Tag: #DallasEats

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Daily Dose

Surprises at Casa Verona

So the Hubs and I have started training for the #Bearathon at Baylor. We started the Fit Girls Guide challenge and it’s been a really great few weeks, but it’s also been challenging fitness journey, too. I’d missed carbs and well…

I splurged on carbs this week – in a BIG way. Between Italian food, Greek, food, and chocolate cake – I did the damn thing. When one of my besties suggested we dine at Casa Verona before our Christmas light tour of Highland Park, I was a bit put off by the Greek/Italian fusion. Truth be told, I was quite skeptical that yet another Italian-inspired restaurant would be anything more than bland sauce and doughy pizza. I was not expecting much from this little spot over on Walnut Hill (9840 N Central Expy #300, Dallas, TX 75231) and was pleasantly surprised to have stumbled across an excellent bar and pizza worthy of a Roman piazza. Welp, hold onto your hats folks – because this tiny Dallas eatery packs quite the punch.

My last trip to Rome included the best Margherita pizza I’ve ever had. There’s something delectable about simple ingredients: fresh-made dough, mozzarella, garden-snipped basil, and fresh cracked pepper. Doesn’t that just sound phenomenal? I’m already drooling. So, imagine my surprise when we walked into this quaint spot behind Snooze, off of 75 in Dallas, and the smells knocked me back into that beautiful town with a Nonna making the dough by hand.

I love this spot. My only real complaint so far? The lack of social media. This place is tiny, probably does most of their business during lunch hour – c’mon Sam! Get yourself a webpage and display these gorgeous dishes! Need help? PLEASE message me. I’ll help!

The waitstaff was attentive, helpful, and had zero problems splitting the bill for us. The bartender also knew their way around a shaker. Plus, the apps were so tasty! I tend to avoid eggplant, but this dish was tasty! The Beau ordered a New Old Fashioned and I savored every sip of my amaretto sour. This girl was beyond happy. OMG. Casa Verona was such a great find. Their pasta carbonara was excellent; creamy, cooked to perfection – and they let me add broccoli! Seriously, happy soul right here. I would have added a picture of it, but @Ilizaschlesinger would have a conniption. #AMAZING

Their pizzas were ::puckered kiss:: spectacular! Truly. Perfect crust-to-toppings ratio, with a crunchy-meets-flaky crust and just the right amount of cheese. Also, they weren’t over-sauced. I mean, who wants runny pizza? This place does it right. I really can’t say just how wonderful this restaurant is – you just need to go. Thank me later.

Buon Appetito!

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Daily Dose Reviews

Hudson House

Bright & Airy Atmosphere with an East Coast Vibe

This place sits on the corner of an unassuming strip mall. Most of their seating space is for groups of 6 or less, which makes this upscale casual locale a bit more intimate. Though our brunch group tends to be about 8 people, it worked out quite well that only the Beau and I ventured out this morning. Gorgeous summer Sundays in Dallas mean dog park visits, iced coffee, and the best brunch outings!

Hudson House was on my list for a very long time. I am so happy we stopped in to feast! Their menu is small, which I find refreshing. I think too many places try to provide a wide range of offerings, but then the food ends up being quite lackluster. That’s absolutely NOT the case with Hudson House. Our waiter was genuinely sweet and provided us with amazing service for a busy Sunday. This spot is known for their bagels and fish offerings, so we were urged to order up their Lobster Benedict or Lox bagel.

We opted for the Fresh Herb Lox on a sesame seed bagel. LOVE LOVE LOVED these flavor combinations! The salmon was brined well, with just a hint of salt and didn’t overpower the herbed cheese or fresh dill; the mandolin thin cucumbers added some excellent crunch, too! Angel drizzled a little lemon over this dish and it was incredible. We’re going back for another one, this I promise you!

We also tried their breakfast sandwich and the berry pancakes. Now, you all know how much I love waffles, but…these pancakes are my next favorite breakfast dish. I was a bit disappointed they didn’t have the warm espresso butter mentioned in the menu, but that would only have made the dish even better. These pancakes were stacked five high and only slightly thicker than a crepe. The berries on top were tossed in a light honey and the syrup was warm and buttery. I highly recommend an order of these on your next brunch visit. I plan to order the lemon pancakes next time.

