After a long three years in the making, things are finally under way for White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, a new brewpub restaurant opening at the intersection of Gaston Avenue and Garland Road, aka the center of the White Rock Lake universe.
Founders Dave Kirk and Greg Nixon are launching this joint venture for all the right reasons, including neighborhood pride and a fondness for craft beer.
"It's an East Dallas thing," says Dave. "Greg and I both live in Lake Highlands and we love the White Rock Lake area. For many years, it's been underserved as far as places to go out to eat and drink. That's where our idea came from."
Their original plan was a brewery.
"We'd been drinking your typical domestic beer, but our tastes evolved along with the evolution of craft beer," Dave says. "We'd visited breweries around the country and realized there was a need for something like this in East Dallas."
Their concept evolved, as well. "We realized that food should be a big piece of it," Greg says.
Unlike some who have opened breweries in recent years, the two friends are not home brewer hobbyists, although they have done home brewing. Really, they just like craft beer.
"Blake Morrison will be joining our family as head brewer," Greg says. "He spent years as an avid home brewer before acquiring six years of commercial brewing experience, including helping two start-up breweries get off the ground."
Morrison helped formulate several of the beers for Cedar Creek Brewery in Seven Points, Texas, including the popular Dankosaurus IPA. He also created the lineup of beers at Whistle Post Brewing in Pilot Point. Morrison and his wife are Lake Highlands residents, making a local gig that much more alluring.
They're still finalizing their beer lineup. "Keeping folks happy is the goal," Dave says. "The craft beer world has become very seasonal. Time of year will dictate some of what we offer, with Christmas ales and the heavier stuff like stouts and porters in cold months, and wheaty beers in the summer."
Their official license will be a brewpub, meaning they can brew onsite with a small system wherein everything they brew will be served in-house.
The food will feature dishes that pair well with craft beer, with an eye toward foodies and those who use the lake. They'll be open for lunch, dinner, brunch, and happy hour, and will be available for special events.
"In general terms, the food will be American but a little bit elevated," Greg says. "One of our goals is that, whatever the dish is, we'll give it a little upgrade or twist. And having food that pairs with beers is an important part, as well. We're committed to having food that's as good as the beer."
Their plan is to open quietly in November, and to carve out a realm as a mostly-adult place to hang out.
"We recognize that there are families in Lakewood and we will welcome everyone," Greg says. "But we want to make sure we're different from the places where kids are running around. We'll be family-friendly — but a big part of the feedback we've already gotten is that people would like us to provide an alternative to the kid thing."
They're going into the center with the PetSmart and a Tom Thumb. They're at the north end next to Ace Hardware, and the best part is that they're adjacent to the trailhead. They'll have a 4,000-square-foot patio with seating and a beer garden.
In the end, it's all about the lake.
"Our goal is to be lake centric," Greg says. "We'll be catering to the active lake community, and our decor will reflect that by incorporating elements of cycling and running and boating. There'll be elements that remind you of that, or give a nod to features around the lake, done in a unique way."

Article courtesy of Culture Map

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

A coffee shop that's been a Lake Highlands hidden find has new owners willing to give it a shot. Drake's BrewHouse opened in early September at 8499 Greenville Ave., in a loping little center at the southwest corner of Royal Lane. The most recent occupant in the space was a short-timer called Urban Coffee Cafe — but it was the preceding shop, called Cafe Silva, that established a following of customers ready to embrace whatever's in the space.
Cafe Silva owner Masoom Khan is currently in Italy, but he retains a connection to the space, says Drake's owner Randi Drake.
"He had a great following," she says. "He did all of these great things like brewing his coffee over chocolate bars to add something special. He had another person interested in the space but he favored us because we wanted to do coffee."
That said, the coffee thing is still new to them, and so they kept much of the shop as it was, including an inherited La Cimbali espresso machine.
Randi is doing the shop with the help of her mother who lives in Fort Worth; she lives in Red Oak. It's a bit of a hike for both, but the location's assets makes it worth their while.
"We looked at spaces around Dallas-Fort Worth, but this location had the right water quality for good coffee, and an affordable rent," Randi says. "We're in an interesting location. We have some neighboring residents and businesses, and we also back up to a large greenspace that includes a golf course and White Rock Creek."
There is a Starbucks a few blocks east on Royal at the northeast corner of Abrams Road, but otherwise, there aren't too many other coffee spots nearby. Drake's gets its beans from Addison Coffee Roasters and they're doing brewed coffee, espresso and specialty drinks, as well as steamers sans coffee.
"The White Rock Creek bicycle trail runs right behind us, so we see a lot of bicyclists," Randi says. "So we are catering to the bicycling community with a line of fruit waters, which combine fruit with honey water. It's very refreshing. We do iced coffees, frappes, and a few smoothies."
One thing they didn't anticipate was the large number of people wanting lunch; they're open from 7 am to 5 pm Monday-Saturday. "We did put paninis on the menu, and on September 23, we're going to add some breakfast sandwiches, because people in this complex really seem to want it," she says.
That's their real goal, to respond to the neighbors' needs, from the moms seeking a place to camp mid-day to commuters on the go.
"One of the reasons I wanted to do a coffee shop is because of clientele," Randi says. "You see people walk in all dreary, because getting coffee is everyday life, and hope that when they leave, they say, 'That was an amazing experience.' Getting coffee is a luxury; anyone can make it at home. We want to be here for people who want to get out of their home."

