The Bite of Life

I’ve posted twice about my favorite Thai establishments. You see, that’s because I strongly feel that once you try Thai food you will never ever want plain ‘ol bland Chinese food again. This foolhardy foodie was foiled again when his wife suggested a Chinese restaurant in a former Shakey’s Pizza outpost in old East Plano.

I take back everything. This family run hole-in-the-wall was a treat! Old fashioned style was the order of the day with big round tables that seat twelve with a giant Lazy Susan in the middle. The atmosphere was alive with families laughing and visiting and waiters bustling about to insure everyone was happy. There was not a seat to be had in the house. However, they do take reservations.

I will post only one picture. That’s because this one entree knocked our socks off and is a must when you try Mr. Wok. Asain Spaghetti was listed as one of their specialties. And it is VERY special. Noodles are studdled with ground chicken and waterchestnuts and then threads of crisp bamboo shoots  are interwowen with chopped sweet tomatoes. Don’t wok, run to Mr. Wok!

Asian Spaghetti, a special of the house

Time for a little nostalgia. Time for a throwback to simpler times. Remember when mom and dad would load up all the kids in the Ford Country Squire Station Wagon and head out on our family vacations? If this is not in your memory bank then you don’t remember stopping at Stuckey’s along the way. In between shouting and shoving mathces with my siblings and pre-teen hijinx like throwing mom’s pillow out the window at 75 mph, we all looked forward to stopping at Stuckey’s.

I got to thinking about the impact of an establishment like this on baby boomer’s childhood memories.  Thanks to Wikipedia, I can share the story of Stuckey’s.

^{Situated predominately in the Southwest, Southeast, and Midwest but showing up in states as far east as Conneticut and as far west as Oregon, Stuckey’s, the roadside convenience store, originated in the 30s in Geaorgia. It seems that W. S. Stuckey Sr. was pleased with an abundant pecan harvest and set up shop in a lean-to road-side shed on Route 23 to Florida. Wife Ethel got in the game and started creating and selling pecan candies and confections at the stand.}

In 1937, the Stuckey’s constructed their first building to sell the pecan candies. They quickly added a restaurant. Novelty stores rounded the highway quick stop design. After the war Stuckey’s grew to 350 locations and opened a candy factory to supply all the stores.

As baby boomers started to travel the country by car Stuckey’s success was unstoppable. They soon partnered with Texaco to add gas stations to the properties.  In 1960 Mr. Stuckey attempted to open hotels on his sites but only managed to open four.

So you might ask why engage in this nostalgic exercise on The Bite of Life? I can simply share that my family had an enjoyable evening remembering old slogans. We got a chuckle remembering that Stuckey’s actually used “Eat at Stuckey’s and get gas!” We all agreed that the guy who came up with this one should have lived on our street.

We survived the predicted end of the world in 2012. But many of Dallas’ retaurants did not. And could we have predicted the end for all?

Certainly not.

Some were established by formidible foodies. Nonetheless, these warriors were taken down…….

Reuben Jacobs’ Cafe Italia

Monica Greene’s Ciudad, Bee Enchilada (Best Enchilada Ever), and Monica’s Aca Y Alla (not a good year for this former city council contender)

Annie Wong’s Liberty Noodles

Alberto Lombardi’s Lombardi Mare

Stephen Pyles’ Star Canyon

Gene Street’s Streets Famous Sandwiches (Not so famous, huh?)

Peter Tarantino’s Tarantinos Deep Ellum

Others closed one location to open in another spot…………………………

Arcodoro Pomodoro (They’ve moved so many times it’s hard to keep up!)

Gilbert’s NY Deli. (They closed in one location only to open in another and close shortly thereafter.)

The Mecca (from the questionable spot on Harry Hines to Lakewood)

Even well established traditions were cut from Dallas’ culinary landscape………………..

