Feeds
5233 items (2173 unread) in 20 feeds
Advertising
(388 unread)
Foodie
(780 unread)
Technology
(17 unread)
People
(197 unread)
Gossip
(277 unread)
Girly
(514 unread)
Items by donnaaries
Donna Cooks
-
Top Chef New York = The Next Food Network Star?
Posted: Dec 4th, 2008, 6:29am MST by donnaaries
Oops, it’s finals season and I’m totally slacking on the blogging! Just some quick thoughts about the last two episodes. Episode 3 The quick fire challenge involved cooking an item from the Top Chef cookbook, but then halfway through the cooking the judges threw a curveball: make it into a soup. Leah is climbing on my list of [...] -
Brunchy Things (Spanish Frittata and Shrimp Cakes)
Posted: Dec 3rd, 2008, 6:13pm MST by donnaaries
I love a frittata for brunch, classic like an omelet but more airy. The shrimp cakes are a good substitute if you’re tired of boring sausage patties. They also serve as great appetizers, and, when made in smaller sizes, hors d’oeuvre for your holiday party! Spanish Frittata with Potatoes and Chorizo 3 tbp olive oil 1 large yellow [...] -
Top Chef New York: Haute Dogs
Posted: Nov 20th, 2008, 5:19pm MST by donnaaries
I said before that no chefs really stood out to me after the Top Chef premiere last week. Well folks, it’s the same story this week, even with Tom Colicchio declaring during the episode that he was thoroughly disappointed. The quickfire challenge this week involved the classic New York City street food, the hot dog. Dishes [...] -
Ham and Swiss Rolls and Strawberries with Mint
Posted: Nov 20th, 2008, 6:14am MST by donnaaries
This is one of my “I don’t feel like cooking dinner” dinners. With finals right around the corner, the kitchen is seeing a lot less of me. These ham and Swiss rolls make for a quick dinner with simple deli offerings, plus the leftover ones make for a decent toaster oven breakfast the next day. Ham and [...] -
Top Chef New York: A Bloody Premiere
Posted: Nov 13th, 2008, 9:28am MST by donnaaries
I was preparing a German themed dinner of schnitzel and red cabbage with apples for the premiere of Top Chef New York when I suffered my first major knife injury: lost grip of my chef’s knife while slicing the apples and it slid right into my middle finger. Ouch! Talk about feeling demoralized! As odd as it sounds, [...] -
Eating Like a College Student in Shanghai (China Trip - Day 1)
Posted: Nov 10th, 2008, 10:57pm MST by donnaaries
In case you had any doubt that flying on a commercial airline has lost all its olden day glamour, I invite you to hop on any US airline for an economy class flight across the Pacific. I thought I was mentally prepared for the discomfort of the 20+ hour trip duration (including a 3 hour layover at [...] -
Scardello Artisan Cheese Opens in Dallas
Posted: Nov 2nd, 2008, 3:19pm MST by donnaaries
Scardello Artisan Cheese is the latest storefront to open in the recent explosion of Dallas cheese shop openings. Scardello officially opened its doors to the public last Thursday. So two days later, we headed down to the shop to scope it out. Scardello is located in a classic 1929 building with original brickwork. The owner, Rich Rogers, [...] -
Are We Coming or Going? China Trip - Introduction
Posted: Oct 30th, 2008, 11:03am MST by donnaaries
It was my better half’s first trip to China. Actually, his first visit to Asia. “I want to see as much as possible. I know you can’t see everything in two weeks, but I want to see a lot.” He was, after all, going on one of those “trips of a lifetime.” Though I’d been there before, I [...] -
Mint Marinated Shrimp with Glass Noodles
Posted: Oct 27th, 2008, 6:03am MST by donnaaries
I love the emphasis on using fresh vegetables and herbs in Vietnamese cuisine. One bite presents so many different contrasting textures. This recipe, a tweaked version of the original Martha Stewart, is by no means authentically Vietnamese but showcases many of those same characteristics: fresh, clean, and complex in flavor. Glass noodles (also known as cellophane noodles) are [...] -
Red Road Vineyard & Winery (Naples, Texas)
Posted: Oct 26th, 2008, 3:36pm MST by donnaaries
