Thanks Abbey love for introducing us! xoxo
I cheated over the holidays and I'm feeling guilty about my little endeavor - and I have to come clean. Over the holiday I took a short drive to Fort Worth and was introduced to a fab restaurant. Defined by amazing meat and unique food combinations, Chef Tim Love's Woodshed Smokehouse was delish! I wish I could pick this joint up and place it smack dab in the middle of downtown Dallas. I literally can't stop thinking about the crispy smoked brussel sprouts and the smoked marinated olives. Amazing! There are some really bizarre things on the menu, like shrimp-rabbit-rattlesnake sausage and chicken skin tacos (which I most certainly did try), but the overall atmosphere and yummy bites are not to be missed. I'm usually one hundred percent (no matter what) a Dallas advocate, but if you are heading northwest this place is a M.U.S.T.
Thanks Abbey love for introducing us! xoxo
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It goes without saying that Dallas offers some seriously scrumptious beef - but I'll be honest, I'm not a huge burger fan. I do however L.O.V.E tuna burgers, and it just so happens that around the corner from my apartment is Chop House Burger, which has an amazing Ahi Tuna Burger. Piled with sushi grade tuna, wasabi mayo, pickled ginger, arugula and a nori chip (a dehydrated pressed sheet of seaweed), this is literally the best "burger" I've ever tasted.
Eat it. xoxo Yesterday, I celebrated the thirtieth birthday of my darling friend Florence - who is behind the A.MAZ.ING blog, Made by Firenze. It is a completely fabulous personal blog about food, crafts, and inspiring "eunoia" - which translated means beautiful thinking. And Florence is the epitome of beautiful. Read her blog, it could not be cuter.
Her birthday dinner proved to be a simply sincere soiree. Recognizing Florence's love of Europe and stripes, we were all invited to Toulouse Café and Bar for dinner, and we were all asked to wear our favorite striped confection. How adorable is that?! So, I put on my favorite striped maxi dress, layered it with a sweater, and headed to a French bistro right here in Dallas. I'll be honest, I've never been to France - but I have this romantic vision of old chateaus, cobblestone streets, macaroons, and sweet little cafes all swirling with opulence and modernity. Toulouse was everything I wanted it to be - the menu, the adorable patio (perfect for people watching), and the delightful atmosphere. It was the perfect place to celebrate Florence's birthday. To another thirty years! xoxo I had a great time at the Dallas Flea! So many oh-so-wonderful Dallas vendors in one place! Within ten minutes of entering the flea market my Christmas wish list grew - talk about feeling like a kid in a candy store! There was literally so many beyond amazing and unique goodies, it took all my might to restrain myself (and my wallet). I went with a group of my girlfriends, and we all left with some fabulous Dallas Flea finds! Below is a small collection of my favorite flea vendors: Back Alley Furniture - they take various styles of furniture and update them with a cool modern feel, and I have three chairs that are in need of some Back Alley lovin'. Can't wait to work with them! GAIA Creations - I had the privilege of soaking in some beyond beautiful creations from GAIA. Everything is handmade with care by women in need in the Dallas area, using vintage, repurposed, or sustainable materials. Love being able to give back to my community. Gemelli - offering up a lovely lineup of jewelry inspired by nature. Owner, Claire Morgan, was so much fun to talk to and is behind all of the glittery gemstone goodness. I thoroughly enjoyed her color popping stackable bracelets. She even had a few with the little stone skulls - completely reminiscent of Day of The Dead celebrations. The Urban Cottage - Seriously the cutest Airstream I've ever encountered. Filled with repurposed, refinished, and revamped vintage furniture - I desperately wanted to purchase a vintage flat file cart but have nowhere in my little home to put it. Dowdy Studio - There is nothing quite like shopping in a mobile shop! I spent most of my time in this super fabulous wagon lingering over their silk-screened tees, prints, and jewelry. I think I would be quite happy owning every single silk-screened tee. Be sure to also check out F. is for Frank, Ruthie's Rolling Cafe, and Sew Caroline!! So happy to have been introduced to all these fantastic Dallas vendors! Save the date for the third anniversary celebration of The Dallas Flea, Saturday, December 1, 2012! xoxo Happy National Waffle Day y'all! I am so excited to have an excuse to eat waffles all day long! Here are some Dallas establishments that are serving up some wonderful waffles:
The Luxe Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa - I'm dying to try their Texas shaped waffle with house made vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce with fresh strawberries (pictured above). Victor Tangos - I can honestly say that I LOVE their Little Chicken & Waffles. Victor Tangos is the first place I ever tried this southern dish, and it was love at first bite. I'm hoping I can convince my husband to take me here tonight! Bread Winners - First of all if you have never been to the original location in uptown, that in itself is worth a trip. The food also happens to be fabulous - try their bananas foster waffle (it is delicious), and while you are there you might as well try their CINNAMON RAISIN FRENCH TOAST which might be my favorite breakfast item on the menu. Hattie's - I've only eaten here once, but I've heard their chicken and waffles are superb! Lucky's Cafe - Nominated by a friend to have super yummy waffles! I'll have to stop by there soon! Union Park Dallas - It might be time to give this place another try. Their version of chicken & waffles looks amazing. How are YOU going to celebrate National Waffle Day? xoxo I love checking out new restaurants. Sometimes you are pleasantly surprised, and other times you are unfortunately disappointed. After venturing to Union Park, I still can't decide what my impression is of this new sports restaurant in downtown. It has a cool vibe - with an intriguing lamp installment behind the hostess stand, illuminated red mirrors, and exposed concrete pillars. The restaurant appears to be divided into three sections: the bar, the main restaurant, and a lounge area (equipped with a pool table, couches, and flat screen tvs). We sat in the bar area so we could take full advantage of the live band, which I liked. I also enjoyed the food, but our service was lacking. Luckily, the owner was aware and I was extremely appreciative of how he handled the situation. I think I will probably try it again... just might give the restaurant time to work out their kinks.
