Category Archives: Oak Cliff

CampO Meets Cedars Social Dinner

by Steven Doyle

Last night some of the staff from Cedars Social did an all-out takeover of the kitchen at CampO Modern Country Bistro. No, this wasn’t coup d’état attempt, we still spotted the new chef Michael Ehlert at the restaurant. This was instead an open invitation from the owners Miguel Vicéns and John Paul Valverde in attempt to bring the two restaurants together.

“I don’t really view us as competition, instead more like communities with so much to offer,” said Valverde at the beginning of the dinner. Whatever the reasoning, it is a brilliant idea to bring in guest chefs and give them a chance to try some things they may not normally do in their own kitchen.    Continue reading

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Filed under chefs, Cocktails, Dallas, Oak Cliff, Steven Doyle

Margarita Meltdown 2012 VIP Brunch-N-Party Bus

by Jerry Stewart

Who is the best judge of food and drinks at restaurant and bars? YOU are! Come on out to the 2nd Annual Margarita Meltdown in eclectic Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff.

We are gathering some of the best names in the business like Bolsa, Smoke, Nova, El Ranchito, La Calle Dolce, Tillman’s, Veracruz Cafe, Mesa, Cyclone Anaya, Iron Cactus, Hacienda on Henderson, The Chesterfield, The Standard Pour, Sfuzzi, Four Lounge and more coming soon.    Continue reading

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Filed under Cocktails, Competition, Dallas, Margarita, Margarita Meltdown, Oak Cliff

Michael Ehlert Named New Chef At Campo

by Steven Doyle

Just a few short days ago chef Michael Ehlert was named as the new executive chef at CampO Modern Country Bistro in Oak Cliff.  Ehlert was formerly at The Chesterfield where he was met with rave reviews across all lines of  Dallas media including the Dallas Morning News.

Prior experience includes professional training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and as the prestigious executive sous-chef at Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen and Bar in New York.

Dallas has only witnessed a short side of Ehlert’s capabilities and should soon see a truer vision of what the chef is capable of executing.  Continue reading

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Filed under chefs, Crave, Oak Cliff, restaurant news, Steven Doyle

Driftwood Sailing With A Smooth Start

by Steven Doyle    photos by Joey Stewart

A week before Oak Cliff’s newest restaurant opened, Driftwood, we checked out the new menu and digs.  We were happy to report that it looked extremely promising and we were excited to see chef  Omar Flores, formerly of Abacus, leading the fight in the kitchen.

We found the seafood to be fresh and inviting.    Continue reading

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Chefs Giving Back

by Steven Doyle

Chefs and restaurant industry people in general are the most philanthropic people you will ever meet. Save a few network stars that have high end books deals and their faces slapped on every kitchen appliance ever made, these people are not wealthy. At least not in the traditional sense of the word. But hold any sort of fund raiser and try to envision the event without a chef on board. Difficult to do.

The fact of the matter is these restaurants and chefs donate their time and often their product for these events, often giving up time on their days off and actually paying other employees to assist with the project. These are definitely the most philanthropic people I know.       Continue reading

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Filed under chefs, Oak Cliff, Steven Doyle

Wachu TacoBot Willis? El Si Hay

by Danielle Leahy           photos by Jacque Manaugh

Long rumored to be some of the best tacos in all of Dallas (and continuously pitted against Fuel City by taco connoisseurs in the know) El Si Hay does the one thing most street taco stands back away from: letting nothing but the quality of the meat shine thru.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love a well sauced/seasoned taco. Gimme a picadillo or a guisada any day of the week and make me a happy girl. But having led the Tacobots on alternating meetups between the street vs gourmet world for over a year now it’s hard not to assume that when you show up somewhere that is serving tripe or barbacoa at 11pm there’s a good chance it’s gonna be soaking in something to keep it moist. Nothing could be further from the that at El Si Hay.             Continue reading

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Filed under beer, Crave, Danielle Leahy, Oak Cliff, TacoBots

First Look: Driftwood

by Steven Doyle

We  were given a first look at the new Oak Cliff restaurant Driftwood  just next door to Bolsa Mercado at 642 West Davis, in what was previous a dark Con Fusion, now owned by Jonn Baudoin. Baudoin graduated with an Industrial Design degree from the University of South Louisiana in Lafayette and has worked at many top restaurants in Dallas as General Manger including Dallas Fish Market, Nicola, Nikita, Salve and Mi Piaci.

The general theme of the menu is seafood and the restaurant’s overall feel, which was designed by Daniela Baudoin’s company Vision 360 Design, is brightened by sea-foam and cool woods, and sports a beautiful patio.     Continue reading

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Filed under chefs, Cocktails, Crave, Food Porn Alert, fun with food, Oak Cliff, restaurant news, Seafood, Steven Doyle, Wine

New Menu At Bolsa Starts Today

by Steven Doyle

Today is certainly a Good Friday. Many of you are off from work and enjoying this beautiful day, spending time with family and friends.  I am personally invigorated by the freshness of Spring, and have the perfect spot for you to celebrate today.  Last night I was given a sneak preview to the Bolsa new menu and it is nothing short of breath taking.

Chef Jeff Harris has really shined on this new menu, taking advantage of all the new Spring vegetables provided him by our local farmers like Tom Spicer and Eden Creek Farms. We are actually planning a full on report for Monday morning, but we managed a few snapshots last night and wanted to give you fuel to run out to the Oak Cliff restaurant.  If you have managed to avoid the place this long, perhaps it is time to check out Bolsa and what chef Harris is creating along with his exec-sous Matt Balke.                 Continue reading

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Filed under Bacon, Celebrate, Cheese, Cocktails, Farm, Oak Cliff, Spring Menu, Steven Doyle