As if I wasn’t already over the moon with my options, I also ordered their power breakfast (because why the hell not?). The poached eggs were perfectly done and I quite enjoyed the fact that everything was separated on the plate. It was a bit pricey considering there was no starch involved, but the overall feel and taste of this dish was healthy and scrumptious! I did move the bacon over into the egg dish because it felt awkward not to.

The only letdown was their coffee. womp, womp.
It isn’t wonderful and a breakfast this tasty deserves some damn good brew. Maybe they can reach out to @WhiteRockCoffee and work on a partnership. Those peeps never disappoint a girl in need of a caffeine fix.

All in all, I think I’ve found a favorite new brunch spot. We plan on visiting them again soon for their daily Happy Hour (3-6pm). Hudson offers some excellent fish dishes (our waiter mentioned the Halibut with a side of velvet sauce and, I don’t know what it is, but I need it!), as well as half-off their bellinis, martinis, and cheeseburgers. I’d say that’s a winning combo, don’t you? Keep in mind, their dinner menu is pricey; based on this brunch though, I’d say it’s probably worth it.

Soak up every lovely minute left of this weekend!

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Daily Dose Reviews

Biscuit Bar

The original location Biscuit Bar is in Plano, but the new SMU location is super close to our home and I couldn’t wait to try it. They officially opened on the 24th and I knew this HAD to be our Sunday Brunch spot this week.

My grandparents were in town for my law school graduation and my cousin’s high school graduation (tons to celebrate in our family, woot!). Their midday flight meant we had the chance to stop by early and snag a large table. Look how happy they are – adorable, right?!

This place is super tiny, probably seating about 70 total. There’s two 10-top tables inside and another two outside. This location has a pretty neat garage door they open to allow easier access to the dog-friendly patio. Perfect for wonderfully cool summer mornings like today.

This place has an excellent vibe. I chuckled at their neon signs [“Mind Your Own Biscuits and Life Will Be Gravy” and “Taters Gonna Tate”] and enjoyed their open view kitchen and countertops. Sadly, the coffee was not impressive. It certainly wasn’t the worst coffee I’ve had (I’m looking at you, Henry’s Majestic), but it was just so-so. This banana pudding though completely elevated the coffee. My grandma said “life’s short, let’s eat dessert first!” Can’t say I disagree with her logic.

We ordered several different options from the menu. The biscuits are a relatively hefty size and I don’t think you can go wrong choosing any of them. As you can see, my Grandma loved her order!

You have to order tater tots separately. Womp, Womp. But you know what? They’re ENTIRELY WORTH THE EXTRA CHARGE! Trust me. Do it. We ordered the Taco Tots, which my cousin devoured. Everyone else at the table preferred the Bacon & Cheese breakfast tots. The beau ordered the monster biscuit you see up there. It’s called “The Rough Night” and it’s southern fried chicken, burger patty, ham, turkey, pulled pork, bacon, tots, cheddar, house made sausage gravy. I’m pretty sure I gained five pounds just reading the menu description.

I ordered the F.A.B.B. biscuit and was really disappointed. The arugula in my biscuit was wilted and spoiled which was incredibly disappointing. Since I’m not one to send food back, I just kindly left it on the table and nibbled from a variety of the other great order choices on the table.

Peep that sad arugula. YUCK.

I think my favorite thing about this place is their Bloody Marys. The cocktails were not priced properly (ringing up at $2-$3 higher than the menu price), but they were still worth it. The Bloody Mary was just the right mix of spicy and tomato-ey. I’m a complete FAN!

I’m already planning our next visit. I’ve got to try the hot chocolate biscuit! I’ve also been inspired to prep and post my own biscuit recipe. I’ve got a new KitchenAid stand mixer (thanks broski and sis-in-law) to break in!

What new brunch spots have you tried lately?

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Reviews

Lunch @ Sushi de Handroll

The hand rolls I previously experienced were conical in shape. I did a bit of research and found that seems to be the case worldwide. Unlike traditional sushi rolls, which are stuffed and then rolled into cylindrical shapes before cutting into bite-sized rounds, these handrolls are stuffed and rolled into a cone shape; perfect as an on-the-go meal.

Last week, the Beau and I went out to lunch. He rarely indulges my sushi preferences, so I was thrilled when he agreed to give Sushi de Handroll a try. 🙂

This is a tiny little pop stand that probably seats 45 people. There’s booth and bar options, but there is no conveyor belt to choose pieces from. ::womp, womp:: I’m still searching for that iconic restaurant experience.

