Tag Archives: New Orleans

First Look: Amberjax in Trinity Groves

DSC09383by Steven Doyle

Tis the season to open a restaurant in Trinity Groves. If you have not checked out the growing number of restaurants that have recently opened in Trinity Groves, you are missing out on a new treasure in Dallas. The most recent to join that list of openings is Amberjax. Located on the northside of the main building, Amberjax is both a seafood market and restaurant combined into one. Amberjax is owned and operated by Larry Williams and Karen Simmons-Williams. Larry was formerly running the kitchen at Rex’s Seafood Market, and jumped ship to open his own restaurant. Originally he planned to stake claim directly across the street from Rex’s, but that plan was scrubbed and he partnered with Phil Romano and Trinity Groves. 

The restaurant opened this past Saturday to a large reception. The room is long and airy with a genteel southern feel. The interior is bright and inviting, and not overly pretentious much like Larry himself. Amberjax is no doubt occupies the largest space in Trinity Groves so far (sans 3015 the cheffy entertainment venue across the parking lot), and also has the largest and most interesting kitchen which is decked out with every appliance known to chefs.    Continue reading

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NOLA Restaurant Root A Fresh Discovery

P1030802by Farah Fleurima

On a visit last month to New Orleans’ Root restaurant, I discovered a garden-fresh oasis of seasonal, chef-crafted fare in a sea of Cajun and Creole excess (not that we dislike those excesses). Executive chef Phillip L. Lopez’s creations fondly reminded me of the earthy uniqueness that comes out of Chef Matt McCallister’s kitchen at FT33: inspired, crafty, playful fare that uses the best of local purveyors and what’s in season … and is plated fancifully.

Inside the Warehouse District eatery, I was delighted by the open airiness and bright green touches in the décor – definitely reminded me of a garden!   Continue reading

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The Mossie Report From Tales Of The Cocktail

totc5by Mossie Power

Southern Hospitality is renowned around the world and it was something that this Irish blow-in to Dallas experienced at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail.  What was hoped was to educate, taste and taste some more spirits.  What was found was that there is spirit alive and kicking with the Texas service family.

For this eager traveler this was both a mixture of work and fun with the now legendary William Grant and Sons party on Wednesday night, with a movie, theme taking up the only time spent behind the stick.  Texas was again represented in force with Carly Boord showcasing a cell with all the colors of the rainbow with Reyka.  JP De Lora looked even more dapper than his usual fun self with slicked back hair and moustache with Milagro.    Continue reading

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We Came, We Saw, We Cocktailed: A Tales Wrap Up Report

tot4by Dorothy Hernandez   photos by Fred Plunkett

Everything at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail, just like Texas, was bigger. Here’s a roundup of our week (what we can remember, anyway).

What’s hot

Tales founder Ann Tuennerman shared with us via email some of this year’s hottest trends, echoing The Standard Pour’s Brian McCullough, with whom we chatted on Wednesday.

There is a “renewed appreciation for tequila and mezcal and the craftsmen behind the product. We had a tasting event plus a few seminars in tequilas, mezcals and rare agave spirits,” she said, adding the gin and tonic is becoming more popular.       Continue reading

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Tales of the Cocktail Veteran

IMG_7388by Dorothy Hernandez

Bonnie Wilson had a busy week in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail. The bartender from The Ranch at Las Colinas in Irving arrived last Monday, prepped for the Texas Tailgate on Tuesday, competed in the 21 Cocktail Salute on Thursday and served up drinks with a healthy twist (think spinach, beets, cucumber and booze) at the VeeV Fresh Market outside Hotel Monteleone in the hot sun on Saturday.

With such seminars as Agave Amigos at the festival this year, the three-time Tales veteran backed up the idea that agave is having its moment. As a spirit, it’s blown up in the past couple of years.   Continue reading

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Texas Bartenders Are Bringing It Home From Tales Of The Cocktail

IMG_6999by Dorothy Hernandez

Thursday morning, Bar Smyth’s Omar Yeefoon took the national title of Stoli’s Most Original Bartender, winning over the judges with creative cocktails such as a play on a Manhattan and a deconstructed Moscow Mule, which entailed lime, brown sugar, a shot of vodka and candied sugar on a plate. He competed against four other bartenders from New York, Miami, LA, Dallas and Chicago. Yeefoon took Dallas last month at Candleroom where he went head to head with Cedar Social’s Trina Nishimura and the Dram’s Jason Birt.   Continue reading

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Tales Of The Cocktail Day One

cocktailby Dorothy Hernandez

Greetings from New Orleans! CraveDFW is bellying up to the bar Tales of the Cocktail, which officially kicks off today.

Texas is well-represented at the world’s premier cocktail festival, says Brian McCullough of the Standard Pour and president of the North Texas chapter of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, with about 25 Texans repping the Lone Star State, such as Mate Hartai of the Libertine, Josh Hendricks and Charlie Pap.   Continue reading

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Watch For Our Reports From Tales Of The Cocktail

talesby Steven Doyle

It’s that time of year again. You know, when all our favorite bartenders (well, almost all of them) jaunt off to New Orleans for the annual convention at the Tales of the Cocktail. Not to be left out, we sent a few reporters to New Orleans to not only sip some fantastic cocktails, but to ferret out the new trends in boozery, sample some of the local cuisine and flavor and otherwise attempt to check in daily with some photos and a report.

Let’s see how our contacts do at the Tales. We hope to hear from them real soon. Right, guys?

Somehow I think this might be like chasing down Hunter S. Thompson reporting on the Super Bowl.

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