Where To Find Your Black-Eyed Peas For New Years Day

peasby Steven Doyle

Black-eyed peas have long been a traditional New Years dish with the thought that they bring the eater good luck. The tradition dates back to the Civil War, when Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General William Tecumseh Sherman, typically stripped the countryside of all stored food, crops, and livestock, and destroyed whatever they could not carry away. At that time, Northerners considered “field peas” and field corn suitable only for animal fodder, and did not steal or destroy these humble foods. It’s a southern thing.

There are a few great places to enjoy your personal pot of good luck in the Dallas area. Certainly look to the obvious spots such as Celebration on Lovers Lane in Dallas where they have been serving  southern hospitality since 1971. In addition to your black-eyed peas, you can also find a great chicken fried steak, catfish, meatloaf and other hearty dishes to start your year off right.   Continue reading

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Vidorra Makes its Highly Anticipated Addison Debut

The Addison community will get to experience “the good life” at Vidorra through inspired Mexican cuisine and over-the-top cocktails when it opens on Monday, Dec. 28.

Located at 5100 Beltline Road, Ste. #410 in Addison’s Village on the Parkway, Vidorra will serve hand-crafted Mexican dishes and curated cocktails, as well as a large tequila selection. The new 5,800-square-foot restaurant marks Vidorra’s second location in Dallas-Fort Worth and second systemwide.

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Finding Tamales in Dallas

Reata-Fort-Worth-Tamales

As the holidays continue and we ready for the new year, many will offer blessings for our heart and hearth.And nothing blesses my hearth more than a few dozen tamales lovingly hand-made in homes or selected from a steaming basket that an experienced tamale-maker offers as she passes from office to office. For those who do not possess the skills nor the energy to craft their own tamales, DFW  is rich with eager cooks willing to share their bounty.

Local chef Stephan Pyles co-authored a book on tamales and makes literally thousands of them for the holiday season. Says Pyles, “West Texas has heavy southern and Hispanic influences and one of my favorite early memories is my discovery of tamales. I was most intrigued by the fact that they came in their own special ‘gift-wrapping.’ That early fascination was enough inspiration for me to compose an entire book on the subject.”

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Covid Damage to Dallas Dining Scene

Let’s take a look at some of the havoc the pandemic has done with regards to Dallas area restaurants. The list isn’t pretty and left a hole on our dining scene. The list is far from complete and far from being over.

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Order Texas Treats Before December 21

There’s still time to dazzle your friends and family with this holiday season’s tastiest gift. Order the Ultimate Texas Treats gift box from Assembly and the Texas Food & Wine Alliance (TFWA) before 3 pm, Monday, December 21 for pre-Christmas delivery anywhere in Texas.

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Rooftop Life-Sized Snow Globes and Bubbles To Celebrate the Season

Waterproof, the rooftop lounge at the iconic Statler, offers expansive, breathtaking views of downtown Dallas. But when the temperatures drop, you just might be able to see that breath. That’s why the lounge is offering a way for you to stay nice and cozy this winter. For the second year in a row, Waterproof is offering life-size Snow Globes for your party of 2 to 8 to bundle in and stay warm – and socially distanced from others. 

The Snow Globes – which must be reserved in advance – come in two sizes: One is large enough for a lively party of 8, while three are just right for two to four people to comfortably enjoy an evening.  The large Globe requires a food and beverage minimum of $600 for two hours, and the smaller globes have a minimum of $200 for two hours.

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Far East Pizza Co Sounds Amazing

A North Texas Asian-inspired pizzeria opens up in the Richardson area for delivery and pick-up only. 

Like most immigrants, Far East Pizza Co. owner & chef Nidhi Mittal moved to the States for “a better life for her family.” Mittal and her husband ran a little deli inside a business building serving mostly the tenants and once the pandemic happened, they had to change the course. She reached out to Chef Troy Gardner of TLC Vegan Kitchen and with his help, they crafted a menu blending Mittal’s favorite Indian recipes and American Italian dishes.  

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Jack Gibbons CEO of Rebranded Front Burner

Winston Churchill once famously said, “never let a good crisis go to waste.”

The executive team at Front Burner Restaurants, LLC took those words to heart during the category-crushing COVID crisis, reshaping and repositioning the company’s portfolio of concepts under a new brand – FB Society – and adopting a 360-degree approach to deliver unrivaled experiences to both their employees and guests.

The award-winning multi-concept operator – which counts among its distinctive restaurant brands Whiskey CakeSixty VinesMexican SugarIda Claire and Haywire – used the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to analyze and double-down on key elements of its success. The result: a fully integrated collection of brands uniquely positioned for long-term growth and success, and a leadership team focused on WHY.

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