More Canned Cocktails Hit Shelves

With some of our favorite watering holes closed or simply not feeling all that safe these days, more of us are drinking at home. There are countless options for getting cocktails to go — next time you order from your favorite restaurant, be sure to see what they’re mixing, as…

Fried Chicken Sandwich Review: Whataburger’s Spicy Take

There sure are a lot of spicy items these days. At the Observer, we’ve recently noted spicy nuggets from McDonald’s and a spicy chicken sandwich from Shake Shack. Of course, Popeyes included a spicy option when introducing its chicken sandwich. Why the emphasis on spicy? One contributing factor could be…

Road Out of Addiction Leads to the Kitchen

The upcoming cookbook by the Dallas 24 Hour Club is full of recipes from some of our favorite local chefs. On the cover, on the left bottom corner, you can see a slice of cheesecake, complementing a chicken pot pie. That cheesecake isn’t from one of the chefs in the…

The Story Behind Deep Ellum’s Ichigoh Ramen

Two years ago, Ichigoh Ramen Lounge quietly took over the Deep Ellum space previously occupied by Tanoshii. It’s owned by George Itoh and Andy Tam, who came from New York City to Dallas after falling in love with the Deep Ellum neighborhood. Itoh has more than 26 non-consecutive years of…

Where to Get Chocolate in Dallas This Halloween

With parties, haunted houses and trick-or-treating canceled or adapted for social distancing, Halloween is looking a little grim this year, but not all is lost. If you want to raise your spirits, so to speak, upgrading your candy game is a great option. Whether you’re looking for spooky-themed sweets or…

Eat This: Crushcraft’s Kra Pao

We might not be able to go out and about in the streets right now, but Crushcraft Thai Eats is still serving some tasty dishes. Plus, many of the items are under $10 and make for filling, comforting meals. Your safest bet is home delivery, but if you go to…

State Fair of Texas Wraps Up Its Pandemic Season

Hopefully, a year from now, we’ll be publishing a slideshow of the festive hullabaloo that was the State Fair of Texas. This year, the folks at the fair have wrapped up a season that succumbed to the coronavirus pandemic and pivoted with a drive-thru experience. For 15 days, fair-goers waited…

We Try Stephan Pyles’ Menu at Fireside Pies

Chef Stephan Pyles has partnered with Fireside Pies to offer a special menu at select locations. The alliance came together in a Cambodian restaurant during a meeting between Mark Parmerlee, the owner of Fireside Pies, and Pyles. That restaurant had created a separate menu in collaboration with a local chef,…

Fall Back for KST (Klobasnek Saving Time) with the Best in Dallas

It’s that time of year again when the leaves redden, the pumpkins sleep on the porches, and you, all besweatered, warm your hands by the box of klobasneks in your passenger seat. “Want them warmed?” is a question Texans should know already — it means your bouquet of sausage rolls,…

DCCCD to Host 12th Annual Food Event with a Drive-Thru

Dallas County Community College District brings together some of Dallas’ best chefs to fundraise for the district’s culinary, pastry and hospitality program. It’s the 12th year for the event, and it will look different thanks to COVID-19. (We’re working on finding new ways to word such news.) But it’s a…

Warm Biscuits and Seasonal Jelly to Fill Your Soul

“I have all very yummy days,” is one of the first things Donna Collins told me about herself on the phone recently. It’s not a bad introduction.  Collins is the jelly queen, even though she says there are many, all of whom she’s worked or cooked with over the years. It…

Palmer’s to Serve Dallas Even More Hot Chicken Come Monday

Palmer’s Hot Chicken opens in the Hillside neighborhood of East Dallas Oct. 19, serving the spicy bird that continues its trend through Dallas. Observer writer Alex Gonzalez spoke with owner Palmer Fortune in June, when we got to learn a little more about what this Texas native, Nashville-bred restaurateur is…

Eat This: Breakfast (and Lunch) at Morales Restaurant

There’s hardly ever a morning when a spicy guiso can’t hit the spot. One such place that accomplishes that is Morales Restaurant. Recent visits had us at the location on West Davis Street — on our latest stop, staff told us they’re closing this location and opening another on South…

New Bakery J. Rae’s to Open in North Dallas

A new spot for sweet goods is coming to West Lovers Lane this winter. J. Rae’s, a family-owned business out of Fort Worth, will serve cupcakes, cheesecakes, cake balls, cookies and seasonal desserts. Owner Audrey Dixon will open the bakery in the Pavilion on Lovers Lane, adjacent to the Devonshire…

Florida Stone Crab Is Coming Back to Truluck’s

This fall is different in so many ways, but one thing that’s making its usual return is Florida stone crab at Truluck’s. It’s a long season (and we’re thankful for that) running Oct. 17 through May 2. The restaurants work exclusively with their fisheries in South Florida to capture crab…

Cooking at Home More? Head to the Library.

It was years ago when I wandered into my neighborhood library, the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, and stumbled upon a plethora of cookbooks on the shelves. It was overwhelming at the time: How would I ever have time to discover something I want to pursue, let alone cook my…