SideDish » News for Twitchers!

White Rock Lake’s Natural Beauty Inspires Mexican Artist Luis Sottil to Paint Two-Story Mural in Mi Cocina in Lakewood

Nancy Nichols — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:51:44 +0000

Artistic rendering of an artist's rendering.

I’m a sucker for birds. So is Mexican artist Luis Sottil. You may have seen his work in other Mi Cocina restaurants: he currently has paintings in six other restaurants. The mural at the new Mi Cocina in Lakewood, in the old Matt’s space, is scheduled to open in July. Sottill uses only natural pigments such as cochinella, mother of pearl, minerals, vegetables dyes, and14kt gold in his paintings. For this painting he was inspired by these birds: “Hooded Oriole, Altamira, Golden Cheeked Warbler, Painted Bunting, Texas Hummingbirds, and the Northern Mockingbird.” Tex-Mex for Twitchers!

UPDATE: Scott from dallasfood.org brings up a good point in the comments section. Several of the birds listed above would be a rare sighting at White Rock Lake. The press release reads:

This is the first time Sottil has studied the local natural environment and incorporated it into his Mi Cocina murals. The artist has chosen to feature birds including the Hooded Oriole, Altamira, Golden Cheeked Warbler, Painted Bunting, Texas Hummingbirds and, of course, the Northern Mockingbird.

Luis Sottil was inspired by his research of the history and “exuberant beauty” of White Rock Lake and the Lakewood area, and it reminded him of the lush biodiversity on his native Tampico, Mexico. In particular, Sottil was drawn to the many colorful birds that are common inhabitants of White Rock Lake which reminded him of home.

Hmm. Methinks Sottil should seek the advice of JR Compton and switch out the golden cheeked warbler for a monk parakeet. If you truly want to represent the “exuberant beauty” of White Rock Lake.

National Chicken Council Projects Sales of 25 Billion Wings in 2012. Richardson-Based Wingstop Expects to Pluck 5.6 Million.

Nancy Nichols — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:35:18 +0000

I once made my opinion of the (worthless) honeydew melon very clear. Today I bring up the yucky chicken wing. They have never appealed to me but apparently I am in the minority. This morning comes word from the National Chicken Council: “More than 1.25 billion wings will be consumed during Super Bowl weekend (100 million pounds!), and, if they were laid end-to-end they would circle the circumference of the Earth – more than twice – a distance that would reach approximately a quarter of the way to the moon.”

My initial response is: if you can circle the earth twice, why don’t you just drop off a few million pounds in places where one chicken for a village causes more excitement than the Super Bowl.

My secondary response is actually a question: How many chickens does it take to make 25 billion chicken wings. Hah! You say: do the math dummy; one chicken has only two wings. But your assumption would be wrong. I turned to the Wing-onomics department (true!) at The National Chicken Council for an answer.

You’ll have to jump because you, like chickens, cannot fly.

Wing-onomics

The vast majority of wings, especially those destined for foodservice, are disjointed, with the third joint (the thin part known as the flapper) being exported to Asian countries and the meatier first and second joints being sold domestically. The wing is usually split into two parts or portions, known as the “drumette” and the mid-section or “flat” and sold to food service or retail outlets.

A chicken has two wings, and chicken companies are not able to produce wings without the rest of the chicken. Therefore, the supply of wings is limited by the total number of chickens produced. When the demand for wings is stronger than the demand for other chicken parts, the price of wings will go up. Wing prices always go up in the fourth quarter of the year as restaurants stock up for the Super Bowl and prices usually peak in January during the run-up to the big game.

In the Midwest, for instance which includes Indianapolis, home of Super Bowl XLVI, the price of wings (whole) for the week of January 16-20, 2012 was $1.96/lb wholesale, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Poultry Market News Service. This represents a 50 percent increase in price from six months ago in July, 2011.

“The good news for consumers,” said NCC’s Roenigk, “is that food service and retail outlets generally plan months in advance for the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl Sunday, meaning that increased wholesale costs for the most part aren’t passed on to consumers’ plates.”

That’s great news. You might find this interesting as well.

According to NPD Group data, not all regions of the country are equal when it comes to eating wings.

This year’s Super Bowl matchup between the New York Giants and New England Patriots should hold wing consumption relatively steady compared to last year’s levels. That is because New Englanders and Patriots fans are six percent less likely than the national average to order chicken wings at a food service establishment, but fans of the New York Giants and those others in the Mid-Atlantic region are 24 percent more likely.

A New York Giants – Baltimore Ravens match-up would have produced maximum wing consumption out of the four possible Super Bowl match-ups. Those in the South Atlantic region, including Ravens fans, are 27 percent more likely than the national average to order chicken wings at a food service establishment.

Should the San Francisco 49ers have won in overtime and faced the Patriots, wing consumption would have taken a hit. Those in the in the Pacific region are 34 percent less likely to order wings.

I didn’t have the balls (that’s another story) to ask what would have happened if the Dallas Cowboys had made it to the Super Bowl, but my guess is that sales at Wingstop, based in Richardson, would have quadrupled and they would have probably had to rely on duck or grackle wings to meet the demand. As it is, Wingstop, with 500 locations, plans to “sauce and toss 5.6 Million Wings on Super Sunday.”

Fall Classic! Rangers v Cardinals Tonight: Let’s Cook

Nancy Nichols — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:48:37 +0000

Fun to look at in the front yard. On TV? Not so much. Go Rangers.

