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Write a Caption: Win Some Cocoa from Nicaragua!

While I was in Nicaragua last week, I visited a remote field where workers were busy harvesting lovely yellow pods from cocao trees. I sat with them as they hacked the fruit open and extracted the seeds. Of course, I couldn’t resist sucking the delicious white pulp inside the pod and spitting the seeds at my fellow compadres. Delicious fun. More on that later.

Anywhoo, as the sun set, we headed to do some bird watching among the mangrove forests on the coast. (Tiger herons!) One of the guys on the trip, Jerry Garret, a writer for the New York Times, stayed behind and took this photo of us as we left the dock. He’s holding an unofficial caption contest with no prizes. I figured we’d have our own. Winner gets a bag of powdered cocoa (drinking chocolate) from a plantation outside of Leon, Nicaragua. (My entry was: “A pork in the river.”) GO!

Dining Trends for 2010: A Sarcastic Look at a Silly Report. “Zing” is in and WTF is Mood Food.

Each year, Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co., a big-time restaurant consulting group in New York, releases their lists of foreseeable trends. It’s a fancy report that is meant to read like a technical survey, but, to me, it’s basically a round-up of what is going on now and a “prediction” that current big-city trends will spread. In short: it’s a lot of bull about pigs ears.
You can read the full report here. Below is a cheater’s sheet.

NEW PRIORITIES FOR BEATEN-UP CONSUMERS: “Too many restaurant and hotel execs are grappling with pre-recession consumer issues, while people today are expressing entirely new – and more complex — sets of concerns.” Yes, according to these guys, we (consumers) are “personal, emotional and ethical.” That throws me out of the equation, but for you this is very important. Are you familiar with your “hot buttons?” (Beat, beat.) “Hot buttons include: economic survival, reassurance, intimacy & friendship, feeding my knowledge, feeding my emotions, artisan, hand-made, neighborhood, local, authentic, real.” Cold, hard bitches need not apply to 2010. Look for this: “hotels and restaurants should be luring these hunkered down consumers from their psychological storm cellars (Cymbalta?) by replicating the “campfire experience” – building emotional ties and connecting to communities. OH GOODY, more S’MORES!

PUTTING FOCUS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MENU: Have you ever read about the psychology of menu writing? I’ll bet you didn’t know that the left side of the menu is reserved for “emotional resonance.” In case you don’t watch In Treatment, that translates into creative snacky things, small plates, food sized for one, two, or for a crowd. Sharing is the key because we need comfort and safety for intimacy and friendship. (Hmm, I usually feel safer when I get the whole cake.)

Jump for more joy! (more…)

50 Incredible Lectures for the Ultimate Foodie

A nice lady named Amber Johnson sends you this link to 50 Incredible Lectures for the Ultimate Foodie. I’ve spent the last 90 minutes dipping into the video library and I could spend the rest of the day curled up on the couch watching them all. So far I’ve scanned “Craig Claiborne and the Invention of Food Journalism,” “Food Writing Forum: Eat, Memory,” and Ferran Adria: A Day at elBulli”. Bookmark the site and save it for a rainy day.

The Beauty of Burrata

I visited Ferrari’s Italian Villa the other night to enjoy dinner with featured Chef, Stefano Secchi and his fantastic parents and Ferrari’s owners, Francesco and Jane.

Stefano had been shopping at Jimmy’s when our paths crossed as I was on the way to enjoy a Saturday ritual of visiting Tom Spicer’s market on Fitzhugh.  That was the day to stop by Jimmy’s, as they had just gotten in a fresh selection of glorious Burrata, arriving fresh from Italy.

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Is the City of Dallas Health Department Shutting Down Local Farmers Markets?

I’ve been hearing rumors for weeks that city officials were making the rounds and visiting the small farmers markets that have cropped up in spots such as Celebration, Bolsa, and North Haven Gardens. Now comes official word from Ed Lowe of Celebration. They have shut him down and he’s going to the Dallas City Council.

The City of Dallas Health Department has decided that the Celebration Farmers Market is in violation of certain codes. Celebration was told on 2 previous occasions that we could operate a Farmers Market in our parking lot under our existing permits. We strongly believe that all food handling practices and food products at the Farmers Market were perfectly safe. We have complied strictly with all Health Department codes for 38 years and take our responsibility to public health VERY SERIOUSLY.

We appreciate the warm welcome and support that you’ve provided our Saturday Farmers Market. We believe that what we along with our wonderful vendors are offering is a safe, fun and convenient setting for you to purchase healthy, delicious, local produce and other products.

