MARQUEE GRILL AND BAR OPENS April 30, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Home, Savor The Flavor with Jim White.Tags: Anthony Bombaci, Avner Samuel, Bruno Davaillon, Domaine Serene, Jim White, Jon Stevens, May Wine Events, Michael Flynn, Nana, PJ for PJ's, Tre Wilcox
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News You Can Use About Wining and Dining
Tre Wilcox has opened his new Marquee Grill and Bar in Highland Park Village next to the Village Theatre. It’s touted as “a neighborhood walk-in restaurant…[taking] very limited reservations for special occasions and larger parties.” See what the great young chef (formerly Abacus), turned celebrity thanks to Bravo’s “Top Chef” series, is up to.
NOSH chefs Avner Samuel and Jon Stevens are offering a cooking class at the Oak Lawn restaurant on Saturday May 21st, from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. $95 includes four-course lunch with wine pairings. Call 214-528-9400 for reservations. Limited seating.
If you love kids and love drinking Champagne, look no further than the PJ for PJ’s benefit May 18th at Hotel ZaZa in Dallas. Perrier Jouet Champagne joins with ZaZa to get people to bring a new pair of children’s pajamas and a $30 donation to help the outstanding work of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. That small donation and the PJ’s get you some outstanding Champagne and appetizers. PJ for PJ’s is a nice touch. Thanks to Wendy Moss at Republic National Distributers for her tireless efforts on behalf of this fundraiser.
Domaine Serene Wine Dinner at the Mansion
Join the Mansion Restaurant and Wine and Beverage Director Michael Flynn for a special dinner featuring Domaine Serene wines. Produced in Willamette Valley, Oregon, Domaine Serene wines are designed to ensure complex, concentrated and elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah year after year. The dinner includes a reception and five-course menu created by Executive Chef Bruno Davaillon with wine pairings. View the full menu here. The dinner is Thursday May 5th. Call 214.443.4747 for reservations. $175 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity
May’s Friday Night Flight at Nana Bar
Nana’s popular Friday Night Flight, a delicious trio of food and wine samplings for only $20 (excluding tax and gratuity), returns on May 6 from 6pm – 8pm. This month’s flight features three Texan artisanal wines from the Kiepersol Estates paired with three small plates created by Nana Executive Chef Anthony Bombaci. The Kiepersol Estates are made up of 60 acres of vineyards in Tyler, Texas that produce red and white wines that capture Old World style alongside Texas pride. Hand-planted in 1998/99, the vineyards are the passion of the de Wet family. Reservations are highly recommended by calling 214.761.7470 or visit www.nanarestaurant.com for complete details. Friday Night Flights are the first Friday of every month.
There are a plethora of great wine events coming up in May around the country. Here’s a fairly extensive list we are re-printing for you courtesy of “The Daily Sip by Bottlenotes”. Cheers!
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MICHAEL MARTINI INTERVIEW BY JIM WHITE April 22, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Home, Interviews.Tags: Jim White, Louis M. Martini Winery, Michael Martini, Napa Valley, Sonoma, UC Davis
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Heritage Winemaking from Louis M. Martini
Jim White introduces you to Michael Martini, third generation winemaker from Napa Valley’s legendary Louis M. Martini Winery. Michael talks about how he got his start at the winery, his family’s legacy in California, how Louis M. Martini looks to the future by returning to traditional winemaking practices, and how the fourth generation is shaping-up to take the reins. Cheers!
EASTER BRUNCH DINING IN DALLAS April 20, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Savor The Flavor with Jim White.Tags: Bruno Davaillon, Dish, Dunn Vineyards, Earth Day, Easter Brunch, Nick and Sam's Steakhouse, Pappas Bros Steakhouse, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Watel's Bistro, Zambrano's Wine Cellar
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Bites and Bytes to Go
A dash of that, a dish of this. Easter is on the way and so are some other good wine and food events. Here’s what we know today.
Enjoy Easter dining at:
Dish has a fabulous three-course Easter brunch for $25 per person. Add $10 for bottomless Mimosas, and $5 Bloody Mary’s.
Nick and Sam’s has a fabulous sounding brunch for $65 per person, or $25 for kids 12 and under. They’ll also be featuring lots of fun activities for the kids including cotton candy, face painting and pictures with the Easter Bunny.