Raya has told you where to go if you want to watch the game in public. However many of us prefer to view the game from the comfort of our own couch with a few friends and dogs. A commenter, who wants to party at home, asks what she can cook to represent each team. I know you will be tempted to say roasted a few Northern Cardinals. There are six of them in my front yard this very second. You can buy Nolan Ryan’s beef at Kroger and maybe do some toasted ravioli.

I say we get this party started! Get creative. Go Rangers!

In Flight Advice: Save Your Socks and Air-Cushion Your Wine

Sarah Reiss — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:07:17 +0000

Vinnibag promises to keep your vintage safe, even in the baggage compartment.

‘Tis the season for bucolic forays into Napa, Sonoma, and Tuscany (who are we kidding, that kind of travel’s always in season). And while I don’t generally write about products, this one caught my eye. Even thought I employ Ziploc bags, bubble wrap, and a sophisticated layering of socks and brassieres, many’s the time I’ve stood at baggage claim praying that the wine/olive oil/rum I’d brought home hadn’t “seasoned” the inside of my suitcase. This simple prophylactic system puts one more layer of barrier between your vintage and your dainties. A note from their press release:

VinniBag is a versatile travel accessory that suspends items in an air cushion, providing protection against impact and leakage of wine and olive oil to antique tea cups while traveling or on the road. Both the sophisticated design and material of VinniBag easily tolerate significant changes in air pressure and temperature, thereby allowing for safe travel by air, car, rail, bike, backpack and much more. What sets this bag apart from the rest is that it is reusable, recyclable, and only $28.

So, while I’m confused by the distinction between “traveling” and “on the road,” and while I don’t usually travel “by backpack” (unless I’ve had one too many el diablos and it’s the only way of getting me out to the car), I can’t help but think this is one of those simple yet ingenious ideas that could save my socks once and for all.

Random Post: Red-Tailed Hawk Eats Critter

Nancy Nichols — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:11:47 +0000

Ann Althouse is a law professor in Dearborn, Michigan. She writes a blog about politics and law. Yesterday a bird-watching Disher sent me a link to to her website. It’s a pretty amazing piece of video. A friend of Ann’s, armed with a video camera, spent a great deal of time filming a red-tailed hawk as it devoured some poor critter. I asked Ann if I could share the footage with the bird watchers of Dallas. She says there is quite a debate on the species of the dead critter. (h/t PK)

First Twitter Reviews: Sutra in Plano

Nancy Nichols — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:19:54 +0000

The opening reviews for Sutra in Plano coming across our Twitter feed are, to say the least, mixed. Some followers are raving while others are swearing they will never go back. Anybody out there have anything to say? If you want to read the feed, DSideDish.

Nature Report: Local Birds Need Fresh Water Today

Nancy Nichols — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:25:44 +0000

My yellow-throated warbler, Spike, needs your help.

If your birdbath is frozen, please de-ice it and fill with fresh water. Repeat as it freezes. Your backyard birds will thank you.

Bird Break: Rose-Breasted Grosbeak in East Texas

Nancy Nichols — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:40:10 +0000

Last Friday I was staring out of my window when a rose-breasted grosbeak landed on my safflower feeder in East Texas. I’d never seen one before–they are migrating through Texas to the cool summer climates in the Northern US and Canada. He’s a stunner with a dark black hood, thick beak, rose-colored chest, and white belly. It and it took me half a day to get this short clip. I ended up taping my iPhone to the raccoon baffle and letting it film until he showed up again. Surprise ending. Enjoy.

Bird Break: Cedar Waxwings in West Plano

Nancy Nichols — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:25:00 +0000

A loyal Disher with a head for grammar and a bod for cycling reports a sends this picture for identification. He/she reports “thousands” are currently in his/her yard. They are cedar waxwings. I think they are lovely and fun to watch. Some people around this office hate them because they eat all of the berries in the bushes and poop on their car. If you see a flock of this distinguished bird in your yard, cover your windows. The berries ferment in their stomachs and they “get drunk” and will crash into anything.

Also, several people have noted the sudden invasion of a “big brown bird with an orange breast.” American robins. I still have goldfinches at my feeders. Anyone else? They’re about to split the scene.

Bird Break: American Goldfinches in the Snow

Nancy Nichols — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:41:23 +0000

I can't work. This is in my face.

Young male red-winged blackbird spread eagle with a house finch in a whiteout.

Bird Break: Bluebirds Love Mealworms

Nancy Nichols — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:03:05 +0000

Because I firmly believe that procrastination is part of the creative process, I will take a break from working and share this video with you. I filmed it last summer in Frankston, Texas. It stars Bill, an Eastern Bluebird, who has been living with his “wife” Hillary at my family’s lake house for four seasons, and one of his sons, Sonny Jim. “Together,” Bill and Hillary and I have “raised” around 48 fledglings. In the process I have spent hundreds thousands of dollars on mealworms. Why? Because the second I walk out of my house and whistle, they show up. And it makes me happy.

Cedar Waxwings are All Over Dallas

Nancy Nichols — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:43:40 +0000

I know this is a food blog but I am home sick and bored. And Amy Severson just commented that her neighborhood is full of cedar waxwings. So is mine! Here is a post I wrote last year on cedar waxwings. So far today I also have seen American goldfinches, house finches, titmice, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, great blue herons, great egrets, red-bellied woodpeckers, ruby-crowned kinglets, and white-winged doves from the window in my home office. Okay, I’ll shut up now.