We are going to approach the Dallas City Council to explore how the code can be modified to allow the Celebration Farmers Markets and others like us to provide a valuable service to the citizens of Dallas while protecting the public health.

I have contacted Ed and asked him for instructions on how you can sign the petition he plans to take to the Dallas City Council. Stay tuned. (OMG, I can hear Amy Severson already.)

Somebody Help This Poor Guy

Any chance you could suggest a source for sour/tart cherries (Montmorency) in the Dallas area?  Frozen, canned, jarred.

Dallas Farmers Market: Weekend of August 14

Local Farmers are in Shed One at the Dallas Farmers Market.

Hey, Farmer groupies. Grab you cloth bags and head to the Dallas Farmers Market this weekend. Here is what you can expect to find.

Angela’s Farm – onions – red, yellow and white, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, OKRA! and peas.

Arce Park Farms – Heirloom tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and cowpeas.

-Beef all grass finished; salad-bar beef – strong Red & Black Angus influenced

Berry Best Farm – Organic Blueberries

Birch Creek Farms – cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, acorn, yellow and butternut squash, cucumbers, zucchini.

Comeback Creek – tomatoes, blueberries, peppers, okra, peaches, and plums – are starting a CSA group.

Fred’s Alaska Seafood – salmon and crab legs.

Haney Farm – organic eggs & will be bringing cherry tomatoes also until it gets too hot for them to produce. They feed only organic feed from Coyote Creek mill, the only USDA certified organic feed mill in Texas, and pasture/free-range our hens, no cages, and they have access to fresh grass year ’round.

Harmony Harvest – eggs and veggies- also has CSA group.

Heddin Family Farm – Texas Cream peas, Purple Hulls and Black eye peas, green beans, green tomatos, Cayenne Peppers, Jalapeño Peppers, squash, red new potato’s, zucchini, pickling cucumbers.

J.T. Lemley – yellow squash, 8-ball squash, tomatos, onions, peaches, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, plums, blackberries, cucumbers, new potato’s, sweet yellow onions.

John Lucido –herb plants and of course his herb pasta and canned goodies.

JuHa – pork, lamb, sausage, eggs, beef, and pastured poultry.

Kitchen Pride – Mushrooms – Oyster, Portabella, Baby Bells, and White Button

La Esperanza Farm – squash, onions, okra, eggplant

Lightsey Farm – peaches, onions, figs, plums, blackberries, green beans, zucchini and peas.

Mill Creek Farms is also bringing in squash, potatoes and peas.

Northstar Ranch – Beef and pork –

Orchid Garden with specialty plants and orchids.

P.O.P. Acres will be here on Friday’s and Saturday’s

-steaks, roasts, stew-meats (great for summer grilling). They are also bringing in a few scallop squash that are Organic.

Savoy Sorbet – Saturday afternoons & Sunday’s – herbal infused sorbet from her herb garden; currently offering Chamomile Orange, Rose Geranium Raspberry, Lavender, Rosemary Lime Chablis, Lemon xxx, Apple Mint, and Anise. New Flavor – Mojito

Sonny Ferrell – figs, peppers, and onions

TEXAS MEATS Super Natural will always be 100% grass fed beef and lamb, pastured chicken and pork, eggs from free ranging hens, farmstead cheese.

TxHoneybee Guild – local and zip code honey, comb honey, honey sticks and bee pollen.

TxLonghorn Cooperative – Saturday’s and Sunday’s with certified Longhorn Beef – regular cuts, beef sticks, sausage and smoked bones for dogs!

Wackym’s Kitchen – Newest Cookie Flavor – Salted Caramel.  Brown sugar and sea salt.

ALDI Food Market Is Hiring

ALDI Food Market will hold a manager trainee hiring event
for Dallas-area stores on Aug. 25 & 26. The “select assortment discount grocer” will accept applications for manager trainees to work in ALDI stores located throughout the Dallas/Ft. Worth are that will begin opening in Denton in the spring of 2010. Details below. (more…)

Dallas Farmers Market Report: August 8

Local Farmers are in Shed One at the Dallas Farmers Market.

Looks like a bountiful weekend at the Dallas Farmers Market. Here is what you can expect to find.

Jump for the list.

(more…)

Callie McDole Of Dallas Makes Papou’s Dressing

Remember the floor-wax-or-dessert-topping called Shimmer? Dallasite Callie McDole’s salad dressing is sort of like Shimmer—you can pour it on a salad, use it as a marinade, or just rub it on your thighs and have the pool boy lick it off. Extra, extra read all about it.

