Articles about Silly Reasons to Celebrate

Trending: Rosé Wine is the New Pinot Noir. Rise No.1 Offers Proof With New Rosé Wine List

Don't say Chardonnay, say Rosé.

Thanks to Central Market’s Passport France and Rise No. 1’s new “Summer of Rosé” program, the pretty pink wine is the talk of the town. According to several employees at Central Market,  a record number of customers bought cases of Rosé during Passport France. (I think the Preston Royal store is putting them on sale soon.) Hedda Dowd, of Rise No. 1, is a big fan of Rosé. She has compiled a unique list of 12 Rosés which she will offer by the bottle, glass, or flight. “They are all French,” Dowd said. “Except for one. My sister, Dominique, and her husband make a Grenache Rosé at their vineyard in California. We have the last ten cases.” Her brother-in-law is Boz Scaggs, a Dallas boy who attended St. Mark’s. The vineyard is Scaggs Vineyards. Dowd says the only other restaurant serving this Rosé is Chez Panisse.

These Rosés are not the sweet stuff your mother used to swill, they are dry and when served with a slight chill they are refreshing and food-friendly. Live a little. The next time you lazily utter Chardonnay, change your mind and say Rosé.

Jump for everything you ever wanted to know about Rosé and the beautiful list created by Rise No. 1. Continue reading "Trending: Rosé Wine is the New Pinot Noir. Rise No.1 Offers Proof With New Rosé Wine List"

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Copper River KING Salmon Arrive in Dallas Today

Jon Alexis picks up king salmon at DFW with DPD Canine unit as backup.

Many feel Copper River salmon is best wild salmon in the world. Others think it’s a fine fish with a fabulous marketing department.  Seafood snobs refer to it as Stupid River Salmon because they feel it is over-hyped and over-priced. Three years ago, SideDish conducted a blind tasting of salmon. Jammin With Wild Salmon took place at TJs Market. Twelve SideDish readers compared Atlantic farm-raised salmon, ocean-caught wild troll king salmon, and Copper River salmon. You can read the reults here.

The good news for Copper River salmon groupies is that some CRS did arrive in Dallas earlier this week, BUT nobody obtained king salmons because nobody caught any. Makes sense, right? I mean they are called wild for a reason. They show up when they show up.  Rick Oruch of Sea Breeze Market expected a shipment of kings yesterday but there were none available. However, I guess the kings showed up yesterday at the Copper River. Jon Alexis from TJs Market is at the airport picking up his order as I type. Brace yourself, the king runs around $45 a pound. Who cares! It’s Memorial Day Weekend! Omega-3s for all!

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The State Fair Welcomes Deep Fried Samoas to its Collection of Deep Fried Foods

DMN reporter Eric Aasen says that the one woman, Christi Erpillo, has successfully found a way to dip a Samoa into a vat of boiling oil. The fried food expert is using her favorite cookie to celebrate the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary this year at the State Fair, which starts September 28.

Erpillo plans to top the chocolate-caramel-coconut cookie with more chocolate drizzle, caramel, and toasted coconut.

Apologies to all of y’all drooling at your desk right now.

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Monica Greene is Making Some Changes: She’s Leaving Monica’s Aca Y Alla to Open Monica’s Nueva Cocina and ME Lounge

Monica Greene has never been afraid of change. Moments ago she told me she is leaving the business of Monica’s Aca Y Alla in Deep Ellum to her partners who will close the restaurant at 2914 Main Street, remodel the space, and reopen as a yet-to-be-named Mexican restaurant. Monica is moving all of her energy over to the iLume Building on Cedar Springs where she has been in the planning stages of opening Tajin. When the Sushi Axiom closed, Monica decided to take the space and open up the walls of Tajin into the space and create a new concept. The 7,600-square food space will now be Monica’s Nueva Cocina and ME Lounge. It was a difficult decision for Greene to leave Deep Ellum where she has been a major player for over 20 years. More on the food later. Monica has written a letter to YOU. It’s below.

UPDATE: Monica is on her way to Houston. I got lucky when she answered her cell phone. “This [move] has been a real struggle for me,””Greene said. I’ve always been committed to urban development. I believe in Dallas but unfortunately the area [Deep Ellum] has taken a long time to develop. It’s time for me to expand and open my doors to a larger audience.”