​Article courtesy of Culture Map

East Dallas is about to get down with one of the hottest dining trends with the opening of a new restaurant at the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Abrams Road, in a space that was for many years home to Zuzu Handmade Mexican Food.
The trend is poke, and the restaurant is Poke Bop, which opened its first branch on Lemmon Avenue in a former frozen yogurt shop in March. This will be its second location.
Zuzu Handmade Mexican Food had been at that location for more than 20 years. The closure itself was sudden, with the final day of service on July 23; but the restaurant's departure had been forecast for a few months, when owner Basilio Andrade made it clear in the spring that he was not planning to renew the lease, which expired on October 1.
The poke trend began to hit Dallas in late 2016, and shows no sign of slacking, with new concepts continuing to open around DFW.
Poké Bop's menu includes signature bowls or an opportunity to build your own. It also includes the "poke donut," a sushi roll bent in the shape of a circle, which earned it some press.
Diners can also enjoy a poke ritto: basically an over-sized sushi roll that hasn't been sliced into pieces, so you can pick it up and eat it with your hands, like you would a burrito.
As it does at the original branch, the East Dallas Poké Bop will have Asian beers and cold sake, available by the bottle. The restaurant has tables but also standing dining options, as well.
According to a spokesperson, construction began in early September, and they're hoping to open in December.

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.
-----
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

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

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
​

There's a newly opened restaurant in Richardson featuring one of the area's best Turkish chefs. Tantuni Mediterranean Grill is a family-owned spot that opened on August 14 at 925 Abrams Rd., near the intersection of US-75 and 635, with some signature items including a chicken dish no one else in town is serving.
The chef is Ahmet Kara, who owned a restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey before moving to the United States in 1998. He was executive chef at Sultan restaurant in New York before coming to Dallas in 2002, where he was executive chef of Istanbul Café on Lovers Lane and Turkish Café in Plano.
At Tantuni, he's joined by family members such as his daughter Cansu, who manages the front of the house.
"People who know Mediterranean food know that Turkish cuisine uses a distinctive, flavorful blend of spices and herbs," she says. "And then one thing that we do that's special is our use of organic produce. We work with a gentleman who has a garden here in Richardson. Yesterday he brought us fresh basil and peppers, all organic; a lot of our customers really like that."
Their signature dish is Hatay-style chicken, named for Turkey's southernmost province, which they serve as a half chicken with two sides.
"I don't think anyone else in the area is doing it," she says. "The chicken is marinated for two days and then roasted on charcoal for two hours. The tenderness is amazing. And we add a glaze of barbecue sauce we make ourselves."
In addition to food from scratch, they also transformed the location itself, a former liquor store where they built a kitchen that took more than a year to complete.
"It's always been a dream of my father's to open his own restaurant," Cansu says. "He's been in the industry for 30 years. He loves to cook and he's a workaholic."
Other menu items include their Turkish variation on pizza, an oval flatbread called lahmacun, topped with minced lamb and beef, vegetables, and spices. It gets baked, then topped with onion salad, pickles, and lemon juice, which you roll up and eat on the go.
They do a weektime lunch buffet from Monday-Friday from 11 am-2:30 pm, with an all-day menu on Saturdays and on Sundays, a Turkish-tinged brunch.
"Last Sunday, we had a fresh omelet station where our chef was making omelets to order," Cansu says. "And we served our 'Tantuni wraps' — tantuni is a southern Turkey street food item; it's sort of like a street taco, with a little onion, tomato, and lettuce, and choice of chicken or beef. That's where we got our name."

Article courtesy of Culture Map

A new frozen pop company with a Brazilian twist is opening branches in two of Dallas' hottest neighborhoods. Called Picole Pops, it'll open in the Bishop Arts District, at 415 W. Davis St., in the former La Original Michoacana space; and also in Deep Ellum, at 2656 Main St., next to barbecue kingpin Pecan Lodge.
Adrian Lara, who owns Picole with his brothers Andres and Jorge, says that Picole will do gourmet "Brazilian-style" frozen concoctions infused with exotic fruits and fillings, some of which include alcohol.
"Picole is popsicle in Portuguese," Lara says. "This is a hugely popular concept in Brazil, and we're hoping to bring it here to the United States."
He describes the Brazilian-style pop as a spin-off of the Mexican paleta.
"It's not the same, however," he says. "Mexican pops are more of a water-based popsicle, with a texture that can be very hard. Ours will be infused with alcohol and exotic fruits you don't find here. And then it's all about the filling inside. Our slogan is that 'fillings matter.' Whenever you take a bite, it will be filled with things like Nutella."
They'll do pops in three categories: fruity, creamy, and premium-infused.
"We're going to do about 30 flavors, including fruit-based flavors like watermelon and strawberry," he says. "The premium are the ones that will be filled, like a banana pop with Nutella filling, or a strawberry pop with condensed milk. Some will have dairy, so the water-based will be flavors like lemon that are also good for vegans."
They'll reserve the alcohol-infused pops for their location in Deep Ellum.
"We want to adapt to the neighborhoods we're in," he says. "Deep Ellum has a younger crowd. But these won't be something where you get drunk on one popsicle; we don't want that to happen. We want people to be able to enjoy a popsicle and not get pulled over."
They've been working on the two locations for more than a year. They started out in Deep Ellum, but their building was among the lot of properties that were sold by 42 Real Estate in July. They turned their attention to Bishop Arts, which will likely open first.
Both locations occupy cool vintage buildings that will feature a colorful, decorative scheme based on Brazilian favelas, the funky urban dwellings. "We want to incorporate a lot of color," he says.
Their timetable is mid- to late-September.
A former financial services consultant who worked for Fidelity, Lara is also carrying on a family tradition with Picole. "My dad had a popsicle shop growing up," he says. "This is something I'm doing for my parents, too."

Article courtesy of Culture Map