a la carte lunch menu, Father’s Day special selections include Popolos’ Eggs Benedict Oscar, Alaskan Omelet, Mexican Frittata, Grilled Beef Medallions, Grilled Berbere Spiced Scottish Salmon and Bananas Foster Belgian Waffle.

Additionally, Popolos’ will be open for dinner (5pm-9pm) and offering Happy Hour prices all night for Dad.

Brunch hours are 11:00 am-2pm.  Popolo’s is located at 5959 Royal Lane, in the Preston Royal Shopping Center at the corner of Preston Road and Royal Lane.  Reservations are suggested, 214-692-5497.

Day Dining Specials at Watters Creek

Woodlands Grill

Enjoy a special Father’s Day brunch buffet with omelet, carving and dessert stations for $16.95 per person from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Father’s Day drink specials include $3 mimosas and $3 bloody mary’s. Reservations recommended. Phone: 214-495-7000.

P.F. Chang’s

Celebrate Father’s Day with a special four-course dinner for two for $39.95. Includes appetizer, soup, entrée and dessert. Reservations recommended. Phone: 972-390-1040.

Cru A Wine Bar

Raise a glass to Dad on Father’s Day with a special Cakebread Wine Dinner at Cru.  Executive Chef Paul Singhapong will prepare a special four-course menu paired with classic wines from Cakebread Cellars. Dinner is $75.00 per person.  Reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Make your reservation today by calling 972-908-2532 or email rwilliams@cruawinebar.com.  Limited seating.

BIG & AW SHUCKS

CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY IN A

BIG WAY!

Who:           Big Shucks & AW Shucks.

What:          Big Shucks and AW Shucks are giving Big Shout Outs to all Father’s on their Big Day featuring $1.50 Draft Beer and Shrimp at $8.95 a pound.

When:         Sunday, June 21, 2009

11:00 am – 11:00 pm

Where:        Big Shucks                           AW Shucks                    Big Shucks

6232 E. Mockingbird Ln.         3601 Greenville Ave.       103 S. Coit

Dallas, TX  75214                  Dallas, TX  75206           Richardson, TX

214-887-6353                      214-821-9449               972-231- 8202

www.bigshucks.com www.awshucksdallas.com www.bigshucks.com.

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