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 cheap, but all are delicious to the extreme. Don't hesitate to share your own nominations in the comments. More of the dish's tasty details are after the jump.
No. 7: Black Bean Amuse Bouche at El Tizoncito
Epazote, like cilantro, is an acquired taste for some. Detractors claim it has an aroma akin to gasoline. I say they're hallucinating. The herb brightens any dish in which it's an ingredient, while also giving food a grounded smell. Epazote has another benefit, too: It reduces the effect of beans on the body. In other words: Epazote equals less toot toot. Gasoline, indeed.
At El Tizoncito, diners are welcomed to the Mexico City-style taquería not with de rigueur chips and salsa but with a bantam cup of soupy black beans seasoned with epazote and bacon. Approximately 10 slurps later, the amuse bouche is gone, awaking desire and anticipation for alambres or choriqueso.
El Tizoncito 3404 W. Illinois Ave., Ste. 100 214-330-0839
No. 100: Oatmeal Pancakes at Legal Grounds
No. 99: Shanghai Buns at Jeng Chi Dumpling House
No. 98: Mashed Tater Parfait at Cowboy Chow
No. 97: Chicken and Waffles at Victor Tango's
No. 96: Colorado Lamb Osso Bucco at Hibiscus
No. 95: Flatbread Pizza at Dish
No. 94: First Chinese Barbecue in Richardson
No. 93: Elotes at Fuel City
No. 92: Summer Platter For Two at Big Shucks
No. 91: Chicken Gizzards at Sushi Yama
No. 90: Bob Armstrong Dip at Matt's Rancho Martinez
No. 89: The Angry Dog at Angry Dog
No. 88: Sliders at Dish
No. 87: Spaghetti Bolognese at Urbano Café
No. 86: Vietnamese Pork Panini at Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen
No. 85: Cheese Fries at Snuffers
No. 84: Tres Vasos at Samar
No. 83: Quatro Leches at La Duni
No. 82: Pad Pak at Bangkok City
No. 81: Brisket Sandwich at Maple and Motor
No. 80: Lunch Express at Dream Cafe
No. 79: Apple Crisp at Salum
No. 78: La Vaca Loca at Good 2 Go
No. 77: Shrimp and Grits at Screen Door
No. 76: Meatball Sub at Jimmy's
No. 75: Baja Chicken at Mattito's
No. 74: Fried Port Salut Cheese at The Porch
No. 73: Lobster Roll at Rex's
No. 72: Fried Green Beans at Local
No. 71: Shaved Ice at May's Ice Cream
No. 70: Shredded Pork Sandwich at Mojitos
No. 69: Tom-Yum-Gai at Bangkok City
No. 68: Paella at La Calle Doce
No. 67: Bacon Cheeseburger at Wingfield's Breakfast and Burgers
No. 66: Original Nachos at Fuzzy's Taco Shop
No. 65: El Aragón at Tortas La Hechizera
No. 64: The Cheeseburger at The Grape
No. 63: Dungeness Crab Dip at Hibiscus
No. 62: Sweetbreads Made Two Ways from Restaurant AVA
No. 61 Asado De Puerco Rojo at Chitos
No. 60: Basil Chicken at Genroku
No. 59: Capricciosa Pizza at Il Cane Rosso Truck
No. 58: Shrimp and Chicken Curry Clay Pot at Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant
No. 57: The Grilled Cheese and Chili at Highland Park Pharmacy
No. 56: Meatloaf Blue Plate Special At Norma's Cafe
No. 55: Carne Asada Plate at Taqueria El Fuego
No. 54: Pork Carnitas at Matt's Rancho Martinez
No. 53: Lacquered Chinese Duckling at Five Sixty
No. 52: Fritto Misto at Cibus
No. 51: The Californication at Buzzbrews Kitchen
No. 50: Enchiladas Suizas with Off-The-Menu Salsa at Veracruz Café
No. 49: The Steak Bomb at Kenny's Burger Joint
No. 48: Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs at Hattie's
No. 47: Truffle Butter Popcorn at Tillman's Roadhouse
No. 46: Hamburger at Adair's Saloon
No. 45: Bone-In Short Rib at Stephan Pyles
No. 44: Ricotta Cheese Blueberry Pancakes at Villa-O
No. 43: 911 Roll at Oishii
No. 42: Fried Chicken at Babe's Chicken Dinner House
No. 41: Sausage Pizza At Oak Cliff Pizza
No. 40: Black Truffle Pizza at Neo by Olivella's
No: 39 Pastrami Sandwich At Deli-News
No. 38 Mussels at Neighborhood Services
No. 37 Double Cheese Potato Cakes At Red's Patio Grill
No. 36: Chocolate Cake at Al Biernat
No. 35: Fried Tofu with String Beans in Lemongrass Sauce at Caravelle Chinese and Vietnamese Restaurant
No. 34: Pollo Con Mole at Carolina's Mexican Cuisine
No. 33: Quail Salad at Fearing's at the Ritz Carlton
No. 32: Vegetable Platter at Roti Grill
No. 31: Chicken-Fried Steak at AllGood Cafe
No. 30: Lengua Taco at Taco King
No. 29: Cioppino at Chef Point Cafe
No. 28: Black Bean Enchiladas at Avila's Restaurant
No. 27: Sliced Brisket at Pecan Lodge
No. 26: Lomo Norteño at Veracruz Cafe
No. 25: Salads at eatZi's Market & Bakery
No. 24: Chopped Brisket Sliders At The Porch
No. 23: The Stodg Burger at The Porch
No. 22: Coconut Soup at Mi Tierra
No. 21: Cachapa at Zaguan Latin Cafe & Bakery
No. 20: Black Bean Dip At Gloria's
No. 19: Root Beer Creme Brulee at the Green Room
No. 18: Especial De Tacos at Tacos El Viajero
No. 17: Cuban Sandwich at Jimmy's Food Store
No. 16: Mia's Brisket Tacos
No. 15: Cheese and Charcuterie Plate at The Grape
No. 14: Brunch at La Duni
No. 13: Champagne and Brie Soup at St. Martin's Wine Bistro
No. 12: Cheese Board at The Libertine Bar
No. 11: Empanadas at La Carreta Argentina
No. 10: Open-faced Roast Beef Sandwich at Ye Shire Tavern
No. 9: Shrimp Cocktail At TJ's Seafood Market
