Hot (Award-Winning) Tamales

Good tamales are hard to find. Exhibit 1: the undercooked specimen I sampled at brunch at Mattito’s last Sunday (not pictured at left). Not so this Sunday, when the second annual Tamale Festival takes place from 11 AM to 6 PM in the North Hall of Dallas Market Hall. Sponsored by Univision 23 and Telefutura 49, the event features big money for the best tamales (pictured at left), tamale-wrapping contests, activities for the kiddos, and musical entertainment. Jump for the full deets.

(more…)

Report: Texas Wine Month

Hey winos, we are already 8 days into Texas Wine Month. Have you swirled any good local vino yet? I wouldn’t be surprised if there is any left–our loyal reader, and resident wine chick, Lisa, has been doing more than her fair share by traveling all over the state and writing a book called Wine Girl. (Guess our little chick has grown into a girl. Dang, I feel old.) Anywhoo, today our wine girl wants to share her hangovers highlights with you. So, without further ado, here is Miss Lisa:

Hey, Dishers! Enjoying Texas Wine Month so far? I hope your corkscrews got a workout last week! [Ed: Y'all be nice to her.]

As mid-month approaches, let’s take our exploration of Texas wine to the next level. Time to hit the road! Maybe you tried some local wine in the comfort of your own home last week, and now you’re ready to get up close and personal. Or maybe you’ve heard about wonderful wineries in the area, but you’re a little fuzzy on the details. No worries - that’s my department. Today I’ll highlight a handful of wineries right here in our own back yard.

(more…)

Party Down Up at Watters Creek

As we have dutifully noted before, Allen is one happening town. Haven’t been yet? Then I would suggest you head to the Taste of Watters Creek. No, they won’t be ladling water from an actual creek, they’ll be pouring wines from “around the world.” There will be food–tons of it from the local restaurants such as P. F. Changs, Naan Korean Grill, Cheesecake Factory, MiCocina, Market Street, Grimaldi’s, Brio Tuscan Grill, and more. Plus live entertainment! Ya. Hoo. The soiree is October 23 from 6:30-9:00PM. Proceeds will benefit Collin Creek Meals on Wheels. Call 972-747-8000 for tickets and info. Report back.

Save the Date: Beaujolais Wine Festival

I realize that November 21 seems like a long way away, but that is the night of the 25th  Annual Beaujolais Festival, brought to you by the French-American Chamber of Commerce, and the event sells out fast. The (awesome) silent auction starts at 6:00PM and the corks start popping at 7. Order your tickets today and “a new festival est arrive!”

Hey Cupcake: Get Free Ones at the State Fair

Okay, so you do have to pay to get into the Fair. But we know you were planning on going at some point. Why not hit it up Monday, October 6, around 2:30pm? Walk past the fried everythings that you know won’t taste good anyway, and head to the Creative Arts Building, where chef Jeff Moschetti and pastry chef Rafael Torano (left) from the Warwick Melrose Landmark Restaurant will be doing a cupcake-making demo. But these aren’t just any old cupcakes. They’re called “Adult Cupcakes,” and they’re made with Guinness Stout chocolate cake, vanilla gelato, chocolate mousse, chocolate sauce, a cherry and powdered sugar. And yes, the chefs will be giving out free cupcake samples.

State Fair Food is Nutso

I’m saving calories until they start selling fried shoes. But if you choose to indulge during the State Fair this year, you can start with a fried apple iPie from Mike and Jake Levy of Desperados Mexican Restaurant. You might remember them as the creators of fried cosmopolitan and the “award-winning” deep-fried latte. Here is the official description:

The iPie combines a delicious fried apple pie rolled in cinnamon sugar on top of rich vanilla ice cream, accented with whipped cream and a brightly colored (and totally edible) sugar shape that is molded to look just like an iPod.  Add real working, souvenir “earbud” earphones and the Fried Apple iPie experience is complete.

