queenie's Profile
Which Dallas Seafood Market, Rex's or T.J.'s?
Sounds like your cod might have turned into a bigger deal than you thought! As far as TJ's or Rex's, I have shopped at both for many years (they are both close to me) until about 2 years ago. Now it is strictly TJ's. I had a very bad experience with Rex's (foodwise not service as they are all very friendly and helpful) and I simply won't go back. I truly appreciate Jon's philosophy on fish selection, freshness and the way he does business. If it is not pristinely fresh, then he wont' sell it. He is always happy to stop and speak with customers and share his vast knowledge and he is constantly looking for ways and suggestions from his customers to add to his services.. I have truly come to respect and value TJ's. And no, I'm not related to any of them. Plus he will go out of his way to order just about anything you want (as long as it is sustainable of course).
Chirashi?
I always sit at the sushi bar. I am always very polite and I always tip at least 20% but the two times I've asked a question about a fish on the blackboard, they've just sort of brushed me off - like saying too fishy for you. Well how do they know? As is true of most hounds I will try most anything and I pretty much like everything. Also one thing that truly irritates me there is they will not sell you a side order of sushi rice. I like to get several different orders of sashimi with a side of sushi rice and they absoltuely refuse to accommodate. I have never experienced this anywhere else - in Dallas or otherwise. Very peculiar.
Chirashi?
In the order of my preference: Masami: http://www.masamirestaurant.com/home.html. Masami also has a Sashimi Lunch Box that is only $0.50 more that is quite good and also comes with rice and other extras.
KU Sushi: http://www.kusushidallas.com/ - better than you might expect and they will substitute on chirashiju if you ask. I don't particularly care for escolar (super white tuna so they sub that for me).
Sushi Sake: http://sushi-sake.com/. Everyone seems to rave about Sushi Sake and I cannot fault the quality or freshness of their fish at all but I find them to be the least accommodating and to have less personal type service than the other two - but maybe that's just me.
Where can I buy sacks of live crawfish in Dallas
I've not puchased crawfish at Fiesta or any of the Asian markets so I can't speak to those but I will say that TJ's is a true fishmonger and they provide the highest quality in the seafood they sell. They sent out an email last week saying they would have crawfish soon but they would be expensive and would price out much better as the season got fully underway. As DD said, they are very accommodating and service oiented as well. Located in the southwest quadrant of Preston & Forest. Rex's Seafood at Lovers Lane & Inwood is another true fishmonger with good quality and good service and they probably have them as well.
Free Range Chicken in DFW?
I purchase the majority of my meats there and have had chicken from Rehoboth Ranch and Windy Meadows - both are excellent. Texas Supernatural might not be as convenient as Sprouts (depending on where you live/work) and the chicken is generally frozen - however, I like to support our local providers whenever I can.
American lamb in Dallas.
You can also purchase pastured lamb from local area ranches (Rehoboth, Windy Meadows, Truth Hill Farm) through Texas Supernatural Meats at the Dallas Farmers Market. For some reason, I haven't tried any of the lamb but have had some really good grass fed beef from both Rehoboth and Truth Hill.
Good place for a nice bowl of stew?
It's been way too long since I've been here for anything period but the Dunston's on Lovers Lane serves a bowl of stew and cornbread. Last time I had it was way over 10 years ago (at lunch but I think it is available at dinner as well) but I remember enjoying it at the time. Not in the Knox/Henderson nabe but not that far away either.
Fresh Pasta in DFW area?
That sounds like a very appealing fall/winter dish. Have you made this before? Please let us know how it turns out - and how the Holy Ravioli pasta did in the dish or else we would need to move to the Home Cooking Board....might need to anyway if you deem it a big success and get asked for the recipe!
Fresh Pasta in DFW area?
It's too late for your dinner but Holy Ravioli does sell fresh pappardelle - however, it isn't available everytime I've been in the store looking for it. You might call ahead and ask - they are very accommodating so I would imagine they could arange to have it available for you. He will also sell you large sheets of fresh pasta if you want to cut your own shapes or make your own ravioli, etc. WF does carry some of their raviolis but not all. They also sell a decent frozen pizza dough.
Best Heirloom Tomatoes - DFW area
Coincidentally, I'm sitting at my desk eating a sandwich from Schlotsky's that I attempted to improve with an heirloom tomato I purchased from Central Market (Lovers Lane) yesterday. Eh - not particulary good. The ones I purchased last week from WF (Preston Forest) were better. The best ones were the ones I bought Saturday before last from Mr. Lemley at the Dallas Farmers Market. I asked him then if he would be having them a bit longer and he said yes so you might still find some down there early Saturday. I will probably make the trip down just to get some for my own use, I would certainly make the effort if I was serving them in a dish for guests.....
Minosharp Knife sharpener
I have and use the Minosharp Plus and I think it works very well. I was gifted with a set of Globals several years ago and am very protective of them. I called the Global rep in NY to ask for sharpening help/info and he suggested I use the ceramic rod periodically and then sharpen as needed with the Minosharp. He suggested I take them to a professional every year or so as needed. I already had the ceramic rod so I purchased the minosharp (from Amazon I think) and it has done a very good job keeping my knives sharp and it is way easy to use. I don't feel comfortable sharpening them myself without an idiot proof device such as this one. I've yet to send them out for professional sharpening but probably will do so soon.
Seafood Market in Dallas?
We were thinking the same thing. Trying to decide betweent picking up some whole main lobsters from TJ's at $12.99/lb along with some stone crab claws at Rex's on Lovers and Inwood and having a shellfish feast - or going out for sushi.....
