West Meets East and Comes Back
With a Full Stomach

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, the…

100 Favorite Dishes: Brunch at La Duni

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…

Naga Thai is a Rare Winner in Victory Park

Despite living down the street from the restaurant, I’d never ventured into Naga Thai. There are only a handful of Thai restaurants at which I will eat, and something about a Thai restaurant in Victory Park created images of high-priced, bastardized ethnic food in my mind. My stance softened when…

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…

Eating Asian in the Big Apple: The Highs, the Lows, the Many

Having been on a business trip in New York for the last two weeks, I thought, surely I’d be off blogging duties. However, the man had different ideas for me, with a seemingly innocuous send-off of, “Have a safe trip. Send in anything interesting you might find.” Crap. Seeing as…

Chain Gang: Pizza Inn and Wingstop
Adding Lots o’ Links

Pizza Inn and Wingstop are two DFW-based chains making some national food news. While Wingstop continues to grow at rapid speed, Pizza Inn is hoping franchise incentives and a kids-friendly concept will help propel their new prototype restaurants to success. The Colony-based pizza chain is offering royalty-free franchise opportunities in…

Lemongrass’ Take on Asian Defuses
The Dreaded F-Bomb

Last week, I had the pleasure of being proven wrong. For the majority of my food-seeking life, I’ve had an aversion to Asian restaurants of the fusion variety. Deep Ellum’s Lemongrass restaurant rocked my prejudice to the core. Wanting to find a satisfying Asian meal without having to drive outside…

100 Favorite Dishes: Chocolate Cake at Al Biernat

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…

Japan House: Overabundance Does Not a Good Meal Make

I really wanted to like Japan House. Upon first glance, I was in love. The staff is incredibly friendly, the dining area is modern, and the spread looks vast and promising. Because of all the above, it’s difficult for me to write what I’m about to write. Located off of…

100 Favorite Dishes: Black Truffle Pizza
At Neo by Olivella’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…

99 Ranch Market: The Promised Land
Of Asian Produce

Earlier this week, City of Ater Kristy Yang told you about her less-than-stellar experience dining at the new 99 Ranch Market’s food court. Since the market is a grocery store, not a restaurant, we thought we’d have her come back with a separate review of her shopping experience at the…

99 Ranch Market: Go to Shop,
Not to Eat at the Food Court

My first experience at the brand new 99 Market Ranch in Plano was not a pleasant one. The Asian supermarket chain opened its first location in North Texas last week to much buzz. I paid a visit to the monstrous market during its soft opening on the hopes that I…

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…

99 Ranch Market Gives Early Birds a Peek
At its Plano Store

99 Ranch Market marks its debut in North Texas this Friday. (Thanks to City of Ate reader twinwillow for the heads up.) The West-Coast based Asian grocery mega-store chain will open its second Lone Star outpost in Plano, off Central and Spring Creek Parkway. (The first opened last year in…