City of Ate

Master Sommelier Documentary SOMM Premiers at Angelika Film Centers Wednesday

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:18:11 -0600

Tomorrow night (Wednesday, June 19), the Angelika Film Centers in Dallas and Plano are hosting a screening of a documentary SOMM, which is dedicated to the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS).

The CSM was first established in the 1960s in England as a way to "encourage improved standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants. Education was then, and remains today, the Court's charter," according to press materials for the film.

In more than 40 years since the program started only 186 candidates have earned the master sommelier diploma. The exam covers literally every nuance of the world of wine, spirits and cigars.

And Now, in Obvious News: Pinkberry's Cucumber Mint Smoothie Is Gross

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:30:00 -0600

pinkberry.com

Stick with the strawberries. Do not veer from this path.

Some restaurant menus have items on them that nobody in their right mind should ever order. They're like test items, so that your server can see if you're batshit crazy or not. For instance, if you order the burger at a Chinese restaurant, your server immediately flags you as a food idiot. And he's right. In this moment, you're a food dumbass. You walked right into that burger-at-a-Chinese-restaurant explosion of dumb, and you didn't even see it coming. Which is why I affectionately call these don't-ever-order menu items "foodmines."

If you're too batshit crazy to know that the item is a foodmine before you order it, another way you can tell that you're in trouble before you taste the foodmine is if your friends immediately doubt your order. If you hear a "Really?" after you order, CHANGE YOUR ORDER, LEST YOU DIE.

Jonathon's to Hear City's Decision on Kitchen Expansion Tomorrow

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:47:14 -0600

Jonathon and Christine Erdeljac are experiencing growing pains in Oak Cliff. What was once a romantic kitchen fit for Smurf-sized cooks has become a burden for the duo, as a weekend brunch service has drawn a steady, loyal and absolutely ravenous crowd.

I reviewed the restaurant two years ago and noted the urban-diner-meets-country cooking is served from a kitchen that's not even 200 square feet. While that might be enough for the small dining room, with nicer weather, the patio out front effectively doubles demand. The Erdeljacs have hit a breaking point. They need room to grow.

Henry's Tavern in Plano Rolls Out New Concept with Penny Beer All Week

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:22:38 -0600

Henry's Tavern

Well, goodness. We've been wasting the week and we only just realized it. Hopefully you got good sleep last night because the rest of the week just might be a tad on the busy side.

Henry's Tavern in Plano is celebrating a grand opening with ... wait. Grand Opening? They opened back in October, right? Yeah.

Turns out they've renovated the place, with a new emphasis on "tavern" side of things and less on the restaurant. There's a new game room, and while the menu is the same, it has less of a sit-down restaurant feel.

Good news is they're rolling out this concept with penny beer. Yes, penny beer. All week.

Here's the wording exactly so there's on confusion on the details.

ALL BEER FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK IS ONE CENT. MONDAY 6.17 - SUNDAY 6.23.

Bribe a friend with penny beer on you next week somewhere, anoint them the designated driver and have fun.

Promise Peace Garden Hosts Okra Palooza to Raise Funds For New Garden

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:45:51 -0600

Promise of Peace Garden

Recently Brittany Nunn with the Lakewood Advocate covered the proposed new Promise of Peace garden in a three part series (one, two and three). The garden is set to take over some space in a parking lot at the White Rock United Methodist Church (WRUMC) in the Little Forest Hills neighborhood.

And, oh, what a kerfuffle has ensued.

Turns out that some neighbors of the church dislike the idea of replacing a parking lot with a garden. Yes. The want to keep their quiet inner-city parking lot and are ready to fight the good fight for it.

Eating Mackerel on Tuesdays at Teppo Is Highly Recommended -- Baseball Too

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:59:49 -0600

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.

Qariah Is Making Some Bang-Up Chicken Sandwiches

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:30:00 -0600

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.

Santa Rosa Plums Are Awesome, So Hurry to Local Farmers Markets Now

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0600

Liz Goulding

Tasting a Santa Rosa Plum for the first time a few years ago opened my eyes (and mouth) to the fact that I had probably never really tasted a plum before. Sure, I had technically eaten things called plums, but in reality those were mushy watered-down purple round things disguised as plums.

Santa Rosa plums are small. They take only two or three bites to finish, so you might think they aren't worth your time. But you would be so wrong, because they are sweet with a tart finish and full of flavor. They are what summer tastes like. Until tomato season anyway, then that's what summer tastes like.

