Known 'round the world for its loaded potato skins, Dallas-based TGI Fridays is about to become even more famous as the first national restaurant brand to offer alcohol delivery. Yay for booze delivered to your door.
The food/alcohol ordering will be done entirely through the Fridays-branded experience on their app or website. They'll launch it on a test basis in November, just in time for the holiday season. The good news for local tipplers: The test markets are Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. If the test goes well, they'll follow with a national rollout in 2018.
In other words, for the good of the country, it's up to us to order booze from Fridays like it's going out of style. Do it for America.
The capability for this kind of delivery is made possible via a partnership with Dallas startup Lash. Using the Fridays app, customers will be able to order alcohol from local liquor stores, to be delivered by Lash with their online food order. "I'll have the potato skins, and also a six-pack of beer."
How it works: A customer selects their menu items and then has the option to add beer/liquor to their order. A third-party driver then makes a stop at a partner liquor store to pick up the drinks, and then heads to Fridays for the food order to deliver it all as one cohesive package to the customer's home. Before handing off the delivery, drivers will check IDs.
For cocktails, Fridays will sell an "everything but the booze" kit, along with the recommended bottle of liquor; customers can mix the drink themselves.
They're still figuring out what the charge for delivery will be, whether it's a flat delivery fee or based on factors such as order price or distance.
Once they go national, they'll have to customize the service state-by-state in order to follow local ordinances.
They've created a video that shows how it works, found here on YouTube.
Online ordering is already a bright spot for Fridays. Since they launched the service last summer, their take-out sales have grown by 30 percent. More than half of their delivery orders 60 percent come from younger folk: diners who are 40 or younger. And 48 percent of people who joined the Rewards program in 2017 are millennials between the ages of 21-32. Millennials taste so good.