Fittingly, you can find the fried pie at the Desperados booth which will be located on Nimitz Drive across from the Dog Show and Pig Races. Oh, that would be during the Texas State Fair (September 26-October 19).

ZestFest Set to Kick Off This Afternoon

Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall at the Will Rogers Center in Fort Worth is the spot to be for this weekend’s ZestFest2008 Celebration Besides all the hot sauce you can handle, there will be food demos, tastings, and lots of beer. Starts today at 3:00PM.

State Fare of Texas

With the State Fair of Texas just a few weeks away, it’s inevitable there will be talk about the fried and fatty treats people have created this year. Yesterday Kiss FM reported the two winning entries of 2008 are chicken fried bacon (pictured) and a fried banana split. It’s official. Big Tex is trying to kill us.

Re: Hatch Chiles

Kristin reminded me about my trip to Hatch, NM last year. On a road trip from El Paso, to Santa Fe, through the Valley of Fires and ending at White Sands, we happened through Hatch the day before the “big” chile festival. Turns out Hatch isn’t much more than a few blocks, at most. If there was going to be a massive chile festival, we couldn’t find it. All we saw was a bunch of homeowners selling chiles and cokes out of their front porch, the pictured store, and a used RV lot with a creepy mascot. What gives?

Texsom Update: Washington Seminar

Washington State is not all as rainy as Seattle. It’s hard to imagine growing grapes in Washington until you realize there is a rainshadow effect that stops the rain heading too far east, barely making it past the Cascades Mountains. Nestled between that mountain range and the Rockies is the Columbia Valley where the majority of Washington wines are produced. Shayn Bjornholm, M.S. and educational director for the Washington Wine Commission, said the area is ideal for growing grapes because although the region is techically a semi-continental desert, there is a 40 degree shift at night that allows the grapes to cool. We focused on Syrah, which is quickly becoming Washington’s signature varietal. The area is peppered with old, dormant volcanoes. The evidence is in the soil, which is rich with basalt. It drains well and lends an old-world minerality that is rare on this side of the Atlantic. Technical Alert: Washington does not have to graft their vines to combat Phylloxera. The little pests cannot thrive in Washington because of the intense heat and wind (correction: sandy soil). With very few exceptions, most vines must be grafted from France to Napa. Washington is one of about three or four regions worldwide that can survive without grafting. Of course it could be said that these Syrahs will show a natural expression of the fruit than cannot be achieved even in the Rhone region of France where the grape is indigenous. They’re studying this. I’m sure once they can prove that’s true, we’ll all hear about it. Follow the jump for tasting notes for six outstanding Syrahs.

(more…)

Chef Casey Thompson Leaves Shinsei Restaurant

Ding, dang I take part of the morning off to pay bills and the world continues on without me. I know it’s all over town, but I’m going on the record here: chef Casey Thompson sent out this e-mail this earlier:

“My years as executive chef of Shinsei have been a wonderful experience. At this time, I am currently exploring a variety of culinary opportunities. I appreciate the opportunities provided to me at Shinsei and wish them all of the best for the future.”

Methinks she’s got something in the bag because, let’s face it, the future isn’t looking to good to the majority of us. Perhaps she’s leaving town. I don’t know. I will, however, do my best to find out. I think Shinsei should hire Lisa Garza.

The Mansion Joins Restaurant Week

Hug a farmer, feed a chef, and make a reservation for KRLD Restaurant Week. Today, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek announced they are taking reservations for the fund raiser that runs from August 11—31. Click. Go. Spend.

Get Ready to Taste Dallas

Well Dishers, Taste of Dallas is back for it’s 22nd year, so grab your wallet and slather on the SPF 45 as you head to the West End, July 11-13. Munch on a smorgasbord of culinary treats as you make your way through the crowds (try not to push, even after you’ve had those four beers). Local restaurants dishing out fare will be Manny’s Uptown Tex Mex, Landry’s Seafood House and Sonny Bryan’s, to name a few. Ah, there’s nothing like walking around all day with nothing but barbecue sauce and a smile smeared on your face. Oh, and may we suggest starving yourself just a bit the day before…you know, so you can really enjoy it. Jump for details….. (more…)

Aspen Food & Wine Gallery: II

Aspen Food & Wine Gallery: I

Hey Al Biernat, This Guy Says Hi

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–I have no idea what this guy’s name is, but he told me I had to post his picture and a “hey, come to Aspen” to Al Biernat or he would cut my thumbs off. Obviously I believed him.

