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05/08/2008
Wine and dine mom
 Doce de Leite French toast is part of the SambaBrunch menu at SushiSamba Dallas. Courtesy of SushiSamba Here's a roundup of possibilities for Mother's Day. Events are on Sunday unless otherwise noted. Reservations may be required or recommended.
HOT WINES
Alois Lageder, Alto Adige, Pinot Bianco 2006, $11.99- $15.99
Sweet somethings
A couple of sweet shops offering cool treats have popped up just in time for warmer weather.
05/01/2008
Pad Thai done right
 Asian Mint's pad Thai dish Jason Janik/Special Contributor Pad Thai is simple and tough to get wrong, but, unfortunately, it's often just mediocre. After all, how many variations on slightly sweet rice noodles, tamarind sauce, tofu, shrimp, peanuts and bean sprouts can there be?
Ask the Food Snobs
NEWS & NOTES
• Olivella's owner Charlie Green says he's opening a second location in Victory Park in September or October. The pizza restaurant will have 3,800 square feet of space instead of the tiny, Manhattan-esque first spot near SMU.
04/10/2008
A new kind of sub club
 Jason Janik/Special Contributor Known for his broad smile and his sex appeal, Dennis Quaid will be appearing tomorrow in a movie that required him to wear a full beard and a fat suit.
News and notes
• You can't beat a free doughnut, especially on Tax Day. On Tuesday, Dunkin' Donuts is offering a free doughnut when you buy any size cup of coffee. Newest locations: 13535 Preston Road and 6033 Campbell Road.
04/03/2008
Tasty, tantalizing, tofu?
Poor tofu. It gets a bad rap. People say it's boring or bland, weird or icky. Unless you're talking about super stinky cheese or rodent flesh, few foods are as maligned.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: My girlfriend really wants to "invest" in good knives. I tell her there's no investment in something we use to chop chicken. Besides, we have a bunch of perfectly good knives already. Is it really worth $100 for something that's going to sit in the drawer most of the time? – Dull in DeSoto
New spot for brunch
Got a craving for Italian? Head to Brio Tuscan Grille , which opened this week in Allen
Bottle it up
Central 214 at the Hotel Palomar has select bottles of wine for $21.40 on Mondays through April. If you stop by the bar on Tuesdays, you can also get free nibbles from the restaurant's spring menu from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 5680 N. Central Expressway. 214-443-9339. central214.com.
03/27/2008
Getting Fired up
 JASON JANIK/Special Contributor Randy Morgan's first love was music. Cooking came later, at first as a way to eat. "You don't make much money as a musician unless you're really big," he said in a recent interview.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: My wife was making a roast in a baking pan the other night, and while she was putting it on a plate (she says it has to "rest"??) I starting washing the pan and she freaked out. Hey, I was just trying to be helpful, so what's the problem?
Cheap eats
•Get your snack on at BLT Steak's happy hour from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
03/20/2008
Mighty minis
 Photos by EVANS CAGLAGE/ Staff Photographer At the Midwest's venerable White Castle chain, they'd spell it "slyders."
Game on
Palomino in the Crescent is offering $20, three-course meals before Mavs, Stars and Desperados games at American Airlines Center.
03/13/2008
Munch on brunch at a bargain
There are few rituals as sacred to many as Sunday brunch.Some go high-class, opting for white tablecloths and small plates of elegant food interspersed with judicious sips of bubbly
Asian food to go
Can't get away for lunch? Log on to the new YumiToGo.com and order contemporary Asian dishes
03/06/2008
More of morocco
If you're craving the flavors of Morocco, head to the new Medina Oven & Bar in Victory Park. Manager and co-owner Sam Benoikken grew up in Medina, and he says his chicken tagine and seven- vegetable couscous are just like home.
Fine dining gets down-home nod
 Palmer's bison rib-eye steak Even by celebrity chef standards, Charlie Palmer keeps his flame on high. Moments before dinner service begins in his debut Dallas eatery, the gregarious mustachioed chef stands in the dining room pep-talking the crew and thumbing his iPhone. He's built a career on multitasking.
02/28/2008
Wine pairing: Spaghetti & meatballs
 Photos by Evans Caglage / Staff Photographer Spaghetti and meatballs is an American classic. The Dallas Morning News wine panel sought wines for less than $20 each to complement this beloved dish.
News and Notes
• Chef Blythe Beck reports that she and Hector Garcia , owner of Hector's on Henderson, are in partnership with Warner Bros. on her Naughty Kitchen TV show. A crew will be in town shooting the whole month of April.