Antares (The restaurant is still spinning in the Hyatt ball but now under Wolfgang Puck’s direction as Five Sixty)

Gershwins ( It could not survive the change of the neighborhood)

Mainstream Fish House (Not so sad really, not a best effort put forward by Mico Rodriguez here)

Trader Vic’s (Resurrected but it was out of touch with the 21st century. Poor thing didn’t have a chance)

Tramontana (There one day and the next it became a Blackeyed Pea, WTH)

Zodiac (only the Northpark outpost. Thankfully we still have the downtown location)

While still trendy spots were just to cool for school and received a failing grade…………………

AquaKnox (Too hip for its own good)

Avner Samuel’s Auroa (Way too small. They couldn’t serve enough people each evening to keep their doors open)

Beau Nash (Very few make it at Hotel Crescent Court. But it was a great place for Big Band music)

Bliss Raw Cafe and Elixer Bar (Even the healthful patron could not embrace this place. Perhaps the name was a little off-putting)

Citizen (Way to expensive for Tom Thumb grade sushi)

Craft Dallas (At The W Hotel, need I say more?)

Hector’s on Henderson (This chef spread himself too thin)

Il Mulino (Take it on back to Little Italy in NYC, sorry)

Iris (Turned out to be a wallflower)

Jeroboam ( Not enough people living downtown to support it and not enough suburbanites who cared enough to venture that far)

Liberty Noodles (Good idea, poor executiion, excuse the pun)

Nana (It turned out that more people would rather eat at their Nana’s house than at Nana in the Anatole)

Red’s Patio Grill (Chili’s founder Larry Levine tried…… but did he really?

Screen Door (Don’t let the door hit ya where……..)

Who’s Who Burger (Even the Who’s Who of Highland Park wouldn’t support this sore thumb in HP Village)

York Street (Lakewood will never be the same)

Finally some with multiple outlets scaled down. The surviving location(s) may not be as convenient. So we’ll see if they make next year’s list of those that have fallen from grace…………………………….

Atlanta Bread Company

Bagelstein’s

Ball’s Hamburgers

Blue Mesa

California Pizza Kitchen

Chip’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers

Gloria’s (Nobody will miss the closed locations as they pop up on every corner like Starbucks)

Joe’s Crab Shack (Do we really care?)

Matt’s Rancho Martinez (Thank God we still have Lakewood)

Nuevo Leon (Never should have branched out from their original location. We’ll all have to head back over to Farmers Branch)

Ruggeri’s (You may get rid of one location but you can’t wipe out Tom Ruggeri. most under-appreciated)

Zuzu Handmade Mexican Food (Once quite prolific, now down to two spots)

When people think of cities where restaurants are highly regarded for developing new trends and pushing the envelope on creativity and flavor Chicago, Portland, New York, New Orleans and LA come to mind. Dallas struggles to be included amongst these ranks. Chef’s and entrepreneurs are dedicated to bring us the usual, the flavorful, the memorable. But in 2015 will anybody remember the restaurants  mentioned above?  Probably not. Oh well, on to my next meal………………..

The Zodiac Room

The eve of Christmas Eve is special for the Feldman Trio. This is the day that we choose to spend together, away from the mall, away from the last minute shoppers. We avoid the rat in a maze game played when looking for a parking space. We stay clear of the frustrated anxious people who feel like time is running out. Instead, we head downtown and make our way to a Dallas institution. Neiman-Marcus is filled with happy families free of the crush of holiday zombies. Here, one can breathe and drink in all that is beautiful and magical about Christmas. Head to the 6th floor to the iconic Zodiac Room. Here you can let your imagination take you back to the 30s, 40s, and 50s when Stanley Marcus entertained dignataries and celebrities from Princess Grace to Marilyn Monroe to The Queen of England. Here began the Fortnight events. Here runway models parade through the tables modeling one-of-a-kinds sold downstairs. For this family, it’s a day when we feel pampered. We are treated to a menu that makes our eyes light up and our tummies say howdy. To call it a buffet is almost libelous. We start with drinks, of course. The Texas Belle, The Peppermint Mojito, and The Sparkling Pear

setting the tone for the day!

