If a mega-tornado strikes Oak Lawn or zombies take over the city, there’s one thing we here at the Observer won’t have to worry about while we’re barricaded in the break room: a food shortage. Not only do we have enough of those neon orange crackers to feed everyone for…
Originally an off the menu item at Matt’s El Rancho in Austin, Bob Armstrong dip, named after former Texas Land Commissioner Bob Armstrong, titillated the taste buds of Austinites before word traveled up Interstate 35 to Mattito’s Tex-Mex in Dallas. Once word got out, Matt’s El Rancho put the dip…
On recent repeat visits to a new restaurant, I noticed one constant: The chef-owner’s presence in the dining room, whether welcoming customers from the host’s station or milling about the tables. The well-respected and hardworking chef — he owns more than one restaurant — was dressed in a crisp white…
For years I hated Starbucks. I sensed they were plotting a world takeover starting with the invention of their own sizing scheme, which to this day I refuse to adhere to (it’s a small not a tall). I would accuse anyone who drank their coffee as a co-conspirator and kept…
Although I’m a rehabbed fatty, the inner fat girl inside of me lives on, which can be problematic when I return to old stomping grounds, i.e. the Asian grocery store. The days of a pigtailed me gallivanting through an Asian grocery store throwing whatever shiny thing that caught my eye…
With the Borders on McKinney closing, I’m reminded of how my hockey player date once prepped at the book store before our first date. I met this guy in an elevator as I was leaving a book club meeting. He asked if I lived in the building. I replied no and…
Good news if you missed the Strong Ale Festival at the Meddlesome Moth on Saturday — you weren’t alone. Which was good news for those of us who actually did go: no lines and no disappointment upon finding out that a scarce keg had run dry. And that also means…
In part one of this week’s Three Course Meal, we gave you a look at Dean James Max, concept chef of Asador In part two, we asked Max to complete our thoughts for us. In today’s final installment he shares his recipe for a dish designed to be a Texas…
You controlled the media this week by telling us where to eat and what to eat when we get there. Besides that, a (pseudo)-scandal (allegedly) breaks out at Maple & Motor, and Denton gets some love. Read on. City of Ate In her last-last-last review for the Dallas Observer, Hanna…
This week, we’re trying out the happy hour menu of Screen Door. Screen Door and the three other restaurants in One Arts Plaza — Jorge’s, Fedora’s, Tei-An — are offering $5 happy hour small dishes all day on Tuesdays. Where: Screen Door, 1722 Routh St. When: 4-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday,…
What would you do for a year’s worth of free Whataburgers? (Now, now, be nice. It’s free.) In celebration of the opening of Coppell’s first Whataburger, 730 N. Denton Tap Road, each of the store’s first 20 customers will win one free Whataburger per week for an entire year. If…
Since 1924, the Luna family has been selling chips, tortillas, tamales and such through The Luna Tortilla Factory. And now, almost 86 years later, they have finally opened a family restaurant. And, guess what? They’ve been holding out on us. Shame, shame. It all started back in 1923 when María…
Hope you’ve got your sunscreen and a good appetite because you’re going to need both if you want to enjoy the best events this weekend. There are plenty of outdoor happenings you won’t want to miss, but you may need more than sunscreen for one of them. Bring a strong…
Kudos and garlands of gratitude should be scattered around to all responsible for the surprisingly dramatic and heart-tugging bit of programming improbably known as the Chopped All-Stars series. Begun several weeks ago with individual competitions featuring representatives of various Food Network subcultures — such as stars Robert Irvine and Anne…
After we finished a light salad, touched with olive oil and fresh goat cheese, Marc Cassel entered a halo of light at the Kessler to introduce his fine meal: beef tenderloin with wild mushroom stroganoff and bright parsley, followed by a chocolate cake in a creamy anglaise.And so kicks off…
Quittin’ Time is back, bringing you tips on where to get your happy hour drink on — or not. Where: Beauty Bar, 1924 N. Henderson Ave. When: 5-9 p.m. Monday through Friday What: $10 martini and mini-manicure, $1 off most drinks Why: Because sometimes you just want to feel pretty…
No longer are they just burger flippers and fry-cooks; now, they’re the best. Some Fort Worth Whataburger employees and their manager now share the title of WhataGame champions after defeating a field of the final 16 teams during the course of the three-day competition at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine…
The March Madness-style Burger Bracket might be in limbo, but its predecessor, the Taco Bracket, is back and is bigger. Joe Flowers announced this week that the 2011 edition of last year’s popular food fight will take a different form. We don’t mean all tacos must come in Old El…
Throughout April, the New Guy is only eating at places suggested by City of Ate readers, in a futile attempt to speed his conversion to Texasism. Have a suggestion? Leave it in the comments or hit us on Twitter at @cityofate and @joeptone.When I reached out for restaurant suggestions yesterday,…
Yesterday, we brought you a short profile of the unflappable Dean James Max, concept chef at Asador. Today, we asked Max to finish a few sentences for us. Tomorrow, he shares a recipe for one of his favorite dishes — sourced local and eaten fresh. I was raised in…a big…
For Hanna Raskin’s latest review, before she whisked off to allergy-free Seattle, she tackled the Flintstones-esque hunk of meat — which you must eat without fork and knife — at Lockhart Smokehouse. According to Hanna, Lockhart fell short with the sausage and the ribs but blew the doors off of…
People say you should give a restaurant time to “find its stride” before you go there and judge their food. To those people I say: bullshit. Don’t open your restaurant if you’re not ready for people to eat your food. And now, a public service announcement: Taquería La Paloma and…
