Archive for September, 2010

Experimenting with Spices…

Posted by    |    September 28th, 2010 at 7:14 pm

I love playing with my food and my new favorite place to explore is the Spice and Tea Exchange in West Village!  It was like being a kid in a candy store and now that I’m all grown up I guess it’s… a “Foodie” in a Spice Shop.  They had flavored sugars, exotic blends and specialty salts. (The spices were between $4 -$7 each)

I was so excited I grabbed a little bit of everything… (Grilled Fish Blend, Vic’s Garlic Fix, California Blend, Espresso Steak Rub, Thai Coconut Rub, Coconut Sugar and Black Truffle Salt) hoping that inspiration would soon follow. When I got home, I quickly riffled through my fridge and pantry searching for that little glimmer of creativity.  The first thing that stood out was POPCORN, so I microwaved a bag and then gave every kernel a little black truffle salt lovin’.  MMMMmmmm, the smell permeated the kitchen!  A little bit went a long way, I’m convinced that this bag of magic would be good on anything… chips, mac and cheese, steak… the options are endless. (more…)

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No April-fooling here

Posted by    |    September 20th, 2010 at 12:50 pm

I am glad that today’s date is the 20th of September, and not the 1st of April, because if people were kidding about this, I would be swimming in a vat of Neapolitan shake heartache. The Dallas Observer has just reported that In-N-Out is making its way to Fort Worth mid-2011. Now I just need to know the exact date for tent-pitching purposes.

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$2 Tacos and a Sense of Humor

Posted by    |    September 10th, 2010 at 1:24 pm

Wall menu at Rusty Taco

Just got back from a delicious, nutritious and affordable lunch at Rusty Taco at University and Greenville.  And now that SMU is back in session the place is buzzing.  Rusty is located in a former gas station, but with sufficient patio seating and kitchy decor, you’d never know it.  The tacos are outstanding, and they’re only $2.00!  My favorites are the #5 (brisket) and the #8 (baja shrimp).  Add in chips and salsa ($1.00) or queso ($2.00) and you’ve got a full meal any college student (or hungry mom) can afford.  In need of some cool refreshment?  Rusty offers a variety of sodas and beers, evidenced by the company’s clever use of old bottle caps for landscaping.

Bottle Cap Landscaping

Don’t you just love a $2.00-taco-former-filling-station-delicious-menu-restaurant with a sense of humor?

Brisket & Shrimp Tacos

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Love Food … Tim Love coming to Dallas?

Posted by    |    September 9th, 2010 at 11:24 pm

This past weekend my good friend, David Morris, caught up with one of the Metroplex’s most notable chefs, Tim Love of the Lonesome Dove Restaurant and Love Shack and got some exclusive scoop!

Growing up in Fort Worth, Lonesome Dove was one of the most popular restaurants in town.  It was a special occasion kind of place.  Chef Love then opened up The Love Shack, which has my favorite burger, the ‘Dirty Love Burger’ which features a fried quail egg. Yummm!!!  Our local chef was nationally recognized for his culinary brilliance when he defeated the original Iron Chef, Marimoto. (Among other achievements, I just happen to be a Food Network junkie.)

This past weekend Love was participating as a judge in the LG Taste of Something Better at the newly launched Taste of Beverly Hills sponsored by Food & Wine Magazine.  Love said he was excited to have a say in which of three amateur chefs will represent the United States in the worldwide finals in Seoul, South Korea later this year.  He also conceded that he intends to open a second location of his Love Shack burger concept in Denton this fall and is on the lookout for potential locations to expand in Dallas.  I can’t wait, it’s almost as awesome as ‘In and Out Burger’ coming to town.  Though tight-lipped about national franchising, rumor has it that Chef Love has been eyeing potential sites in Newport Beach, CA for a west coast Love Shack outpost.       –David Morris & Uno Immanivong

Photo Credit: Charley Gallay, Wire Image

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Hey, Big Tex!

Posted by    |    September 9th, 2010 at 12:15 pm

I can’t believe it’s almost time for fried on fried, on fried, goodness at the 2010 State Fair of Texas!

We only have 14 days, 21 hours and 49 minutes separating us from the always original, and always suprisingly tasty,  Big Tex Choice Award creations. This year’s top pick? Texas Fried Frito Pie.

If  you’re as ready as I am to get my ticket to the Fair on opening day, join Downtown Dallas Inc., and other anxious folks who have been saving up their calories, September 24th for Taste of the Fair. This opening day parade march begins at noon in Pegasus Plaza (Main at Akard). There will be food (of course), and also live music from Jackie Don Loe.

Any chance we might be burning our Deep Fried S’mores Pop•Tarts on way to the Fair? Who cares anyway?! It’s State Fair time!  I’m grabbing my Best Fried Food Friend, and heading Downtown.

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Can you say, “Molto Delizioso?”

Posted by    |    September 2nd, 2010 at 8:42 am

That’s Italian for very delicious and that perfectly describes the new Ristorante Nicola on Preston Road.

I was already a fan of the location at The Shops at Legacy, so I was happy to be invited to a luncheon at the Preston Road location this week. 

Although we chose from a set menu of three entrees, I had the opportunity to taste all three:  Involtini de Pollo (chicken breast with fontana, sage, gorgonzola, polenta, asparagus and red wine sauce); Salmone Grigliato alla Senape (grilled salmon, sauteed baby veggies and mustard sauce); and, my fave, Raviolotti di Vitello (spinach pasta stuffed with veal, spinach, ricotta in sage butter sauce).  Mouth watering yet?

Raviolotti di Vitello

The pasta was tender, and the sage butter sauce mixed with the veal stuffing brought on a big “mmm-mm” several times during the meal.  And you can’t go wrong with big, fat parmesan cheese shavings either!

The new Nicola differs in atmosphere from the Plano location – a more elegant feel than the rustic interior up north.  I kept taking mental notes on how I could recreate the gorgeous light fixtures with my hot glue gun and very limited knowledge of electronics.

Light Fixtures at Ristorante Nicola

And finally, I can’t say enough about the very professional, attentive and courteous staff.  Everyone from the valet to the waiters, managers and event sales person made our happiness their first priority.

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