​Article courtesy of Culture Map

The fall always represents a promising time for new restaurants, but fall 2017 around Dallas-Fort Worth is totally next level. On top of the usual various newcomers, big and small, there are a number of large developments going up in the suburbs of Dallas that will vastly increase the places that local diners can grab a meal.
Here's our list of all the restaurant openings you'll ever want to know about. The list is comprehensive and alphabetic, from A to Z.
Agu Ramen, a Hawaii ramen chain launched in 2013 by chef Hisashi "Teddy" Uehara, will open a location in Dallas, at Mockingbird Station, where it will take over the old Urban Taco, which is moving into the former Fish City Grill space. Texas is the first market for Agu outside Hawaii; there are currentlyfive locations in Houston. Dallas opens in October.
Al Biernat's, Park Cities' most favorite steakhouse, will open a second location in North Dallas, in the former Del Frisco's space at 5251 Spring Valley Road, in mid-October.
Allumette Cafe is a casual chef spot opening with a menu of sandwiches, salads, and soups, all the S-es, in downtown Plano at 1045 15th Pl., in the space most recently occupied by the cake bakery Bake Rejoice. It will open in early fall.
Arepa TX is the Latin-American restaurant specializing in Venezuelan-style arepas, like cornmeal pockets laden with a variety of fillings. It will open a second location at 5940 Royal Ln., in the space previously occupied by Natalie's on September 28. Arepa opened its first location in Frisco in the spring.
The Artisan is a casual-eats option coming to Dallas' Arts District in the Hall Arts building at 2330 Flora St., on the Texas Sculpture Walk and Hall Arts Event Terrace, where it will be open for breakfast, lunch, and happy hour. It will open in late 2017.
Barnes & Noble Kitchen is the new concept store and the first in the Southwest to offer not just books, but a restaurant with an expanded menu including beer and wine. It'll open in November.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill, the upscale Nebraska-based sushi restaurant with locations in Fort Worth and at Preston Hollow Village in Dallas, is opening a third DFW location in the fall in Uptown Dallas at 3220 McKinney Ave.
Bulla Gastrobar, the celebrated tapas bar from Florida, is headed to Plano's Legacy West with small plates and Spanish specialties as paella and arroz caldoso. It'll open in 2018.
Bullion is the new restaurant from former Mansion chef Bruno Davaillon, opening in the 400 Record building in downtown Dallas. It'll be two concepts in one: A regular restaurant serving modern French food, and a to go canteen with sandwiches and lunch options.
Carlton Provisions is a new barbecue restaurant opening at Legacy Food Hall in Plano from catering whiz Jordan Swim and Chili's founder Larry Lavine. Carlton Provisions will reside in the food hall's beer garden.
Cinnaholic, the award-winning gourmet cinnamon roll chain that just happens to also be vegan, is opening its first branch in Dallas proper. It'll go into the 1700 Pacific building, with an anticipated opening in November.
Circo is the import from New York's Maccioni family which will open with an over-the-top build-out at 2619 McKinney Ave. that includes a glass-bottomed pool.
Commissary is a new bakery-market concept from Joule Dallas hotel owner Tim Headington, with breads and pastries made by pastry chef Ruben Torano, plus coffee, gelato, and to-go goods.
Cooper's Meat Market, the San Antonio butcher, is opening an outlet at Sylvan Thirty with butcher and to-go market, plus a small restaurant with chef Kenny Mills (Chop House Burgers, Capital Grille, Sullivan's).
Don Chingon is a new restaurant from the owners of Social House aims to redefine Tex-Mex, with novel dishes, a stellar atmosphere, and attentive service. It'll open at 2237 Greenville Ave., in the former gas station at the corner of Belmont Avenue, across the street from what used to be the Whole Foods Market, in September.
Eatzi's will open a branch at Preston Royal Village Shopping Center, across the street from Central Market, in the space previously occupied by Copper Lamp, at 6025 Royal Ln. It's set to open in October.
El Corazon de Tejas, the Tex-Mex restaurant from cousins John and Gilbert Cuellar, will open a branch in McKinney, at 1222 N. Central Expy. in a former El Chico's. It'll open in early fall.
El Vecino is a neighborhood Tex-Mex from John McBride, great-grandson of Mike Martinez, who co-founded the El Fenix chain. It will open in the fall in the White Rock Center, formerly Lake Highlands Village, at the corner of Buckner Boulevard and Northcliff Drive.
Ferris Wheelers is the whimsical restaurant off I-35 with a spinning Ferris wheel and barbecue from pitmaster Doug Pickering, featuring Texas staples such as brisket, ribs, sausage, smoked turkey breast, and Carolina-style pork shoulder. It'll open September 25.
Fine China is a pan-Asian restaurant and one of six opening in the fall at the newly renovated Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas, helmed by former Uchi chef Angela Hernandez. It'll be open for lunch and dinner, with a cocktail bar featuring sake, Japanese whiskies, and high tea.
The Flying Biscuit Cafe is the breakfast-brunch restaurant going into in the same Richardson center that's home to hot concepts Halal Guys and Hot Dog Haus. Flying Biscuit debuted in Atlanta in 1993 and is famous for its biscuits and grits. It'll open in mid-October.
Forno Nero is a spinoff of Cavalli Pizza opening in the fall at Plano's Legacy Hall, where it will serve a condensed version of the Cavalli menu, centered on Neapolitan-style pizza.
Gung Ho is the name of the new Chinese-American restaurant going into the old Remedy space on Greenville Avenue. Opening in the fall, it's from Elias Pope, owner of HG Sply Co. and will feature Kirstyn Brewer, formerly of Victor Tangos, as chef.
Harlowe MXM is a new restaurant in Deep Ellum from the Bread Winners folks, and follows the mode of its sibling Henry's Majestic, with a sophisticated menu and brunch. "MXM" stands for Malcom X at Main. It'll open on September 21.
Harwood Tavern is a new restaurant and bar from the owners of Green Door Public House, the successful and popular bar and grill by the Dallas Farmers Market, opening in the fall at 333 S. Harwood St., in what was ever-so-briefly the upscale Mexican restaurant Agave Azul.
Hookline is a new seafood restaurant coming to Plano from Del Sur Restaurant Group, who own Hook Line & Sinker and Urban Taco. It will open at 5805 Granite Pkwy., in The Boardwalk at Granite Park in the fall.
Jalisco Norte is a new concept from restaurateur Tim McEneny (Dish), featuring acclaimed Mexico City chef Jose Meza Arroyave. It will open in October at 3858 Oak Lawn Ave., in the newly renovated center at the corner of Blackburn Street.
Kuai Asian Kitchen, the downtown dumpling favorite, will open a third location in late 2017 in a prime center behind Galleria Dallas, in what was previously a location of Tin Star.
Lala's Mexican Café is a fast-casual restaurant from Michelle Mireles, who also owns Jorge's TexMex Café at Dallas' One Arts Plaza. Lala's will follow a fast-casual format that's dedicated to serving the needs of its Preston Center neighborhood, and will open in the fall.
Laurel Tavern is a California concept with burgers and a casual vibe, going into the space at 1920 Greenville Ave. previously occupied by Clark Food & Wine, with an opening set for the fall. The first Laurel Tavern opened in Studio City, in the San Fernando Valley area north of Los Angeles, in 2008.
Malibu Poke is the fast-casual poke concept from Jon Alexis, owner of TJ’s Seafood. It'll offer a tech-based ordering system where diners customize their poke bowls without waiting in the traditional assembly line. It'll open at Turtle Creek Village at 3888 Oak Lawn Avenue in the fall.
Mamoun's Falafel, the oldest falafel restaurant in New York, will open its first Dallas location in the West Village in Uptown at 3839 McKinney Ave. It's going into the former PD Johnson space, between Eagle Post and Edohana Sushi, and is slated to open in the fall.
Meso Maya, the Mexican concept from restaurateur Mike Karns with branches in downtown Dallas and at Preston Forest, makes its Plano debut. It'll open September 25 at 4800 West Park Blvd. with pollo con mole, cochinita pibil, carne asada, house-made corn tortillas, and cocktails such as the acclaimed avocado margarita.
Midici is a Neapolitan-style pizzeria concept from California that's opening in late fall in the West Village space that has been home to a couple of bars, including the Lemon Bar and Lazare. In 2001, it was originally Ferre, the Tuscan Italian restaurant from Patrick Colombo, and was also an Alberto Lombardi concept called Pescabar.
Mola Mola Poke is a new poke restaurant opening at Inwood Village with a chef-driven menu and an extra-attentive approach to ingredients. That includes striving for organic and seasonal goods. It'll open in late fall.
Mudsmith coffee house and burger stand Pints & Quarts will join forces to open a first-of-its-kind burger stand-combination-coffee house at The Centrum. They'll open in the fall, as part of a major renovation of the iconic Oak Lawn building.
OMG Tacos is the ultra-hip late-night taqueria that got its start in Richardson. Its second branch at The Shacks, the new food park in The Colony from Lucy Billingsley, is newly opened.
Overeasy is one of the handful of restaurants opening at the newly renovated historic Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas. Overeasy is an all-day cafe with menu of Graham Dodd's farm-to-table cuisine, cocktails, beer and wine, and a gourmet coffee bar.
Popbar, famous for handmade gelato-on-a-stick, will make its Texas debut this fall, with openings in both Dallas and Tarrant County. The first branch will openin September at WestBend, the University District mixed-use development in Fort Worth. A second branch will open at Richardson Restaurant Park, in the same center as Halal Guys and Flying Biscuit Cafe.
Ramen Hakata, a well-respected ramen spot with two branches in Dallas' northern burbs, opens a third, this one in Frisco, at 8300 Gaylord Pkwy. Boasting a full selection of small plates, it's set a date for mid-October. Its other two locations are in Addison and Lewisville.
Roll & Poke is a new restaurant from a California emigre that will fulfill the promise of its catchy title by serving sushi and poke. It's opening at 3311 Preston Rd. in Frisco in late September.
Sachet is the new casual Mediterranean restaurant from Stephen Rogers and Allison Yoder, the husband-and-wife team behind acclaimed Henderson Avenue restaurant Gemma. It'll open at The Shops at Highland Park at 4720 Oak Lawn Ave. on September 20.
Sallio Italio is a spin-off of Sallio Bistro, the Mediterranean restaurant at Preston Road and Forest Lane, and comes from Larry and Karen Williams, who own Amberjax at Trinity Groves. It's taking over the Patrizio space in Uptown Dallas and will open in the fall.
Scout is a new restaurant and entertainment venue in the newly renovated historic Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas. Scout will feature a menu of chef Graham Dodd's American favorites, plus craft beer, cocktails, bowling, billiards, and ping pong.
Smithy is a new neighborhood restaurant-bar concept from the folks who own The Woolworth downtown, going into the Hibiscus space on Henderson Ave. The menu will be overseen by Woolworth chef Ron Von Hatten and will utilize the wood-fired oven left by Hibiscus, which they are now restoring. They aim to open in November.
Southside Pizzeria is a pizza spot at 1210 S. Lamar St., near Alamo Drafthouse and Gilley's, that will open in September on the ground floor of South Side Flats, a four-story mixed-use apartment building.
Sushi Marquee is one of the many restaurants at The Star in Frisco. It's a new sushi concept opening in the fall from Crafted Bar Concepts, who also own Shakertins, the cocktail bar in The Colony.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill is the Portland, Oregon-based concept with seasonal menus, fresh ingredients, and craft beer. It's one of the eateries going into Toyota Music Factory in Irving where it will open on October 24.
Top Round Roast Beef is a Los Angeles-based concept with roast beef sandwiches and curly fries that will open its first Texas location at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in November.
Tri Tip Grill is chain with both California and New York roots whose menu resides somewhere between a steakhouse and a BBQ restaurant, with tri tip steak being the signature item. They also do pulled pork, ribs, burgers, salads, and chicken. The first location in Texas opens at The Star in Frisco on September 21.
Up on Knox is a Knox Avenue restaurant opening in what used to be the Chili's, a block from its sibling Le Bilboquet. It comes from restaurateur Stephan Courseau who is partnered with chefs Dennis Kelley and Melody Bishop, formerly of Lark on the Park to do an American brasserie, including an oyster bar. It'll open in mid-fall.
Whistle Britches, the Southern restaurant with fried chicken from chef Omar Flores, will open in February 2018 at 6121 W. Park Blvd. in Plano, at The Shops at Willow Bend.
Whole Foods Market Las Colinas, the Austin grocery chain, opens its first location in Irving at 6741 N MacArthur Blvd on September 28.
The Yard is another backyard-style outdoor party spot opening in McKinney, this one aspiring to gourmet status, from 33 Restaurant Group, of Taverna Rossa fame.
Zaytinya is the restaurant from celebrity chef Jose Andres coming to The Star in Frisco. The original opened in Washington, D.C. in 2002 with cocktails, Mediterranean wines, and a menu of small plates spotlighting the cuisines of Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. Opening date is still TBA.
Zoli's NY Pizza is the revival of the New York-style pizzeria which ruled Bishop Arts until it closed in 2016. Now rising at 14910 Midway Rd. in Addison, and set to open in early fall, it'll feature the epic pizzas of pizzaiolo Lee Hunzinger, along with pastas, sandwiches, and a variety of American-Italian specialties.
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The Star in Frisco has already seen some restaurant openings, and these are still to come:
Dee Lincoln Prime
East Hampton Sandwich Co.
Freshii
Howard Wang's China Grill
Liberty Burger
Mi Cocina
Roti Grill
The Common Table
The Donut Kitchen
Yucatan Taco Stand
Toyota Music Factory in Irving has seen a few restaurants open and these are still to come:
Boi Na Braza Brazilian Steakhouse
Gloria’s Latin Cuisine
Grimaldi’s Coal Brick Oven Pizza
Kabuki Japanese Restaurant
Martini Ranch
Sambuca
Uncle Gino's Cucina Italia
Alamo Drafthouse 8 Screen Movie Theater
Plano's Legacy West has already seen a number of restaurants open, and more are still to come:
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House (opened May)
Earls Kitchen+Bar (opened June)
Haywire (opens November)
Legacy Food Hall (opens October)
Sprinkles (opened May)
Taverna (opens October)
Toulouse (opens November)