I say, you go girl. It’s a great move. She has been in, what I would call, an abusive relationship with Deep Ellum for a long time. It’s time she made a fresh start. That girl has some balls. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

Continue reading "Monica Greene is Making Some Changes: She’s Leaving Monica’s Aca Y Alla to Open Monica’s Nueva Cocina and ME Lounge"

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Dallas-Based Zaccanelli Food Group Acquires Hofmann Sausage Company. Phil Romano Will Make the World Hot Dog Happy!

Are you ready for some hot dogs?

Yesterday, Merritt Martin of Eater Dallas, linked (ha!) to a story reporting Dallas-based Zaccanelli Food Group’s acquisition of the 133 year-old Hofmann Sausage Company in Syracuse, New York. She writes:

“Wait, what? Dallas-based Zaccanelli Food Group acquired Syracuse’s Hofmann Sausage Company in a multimillion dollar deal that means sausage expansion (well beyond Hot Haus rests, even into Texas groceries, gasp!) and, linking (ha) seemingly random investors the likes of Oneida Indian Nation, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and others.”

The “others” Martin omits are significant players that are anything but randomly linked. Like the “Zaccanelli” behind the group:  Frank Zaccanelli, a native of Syracuse, is the former team president of the Dallas Mavericks. He was the minority owner to Ross Perot Jr.’s majority. Together, they sold the team to our (foodie) hero, Mark Cuban. Before that, Zaccanelli was a big wig at Perot Jr.’s company and they did some big deals like Alliance Airport and large real estate developments all over the state. (Huge overstatement in the interest of time.) Zaccanelli Food Group received majority funding from the powerful central-New York based Oneida Indian Nation Enterprises, a group dedicated to “re-investing in Central New York.” Other investors include former Syracuse Police Chief and two-time Syracuse University All-American basketball player Dennis DuVal, Syracuse University Head Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim, Dallas Cowboys quarterback and businessman Roger Staubach, and several high-profile restaurateurs and sports figures.

The until-now family-owned and operated Hofmann Sausage Company is a well-respected name in the restaurant business. They make some fine sausages and hot dogs. Call me crazy, but I swear I ate a Hofmann dog at Fuddrucker’s a century ago. Oh, that brings me to another “other” in this multi-million-dollar-dog deal: Phil Romano, the creator of Fuddruckers®, World’s Greatest Hamburgers®. Secret fact: Romano ALSO grew up in Syracuse eating Hofmann dogs. He loves them so much he sells them at Eatzi’s! Now he’s going to show the world just how much he hearts Hofmann dogs. Romano is in charge of creating a national chain of Hofmann’s World’s Greatest Hot Dogs restaurants. (I’m sure the ® is still at the attorney’s office.)  I, for one, can’t wait. Hot dogs are the new hamburger.

Update: Hofmann products will be available in 64 Texas Albertson’s stores, including those in DFW, this weekend. That was fast.

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What To Drink Now: Drink Green for Earth Day

Biodynamically, organic and sustainably grown grapes at Benziger Winery

Earth Day is this Sunday and what better way to think green than through a glass, and the options run the gamete from high end to every day table wine, and come from all over the world.  Yes, I suppose if you are really focused on reducing that carbon footprint than look within 100 miles of where you are now for your wine source, but I am a firm believer in supporting wineries all over the world that are making a conscious decision to work greener, organic and/or sustainably, keeping the environment in mind.  Here are a few suggestions, including a few from Texas, to consider this weekend or any weekend.  A few selections were sent for editorial consideration. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Drink Green for Earth Day"

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Central Market Announces “Passport France” Festival May 9 – 22

Two weeks in Provence coming soon.

Get ready for Central Market’s yearly culinary salute to foreign food. In 2010, we celebrated Argentina (Hi, Francis!). Last year we pigged out on Spain (Hola, Paco!). This year they are throwing a two-week soiree for France, specifically the southern region of Provence, which will begin on May 9 and run through May 22.

Here’s a little poop I learned: Zee hottest ticket will be a seat in the outdoor tent where the kick-off event, “A Taste of Provence,” will feature a sampling of dishes prepared by Chef Patrice Olivon! C’est magnifique! You know Olivon, oui? He’s the cute French dude who won Iron Chef hosts “Dinner is Served,” a lovely show on PBS. It is set for Wednesday, May 9, and begins at 6 p.m.

