Jack Mac’s Swill and Grill opened earlier this year in North Dallas, promising an American pub menu and Texas beer, after sliding into a spot in a suburban complex that used to house an Italian restaurant. The menu incorporates run-of-the-mill bar fare with a few elevated and interesting dishes mixed…
On Wednesday the Beer Institute announced that the number of permitted breweries in the U.S. has reached an all-time high of 2,751, up from 2,309 in 2011. Not that we needed a stat to validate this craft beer resurgence, but it’s reassuring nonetheless. “Resurgence”, you say? Yes, our forefathers were…
Lots of Top Chef QuickFires and elimination challenges are sponsored by brands (it’s a TV show, product placement happens), but this week was especially annoying. See also: Top Chef: Seattle Episode 5 Recap: The Ginger Curse Is Real Truvia sponsored the QuickFire, and the prize for the Elimination Challenge was…
Time for some more year end reflection. Next week we’ll look at the most notable openings, but right now I’m feeling glum. Did you lose one of your favorite restaurants recently? There were a number of notable closures over the past 12 months, some of which were expected and others…
Patent attorney Kevin Afgani and his wife, Catherine Kinslow, opened Craft and Growler just outside of Fair Park in mid-November. This new spot plays a unique role in the growing North Texas beer culture because it allows Dallasites to buy local beer and take it home to drink. See, only…
It’s list season, in case you haven’t heard. I was going to spend today blogging about my top lists of the most listy time of year, but I decided I’d just point to what’s been my favorite list so far. See also: Our Favorite Dallas Dishes of 2012 You probably…
If you’ve been watching Top Chef you’ve probably noticed John Tesar’s quirky habit of perching is thick-rimmed glasses on his inquisitively wrinkled forehead. What you might not have noticed is the look may quickly become what is the dorkiest Internet meme I’ve seen in some time. Local chefs (and editors)…
I’ve had a good time watching Qariah come into its own as a lower Greenvile Avenue restaurant over the past two months. When I first dropped in, my service was polite, but terribly inept. Over my visits for this week’s review, it slowly got better. The bread became more consistent,…
Well, the writing was on the sober and empty shelves. For weeks now, all Centennial liquor stores have been apparently dying a slow death. According to the TABC website, all of their stores are listed in delinquency, which automatically stops all deliveries, which meant pickings got slim real quick at…
Yesterday on the way to Craft and Growler, I spotted red electric “open” sign at the corner pupuseria, raspas and taco stand, Luna’s Cocina. Each letter lit up one at a time O… P… E… N…, like a slow taunt to my stomach. A slightly inappropriate right turn from a…
More than a year has passed since City Council’s specific use permit policies went into effect on Lower Greenville Avenue, shuttering many bars and crippling small businesses that depend on late-night alcohol sales as an important part of their revenues. The ordinance was sold as a means to clean up…
A fellow food writer recently told me that food is one of the greatest pleasures of life you get to experience three times a day. If you followed this convention, you’d have more than a thousand opportunities to consume something beautiful every year. Our daily meals seem like an almost…
On Thursday, a newly formed panel will meet to discuss future aerial mosquito spraying in the Dallas area and specifically how it affects the local food system. The panelists include veterinary entomologist Larry Boyd; Susan Pollard of the Texas Honey Bee Guild; Lea Fudge, of Citizens against Pesticides & Poison…
A new food truck, Oink N’ Moo BBQ, is launching in Dallas in January, and will be Dallas’ first dedicated barbecue food truck. And about damn time! In return for this interview, owner David Hunt has promised to drive up to my work three afternoons out of every five. Tell…
A few hours ago Monica Green posted a message to the Facebook page for her restaurant, Monica’s Nueva Cocina, announcing not just that she is leaving the restaurant, but that she’s been gone for an entire month. From her post: The rumors were true. I haven’t been a part of…
When I reviewed Ten Bells Tavern I was smitten with their wings. They’re still great, and I’ve included them in my Year of Eating Fabulously story that comes out today. Last week I ducked into the small Oak Cliff bar to relax with a pint and grab a snack, and…
Wednesday, December 12 The new bar and craft beer retailer, Craft and Growler (3601 Parry Ave.) is hosting a little gathering for Friends of Fair Park today. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawling’s deputy chief of staff, Shawn Williams, will take 20 minutes worth of Q&A regarding the #GrowSouth Initiative at 6…
Chef Matt McCallister is known for his love of foraging. He’s also known for having a bit of a temper. When a diner left some meandering and negative prose on Yelp after having dinner at his previous restaurant, Campo, the chef ate that Yelper for breakfast. On his Facebook page…
We love to drink here at the Observer. We take no shame in our excessively inebriated stories, and actually work hard to pack as much beer and liquor into every post possible. But as much as we love booze, drinkers gotta eat, too. And if you’re not careful, many bar…
Remember the Hypnotic Donut billboard I found so distracting last week? I’ve gained 3 pounds since I noticed the lime green banner outside our office window. I can’t stop thinking about doughnuts. It’s gotten so bad, editor Joe has sporadically started blogging about fruit to keep his mind off confectionery…
Editor’s note: To spare you the suspense — and possible expense — we’re just going let you know upfront: Gavin here is talking about North Main BBQ, 406 North Main St., Euless. So, please, no matter how often he asks — and that will be often — do not send…
Peticolas is throwing a — just stay with me — wedding to celebrate its one-year anniversary. Local girl Ali Kay has evidently found nary a warm soul that brings her more happiness than a tall pint of Velvet Hammer, so she’s marrying it. The “hoppy” day is December 30, at…