Next up, a probably the best part of a Zodiac experience……..a hot popover with strawberry butter. This treat is crisp on the outside and light,airy, and a bit doughy on the inside. Many make popovers but only Neiman’s can pull off this combination of textures in their popover.

popover

In the center of the Dining Room are two displays of delicacies. One holds cold preparations ranging from Neiman’s famous Orange Souffle to pate. The other island features mini potato latkes that put any Jewish grandma’s version to shame to a steamship round of beef carved to order.

Food for the Gods

The creative genius behind this meal is that the creator realized that no one would have room afterwards for dessert no matter how good. That is why the waiter is pleased is serve an assortment of bite-sized sweets. Just the right way to end the dining experience

just a bite

Next Christmas this family encourages each and every one of you to adopt this calming holiday tradition. Come with us We’ll make a reservation for a big table.

Merry Christmas from Neiman-Marcus Downtown Dallas 2012

Is the idea of another holiday ham horrendous in your mind?

Is Tom turkey trashing your idea of  a terrific main course?

Is your prime rib way past it’s prime?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, read along and have an open mind to doing it differently this holiday season. Did you ever think of taking a daily staple and elevating to a whole other level. Doing so changes how you see that entree and makes it anything but common. After all, isn’t everything from gift giving to party planning over the top at the holidays? My joy in the kitchen, during this time of family and friend celebrations, comes from taking an assuming Roaster and transforming it into a delicacy that you will want on your holiday table every year!

I introduce to you………Lemon Herbal Chicken and Friends

Ingredients

1 (4 to 5 pound) roasting chicken

1/2 medium yellow onion, quartered

Extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon, quartered

1 package, Good Seasons Garlic and Heb Salad Dressing Mix

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

4 sprigs of fresh thyme

2 stalk of celery diced and the leaves chopped

6 cups (3/4 inch) bread cubes (i artisan baquette or any other crusty boule type of bread) The Friends

Method 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

Take the giblets out of the chicken and wash thoroughly inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.  Mix 3/4 of the Good Seasonings packet with 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil. With your fingers separate the skin of the chicken from the meat. Do not separate completely only to create a pouch. Rub your oil/seasoning mixture all over the meat of the chicken underneath the skin. Afterwards do the same on the outside of the skin. Sprinkle the unused portion of the Good Seasoning packet over the top of the bird.

Salt and pepper the cavity of the chicken as well as on top. Place the lemon, rosemary, thyme, celery, onions, and celery leaves inside the chicken. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.

Roast for 1  1/4  to  1  1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh.

Here’s where the friends (and they are so good they will be your best friends when all is said and done) come in!

Heat a large saute pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons  of extra virgin olive oil until very hot. Lower the heat to medium-low and saute the bread cubes, tosing frequently, until browned well, 10-12 minutes.  If they are looking dry add more olive oil. Sprinkle the toasted gems with kosher salt and pepper to taste.  Place the croutons on a serving platter. Deconstruct the chicken (and it will be hard to do because it’s so picture perfect and golden brown and that you wont want to mess with it.) You heard me. Remove, whole and in tact, the leg thigh quarters. Slice the breast. Remove the celery, onion, and lemon from the bird and place on top of the croutons. Remove the rosemary and thyme and use them to garnish the sides of your platter. Place the chicken on top of the croutons and vegetables. Now pour all of the pan juices over the chicken and croutons. This step is essential. Do NOT skip it. The croutons soak up all of that lemony, herbal goodness and completes this bird’s transformation.

Once you’ve tried this you’ll never go back to the mundane. They simply are not good enough for your celebrations any longer.

Happy Holidays

Holiday Chicken and Friends

Tom Kha Gai Soup

Now that we’ve found Bambu Cusine on the southeast corner of Campbell and Coit, we want to tell everyone.

This small, unasuming Thai mecca now holds the title for best Thai in the metroplex. All of the standards are available as well as unusual selections that tempt you to steer away from what you expect out of a Thai restaurant. Nonetheless, we judge good Thai by certain things and so we had to try them. The Tom Kha Gai soup, pictured above, is the best I’ve ever had. It is the perfect balance of tangy, spicy, sweety and sour. The coconut milk used to finish the cooking process imparts a creamy texture that makes you want to pick the bowl up and drink the spoup. Kiffer lime leaves, fresh ginger, lemongrass, tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions come together to make this menu choiuce the star of the show.