The menu includes some personal favorites from his childhood (served family-style at long tables), which will be paired with French wines (shocker!). Think: Pissaladiere (thick, pizza-like dish popular in Nice and Marseilles); tomates farcies (tomatoes stuffed with beef, rice & herbs); cod with aioli; roasted lamb with ratatouille; and warm seasonal fruit cooked in red wine served over vanilla ice cream (really?). So frugal Francophiles, get a cheap trip ($35 per person) to Provence, if only for one evening.  Tickets can be booked by clicking here or by visiting the Cooking School reservation site for Dallas.

Sancerre! Profiteroles! A truffle in every pot! Vamos, I mean, nous permettre d’aller!

(Below, I will copy and paste an actual MEDIA-ONLY release so you can get an insider’s look on how real food writing works. I will pair it with commentary from a professional media person.

Continue reading "Central Market Announces “Passport France” Festival May 9 – 22"

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It’s National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

Ruthie's Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Robin Skinner from Ruthie’s Rolling Cafe alerted me to the fact that today is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day.  According to a website called Punchbowl.com, it’s also National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month. So technically, you have 18 days left to eat a grilled cheese sandwich in a celebratory fashion. Ruthie’s isn’t your only option.  In Dallas, you’ve got Highland Park Pharmacy. Lucky’s, and The Porch on Henderson as sit-down restaurant options. Norma’s Cafe is also offering a free grilled cheese to dine-in customers who visit either of its two locations, and a portion of the day’s sales will be donated to the American Red Cross North Texas Region to help with the tornado damage. Lee’s Grilled Cheese rolls in Fort Worth.

Ruthie’s will be at the Flagpole at SMU for lunch today and at Celebrate Uptown for dinner.  Lee’s Grilled Cheese will be closed today, but open at the Fort Worth Food Truck Park for Friday and Saturday lunch and dinner.

Where are you getting your grilled cheese sandwich fix today?

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Sigel’s Celebrates Texas With Spirits, Beer and Wine

In celebration of our recent Texas Independence Day, Texas Flag Day and Sam Houston Day (all of which occurred last Friday, March 2) Sigel’s is holding a TexasFest with a Lone Star sized celebration of all things Texas including some of the state’s best beer, wine and spirits.  This Saturday from 1pm-4pm at the Sigel’s-Elite on Fitzhugh 24 Texas beers, 20 Texas spirits and 8 Texas wines will be poured including beer from Deep Ellum Brewery, Rahr and Sons, St. Arnold, Real Ale and more, with spirits from Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka, Tito’s Vodka, Dripping Springs Vodka, Pecan Street Rum, Waterloo Gin, Rebecca Creek Whiskey, Balcones and more, and wine from Lone Oak including their San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition winning Viognier.  What could be better than celebrating our Texas heritage with a few sips from some of Texas’ finest.  Reserve your tasting passport giving you twelve sips of any of the above here.

What To Drink Now: Open That Bottle!!!!

Saturday marks the 12th year special bottles of wine across the country will be opened in honor of simply enjoying a great bottle.  Open That Bottle Night was founded in 2000 by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher of The Wall Street Journal, who, at the time, wanted to encourage their readers to enjoy a great bottle of wine they had been holding on to simply for the purpose of enjoying it.  I also have to think the duo had probably run in to what I have dealt with a few times in the past: holding a bottle so long that the once silky, seductive, celebrated juice turned to a vinegar-like substance.
So, look in your cellar, your closet, under the bed (or wherever you hide that great bottle) and dust it off to enjoy it.  I have a nutty, yet vibrant, melon and stone fruit-filled  2006 Miner Wild Yeast Chardonnay and a 2004 Bressia Conjuro Malbec blend with luscious cherry and plum flavors married with earth and leather – both incredible wines.  What will you be drinking?  Let me know and raise your glass high in honor of your favorite bottle.

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What To Drink Now: Happy Fat Tuesday!

Happy Fat Tuesday!  Traditionally, this is a day to eat heartily, drink heavily and celebrate on this last day of Carnival before the start of Lent, or 40 days of fasting, which for many means giving up meat (“carne vale” or farewell to meat), giving up drinking or some other wonderful indulgence.

So, to enjoy this last day of festivities fully, great cocktails are required, and what is better than the most traditional flavors from the land of Mardi Gras in the US, New Orleans, as well as Brazil, Peru, even Mexico?  Mix one up and raise your glass high to toast this Fat Tuesday.

Pat O’Brien’s is perhaps the most well-known bar in New Orleans, famous for its hurricane. It has been a staple of the community since the early 1940′s when Pat O’Brien was trying to use up a large supply of rum he had bought and then created what has become the very famous hurricane.

