How To Celebrate National Pancake Day in Dallas-Fort Worth

Crème Brûlée Pancake at Snooze

In 1935, Vogue told its readers that "pancakes are frankly difficult and not worth eating at all unless they are of paper thinness and succulent tenderness." Obviously, millions of people around the world disagreed with this statement because today, pancakes are still one of our most popular breakfast foods. National Pancake Day is celebrated on Shrove Tuesday (which you might know better as Fat Tuesday), which will be Tues, February 25 this year. It's the last day before Lent, the traditional 40 days of abstinence before Easter practiced by Christians. The custom is to empty the pantry of all sugar, fats, and eggs to avoid temptation and reduce waste. These ingredients were put to good use by making and consuming large batches of pancakes made from scratch. If you like to pay tribute to the humble but delicious pancake, here are a few options in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for you:

Celebrating National Inventors Day With Something Corny

Neil "Skip" Fletcher, JR. with Corny Dog inventor Neil Fletcher, Sr (circa mid-1970s), Fletcher's Corny Dog booth (circa 1950s)

The proverb “Necessity is the mother of invention” says a lot about how inventors look at life. Many inventors go their whole life without recognition for their creativity while others are household names. February 11 is National Inventors Day so today, I am giving a nod to two Dallas brothers who helped start America's obsession for fried food. In 1938, brothers Neil and Carl Fletcher were offered a unique opportunity to run a food booth at Fair Park. Both men had spent years marveling at the lack of cuisine offered to the Park patrons and knew they had an opportunity on their hands. According to Neil, there was a local baker on Oak Lawn Ave. who served a dish of hot dogs baked in cornmeal in the shape of an ear of corn, and while it tasted good, the process was time-consuming and complicated.

Six Ways Dallas Is Celebrating The Year of the Rat

Dallas loves any reason to party. Add dim sum to the equation and we are ready to TURN IT UP! So, it's no surprise that the DFW-area has many celebrations planned throughout the next several weeks to celebrate Chinese New Year. In case you aren't familiar with this holiday, it is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. In 2020, the first day of the Chinese New Year will be on Saturday, 25 January, initiating the Year of the Rat, which celebrates wealth, surplus and the beginning of a new day. Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the New Year vary widely, and the evening preceding Chinese New Year's Day is frequently regarded as an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean their house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Another custom is the decoration of windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets. Popular themes among these paper-cuts and couplets include that of good fortune or happiness, wealth, and longevity. Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes. For the northern regions of China, dumplings are featured prominently in meals celebrating the festival. It often serves as the first meal of the year either at midnight or as breakfast of the first day.

Here's how you can celebrate the Year of the Rat:

Truluck's Invites You to Celebrate National Lobster Day 🦞

Twin Lobster Tails at Truluck's

Lobsters are interesting - and delicious - creatures. Did you know that in the colonial era, lobsters were the go-to prison food? Only the poor, indentured servants, and prisoners ate lobsters because they were cheap, too plentiful, and considered “tasteless.” According to 19th century Kentucky politician and social observer, John Rowan, the lobster quickly became synonymous with lower classes of society and quipped "Lobster shells about a house are looked upon as signs of poverty and degradation." The meat was so reviled that indentured servants in one Massachusetts town successfully sued their owners to feed it to them three times a week at most. If only we could be so lucky! National Lobster Day is September 25, and in celebration of the lobster, Truluck's gives you some interesting facts about the lobster that you perhaps didn't know:

The Ivy Tavern Celebrates 5th Anniversary August 23-25

The Ivy Tavern is celebrating its 5-year anniversary the weekend of August 23-25 with a series of music and entertainment events. Friday, August 23 is a return to the 1980’s with DJ Jen Miller, starting at 9:00 PM, spinning all the best hits from this totally tubular decade. Prizes will be awarded at random for amazing outfits from the era so dress to impress in your best Polo shirt (collar flipped and double-layered, of course), shoulder pads, or anything neon and hair teased high. Whiskey Pants will take the stage Saturday, August 24 at 9:00 PM and entertain the crowd with their flawless vocal style and evocative melodic elements. This acoustic duo has a wide musical repertoire stemming from an array of influences. Kirk Tatom and Greg Beutel have been active in the Dallas music scene for years and have played for such bands as Deep Blue Something, Grand Street Cryers, and most recently, Evamore. Lastly, The Ivy Tavern’s weekend celebration will cap off with a Sunday FUNday on August 25 featuring the joyful Reggae sounds of Watusi, playing live from 2:00-5:00 PM.

Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine Festival Returns November 1-3

Chefs For Farmers, the premiere food and wine festival of Dallas, returns November 1-3 with an extensive chef, artisan and farmer lineup and many memorable experiences. In one mouth-watering, calorie-filled culinary festival, Chefs For Farmers celebrates rockstar chefs engaging with local farms for ongoing business. The festival highlights Dallas as an established food city that needs to be celebrated. The weekend attracts foodies of all ages (21+) with its “come as you are”, no-fuss, party with live music, DJs and plenty of engaging activities. The festival is a collection of the greatest and most talented in the Dallas culinary scene. Chefs For Farmers VIP lounge recently upgraded with this year’s theme being “The Fried Chicken & Champagne Campaign” presented by Thermador & Capital Distributing, hosted by Top Chef John Tesar and featuring additional Top Chef Bravo chefs. 

New Sultry Summer Cocktails From Truluck's

Truluck's has just debuted a new cocktail menu featuring TEN new cocktails to kick off the sultry Summer season. From fruity cocktails to mellow libations, this menu has something to tantalize the taste buds of everyone. Available in the Stone Crab Lounge and on the dinner menu served in the upstairs dining room, Truluck's uses the best possible ingredients and techniques to ensure that every drink served is an experience. Only fresh fruit and hand-squeezed citrus juices are used every day. They use premium spirits and pour all sodas and mixers from bottles. Enjoy Half-Price Cocktails, Featured Wines, and Selected Appetizers in the Stone Crab Lounge daily from 4:30-7:00 pm. To add to the experience, guests can also enjoy live entertainment 7 nights a week starting at 6:00 pm! Cheers!

Truluck's has two Dallas locations:
Uptown: 2401 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201, 214-220-2401 Southlake: 1420 Plaza Place, Southlake, TX 76092, 817-912-0500
www.trulucks.com

Hudson House Debuts New York Influenced Brunch Menu On February 2

Brunch is the perfect meal. You aren't expected to eat it at the crack of dawn. No, sleep in! Roll out of bed when you feel like it. Even noon is acceptable... Then select from over the top breakfast items magically enhanced with delicious sauces and sides and pair it with a chilled cocktail. Perfection! I have my brunch sights firmly set on Hudson House who is set to debut a new weekend brunch menu this weekend, complete with "a heavy dose of New York influence".  According to a press release that landed in my in-box earlier today, the East Coast-inspired neighborhood restaurant reveals  that “A West Village Brunch” will be taking center stage on the new menu. From house-made cream cheese, meticulously sourced bagels from a local bakery, to thin, hand-cut slices of premium quality fresh fish, Executive Chef Grant Jones says, “We are excited to implement the new menu at both locations and feel it’s a uniquely fun addition to the brunch scene in town.”

Bite & Believe: Cooking with Envy™ Apples

Sponsored post:

1) Butternut Squash & Envy™Apple Soup, 2) Envy™ Apple Arugula, Fennel & Roasted Walnut Salad, and
3) Sheet Pan-Roasted Fennel Crusted Pork Loin With Envy™ Apples & Onions

Tonight I attended a cooking class at Central Market featuring one of the hottest apples on the market, Envy™apples.  Now, I'm an okay cook. Casseroles are my specialty. I like a one-dish kind of meal - that's about my speed. So, I was pleased to discover that tonight's class was a demonstration class, meaning I got to sit there and watch professional chefs cook while I sipped a glass of wine and then got to sample their dishes. The Central Market chefs were full of energy and educational wisdom. I learned a few tips about how to chop vegetables more efficiently and discovered that I actually like fennel. Who knew!? The star of tonight's menu was the Envy™ apple, whose season is November to January, so you have a few more weeks to enjoy this delicious variety of apple.

The Shops at Willow Bend Launches The District

After years of planning and months of anticipation, The District, the chef-driven dining area at The Shops at Willow Bend celebrated its official opening at a ticketed fundraiser on October 5 raising more than $25,000 for the Junior League of Collin County. I was thrilled to emcee this Chefs Tasting Event and introduce each of the participating chefs and explain to attendees that they would spend 30 minutes at each venue to meet the chef, and sample craft cocktails and bites specially prepared for the event. The festive cocktail reception featured musical performances by the Georgia Bridgewater Orchestra, appetizers from California Pizza Kitchen and Terra Mediterranean, from brothers Jalal Chanaa and Adam Shanaa; bites from Knife, a steakhouse from James Beard-nominated chef and two-time Top Chef contestant John Tesar; Mexican Bar Co. Cocina from James Beard-featured chef Patricio Sandoval; and Whistle Britches, offering southern comfort food from James Beard Foundation-nominated Chef Omar Flores. The evening concluded with Australian-style coffee from Ascension Annex, desserts from Neiman Marcus Mariposa and a spectacular fireworks celebration. The event kicks off more than a month of activities celebrating The District.

