West, Texas, is not located in West Texas, rather it is a tiny Czech community on Interstate 35 some 15 miles north of Waco. It is known throughout the state as ground zero for kolaches, thanks to the presence of The Czech Stop and The Little Czech Bakery, which sells…
Recently I saw a comment on a food blog post that made the assertion that Jason’s Deli wasn’t as good as Katz’s Deli in New York. I was puzzled by this, for to me the comparison seems rather foolish. Jason’s Deli is a chain, while Katz’s Deli is renowned throughout…
The waiter sets down the photogenic plate of pollo con mole in front of me, and I behold once again the earthy, lavalike chocolate morass, oozing like primordial mud. The aroma wafts through my nostrils, and I quickly grab a forkful and savor its many-noted symphony of flavors, a hint…
We Texans love our food hot and spicy, so it’s somewhat surprising that we haven’t taken to Indian cuisine as much as some other ethnic dishes as sushi or Kung Pao chicken. But on further reflection, we are probably overwhelmed by the staggering parade of unfamiliar dishes with hard-to-pronounce names…
Neighborhood gems add sparkle to any part of town. Of course, I’m referring to the restaurants and bars that make anyplace in the metroplex special. Many of these places have gained fans outside their area, but denizens of the neighborhood cherish them as uniquely theirs, welcome havens of rest that…
Summer on Ipanema Beach in Brazil. The sand is densely packed with tall buildings and beautiful people. And the people are beautiful because they can afford to be. You see, Ipanema is one of the most expensive places to live in Rio. Ipanema means “bad water” in the Tupi language,…
Have you ever had a meal that would have been just fine, had it just cost less? Well, my wife and I were faced with that dilemma over the weekend, when we enjoyed brunch at Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen in Addison. Despite rumors that the quality had slipped badly since…
Greece may be getting a bad rap now for its mounting debt and its free and easy work ethic, but let’s not forget this ancient civilization’s contributions to democracy, literature, philosophy and salad. And though you will not find as many Greek restaurants in Dallas as, say, Italian ones, the…
Walk into your favorite taqueria or torteria, and chances are good you’ll notice a couple of large, beehive-shaped glass jars standing sentinel atop a shelf or counter. Stepping to the counter, you place your food order, then scanning the menu under bebidas (beverages), you notice words like Jamaica, Horchata, and…
Cocktails, brunch, and perfect spring patio weather. What a civilized way to start the week. My wife and I have been indulging our food fetish alfresco as of late, since last winters freeze has retreated, and the all-too-brief-in-Texas good weather of bluebonnets and Blue Bell ice cream gives way to…
All pubs are not created equal. Typically, a Dallas pub, whether of English, Irish, or generic extraction, will have a wide selection of beers and ales on tap and in bottles, plus a sufficient selection of eats. You can usually count on fish and chips, burgers, sandwiches, maybe nachos, and…
Grupo Sanborns is a large department store, pharmacy, retail and restaurant chain. Headquartered in Mexico City and employing some 18,000 workers, Sanborns was founded in 1903 by California immigrants Walter and Frank Sanborn, who also established the country’s first soda fountain. Think Wal-Mart with a better food court and you’ve…
In a typical bar, it’s not at all uncommon for the drinks to surpass the food in quality. A bartender or mixologist is a true artisan, carefully blending and infusing his potions until he creates a stellar concoction, the best of which will wow his patrons and result in tips…
Barhopping during happy hour is a sacred rite of passage from workday to evening, but Spain’s version of this time-honored tradition just might be better than ours. You see, we have nachos, quesadillas and wings as our standard happy hour fare. In Spain, they have chorizo al vino (sausage sauteed…
In Downtown Dallas, Pegasus and Reunion Tower are the reigning icons. In Fort Worth, it’s the Stockyards. Plano residents dote on their lovely restored downtown. The Colony has a lake. No, make that The Lake, as in Lake Lewisville, which dominates the vistas for miles around. In perfect spring weather,…
Delivery Quote Time: 10 Minutes Actual Delivery Time: 10 Minutes Delivering in less than 30 Minutes: 30 points Freshness of Food: 20 points Queso without Zip: Minus Five Points All Menu Items Less Than Seven Bucks: 20 Points Everything Clearly Labeled and Packaged: 10 Points Total Score: 75 PointsEl Queso…
I’m no Southern boy, I’m a Texan. In days gone by, people would often refer to Texas as part of the South. Geographically speaking, that’s true because Texas is in the southern part of the United States, and yes, Texas did once secede from the Union, and many people believe…
Gaston Acurio is one of the hottest chefs in the world that you’ve never heard of.That’s because the 41-year-old, black-clad whirlwind is neither French nor American. No, in fact he is Peruvian, as in South America, long seen by many Americans as a culinary backwater. But the cuisine of Peru…
Kent Rathbun.You know him best as one of the Rock Star Chefs of Dallas, the creator and driving force behind Abacus, Jaspers, and Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen, not to mention his stint on Iron Chef America, where he and brother Kevin bested Bobby Flay in Battle Elk. His wife Tracy…
One Tex-Mex dish is so beloved in San Antonio, it has its own mascot. Strangely enough, the food in question is not something readily available in most Tex-Mex joints in North Texas. It’s not enchiladas, burritos, or fajitas, but rather the puffy taco, which these days can be most easily…
Discovering a taqueria is like finding your own secret place. And not the place everyone on Chowhound is raving about, such as El Fuego, Fuel City, or Chitos. No, I mean the one you stumble on by accident while doing your routine morning rounds. Suddenly you hear your stomach growling…
Tacos, enchiladas, burritos–oh my. These are the standard fare of Mexican food chains throughout Dallas, and despite certain subtle differences, their taste is difficult to distinguish from one chain to the next, from one location to the next. In these establishments, nachos purchased in Duncanville taste remarkably similar to nachos…