02/21/2008
Raving over ravioli
 Jason Janik / Special Contributor Civello's Raviolismo is a tiny East Dallas storefront, but its products rival that of a gourmet grocery store.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: My wife and I have been invited to a dinner party by a couple we don't know very well. She doesn't eat seafood and I'm worried they'll end up serving it. What's the most polite way to tell our hosts?
Pair it with wine
• Flavors from Afar at Snider Plaza is hosting a wine-and- chocolate pairing class on Saturday from
02/14/2008
Love's the special on this menu
Many a lover will seek to enhance this day of romance with foods for the mood. Oysters on the half shell, ripe raspberries, dark chocolate torte ... all are considered aphrodisiacs.
New Bite
Like to eat organic? Villa-O is scheduled to open this week in the former Samba Room space on Travis Street.
02/07/2008
Sweet endings
No holiday begs for a decadent dessert more than Valentine's Day. With Feb. 14 fast approaching, The Dallas Morning News wine panel went in search of dessert wines to match with a rich, sensuous classic: crème caramel, a close relative of flan.
Fuel Up
If you're really into coffee and motorcycles, your newest hangout has arrived. Motopia cafe recently opened at 4123 N. Central Expressway at Fitzhugh.
01/31/2008
A taste of Cuba
 Photos by JASON JANIK/Special Contributor Fans of Cuban flavors have a new place to satisfy their cravings in Dallas with the opening of La Cubanita this month.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: Please settle this argument for me and my friend. I have one of those "Entertainment" books that offers discounts on dining. My friend says you should leave a tip based on what the bill would have been. I say, just tip on the total. Your thoughts?
News & Notes
• Chef Mariano Fernandez, a native of Valencia, Spain, has left Café Madrid to join Parigi 's kitchen on Oak Lawn Avenue. Besides Spanish- influenced additions to the menu, look for a giant paella party this March.
01/24/2008
Modern market
After quietly opening its doors last month, Zituna World Food Market is still in its soft-opening phase. But a recent visit and early word on the local blogs suggest it's going to be a popular destination for shopping and eating.
Try a sample of these hot wines
King Estate, Oregon,
CHEAP EATS
• Rockfish has a new Body and Sole menu featuring healthier choices. The Santa Fe Fish Tacos, with 18 grams of fat, are only $6.81. Visit rockfish.com for locations and a menu.
01/17/2008
Scene takes center stage
 The open kitchen at SCENE allows patrons to view all the action surrounding their dishes. Eric Blackman Downtown's newest hotspot is as much about the kitchen as it is about the food on the table.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: Do you know of any all-you-can eat Italian restaurant buffets in the Dallas area other than CiCi's and other fast-food establishments?
News & Notes
• Check out restaurateur Mark Brezinski's newest joint, Bengal Coast , offering dishes from India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
01/10/2008
BLT Steak puts an upscale spin on a classic
 The Dallas branch of upscale steakhouse BLT Steak takes care with dishes from leeks (above) to fish to meats. Photos by BLT Steak The new Dallas outpost of New York chef Laurent Tourondel's BLT Steak is as light and airy as the oversized Gruyère popovers (look out Zodiac Room) served steaming hot before each meal.
Cheap Eats
• If you're a cheese lover, there's no better deal than the Cheese Flight at Cru . For $14 you can pick any four cheeses – from Gruyère to Manchego – served with bread, apples pears, olives and grapes. 3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 107, in the West Village. 214-526-9463.
Hot wines
Menguante, Cariñena, Garnacha 2005, $10.99, Firriato, Sicilia, Chiaramonte Nero d'Avola 2005, $19.99 and Kiss Chasey, Western Australia, Premium White 2006, $9.99
01/03/2008
Baby, it's warm inside
 Photo by JASON JANIK/Special Contributor A warm cocktail sliding down your throat conjures up visions of fireplaces and snow, no matter how cold it is outside.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: I recently was dining at a new, upscale establishment with my wife. The waiter presented us our entrees and asked if we wanted to hear about what we were eating. I said no. I'm sorry, but how is listening to your order important? What ever happened to actually eating the damn thing?
Cheap eats
You can now get pizzas for $5 every day at Pizza Hut.
12/27/2007
Budget bubbly
New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and whether you're hosting a party or going to one, chances are you'll buy at least one bottle of bubbly.
12/20/2007
TAMALES ! !
 Evans Caglage/Staff Photographer There's nothing like a platter of warm tamales to make a Texan feel that the holiday season has arrived.
12/13/2007
Dining rewind 2007
 Greek eatery Kavala serves up spinach pizza with feta cheese, olives and peppers UAN GARCIA/DMN Dallas dining went to extremes this year. From glitzy Vegas and New York transplants ( N9NE , Nove , BLT Steak , Charlie Palmer ), to a former Dairy Queen-turned- boutique eatery ( Kavala ), it was all enough to keep foodies' plates spinning. Here's a look at some of the year's major trends and players.
Cheap eats
• Fajitas are $7.99 every Thursday at Sol's Taco Lounge and Tango Bar . 2626 Commerce St. 214-651-7657.
12/11/2007
Simply Sake
Trying to order sake at a local Asian fusion restaurant can be more confusing than picking a wine.
12/06/2007
Sushi to enlighten you
 JASON JANIK/Special Contributor In the land of all things Tex and Mex, Michelle Carpenter is trying to add some zen.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: I'm shopping for the home cook who has everything. What do you suggest I get?
Cheap eats
• Uncle Julio's is offering four pork tamales with salsa carne or four chicken tamales with tomatillo sauce for $6.25 through the holidays. Four area locations. www.uncle julios.com.
11/29/2007
Party like a chef
Need help planning your holiday soirées? These local chefs dish out some of their party secrets.
NEWS & NOTES
• Rachael Ray is making a pit stop by the Williams- Sonoma store in Southlake (172 State Street) on Dec. 8, and she will be signing books from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is sold out, but people can still come and see Rachael Ray, just not get their book signed.
11/21/2007
Just as good as pie
 Photos by EVANS CAGLAGE/ Staff Photographer Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be the same without homemade pumpkin pie. Would it? With these delightful pumpkin treats available for takeout, it may be tastier (and easier) to outsource.
NEWS & NOTES
11/15/2007
Give thanks to these restaurants
Some of us are just too busy or stressed to host a Thanksgiving meal. Restaurants do the cleanup and the planning. Here are a few affordable places to go on the holiday. Lesley Téllez HIGHLAND PARK CAFETERIA
Ask the Food Snobs
Is it rude to send back a bottle of wine after the waiter has uncorked it?
Try them fried
Searching for a fried turkey? Razzoo's sells Cajun-fried turkeys for $49.95 each.
11/08/2007
Pig out on cheap eating options
After a recent dinner at a local brewpub, the tab for me and my date came as a bit of a shock. Two beers each, an appetizer and two sandwiches set us back $48.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: It's getting cooler outside, and I really want to make my dinner table feel like the season, maybe with some handcrafted majolica earthenware in rich autumn tones. I found the perfect set, but my husband is balking at the price. How can I convince him that we need a new soup tureen and gravy boat?
Cheap eats
• Get your slush fix every day at Sonic's happy hour – the drive-in offers half-price drinks from 2 to 4 p.m.
11/01/2007
Food: Dine while you catch a movie
 RICKY MOON/Special Contributor Trying to catch a movie, but find your stomach is grumbling? Well, you're in luck, and we're not just talking about your standard popcorn and oversized box of Milk Duds. Here's a quickie guide to movie theater eats that go beyond your grandma's concession stand.
Quick bites: News and Notes
Bistro Nous has opened in the space at Frankford and the Dallas Tollway once occupied by Urban Bistro and, before that, Modo Mio.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: I wanted to get breakfast at this restaurant that I saw on the Food Network, but I got there around 11 a.m. and they said they could only do lunch. How come they can make sandwiches, but not my corned beef hash?
10/25/2007
Peppers with pep
 Photos by EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN There's often little middle ground with a chile relleno. They're often masterpieces or disasters a soggy, eggy mess littering a restaurant plate.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: How long should I wait until I go to a new restaurant?
News & Notes
• Bring the kids to Mi Piaci for an inexpensive Sunday brunch. Children 10 and under eat for $9.99, though their parents will have to pony up $27.99 apiece. 14854 Montfort Drive. 972-934-8424.
10/18/2007
Hot dog heaven
Don Breitkreutz doesn't like to call his hot dogs "gourmet." "It's a bit pretentious to me," says Breitkreutz, 31, who opened Big D's Dogs on Lower Greenville in September 2006. "Good food is just good food."
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: If you're running late for a reservation, at what point should you call and inform the restaurant? I say calling if you plan to be 15 minutes late is standard. My husband says 15 minutes is a "buffer," and we should call if we plan to be over 15 minutes late. What do you think?
