Monthly Archives: November 2013

by | November 11, 2013 · 1:53 am

Achtung Baby! Texas Winery Haak Vineyards Wins Gold and Two Silver medals at the Largest International Wine Competition in the World!

haak1by Andrew Chalk

This just in.

“Haak Vineyards & Winery announced today that it was awarded a Gold and two (2) Silver Medals by the largest international wine competition in the world with over 12,000 entries competing. The AWC-Vienna 2013 awards and trophy presentations took place in the imperial ambiance of the Vienna City Hall in the presence of 3,000 invited wine professionals. On that evening Vienna City Hall advanced to the center of the wine world. All wine entries were judged in an Absolute Blind Tasting in single flights by an international tasting panel. In this way, all wines received a fair chance in the competition. Haak Vineyards & Winery has set the standard for quality, innovation and creative wine styles in today’s wine industry. The Haak winning wines were a 2008 Madeira Blanc du Bois (Gold), a 2006 Madeira Blanc du Bois (Silver) and a 2010 Madeira Blanc du Bois (Silver). Raymond Haak was honored to join the ranks of world class medal and trophy winners at this prestigious ceremony in the city hall of Vienna, Austria”.    Continue reading →

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by | November 8, 2013 · 2:01 pm

A Poutine Primer For Texans

DSC08899by Steven Doyle

Since we are on the subject of Andre Natera and his restaurants in Highland Park Village, it might be worth noting that the chef recently added poutine to his menu at Village Kitchen. Poutine, you say? Yes, that luscious plate of steaming fried potatoes, laden with supple lumps of cheese curd and smothered with gravy. That poutine.

It could be argued that it is the national dish of Canada. Everywhere you go in Canada you will find a version of poutine on the menu. From the lowly McDonald’s version for $3.99, to the very elegant Au Pied de Cochon in Qubec with their foie gras version for a mere $23 Canadian. You cannot go anywhere, including a ballpark, without being able to order this dish. But most identify poutine as being sold at casse-croûtes, or a greasy spoon diner, or roadside chip wagons called cabanes à patates.    Continue reading →

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by | November 8, 2013 · 1:08 pm

Beaujolais and Beyond Is November 22nd

chalk1by Andrew Chalk

Beaujolais and Beyond is one of the best wine festivals of the year and may be the only one where you can taste some of the good Beaujolais (i.e. not Nouveau Beaujolais). It is Friday November 22nd so get your tickets now. This event comes Crave Recommended.

 

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by | November 8, 2013 · 11:12 am

A Night At Toko V

DSC08871by Steven Doyle

Any opportunity you might have to sample the cuisine prepared by one of Dallas’ best chefs, Andre Natera, seize the moment and enjoy. We did just that earlier this week when we paid the chef a visit at his newly opened Toko V in Highland Park Village. This is the toney hot spot that resides just above the Village Kitchen, also cheffed up by Natera. Toko is all about seafood, featuring a first rate sushi bar with Daniel Chau at the helm. Hot dishes such as small and big plates are navigated from below in Natera’s kitchen. 

Chef Chau, most recently head sushi chef of Steel Restaurant & Lounge, draws from his love of Japanese cuisine along with his Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese roots.   Chau features traditional sushi favorites as well as unique combinations such as salmon with carrot and yuzu, compressed watermelon tuna with chimichurri sauce and balsamic reduction or snapper with Thai coconut water and dragon fruit dice.    Continue reading →

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by | November 8, 2013 · 10:39 am

LUCK Celebrates North Texas Beer Week

beer weekby Steven Doyle

We are pretty stoked about this whole North Texas Beer Week which begins this Saturday with the Brewvolution event at Fair Park (tickets still available). There will be beer specials and even special beers being pour across town and we will be reporting on some of the better findings as we uncover them. We are particularly excited to see that LUCK over in Trinity Groves  is participating, and why wouldn’t they?  Their mantra is beer, and they carry plenty of the local stuff for a mere sawback a pop. LUCK will have a special beer featured each day with a dollar off the already wonderfully priced taps.

If you go in Saturday after the Brewvolution all beers are a buck off with a ticket stub to the event, they only ask that you order an item off their food menu. For a quick bite we recommend the bierocks, but all the menu is delicious and on the cheap. Don’t get me started about the house-made pastrami.  Continue reading →

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by | November 7, 2013 · 1:29 pm

Are Tacos Actually Good For You?

taco1by Steven Doyle

Plenty of food news spawning from Mexico this week. First we hear tales of the beloved Mexican Coke possibly going the way of its American counterpart by using high fructose corn syrup. This is due to an excise that the Mexican government is placing on liters of the cola, giving cause for the Mexican bottler to go the cheaper and less healthy route. The reasoning for the peso tax per bottle is the higher obesity rates in Mexico.

When will the bottlers learn that we simply do not wish to consume high fructose corn syrup, and would pay a small premium for real sugar. Perhaps it is best we stay clear of the sodas altogether.

Today we have happier news in new study published by the Universidad de Las Américas de Puebla (UDLAP) in Central Mexico explaining that tacos are actually healthy. We knew this, right?   Continue reading →

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by | November 7, 2013 · 11:59 am

There’s More Than Meth and Los Pollo Hermanos in the Land of Breaking Bad

joeyby Joey Stewart

Walter White had it figured out. When living in ABQ, make sure to eat at home most of the time and use a fast food chicken chain as a cover for your high quality drug lab.

However, if you don’t snort the pretty blue rock and desire something other than fried chicken, finding top tier restaurants in the area can be challenging. On a recent two-month gig in New Mexico, we searched high and low and discovered a few gems we now share with you.    Continue reading →

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by | November 7, 2013 · 11:27 am

Miss Chi To Open In Preston Center

miss chiby Steven Doyle

Last September Wicked Po Boy shuttered in Preston Center with rumors that it would become some iteration of a pho house. Today on the Tanoshii Facebook page they displayed photos of the new concept which is definitely Vietnamese. The signs are up and they are now hiring for the latest in their growing group of restaurants. Welcome Miss Chi to the neighborhood, it just got a little tastier around here.

 

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