March 2010
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Lavendou's soufflés-for-votes scheme Meet Guinness master brewer at pouring contest The Back Story: Dallas Chop House La Madeleine tests prototype at Preston-Forest Last weekend before hiatus for Il Cane Rosso Preston's: 'Mind if we tuck some fiber into that? Recent Comments
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March 5, 2010
The answer came late last night, in an email promotion a friend forwarded me. ![]() ![]() The entry "Lavendou's soufflés-for-votes scheme" has no entry tags. March 4, 2010
Yes, there is an art to pouring Guinness beer, and bartenders from around Dallas will compete in the Guinness "Pour the Perfect Pint" competition Tuesday at Trinity Hall Irish Pub in Dallas. Direct from Ireland, the judge will be Guinness master brewer Fergal Murray. No pressure there. The professionals start pouring around 7 p.m., with a little pro-am activity starting at 6 p.m. The finals will probably take place between 9:30 and 10 p.m. if last year is any indication. 'Sounds like a great way to celebrate St Patrick's Day a little early and maybe, just maybe, get a little face time with the master brewer himself. Trinity Hall is in Mockingbird Station at North Central Expressway and Mockingbird (northeast corner). ![]() ![]() The entry "Meet Guinness master brewer at pouring contest" is tagged: Kim Pierce , Trinity Hall
I just had some delivered, and they are terrific. She starts with a very dark chocolate - not bitter, but definitely not milk-chocolate sweet. My favorite of the items I ordered was the orangettes (pictured), freshly candied organic orange peel dipped in dark chocolate. You can taste the freshness of the orange peel, its flavor vivid and not washed out. I also tried the mediants, little chocolate disks each topped with a blueberry, cranberry, orange peel and an almond, and the cherry-pecan bark has just a touch of ancho chile in it. There are other items, of course, including assorted chocolates and cookies made with the bark. You can find Dr. Sue's Chocolates at the Wine Therapist and, later in the spring, at the Dallas Farmers Market and the Coppell Farmers Market. Starting March 14, they will be available at Eatzi's, and Dr. Sue will in-store with samples that day. ![]() ![]() The entry "Dr. Sue made me eat chocolate" is tagged: Dr. Sue's Chocolate , Kim Pierce
This seems like the moment to explain how I choose the restaurants I review. Why did I review Dallas Chop House? It's a new restaurant. The mandate of any newspaper, including The Dallas Morning News, is to cover the news, and that includes restaurants that are new. We cannot, nor would we want to, ignore what's new in our coverage areas. Dallas Chop House is a prominent new steakhouse downtown, so obviously it warranted a review. The unfortunate fact is that there are more steakhouses opening than other kinds of restaurants. Oh, how I wish I had a wider range of types of new restaurants to review! The truth is, I don't even like to eat a lot of red meat. I rarely eat it at home anymore. ![]() ![]() The entry "The Back Story: Dallas Chop House" has no entry tags.
La Madeleine Country French Cafe is changing the look and feel of the restaurant, and the company is testing the prototype at the Preston-Forest location (northeast corner). New features include:
I plan to check it out and keep an open mind. But despite the many inconveniences of the old ways, something was lost in the translation from founder Patrick Esquerre's ownership to the present group. I know that sounds cranky, but that's the way I feel. ![]() ![]() The entry "La Madeleine tests prototype at Preston-Forest" is tagged: Kim Pierce , La Madeleine
Jay Jerrier e-mails to remind everyone that this Thursday through Saturday, 5 p.m. till "the dough runs out," will be the last for Il Cane Rosso's traveling pizza party until service resumes again on March 25. "We are sending the oven our for some dome repairs and other tweaks," he writes. Il Cane Rosso takes over the Chocolate Angel Too space in North Dallas at Preston-Forest (northwest corner). It's BYOB, no corkage fee, and Jay says, "We are also testing some whole-wheat dough this weekend, despite my better judgment." I wonder what the Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana has to say about that. ![]() ![]() The entry "Last weekend before hiatus for Il Cane Rosso " is tagged: Il Cane Rosso , Kim Pierce
Preston Center is shaping up to be quite a mecca for the natural-foods set, with South Paw's Organic Cafe and about-to-be-open Bliss Cafe. Meanwhile, Preston's American Grill, in the old Park Cities Prime space, is coming right out and touting the so-called super foods on its menu. "We're not trying to be spa food," says chef and co-owner Jon Schwartzenberger. But he is tucking salmon, avocado, fiber, nuts, berries, citrus and more - foods with well-documented health benefits - into every dish he can. (And by the way, the black lentils with tomatoes, shallots and parsley are so tasty, you'll forget they're good for you.) Even the white-truffle-and-Brie mac and cheese? OK, maybe not every dish. Learn more about this new take on better-for-you dining in my Table Talk column. ![]() ![]() The entry "Preston's: 'Mind if we tuck some fiber into that?" is tagged: Bliss Raw Cafe and Elixir Bar , Kim Pierce , Preston's
You've just been seated, you've barely had a chance to take off your coat, and the server asks, "What can I bring you from the bar?" You'd love something, but you need a minute to decide. The server leaves -- and punishes you for not being ready to order by not returning for what seems like forever. Has this ever happened to you? I'll bet it has. It happened to me twice this week -- and I've only dined out twice. Both times, it was in restaurants with very few diners, and it took the server almost 15 minutes to return. What's up with that? ![]() ![]() The entry "The punishment" has no entry tags. March 3, 2010
Dallas Chop House Isla Mia Photo of Dallas Chop House's bone-in Kansas City strip by Khampha Bouaphanh/Special to DMN ![]() ![]() The entry "New reviews: Dallas Chop House and Isla Mia" is tagged: Dallas Chop House , Isla Mia , New reviews
Market Street is launching a nutritional scoring system in its North Texas stores, the better to compete as Aldi comes to the area, according to a Dallas Morning News story posted today. "Market Street's NuVal System is based on an algorithm that boils down comprehensive nutritional information to a score between 1 and 100, " writes Maria Halkias. "The higher the score, the better the product's nutritional value. Every product's score is visible on shelf labels next to the price. A typical supermarket has 40,000 different items." It's in the Colleyville, Frisco, Plano and Allen stores, coming to Coppell and McKinney mid-March, she says. Check out her story here, and if you've used it, tell use what you think. Easy? Hard? Confusing? Fun? Anyone showing their kids how to use it? ![]() ![]() The entry "Market Street debuts nutritional scoring system" is tagged: Kim Pierce , Market Street
I wasn't sorry. The burger, half a pound of choice Angus beef, cooked to order, was satisfyingly juicy, very meaty; it had that indescribable, reassuring burger gestalt. The lightly toasted sesame bun provided the right bun-to-patty ratio, and the lettuce, tomato and thousand island that are standard equipment there were spot on, aided and abetted by optional pickles. There's also a long list of more complicated burgers, but I always like to judge a burger place by the basic sandwich. My only complaint was it wanted a little salt. I was quite impressed by the quality of the meat. OK, OK, I admit it -- I also had a 12 Burger, with bacon, American cheese, avocado, sauteed onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, pickles, jalapenos, lettuce tomato, thousand island and mustard. Very good for such a big, sloppy mess of a burger. There's a big mountain of Idaho potatoes next to the kitchen, a testament to the fact that the fries are fresh-cut there. I was taking my order home, but I tasted a couple fries before I left the store, and they were outstanding. Fabulous. So potatoey, tender inside, crisp outside. But the time I got home, they had seriously lost something. But that's my own fault. (Or, should I say, the fault of those in my household who were glued to sports on TV.) Been there? Did you like it? ![]() ![]() The entry "Burger time!" has no entry tags.
Thanks so much for sharing your memories of the Greenville Ave. restaurants that were lost in the fire yesterday. In case you'd like to read more, here's a page that pulls together everything about the fire as cleanup begins and people reflect on the history of the place. It includes all our latest news, blog posts from crime, Eats and others, plus Twitter and news sources from around the area, both TV and pubs like the Observer and D magazine. ![]() ![]() The entry "More on Greenville Ave. restaurants" has no entry tags. March 2, 2010
However, look what he sent. Based on the fire photos and video, I'd say that those Hurricane Grill walls and their beloved murals are lost. This is called "The Last Cat Supper." Savor the memories. Thanks, Sasso. CORRECTION: A matchbook cover is just a matchbook cover (above). "The Last Cat Supper" is an artwork on Sasso's Web site: www.arttogo.com. ![]() ![]() The entry "And one more stroll down memory lane: Pazzi's" is tagged: Kim Pierce , Terilli's
I spoke with reader Paul Barnes, who had posted a comment about the space once housing Three Vikings, a Swedish restaurant, in the early 1980s. "The son was the chef and the parents ran the restaurant," he said. "I think their name was Swanson. They were Swedish, and it was kind of veal Oscar and salmon dishes and shrimp chowder, lingon berries -- and they loved to serve aquavit between courses. It was a real family [spot with] white tablecloths. We loved to take out-of-towners there." According to the Morning News archives, there was a Three Vikings on lower Greenville, which eventually moved to the space on Cole Ave. that's now Adelmo's, but I couldn't verify that it was the same address as Hurricane Grill. Does anyone else remember the place, post-Cole Ave.? Or in the Cole Ave. location? Barnes, an M streets resident since 1981, put the loss of the four restaurants in perspective. "These are irreplaceable treasures," he said. 1996 photo of Flying Burro owner Scott Cain by Richard Michael Pruitt ![]() ![]() The entry "Hurricane Grill's past" has no entry tags.
Buy your Savor Dallas tickets online at http://www.savordallas.com/tickets.htm, punch in the promo code DFM10 after you select the ticket(s), and 15 percent of the purchase price will be donated to the Dallas Farmers Market Friends. Also, if you're coming to the International Grand Tasting only on Saturday from places like Allen, Grapevine, Arlington or Far North Dallas, take advantage of shuttles from your area. Savor Dallas takes place Friday and Saturday, starting with the Arts District Wine Stroll 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and concluding with the huge walk-around tasting 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. ![]() ![]() The entry "Savor Dallas tickets benefit farmers market group " is tagged: Dallas Farmers Market , Kim Pierce , Savor Dallas
Eatzi's opens store No. 2 Friday with a big ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. (See Phil Romano up close and personal.) This is the space at The Pavilion on Lovers Lane where Dallas City Market tried a similar concept. I'll be interested to see how the new owners parse the space. Get a few more details in Karen Robinson-Jacobs' story on the business pages here. ![]() ![]() The entry "Eatzi's opens second location Friday" is tagged: Eatzi's , Kim Pierce
A couple of Dallas Morning News editors who were there report that a terrific time was had by all. And one of them, Garden Editor Mariana Greene, managed to ferret out some intriguing news about next week. Chris Zielke, one of the principals, announced that there will be two chefs -- one on Monday and a different one on Tuesday. "It's a chef known for New American," he said, "but instead he's going to prepare a Thai menu. Scorpions will be part of the menu as a garnish." Really, Chris? Are you pulling our leg? He also said that "Rathbun, Lola and other high-profile chefs have signed on." Presumably he was referring to David Uygur, chef at the erstwhile Lola. So, New American chef channeling Thai. Who could that be? Scott Gottlich? Graham Dodds? 2005 photo of Daniele Puleo by Darnell Renee/Special to DMN ![]() ![]() The entry "Daniele Puleo cooking at 48 Nights" has no entry tags.
Photo: Jim Mahoney/DMN ![]() ![]() The entry "Fire guts Lower Greenville landmarks" is tagged: Kim Pierce , Terilli's March 1, 2010
Nancy Nichols reports on SideDish that Cuba Libre on Henderson has closed so that the owners can update the 10-year-old concept. A call to the restaurant confirms: The recording tells you they're on hiatus. Look for a reopening by summer, NN says. ![]() ![]() The entry "Cuba Libre: closed - for now " is tagged: Cuba Libre , Kim Pierce
Roots Coffeehouse is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a "thank you:" free coffee every day for the month of March. All you have to do is go to the independent coffeehouse and get your "Free Coffee" card, which is good for one 12-ounce drip coffee every day through March. That's it; no buy-one-get-one-free, no two-fers. Roots serves all fair trade and organic coffees and teas. The address is 9101 State Highway 26 in North Richland Hills (in the Venue at Hometown across the street from Tarrant County College NE). Check out the Web site for more info. ![]() ![]() The entry "Roots: Free coffee every day in March" is tagged: free coffee , Kim Pierce |
Lavendou's - the best French restaurant
Lavendou's - the best French restaurant
Leslie..the souffle from Lavendou Bistr
"The Punishment" seems awfully harsh...
I love to take my girl friends to lunch
Pascal, you've been served.
Lavendou Bistro has become our favorite
I've been there a few times. I'm on the
Although it goes against the no-more-st
Lavendou Bistro is the Best French Rest