Bars and restaurants often take pride in existing in the ideological middle of the road. Taking a public stance politically is usually considered too risky an endeavor; either way you lean, you run the risk of alienating customers on the other side of the political divide. Then came the Trump…
From fast-food to fine dining, North Texas is a veritable coop of chicken restaurants. As far as most fast-casual poultry purveyors go, we all know the drill: barely seasoned fried chickens (the only moisture coming from fry grease) that get by solely on the merits of their crispy, salty skin…
There’s nothing wrong with having your old favorite at a regular haunt, but there’s a lot to discover in the North Texas food scene. This weekend, go nuts by trying one of these over-the-top eats and drinks that involve everything from pizza garnishes to cocktails made with liquid nitrogen. A…
I only have two questions in life, and they are: Who killed Jonbenet Ramsey, and why the hell did John MF Tesar get sent home on this round of Top Chef? I’m not angry, I’m just furious. I’ve spent the last 10 or so weeks watching, rooting for and crying…
All-American is a series that looks at beloved, longstanding North Texas eateries and examines their history while exploring how the food has changed — for the good or bad — over the years. This Friday at 9 p.m. sharp, there will be another round of karaoke at the Dallasite. There’s…
The Dallas ISD board of trustees gets plenty of time debating serious issues with each other while sitting in a horseshoe panel. But on Wednesday night, trustees laughed with each other while helping high school students cook appetizers. About 350 people filled 3015 at Trinity Groves to try dishes as…
Anastacia Quinones is gearing up for an uncharacteristically busy day at Oddfellows. The chef is not necessarily anticipating extra crowds today, but she is down five people, mostly in the back of the house. With the blessing of both her and Oddfellows owner Amy Wallace Cowan, five of her team…
Deep Ellum venues will open their doors and pop some corks for the Mardi Gras edition of Wine Walk. This event is perfect for the shopper whose resveratrol levels could use a little pick-me-up. For $10 you get a Mardi Gras-themed collectible glass which will be topped off as you…
At Pera Turkish Kitchen, the Sunday brunch buffet is a dazzling affair. Stepping foot through the front door, one is greeted by the sight of tables weighed down under great plates of fresh cheeses, spreads, jewel-colored jams and pastries shaped like pinwheels. There’s a steaming pot full of saffron-tinted soup,…
Pie Tap’s Bloody Mary looks like it’s quite standard until you get an eyeful of the garnish complete with a slice of pizza, and the taste is surprisingly peppery thanks to the house-infused peppered vodka.
Wayward Sons, the critically acclaimed Greenville Avenue restaurant with a reputation for serving up rustic Texas fare made with carefully sourced ingredients, has closed, according to a press release: Owners Brandon Hays, Phil Schanbaum and executive chef/co-owner Graham Dodds announce Wayward Sons is officially closed. Hays says, “It is truly…
The 2017 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists in the restaurant and chef categories were announced this morning, and Dallas has a few names on the list: Flora Street Cafe, semifinalist for Best New Restaurant FT33’s Maggie Huff, semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef And several semifinalists for Best Chef Southwest: Omar Flores,…
Do you remember the little pulse of excitement you felt when the trailer for Suicide Squad was released? There was this poppy-electric feel to it as soon as Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” burst into frame. It felt like something that’d be sharp and fun. Then, the movie was released, and it was actually just…
We’re frequently told we’re not getting enough vegetables and fruit, which contain micronutrients our bodies thrive on. But we also seem to have increasingly less time every day to plan meals, buy groceries and cook with whole foods. Which is why Nick Borja and Tommy Hall have created Nosha, a pouch…
By noon on an average, overcast winter Monday, a line is winding through the small West Village storefront that houses Pok the Raw Bar. It’s bright in here — blindingly white, with Tame Impala thumping through the speakers and out onto the modern stark-white patio out front. There’s no escaping the first thought…
Deep Ellum restaurants follow an established script. Create a trendy space with exposed wooden rafters and a patio; pump in energetic or obnoxious dance music; serve original cocktails from a well-appointed bar; offer “sharing plate” bar bites to pair with the drinks; then add a crowd of young people who…
Is any dessert trendier than macarons have been the last few years? And is any dessert harder to make? This feather-light French pastry, a temperamental treat made with almond meringue and a thin layer of filling, has taken North Texas by storm in recent years, and now it seems that…
The healthy meal-prep service industry has seen major growth in recent years, with businesses like My Fit Foods and Snap Kitchen offering pre-made meals focused on whole foods. The services have proven increasingly popular with the CrossFit and Whole30 crowds, but in recent years, it’s become an increasingly competitive market…
More than 2,000 brunch fans filed into the Dallas Farmers Market on Saturday afternoon for the Morning After, a Dallas Observer festival that featured all things brunch. Lines at the sold-out festival did get long, but most moved quickly, and the Champagne flowed all morning long. Two dishes in particular…
On the corner of West Davis and North Tyler streets sits a monument to one man’s mid-life career shake-up. “I’m in a totally different industry; I’m in construction [and] development, that’s my real life. So the winery thing was a mid-life crisis — you start getting old, you have to…
In 1998, the movie Pi earned Daron Aronofsky the directing award at the Sundance Film Festival, and perhaps not since then has another pi(e) made as big an impression on the storied independent film festival. Until now. At this year’s Sundance, there was an unexpected breakout hero: a vegan chocolate…
John Tesar is crying. Brooke Williamson says, “John is crying.” He says, “No, I’m not.” But he’s crying. He’s in shock that he’s safe from another elimination round of Top Chef. I’m in shock. The other three remaining chefs hug and congratulate him. I hug my life-size Tesar cutout. This episode’s…
