Southeast Asia

Spillover 2013: Sand, Sound and Finding Peace in Metal Shows

You did St. Patrick's day. Now you feel rough. If only, you think to yourself, there was some sort of beach where I could relax with a cheap cocktail on the sand and maybe listen to some music. But you're in Dallas, and you're at least five hours drive from the nearest beach. Ain't nobody got time ... More >>

The City of Ate Interview: DaLat Owner Khanh Nguyen on the Power and Problems of Pho

Khanh Nguyen had a successful career as a local attorney when he decided to take a little time off, a sabbatical of sorts, between projects. During that time, he immersed himself in traditional Vietnamese cooking, spending months trying to perfect various recipes, mainly concentrating on pho, which ... More >>

Like Mitt Romney, I Also Longed to See Sunny Vietnam but Was Denied

Hey, it was great having Mitt Romney in town this week, was it not? He looks so different in Texas. Those national mediatoids were making him out to be a rich plutocrat who made his money killing companies and shipping jobs to Vietnam, but when we got to see him here under our own warm sun, he look ... More >>

A Conversation with Malai Thai's Chef-Owners Will Make You Want to Eat Pho, Like, Now

Chef Braden Wages of Malai Thai in the West Village is originally from upstate New York. He and his wife, Yasmin, who is from Weatherfod, met while in school at Cornell. Running a restaurant was a long-term dream for both of them. But the concept for that place was based on a what sounds like an epi ... More >>

Our Favorite Chicken Soups in Dallas, for That Hangover or Those Flu Symptoms

Get that lady some soup.​A search on Amazon.com for "Chicken Soup for the Hungover Soul" quickly reveals that there is no such title in existence (I smell an e-book opportunity!), most likely because no one wakes up with a pounding headache and the taste of bad choices lingering in their mouth ... More >>

How Hot Do You Want That?

I tried to muster my most serious face, looking the waitress at Bangkok City, the Thai place on Bryan Street, straight in the eye. "Native Thai spicy, please." I'd ordered the crispy duck, a roasted half bird, fried until crisp and served with chili peppers onions and crunchy fried basil leaves. ... More >>

Born to Fill … Bingo Cards

Take the Road Headed East

Chocolatier Stephen Smith On Cooking With Mom and the Guilty Pleasure of Twinkies

On Wednesday, we gave you the goods on chocolatier Stephen Smith of nib chocolates. Today, we asked Smith to finish a few sentences for us. Tomorrow, he shares one of his recipes. ​I was raised in...a military family.   My friends say I'm...too laid back. Too relaxed.   My momma told me ... More >>

Despite Vietnamese Food's Soaring Popularity, Native Fish Sauce Hard to Find

​On one of my trips to Vietnam years ago, my mother and I traveled to the seaside town of Danang. During morning jogs on the beach, I'd run through hot spots of a familiar scent lingering in the air. It was the very distinct odor of fish sauce. Until now, I'm still unsure as to the source of t ... More >>

Burnt to a Crisp: Five Food Remedies To Keep You Cool(er)

​It feels like the wrong day to be talking about burns, but -- on the off-chance the thought of scalded skin might help you feel temporarily toasty -- City of Ate today presents five favorite restaurant kitchen remedies for the burns that result from grabbing a too-hot skillet handle or splash ... More >>

La Fiorentina's Nicola Calamari Clams Up

​On Wednesday, we gave you the goods on Nicola Calamari, executive chef at La Fiorentina. Yesterday, we asked Calamari to finish a few sentences for us. Today, he shares a recipe for pasta with clams. The recipe follows after the jump.

West Meets East and Comes Back
With a Full Stomach

All photos by Kristy YangAt the Food Court in Thailand​I've been away for the past few weeks tending to some family stuff in Asia and have been a tad too busy to do any blogging. I'm sure the editor's ulcer will be relieved to know that I'm back now with my one measly post a week. While away, ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Brisket Tacos at Mia's

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Lomo Norteño
At Veracruz Cafe

Photo by Jesse HugheySomwhere in here is a dish Jesse swears is really good. (We think he's just angling for an iPhone.) Luckily, his sense of taste is better than his vision.​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Black Bean Enchiladas
At Avila's Restaurant

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Pollo Con Mole
At Carolina's Mexican Cuisine

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Fried Tofu with String Beans in Lemongrass Sauce at Caravelle Chinese and Vietnamese Restaurant

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Hamburger at Adair's Saloon

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ch ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Truffle Butter Popcorn at Tillman's Roadhouse

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

Your Thursday Morning Eye Candy: In Fort Worth, Restoring the Last "Truck Killer"

These are detail shots of the A26A before restoration from Franklin Poole on Vimeo.Thanks to an early-morning e-mail from Friend of Unfair Park PeterK, I spent the better part of the last hour getting a history lesson on the the Douglas A-26 Invader, which first took flight to fight in World War II ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs at Hattie's

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: The Steak Bomb
At Kenny's Burger Joint

Photo by Steven Doyle​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, other ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Pork Carnitas
At Matt's Rancho Martinez

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Paella at La Calle Doce

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Tom-Yum-Gai at Bangkok City

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ch ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Shaved Ice at May's Ice Cream

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

Cross Pacific Pop

100 Dishes: Fried Port Salut Cheese at The Porch

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: The Pad Pak at Bangkok City

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the che ... More >>

Smothered and Covered

Looking Toward 'Nam

Revolutionary Reel

Looking Toward 'Nam

Bangkok City

Tasty Thai joint just what the doctor ordered

Bum Bo No

Wash your mouth out with soap

War Weather

See the story of the protest Underground

Identifiable Beauty

Asia or Bust

The Asian Film Festival of Dallas celebrates five years

Thai That Binds

Nakhon stretches beyond the usual

Touchin' It

Best Yard Art

Big Mango Trading Co.

Thai Sigh

Coppell's Siam Thai Cuisine is a dry run

Noodles Unleashed

Liberty grows up

Open This Door

Behind the door lies nearly flawless food

... Thai me down

Thai Garden is totally lacking

Thai one on

Bangkok City offers thrills beyond searing spices