​Article courtesy of Culture Map

Newsflash, Dallas: not all food festivals are created equal. There are some that are thrown together in a matter of days and others that take a full year to make happen. Here are the six events of fall that go above and beyond the everyday foodie festival. From barbecue to veggies and everything in between, you will not go hungry.
Harvest, September 15
This event at The Shed at the Dallas Farmers Market is now in its fourth year. It brings out the best local chefs, resulting in delicious food along with specialty cocktails, entertainment by DJ Steffi Burns, and silent and live auctions. All proceeds benefit the senior and child programs of the North Texas Food Bank. Tickets are $200, and the event starts at 7 pm.
Smoked Dallas, September 23
Pitmasters from all over the state — including Taylor's Louie Mueller Barbecue and Amarillo's Tyler's Barbecue — come together at Main Street Garden Park downtown to show off their barbecue skills. There is also a stellar lineup of live music, with performances by Vandoliers and Charley Crockett. Tickets start at $50, and general admission starts at 3 pm.
Park & Palate, October 13-14
In its third year, this two-day party at Klyde Warren Park just seems to get better and better. It kicks off with the Down to the Roots event, where chefs from every major city in Texas highlight the biggest and best of the state's cuisine. But the main attraction is the grand tasting on Saturday, with 60 chefs and 30 wineries offering tastings, cooking demos, and book signings. All proceeds go directly back to Klyde Warren Park. Tickets start at $75 for the grand tasting, which lasts from 2-6 pm.
Texas Veggie Fair, October 21
This free, dog-friendly event is wildly popular in Dallas, and you should expect a packed park full of veggie enthusiasts. Taking place at Reverchon Park, it’s the largest veggie festival in Texas and features speakers, chef demos, live music, and vendors galore. Speakers include author and chef Eddie Garza and Grey "The Vegan Rapper." Plus, there will be a vegan beer garden by Trinity Irish Pub. The festival lasts from 11 am-6 pm.
Chefs for Farmers, November 2-5
If you can only attend one food festival this fall, we'd pick this one. How can you resist supporting both chefs and the farmers that help us feast on the best food in Dallas? The Main Event on November 5 features more than 120 food vendors from all over the country who set up shop alongside DJs and other live entertainment at Lee Park. Tickets are $100, and the event starts at 2 pm. Can't make the Main Event? Other fun Chefs for Farmers events are happening throughout the week.
Meat Fight, November 12
This wildly popular event benefits the National MS Society. Tams of Dallas’ top chefs compete for smoked meat bragging rights, as determined by barbecue authorities like Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn. Tickets go on sale on October 3 and sell out almost instantly, so set a reminder on your phone. Location TBD.

