by Andrew Chalk
This week Andrew Chalk takes in an interview with the winemaker at Messina Hof, a Texas vineyard established in 1977 by Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo, which is rooted in the union of two family heritages. Winemaker Paul Bonarrigo’s family dates back seven generations to Messina, Sicily. Merrill’s family is from Hof, Germany. Jump for the video. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine
by Andrew Chalk
The World’s Best Restaurant Awards (sponsored by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna) has just released their results for 2012 and the results make depressing reading for those who accredited Spain’s long dominance to a personality cult around Ferran Adria. He has moved on to new projects but another Spanish restaurant has replaced El Bulli at number one in the world rankings: El Celler de Can Roca in Girona. The theme is ’emotional food’, twists on Catalonian favorites that trigger certain memories. Noma, the Copenhagen centre of foraging, is bumped to number two.
If your one of the many Crave readers picking up your Maserati from the factory this summer you will be delighted to know that Osteria Fransescana in Modena came third. Continue reading
by Andrew Chalk
Stephan Pyles Stampede 66 has already created a lot of interest among Dallas diners. There is going to be even more now that the restaurant has introduced “Sunday Supper” where we were invited media. I predict that this seating is going to prove as popular with Dallas as Sunday brunch. The basic idea is that there is a set menu, live music, and a fixed price for food (a regular bar menu is also available) of $35 for adults and $20 for children.
The helpings are large enough that you are actually getting two meals for the price of one (we took Monday lunch and dinner home!) so this is an undiscovered bargain – even without considering the complimentary valet parking. When you add in the fact that there is no traffic to contend with on Sunday nights, I see Stampede Sundays becoming a favorite with Uptown, Downtown and Victory Park residents very soon. Continue reading
Filed under chefs, Restaurant
by Andrew Chalk
This just in from Pappas Bros…
PAPPAS BROS. STEAKHOUSE HOSTS FINE WINE TASTING EVENT
“Hidden Gems of Italy” on Friday, May 3
On Friday evening May 3, seasoned sommeliers will present the “Hidden Gems of Italy” wine tasting in a private room at one of the top steakhouses in Texas: Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Dallas. The evening will feature a unique tasting of outstanding Italian vintages of vibrant fruit and flavor to suit the most discriminating palate. Continue reading
Filed under Wine
by Andrew Chalk
Fans of Malaysian food will remember Blue Ginger Garden in Plano, which closed in January of last year. The couple behind that one-of-a-kind place are coming back and opening Asian Delights Café a short distance from the site of the old Blue Ginger Garden. The menu looks like it will be similar but they are making more of an attempt to explain Malaysian food in the context of other Southeast Asian cuisines.
A soft opening is planned on May 1st but when I checked the web site was not yet up so there may be last minute delays.
Asian Delights Café | 2929 Custer Road Ste 315, Plano | 972.985.8889
Filed under Restaurant Opening
by Andrew Chalk
Maneet Chauhan, judge on the Food Network’s Chopped and Iron Chef contestant is on a 40 city tour of the country to promote her new book Flavors Of My World (co-written Doug Singer). A rock star type luxury coach is transporting her and a film crew for a month a total of over 8,500 miles and maintaining a grueling daily schedule. This Friday she was in Dallas for a book signing, followed by an afternoon conducting a Pro-Start cooking competition for high school students (Pro-Start is a program of the National Restaurant Association to promote interest in in culinary careers), and then overseeing a Celebrity Chef Dinner at Komali. Continue reading
by Andrew Chalk
Premium Tequila maker Casa Dragones asked Rosewood Mansion at Turtle Creek execuchef Bruno Davaillon and he said it is Scallop Carpaccio with pickled radish, cilantro, jalapeño lime pudding, seaweed crouton. Continue reading
by Andrew Chalk
Sunday night the Dallas Cowboys set themselves a target of raising $200,000 for the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB). An important goal, as the NTFB is $600,000 short of their annual target and the fiscal year ends in June. To get to the target, the Cowboys held the Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party.
At an event emceed by Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher alongside former players Preston Pearson, Chad Hennings and Daryl Johnston, guests got the chance to bid in a live auction for such things as wine country luxury getaways, chefs tasting meals for 10 at Abacus, lunch with “Christopher Ewing” (Jesse Metcalfe) and a pit pass and suite at three races at North Texas Motor Speedway. Supplementing the live auction was a silent auction with dozens of lots including Cowboys memorabilia, meals at local restaurants, wines and spirits. Continue reading
Filed under North Texas Food Bank