The new Watel’s Bistro in East Dallas is offering its full menu plus egg dishes. Three courses for $29 and four courses for $34. It’s great having the old York Street space re-visioned as Watel’s. You’ll find them at 6047 Lewis Street at Skillman. Reservations are required at 214 720 0323,or by email: mail@watels.com.
Previous Easter brunch recommendations and listings can be found at this prior “Wining and Dining with Jim White” posting, or this one.
Chef Bruno Davaillon writes to tell us about his special event to salute Earth Day this Friday at the beautiful Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Quoth the chef: “In honor of Earth Day, this Friday we’ll be serving a one-of-a-kind five-course tasting menu highlighting local and sustainable ingredients served by candlelight on the Mansion Restaurant Terrace. I’m excited about this menu, and I hope you’ll join us for this one-night-only event. And it’s not just about the food, sommelier Michael Flynn has picked out some great, organic wines to pair with the menu.”
Earth Day Tasting Menu
Smoked Sturgeon, Local Beet, Horseradish, Salmon Roe and Texas Grapefruit
Chicken Liver Flan, Creamy Morels, Ramps, Green Pea and Quail Egg
Lobster, Caramelized Turnips, Radish, Cilantro and Sweet-and-Sour Jus
Grass-fed Rib-eye, Sage Gnocchi, Texas Kale and Bordelaise Sauce
Old-fashioned Rice Pudding, Passion Fruit and Caramel Foam
Hope to see you soon. Salut!
Chef Bruno, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, 2821 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75219, 214.443.474.
Ceferino Zambrano at Zambrano’s Wine Cellar alerts us to a special tasting he doing on Tuesday April 26th called “Northern California Stars Wine Tasting” featuring some of his favorites at his cool wine bar in downtown Fort Worth. On tap for tasting:
2008 Barnett Family, Savoy Vineyard, Chardonnay
2006 Marimar Estate, Russian River, Pinot Noir
2007 Ridge, Lytton Springs, Dry Creek Valley, Zinfandel
2007 Rombauer, Napa Valley, Cabernet
Paired with cheeses, only $25 *plus tax & tip
Make your reservation today! Seating is limited!
Oh, and Friday April 29th, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Dallas is featuring a Dunn Vineyards Wine Dinner, featuring winery principals Randy Dunn and Kristina Dunn Buchanan. Get details and reservations for the dinner here.
Wining and Dining with Jim White April 18, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Home, Savor The Flavor with Jim White.Tags: Bistro Louise, David Temple, Ferrari-Carano, Heidi Barrett, Jim White, Paradigm, Paso Robles Wine Festival, Robert Parker, Screaming Eagle, Slow Food Dallas, Tom Spicer, Veritas Wine Room, Wine Spectator
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A S
morgasbord of Treats
Wine lovers, here’s a great opportunity for you to taste Heidi Barrett’s Paradigm tomorrow night at Veritas Wine Room, on Henderson Avenue in Dallas. Better yet, it’s free from 5:30 til 8:30! If you don’t know Paradigm, you’ve heard of the wine that put Heidi on the map (or vice versa), Screaming Eagle. The 1992 vintage scored 99 points and became, arguably, the most sought-after cult wine of all time. Robert Parker calls Heidi “The First Lady of Wine”. Well, the Wine Spectator calls Paradigm one of the “Top 50 Napa Valley Cabernets based on all wines reviewed by the magazine since 1990”. Pretty amazing praise, and certainly a lot more available than Screaming Eagle. You’re in for a treat, and a paradigm shift, at Veritas.
Here’s a Slow Food Dallas Foodie Event coming up On April 26th:
Chef David Temple will be preparing a 5-course tasting menu! He will be focusing on Fresh, Seasonal, Local Vegetables and pairing with Fish for a light and elegant food experience. Chef Temple started his career in Louisiana and traveled the world before settling in Dallas where he hooked up with Tom Spicer. Chef Temple is committed to using the best local and regional ingredients and putting his passion for food in every dish he creates. He has a great private space for functions at Exposition in the Fairpark area. This will be BYOB so bring your favorite wines, share with your neighbor, and maybe discover a secret wine gem! This will be $75 per person and there are only 30 tickets available so act fast! Here’s a website you can go to for tickets.
P.S. Slow Food is also hosting The Texas Wine and Cheese Tour on May 14th. You can get more details here.