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…)

Prime Steakhouse Meat Now Available At Retail Markets In Dallas

There is an interesting article in today’s Wall Street Journal about USDA Prime beef. Costco and Wal-Mart shoppers are finding USDA Prime cuts of tenderloin, porterhouse, and rib-eyes in the meat department. Also, prices for Prime at high-end stores such as Whole Foods are dropping. Why? Business is down in big dollar steak restaurants? Sure, business is down in almost every restaurant. I can’t help but wonder if perhaps some big name steak joints have lowered the quality of what they are selling as USDA Prime. It happens. Why do you think many top steak houses lock their dumpsters? Competitors have been known to dumpster dive and expose the “choice” evidence.

But I’m off task. The WSJ author, Katy McLaughlin, interviewed Steven Raichlen, host of public television’s Primal Grill and author of The Barbecue Bible. Raichlen talks about grass-fed beef and why it is rarely (sorry) graded Prime.

By contrast, grass-fed meat, which comes from cattle that haven’t been fattened on grain towards the end of their lives, rarely earns the prime grade because it tends to be less marbled. But it can have a more complex flavor, with herbal notes that reflect the grass diet, and it is also healthier than corn-fed beef, with more omega-3 fatty acids and less saturated fat. This meat benefits from a sprinkling of melted butter or olive oil. For the ultimate garnish, Mr. Raichlen recommends making a cup of aluminum foil, filling it with a piece of beef fat, and placing it over a cooler part of the grill until it melts. Pour a little liquid fat over a cooked steak for a beefy enhancement, he recommends.

In case you don’t read the whole article or the link doesn’t work, here is the money quote: “Man, oh man, it couldn’t be any tenderer” he says. “You chew it with your tongue.” Yummers, that could be a big seller at the Cheesecake Factory.

Quick Review: Newflower Farmers Market in Plano

Lots of cheap cheese at Newflower Farmers Market in Plano.

Lots of people are talking about how much they love, love, love Newflower Farmers Market. Yesterday I had a chance to take a quick stop at the shop in Plano.

Short take? If I passed this market on my drive home from work, I would stop in for some groceries. However, I will not drive to the store. Why? I discovered several rotting items on the shelves. And I was only in the store for ten minutes.

First the good news: I bought a bunch of five big sunflowers for $6.99. Blue Bell vanilla ice cream is .20 cents cheaper than my Albertson’s. Romaine lettuce was only .88 cents. (Last week I paid $1.59 at same Albertson’s.) Cheese is cheap but the selections are basic and not sourced—huge chunks of generic cheddar, Jack, peppered Jack, and Swiss, etc.

On to the downside: Most of the produce was ABT (anywhere but Texas) and you had to have powerful reading glasses to find the source. I’d heard that the prepared food was the great thing about Newflower—cheaper and better than Central Market and Whole Paycheck Foods. I wanted to compare the chicken salad prices but, at noon, they were out of it, so I settled for a small container of egg salad ($1.57!) As my nieces say, “Yuck-a-doo.” Well, unless you like runny mustard with hard bits of hard-boiled eggs.

Bad picture of rotting lettuce. Click it, it gets bigger.

I picked up a family-size container of Organic Girl Spring Mix baby greens and turned it over to read the label. Streams of brown water flooded from front to back. The lettuce near the edge was rotten and soggy. The “sell by” date was July 2. (Yesterday was July 9.) There were 8 more packages in the refrigerated case. When I started to unload my cart at check out, I realized that a pint of whole milk mozzarella packed in liquid had leaked all over my National Enquirer other groceries. I looked closer at the tiny balls of cheese—they were all brown and stuck together.

I’d like to go back and price the whole foods, nuts and meats. Maybe I’ll go later today—after I toss out my drooping sunflowers.

Even Vincent would not be happy.

Dallas Farmers Market Report: July 10-12

This weekend the Dallas Farmers Market will be waxing vegetables and waning berries.  Get there early if you are looking for fresh meat. The tomatoes and onions are glorious. (Let’s make an onion tart.) If anyone sees Heather Duncan and her lavender lemonade, shoot me her location. I haven’t been able to find her. Grab all of your groovy cloth bags, head down, and report back. Love to hear what you bought.

Local Farmers are in Shed One at the Dallas Farmers Market.

Angela’s Farm – lots of onions – red, yellow and white! Yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, okra, peas are starting to come in

Arce Park Farms – tomatoes, onions, elephant garlic, peppers and eggplant. Possibly cowpeas.