The Hurricane
2 oz light rum, like Ron Brugal Blanco
2 oz dark rum, like Ron Abuelo Anejo
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
juice of a half a lime
1 Tbsp simple syrup
1 Tbsp grenadine
orange slice and cherry for garnish
Directions:  Squeeze juice from half a lime into shaker over ice. Pour the remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a hurricane glass. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Happy Fat Tuesday!"

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Happy Valentine’s Day: Off-Site Kitchen in Dallas is Open for Business

Slow-cooked pork covered with caramelized onions and peppers.

Nick Badovinus and chef Dan Riley have been hunkered down for over a year developing the menu and creating all kinds of delicious roasted meats for Off-Site Kitchen. Today he is finally opening the doors!

Now, hold your horses. The dining room is tiny. Off-Site Kitchen is basically a take-out restaurant with a few stools inside and some picnic tables outside. Here are some pictures of what you can expect. The food, inspired by “what line cooks eat,” is basically simple sandwiches and breakfast burritos made from quality roasted meats. Roll the Badovinus quote of the year:

“It’s light industrial food,” he said. “It’s the kind of food you want to eat before you go solder something.”

Off-Site Kitchen will be open for lunch only from 10:30AM until 3PM for the next two weeks. Then the breakfast menu will kick in and they will begin serving at 7AM and will remain open until 7PM. “After we hit our stride, we’ll start rolling out the meat-by-the-pound program,” Badovinus said. “I’m so excited. This place is a real man cave.”

The original date for OSK’s opening was February 14, 2011. After Badovinus missed his mark, he decided to workshop the place and open on Valentine’s Day this year. “You see how many financial sacrifices I made to pay for my original vision,” Badovinus said. “I mean I’ve got a wheelbarrow of pork rinds down here. Who doesn’t love that?”

Badovinus was only half-joking about the Valentine’s Day opening. He and chef Dan Riley have used the Off-Site Kitchen space to tweak the menus of Badovinus’ other restaurants (Neighborhood Services, Neighborhood Services Tavern, and Neighborhood Services Bar & Grill). They also use the huge kitchen as a commissary for the other restaurants. The receive, portion, and distribute all of the meat and seafood at Off-Site Kitchen.

SOLDER, EAT, REPORT. No call-in orders. Plan to show up and wait.

[Also, Neighborhood Services Bar & Grill in Preston Royal will open for lunch in two weeks.]

The menu and photos are below.

Continue reading "Happy Valentine’s Day: Off-Site Kitchen in Dallas is Open for Business"

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What To Drink Now: Happy Pisco Sour Day

Pisco Sour with Pisco Porton at Bolsa

On the continued trend of every cocktail and spirit having its own day, Saturday marks Pisco Sour Day. Celebrated annually the first Saturday of February this day celebrates the Peruvian spirit Pisco, shaken or blended with lime, simple syrup and a bit of egg white to create the ideal refreshment on a hot summer day (it is summer in Peru.)  Earlier this week Johnny Schuler, a.k.a. Mr. Pisco, visited Dallas to make make sure we are ready to celebrate the occasion.  I had a chance to visit with Schuler at Bolsa to learn more about pisco and why he has spent the last 35 years making it the fifth white spirit of the world, “more flavorful than vodka, not as strong as tequila.” Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Happy Pisco Sour Day"

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Desiree + Camera: Photo Essay of Hypnotic Donuts in East Dallas

Hippie donuts will be served in a groovy setting.Photography by Desiree Espada.

SideDish photographer Desiree Espada roams the roads with her camera looking for good things to eat and shoot. Check out her photo essay of Bolsa Mercado. Then feast your eyes on what to expect when the Jerry Garcia of donut making, James St. Peter, opens Hypnotic Donuts on Sunday, January 29.

Glory be to the donut. Continue reading "Desiree + Camera: Photo Essay of Hypnotic Donuts in East Dallas"

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What To Drink Now: Happy Australia Day

The other day I was visiting with my dear friend Australian Chef, and D’s Best Caterer, Andrew Ormsby at his new breakfast and lunch spot in Cityplace, Kitchen D.  We were talking all things Aussie, mainly Australian Open tennis and today’s Australia Day, or Anniversary Day, celebrating the first settlement established in Australia in 1788. Celebrated annually on January 26 and marking the end of summer, Australia Day is filled with festivals, great food & wine, and sets the stage for the upcoming harvest of dozens of varietals that grow well throughout the country, with Shiraz at the forefront.  The great thing about many Aussie wines is that you can find tasty bottles in every price range, from a true value to high end greatness. Here are a few to consider while celebrating this Australia Day, or any day.  Some selections were sent for editorial consideration.
Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Happy Australia Day"

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

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.

