Chunky cookies crumble away into a food processor, creating a smooth brown crunchy mix. Butter is added and the mix becomes even smoother. Later, he grinds up a few more cookies and mixes them into a creamy batter that my eyes salivate over. Sprinkling a few of the crushed cookies into the mix, he continues to stir. Before long, the cheesecake blend will make its way inside tiny jars, around 3.5 ounces, just enough to satiate the sweet tooth, even if you are watching your figure. The mastermind behind the mixer is Valery Jean-Bart, one of the founders of Val’s Cheesecake. Val, uses a tiny wooden spoon to taste the…
The Summer Calls for Mamamango
Mamamango-Rated 5 stars TxmB The most important person in Texas you will ever meet is the pool keeper. Yes, this is a made up term, but it applies, bear with me. If you are indeed a person that lives in Texas, you are aware of the heat, yes? And if you are a person that lives in Texas who does not have a pool you become 900% more aware of the situation. Smart people without pools know, you have to be cordial and wonderful to at least five people with pools, hence the term pool keeper. Five is a good number because it gives you options. Upon trying to charm…
The Blended Sip: A Glimpse at Bishop Arts Winery
[dropcap color=”color-default” font=”georgia” style=”normal” size=”scmgc-4em”]H[/dropcap]e was dressed in a vintage looking military uniform. He sat inside a phone booth waiting for his sweetheart to ring. Would she or wouldn’t she. All the while he sat, unmoved with a permanent expression plastered on his face. The dandy looking soldier sitting inside the throwback phone booth is a mannequin. He, like other items in this place are relics of things past. A tribute to the 1950’s. There’s an old spiffy Dr. Pepper machine, a few framed LIFE Magazines and vintage radios that still emit sound. But this is no antique shop. It is Elias Rodriguez’s vision of a winery. It happened in…
Be Mine Red Velvet Valentine-Peticolas-Part 3
Peticolas-Rated 4.5 Stars txMB Let me preface this by saying, while the focus of “Be Mine Red Velvet Valentine” is all things red velvet, this beer actually has nothing to do with Red Velvet. However, this very fine brewski made the cut. “Smooth as velvet and hits you like a hammer.” Don’t you wish that was your real life tagline? Unfortunately friends, it’s already taken. Velvet Hammer is a 9% Imperial Red Ale produced by the fun folks at Peticolas Brewing Company. The most popular brewski of their bunch of beers, this brew strikes a blow. For the beerologists out there you should know Velvet Hammer has 85 IBUs making it a…
Be Mine Red Velvet Valentine-The Festive Kitchen-Part 1
The Festive Kitchen-Rated 4.5 Stars TxMB Freshly prepared, packed and ready for the taking. That’s the exquisiteness of The Festive Kitchen. Maybe you are in charge of the office spread and looking for delectable doosies to win over the coworkers. They’ve got it covered. Nice night inside with your sugar foot, the pals, or playing it solo with a full course meal. This too can be done. Everything is made from scratch here, no preservatives. The menus are extensive, filled with plenty of tasty treasures, but on this day we focus on their homage to the velvet which is red. Let us begin with the cookie. Here, the cookie, or…
Check Out the Pizza on that Cheese
Anvil Pub-Rated 4.5 stars TXmb Cheese is a separate food group. It just is. You can usually count on cheese to make any meal better than it would have been sans cheese. This belief flows right into the world of pizza. Now, let’s be clear, everyone enjoys their pizza a certain way. There’s a whole array of crusts and toppings to choose from, but that’s not what we are focusing on. Today’s lesson is in super thin crust some tasty ingredients and the over powerfully amazing mozzarella that loved them. Anvil Pub is a bar located in Deep Ellum. This bar is greatness because of its high ceilings, dark wood,…
The Uncle of all Sammiches
Uncle Uber’s- Rated 4.5 stars TXmb [dropcap color=”red-vibrant” font=”georgia” style=”normal” size=”scmgc-4em”]T[/dropcap]urkey Sandwich. You’ve been doing it wrong. For years you’ve been doing it wrong. When you put the words turkey and sandwich together your mouth should break into spas grins, otherwise you’ve been doing it wrong. Thank goodness for an Uncle that teaches us the error in our ways. Uncle Uber’s is a place dedicated to righting the wrongs of bread, meat, bread. Here they take your sandwich knowledge, flip it, fry it, blacken it, cheese it, avocado it, and bacon it until it becomes a Sammich. Like the Smokin Turkey, or a turkey sandwich re-imagined. Thick crunchy slices of…
Campfire Coffee at Bolsa
Bolsa-4.5 Stars txMB Two chilly chickadees chasing warmth on a particularly brisk December day in Dallas decided to try their luck in the Bishop Arts District. Sick of seeking a fireplace for heat, they chose booze for the bones at Bolsa. Inside, it was inviting and endearing. They picked up their chatter about life, and all that it entails and ordered a few cozy cocktails. To their wonderful delight, they came out just right. Great Campfire Coffee, cleverly composed with , whipped cream, brown simple syrup, cayenne pepper, and a few shots of Irish Whiskey. Laughing and sipping away, they realized that this had been a wonderful and giddy December…
Five Reasons To Eat Soup Dumplings From Monkey King Noodle Co. All The Time
Monkey King Noodle Company- 4.5 stars No doubt everything at Monkey King Noodle Co. is wonderful. They have amazing and richly flavored, hand pulled noodle soup, and wontons with chili sauce that make your belly feel like happy, happy, joy, joy. And that’s just a tad of the delectable doosies. But even in all of that delicious glory, nothing compares to the SOUP DUMPLINGS. Shall we begin: They are literal envelopes of heaven- Dough is remarkable in any form. But this dough, is soft beyond belief and just downright pleasant. Inside this dough is a magnificent feast waiting to enrapture your tongue and tummy. They are technically a…
Cheap Thrill? Look No Further than El Rey Del Grill
Lunch 15 rolled around, and my coworker and I got a hankering for something. Something meaty, something cheesy. Off we went, allowing our desires for meat and cheese to lead the way. We ended up at a tiny joint called El Rey Del Grill. The place is about as unassuming as they come. It’s not the prettiest domain about town, but ugliness has never come between me and my food. Pictures of various dishes lined the outside of the building, displaying for all to see what “comida” they had to offer. We entered. Inside we are greeted with more pictures of their offerings, along with prices. Looking over the walled…