Shinsei Adds Izakaya-Inspired Service

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Already a prime social gathering place for Dallas diners, Shinsei continues to evolve and innovate to keep the experience fresh for its loyal patrons. Beginning on Friday, May 8th, Shinsei will launch Izakaya-inspired service in the upstairs lounge, newly remodeled by Dallas designer Greg O’Neal. The updated design aesthetic replaces the original lime green with a new color palette, including pops of bright coral. And a heavy curtained wall reduces outside noise and allows the lounge to be closed off for private events.

In Japan, izakayas are cultural cornerstones for conversation, noshes and enjoying drinks with friends in a convivial, unpretentious atmosphere. Shinsei is embracing that social sensibility by offering an impressive wine list, pouring inventive cocktails and serving Japanese and domestic beers and grand cru sakes alongside inspired small plates crafted by new Executive Chef, Jeramie Robison. These delicious plates will be offered as gratis bites presented in three creative tastes that change daily. For patrons who desire something more, Shinsei’s regular appetizer menu and sushi menu will be available as well.   Continue reading

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When Wine Meets Divine at Komali

DSC07305by Steven Doyle

The best, the most unique meals you will ever enjoy are the special events created by chefs at their hosted wine o beer or cocktail dinners. This was precisely the case at the dinner we enjoyed recently at Komali as owner Abraham Salum and his executive chef Julio Peraza bestowed an insanely good menu  paired with Mi Sueno wines.

Mi Sueno has a pretty terrific story that is well worth being retold. It involves the epic climb to the top and eventual ownership of a stellar winery by Rolando Herrera. Herrera is the definition of a self-made man, and winemaker who early on used his home-made bottles of  chardonnay as a calling card, or resume that eventually landed his status in Napa.    Continue reading

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First Look: El Bolero

DSC07359by Steven Doyle

El Bolero, the new Mexican restaurant by Richard & Tiffanee Ellman and John Paul Valverde quietly opened their doors in the Design District this past weekend with opening executive  chef, Hugo Galvan. Owner Tiffanee Ellman tells us that Chef Galvan, who hails from San Miguel De Allende, “is extremely talented and has a deep and personal expertise in creating the regional and authentic flavors that will form the fabric of the El Bolero experience.”

Chef Galvan has spent years cooking and training in kitchens in the U.S. and Europe, but he states that it is his “experience in restaurants and mercados across different regions of Mexico that will be integral to El Bolero’s cuisine.”  You will most likely have sampled his cuisine at Café San Miguel on Henderson Avenue, and Hacienda San Miguel in Fort Worth.   Continue reading

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Heat Things Up In The Kitchen

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Food can be a powerful tool—well, strike that, good food can be a powerful tool. With the right meal, you can successfully seduce your special someone, so much so that you can barely finish the meal before you’re tearing into one another.

But the real questions is, what should you whip up in the kitchen if you’re trying to get things going in the bedroom?    Continue reading

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Rabbit Hole Brewing to Release a Kopi Luwak Beer

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Rabbit Hole Brewing  will debut a special Firkin at the Untapped Festival Ft Worth on May 9: a cask conditioned version of Rapture (Fusion Brown Ale) infused with Mystical Coffee’s Wild Mountain Luwak coffee. Kopi Luwak, or Wild Civet coffee is the rarest, most unique, exotic and highly coveted coffee in the world. Wild civets select coffee berries and eats them, then after they are released by the civets the best beans are selected and processed.   Continue reading

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Revolver Taco Closing, Possible Relocation

revolver1by Steven Doyle

Fort Worth’s Revolver Taco, considered one of the best tacos in that area, will be shuttering and looking for a new location very soon. The dispute is over the building which has previously been leased. Revolver Taco was offered the opportunity to purchase the building, but instead declined. We have the message below that was released just moments ago on Facebook:   Continue reading

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Kolaches, a Little North of West

PSKolache7by Trey Moran

I had heard and read about Pearl Snap Kolaches for months but had yet make it over there, so I went.  They are located in the old “Tres Joses” location on White Settlement road not far from University Drive where the road makes the big “S” curve. There is not much in the way of signage but you can’t miss it.

Inside is setup to be like a comfortable coffee shop/lounge with couches, tables and chairs. The atmosphere is pretty laid back. Some traces of the Mexican restaurant are still visible, such as the wall sized bullfighter mural, which adds to the charm.  As you enter, the counter is directly in front of you with all of the offerings displayed. A large chalk board menu is just above but it’s hard not to stare and salivate at what is laid out before you in the case. These really are not your traditional Czech kolaches and what sets these apart from the others I have tried is the dough. These are very light and slightly yeasty. Imagine a Hawaiian sweet roll with a little more density.   Continue reading

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A Trip To Square Burger In McKinney

by Steven Doyle

What do you do with a chef who graduated from the California Culinary Academy, worked at Spago, Abacus, Five Sixty and numerous other spots of similar caliber? Some might say have the chef move to McKinney and open a café that sells  great burgers and beer. That is the case with chef Craig Brundege who operates Square Burger in McKinney.

Square Burger has been running strong for over four years offering their power-house line up of great burgers and daily specials that will often include fresh fish and pastas. But what drives us 30 miles up I75 to downtown McKinney from the inner-workings of Dallas are those haunting burgers.   Continue reading

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