Article courtesy of Culture Map

As the 2017 bond project list take shape, District 14 in East Dallas is proposed to receive almost $90 million, with over $33 for street repairs. In a Facebook post, District 14 councilman Philip Kingston wrote, “What these mobility projects mean is that you will see a real, substantial improvement in the condition of the streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, and alleys that you use every day.” He also noted that the projects won’t include projects that span multiple jurisdictions, such as the 3G intersection, which receives funding from the state.
Kingston goes on, “And if you don’t see the project you care about funded here, don’t lose hope. I am also still securing grant funds from the feds and the state.”
See all the street repairs planned in each council district here (District 9 streets are still finalizing, but will be added to the link when they are done.)

Article courtesy of Lakewood Advocate.  Note that University Meadows is in District 14, Mark Clayton's district, as is some of Lakewood - but Philip Kingston was the City Councilman consulted for this article.

They've got them in Southlake, they've got them in Richardson, and now they'll get them in downtown Dallas: Cinnaholic, the award-winning gourmet cinnamon roll chain that just happens to also be vegan, is opening its first branch in Dallas proper. It'll go into the 1700 Pacific building, with an anticipated opening in November.
Cinnaholic is the California-based chain that rose to fame after its appearance on the TV show Shark Tank. They do "custom" cinnamon rolls, with more than 30 frosting flavors and nearly two dozen toppings. You select a frosting such as maple or Irish cream, then add toppings like fresh berries, nuts, or gingersnap cookies.
Everything is dairy-free, lactose-free, egg-free, and cholesterol-free, making Cinnaholic vegan-friendly.
The company was founded in 2009 by baker Shannon Radke and her husband, Florian, in Berkeley, California. They've since opened franchised shops in Las Vegas, San Diego, and more. Although Cinnaholic's products are vegan, that's almost secondary, Florian says.
"If you go into our store in Berkeley, we don't have a sign that says it's a vegan cinnamon roll," he says. "Our big thing is that we're the first and only custom gourmet cinnamon roll shop, with frosting flavors and toppings. We're like a Cold Stone Creamery for cinnamon rolls."
Local franchisees AB and Elisa Tiffee have taken a slow and steady approach. The first branch opened in Southlake in 2015, followed in 2016 by a second branch in Richardson, next door to Alamo Drafthouse in the Richardson Heights shopping center.
The downtown branch will be two doors down from Starbucks, next-door to the Smoothie King. It'll be part of the underground tunnels network but has a street-facing entry in the courtyard at the intersection of Elm and Akard Streets. It'll observe prototypical downtown hours, IE weekdays during the daytime only, catering to the worker population.
"We're excited to bring the concept to downtown Dallas," Elisa Tiffee says.

