Eat this

It was just a few weeks ago that I walked into Teppo, the sushi restaurant on Lower Greenville Avenue, and stumbled on the Spanish mackerel tataki. The restaurant offers various chef's selections, which are a decent way to introduce yourself to fish you might not have tried on your own.

Convince your waitress that you're an adventurous eater when you order, or sit at the bar and talk to your chef directly while stealing glances at the baseball game on the television behind him. The chefs are watching too. Good things will happen.

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Not all chicken sandwiches are created equal.

I want to love the shawarma at Qariah, but they don't sell enough of them. If you've ever seen the vertical spit at Bachman Lake Taqueria spinning full tilt, you know it's a sight to behold. The meatsicle sizzles as it twirls, spitting fat at the burners, which hiss and pop. But when business is slow the burners idle. The meat is quiet, and it doesn't have the same charred and delicious flavor.

Qariah's shawarma would likely be as impressive as those trompo tacos if people stood in line to order them, but they don't, so I've been eating the shish tawook sandwich instead. It's actually pretty damn delicious.

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LDD

On Saturday we were in quick driving distance of Hard Eight BBQ in Coppell, as were many other people. When we pulled in the parking lot, meaty smoke was pouring out from the roof onto the heads of a line that snaked out the front door.

See also:
--The Reuben at Coppell Deli
-- Stubbs Breakfast Sandwich at Coppell Deli Might Kill You

We don't like this trend of long lines at barbecue restaurants. While it's not as dramatic as Sarah Blankenship's unsuccessful hunting expedition to Franklin Barbecue in Austin last weekend, the wait was a bit much for the cadre of little ones we travel with. The choice was one of the hardest we've made in a while: incessant whining or smoked meat. Whining? Meat? Whining ... we left, made a U-turn, came back, left again after the line was even longer. Ugh!

So, we hit Coppell Deli just down the road. Turns out, we all won. Which is no reflection on Hard Eight, just that in the end, it was a winning day for our stomachs sans whining.

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It's going to be a long day.

The four of us entered with the best intentions. I'd gathered three friends to help me evaluate the barbecued meats of Pecan Lodge, and "the trough" seemed like the only way to go. The $65 plate (sides not included) offered plenty of everything the restaurant had to offer, and according to the menu served four or five people. Besides the efficiency, it was just fun to say. "I'd like the trough, please."

See also:
- This Week's Review: Picking a Bone With Pecan Lodge
- Pecan Lodge Brings Harmony Back to a Marriage

While our wait to order was painfully long, our meal arrived minutes after I settled the bill. The trough hit the table with a resounding thud. The brisket and ribs quivered as they landed, and the sausages and pork ribs looked beautiful. Still, the plate was intimidating. More than 5 pounds of meat is a lot for four people -- even if we've all dutifully skipped breakfast and ate salads of lightly dressed greens the night before.

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Shipley's

I'm an unapologetic Shipley's fan. I don't know of many things better than a plain glazed warm Shipley's doughnut that melts in your mouth like angels singing atop a beautiful mountain overlooking ... you get the scene. Most important: One free glazed doughnut today until noon!

See Also:
-- Delicious Dallas Doughnuts

Hypnotic Donuts is body slamming National Doughnut Day with their revolutionary doughnut concoctions. They have media appearances scheduled all day and 20th Century Fox is at the shop promoting a new film, The Heat. Plus, they're giving away Average Joe doughnuts and coffee from 10 a.m. to noon.

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Heather Rinaldi

Home-grown Indgo Rose, Sun Gold and Juliet tomatoes

Craving tomatoes? Not the cottony, firm, flavorless orbs that are available at your supermarket year round. And not the bright-red specimens that have been promising so much but under-delivering at the Dallas Farmers Market either.

I'm talking about heavenly tomatoes that scream vibrant, summery, fruity flavors when you bite into them -- tomatoes that leave your mouth sore because they're so acidic and you're compelled to eat more and more of them.

This quirky spring weather is giving us a good chance at an amazing tomato season. Heather Rinaldi works at the Texas Worm Ranch and maintains her own garden. She sent me the picture of her crop above and is clearly excited about this tomato season too.

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They are among the highest echelons of pedestrian fare, joining burgers and nachos in the holy trinity of bar food. Chicken wings have been making stool-bound drunks smile saucy Ronald McDonald grins since they were invented in Buffalo in 1964. Now they're served with such fervor their price outpaces chicken breasts during periods of high demand.

While they're popular everywhere, wings often fall short of their Upstate New York counterparts. Sometimes they're dry, sometimes they're rubbery. Occasionally nitwits think that breading their wings is the path to bar food nirvana. So common are these infractions that when you find a stellar version that remains true to the original (especially this far south) there is cause for great celebration.

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LDD

It pains me to drive past an old man selling watermelons on the side of the road. Some nostalgic force makes me whip a U-turn on most occasions -- also because a ripe watermelon in the summer time is simply amazing. Over the years, I've learned that these farmers always have their own very strong opinions on how to pick a good watermelon.

Last year I found Don Marshall selling watermelons roadside in the tiny town of Holland. He told me "You cain't!" pick a good watermelon because there are too many different kinds. He was sort of grumpy about the evolution of watermelons over the years, which is OK. No one said getting this "wisdom" would be easy. Eventually Marshall relented and said that it's all about the sound and feel when you slap a watermelon.

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Flickr

Marc Cassel, owner of 20 Feet Seafood Joint in East Dallas, threw an interesting post up on his Facebook page this week.

Holy Flying Decapod Crustaceans Batman! A few dozen soft-shell crabs (can I get a Hallelujah?) will be boarding a red-eye flight from the Chesapeake to Big D this evening, then chauffeured tomorrow morning to East Dallas. Stand by for updates on their journey to your mouth! Get down.

I couldn't wait. I called for my own update. After spending a significant portion of my life with a view of the Chesapeake Bay I know these beauties all too well. Get excited.

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Lucky Ducky Dog

Luck Ducky Dogs, the "silly truck with serious food," will be at the Dallas Arts District (2403 Flora) todayuntil 2 p.m. giving out 100 free "Hangover Part III" dogs, as an ode to the film that will be released Friday.

Make haste! That spreadsheet can wait.

Next is the character-based menu per the Lucky Ducky Facebook page:

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