It's almost time for Restaurant Week in Dallas! You can choose from over 100 restaurants in Dallas, including some of my favorites (The French Room and the Dallas Fish Market). I love the chance of being able to explore new places and have a three-course dinner for just $35 per person. You just can't beat that deal! The best part is that for each dinner purchased, money is donated to local charities.
Last year Mark and I went to Bolla (now T/X Restaurant & Bar at The Stoneleigh Hotel) for Restaurant Week. Since we were getting married at The Stoneleigh it was so fun to experience the atmosphere of the hotel and taste their food before our big day. We were so in love with the food, we've been back numerous times. Their patio is one of my most beloved places in the city. I'm feeling a little disappointed that the restaurant has been renamed, but I hoping the quality and atmosphere have remained intact. We haven't decided on a restaurant for this year, and I am definitely more gung ho about it than my husband, so I think the choice will ultimately be up to me. You can view the extensive 2012 participant list here. xoxo After a ten year stay in Austin, one of my favorite ladies is thinking about returning to Dallas. She has been reading my blog (thanks lovey) and asked if I could show her around The Bishop Arts District while she was in town for an extended weekend . I jumped at the chance to try and influence her decision about moving. I also love this neighborhood, nestled perfectly on Bishop Avenue only a couple minutes from Downtown - the shops, boutiques, restaurants, and galleries are all oozing with individuality. However, it turns out Bishop Arts District basically shuts down on Mondays, after their ever so busy weekends. How did I not know this? So here I was trying to impress my friend with my knowledge of Dallas, instead I was walking aimlessly down Bishop Avenue passing closed restaurants and shops, all my favorite places shut for the day. I was crossing my fingers that something would be open, and I was relieved when I saw the little 'open' sign hanging in Hattie's window. I was so thrilled we got to eat in this super cute airy restaurant. Hattie's offers a fresh take on southern home cooking, and I was torn between the griddled ham & brie sandwich, macaroni & cheese, and the smoked turkey & swiss. After much deliberation and help from the waiter, I ordered the griddled ham & brie sandwich. It was delicious. The combination of the ham and melted brie with the tomato chutney on raisin bread was a pure salty sweet perfection. I already want to go back and try their macaroni & cheese and their Sunday brunch menu. After our enjoyable lunch we were able to visit a couple of shops and peak in windows of the galleries and closed stores and restaurants. Dude, Sweet Chocolate was closed too, but we got to meet and chat with owner and chocolatier Katherine Clapner, which was definitely a highlight! So, even though the majority of the district was shut down - I think it was a successful outing in Dallas. xoxo When I was going to college in Canyon, Texas there was this great Thai restaurant a couple blocks from school. It was by no means glamorous, but the food was absolutely authentic and delicious. I found myself there every week, just one of those places that you continuously crave. After college I missed this dive and I was on a mission to find another delectable Thai restaurant.
I generally stay in the vicinity of the Main Street District in downtown, but sometimes when the urge arises I venture to uptown - especially for some good Thai food. Finding Malai Thai Vietnamese Kitchen & Bar in West Village was completely random, but I couldn't ignore the blazing orange signage. So, I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. It's definitely a twist on traditional, but I love their Shrimp Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice Smash. I've been back a couple of times and every time I am warmly greeted by the staff and with a free taste of sticky rice and eggplant dip. I love sitting on their patio, especially in the summer when they enclose it and make it cool and comfortable for the hot weather. This place has definitely helped subdue my cravings for that little place in Canyon. xoxo I'm a huge fan of patio dining. Unfortunately, living in Dallas limits the amount of time spent outside eating, but I was determined to endure the Texas heat, so I persuaded one of my accommodating girlfriends to join me at Charlie Palmer at The Joule. The Joule is one my favorite hotels downtown. Admittedly, I've never actually stayed here, but what's not to love about this super posh hotel? The historical architecture mixed with the contemporary designs are amazing.
The patio was definitely well equipped for the heat; between the misters and fans it felt rather "cool". We quickly decided on two cocktails and lobster corn dogs. You read that correctly - lobster corn dogs, served with mustard crème fraiche. It was probably one of the most unique (and delicious) small plates I've ever had. A complete fusion of a Texas's speciality and my ultimate favorite food...lobster! |