Article Courtesy of Culture Map

A groovy new airline flying nonstop to Iceland is coming to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport in 2018. The catchy WOW air will offer non-stop access to Reykjavik, Iceland, with flights going out three times per week on a seasonal basis. WOW air will be the 16th international carrier to serve DFW International Airport.
DFW Airport CEO Sean Donohue says in a release that the airport is pleased to offer another nonstop trans-Atlantic destination, but especially Iceland. "Reykjavik is a popular tourist destination, a growing market for international business and a convenient connecting point to continental Europe," he says.
WOW air, which is very challenging for those who like traditional company names with initial caps, serves 38 destinations across Europe, North America, and Asia. Their goal is to provide the cheapest flights to and from Iceland and across the Atlantic.
It describes itself as a "happy low-fare, long-haul airline based in Iceland." How often do you see airlines describe themselves as "happy?" It also has the greatest signature plum-magenta color, splashed on the planes' exteriors and the flight attendants' uniforms.
WOW air was founded by entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen, whose background is largely in technology and telecoms in Iceland, Europe, and North America. He sits on the board of many tech companies in North America and Europe and was selected Business Man of the Year in Iceland in 2011 and 2016.
"WOW air is thrilled to bring our low-fare, transatlantic flight service to Dallas Fort Worth in May 2018," Mogensen says. "Dallas Fort Worth is a world-class region and we can't wait to give European travelers the opportunity to experience all that Texas has to offer."
WOW air has grown rapidly since its inaugural flight in 2012. The airline carried over 400,000 guests in 2013 and was the most punctual airline in Iceland that year. It is estimated that WOW air's annual passenger capacity will grow from approximately 1.6 million in 2016 to over 3 million in 2017.
The Icelandic low-cost airline stays true to its name by offering select flights to certain European destinations. If you live in St. Louis, Boston, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, San Francisco, or Chicago, you already know that you can visit cities such as Reykjavik, Brussels, and Warsaw for $99.99. Now Dallas-Fort Worth will be able to join that pack.
The airline is no frills. That means no free food, beverages, or entertainment; you can bring your own or buy them on the flight for an additional price.
For airplane buffs, WOW operates a fleet of Airbus planes, and will operate the Airbus A321, the largest member of the Airbus A320 family, for DFW flights.
WOW air service will begin on May 24, 2018 between Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport (KEF) and DFW, with the schedule as follows:
KDF to DFW:
Departs KEF at 9:30 pm Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Arrives DFW at 12:45am Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
DFW to KEF:
Departs DFW at 4:10 pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Arrives KEF at 4:45 am Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
The new route will open up more travel choices for DFW customers via the WOW air hub in Reykjavik, which serves 22 destinations in Europe and the Middle East. That includes Dublin, Ireland, which is already anticipating travel to Texas.

​Article courtesy of Culture Map: http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/travel/09-06-17-dfw-airport-iceland-nonstop-flights-wow/?utm_source=hot-headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website

Cookie dough has graduated from childhood pleasure to an official food group. Travel and Leisure magazine calls it "all the rage," with shops in big cities like New York and Los Angeles that are dedicated to it entirely. Of course, people stand and wait in line.
Dallas joins the trend via a new company called The Dough Dough, launched by Gina Ginsburg, a familiar name in Dallas society circles who has a long track record as an entrepreneur.
A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Ginsburg's previous startups include Diamond Affairs, a luxury invitation/stationery boutique, and The Hair Bar. She's also a commercial pilot.
The Dough Dough will be the city's first edible cookie dough confectionery. She'll have a dozen staple flavors available every day, including the classic chocolate chip, plain cookie dough, brownie batter with chocolate chips and Oreo pieces, cake batter dough with confetti sprinkles, oatmeal raisin, salted caramel, S'mores, and more. She'll cycle in additional seasonal flavors, as well as gluten-free and vegan options.
"We'll also offer custom flavors," she says. "If someone comes in and says they want pretzel cranberry cookie dough for a party, we'll do that."
You can buy it by the scoop, $4 each, or cookie dough ice cream sandwiches, with flat, cookie-sized slabs of cookie dough enclosing ice cream filling. Cookie dough ice cream pie goes for $5 per slice or $35 for the whole pie.
For now, she'll concentrate on online orders, but she's also close to signing a lease on a location where she'll set up a retail shop.
Cookie dough made at home is one thing; but as a commercial enterprise, recipes modifications are a must, and she worked with consultants to get it right and, importantly, make sure it was safe.
"I felt that it was important to keep the consistency and texture similar to what you have at home," she says. "It has pasteurized eggs, which is key to making sure you can safely eat it raw. It can be stored at room temperature for two hours. But it does have perishable ingredients, including the eggs and butter, so it's best to store it in the refrigerator, where it keeps for 3-4 weeks, and in the freezer for 3-4 months."
Ginsburg was inspired when she saw concepts such as the famed DŌ in New York, but it really all goes back to the days when she would help bake cookies with her grandmother.
"If I followed the recipe, my reward was a little bite of cookie dough," she says. "That's one of my fondest memories from childhood."