News & notes
• Villa-O , an organic-inspired pasta restaurant, is set to open this December in the former Samba Room space on Travis Street. A wide variety of pastas will be handmade daily, using Italian flour. The wine list will feature 50 Italian wines, available by the glass, half-bottle or bottle.
10/11/2007
The Grape enters a new season
 Photos by REX C. CURRY/Special Contributor When Brian C. Luscher was chef at The Grape on Lower Greenville from 2001 to 2004, he never imagined he would own it someday.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: About once a month I go to a high-priced sushi buffet in Dallas, but I never know how to appropriately eat a single sushi. Usually I just grab a fork and stuff the whole thing in my mouth, but that doesn't seem proper. How do I eat this stuff?
Cheap Eats: • The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, • Clay Pit
• The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden has a yummy "chocolate tree" as part of its Chocolate Tea – dip strawberries and chocolate-filled cream puffs into melted chocolate for free through Nov. 18. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Road. 214-515-6500.
10/09/2007
Fearing's already at the top
At a celebratory dinner yesterday in New York, Fearing's in Dallas' Ritz-Carlton Hotel was named the nation's "restaurant of the year" by Esquire magazine.
10/04/2007
Classic Caprese, reinvented
 REX C. CURRY/ Staff Photographer The calendar may say October, but we Texans know better than to expect crisp temperatures. So embrace the lingering summer temperatures with a hot-weather favorite: the Caprese salad. Here are four ways – and four great places – to savor the simple and refreshing Italian salad.
Fast-food Junkie
Taco Bell Cheesy Beefy Melt
News & Notes
• Christiano De Martino used to be the face of Arcodoro and Pomodoro, but now he's off to become the general manager of a new place, Shish , a Mediterranean restaurant with a Turkish bent. Look for a mid-November opening in the old Cafe Capri location in Addison.
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: What do you think is the best food to take on the plane?
09/28/2007
A fried feast
09/27/2007
Late-night pie, oh my
 Elliott Litke serves up a slice at Zini's Pizzeria in Oak Lawn. Photo by Jason Janik It's 3 a.m. You've been out drinking and clubbing all night, and you've got a hunger that a Red Bull can't satisfy. What are you to do?
Ask the Food Snobs
Q: When I go to an Italian restaurant and tell the waiter I want pepper and parmesan, they douse my dish with the stuff. How do I stop this deluge?
Cheap Eats
• Dallas Fish Market in downtown's Kirby Building (1501 Main St.) is now open for lunch, with sushi, fresh seafood, steaks and sandwiches. There's also a three-course menu ranging from $14 to $19.
09/20/2007
Cliff Cafe rises from the ruins
 Photos by JASON JANIK/Special Contributor The building – which first opened as a restaurant in 1947 – had no roof. A disco ball lay inside, a remnant from when the place used to be a nightclub."It had been rained in for a decade or so," says Cliff Cafe food and beverage director Kevin Dunn. "Everything was pretty rotted."
Ask the Food Snobs
What is all this fuss I'm hearing about Korean fried chicken?
Cheap eats
• Sol's Taco Lounge has half-price food on Monday nights, from 5 to 11. 2626 Commerce St. 214-651-7657. myspace.com/ solstacolounge.
09/13/2007
Fall into foods for the season
 Elis Droubi chops radicchio for a custom-order salad at Eatzi's. EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN Two hallmarks of the start of fall arrived this week – the first drop in temperature in months and the start of Rosh Hashanah on Tuesday night.
Ask the Food Snobs
All my recipe books keep calling for fresh herbs. What a pain! Why did I spend the money on dried ones if I never get to use them?
Cheap Eats
Get your cheap drink on all day Monday through Wednesday when margaritas, sangria, mojitos, beer and most wines are $4.
09/06/2007
Ask the Food Snobs
Help me settle a bet with some friends. Which airline has the best food, whether it's in first class or the kind you have to buy?
Dish of the week of the week: Lobster shooters
 REX C. CURRY/Special Contributor Dining at Uptown's stylish Abacus restaurant nearly always means one thing: lobster shooters. The bite-size dumplings filled with sweet lobster meat and aromatic Asian standbys – ginger, garlic, lemongrass and chili – arrive at the table and are immediately doused with a tangy, spicy-sweet coconut, red curry sauce.
Cheap eats
Taste five wines paired with nibbles by Tillman's Roadhouse chef Dan Landsberg for $10 at Crush Wine Shop
08/30/2007
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