Monthly Archives: December 2013

by | December 16, 2013 · 9:33 am

Gemma Opens December 26

Brick chickenby Steven Doyle

Here is the latest restaurant  to open in the Henderson area. This space was formerly Fish City Grill and is a few doors down from Veritas. The press release says it all. Photos courtesy of Kevin Marple.

Dallas’ newest restaurant created by husband and wife duo, Allison Yoder and Stephen Rogers will open December 26th 2013 for dinner.  Located at 2323 Henderson Avenue, Gemma promises to offer a fresh and modern American seasonal menu with ethnic influences in a welcoming and comfortable setting.

Allison Yoder will act as general manager, while her chef husband Stephen Rogers will run the kitchen.  Rogers says his food is “simple, uncomplicated, rustic but refined”. He manipulates recipes from all different regions and countries around the globe to bring a simple yet boldly flavorful experience.  Taking inspiration from Asian, Italian, Mediterranean, French cultures and more, Rogers says, “ I am not trying to reinvent the wheel. I want to showcase the ingredients of my recipes and deliver a product that our guests will crave.”  Rogers purchases his proteins and veggies from small American farmers and producers and works a great deal with vegetables as an accompaniment.    Continue reading →

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by | December 13, 2013 · 2:38 pm

Amberjax To Open Dec 20 In Trinity Groves

DSC09426by Christi Halstead

Trinity Groves is hopping with a few new restaurants just weeks away from opening. The next restaurant to open in the super cool dining area on the other side of the new Hunt bridge is Amberjax. Check out their website for a full menu that actually reads like a bible. Insiders tell us that the kitchen is equipped with every gadget known in the chef world, and it looks like they are going to use each implement. Amberjax is all about the seafood. Look for menu fare such as BBQ Shrimp Po Boys (my favorite since I am from New Orleans) to Grilled Swordfish and Filet Oscar.

In the market, AmberJax will provide an array of entrees including fresh fish, seafood and prime beef. The market will cater to families on the go, offering take-out and ready-to-cook healthy meals, as well as fresh produce and side items.     Continue reading →

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by | December 13, 2013 · 2:17 pm

Here Is Our Restaurant Advice For This Weekend

DSC00730by Steven Doyle

You want to eat at all the hottest places in Dallas this weekend, well I have a few stand up choices. With all the new openings we all love to try and hit the new ones before going back to our old reliables. If you are like me you love to add new spots to the rotation of restaurants. I will admit to one major obsession, and for those that know me even in the slightest will guess that obsession has been Shell Shack on McKinney Avenue. Shell Shack has served me well nearly twenty times since opening less than two months ago. One really good reason is because their kitchen is open until 1am, except Sunday where they close at 10pm. Should you drop by there, ask for what I usually get, which is a pound of Dungeness doctored up with a spicy concoction they call ‘the kitchen sink’. There are different spice levels, and I typically go hot instead of the very hottest which is called diablo. You can add potatoes, corn and even a tasty sausage.

I have actually written very little about Shell Shack, unless you happen to follow me on Facebook where I beat down my friends weekly with enticing photos of crab. The whole affair can get quite messy, but they have hand washing machines on the ready.   Continue reading →

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by | December 13, 2013 · 1:07 pm

Cocktails For A Cause This Sunday At Standard Pour

trigger1by Tracy Jimenez

Calling all cocktail lovers! On Sunday, December 15th, 45 of DFW’s best bartenders are shaking concoctions for charity in this year’s Cocktails for a Cause. They will take over The Standard Pour in Uptown to raise money for a local charity called Trigger’s Toys, dedicated to donating toys to children in hospitals around the area.

Bryan Townsend, the Founder of Trigger’s Toys, with the help of Whiskey Cake’s Sean Conner and The Standard Pour’s Bryan McCullough, have rallied local bartenders and mixologists to put on the ultimate pop-up bar where teams of five bartenders will come in every hour to craft specialty cocktails for $10 each. 100% of all proceeds will go to Trigger’s Toys and those in need. Participating bartenders include: Kyle Hilla (Bolsa), Ivan Rimach (Mexican Sugar), Alex Fletcher (Victor Tangos), and many more.    Continue reading →

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by | December 13, 2013 · 11:44 am

Miss Chi Is Cute And She Can Cook

SONY DSCby Steven Doyle

There appears to be a new restaurant power couple developing restaurants at break neck speeds in Dallas. Opening their first restaurant, Wicked Po Boy, back in June of 2012, Lan Chi and Joey Le have since opened Tanoshii Ramen + Bar successfully in Deep Ellum this past September.  Less than a month ago Miss Chi was introduced in Preston Center, and based on the crowds we witnessed on several occasions, the latest restaurant is a huge success. We have loved and enjoyed each concept, and Miss Chi certainly falls into those ranks.

Miss Chi is all about the Vietnamese food, which Dallas has embraced openly. The Pho phenomenon has escalated to the point where a bowl of the savory broth is simply part of the weekly rotation for many. The pho at Miss Chi will warm your cockles with its complex flavors, and tender bits of beast including rare slices of steak, tender meatballs and sultry tendon. The soup is garnished with chopped onions and herbs, and served with the usual basil, bean sprouts and wedges of lime. This is truly a delicious bowl of pho.    Continue reading →

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by | December 13, 2013 · 11:30 am

“Seats For Soldiers” Tomorrow And You Can Help

mavsby Jennifer Thomas

American Airlines and the Dallas Mavericks are partnering for the ninth year to host “Seats for Soldiers,” a unique experience for our nation’s military heroes. This year, more than 100 wounded service members will travel from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio to join reserve troops in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in attending the Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks game on Dec. 14 at American Airlines Center.

Upon arrival at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the group will enjoy dinner at Abacus prior to attending the Mavericks-Bucks game. Abacus owner and executive chef Kent Rathbun has developed a special menu featuring country ham wrapped jambalaya cakes with etouffee sauce, wood roasted Allen Brothers prime rib, smoked pecan-cranberry green beans, chocolate truffle cake, and malted milk chocolate ice cream.   Continue reading →

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by | December 12, 2013 · 1:39 pm

The List: Give Local Gifts For The Holidays

by Steven Doyle

It’s that time of year when you start making your naughty and nice list up for holiday gifting and we have come up with a simple way to take care of everyone on the nice side. Our short list has a few of our favorite notions and local gourmet items that will fit a budget of any size. Check out our 2013 holiday gift list.   Continue reading →

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by | December 12, 2013 · 11:51 am

Knob Creek Whole Hog Dinner At Boulevardier

tateby Steven Doyle

Recently I was an invited guest at a special dinner hosted by Knob Creek that was held at Boulevardier in Bishop Arts. Boulevardier is already one of my favorite Dallas restaurants, but this was a special menu that included two whole hogs, one which was actually broken down in front of the gathering by one chef Nathan Tate. Tate is a bounty of a man that easily and deftly handles the hog with precision accuracy. He used each part of the swine to create a splendid dinner that had diners chatting about it for days. Here is why.

The evening started with a flurry of passed appetizers and Knob Creek laced cocktails. Eddie Eakin had a full complement of bartenders staffed and ready to make the cocktails fly at a moments notice. Although we thoroughly enjoyed sipping the whiskey straight, it was particularly enjoyed in each of the four cocktails presented that evening. We started with a Brown Bomber which is made up of Cocchi Americano, Suze, and Five Spice Bitters. I am sure Eakin can recreate this cocktail for you should you ask. He is currently undertaking a 150 cocktail bible that will be enacted soon at the restaurant.    Continue reading →

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