Everything here is made to order. I love that you can see a majority of the sushi rolls prepared in the middle of the restaurant, which is a large walking space for the servers and chefs. They cook their scallops with hand torches, which is fun to watch but I’m not sure I’d order that item. The kitchen in the back is used to prepare the rice bowls and daily specials. It seemed like the guys in the back were slacking, especially considering how few patrons there were at the time.

For $11, I ordered a 3 Temaki set and an order of edamame. You can choose your temaki fillings. I opted for spicy tuna, California, and braised Texan Akaushi beef. These handrolls are open-face, which is just a fancy way for plating a Japanese take on Mexican fare. Each roll is served on a metal taco stand and packs quite a filling punch. I was disappointed when they came out but then pleasantly surprised by how filling the entire meal turned out.

The Beau ordered a teriyaki chicken bowl, which took nearly thirty minutes to arrive at our table, and an order of pork dumplings (the daily special that day). As you can imagine, he was more interested in shoveling the tasty meal into his mouth, and less-so for the picture evidence. What I can tell you is the bowl is massive, filled with veggies and a full chicken breast. He ate all of it and didn’t offer me a single bite, so it must have been excellent. Our meals also included a bowl of miso soup. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy miso, I must tell you this recipe is scrumptious.

Their lunch specials run from 11am-4pm and the prices are favorable, especially since most Dallas sushi lunches start around $15. This shop is bright, clean, and full of wonderful waitstaff. The food was superb and our wallets quite content. I plan on another visit soon!

Happy noms!

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Daily Dose Reviews

Whistle Britches

A friend of mine sent me this text a few weeks ago:

Dude. Dude. Duuuuuude.

I was willing to die for that meal. If there had been a 3rd biscuit, I would have eaten it and it would have killed me and I would have died happy.

“RIP Shelly. She died doing what she loved: gorging on cheese covered carbs.”

 

Now, I should tell you – my friends know how much I lurrrrveeee brunch. They rarely send foodie finds unless they’re 100% confident that I will agree with their deductive reasoning.

When the Beau and I showed up at Whistle Britches on Sunday, I had zero expectations and an empty belly. Obviously, the first thing we did was order drinks and a round of biscuits – because, who the hell says ‘NO’ to that?! Enter: le biscuits.

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That whipped butter is soft and creamy, it’s best friend happens to be the seasonal strawberry vanilla jam. Shut the french door. Y’all! These biscuits are the best damn recipe I’ve ever had the pleasure to gorge myself on. Seriously. Crumbly perfection, with just the right amount of fluff.

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If I’d stopped at the [heavy-handed] rum punch and these biscuits, bliss would easily have been met. Sadly, this cute little pop stand peaked with the biscuits.

Sure, their Bloody Mary has a full chicken wing in it, and it is quite tasty, but the booze just wasn’t up to the brunch this time around. We ordered the pancakes, which were flat and carried way too much syrup (probably enhancing the wilted presentation), the Mother Clucker, and the B.E.E.C., which takes a crumbly biscuit and adds toppings. It was a mess. A tasty mess, for certain, but not something I was thrilled paying $11 for, especially since the side was a handful of kettle-cooked chips.

I will confirm that the spices and breading on their fried chicken is delicious. The wing on Beau’s Bloody Mary was tender, fried just long enough to have a bit of crunch. It was 11 a.m. though, we hadn’t checked the menu before we decided to venture north, and I honestly was not prepared for so many chicken options at brunch. At the time, I simply did not want another round chicken & waffles.

Hindsight is 20/20, right? I should have ordered the chicken & waffles! After oogling several other orders leave the kitchen, I think it’s safe to say what I’ll order next time.

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I feel Shelly may have experienced either a far superior dish – or I failed to order properly. Normally I would have tried the Benny, but (after the biscuit) I didn’t think I could eat anything on my own. We shared three dishes among 4 brunch guests, and still didn’t clear the plates!

The servings were large, very filling, and tasty. Overall, I’d give WB a 7/10 for brunch. Their service was superb, the drinks delicious, and the biscuits push them up from a 6. My main complaint is their lack of other brunch options. Yeah, yeah – I get they ‘do chicken’ but a few other options would be extra-great!

This cute Plano restaurant has an open patio and they’re pet-friendly! Next time we hope to try their dinner menu and plan to bring our puppers along for a fun evening.

I hope your week is off to an amazing start!

