Tag Archives: Restaurant Ava

Orin Swift Dinner At Culpepper’s To Feature Seven Chefs

chadbowdenby Steven Doyle

Winemaker Dave Phinney will be on hand for a special dinner at Culpepper in Rockwall January 31, 2013 starting at 7pm. The owner of Orin Swift Cellars has an interesting and storied history and will share his adventures in wine with the crowd. The Culpepper wine dinners always sell out quickly and for very good reason. The winemakers are always top shelf, and Executive Chef Chad Bowden consistently plans for the special occasions. Continue reading

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Hypnotic Donuts Invites Cheese-Beer Maven To Create A Special Chicken Biscuit

DSC04799by Steven Doyle

Ali Kay Hammer is back on our radar again, this time the Scardello cheese monger is getting her biscuit on at Hypnotic Donuts on Garland Road in East Dallas. If you recall, just a week ago Ali was rocking the Peticolas house during their first anniversary with her wedding to the beer Velvet Hammer.

Beginning tomorrow and at least through the end of the month of January, you can experience what it is like in Ali’s mouth by ordering her version of the chicken biscuit. This is an ongoing program at Hypnotic and there have been more than a few fun versions of the chef driven biscuit since owner James St. Peter decided to invite chefs to play in his wacky kitchen once a month. Last month we all enjoyed The Grape owner Brian Luscher’s homemade sausages in a bun, this month we see what Ali has to offer.     Continue reading

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Filed under Ali Morgan, Bacon, beer, Cheese, Crave Girl, Eat Me, Steven Doyle

Harris and Balke Visit Restaurant Ava

by Steven Doyle

Last week I announced that Jeff Harris from Bolsa and Bolsa Mercado would be the guest chef at a dinner at Rockwall’s Restaurant Ava. Ava has long been a favorite restaurant, making farm to table fare way before it was faddish thing to do. For Harris this philosophy seems to be an inherent way to cook as well.

I met Harris several years ago when he was the Chef de Cuisine at Craft. Harris is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, but was raised in East Texas where his family raises cattle. Harris cut his teeth as a chef using Texas ingredients during his externship at Austin’s Hudson’s on the Bend where they specialize in game. Not long after that he was offered a position back in New York at Tom Colicchio’s Craft as garde manger.   Continue reading

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Jeff Harris Guest Cheffing At Ava This Sunday

by Steven Doyle

Jeff Harris, the Executive Chef at Bolsa and Bolsa Mercado, is preparing Sunday night dinner as guest chef with Randall Copeland at Restaurant Ava. Together the chefs will create an incredible evening with this unique seasonal menu that include pickled romanesco, beef belly pastrami and duck confit, among other selections.    Continue reading

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Taylor Kearney Plays Chef Shuffle And Moves To Nick And Sam’s Steakhouse

by Steven Doyle

We interviewed the latest chef at The Greek last week with anticipation of running the story today, but we have more recent news that  Taylor Kearney is leaving the restaurant and has been installed as executive chef at Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse located on Maple Avenue in Dallas.  Kearney will be working under the corporate chef, Samir Dhurandhar.

The musical toques that have taken place recently might be due to the many new restaurants that have opened this month; a flurry that will continue on into November of 2012. The pool of qualified talent is in shorter supply as the demand rises. The Greek will be seeking a new chef to fill Kearney’s shoes.          Continue reading

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Ava Rocks A Cheese Dinner As Boulevardier Opens

by Steven Doyle

Boulevardier opens its doors to the public tonight with great promise of fantastic French bistro cuisine in the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff. As previously reported, Boulevardier is owned and operated by the chefs at Restaurant Ava, Randall Copeland and Nathan Tate, as well as wine junkies and owners of Veritas Wine Room, Brooks and Bradley Anderson.

The kitchen staff will include chef Tate along with Ava chef de cuisine and Charlie Palmer alumni Taylor Kearney. Eddie Eakin will be mixing it up behind the bar with some terrific cocktails.               Continue reading

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Filed under Crave, restaurant news, Restaurant Opening, Steven Doyle