A few months ago, like a true southern belle, Addison’s new Ida Claire very quietly and ever so subtly began  to transform the defunct Truluck’s space on Beltline Road at Quorum Drive. And without much fanfare, Chef Fitzgerald Dodd opened Dallas’ first true offering of Creole cuisine.

Chef Fitzgerald Dodd

Creole cuisine dates back to the days of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. It is “pert near” Cajun cuisine but more often associated with an extensive use of tomatoes. French, Spanish, West African, Acadian, German and colonial settlers along with native American Indians greatly influenced what we think of as Creole today.

Chef Dodd is best known for his  impact on the Dallas food scene at Screen Door in One Arts Plaza. Here, this young talented chef was much lauded for his upscale spin on down home southern staples. At Ida Claire, Dodd continues in this vein but takes it to the next level. The food is the star of the show but the whimsical backyard patio replete with converted Airstream trailer and large outdoor movie screen adds to the magical antebellum ambiance of the Dining Room and Bar. This new star in Addison is poised for greatness.

hands down, the best patio in town!

streamy is beautiful inside and out

private party? Rent out “streamy” for a 1960s price of $420, all food included

an interesting collection of birdcages

…an open kitchen but your eye is drawn to the massive collection of plates above!

a great pantry right out in the middle of the Dining Room

To avoid the long wait we decided to sit at the bar. Interspersed amongst standard bar stools sat small couches on poles. We chose one such setae and bellied right up to the bar. It was evident that the bartenders were well trained. Not only were they well versed about the extensive hand crafted spirits that were offered but they also knew the menu like the back of their hand. Always helpful yet unobtrusive, they were eager to fill you in on preparation style, ingredients, and fun facts. There was no doubt that they wanted to be part of this exciting new offering. They really wanted their patrons to have the best experience possible. So this blogger and his beautiful wife settled into our setae to sip on spirits for some time as we reviewed and learned about the menu.

your friendly mixologists

The drinks were original. The drinks were colorful. The drinks were well priced. The drinks were STRONG! (Apparently they make their own gin) They were so strong that I forgot what we were drinking. As we sat, we would watch the mixologists create interesting concoctions one after another. We found ourselves saying, “Oh I’ll try one of those”!

bottoms up!

From rabbit to duck to shrimp to a burger composed of ground brisket, ground tenderloin, and short rib there’s something for everyone.

The cheese on the burger is PIMENTO CHEESE, of course!!!!

The multi-cultural influence could be tasted in each of the offerings. A coupling of savory and sweet seemed to dominate the menu as well. For instance, the Creole inspired spicy Tasso ham was adorned with thinly sliced peaches and fried mint leaves on a cracker thin flatbread dusted with Moroccan spices.

a truly unique spin on flatbread.

I figured that it was important to try the gumbo. Despite my pleasing experience thus far, I didn’t really hold out much hope for a truly original, authentically inspired gumbo from this kitschy establishment. Boy was I off base!!!! The Creole stew was the BEST I’ve ever had. The roux was dark and rich. The proteins were soft and perfectly seasoned. Even the okra was void of it’s usual sliminess!

John Besh, Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse move over, you ain’t got nuttin’ on dis gumbo.

The Crawfish fritters with remoulade were the stars of the appetizer menu . Light and airy, these crispy fried balls of mudbugs and cornmeal were da bomb! The remoulade that finished them off was unusual……unusually unbelievable. Not your standard spicy accoutrement, this version  was infused with cider vinegar that encouraged a generous lathering of moist morsels. Two orders might be needed on my next trip!

Moving on, I must move on as my mouth is watering again. Ida Claire will soon be very well known for their biscuits. Light and airy, these southern staples on steroids were uniquely grilled and topped with a number of different choices. I requested that mine be topped with a fried chicken tender that puts Sissy’s Southern Kitchen to shame. Building on this melt in you mouth base were tart collards, a not to thick cream gravy, and a sunny side up runny egg. It made my heart sing.

in all it’s glory

My only other wish for the evening would have been that we had friends with us so that we could get an even better sampling of the menu items. I guess that’s just a reason to return. Certainly on our next visit we will try the chicken and waffles. We saw order after order coming out of the kitchen accompanied by grilled,chili powder dusted watermelon.

Fork It Over Restaurants Group who also are responsible for their other ventures Whiskey Cake in Plano, Velvet Taco in Know/Henderson, Mexican Sugar at the Shops @ Legacy, and the much lauded Ranch @ Las Colinas gave Addison and it’s neighbors a treat on a vintage platter. “Bless their hearts”. Their intentions were good and we were much obliged.