As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the cheap, but all are delicious to the extreme. Don't hesitate to share your own nominations in the comments. More of the dish's tasty details are after the jump.
No. 84 Tres Vasos at Samar
We certainly appreciate our fair share of burgers and fries, but no list would be complete without including some of the great chefs of Dallas who seemingly transcend time and distance, morphing their styles to meet the ever-changing tastes of the restaurant-going public.
One of these chefs is Stephan Pyles whose latest incarnation, Samar brings fascinating small plates meant to be shared and paired with good wines that are cost conscience, in an environment that Pyles created by borrowing from his many travels abroad--in Samar's case: Spain, India and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The most unique of the dishes Pyles offers are his Tres Vasos (Spain)--three-layered parfaits, and our favorite vaso among them is a shot glass-sized proffer that includes foie gras brulèe with Pedro Ximenez pears and crispy Jamon Serrano. Consider Jamon Serrano as the best bacon you might ever experience. It's a crazy quilt of ingredients and textures, which somehow work together to form a flavor fest of good taste.
Samar
2100 Ross Avenue at Olive Street
214-922-9922
Check out our previous favorite dishes by clicking on these links:
No. 100: Oatmeal Pancakes at Legal Grounds
No. 99: Shanghai Buns at Jeng Chi Dumpling House
No. 98: Mashed Tater Parfait at Cowboy Chow
No. 97: Chicken and Waffles at Victor Tango's
No. 96: Colorado Lamb Osso Bucco at Hibiscus
No. 95: Flatbread Pizza at Dish
No. 94: First Chinese Barbecue in Richardson
No. 93: Elotes at Fuel City
No. 92: Summer Platter For Two at Big Shucks
No. 91: Chicken Gizzards at Sushi Yama
No. 90: Bob Armstrong Dip at Matt's Rancho Martinez
No. 89: The Angry Dog at Angry Dog
No. 87. Spaghetti Bolognese at Urbano Café
No. 86 Vietnamese Pork Panini at Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen