Author Archives: Steven Doyle

by | January 24, 2012 · 8:34 am

ZestFest 2012 This Weekend

by Crave Staff

Anyone who appreciates the hotter things in life is invited to indulge in a fiery food experience January 27-29, as ZestFest 2012 brings together the spiciest exhibitors and products from around the country for one sizzling weekend. ZestFest is the ultimate party for bold and flavorful food enthusiasts. Produced by Spicy Food Productions and taking place in Irving, Texas, ZestFest will be action-packed. Cooking demos by celebrity chefs, live music, interactive contests and thousands of bold food samples will make January 27-29, 2012 the zestiest weekend of the year.

Dates: Friday, January 27, 2012 10:00-1:00 TRADE ONLY
Friday, January 27, 2012 1:00-7:00
Saturday, January 28, 2012 10:00-6:00
Sunday, January 29, 2012 10:00-5:00

Place: Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
500 W Las Colinas Blvd.
Irving, TX

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Filed under chefs, Crave, fun with food

by | January 23, 2012 · 3:19 pm

Meet Chef DAT of the Soon to Open Mason Bar

by Steven Doyle

In collaboration with Brandt Wood and chef David Anthony Temple will be opening the kitchen at the Mason Bar in just a few short weeks. You may remember Temple, often referred to as Chef DAT. He is the 28-year old chef who has been honing his skills by running a successful series of underground dinners in the Dallas area. Now the DAT has gone legit.

The Mason Bar rests comfortably in its digs at 2701 Gulliot in Dallas in the State Thomas section of Dallas that just borders Uptown. There we find the interesting building which was originally a church in the 1930’s and eventually a Freemason Lodge in 1951. For seven years it was the home for artist James Sasso and the artist has promised to send out some artwork to represent that period.    Continue reading →

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Filed under Bar Opening, Breakfast, Brunch, chefs, Crave, Dallas, First Look, New Orleans, restaurant news, Restaurant Opening, Robert Bostick, Steven Doyle

by | January 23, 2012 · 1:55 pm

Absinthe and SOLVENTs, Good?

by Nick Bostick

Next door to Representative Eric Johnson’s office is the Absinthe Cigar Lounge and Bar, home base to local Dallas art collective Solvent. The night I checked out the bar it was crowded, filled with music and couples. I made my way to the VIP room and Continue reading →

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Filed under Arts, Crave, Local, Nicholas Bostick

by | January 23, 2012 · 1:03 pm

The Office Grill: Closing There and Opening Here

by Steven Doyle

The Office Grill  has certainly been plagued with their own variety of troubles and today announce that they are closing their doors at days end. Or are they?

Today we received word that Michael Costa’s Rainmaker Group is in final discussions with a national restaurant consortium whose two chains are a household name and in negotiations with a few other developers to share the Office concept on a much larger scale. The negotiations will possibly be completed with in 48 hours.         Continue reading →

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by | January 23, 2012 · 12:34 pm

Cuquito’s Owner to Open Four Corners

by Steven Doyle

Word from Cuquita’s owner, Elizabeth Villafranca, she will be opening another restaurant in the same Farmer’s Branch shopping center as her current resataurant. You may remember Cuquita’s that was listed as one of the top five Mexican restaurant’s in the state per Texas Monthly. We count them in our top as well in many categories including incredible tamales and tortillas that are both handmade daily.        Continue reading →

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Filed under Coffee, Mexican Food, restaurant news, Restaurant Opening, Steven Doyle

by | January 23, 2012 · 11:44 am

Evening Land at Bailey’s Prime Plus

by Katie Minchew

Last week, I filled in for Steve for an evening out with good friends and even better wine at Bailey’s Prime Plus. I have to admit that I am a newb to the wine industry but I think that it is one of the most lavish, fascinating, and sophisticated hobbies–no, wait, more than a hobby, a passion, lifestyle, addiction–that anyone could ever have. I am also a dreamer and have always wanted to live on or own a winery so this event where Evening Land’s Master Sommelier Larry Stone paired incredibly wines from France, California, and Oregon with dishes from Bailey’s Prime Chef Grant Morgan, I was in heaven.     Continue reading →

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Filed under chefs, Crave, Katie Minchew, Sommelier, Wine

by | January 23, 2012 · 11:21 am

Culpepper’s Wente Wine Dinner

by Steven Doyle

What do you get when you crowd a dozen chefs and a winemaker into a kitchen? Something fairly spectacular. Such was the case last week as Culpepper’s Steakhouse in Rockwall hosted Wente Vineyards at their semi-regular wine dinner where we were an invited guest.

The chef list was impressive and included the Good 2 Go taco gals, Colleen O’Hare and jeana Johnson; Ian Nicken’s from Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop; Pete Harrison from Dakota’s; Chad Bowden from Culpepper’s; Nathan Tate and Randall Copeland from Ava; Dan Landsberg from ZaZa and Culpepper’s pastry chef Rachel Jeske.       Continue reading →

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Filed under chefs, Crave, Diet, Food Porn Alert, Rockwall, Steven Doyle, Wine

by | January 23, 2012 · 10:36 am

Urban Epicurious Top 10 Food Porn Moments

by Steven Doyle

Bev Garvin is a friend of craveDFW and also a local social media buff and photographer who maintains a pretty cool local site called Urban Epicurious. Today Bev joins us to celebrate her top 10 favorite food porn moments. We will run these over successive days so you may savor each bite.

If you haven’t ventured over to Smoke Restaurant next door to the Belmont Hotel on Fort Worth Avenue in Oak Cliff for brunch, you need to. Executive Chef, Tim Byers pulled out all the stops when he planned the brunch menu, and the Ricotta Cheese Pancakes are a perfect example of how he did just that. Each dish on the brunch menu is unique and, as such, these are no ordinary pancakes. They are not flat, thin, heavy or slathered in butter, and there is no maple syrup, nor will you even want it. No, what you will be served when you order this is nothing short of transcendental bliss. Continue reading →

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Filed under Bacon, Bev Garvin, Dallas, Food Porn Alert