On a recent trip to Arkansas, we took a short detour off of IH 30 and found a pleasant stop at Red Road Vineyard & Winery in Naples, Texas. Located just south of the railroad tracks parallel to Main Street (US 67), Red Road Vineyard & Winery officially opened in December 2007 by father-daughter owners Bradley and Merrill Grove. Red [...] -
Sophisticated Tapas in the ‘Burbs (Cafe Malaga)
Posted: Oct 17th, 2008, 10:36am MST by donnaaries
On the main square of historic downtown McKinney is a little unexpected hidden gem, a narrow, intimate space that brings a breath of urban air to the otherwise sleepy suburb. That treasure is Café Malaga with its simple warm orange walls, dim lighting, cozy European café feel, and the best wine list in McKinney. Café Malaga’s [...] -
Marinated Mozzarella and Rosemary Rotisserie Chicken Pasta
Posted: Oct 15th, 2008, 4:47am MST by donnaaries
Since there are only two of us at home, buying a deli rotisserie chicken usually means we’ll have leftovers. This rosemary rotisserie chicken pasta recipe from Real Simple is perfect for dealing with those leftovers. 8 oz shell pasta half of a rotisserie chicken (or whatever you have left) 2 tbsp fresh rosemary 1/2 cup grated Parmesan salt and pepper Cook pasta according to package [...] -
Jacques Pepin Tastes The Mansion
Posted: Oct 10th, 2008, 6:54am MST by donnaaries
Last night, while slumped on the couch and shoving down some boysenberry and vanilla frozen yogurt from Yogurtland down my throat, I received this little announcement via text message: “I’m cooking for Jacques Pepin, b*tches!” He meant at The Chef’s Room at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, of course. Cooking for a legendary celebu-chef, isn’t that every beginner [...] -
Summer Wedding Weekends: Brunch at the Inn at Dos Brisas
Posted: Oct 9th, 2008, 5:03pm MST by donnaaries
As I mentioned before, I try to take opportunity of Sunday brunch to do some chowhounding after all the catered meals at out-of-town weddings. I thought my options for a wedding in Brenham, Texas would be slim (biscuits and sausage gravy or a sausage biscuit?) until I remembered a thread on DallasFood.org about the only 2008 Mobil five-star restaurant in [...] -
Los Cucos Mexican Cafe Coming to Plano
Posted: Oct 7th, 2008, 3:03pm MST by donnaaries
Oh how I have missed you, my deep fried stuffed avocado! My college guilty pleasure, regional chain Los Cucos, is opening its first DFW location at Park Blvd and Dallas North Tollway in Plano (1900 Dallas Pkwy) the third week of October. The Cabrera brothers opened their first Los Cucos in Houston in 1991, and have [...] -
A Skeleton of Its Former Self (River Spice)
Posted: Oct 6th, 2008, 3:42am MST by donnaaries
When River Spice first opened its doors in 2003, it breathed fresh air into the too-Americanized Thai food scene in Dallas. The interior space of the restaurant was elegant in a time when the phrases “upscale” and “ethnic” simply did not mix. Local food media were wowed by River Spice’s creative plating and [...] -
More Self-Serve Fro-Yo at Yogurtville
Posted: Sep 29th, 2008, 3:42pm MST by donnaaries
Frozen yogurt is the hot ticket in Dallas right now. Yogurtville, another self-serve concept, just opened its doors in Carrollton at Hebron and Midway (3220 E Hebron Pkwy). Yogurtville’s self serve concept is similar to that of Yogurtland which just opened a few miles south. Wait, that’s an understatement. It’s the exact same concept. Patrons are [...] -
Weekend Gluttony Wrapup
Posted: Sep 29th, 2008, 11:13am MST by donnaaries
Well, I did it. Three different food festivals in one weekend. I also managed to log 7 miles on my running shoes but I don’t think that burned off even 10% of the calories I consumed. Onto the food! First up is the opening night of State Fair, starting with the much publicized chicken fried bacon, [...] -
Annual Weekend of Food Festival Gluttony
Posted: Sep 25th, 2008, 10:27am MST by donnaaries
Well, it’s happened for the second year in a row. The last weekend in September seems to be food festival mania in DFW. I present my ambitious festival food eating schedule for the weekend: Friday: Opening day for the Fried Food Festival. Oops, I meant the State Fair. The “novel” fried item garnering the most pre-Fair press this [...] -
H-Mart Shopping Center Update: Omi Korean Grill & Bar and Yogurtland
Posted: Sep 23rd, 2008, 4:46am MST by donnaaries
Two new storefronts have opened their doors in the H-Mart Shopping Center in Carrollton during the last month. Omi Korean Grill & Bar offers an all you can eat Korean BBQ option for $18.99 per person, with diners cooking their own BBQ on the table gas grill. Marinated short rib was the standout of the meats we tried, tender and juicy. The [...] -
A Rare Treat, and a Sad Good-Bye
Posted: Sep 11th, 2008, 9:20am MST by donnaaries
I’m sitting in my cube eating a Doughmonkey snickerdoodle cookie, still lukewarm from the oven it was baked in. It’s light, buttery, just the right amount of sweet with a fairy dusting of cinnamon. This is a rare treat for me, as I don’t live or work near the bakery and usually enjoy their treats [...] -
Spicing Up the Weekend with Kung Pao Chicken
Posted: Sep 7th, 2008, 9:15pm MST by donnaaries
I brought back a large bag of Yunnan dried red chiles from my China trip in May and haven’t done a darn thing with them. Then it struck me, I could make a semi-authentic, personalized version of kung pao chicken (or in Chinese pinyin, gong bao ji ding) with these peppers. Since I have no [...] -
The Omnivore’s Hundred
Posted: Aug 29th, 2008, 10:12am MST by donnaaries
Thanks to Margie for bringing this fun foodie game to my attention! The Omnivore’s Hundred is a list created by British foodie Andrew Wheeler of Very Good Taste. It’s a list that Andrew believes is ”100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange [...] -
Bijoux for Restaurant Week
Posted: Aug 28th, 2008, 11:39am MST by donnaaries
Just when I was ready to settle on mediocrity for Restaurant Week, a dinner at Bijoux raised the bar again. A simple, sweet, and savory bite of watermelon and goat cheese amuse bouche set the tone for the lovely evening. First course options were white corn and coconut soup, salad of mixed greens, crispy pork belly, or melon carpaccio. My [...] -
Abacus for Restaurant Week, A Return
Posted: Aug 18th, 2008, 9:40pm MST by donnaaries
I typically use Restaurant Week as an inexpensive way to check out a fine dining establishment I haven’t had a chance to try, a way to test the waters with just a little toe dip instead of a full-body dive. However, even though I tried Abacus for the first time at Restaurant Week last year, [...] -
Two Year Blog Birthday
Posted: Aug 17th, 2008, 9:38pm MST by donnaaries
261 posts… 79 DFW restaurant reviews… 95,032 views… 2 years and counting… -
Confetti Burgers and Broccoli Slaw with Golden Raisins
Posted: Aug 7th, 2008, 10:00pm MST by donnaaries
I’m always looking for ways to make my homemade burgers more interesting. A Shape magazine recipe calling for corn and chopped up red bell pepper in the burger patties caught my eye. Served with a cool cilantro-lime sour cream sauce, it was a good call for dinner in the midst of this unbearably hot weather. Confetti Burgers (based on recipe [...] -
A Brilliant Healthy Fast Food Concept (B. B. Bop Rice Bowls)
Posted: Aug 5th, 2008, 5:31am MST by donnaaries
Imagine the convenience of a Chipotle-style, build-your-own counter service model combined with semi-exotic flavors like Bangkok curry and Chiang Mai chili all based on a the Korean classic bibimbap, and B. B. Bop Rice Bowls is born. Traditional Korean bibimbap involves layering sautéed or steamed vegetables, lean grilled meat, and an egg on top of a [...] -
I Heart Shake’s Frozen Custard
Posted: Aug 4th, 2008, 5:43am MST by donnaaries
You know it’s hot when the temperature is still in the triple digits long after the sun sets. So instead of a jog around the neighborhood, this is what I’m enjoying instead: Shake’s strawberry concrete, creamy custard blended with fresh juicy berries. I’ve been enjoying this treat since high school, having been lucky enough to have a Shake’s [...] -
Wild Rice Salad with Lime Dressing
Posted: Aug 1st, 2008, 5:12am MST by donnaaries
Perhaps calling this dish “salad” is misleading. Between the rice, black beans, and corn, it’s only a salad in the sense that it’s served cold. In fact, because of all the filling ingredients, wild rice salad with lime dressing would make an excellent vegetarian (vegan in this case) main dish. Wild Rice Salad with Lime Dressing (based [...] -
Summer Wedding Weekends: Brunch at Shade in Houston
Posted: Jul 30th, 2008, 10:56am MST by donnaaries
I am solidly in the middle of that age range where I spend every other summer weekend at weddings. And although they’re always a blast, weddings involve extensive, sometimes multi-meal, catering, and therefore equate to travelling without much chowhounding. That is until the day after the celebration, when Sunday brunch provides an opportunity for some independent culinary exploration. First, off [...] -
Exposition Park Cafe: A Late Night Establishment Deserving of Sober Tastebuds
Posted: Jul 27th, 2008, 10:58pm MST by donnaaries
Excluding the Denny’s and IHOPs of the world, how many dining establishments are open after 2:00am? How many of them actually serve decent food? Welcome to Exposition Park Café, where the only thing crazier than its “so late that it’s early again” hours is the Wednesday night karaoke. The café, housed in a casual corner spot [...] -
Shrimp Two Ways: Shrimp with Tomatoes and Olives & Cajun Shrimp Sandwiches
Posted: Jul 25th, 2008, 5:38am MST by donnaaries
Central Market had some good looking gulf shrimp on special last weekend, thus, shrimp, it’s what’s for dinner (twice this week)! Shrimp with Tomatoes and Olives (based on recipe from August 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine) This simple dish is great over simple steamed white rice or sopped up with crusty French bread. Or, for something that cooks [...] -
Gooseberries
Posted: Jul 21st, 2008, 6:49am MST by donnaaries
I bought some fresh gooseberries (the sweet, maroon-skinned variety, not the hard green ones) from Central Market this weekend because I have never had them before. What exactly is the proper procedure for eating these babies? The flesh of the gooseberry is sweet and squishy while the skin is tart and bitter. Am I suppose to remove the skin these [...] -
Bold, Authentic, and Spicy Regional Chinese at Little Sichuan
Posted: Jul 15th, 2008, 9:30pm MST by donnaaries
The décor at Little Sichuan Cuisine is as bland as it gets. Beige tile, neutral walls, and fluorescent lighting. The food, however, is anything but boring. If you come to Little Sichuan for an order of your neighborhood Eggrolls R Us or Wok ‘N Roll’s General Tsao’s chicken, you’re in for a surprise. This no frills, [...] -
Easy Summer Snack (Edamame Dip)
Posted: Jul 14th, 2008, 8:19pm MST by donnaaries
With the recent tomato salmonella scare, I had to find something else to eat with my tortilla chips. This easy edamame dip (recipe based on July 2008 Shape magazine version with minor alterations) was a good temporary substitute. 6 oz frozen shelled edamame, thawed 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (use the good stuff, since the flavor [...] -
Kelly’s Eastside, Quintessential Neighborhood Bar & Grill
Posted: Jul 10th, 2008, 6:03pm MST by donnaaries
I go to this place so much, I really do owe it a complete review… It’s easy to fall in love with the casual neighborhood ambiance at Kelly’s Eastside in downtown Plano, even if you don’t live in the neighborhood. At the front door, cheerful wait staff greet you with a welcoming smile. Out on the [...] -
Windy Hill Winery (Brenham, Texas)
Posted: Jul 8th, 2008, 10:52am MST by donnaaries
Windy Hill Winery only sold three different types of wines when I first visited them three years ago. Today, though the general look of the winery has stayed the same, that wine list has grown to almost a dozen offerings. The growth is paralled by the general trend of Texas wine industry, which has doubled its number of wineries over [...] -
Birthday Weekend in San Francisco - Day 3
Posted: Jul 1st, 2008, 11:34am MST by donnaaries
We started our last day in San Francisco with a brisk morning walk along the Embarcadero, starting from the grand San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and working our way through Rincon Park to arrive at our destination, the Ferry Building. The Ferry Building, in addition to being a transportation link in the Bay Area mass transit system, is [...] -
KRLD Restaurant Week August 11-17
Posted: Jun 24th, 2008, 8:49pm MST by donnaaries
KRLD’s annual Restaurant Week will take place August 11-17 this year, when patrons can enjoy three course meals for $35 ($7 of each meal goes to benefit The North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Home). New for this year, a “Preview” weekend will feature three course meals plus a 10 Cane Rum drink for [...] -
Roast Chicken Sandwich with Brie and Nectarines & Arugula and Grapefruit Salad
Posted: Jun 24th, 2008, 5:28am MST by donnaaries
Without a doubt, summer is my favorite season. Longer daylight allows more productivity, Sonic promotes half price drinks during their afternoon happy hour, and the fruit selection! Oh the fruits of summer. Chicken Sandwich with Brie and Nectarines It’s a deli sandwich with a fruity spin held together by creamy chunks of brie. good bread (I used wheat bollilos) sliced roast chicken breast [...] -
Dear God, Is Heaven Full of Eclairs?
Posted: Jun 18th, 2008, 10:08pm MST by donnaaries
Because the Valrhona Caraibe eclair from Doughmonkey sure does taste like heaven. I don’t know if I can describe this eclair in a way that will do it justice. The subtly fruity chocolate is barely sweet, and actually cuts down on the richness of the creamy, thick filling. Not that the cream filling is sweet or [...] -
Birthday Weekend in San Francisco - Day 2
Posted: Jun 15th, 2008, 11:11pm MST by donnaaries
The next day, I returned to that place where my fascination with wine first started three years ago, Sonoma Valley. In order to maximize the number of wineries we could visit (as my wish list was rather long), we opted for the private car option. Driving out of downtown San Francisco, the astonishing beauty of [...] -
My Top Chef Finale Dinner (Watermelon Radish Salad and Pasta in Cajun Chevre Sauce)
Posted: Jun 11th, 2008, 11:38pm MST by donnaaries
My heart was pounding fast when I got home from work late this evening, I had just realized that today was the Top Chef season finale, the Superbowl for foodies. I went to work in the kitchen immediately. I wasn’t having company over, nor was it any personal special occasion. I just wanted a meal that I [...] -
i Fratelli Pizza Opens Plano Location
Posted: Jun 9th, 2008, 10:48am MST by donnaaries
Local pizza chain i Fratelli just opened their eighth location in the DFW area at the Polo Towne Crossing Center at Park and the Tollway in Plano. Loved the thin crust and the intense marinara sauce on the pepperoni pizza I sampled for lunch today. Toppings aren’t too exciting though, with basil and artichoke hearts being the most exotic ones on the [...] -
An Aggie Goes Orange (OrangeCup)
Posted: Jun 9th, 2008, 12:18am MST by donnaaries
It’s all over local food news, frozen yogurt is the new “it” food for Dallas just in time for summer. Last week, I had the chance to run down to Northpark Mall to try the newly opened OrangeCup, the first location for this homegrown natural non-fat frozen yogurt store. The first thing that struck me about [...] -
Birthday Weekend in San Francisco - Day 1
Posted: Jun 8th, 2008, 10:33pm MST by donnaaries
If anyone actually remembers the teaser I wrote a million years ago, yes I really did spend some time in San Francisco earlier this year. I ate a lot of great food and wrote a dozen or so pages of tasting notes, then stashed those notes away and traded my blogging time for study time as [...] -
Carrollton Location of Cowboy Chicken Opens
Posted: May 9th, 2008, 10:56am MST by donnaaries
A third branch of the local chain Cowboy Chicken opened in Carrollton this week on Hebron Pkwy just east of Midway Rd. I had read favorable reviews of this chain in the past but haven’t found the chance to stop in until last night at the new location. The verdict? It’s a more Texan and much [...] -
Pork, Chicken, Beef, Seafood, and SPAM! (L&L Hawaiian BBQ)
Posted: Apr 26th, 2008, 9:29am MST by donnaaries
In your typical foodie world, adventurous eating is the equivalent of building your foodie resume. For carnivorous American foodies, this often means exploring tasty animals/animal parts that are exotic and, well, not white meat chicken. Growing your dining “experience” means embracing an “I’ll try anything once” attitude and watching your dining companions cringe as you consume something right out [...] -
Pack Your Dirty Underwear Away From Your Peanut Butter!
Posted: Apr 14th, 2008, 10:18pm MST by donnaaries
Travelling foodies beware, not only does the title of this post make perfect hygienic sense (please, I don’t want to eat anything that has come into close proximity with dirty laundry), the densities of peanut butter and cheese are similar to that of the explosive Semtex, meaning packing these foodie goodies into your checked suitcase will almost always set off [...] -
Three Dudes Winery (San Marcos, Texas)
Posted: Apr 14th, 2008, 11:10am MST by donnaaries
Needing a break between all the BBQ eating during the Central Texas BBQ pilgrimage tour, the group stopped at Three Dudes Winery in San Marcos for a little tasting. Found in 2005 by three friends (Terry Alford, Jeff Felderhoff, and Ron Poitiff), Three Dudes Winery’s theme is all about fun. What can you expect from a winery whose [...] -
More Fun with Panko! (Panko Chicken Tenders and Glazed Carrots)
Posted: Apr 10th, 2008, 12:19pm MST by donnaaries
Every once in a while, I suffer a total foodie breakdown and crave those simple foods of childhood, something that I can eat with my hands that may or may not involve the use of ungodly imitation dairy products. I took advantage of the panko crumbs I had leftover from my herb crusted salmon and [...] -
Essence of Dallas on One Plate (Simon’s Sushi)
Posted: Apr 9th, 2008, 11:40am MST by donnaaries
You’re hooting and hollering along with the live country music at Love & War in Texas, drinking a cold Shiner, chowing down on a Texas-sized chicken fried heart attack, and showing your Yankee visitors a good time. They’re embracing that ”don’t mess with Texas” attitude and loving it. You’re feeling like an accomplished host, but also feeling… a little guilty [...] -
Premium Sake Dinner at Kenichi - April 9
Posted: Apr 7th, 2008, 10:25am MST by donnaaries
Kenichi is hosting a special four course sake dinner this Wednesday night at 7:00pm as a part of the Vine Connections Sake Brewer Tour of 2008. Kenichi boasts the second largest sake list among US restaurants and this Wednesday’s special dinner will feature tastings with brewers from three Japanese sake breweries (Kanbara, Rihaku, and Takasago). [...] -
Central Texas BBQ Pilgrimage Trip
Posted: Apr 5th, 2008, 12:48pm MST by donnaaries
Before I begin this journey through the heart of Central Texas BBQ, I’m obligated to lay some background. I started loving BBQ as a resident of pork-heavy, Memphis BBQ influenced Arkansas. For the first two years of college in Texas, my exposure to Texas BBQ was limited to dry, under-seasoned brisket and grocery store grade sausage [...] -
Soda, All Grown Up
Posted: Apr 3rd, 2008, 11:33am MST by donnaaries
It may seem like I’ve dropped off the face of the earth, but I am still alive (just insanely busy lately). In fact, I passed that quarter of a century mark last weekend in San Francisco, where I enjoyed a very grown up soda (now that I’ve achieved this age) at Lulu Petite in the [...] -
Herb Crusted Salmon for Good Friday
Posted: Mar 21st, 2008, 5:42am MST by donnaaries
Think salmon is boring? Try this simple recipe that adds the crunch of Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) for a little excitement. 1/2 cup Panko (found in the international foods aisle) 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley 1 tsp dried tarragon 2 tbsp olive oil 3 lb salmon filet, skin on 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 lemon, cut into wedges Preheat [...] -
Coal-Fired Pizza Showdown (Coal Vines vs. Grimaldi’s)
Posted: Mar 19th, 2008, 11:07am MST by donnaaries
The DFW area is fortunate enough to be home to 3 out of the 25 coal oven pizzerias outside of Manhattan according to sliceny.com. These include the two Coal Vines locations (Dallas and Southlake) and the recently opened Grimaldi’s in the West Village. Why is this important? To pizza purists, the combination of the high temperature [...] -
Best Stew Ever? (Chickpea and Sausage Stew)
Posted: Mar 13th, 2008, 5:23am MST by donnaaries
This is the best bowl of soup/stew I’ve had in a while (and unfortunately one of the worst photos I’ve taken in a while). Something about the subtle sweetness of the Italian sausage highlights the savory profile of the stew so well. 12 oz Italian sausage, casing removed 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped 2-15 oz cans chickpeas, drained [...] -
Frozen Lasagnas From Dallas Based Veroli Foods
Posted: Mar 9th, 2008, 6:54am MST by donnaaries
Dallas Based Veroli foods, founded by first generation Canadian-Italian Lidia Caschera, has added new frozen entrees to its line of products. Veroli products are entirely natural and contain no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, or added sugars. Foodies will be glad to know that these lasagnas are prepared in a way consistent with the tastes of the [...] -
Frisco, Ya Ain’t Irish Enough (Lochrann’s Irish Pub & Eatery)
Posted: Mar 8th, 2008, 7:12pm MST by donnaaries
Bringing an authentic pub atmosphere to a white-bread suburb is tough, but that didn’t stop Dave McNabb from trying. Heck, 75% of Lochrann’s interior was created by Irish craftsmen. Ignoring the master planned feel of Frisco Square and the valet parking situation, Lochrann’s impressive exterior with a prime location directly across from a soccer stadium seems almost too [...] -
Strip Steak Sandwiches with Balsamic Onions and Blue Cheese
Posted: Mar 6th, 2008, 6:11am MST by donnaaries
Balsamic vinegar and blue cheese in one sandwich, what’s not to like? 1 lb strip steak 1 tbsp Worchestershire’s sauce 2 Roma tomatoes 1 medium red onion 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 4 oz crumbled blue cheese 4 kaiser rolls (or French bread, or any kind of crusty bread) salt and pepper Combine strip steak and Worchestershire’s sauce in a large ziplock bag. [...] -
Set a Course for Texas Wines - March 31
Posted: Mar 3rd, 2008, 1:48pm MST by donnaaries
Texas Department of Agriculture’s Wine Program has partnered with the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas to host Set a Course for Texas Wines on Monday, March 31 at the Dallas Contemporary. The event is an opportunity for Dallas wine lovers to sample some of the state’s finest wines (26 participating Texas wineries) and artisan foods [...] -
A Rathbun Victory at Jasper’s
Posted: Mar 3rd, 2008, 12:25pm MST by donnaaries
Caught up in the excitement of the Iron Chef season premier featuring Kent and Kevin Rathbun versus the oh-so-arrogant-but-hot Bobby Flay, I organized a group of six friends for dinner at Jasper’s in Plano on the evening when the episode first aired. Jasper’s is Kent Rathbun’s “gourmet backyard cuisine” concept restaurant with additional locations in Austin and [...] -
Two Quickies for Party Hosts
Posted: Feb 28th, 2008, 6:06am MST by donnaaries
Sick of serving the same old pigs in a blanket and onion dip at a party? Try these two recipes (from the January 2008 issue of Real Simple) for something healthier and more grown up. Chickpea and Mint Spread (served with skinny French loaf slices, you could also use crostini or crackers) 15.5 oz can chickpeas, drained and [...] -
Essence of Chicken?
Posted: Feb 26th, 2008, 5:52am MST by donnaaries
Saw this while standing in the checkout line at the Tian Tian 88 Supermarket in Richardson this weekend: Essence of chicken drink…. mmm… refreshing. Purchase comes with ONE free dinner plate! Anyone have any clue what the heck this is?