Article Courtesy of Culture Map: dallas.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/09-07-17-cookie-dough-gina-ginsburg/?utm_source=daily-digest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website
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The 2017 State Fair of Texas starts its 24-day run at Fair Park on Friday, September 29. For many, the fair is an annual ritual, a segue from summer to fall, and a touchstone of life in Texas. For us, it's all about the discounts. Call us cheap — but when State Fair time rolls around, our thoughts turn to finding the best ways to save a little cash.
Tickets are $18 for general admission and $14 for seniors and kids under 48 inches tall. But with the multitude of options that allow you to pay much less than that, why would anyone pay the normal price?
Below are the many ways we've found for you to save money on tickets to State Fair of Texas:
The season pass
If you plan on going to the State Fair more than once, a season pass is the way to go. Although you could just buy individual season passes for $39.95 each (or $34.95 at participating Kroger stores) and still claim a good deal, everyone knows the two biggest reasons to attend are the food and the rides.
That's why the $95 Season Pass Combo Pack, which includes two season passes and 100 food/ride tickets (worth $50), is the much better deal. Not only will you have the food/ride tickets delivered early to your hot little hands, you're essentially getting a second season pass for only $5 (or two for $45, however you want to look at it). If for some reason you don't want the food/ride tickets, you can also get two season passes for just $49.95, a huge savings in and of itself. These deals are available only at BigTex.com.
All season passes come with extra perks: one free single-day bring-a-friend ticket, a free State Fair of Texas reusable bag (limited to first 8,000 people), a free Midway Race Game, a coupon for $5 off the 2017 State Fair Cookbook, 10 percent off all State Fair gear at official merchandise stores, and special discounts on Fair food and Midway rides.
Buy your ticket in advance
If a season pass is not for you, you still have multiple options to save. Tickets bought in advance through BigTex.com are $1.50 off — but we recommend waiting until DART's GoPass app starts selling tickets in September. At $2 off, you'll get an extra 50-cent savings on individual tickets, plus you can also pre-buy DART tickets to get you to the Fair. The best part is that your tickets are right there on your phone, ready to be activated whenever you're ready to use them.
Similar to the season pass combo is a family deal for individual tickets. The Family Four-Pack gives you four one-time-only general admission tickets and 100 food/ride coupons for $99. That's a 26-percent savings over normal ticket prices. If you want more, there's also a $199 family pack that ups the food/ride coupon number to 300; if you want less, there's a $79 combo pack that gets you two general admission tickets and 100 food/ride coupons.
You can also save by buying advance tickets at Kroger. General admission tickets there cost $16.50, but no senior or children discounts are available. Keep in mind that kids 2 and under do not require a ticket.
Opening day deals
Unfortunately, gone are the days when the State Fair offered half-price deals on opening day. Now, anyone who brings in a full 20-ounce Dasani water or Coca-Cola product for donation to the North Texas Food Bank gets in for $10. No cheating: Every person in your group must have a bottle to get the discount.
Back again for the second year is Military Appreciation Day, which offers free admission for all active military, retired military, and veterans, as well as their spouses and children under 18 on opening day only. Both military members and spouses must present valid military IDs at the gate.
First Responders Day
On October 13, First Responders Day will honor various active and retired public law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency services agencies. All first responders, plus up to three family members, receive free admission to the Fair when they present a valid badge or ID card from their department or organization at the gate.
McDonald's coupons
The next time you eat at Mickey D's, make sure to check your tray liner or bag for State Fair coupons. You'll find ones for $5 off general admission any day, and ones that offer half-price tickets for kids when an adult pays full price. All coupons are only good for tickets purchased at the gate and cannot be combined with any other offer.
Dr Pepper Tuesdays
Don't toss your empty Dr Pepper cans. Save 'em up, as every person with one gets $6 admission all day on Tuesdays — October 3, 10, and 17 — or half-price tickets after 5 pm any day of the week.
North Texas Food Bank Wednesdays
Every Wednesday during the State Fair is Philanthropy Day, and the discount is large. Bring in at least four cans of food for the North Texas Food Bank on October 4, 11, or 18, and you get in for just $4.
Senior steals
Seniors 60 and over have it made in the shade — or the sun, more likely — as they can get into the fair for $4 off every day. But nothing beats the deal they get every Thursday on Seniorific Senior Days (October 5, 12, and 19): They get in totally for free.
Thrifty Thursdays
Thursdays have two ways to save. The first involves 20-ounce Coca-Cola products. If you drink them, hold on to your empties, as you can get in for just $7 every Thursday — October 5, 12, and 19 — with an empty 20-ounce Coke bottle.
Back again for 2017 are special Thursday discounts on more than 60 popular food items. Those include State Fair classics like Frito pies, cotton candy, and funnel cakes, and deals on specialty foods too. Most are half-price or better; check out this handy State Fair map for a full list of vendors and foods.
AdPages Giveaway
AdPages.com is once again giving away 500 tickets to the Fair in the form of family four-packs. To enter for a chance to win, fill out this form on its website. As with many giveaway contests, you can share your entry on Facebook to earn more entries. 
Group tickets
Not everyone can take advantage of this discount, but for anyone coming with a big group, you can rack up the savings. Groups of 20-249 people can get in for $12 each, or $6 off regular admission, which equals the best single-ticket price you can normally buy. If you happen to have a group of 250 or more, you can get tickets for $10 each.
New this year are Group Value Packs, which include admission tickets, food and ride coupons, and $10 Midway game cards. Packs are available for 20, 35, 50, and 75 people. Groups can also pre-purchase food/ride coupons and get special rental spaces.
Discounts on Midway rides
Tuesdays are a great day to go to the Fair. Not only can you get your $6 Dr Pepper ticket, you can save more inside, when all rides (except for thrill rides and the Texas Star) are discounted. If you buy a season pass combo and only go on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you've found the perfect way to save a bundle.