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

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Let’s Talk Boxing Day in Dallas!

Hey, hosers! How’s it going, eh? What are your plans for Boxing Day? Betcha Yanks a toonie you didn’t know SideDish is freakin’ huge in Canada! Yep, it’s true, eh? Last time I was in Toronto (Toronnah) I spied some Canadian idiot sporting a toque (two-k) with a big red D on it! My brother-in-law went all Don Cherry on me and said the D stood for Detroit (dee-troi-e-ot). What else would you expect from a pansy Red Wings fan? (Q: What do you call 5 Detroit Red Wings players standing ear to ear? A: A wind tunnel!)

I love Boxing Day, the first business day after Christmas. All of Ontario closes and we sit on the chesterfield and chow down on donuts, beer, macaroni and cheese, and watch hockey. The NHL pretty much owns Canada on Boxing Day now. They have TEN GAMES scheduled. My friend’s mum puts out (uhoot) a hellofa buffet (boo-fay). And k.d. lang always sends me a fruit cake. Go Leafs! (Q: Why don’t the Leafs drink tea? A: Because the Canadiens have all the cups.) And hello Peterborough!

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Bar 828–A Fleeting Speakeasy in Oak Cliff

Changing the mural at Bar 828.

Arti Sharma, D Magazine intern and a grant writer for Promise House  the nonprofit that receives a portion of the proceeds from Bar 828, visited the popular pop-up bar last weekend and files this report.

Feel free to play some theme music.

Driving along the 800 block on the west side Davis Street, you may notice something particularly peculiar about the venue that sits on lot 828.  At first glance, you will see a tattered building that shells what may have been a forgotten afterthought, abandoned in the midst of what perhaps was meant to be an idea. You may not further heed its quaintness, and will write it off as an empty nest.  But you see, inside an oyster, sometimes there is a pearl.  And inside 828, is something just as precious and rare: Bar 828.

Pretty pictures of pretty pop-up bar below.

Continue reading "Bar 828–A Fleeting Speakeasy in Oak Cliff"

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Happy National Coffee Day

Not sure if Starbucks invented National Coffee Day, or a caffeine driven crowd who needed an extra excuse to enjoy a cup, but today is indeed National Coffee Day.  And wouldn’t you know it….it is expected to reach 98 degrees today, maybe not the ideal weather to enjoy a steamy hot cup of joe.

Why not enjoy the flavor of a cup in a refreshing cocktail instead.  Kahlua liqueur is made from 100% Arabica coffee and sugarcane in Veracruz, Mexico.  The product has been made since 1936 from coffee beans grown in the rural and highly agricultural Veracruz, creating a product that is rich, silky and sweet filled with the obvious coffee flavors mingling with caramel and vanilla notes, perfect for sipping on its own or mixing in refreshing cocktails like the well known Black Russian or the not so well known Kahlua Sour.

With the Halloween and holidays coming up shortly Kahlua has recently introduced a new flavor for the fall, Cinnamon Spice.  Inspired by the traditional Mexican “Cafe de Olla” which blends coffee with cinnamon and brown sugar, this liqueur blends 100% Arabica coffee from Veracruz with rum and Mexican spices.  With cocktails like the Cinnamon Sparkler, Cinnamon Spice and Ginger, or a Hot Mexican Cider you will add spice to your  autumn evenings, whether it is 98 or 58 degrees.  Follow the jump for recipes. Continue reading "Happy National Coffee Day"

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What to Drink Now: Race Cocktails from Patron

Alexis DeJoria, her father John Paul DeJoria, and his wife Eloise DeJoria; Photo courtesy of Jerry McClure

Last night Patron Tequila welcomed an enthusiastic group of Dallas socialites and car racing fanatics to “The Apartment” in The Design District for a good luck and have fun party for the newest member of the NHRA Nitro Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria, the daughter of John Paul DeJoria (owner of Paul Mitchell and Patrón Tequila.)

Jump for MORE.

Continue reading "What to Drink Now: Race Cocktails from Patron"