Category Archives: Food Porn Alert

by Steven Doyle | July 1, 2011 · 12:13 pm

A Peek at the Pyramid

by Steven Doyle

Chef Andre Natera celebrated his year at the Fairmont Dallas last month with little fanfare but with a personal excitement for the Dallas food scene and bigger hopes for making our city more destination than it is today.

How does a single chef perform such an audacious feat single-handedly? He doesn’t. The Zen-chef who adheres to French technique with a vast respect for all things local has always maintained that it is the responsibility of each chef to promote and encourage the next generation of cooks that will take their place in front of our plates.

This sometimes begs me to question the role of an executive chef. Is it their responsibility to grow young chefs to eventually replace themselves, or should they be more concerned with promoting their own brand? Perhaps the answer is both. Continue reading →

Filed under chefs, Crave, Downtown, Food Porn Alert, Steven Doyle

by Steven Doyle | June 28, 2011 · 9:16 am

An Anniversary to Remember

by Steven Doyle

This past weekend I was fortunate to help celebrate the 10^th wedding anniversary of Sharon Van Meter and her husband Jerry Owens with their close friends and family.

You may know Van Meter from Milestone Culinary Arts Center, but she is also a very well respected chef who is a graduate of the Cordon Bleu, Paris, has been inducted in the honorable culinary societies of World Master Chefs Society, Les Dames d’Escoffier and Euro-Toques International. She has cheffed at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago and also is Director of New Projects Development for Food Network TV.

I am fortunate to know the couple and will admit that Sharon has been instrumental in guiding me with several projects. She is giving and benevolent as she is talented and loving.

With all that gushiness aside I wish to share a few photos from the couples special evening where they hosted about 30 for dinner at the Milestone this past weekend.

Continue reading →

Filed under chefs, Crave, Events, Food, Food Porn Alert, Milestone Culinary Arts Center, Party!, Steven Doyle, Uptown, Wine

by Steven Doyle | June 28, 2011 · 8:30 am

Ceviche – Cool, Fresh, Craveworthy‏

by Jon Alexis

Who among us doesn’t crave something cool and citrusy when the thermometer starts going crazy? Now how about something cool and citrusy that can be made in the AC and doesn’t even require a stove or grill?

For these reasons, as well as being delicioso, ceviche is the perfect summer dish. Unlike the burgers and hot dogs we pound all summer long, this is a dish you can eat by the pool…and still look good in your bathing suit the next day.

Ceviche is not a specific recipe, although there are some basic guidelines: fresh raw fish “cooked” in citrus juice, mixed with vegetables and spices. Combine and let sit a few hours or even over night. Continue reading →

Filed under beer, chefs, Crave, Food Porn Alert, Jon Alexis, Seafood, TJ's Seafood Market

by Steven Doyle | June 27, 2011 · 10:34 am

Pizza D’oh!

by Steven Lindsey Photos by Rod Orta

Is Dallas big enough for another authentic Neapolitan pizza restaurant? Absolutely. But in the old Chocolate Angel space at Preston and Forest that once was home to Il Cane Rosso, one of the most justifiably buzzed-about pizzerias to hit the metroplex? That’s right where San Antonio transplant Dough will soon open. Talk about déjà vu.

Tasked with the delicious assignment of doing a little pizza recon 300 miles away, I headed to the Alamo city to check out Dough mere days before owners Doug and Lisa Horn plan to open their second location. (By the way, it was reading an article in Rachael Ray’s magazine that forced me to realize the genius of the name Dough. Doug H? DougH?) Yeah, took me a minute, too. But in my defense, I was too focused on the amazing spread on my table. Continue reading →

Filed under Crave, Food Porn Alert, fun with food, North Dallas, pizza, Restaurant Opening, Steven Lindsey, Travel

by Steven Doyle | June 23, 2011 · 12:12 pm

Abacus Hosts Niman Ranch

by Steven Doyle

photos by

José Ralat Maldonado

Last evening I was the invited guest to attend the Niman Ranch dinner at Kent Rathbun’s Abacus. You may have seen some of Niman’s proteins listed on better menus everywhere, but you will rarely, if ever find them at any supermarket.

There is a good reason why the meats are so scare. The quality is excuisite and very much high in demand.

Niman Ranch works with the largest network of sustainable U.S. family farmers and ranchers – 676 and growing. Many of these ranchers are Amish. All their animals are raised outdoors or in deeply bedded pens. Raising protocols were developed with the help of animal welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin, and are the strictest in the industry.

Niman Ranch offers a complete line of fresh beef, pork, lamb, poultry, cage-free eggs and a variety of smoked and cured meats. Niman Ranch is leading the industry in sustainable and humane agricultural practices.

With all that love being told by Niman rep and rancher Paul Willie we were treated to a fantastic version of many of their products by none other than Kent Rathbun himself. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under chefs, Crave, Food Porn Alert, fun with food, Steven Doyle, Wine

by Steven Doyle | June 22, 2011 · 1:22 pm

Vegan Girl Checks Out Central 214: Summer Lovin’

by Melissa Brenner

[editors note: Steven Doyle and Vegan Girl checked out Central 214 together this week. Mr. Doyle’s version was run Monday, this is a vegan follow-up to that same visit.]

I love people that love food and alcohol as much as I do, but that is not the only reason that Chef Blythe Beck of Central 214 is on my favorite people list. The first time I met Chef Beck I fell in love with her spunk and sense of humor (she totally allowed me to playfully harass her as she did a cooking demo as she harassed me back paired with some of the most amazing eye rolls I have ever seen). The last time I met Chef Beck I fell in love with her vegan offerings at Central 214.

Chef Beck is known for being naughty in and out of the kitchen. The meal she prepared for me lived up to her reputation and bordered on pornographic. The following is a description of that meal, including the best entrée of my vegan life, so you may want to have your children leave the room. Continue reading →

Filed under chefs, Crave, Food Porn Alert, fun with food, Melissa Brenner, Vegan, Vegan Finds

by Steven Doyle | June 20, 2011 · 12:02 pm

Chef Blythe Beck’s Summer Shade

by Steven Doyle

I had been hearing about some good things happening at Central 214 located in the Palomar Hotel on Mockingbird at Central so I decided to check out exactly what the hubbub that the pink chef Blythe Beck was up to. I had seen Beck at the Taste of the Nation dinner at Stephan Pyles last week where she was given the best chef award for the evening so that made my curiosity even stronger.

Chef Beck is no stranger to her kitchen digs, starting out with Dean Fearing at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek working her way up to a Saucier position, then eventually staking claim to the Sous at Hector’s on Henderson and eventually tackling Executive Chef in 2006. This is where her ‘naughtiness’ started to emerge. You can still find her crazy good deep fried lobster stuffed avocado on the menu. Continue reading →

Filed under Bacon, chefs, Food Porn Alert, Steven Doyle, Wine

by Steven Doyle | June 17, 2011 · 9:51 am

A First Look at RedFork

by Steven Doyle

Last evening we were treated to an exclusive special look at RedFork the new Jeff Harris concept that is to open for business tonight with the limited bar menu. For a full menu and grand opening you will need to wait until next Friday, June 24, when Harris and his crew throw down in full swing.

Also look forward to brunch that will be served both Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 2pm.

The newly opened restaurant is located on Fitzhugh just east of Central Expressway. The restaurant has a clean pub feel to it, with concrete floors, exposed ceilings and the expansive bar located just to the left as you walk inside. Continue reading →

Filed under beer, Brunch, Burgers, chefs, Cocktails, Food Porn Alert, restaurant news, Restaurant Opening, Spirits, Steven Doyle