Bistro Louise in Fort Worth is featuring a dinner paired “With the Many Wines of Ferrari-Carano” on Friday April 29th. The five-course menu features a dessert wine, 2007 Eldorado Gold that can only be purchased at the winery in Sonoma. $75 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required, 817.922.9244, or email bistrolouise@hotmail.com.
The 29th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival is coming up May 20-22. Over 100 wineries and the California lifestyle are celebrated in this fun event. I love the quote from their website: “IN EACH GLASS OF PASO WINE, you hold in your hand a vibrant romance; a romance characterized by the capricious Mother Nature and steadfast winemaker. This raucous relationship begins in the vineyard, is nurtured in the winery and flourishes in the bottle. It is only then that this personification of the winemaker’s passion finds its way into our homes, families and favorite memories.” What’s not to love? Get tickets on the website.
Support the Junior League of Dallas at Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits April 15, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Events, Home.Tags: Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits, Junior League of Dallas
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Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits
Proudly Supports the “The Rummage Roundup” Event
Benefiting the Junior League of Dallas
To show our support, Centennial is donating 10% of all sales made on Saturday, April 16th, 2011 to the Junior League of Dallas.
Only offered at our Preston Road location
Hours: 10am-9pm
Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits
8123 Preston Road Dallas, Texas. 75225
214-361-6697
Directions
JOHN TESAR THE COMMISSARY April 12, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Home, Savor The Flavor with Jim White.Tags: Bob Barker, Brad Murano, Cedars Social Club, Dali, I Love Lucy, Jim White, John Tesar, Kim Pierce, Michael Martensen, NBC, One Arts Plaza, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Scott Barber, The Commissary, The Table
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On Being in Two Places at Once
When I was a kid, I recall numerous references to “the studio commissary” on Bob Barker game shows (NBC Commissary) and on “I Love Lucy” when Ricky Ricardo went to Hollywood and would meet guest stars like William Holden for lunch on the studio lot. For me, the word commissary always conjured visions of glamorous people having glib conversations while enjoying exotic cuisine like pheasant under glass. Leave it to John Tesar to interrupt my innocent childhood daydream with his latest bite of easy food and good vibrations for the 21st Century lifestyle. And, kudos, too, for taking over the defunct Dali space in One Arts Plaza by re-visioning The Commissary into a casual gathering space for lunch, dinner, and late night nibbles (think burgers, pasta, and interesting “chef driven food”), and wine priced at retail (two times wholesale price instead of the usual 3 to 4 time markup of most restaurants). Be the first on your block to catch the new restaurant concept in the midst of a “soft opening”, as we speak, this week. But wait, there’s more! Tesar’s vision is actually two restaurants in one! Anything worth doing is worth over-doing? No. It’s much cooler than that. In addition to the 40 seat restaurant–“The Commissary”–you can also partake of “The Table”. A 12 seat community dining space with its own entrance–actually two–one from One Arts Plaza and the other interior door from the main restaurant. Reserve one seat or all twelve. Show up when you want. When you arrive, someone may be having dessert as your meal is beginning. As Tesar says on this video clip shot by foodie Brad Murano (The Brad’s Blog), it’s a great way to share conversation about the food. We’ll give you our own personal “Zen” views soon as we become one with “The Commissary” and “The Table”. For now check out “The Brad’s” view and read on for some excellent insights from food writer Kim Pierce. And, hey John, welcome to the neighborhood. Nice that somebody fixed the hole in One Arts Plaza since Dali closed.
EASTER BRUNCH DINING IN DALLAS April 8, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Home, Savor The Flavor with Jim White.Tags: Bistro Louise, Chamberlain's Fish Market Grill, Chamberlain's Steak and Chop House, Kenny's Italian Kitchen, Kenny's Wood Fired Grill, Nosh, Stephan Pyles, Urban Crust
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Hippity, Hoppity, Brunch is on its way!
Since Easter is so late this year, information on brunches has been slow to arrive. I am hearing from more restaurants everyday now, so here is an update on places offering something cool for the special Sunday brunch on April 24th. Read on to see the latest.