Of course we had to try the Pad Thai. This well known dish was anything but common. The tamarind sauce that coated the noodles was enhanced by fresh lime juice, crushed peanuts, and cilantro.

Pad Thai

Saving the best for last in this review, oddly enough, was our appetizer. It was one of their specials for the evening and owner Shelly said that we must try it. Our arms are so twistable when we eat out. Of course we ordered it. It might be the best “one bite” I’ve had in a long while. The Spicy Tuna on Rice Cake was beyond description. We ate the one bite slowly so that we could savour the moment. The rice cake, believe it or not, was the star of the appetizer. Yes the tuna was fresh, spicy, and smooth and yes the fresh jalapeno added a kick, and yes the secret sauce that was drizzled lightly over the top was just the right finish to the creation. It was visually pleasing as well.

Spicy Tuna on Rice Cake

There was one disturbing thing about our dining experience. These creepy dolls sat perched above where we sat. Their gaze seemed to suggest, “you’re ordering too much!” 

freakish Twighlight Zone dolls

I’m so tired of the cold weather that I’ll be cooking seafood this weekend. The following images are ones I took when working on the Flori-bama Coast.  Until I can return to visit, I’ll re-create the dining experience at home.

stone crab claws

Seafood Stew

The Best Crabs!

Low Country Boil

 Is your mouth watering!

I’m trying to talk Janee and Allie into a Christmas tree with a food theme. Of course, we’ll have our usual tree highlighting my favorite ornament………..

freaky Feldman head ornament

EVEN THOUGH THEY MAKE ME HANG HIM ON THE BACK OF THE TREE FACING THE WALL!!!

Our foodie tree might feature the following…….

 I can’t even begin to tell you how nice the addition of Fernando’s is to the Midway Hollow neighborhood! It’s too bad we have to share this gem with our neighbors in Bluffview and Highland Park. Just kidding, but it does get very crowded! In an effort to alleviate this issue, Fernando and Ann added on to their outdoor seating area. It was really well designed and again adds alot to the neighborhood.

Chili Relleno

Everything on the menu is exceptional but the service is extraordinary. Fernando, the former front of the house host at Il Sorrento really knows how to staff his restaurant and train his servers to be the very best. We stepped out of our traditional Tex-Mex box and ordered the brisket tacos. WOW. They were melt-in-your-mouth good! Crazy good! Another plus in the overall dining experience is the people watching. I’m told that George and Laura Bush are often there and on our visit Kay Bailey Hutchison dined at the table next to us. I’m sure that Democrats are welcome as well. Let’s all meet in the middle at Fernando’s!

Aboldingas

Crispy Beef Taco and Gaucamole Toastada

Blimpie? Subway? Lenny’s? Quizno’s? Which Which? Jersey Mike’s? Great Outdoors? Great American Hero? Southpaw’s? Firehouse? Corner Bakery? Panera? Atlanta Bread Co.? Short Stop? Celebrity?Eatzi’s? Central Market? Potbelly?

Who makes your favorite sammie? The following are my favorite. Leading the way is Blimpie. It is by far the freshest and best tasting. Weigh in and let me know your favorite.

Subway’s Veggie Delight

Muffelatta from Cafe Maespero in New Orleans

pastrami sandwich from Cindi’s Deli

Lox and Cream Cheese on an Everything Bagel from Einstein’s

Bahn Mi Vietnamese Sandwich from the Nom Nom Food Truck

In and Out burger

Mediterranean Egg White Sandwich from Panera Bread

Chicken Shwarma from Mediterranean Sandwich Co. in Mobile, Alabama

Navajo Chicken Sandwich from the Cheesecake Factory

Chopped Liver from Cindi’s Deli

Bison Burger at Hopdoddy

Janee’s Smore, ok so it’s a dessert sandwich