 

 

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Reviews

CBD Provisions

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I was informed that Pimento Cheese is a Texas tradition.
As a life-long Texan, this was news to me.

A friend of mine wanted to meet for lunch at CBD Provisions, because she loves their food. I was thrilled to be close enough to snatch some coffee from Weekend. #Sold

I reserved a table for 12pm, via OpenTable and met a few friends there for lunch. Overall, I’m not as big a fan of CBD as my bestie is. I will admit their tomato soup is tasty – but it doesn’t hold a candle to Breadwinners’ recipe.

I did try the pimento cheese toast. I’m not quite sure why “toast + spread” has such a strong presence in Dallas restaurants, but I think it’s stupid. Paying $10 for 3 pieces of toast and 2 tablespoons of topping is ludicrous. The greens on the toast at CBD were wilted because of the excess dressing, and the toast was hard enough to knock a tooth out.

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The Chef’s attempt at a shrimp cocktail was not horrible, but also not good. Sugar played a huge role in this appetizer, and it shouldn’t have been present at all. The beau liked this dish, but I think the chips allowed it to be edible. So far, I was not impressed. I held out hope until the main dishes came.

 

The carrot + avocado salad was surprisingly boring. The carrots were not prepared, aside from being tossed in dressing, and blanketed with cilantro. The chicken was perfectly grilled, but added nothing to the dish. In addition, the avocado mustard combination worked well – but I wish there’d been more than the dollop I received. Had I not ordered the chicken, I would have ended up with 3 large carrots + a spoonful of avocado crema. This dish was simply not memorable.

Melissa ordered the tomato bisque & pimento grilled cheese. She was absolutely in love with her lunch. The soup was creamy and flavorful, the sandwich was a bit too greasy (for my taste). The beau ordered the Steak Frites, and enjoyed his dish immensely. Since they didn’t mess up the steak, we may find ourselves back at CBD again, but I may wait until they’ve updated their menu. For a restaurant inside the Joule, I had high expectations. Sadly, those marks were not met.

 

What are your thoughts on overpriced toast, and salads that are just carrots + avocado?

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Daily Dose Reviews

Mesero – Dallas

Summer

The Beau and I brunched at Mesero on Sunday. We took the pups, which was a riot – because getting to the patio (with a blocked entrance…fire hazards be damned) was challenging.

Our original plan was to eat at a pet-friendly restaurant (which is a short list in Dallas proper). Now, I’d eaten at Mesero before and was not super thrilled to go back. However, we were now trapped by cars on all sides and there was no end in sight to get our Jeep back from the valet…so off we went toward the bright umbrellas (seriously, they’re ORANGE). The seating hostess was nice, but when we got to our table, the group nearest us leaned over to say the service was sub-par. One patron went so far as to point out which waiter to avoid!

Their brunch menu is small, but the portions are HUGE. Here’s wahat you need to know:

  1. They portion control the tortilla chips. Which is completely NOT okay.
    I’m a firm believer in spreading the chips and salsa love; if you see two people at a table, and you serve chips in a tiny 10oz container that can only fit 14 crisps (yes, I counted them) – then, by the sweet Gods in heaven, bring more chips!IMG_1531
  2. The plates look great, but that does not necessarily mean they’re good. My french toast wasn’t cooked. It was a burned glaze on the outside and a mushy cinnamon-flavored mess on the inside. Normally I don’t send food back, but the Beau insisted because they were completely inedible. They did a better job on the second try, but it was still undercooked. 🙁 One redeeming quality is the whipped cinnamon butter that comes with the warmed maple syrup to drizzle over the toast. Absolutely sinful. And yet – tragically – not enough of a reason to come back to this pop stand.IMG_1533
  3. Their chilaquiles (eggs + chicken + salsa + corn chips) were fantastic. Honestly, their salsa verde brings all the ingredients together in a magical concoction. I’d certainly order that dish again. But I probably will not be back here. Two times, you’re out. Their dinner is pricey and you don’t really get much. Basically, if I can make it in my own kitchen – then why bother going to the restaurant?
  4. In a crazy twist – the cocktails are pricey! Nearly every drink cost more than an actual brunch dish. What in the actual hell? Just know, if you do order one (we ordered the Meserita) then you’ll be plastered on just one drink. Fair warning.

wait, what?

Overall, we were not too pleased with this brunch spot. I felt like I could seriously teach the Chef a thing or two about Mexican cooking (or whatever they think they’re actually making…). We will not likely be back, barring some sort of kitchen-staff overhaul and a change in menu options.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer break!