WATEL’S BISTRO REVIEW BY JIM WHITE April 6, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Home.Tags: Dallas Morning News, Jim White, Pegasus News, Rene Peeters, Watel's Bistro
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Whiling Away the Minutes at Watel’s Bistro
Oh, how I love good timing. You’re always at risk when you decide to “pop in” for dinner without a reservation on Friday night. I told you last week about our happenstance discovery that René Peeters had quietly opened his new Watel’s Bistro in East Dallas (in the former York Street space) with nary a word to the media. It was late on a Saturday when we tip-toed over the threshold to high-five the hard working restaurateur. The lateness of the hour dictated a postponement on dining at the new place, however. So, I was hopeful that our impromptu visit this time would allow us to sample his varied menu. Curbside parking right outside the front door of the restaurant was a good sign. Maitre d’ Peeters greeting us at the front door was another positive development. I was almost embarrassed to ask about a table for two at 6:45–especially when the place seats only around 30. Our helpful host suggested he could accommodate us, provided we could vacate the table by 8 o’clock. It seems our post on his opening–picked up by Pegasus News and the Dallas Morning News–had generated quite a bit of interest in the new establishment and he was “slammed” for the evening (a word we love to hear restaurant owners use after the economy they have endured). In order to comply with René’s request, we quickly focused on the menu–with its two courses for $29; three courses for $35; and four courses for $39 options–and perused the nightly chalk board specials, so that we could place our order with alacrity and make way for the evening’s guests who had been sensible enough to reserve a table. Instead of being hurried, though, we were offered a nice glass of complimentary bubbly to enjoy (as were all our fellow diners), while we settled into the soft lighting, warm artwork, cozy table environment of the revamped establishment. Read on to see how our meal progressed.
Wine of the Week: Step by Step Sauvignon Blanc 2009 April 6, 2011
Posted by dfwdinnerclub in Home.Tags: Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits, Sauvignon Blanc, Step by Step Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Wine of the Week
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Centennial is a proud participant of a unique social movement known as “Fair Trade.” The intent of this socially and environmentally responsible movement is to benefit producers and workers in developing countries by promoting sales of a wide variety of products that directly impact the economic well-being of small and underdeveloped communities. Through Fair Trade, “Step by Step” directly improves the quality of life for the strong, honest and proud vineyard workers, their families, and their communities. The Fair Trade Certified™ program directly supports a better life for farming families in the developing world through fair prices, community development and environmental stewardship. What better way is there to participate in a humanitarian and environmentally responsible effort than by enjoying a glass of wine that is Fair Trade Certified?
“Step by Step Sauvignon Blanc is Fair Trade Certified™ from grapes sourced from 15-year-old vines planted in clay loam soils. The grapes were hand harvested at peek ripeness then cold fermented in stainless steel tanks to maintain the bright fruit flavors. Minimal aging on the lees softened and rounded out the wine unveiling a mix of fresh grapefruit and lime aromas with tropical fruit on the palate, brilliant acidity and a delightfully, lingering finish. The combination of vineyard location and age, trellis system, and Fair Trade Certified™ make this wine one of the best examples Chile has to offer.” Excerpt organicwinetradecompany.com
Special Offering:
Step by Step Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Available at Almost All Centennial Store Locations
Sale Price $9.99. Retail $10.99. Save $1.00
Wining and Dining with Jim White April 5, 2011
Posted by jwdineline in Home, Savor The Flavor with Jim White.Tags: Bugatti Ristorante, Easter, Jim White, Nosh
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News You Can Use About Easter Dining
Easter Sunday is April 24th. It’s the latest it has arrived in 68 years, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. Easter hasn’t come this late since 1943 and won’t be this late again until 2038. “In both 1943 and 2038 Easter occurs on April 25, which is as late as it can theoretically be,” said Geoff Chester, an astronomer and public relations officer with the observatory. Easter last occurred on April 24 in 1859, and it will not fall again on the 24th until 2095. “The earliest possible date for Easter is March 22,” Chester said. Easter is generally the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the vernal equinox. That is the case this year but not every year, because the precise definition — used by Christian churches under rules going back to the 1500s — is more complicated. For example, that definition fixes the vernal equinox — the first day of spring — as March 21, although that date can vary. The equinox comes this year on March 20. You’ll have to work on those eggs earlier the next couple of years. Easter falls on April 8 in 2012 and March 31 in 2013 before falling back to April 20 in 2014.
So, What about making reservations for Easter Brunch? We’ll start our annual rundown today, with more to come as we get the information. Read on.
Wining & Dining with Jim White 