The Shops at Willow Bend to Debut New Restaurant District This Fall

Deep into a $125 million reimagining and renovation, The Shops at Willow Bend is destined to become the town center for Plano and North Dallas by adding unique dining experience, office, the Plano Children's Theater, an Equinox club, and one of just four Crayola Experience family entertainment centers in the U.S. A few weeks ago, I was among a lucky few that got to take a hard hat tour of the new food district and meet the chefs. Coming this fall are substantial new dining experiences including:

The Food Network Debuts Dallas Cakes on April 30

Master cake decorator Bronwen Weber adds cocoa powder to the 47-inch tall boot cake to give it that rustic, worn-in look. Photo credit: Food Network

Everything is big and over-the-top in Dallas, especially the cakes! Beginning on Monday, April 30th at 10:30pm ET/PT, viewers will follow the best Dallas-area bakers as they transform their clientele's wildest imaginations into extraordinary customized confections in a new TV show on the Food Network cleverly called - wait for it - Dallas Cakes. 🎂 In each of the ten half-hour episodes, three outrageously talented bakers conceive, create and deliver incredible, edible works of art using cake, frosting, incredible imagination and skill. From an impressive Game of Thrones wedding cake featuring an intricate cake topper of a dragon wrapped around the iron throne, to a Back to the Future DeLorean car cake with working headlights, and to a gigantic oil derrick cake that spews chocolate, these Dallas Cakes are always top tier. Among the local bakeries featured will be Frosted Arts Bakery, Society Bakery, Crème de La Crème, The London Baker, Kool Kakes by Dylan and Sugar Bee Sweets.

Celebrate National Crab Meat Day at Truluck's

This Friday, March 9, Truluck's is getting crabby! Celebrate National Crab Meat Day with a full-pound Alaskan-King Crab dinner cluster, crave-worthy fried rice, and a glass of sparkling Poema Cava for $55.00. Better get crackin' because this is just a one-day event.

Truluck's has two Dallas locations:
Uptown: 2401 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201, 214-220-2401
Southlake: 1420 Plaza Plaza, Southlake, TX 76092, 817-912-0500
www.trulucks.com

Crudo Italian Opens in Park Cities

Crudo Italian opened a few weeks ago at 8411 Preston Road and Northwest Hwy in Park Cities. According to a release, "Crudo Italian observes the traditions of Northern Italy, taking a lighter and more sophisticated approach to the cuisine. Signature dishes are centered on handmade artisan pastas and gnocchi, the best meats available, and seafood flown in daily. A robust baking program will produce warm, delicious breads made in-house, as well as an array of fresh desserts. Under the guidance of Executive Chef and Partner Javier Perez, the food is made from scratch, using fresh, highest-quality ingredients." I am a big fan of Italian cuisine and upon receiving an invitation to visit, my husband and I ventured over last week to give them a try. You would think a location at this busy corner would be a gold mine, but the spot has been cursed thanks to poor concepts that didn't fit the area and bad parking. I went in with minimal expectations and after dining there, I am hopeful that Crudo will break the curse. It is worth the parking effort. It's a warm, welcoming space on two different levels, with bars on each level. I am a big fan of the upstairs bar, which is more loungy in feel. Patio seating is also available, as is a small, private dining room for meetings and special events.

Mamoun's Falafel Brings Middle Eastern Flair to Uptown

Mamoun’s Falafel, known for being New York’s oldest falafel restaurant and the fastest growing Middle Eastern fast casual concept in North America, has just opened in Uptown at 3839 McKinney Ave, Ste #150. Fresh and flavorful, Mamoun’s Falafel has been dishing out authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, including their namesake falafel, shawarma, hummus, baba ganouj, and baklava since opening in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1971. The concept was started by Mamoun Chater, who built the menu using authentic Syrian recipes and natural ingredients and spices. The legacy and tradition of the brand is carried on today by Mamoun’s four sons, who have continued to build up Mamoun’s reputation for being the most authentic and flavorful falafel in Manhattan, as well as expanding the concept to New Jersey, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Northern California. The concept, which has been serving high quality Middle Eastern cuisine for more than 45 years, uses a commissary and rigorous production systems to ensure high quality and consistent product at every location. Hours are Sunday-Thursday from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M. and Friday-Saturday 11 A.M. to 3 A.M. That's right THREE A.M.!! I have a feeling this place is going to be Uptown's hottest late night dining destination...