A Little Spain in the Aspen

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–Just say “Spain” in Dallas and almost anyone who knows anything about food and wine will say, “Janet Kafka.” Janet is a busy gal–she runs a public relations company, is the Honorary Consul of Spain, was decorated by King Juan Carlos in 2004, is involved in all kinds of philanthropic work, and she and her husband Terry, live in a fabulously modern home in Dallas. (It’s so cool, it was featured in D Home.) Anywhoo, Friday night Janet hosted a sassy wine dinner, “Made in Spain,” at Jimmy’s, one of Aspen’s toniest restaurants. At the dinner, sponsored by Freixenet and the wines from the Ferrer family, Janet toasted her partnership with the coolest Spanish chef on TV, Jose Andres, whose show, Made in Spain runs on PBS.

Monica Greene is Alive and More Than Well in Aspen

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–Sunshine on Monica Greene’s shoulders makes her happy. She is running a small vegetarian/vegan bistro on the top floor of the Explorer Bookstore & Bistro on Main Street here in Aspen. “I just came to a time in my life when I wanted to take better care of myself and live a better life,” she said. “I think if you asked anyone what true happiness is you would be talking about living here. It’s a very centering place.” Her friend, Dallasite Cheryl Wyly, wife of Sam, bought the building last year and enticed Monica to come up for a while and consult. After being here for a few months she decided to buy a small condo in Basalt. She still comes to Dallas, still owns Monica’s, and still weighs offers to open another restaurant in Dallas, but boy she is one happy camper here. She is calm and serene. Some people have called her crazy for doing what she’s doing. I have to say, I’d switch cosmic states with her in an Aspen moment. Once again Monica has proved that she is a woman who has never been afraid to follow her dream.

Tre Wilcox Spotted in Aspen

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–Man, Tre Wilcox is good about keeping his projects secret. I just ran into him at the Honolulu Fish Company booth. He’s a spokesman for the company and he was also whipping up some fine ahi tuna poke in soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, ginger, chile peppers, sesame seeds, and macadamia nuts. People were lining up for second helpings. Tre’s pretty much kept to himself throughout the festival—I’ve heard his former boss, Kent Rathbun is somewhere around town but I’ve yet to see him, and there are a handful of chefs he competed against in this season’s his Top Chef hanging out as well. “I’m just hanging low,” said Tre. “I’ve got some things in the works and I’ll just say this-it’s definitely going to be in Dallas.” Monday I’ll post a video interview with Tre.

Texas Tenderloin Kicks Aspen

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–Live from Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, Texas –population of 463-Dishers, meet Tom and Lisa Perini. You may not know it but the Perini’s have devoted their whole lives to promoting how to cook and eat a proper steak and they have influenced many a Dallas chef (Hi Dean! Hi Stephan!) with their mesquite-smoked pepper beef tenderloin. Today they dazzled the taste buds of sunburned wine guzzlers in the Grand Tasting Tent in Aspen. Check out their website—the Perini Ranch Steak Rub is something every backyard griller should have in his or her pantry.

Bobby Flay Can Cook, Talk, and Sign His Name

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–I was in a seminar yesterday and Bobby Flay was on the panel. OK, the guy is an icon on foodie TV, but you know what? He’s also pretty dang smart. And just when you think his act is all smoke and mirrors, he starts talking about food with the kind of passion you would think had burned out in him long ago. Yesterday when asked to name one defining moment in his early career, Flay said, “Jonathan Waxman taught me what good food is. I was chopping shitake mushrooms in the kitchen and he walked over to me and grabbed my knife and said ‘you must learn to respect your ingredients.’ I fell in love with the tastes of the Southwest and since that moment, I have had the ultimate respect for my ingredients.” To put this quote in perspective, Flay was talking to a room full of big-time restaurateurs and industry people. He wasn’t talking in sound bites for the media or some TV show. IJS.

Is Beer the New Wine?

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–In case you haven’t noticed, beer is rising on the beverage scene. Since I’ve been here I’ve met with several small, hand-crafted breweries and the most important fact I’ve picked up (remembered?) is Colorado is the number one producer of beers in the U.S. Outside of the Coors box, the state is filled with hundreds of small microbreweries. The talk in the Tent is that beer is coming back strong and that notion was in full visual force at the Stella Artois pouring station this afternoon. People were hopping in line for a cold glass of beer –it was the longest one of the afternoon.

Becker Vineyards is the Only Texas Wine in Aspen

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–Don’t get me wrong, Bunny and Richard Becker make some of the finest wine in the great state of Texas, but they are the only vineyard from Texas pouring at the Grand Tasting Tent. Their vineyard is located in the Texas Hill Country between Fredericksburg and Stonewall, where they have 46 acres of French Vinifera vines that generate 8 different available varietals, including Syrah, Petite Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Today they were also pouring a Viognier, but like I said, I’m working so I haven’t tasted it. Great looking labels (always so important!) and wonderful folks—they made me proud to be a Texan in a tent full of crazy Coloradoans. BTW, not so many Europeans at the Classic this year. Hmm.

Mick Fleetwood Hearts Wine

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–Look who I bumped into at the Grand Tasting this afternoon—one Mr. Mick Fleetwood. Like I said yesterday, he’s here promoting his line of wines that are produced by Langtry Estates, a sprawling vineyard that straddles Lake and Napa counties in I’m-so-trendy-you-can-taste-me California. I was working so natch I didn’t taste, however that will change when they reopen the tent later this afternoon. (Check back later for my tasting notes.) Here’s what Mick has to say about his wines: “I strive to create approachable wines,” he says, “Wines that I like, that my friends like, and most importantly wines that most people appreciate. My signature wines are mellow and easy to drink. Wine should always be fun, never challenging. When everyone I know tells me they love my vintages, I know I’ve got a great wine.” Mellow? Did I just write the words mellow and Mick Fleetwood in one paragraph? Feeling like a fine vintage wine and post plastic surgery Stevie Nicks about now.

UPDATE: I met with the reps from Langtry Estates who distribute Mick’s wine. I tasted the Merlot-fruit forward, particularily heavy on the boysenberry with hints of herb, and a long back finish-which translated means it was, to my palate, just OK–a little thin, but drinkable on a first date. Then I moved to the Cabernet which was full of wild berries (did I just write that?) with a sweet bouquet accented with a hint of cedar, sandalwood (natch), and an aroma of caramel. All of that translates into this: turpentine came to mind; I thought one sip would melt the enamel off of my teeth. Could I say it would promise you heaven? Loving wine is a state of mind. (Fade out.)

On the other side of the table, I tried the wines from Langtry Estates. The Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc were both superb.

Mick Fleetwood in Aspen, Tomatoes are Not

ASPEN, COLORADO­­–Former John-Mayall-Bluebreaker-turned-Fleetwood-Mac-founder Mick Fleetwood is in town for the Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Playin’ a gig? You betcha, tomorrow night in Snowmass. Besides playing music, Fleetwood will be pouring wine. His wine. Seems the old chap is quite an oenophile and his small vineyard, Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar, has released 18 wines since its inception in 1998. “Rumours” are flying—word is that Mick may make an appearance in the Grand Tasting tent. (Psss, it’s a sweet little lie.) In other fruit or vegetable news, because of the salmonella outbreak in 16 states, including Colorado, there are no tomatoes being served anywhere at the Food & Wine Classic.