Berry Best Farm – Organic Blueberries

Birch Creek Farms – cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, acorn, yellow and butternut squash, cucumbers, zucchini,

Comeback Creek – tomatoes, blueberries, peppers, okra, peaches, plums

Dan Massey – Cream red new potatoes, yellow straight neck squash, green zucchini, Blue Lake green beans, Japanese cantaloupe, Crimson Sweet watermelons, seedless watermelons, Small Jubilee watermelons, Black Diamond watermelons, blackberries and jalapeño peppers, Black-eyes and Purple Hull peas (weather pending), tomato’s

Dis-n-Dat – eggs

Fred’s Alaska Seafood – salmon and crab legs

Fretwell Produce – okra, yellow crook neck squash, patty pan squash, 8-ball squash, gold and green zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, red new potatoes, Pablano peppers, Jalapeño peppers, sweet banana, Marconi pepper, green bell peppers, white 1015’s and purple sweet onions

Haney Farm – eggs & will be bringing cherry tomatoes also until it gets too hot for them to produce

Harmony Harvest – eggs and veggies- also has CSA group

Heather Duncan – fresh cut flower bouquets out of her garden, herbs and cucumbers. She also has a recipe for Lavender Lemonade made from her own lavender!

Heddin Family Farm – Texas Cream peas, Purple Hulls and Black eye peas, green beans, green tomatoes, Cayenne Peppers, Jalapeño Peppers, squash, red new potatoes, zucchini, pickling cucumbers

J.T. Lemley – yellow squash, 8-ball squash, tomatoes, onions, peaches, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, plums, blackberries, cucumbers, new potatoes, sweet yellow onions

John Lucido –herb plants and of course his herb pasta and canned goodies

JuHa – pork, lamb, sausage, eggs, beef, and pastured poultry.

JZJ Beef – Beefmaster beef, beef jerky, and beef sticks!

Kitchen Pride – Mushrooms – Oyster, Portabella, Baby Bells, and White Button

La Esperanza Farm – variety of spring vegetables – can’t even list them all!

Lightsey Farm – peaches, onions, potato’s, plums, blackberries, green beans, zucchini, apricots

Mill Creek Farms is also bringing in squash, potatoes and peas

Northstar Ranch – Beef and pork –

Orchid Garden with specialty plants and orchids

Savoy Sorbet – Sunday’s – herbal infused sorbet from her herb garden; currently offering Chamomile Orange, Rose Geranium Raspberry, Lavender, Rosemary Lime Chablis, Lemon, Apple Mint, and Anise

TxHoneybee Guild – local honey and zip code honey

TxLonghorn Cooperative – Saturday’s and Sunday’s with certified Longhorn Beef – regular cuts, beef sticks, sausage and smoked bones for dogs!

TEXAS MEATS Super Natural will always be 100% grass fed beef and lamb, pastured chicken and pork, eggs from free ranging hens, farmstead cheese.

Wackym’s Kitchen – Newest Cookie Flavor – Salted Caramel.  Brown sugar
and sea salt

Indian Mangoes In Dallas?

Wow, lots of Indian food e-mails today. After I finished my last post, I opened an e-mail with an attachment to Sandip Roy talking about Indian mangoes.  They’ve been banned from the U.S. for twenty years, but now some varieties are being exported. A co-worker spotted them at “his local Indian grocer” for $20 a box. He’s not in right now, but I asked him for the name of the store and how many were in the box. Considering I paid over $5.00 for 4 Gala apples at Albertson’s, $20 for 6 or 8 mangoes sounds like a bargain. Not the best I’ve ever had, but still a bargain.

Shop at Whole Foods, Support KERA

For all of you Type-A’ers out there with grocery lists already made up for the 4th of July, make like a Top Chef contestant and head to Whole Foods in Lakewood or Highland Park today to do your shopping. WF is donating 5% of their net sales today to KERA, our local public radio and television station (hi, Jeff!). Also, bring the kids with you if you’re shopping between 4–6,  because Maya and Miguel will be making appearances at both stores during this time.

Organic Red Bing Cherries On Sale at Whole Foods

From Karen Lukin at Whole Foods: “Sweet and plump cherries, perfect for picnics or pie-making—or for a special occasion, make chocolate-dipped cherries. Cherries are not only a good source of vitamin C, like many fruits, they are also high in iron, potassium, fiber and antioxidants—a powerful healthy punch in a tiny, tasty package. $3.99 a pound thru June 30 (reg. $5.99).” Tiny, tasty packages? So many comebacks, so little time.

Price Check: Rotisserie Chicken in Dallas Roundup

Too hot to cook or just plain lazy? Either way, these places can ease your pain. Thanks to our editorial intern, Jonathon, for his roundup of ready-to-eat chicken. Around the world flavors in alphabetical order.