Categories
Reviews

Splurging Is Good for the Soul

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The beau’s brother introduced me to SOYLENT 2.0.
We ordered 12 bottles of Nectar flavor. It tastes like fruity pebbles milk, or a melted strawberry milk shake. I didn’t think it was all bad, but it certainly is a different taste. The aftertaste is great, which is nice – because meal replacement shakes (in my experience) aren’t always so kind to my tastebuds.

Skeptical though I was, I gave this nutrient-rich, plant-based shake a try.
According to Soylent, each shake provides 20% of your daily requirements, and is packed full of energy with only 400 calories. 

As a busy law student, this shake has come in handy. I keep it refrigerated and either drink it for breakfast or lunch. I plan to continue drinking them for the next month, replacing a meal here or there (the consistency of always skipping lunch bothers me, so I am going to work them in on hectic days).

So far, I’m enjoying them.

But, I also enjoy a fun brunch. We moseyed on over to Maple Leaf Dinner in North Dallas. As fairly new patrons, this being our second visit, we opted to try a large spread – so the friends we invited along were in for a treat! The french toast is, in my opinion, the best thing they offer. Everything is wonderful, but the french toast was rockstar-level yummy.

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Cheers to a great week!

Categories
Daily Dose Law School

Fierce & Fabulous!

Our Law School awarded us Spring Break last week, after a series of midterms. We were in bad need of some time off. My brain needed the break. I was dreaming about studying and forgetting (in the dream) to bring my pencil [for an electronic exam], which resulted in major waterworks and a few mini-panic attacks…all while sleeping!

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Sure, it sounds far-fetched, but law school is a tough nut to crack and I made it just a tad bit more complicated because I couldn’t sit still. In a meeting of chance (see, these opportunities do come along), I was offered a Clerkship [paid position] with the Probate Court and I took the job! I have learned more than I can type in one post, and get to work directly with one of the Judges. I am working my Clerkship and attending classes, while juggling other extra-curricular activities. Worth it? YES! 
I am in a perpetual state of exhaustion, which a girl can get used to; but burning the candle at both ends takes a toll. Which is why you need to get good at the balancing game: Going out v. Staying In.

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Ok, I obviously cannot take full credit for this idea, but I will take credit for reminding you to take a damn break! Read for fun! [Gasp, I know. But, your neurons will thank you for the time away from taking in Tacking and Tolling statutes or even The Model Penal Code.  Trust me. This past week I only took one day off, despite being on Spring Break. I continued to work through the week, because I honestly love my job. However, the Judges knew I did not have class and refused (yes, they completely opposed) to see me on Friday, effectively forcing me to take the day off. Why? Well, because they were law students once and remember the daily grind. Do you understand? Taking time for yourself is NOT a luxury, it is a necessity. It’s a lesson I grapple with every day, but I am getting better at it.

This weekend I spent some time with a few of my best friends, and even managed to sneak in a BRUNCH at a new (to me) spot in the Harwood District of Dallas! My friend, Adriana, celebrated a birthday and I was able to munch on breakfast pizza and bloody mary’s. Which, I would like to experience more in my life. The combination was wondermous!

Soooooo goood! I will most definitely return to Saint Ann’s Restaurant. Everything was scrumptious. We tried the pizza, everything omelette, biscuits and gravy, and strawberry shortcake french toast! Their mimosas were (per Adriana and Amanda) delicious. We enjoyed multiple carafes of their morning alcoholic beverages. Don’t judge me, we were relaxing a tad before reading Civil Procedure for our Monday class! Honest. 

 

Adriana is fierce and fabulous. She always manages to find the best deals on clothes and accessories. Anyone who can walk into exams looking like a #boss should be celebrated. I am thrilled to call her my friend and am so happy that law school brought us together.

Remember that tribe I told you about? She’s a bona fide member. Love your peeps. They are your greatest asset (and those talks result in awesome deep-belly laughs, which is basically like doing crunches…so she’s a multi-tasking friendship).

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Happy birthday, love! I hope you enjoyed your break! <3

As for you, my wonderful reader, please take a few moments to recognize the wonderful people in your life. Thank your support system, make them feel cherished. Remember to get your nose out of the books and enjoy your life. Don’t stray too far from why you’re working so hard – otherwise, you may lose sight of your goal.

Be awesome, y’all!