Justin Anderson, founder of WOATS, is one of those granola kind of guys. Here’s a fact about granola: It can be like eating tiny bricks sometimes. And if you have braces, the snack can be a downright menacing. Anderson knows all about that. When he was 16 he bit into…
The last time I remember seeing an operational drive-in theater was in 1980 in Houston. I wasn’t actually at the theater; rather we were driving past it on the freeway. The huge screen was right near the highway showing Brooke Shields in the Blue Lagoon. I was fairly young and,…
The Dallas chapter of the Slow Food Movement and Greenling are getting together to host a workday at the “We Over Me Farm” at Paul Quinn College this Saturday. Several years ago the college transformed its football field into a massive garden. Farm manager Andrea Bithell squeezes as much as…
Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream … but was it local cream? And did the cows eat organic grass? And who owns the dairy? Tell us, mice. People have questions about their food these days. Recently I spotted a Texas butter called Falfurrias at the grocery store…
Each week (or thereabout) we track down a chef for a few burning questions. This week, Tim Byres of Smoke and Chicken Scratch was willing to participate. He indulged us in a few of his favorite cookbooks and weird surprises in the walk-in. What are a few of your favorite…
This Saturday is the third annual North Texas Beer and Wine Festival at the Irving Convention Center from 2 to 7 p.m. Organizer Darrell Faircloth started this event three years ago, back in the old days when craft beer festivals were unheard of. Most of the local North Texas brewers…
NOSH Euro Bistro in Plano has closed. The restaurant confirmed on its Facebook page on Wednesday with a message, “Thank you for all of your support!” along with a picture of owner Avner Samuel sort of smiling. He looks dapper in bright sweater. I suppose the message is, “I’m good,…
There’s a bit of bad news for raw milk drinkers. You’ll have to continue the trips out to the farm for your creamy elixir fix. Currently Texas law stipulates that raw milk can only be purchased on the farms where it is produced. A bill introduced this legislative session, HB…
Wednesday, May 8 It’s a culinary showdown at the Dallas Contemporary as Scott Romano battles Matt McCallister of FT-33 in the Iron Fork chef challenge. The King Bucks will perform as guests (you!) sample food from different restaurants along with wine, beer and cocktails. Tickets are on sale at observerironfork.com…
Jack Mac’s Swill and Grill opened on Preston Road in North Dallas last year, right on the heels of the explosion in the local craft beer movement. Jack and Amy MacDonald’s restaurant has a strong local focus that supports not only Texas breweries, but wineries and distilleries as well. The…
The East Hampton Sandwich Co. is sailing its upscale nautical-themed sandwich shop northward to the Shops at Legacy in Plano. The first spot, in University Park’s Snider Plaza, opened last fall. Founder Hunter Pond wanted to bring the sandwiches he found while vacationing in northeast to the Dallas area. Pond,…
A few weeks ago I mentioned to my editor a post about Bud’s new flavor of the season, Straw-Ber-Rtia. He said something like, “Not so much, LDD. You’ll need to drink it and tell us about it, not just that it’s happened.” (Editor’s note: Indulging a bent for mild sadism…
Buddy Cramer, co-owner of Katy Trail Ice House, and his investment group have officially taken over the old Bandito’s spot in West Plano. We’ve sort of already been teased with this, as Scott Reitz reported a year ago on the Bandito’s Tex-Mex Ice House project. That is officially done now…
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” wrote Herrick. Or eat. We sort of like eating more than gardening to celebrate the beginning, or ending, of any season. And, if you’ve made it out to the Ballpark in Arlington for some springtime baseball, you’ve certainly had plenty to keep you busy…
We had a busy week at the CoA. Scott Reitz endured some bad karaoke at Pop Diner at in Uptown. No matter what the T-shirts may say, pulling off good food is sometimes easier said then done. Unless you’re drunk, then who cares? Exactly … We covered some solid Cinco…
One should never underestimate the power of kolaches. When the fertilizer plant in West exploded a couple of weeks ago, for many, the soft round pastry that put West on the map sprung quickly to mind as a way to raise money to help the blast’s victims. Last weekend, when…
It’s certainly not a weekend for lightweights. Leave your fanny pack at the house and imbibe in many of the options around town as we collectively celebrate General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín’s defeat of the French in 1862 in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Despite the fiesta, many…
This Saturday, Jamie Fulton of Community Beer Co. will open his brewer’s book of secrets for Beer School from noon to 2 p.m. Fulton has an impressive set of credentials and has attended his share of brewing schools, including the UC Davis program, the World Brewing Academy and classes at…
The Hospitality Sweet, a quaint little bakery and café, opened earlier this week inside the historic downtown post office and courthouse at the corner of Ervay and Bryan streets (400 North Ervay, Suite 175). This building was originally constructed in the 1930s and has been undergoing a massive redevelopment for…
The same group that owns Sfuzzi and The Standard Pour, La Reve Consultants, is opening a new concept called Pozo Mercado at 2908 McKinney Ave. This new restaurant and bar, which is right next door to The Standard Pour, will have a tequila focus. For that, we applaud them. Brian…
Each week or so we ask a local chef three burning questions about his or her favorite culinary reads, food shames and best (or worst) meals. This week, we hear from Garreth Dickey of DISH Restaurant and Lounge. Doesn’t he totally look like Steve Buscemi? What are a few of…
Last weekend the White Rock Local Market held its third annual Chili Cook-off. The judges for the event included BBQ Snob Daniel Vaughn, The Ticket’s Corby Davidson and Matt Tobin of Goodfriends. Jason Dreubert made a cabrito rojo chili, which won for best spicy chili and people’s choice award. Team…