Ali Baba Café
Multiple locations.
$10.00. Whole Middle-Eastern rotisserie chicken served with garlic sauce, rice, and pita bread.
Each bird cooked 1 hour and fifteen minutes
Garlic, olive oil, Middle-Eastern spices.

Central Market
Multiple locations.
$7.99 whole.
Each bird is cooked for about an hour.
Flavor options: Classic, Beijing (seasoned with fiery and pungent spices such as sugar, garlic, salt, ginger, cayenne, star anise), Citrus Peppercorn, Herb, Sonoma, Spice Trade, Spicy Thai, Tuscan, Vanilla Pepper.

Chic from Barcelona
$14.95 for whole chicken with roasted apples
Family special pick-up:
$39.95. A whole chicken, a half chicken,
a quarter gallon of gazpacho,
choice of two salads
“Secret chicken recipe” (more…)

Looking For Love? Or Just a Date? Market Street in Plano Offers Both

Looking for passion (fruit) in Plano? Betty Martin is looking for you.

Yesterday it was Ed Bamberger’s turn to try and seduce you with food and singles. Today it’s Market Street in Plano—they are now hosting a Singles Grocery Shopping Night. (Why did I think everyone in Plano was married?) Seems one Plano resident, and Market Street Dish Retail manager, Betty Martin was looking for a new way to meet other singles. When Market Street opened in Plano, Betty put down her package of dried Medjools, and started looking for a date that actually talked back. Betty now has around 50 members who meet at Market Street every few weeks. The next event is Wednesday, June 17 at 6:00 p.m. Dang, I have a standing Wednesday night activity and I don’t fool around.

North Haven Gardens: First Sunday Farmers Market is This Sunday

Our favorite spice gal, Nikki from North Haven Gardens, sends a reminder for this Sunday’s event. Here is a list of vendors:

Sun, June 7th – 10am-2pm
First Sunday Farmer’s Market

Savoy Sorbet’s: organic, homemade, uniquely flavored sorbet’s.
Amy’s Raw Chocolates & Superfoods
Homemade Gourmet: delicious dips, meals and more!
Juha Ranch: Eggs, pork, lamb
JZJ Natural Beef: All beef
Dominion Farms: Beef, pork, chicken
NHG Veggie Garden: Small harvests of beans, herbs, eggplant, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, cucumbers. Get here early!!
My Good Spice Seasonings: Best Lemon Pepper in town! Serious!
Sloan’s Creek Farm: beef, pork, goat, honey, salmon

VonGeertsem Butcher Shoppe in Dallas Adds North Texas Grass Fed Beef

It’s hard to believe VonGeertsem Butcher Shoppe in Uptown has been open three years. Greg and Kathy Geerts must be doing more than just a little something right, they are adding to their inventory. Besides excellent cuts of corn fed beef, they now offer high quality North Texas Black Angus grass fed beef. 3527 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-219-3700.

Central Market Introduces Guacamole Central Cart

Central Market will have a silver cart with a CM chef making fresh guacamole in the produce department of all Central Market stores. Like yours extra hot? Each order is custom made. Have it your way.

Graeter’s Ice Cream Now Available At Kroger

Okay ice cream junkies, I’ve got a new fix for you. See that bowl of chocolate chip ice cream to the left? It is now somewhere in my body readying to solidify in my thighs. Graeter’s is a small-batch—2 gallons at a time—premium ice cream from Cincinnati. Since 1870, they have been making different flavors using the slow-spinning French Pot method, the same method my parents accused me of applying to my college education.

Lots of food people send food products to the office (Hi, Sprinkles! Hi, Eatzi’s!) and I rarely write about them. Full disclosure: The folks at Graeter sent me 3 pints. I think it’s a product worth the calories. Click here if you want to learn more.  Graeter’s is now available at area Kroger Food Stores.

Central Market Removes Pistachios From Shelves

Ding, dang. I love pistachios and I am pistachio-ed off at the recent voluntary recall of the salty nuts. Just received word from Aimee Deputy, the shopping sheriff at Central Market:

Due to the recent FDA recommendation that consumers should avoid eating pistachio products,  Central Market H-E-B is voluntarily removing any product containing pistachio nuts from our stores until further FDA verification has been received.

Central Market H-E-B has elected to remove these products strictly as a precautionary measure, even though we have received numerous affidavits from various vendors stating their products do not contain ingredients from the FDA-identified Salmonella source.

Central Market H-E-B is removing these products as part of our ongoing commitment to food safety and the safety of our customers.

Murmur.