Sloppy Seconds: Tabletop Showdown

By Patrick Michels Fri., Jun. 5 2009 at 6:02 PM

Categories: Sloppy Seconds

Nothing spices up a kitchen like the element of competition -- as even a casual Food Network viewer could tell you. Describing a recipe for the camera? Not exciting. Breathily narrating your dish as you race to beat the clock and five other chefs? There's good eating in that.

So at the end of a week when more obscure British menu items vied against Uptown bar tastes, when bottled cherry vodka paled before homemade fruity hooch, we'll recount the best of the week's food-related face-offs.

The Week in Review(s):

Your own Dallas Observer: At The Londoner, Dave finds faithful recreation of British pub food, complete with the Indian influence that might be too much for the garden-variety happy hourist.
Dallas Morning News: At Chamberlain's Steak and Chop House, Leslie Brenner rediscovers the difference a knowledgeable waitstaff and top-quality meat can make. At Litos in Oak Cliff, Kim Pierce describes good-enough home-style Mexican cooking, including a few sleeper highlights.

Highlights from City of Ate:

Girl Drink Drunk: Cherry Vodka Lemonade
Cheaper than buying the bottled stuff, and more fun than topping off a Sonic cup with booze, the homemade fruity number it's a DIY hit on drunken book club night.
Hophead: Lone Star vs. Stroh's
In the battle of the much-loved no-flavor beers from cities that begin with the letter "D", who will come out ahead? This is one beer-off you won't want to miss.
Veggie Girl: Fadi's vs. Ali Baba
If you're into falafel, or truly vegan hummus, then Fadi's is Veggie Girl's pick. If you're into rubbernecking traffic on Abrams, well, this might be a tougher call.
Dude Food: Sonny Bryan's
Either you love Sonny Bryan's or you're just not that impressed with the Dallas barbecue standby. But careful if you talk too much trash, or you'll get what's coming -- you don't want to be the one playing Robin Ventura to Sonny's Nolan Ryan.