Anyway, all that to say is that Santa Rosa plums from Larken Farms in Waxahachie were available at White Rock Local Market and Coppell Farmer's Market this past Saturday. Which means if you are interested in tasting the amazingness you better jump on it, because they will only be around for a few weeks. (If anyone knows another farm that has them in the area, let's hear it.)

Luna's Tortilla Factory Destroyed By Fire While Restaurante Luna's Rolls On

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:01:01 -0600

A fire gutted Luna Tortilla factory in northwest Dallas this morning. Owner Fernando Luna said he first smelled the smoke about 10:30 a.m., but initially the odor was mistaken as an over-toasted tortilla or a grill running too hot. As the smell got stronger, so did Luna's curiosity about its source. He checked the vent hoods and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Then smoke started to fill the building.

When he walked outside smoke was pouring from the roof vents. Luna says he ran back in to clear his employees from the building and then called the fire department. Nobody was hurt, but the building where Luna makes tortillas for customers and for his restaurant across the street was totaled.

Five of the Best Fried Chicken Dishes in Dallas

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:35:41 -0600

Catherine Downes

When Buddha said life is suffering and suffering was the path to nirvana, I'm pretty sure he was talking about fried chicken. Think about it. Eat your way through this list and you will undoubtedly suffer. But you'll also experience moments of bliss that transcend the discomfort.

Enlightenment in a bucket of chicken -- Who knew it could be this easy?

Babe's (pictured above)
Babe's is a temple. The original location in Roanoke churns out plate after plate of glistening chicken with crisp brown skin. While the wait for a table can be long, it's worth it -- the restaurant serves nothing but fried chicken and chicken-fried steak allowing for some seriously consistent chicken.

Old School Burgers at the Coppell Deli and Grill Along with a Few Moments of Silence

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:06:05 -0600

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.

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.

Governer Signed New Craft Beer Legislation That Allows Breweries to Expand Operations

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:06:47 -0600

Flickr

If you're a craft beer fan, you may want to charge up your cordless drill. On Friday Governor Rick Perry signed off on a five-pack of bills relating to the craft beer industry that will, in part, allow them to expand brewery operations.

For over a decade the Texas craft beer industry has been pushing for tweaks to the three-tired system that regulates how alcohol is sold and distributed in the state. Finally, last year the interested parties formed "craft beer working groups," set up by Dallas Senator John Carona, which sought to once-and-for-all settle all of their disagreements.

Le First Look at Le Bilboquet: A Spot of France in Uptown

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:00:21 -0600

foodbitch

Le Bilboquet

Opening quietly just over two weeks ago, Le Bilboquet has confidence that can only come from experience, which makes sense, since the restaurant is actually a transplant from the Upper East Side in New York City. The original in New York is expanding, and expanding quite far to boot, since it's made it all the way to Dallas. I'm told a lot of the original has been reproduced for the new, Texan location, including a replica of the bar and a menu featuring French dishes like la terrine de foie gras maison and le risotto aux champignons.

New Cook Breathes Life into Lakewood Landing

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:27:28 -0600

While the Lakewood Landing won best Bar Food in the Observer back in 2010, I've had mixed experiences at the bar when it comes to snacking. The nachos seemed a little soggy, the burgers were definitely dry and then there was that corn dog incident that really got me down about the place.

This January though, I moved within walking distance to the bar and I've been dropping in now and then since. The shift was subtle, so I didn't notice it right away, but over time it became apparent. The bar food has definitely gotten better there.

Denton's GreenHouse Offering Beautifully Boozy Snow Cones

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0600

Facebook

Here's a snowy picture of their patio to make you sad.

As somewhat of an unsolicited fusion between Lauren's fabulous list of Dallas' best snow cones and Brian's DC9 discourse on Denton's own Baptist Generals revival, I present to you the most rewarding part of being a Dentonite in the summer: GreenHouse's crafty offering of adult snow cones.

Denton's GreenHouse (600 N. Locust St.) is a celebrated institution where local musicians and UNT's brilliant music students and instructors can showcase their unparalleled talent on Monday nights, supported by friendly and inexplicably cheerful locals not quite drunk on $1 Shiner drafts. Far from Dallas' urban core as it may be, Denton has a sort of mysticism understood only by those who have repeatedly purchased its cheap booze and walked its dangerously uneven sidewalks.

Although a little north of typical snow cone prices, six-ish bucks for an artfully crafted break from the inevitable and oppressive heat is a small price to pay. GreenHouse also has righteous air conditioning inside and a beautiful bar of rich mahogany. If you're freakishly heat-resistant, the quasi-new patio is surrounded by mature trees, minimizing your risk of bird poop on the shoulder.

Here is their glorious list of twisty summertime classics: