DFWTexEx

Well.... Dallas is totally shut out of Beard finalists, including Best Chef Texas. Beard Finalists 2020

To date, we have been sticking to our neighborhood restaurants in North Oak Cliff / Bishop Arts (Taco y Vino, Nora, Zen Sushi, Cibo di Vino, Emporium, Sketches of Spain, Enos...still haven't tried Stock and Barrel, but it's on the list). But, we had some friends do an anniversary dinner from Petra and the Beast. Holy shit. It looked awesome. You can get the food and do a picnic on their lawn to eat it hot or just take it all home. I think we may cross the river for this. You can't see that Sunday "Beast Menu" now because they publish it on Fridays for Sunday only pickup. I saw it over the weekend and looked killer. Petra...you are on the list! Petra And The Beast

This thing as evolved into something more and more personal. In the early stages, I did what I normally do: donate cash to trusted institutions like the regional food bank, well established shelters, etc. Then came the more specific relief efforts. For instance, the restaurants that banded together to get donations for out of work service industry folks. I donated cash. Then, I started getting takeout exclusively from restaurants that I used to frequent, were owned by friends, donated to the neighborhood in the past, etc. These are important parts of my community and I want them to make it. Then, my own livelihood became threatened and I had to hit pause for bit on the donations and takeout. As I began to feel a bit more confident that I would keep getting my paycheck, I redirected my giving to a much more personal level: I am giving cash and food to my housekeepers who are really struggling. I am paying my trainer for virtual sessions on top of paying what I normally do. I am paying a lady really into dog rescue to help train my dogs. Etc. These are people that are my neighbors and friends and they are hurting. That is where my cash is going instead of donations to institutions. This has never happened before. I’m lucky I can do this, so I do. For how long? I don’t know. And I don’t know what happens after that.

I'm crushed. Not the first time this pandemic has caused me to cry and it won't be the last, but this really hurts. RIP.

Too bad, because this side of town needs good Chinese (even American style Chinese) badly. Chef from Royal China? Jeeeze, it would have been an easy, home run.

I saw that video from Ecuador, the one with bodies lying in the streets. The disconnect between what is happening on the ground and what the country is reporting is astounding.

Plugging Taco y Vino. Great stuff. Curbside. You have to put your card in the reader, but otherwise contactless. 6 tacos and a bottle of wine for $30. $4 appetizer specials. Emporium pies is also nailing it. Very careful setup. And pies! Trying Stock and Barrell next.

So, the numbers aren't working for full service places, as much as they tried to stay alive with take out, special meals, etc. Boulevardiere closed yesterday. Lucia and Macellaio too. Nova's last night is tonight. Several others closed already. I wonder which ones will make it back.

Agree. It should just be everywhere. It would be so much better if surrounding counties did it too. And Harris. And Travis.

I finally saw this film. Wow. One of the best i have seen in several years. Laugh out loud funny and then crushing. It's rare that I see a film and don't wish that something were different or the casting was better or whatever. I don't have even a nit here. It was beautiful to watch. Each scene was a piece of art and the acting was spot on. I loved the mix of crazy hyperbole and subtlety. I need to see it again.

In Oak Cliff (in addition to normal takeout available and food delivery services): Taco y Vino: curbside special 6 tacos and a bottle of Cava / $30 + 50% off for service industry workers Zen Sushi: chilled bottle of chardonnay with pick up or delivery orders of $50 or more. Curbside available Nova: Curbisde takeout now available Cibo di Vino: all takeout, but not curbside. Great things to pick up (brined chicken, 44 farms steaks, etc.). Plus family meals for 3-4 people ($50 for pizzas with sides and dessert, $60 for pastas with sides and bread). But, you have to go inside. Oddfellows: takeout window open, plus "provisions" on the sidewalk (fresh goods available for sale) Lucia: fabulous take out menu available yesterday (pretty much full menu at full menu prices). Sold out by 3:30. Updated today that they are now closed completely while they try to figure out what to do. Boulievardiere: full menu -- other than raw bar -- available for take out (presume you have to go inside). No specials indicated. Paradiso: "no contact" takeout from full menu.

Totally irresponsible. All that (including travel questionnaires) should have been in place a couple of weeks ago.

It's fine. We don't mind going to the Irving Blvd. location on occasion for basic counter ordered seafood. The grilled trout with rice and veggies is my go to. The fried shrimp are not that good. I love the big frosty glasses of beer. Ice cold like I like it. Overall, it's pretty good but no where near Hook, Line, & Sinker, with the same menu. Also, I don't like the gumbo. I don't mind okra in a gumbo (I know that's controversial) but this is really a gumbo okra. I had to scoop out all the crazy amount of okra the first couple of times I ordered it, so I don't order it any more.

TJ's has coconut shrimp on the menu? They are off the list. If I see coconut shrimp on a menu, I leave. Same thing as Captain Crunch Chicken.

Exactly right.

Ha! It can be bad or good, depending on your mood and expectations. I just mean that it’s a really curated experience. There are instructions as to how they expect you to go through the meal. There are do’s and don’ts. Customization is not encouraged and likely not even allowed. The process just seems to be millennial / hipster driven. The other Japanese restaurants I go to (Tei An, Teppo, Zen) are all managed by more seasoned chefs and let you flow through a meal as you like and offer lots of drink choices, customization, etc. Hell, Ten Ramen lets you completely create a custom bowl. Salaryman reminded me of Davis Street Espresso, the “hipster” coffee shop down the street. They don’t have wi-fi or to go paper cups because they want you to have a European style coffee experience, sitting and reading or reflecting on your own or talking with your companions. There is only one sugar choice (stylish crumbles of raw sugar), no sweeteners, only one milk, etc. They want you to “enjoy” your coffee in a manner that they have determined for you. It’s like performance art. It’s not necessarily bad. But can be annoying depending on your expectations. The coffee is good and we walk there with our dogs on nice days.

Recent Bishop Arts experiences: Salaryman: I did not have the ramen, so this isn't a complete review. I had the potato salad, pickles, several of the chicken yakitori and three non chicken bites (Texas waygu skewer, mushroom and sausage). The place is hipster precious, friendly for sure but it is a very defined and thoughtful experience. No wine, for instance. No to go or boxes for leftovers ("order responsibly"). The chicken yakitori was fine, but even though I ordered different skewers from different parts of the chicken, it all tasted the same: chargrilled chicken. At some point, I thought this is like eating Regio, but without the tortillas and awesome salsa. They charged $3 for a single grilled little shitake mushroom on a skewer. I am happy that this place is successful and it's a great addition to the neighborhood, but I need to go back and have the ramen. Taco y Vino: This place delivers on all counts. Fun and friendly and a great price point. The owner is a really good guy. He's from McAllen so the tacos are rooted in authenticity, just kicked up (except for the Tex-Mex, which is meaty and purely authentic, crunch shell and all). The tamale bits are classic. It's pretty much all good. A definite favorite for sure. Botanist: Lovely place, but a pale comparison of Jettison, for instance. Bartender had a very basic understanding of making drinks, which would be fine, except that the pretense of the place is a mixology experience. It is not that. The drinks at Nora down the street are way, way better. And Boulevardiere, of course. Macaeillo: As much as I love Lucia, owned by the same folks, I just don't get this place. We went in after an event for just a nightcap and a bite. We had the salumi plate (cured meats only), some bread and 2 glass of wine. $83 with tip. It was very good, but it was a plate of ham. This was our third time in and the experiences have been consistent. Not interested in going back.

Cod day-to-day, but fresh halibut fish & chips, like I got in Alaska is my all time favorite.

I guess the Wall Street hit has spread the panic to the business world. We have overseas operations (India and the Philippines). Pretty much all our major clients contacted us on Thursday or Friday asking for emergency meetings to review our BCP, Communicable Disease Policy, assess our proactive measures, etc. Detailed reporting required. Lots of people working on this over the weekend. Shit went from 0 to 60 in a day.

I'm solo tonight and just may go try it (Salaryman).

This! I used to love Truluck's in their original building. I went there often. When they built that suburban strip mall monstrosity right in the middle of Uptown, I ended my relationship with them. Glad they are closing. Fuck them.

I've been eager to go, but have not made it in. Yeah, everyone I know has really liked it but has issued the same warning about how the individual items, though the prices sounds cheap, really add up quickly. The servers really sell it.

Hattie's Closing This really sucks. A favorite since we moved to Oak Cliff in 2004.

Client of ours got hit on Monday. USD$1.5m ask. They are in financial services and have a pretty sophisticated IT group (or so we think). We train and train and train, but still have employees fail our internal tests.

Can we merge this with suggestions for just a great lunch....not a quick, cheap lunch thing, but maybe where you would go for a business lunch or a nice lunch, when you might linger on a pretty day and when they may be wine or a cold beer involved? For me, Parigi, is the clear winner here, followed by Hatties.