inquired earlier this year whether the city had ever officially bestowed any honors upon Dallas's first celebrity chef -- who was "to American cuisine what Julia Child is to French" and Texas's "Tastemaker of the Century" -- and, hot dog, before year's end comes the Mayor Tom-signed seal of approval. For which Severson deserves an extra bottle of Champagne, at least. And have yourself some poppy-seed dressing, while you're at it. --Robert Wilonsky