When we got word that WFAA’s Good Morning Texas was looking for suckers contestants to enter a televised wing eating contest, it sounded like the right time to reshuffle the speed-eating pecking order here at City of Ate.While Jesse Hughey had a corn dog eating crown to defend, I thought…
Every time I go…strike that. The few times I’ve been to old downtown Carrollton, the square always seems deserted. Oh, there are cars, but few people–until you walk into Babe’s, where you find the entire population of North Texas.So if, as writers at the New York Times suppose, Southern fried…
Agave Tapas2067 Summer Lee Dr.Rockwall214-771-0423Actually, the name includes “grill,” “restaurant” and–I think–“bar” in addition to “tapas.” And the name says it all.In some ways it reminds me of the time I stopped in a place called Carlos O’Kelly’s, a Tex-Mex establishment that may or may not have also served corned…
In the vegan world, we’re in what’s known as “VeganMoFo.” No, not what you think–it’s a global event that stands for “Vegan Month of Food.” We celebrate VeganMoFo to encourage our omnivorous friends to try animal-free eats for an entire month. Not an easy feat here in Dallas–you know, considering…..
Each week, Pairing Off attempts to find just the right bottle of wine to go with ordinary food.There’s gonna be a moment when you think “this is the low point–it can’t get any worse.” Of course, intellectually you know it can get much worse. But the little speech, however mistaken,…
Driving around Dallas last week I came across an abandoned concrete structure with block glass inlays and “restaurant” painted across the front. It was like spotting an original streamline diner–different construction materials, I know, but the rounded corners and crumbling Art Deco era touches inspire the same flush of nostalgia…
On The Range is a weekly exploration of the history and lore of Texas menu items.No matter that you haven’t read the strip in many years, or even if you’ve never perused the comic that has been a staple of the funny papers across the country for over 70 years,…
Maple & Motor4810 Maple Ave.214-522-4400Dude Factor: 9, or “Mama” Cass Elliot, on a scale of 1 (Billy Elliot) to 10 (Eliot Ness)I believe the name of this place is actually Maple & Motor Burgers & Beer, but I’m pretty sure a “motor burger” also refers to something akin to a…
Growing up a Cardinals fan meant we took more than just the occasional pilgrimage to beautiful Busch Stadium. Our route to the ballpark varied, but it was always about three hours and–if we approached down a certain highway, my mom would always–and I mean always–point out the street where Marty…
Got into the office a little while ago after having spent the morning comforting (meaning carrying around) an ailing cat and eating breakfast–a couple of Rice Krispies treats, but it counts.That I did, in fact, stop for breakfast is of critical importance–or so says one of the greatest press releases…
Beer. It’s what’s for dinner. Okay, not really. But some styles are so rich and mealy, they can actually satiate the most severe hunger pangs. It’d be wrong if I didn’t admit to having drunk several 5-course meals of Germany’s finest Weissbiers while visiting friends in Aachen last winter. Hmm–I…
As a rule, high-end food photography is supposed to make you hungry. Give the food some soft light, frame it carefully and from just the right distance and it’ll look even better on film than it does on your plate. But then there’s the strange alternate reality of album covers,…
Last week’s mini-tempest raised by Veggie Guy Eddie Garza’s visit to the state fair was fascinating. In amongst voices of reason were several judgmental statements, such as “have a cheeseburger; It will make you feel better” and “awww, poor ignorant meat eaters….bless their hearts…” Then there was my favorite, from…
Thai Chili397 Las Colinas Blvd. E, Irving972-831-0797All those self-sustaining, walkable neighborhoods built, or to be built, in the DFW area are supposed to make the city seem somehow, well, like a real city. But one of the original and most European developments languishes.Oh, the apartments are doing fine, as far…
Each week in ‘Knockers’ we order from a different delivery restaurant, assessing their efficiency and keeping a running score.Pluckers 5500 Greenville Ave.(214) 363-9464 Promised Delivery Time: 60-75 minutes Actual Delivery Time: 80 minutes Scoring Summary: Entire order arriving with appropriate sides, sauces, and condiments: 20 Friendly employees with money saving…
Jack In The Box has reintroduced the Bonus Jack burger, which is a sandwich made of two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese and pickles on a triple-decker bun. For some reason, that ingredient listing is prompting a serious case of deja vu. Where in the world did they get…
You know, I had planned to further stoke the vegan-meat eater fires lit by Veggie Guy. But someone posted this question on the blog and it caught my interest.We’ve all heard it–Dallas has more restaurants per capita than New York, or than all other American cities…there are a few variations…
A hell of a lot to wade through this week, mostly thanks to the state fair.Two things before we get to the non-winners. First, I think I found a way to rid my desk of some of the accumulated junk…uh, I mean, of the highly sought after prizes, which this…
We can all come up with a list of drinks we deeply regret trying. Some of them were probably part of our repertoire at one point in time. For example, back when I was a high school n’er-do-well, groups of us sneak bottles of Cold Duck or, worse, Malt Duck…
Loft 610 Urban Restaurant and Lounge recently named Chef Tre Wilcox their new executive chef–and announced plans to open a second concept driven by the popular cook.Yes, popular: You might know him as the former Chef de Cuisine at the five-star Dallas eatery Abacus, and he was on season three…
As a kid, my parents subjected our family to a couple different themed meals on a regular basis. One was Dad’s weekly catfish and hushpuppies fry-fest. Others involved dinners at which Mom stretched a pound of meat to serve the entire table. Until my early 20s, I firmly believed you…
I’ve had Primo Brothers’ big-ass pizza delivered to my house, but I had never gone over to the actual restaurant to check out their lunch specials. Until today. They’re in the same strip mall as the dance studio where I get my crump on, so after my weekly hip-hop-video-style arms…
