Lazy Weekend Family Buffet Lunch

The spread

We all love to eat different things in our family. Pikelet, my five year old is more adventurous and three year old Lollo often needs coaxing to try something new. That’s why our lazy weekend buffet lunches are a favorite in the household. It is a presentation of all our favorite items and a few new ones in case someone wants to try something new.

Texas Daily Harvest Milk from Urban Acres

Urban Acres

Milk is milk to me. If I’m passing a pharmacy I won’t think twice about popping in for a gallon rather than driving elsewhere for the organic stuff (foodies please don’t balk!). Sure I think that organic milk tastes better than conventional but it’s not enough for me to go the extra mile – literally. That is until last weekend when fate gave me a chance encounter with Texas Daily Harvest Milk at Urban Acres in Oak Cliff.

Honey Girl Kitchen

 

Just pack the hamper, wine and Pelligrino!

Spring is the start of picnic season and Honey Girl Kitchen is offering home-made organic picnic dinners to go! Think fresh ‘Fanciwiches’ made with Jimmy’s mortadella stuffed in a Mexican baguette and layered with smoked mozzarella and all the fixings or cool ‘Fancisides’ like jicama and cucumber salad or a simple caprese. The kid’s ‘Fanci Tiny Pants’ menu feature turkey wraps, cute little onigiri rice balls or organic PB&J sandwiches all served with a watermelon slice on a stick. Desserts are home-made brownies or Honey Crew Granola.

Mortadella on Bollilo

To top it all, Honey Girl Kitchen has thoughtfully coordinated pick up for these picnic dinners during the Spring, Summer and Fall Concert Series at The Dallas Arboretum from April 19 to October 27.

Tom Fleming’s Crossroads Diner

View from the waiting room

The Confession - I’m going to come right out and say it, we have not fallen in love with Crossroads Diner’s cinnamon buns. Ok now that it’s off my chest, more about it later. It is noon on a Saturday and there are at least 10 tables infront of us. Ugh it’s a 30-45 minute wait. Thank goodness there are children’s books to keep Pikelet & Lollo occupied in the waiting area. If spotting chef Abraham Salum of Salum and the gorgeous new Komali waiting patiently like the rest of us pedestrians is any indication of what’s to come, then wait we shall. 

Chocolate Secrets

There are many delicious secrets to discover within this little Highland Park chocolaterie. It’s not just any chocolate shop, it’s a boutique. The handcrafted chocolates made by Kate Graver (formerly of Nobu and Stephan Pyles) are positively inspiring. Resembling rich jewels, pretty flowers and colorful buttons, each one is transformed, molded and then carefully airbrushed to perfection. She even makes little chocolate stilettos and handbags my friend T. calls “Jimmy Chocs”. There’s a wine bar with jazz on weekends and a tiny little creperie.

Royal China Dallas Restaurant

You may wonder why we chose Royal China as the venue for a celebratory meal on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Tucked on the corner of Preston and Royal, Royal China’s customers are predominantly non-Asian dining on the ubiquitous American Chinese favorites like orange chicken or beef and broccoli. Even the children’s menu features nuggets and rice.  But Royal China surprisingly has some of the most authentic Chinese dishes in Dallas and the answer lies in the hands of Zhang Xue Liang, Royal China’s noodle chef and his crew of dumpling makers.

Gong Xi Fa Cai – Happy Chinese New Year!

新年快樂

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE GOLDEN RABBIT

JOY, PEACE, HEALTH AND PROSPERITY

It is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Although it is commonly known as Chinese New Year, many other countries with significant Chinese populations such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia also partake in the festivities.  According to custom, the new year starts on the first day of the month in the traditional Chinese lunar calendar and ends with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day.

Maple & Motor – Burgers and Beer

First rule upon entering this gas station turned insanely popular burger joint – line up and order before sitting down. Do not try (or even think about) poaching a seat beforehand. And just like how Mother Nature has a way of moving things along, by the time you order and pay, there’ll be a table free for you. The same applies to the parking lot. Pick up trucks and luxury vehicles alike wait patiently for a spot. And the turnover is quick. Maple & Motor’s ’greased stained tribute to low class cool’ has garnered quite a cult following here in the BigD. No wonder DMagazine honored it with it’s Best Burger accolade 2010. It’s personable owner, Jack Perkins wanders round greeting regulars by name and shaking hands with patrons like old friends.

Perrfection in a burger!

Ok. Now to the burger.

Home baked goodness – Little Aprons Bakery

The morning begins with a waft of cinnamon and butter curling through the air as I walk down the stairs.  The table set with our usual breakfast fruit, two fiddly, giggling boys and the source of the home baked aroma - a plate of warm cinnamon buns. Home made cinnamon buns are wonderful for leisurely weekend mornings and for those who don’t bake, it’s comforting to know that we can call on Little Aprons Bakery.

Holiday Party Idea – Tom Colicchio’s braised short ribs

Stunning results!

So done with turkey? Then try celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio’s (of Craft restaurant at the W Hotel in Victory Park) braised short ribs recipe. The results from this succulent fall-off-the-bone recipe is guranteed to garner ’oohs and aahs’ at the dinner table even from the most discerning itty bitty guest.

Everybody’s talking about… tacos

Tacos galore from Rusty Taco

“Taco joints are the new fro-yo” announced my friend, A. Talking about where to find your favorite taco is not a new topic especially here in Dallas but there does seem to be a spate of generation-next taco joints opening lately.

Zen Sushi wins Best Sushi Award 2010!

Congratulations to Michelle Carpenter, chef-owner of Zen Sushi! They won the Best Sushi Award by Dallas Observer. This is the second time (the first being in 2008) they’ve received this award!

Michelle Carpenter took the time out to share her thoughts on sushi and kid foodies.

Peaches – Get ‘em before they’re gone

From Lemley's @ Dallas Farmers Market

 

We’re peach fanatics at this household. We love them naked or dressed with a little honey and mascarpone or accessorized with a generous dollop of yogurt.

Main Street Garden – eat, play & splash

Lily Pad Cafe @ Main Street Garden

Take a break at Main Street Garden, the green oasis in downtown Dallas that is bordered by Main, St Paul, Commerce and Ervay Streets. With its gorgeous grounds, cafe, spray park, children’s playground and dog run, Main Street Garden  is a haven for families, even Fido.

When you happen to have octopus tentacles in the fridge…

Octopus tentacles - dinner and a new toy...

 

Yes folks. You read it right. Octopus tentacles are what Pikelet and Lollo chose from the seafood counter at Central Market today. Why not I thought. It would be fun. So what next?

Si Tapas! Me tapas!

The infamous Chee Japa

“Chee japa! Chee japa!”

For the longest time Lollo would say these words over and over again. As said in my About page, he had only a handful of words so whenever he said something consistently, we’d try and figure out what he was saying. Finally one day when we drove by Allen Street in Uptown and he excitedly cried out the same phrase “Chee japa, chee japa”. And finally the mystery was solved. He was of course referring to ‘Si Tapas’.