Sambuca To Shutter Uptown Location And Turn Focus To Las Colinas

When Sambuca opened its doors in Deep Ellum in 1991, Bryan Adams was topping the charts and gasoline was $1.14 a gallon. Sambuca quickly expanded into other hot markets over the years including Addison, Atlanta, Denver, West Plano, Houston, Nashville and in 2004 to Uptown, Dallas. Now after 26 years in Dallas, Sambuca’s management company, Restaurant Expert Management has decided it’s time to celebrate the end of an era in Dallas. “We’re going to be closing our Uptown location end of February and we plan to go out with a huge New Years’ Eve and very special Valentine’s Day celebration,” explains Kim Forsythe REM owner. “We’ll be thanking our customers by celebrating each weekend of the holiday season with rockin’ dance bands and rolling back some of our signature dishes to 1991 prices.” To adapt to the ever-changing entertainment environment in DFW, Forsythe will be shifting his focus to opening several new concepts in the The Music Factory in Las Colinas. “We brought our staff in on a surprise celebratory party on Sunday to view the newest development and toast 26 years of service and the next 30,” says Forsythe. “ Our company is our family and many have been here since the start.”

Oh So Tasty: The Keeper

Photo c/o The Keeper via Facebook

Recently opened in The Shops at Legacy, The Keeper is a fresh, vibrant, casual and sophisticated. It offers an open kitchen, active bar and a fluid environment for both intimate and fun dining experiences. The bar is a premium rum bar with Tiki drinks and classics rewritten with a variety of rums. “We’re taking a lot of the recipes and flavor profiles you might associate with Tiki and applying it to our cocktail program. Some are classic Tiki drinks, but mostly its about taking that style and applying it to how it best fits our concept. So you won’t find the traditional volcano on fire or people jumping over flaming punch bowls,” General Manager Ryan Beard told Plano Profile. "A few items on the bar menu are The Keeper G+T, a Rum Old fashioned and a Mai Tai." With indoor/outdoor spaces, natural lighting, rum cocktails and an overall laid back atmosphere, the comfortable look and feel makes the restaurant and bar the natural choice for all occasions. Located at 5840 Legacy Circle (across from Mexican Sugar), Plano, Texas 75039, 469-210-5337, thekeeperplano.com

State Fair of Texas Announces Winners of the 2017 Big Tex Choice Awards

Today's 13th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards, presented by VisitDallas, provided guests with an ample assortment of tasty treats. Tom Grace’s Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger took home the titles for both “Best Taste – Savory” and “Most Creative.” With 28 years as a concessionaire under his belt, Tom Grace is no rookie in the world of Fair food. This is his second time to make the finals in the Big Tex Choice Awards and first time winning a title. To create his Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger, he begins with two funnel cakes for “buns” that are fried to a golden crunch. The first funnel bun is topped with a juicy, freshly-grilled burger patty, a heaping helping of crispy bacon, and gooey queso! It is completed with another funnel bun and generously dusted with powdered sugar.

Oh So Tasty: Hot Joy

Pad Thai at Hot Joy Dallas

Hot Joy just opened a pop-up location at 3130 Lemmon Ave. in Dallas. Featuring a wild menu with outsized flavors, tiki-inspired cocktails, late-night hours and an atmosphere that can best be described as “singular,” Hot Joy has brought an energetic vibe to the Uptown corner previously occupied by Texas Land & Cattle. Hot Joy burst onto the San Antonio dining scene in 2014 and immediately threw convention out the window. Owner Chad Carey describes the menu as “a wild mash-up of China, Texas, Vietnam, Japan, Louisiana, Thailand, Mexico, Malaysia and anything else that lights up our brain.” “It’s meant to be insanely fun, bursting with life and just a bit too loud,” Carey continues. “Hot Joy is, at its core, about being spontaneous and creative, and the joy that comes from that urgency. We wanted to create a restaurant experience that’s a little bit different, and I think that’s we’ve done. Of all the things we can be accused of … being understated, nuanced or predictable isn’t one of them.” 

Drink For A Cause: Oak Highlands Brewery Donates To AiRS Foundation

This fall, Oak Highlands Brewery will donate a portion of proceeds of all sales of Oktoberfest beer to the AiRS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to help women with the costs associated with restorative breast surgery, as well as connecting them with doctors that can help them. The AiRS Foundation will receive 10% of all sales of the Oktoberfest beer, which will be available in both cans and on draft, starting August 1st through October 31st. “Oak Highlands Brewery gives 10% of the proceeds from the sales of its Oktoberfest beer to a different local Breast Cancer Awareness charity every year. Breast cancer has touched many lives, including those closely connected with Oak Highlands Brewery, and because the traditional Oktoberfest season and Breast Cancer Awareness Month loosely coincide, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to raise awareness and money to help find a cure,” explained Erica Connolly, marketing director at Oak Highlands Brewery.