Article Courtesy of Culture Map

In a major upset, Froot Loops were completely bypassed at the 13th Annual Big Tex Awards, announced at a judging ceremony in the Tower Building on August 27. And yet, one dish won two awards: Props to the Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger, the big winner, earning trophies both for "Most Creative" and for "Best Taste Savory." Winning for "Best Taste Sweet" was Gulf Coast Fish Bowl, a cocktail with blue punch.
The Big Tex Awards, aka the "fried food awards," is the splashy annual event in which concessionaires submit creations they'll serve at the fair that year. The contest has not only become one of the biggest publicity generators for the State Fair, it has lent a modern facade to what was previously a declining, dowdy event. Prior winners have included fried butter and fried Jell-O.
This year, Fair organizers increased the total finalists from 8 to 10. Also for the first time, they handed out three awards, instead of two. Previously, it was "Best Taste" and "Most Creative." This year, they broke the Best Taste category into "Sweet" and "Savory."
Would it be considered a backfire that one dish won two awards? Having one dish win two awards is surely not the outcome they anticipated. Meanwhile, that must be one heckuva Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger.

The full list of finalists included:
Deep Fried Chicken Noodle Soup on a Stick. Homestyle chicken noodle soup deep fried and served on a stick.
Deep Fried Froot Loops. Sweetened Froot Loops folded into marshmallow, dipped in batter, and fried.
Fat Smooth. Three mini cream puffs on a skewer.
Fernie's Fried Texas Sheet Cake. Chocolate brownie cake coated in panko and ground cocoa puffs and fried.
Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger. Burger with bacon and queso on two funnel cake "buns."
Gulf Coast Fish Bowl. A cocktail with blue alcoholic punch served in a round plastic cup that's meant to look like an aquarium.
Pinot Noir Popcorn. Cheddar-cheese flavored kettle corn dusted with a Pinot Noir burgundy wine powder.
Surfin' Turfin' Tator Boat. Baked potato stuffed with lobster and steak.
Texas Fajita Fries. Meat "fries" made of breaded beef fajita strips, seasoned with Sriracha and served in a bread cone.
The Tamale Donut. Pork tamale served in a doughnut shape.

While the additional number of entries amped up the volume, it also threatened to bog down the judging event. To "help move time along," each savory finalist was supposedly randomly selected to be paired with a sweet finalist.
Deep Fried Chicken Noodle Soup on a Stick was paired with Pinot Noir Popcorn. Texas Fajita Fries were paired with Fat Smooth. Surfin' Turfin' Tator Boat was paired with the Gulf Coast Fish Bowl cocktail. The Tamale Donut was paired with the Deep Fried Froot Loops. The two heaviest items, the Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger and the Texas Fried Sheet Cake, were last.
Could the pairings have had an effect on the ultimate winners? That seems like a definite possibility. Nothing against the Tamale Donut, but is it possible it dragged down the Froot Loops, which was surely the rightful winner?

Article courtesy of Culture Map