West Maui Trip Report-Long
Great report - thanks. We were there a little over a year ago and I said at that time, on our next trip to Hawaii we would pick a different island just for a change and some variety but now, I don't know - your post makes me want to hightail it back to Maui! Your experience miirors many of ours. One night at Sensei, we did eat at the bar and Trudy and her counterpart were awesome. On our second visit to Sensei we sat at a table and while everything was good, the bar experience was significantly better. We enjoyed the Pineapple Grill more than Plantation House and thought the meal and the experience at the Banyan Tree was beyond reproach - our selections were perfectly executed and it was a very fine meal. We had not planned on going to Mama's but we did and ended up loving it. We might need to return to experience Mala's and Bev Gannon's General Store.
Best Risotto in Dallas
Mercury Grill has a really good wild mushroom risotto (with white truffle oil) on their dinner menu as an entree although I've asked for and received it in a appetizer portion before.
Gnudi
I've not tried (or read) the other recipes here but I've made the one from Bon Appetit on the Epi website (link below) and it turned out really well - no falling apart or turning watery . I've used the wild mushroom sauce in the recipe and have also served them with a sage brown butter sauce and Marcella's bolognese. They aren't at all difficult to make.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/236878
Dinner at Abacus (Dallas)
Zin - thanks for your recent reviews and particularly this one. Abacus has been a favorite of ours for years but unfortuately we haven't been by in the last 6 to 8 months (not sure why) so I'm glad to hear Kent is still on top of his game. They also have a good (if limited) sushi menu for just noshing in the bar....
Sounds like you are having a good time eating your way around town - I hope you find time for York Street as well.
Gourmet coffee in pre-sized packets?
I have purchased from Coffee Cow before (coffeecow.com) - I'm not sure how gourmet you consider their offerings but they have quite a selection of items including Starbucks packets (31.99 a case vs. 39.99 from SB) as well as other selections such as Kona, Blue Jamacian, Kenya down to Folgers & Maxwell House. They also offer various pod selections, hot chocolates, etc. Below is a link to their product list.
http://www.coffeecow.com/product_guide.asp
Biscuits 'n Gravy
Gravy is the problem.....I can find decent CFS and biscuits around town but cream gravy - not so much. As the other CH'ers said, it mostly seems to made from packaged mixes which I find vile and won't eat. The only place I will eat biscuits and gravy is Babe's - it's not as good as what I grew up on or can make at home but it's not bad.
Mobile knife sharpening..Dallas
Please let us know who you end up using and if you are happy with their work. I have a set of Globals that I'm very protective of. I've been given so much incorrect information from high end kitchen stores about the best way to sharpen that I'm about ready to ship these to Global in NY to have them done. I'd much rather find someone local who knows what they are doing and is familar with Japanese knives.
beef drippings for yorkies?
I think that would be fine. I usually ask my butcher for extra fat trimmed from the prime rib and then render it in a cast iron skilliet in the oven - medium heat. Works great and if there are some little browned crispy bits in the skillet - even better!
Freezing or preserving potatoes?
Twice baked potatoes freeze pretty well. Just don't bake them the second time before freezing. Mix whatever you want into the potatoes and restuff the shells, wrap well and freeze. Just put them in the oven straight from the freezer.
Spaghetti Carbonara in Dallas
I don't have any suggestions for Spaghetti Carbonara since it is something I find easy to make at home but Mercury's pearl couscous carbonara is wonderful and has often prevented me from trying other things that interest me because I can't resist ordering it. It used to be on the menu as an entree and I would often ask for an appetizer portion - now it is on the menu as an appetizer and I've sometimes asked for it as an entree. They are always gracious and happy to accomodate requests.
Fish carcasses for stock (DFW)
I do business with TJ's and Rex's on Lovers Lane - I like them both very well and both are convenient for me. Rex's also makes and sells their own fish stock as well as good chicken stock and veal stock if you ever need either of those and find yourself without the time to make it. I think they might sell a lobster and shrimp stock as well as fish but I could be wrong about that.
Is butter freezable without much consequence to flavor/texture? What about mozzarella?
We have a local cheesemaker in Dallas, Paula Lambert of the Mozzerella Cheese Company (who has won many awards for her cheeses) and she told me years ago that I could freeze fresh mozzarella (as well as mascarone and fresh goat cheese) as long as I thawed them slowly in the refrigerator. It has always worked well for me. I too freeze butter in ziplocks but had not thought of grating it for biscuits - what a great idea! I wonder if this would work equally well on pie crusts....
Oceannaire v. Three Forks
I've not been to Three Forks so I can't give any comparisons. Oceanaire is a high end chain and although I normally avoid chains if at all possible, I've been there 3 or 4 times because of diining companions' choices and I have to say, it has been very good each time. The seafood is fresh and the selection changes daily - often even between lunch and dinner. They've always had a wide selection of oysters and although I've never ordered the crab cakes my dining companions have said they are excellent - a lot of crab and very little filler. I have found their desserts to be way too large and somewhat pedestrian but everyone else seems to enjoy them. All in all, I would definitely go back if the occasion presented itself.
Highland Park Cafeteria (Dallas)...it's BAACK.
My experience wasn't quite as satisfactory. I walked or rode my bike to the Old HP Cafeteria regularly for many years and I've missed it. When I read that it had reopened (minus the Presidents) I eagerly made the trek over there. Can't remember everything I had but they were out of white meat fried chicken (at 6:00 p.m.?? - and they were not crowded - no line). They did not have smothered steak which was another old fave so I had the fried steak and it was fine. However, the gravy was not the gravy from the old days. HPC was one of the few places that had real gravy back in the day and now it is just that white pasty stuff that everyone else throws out - a real let down. You can't do half & half on the veggies anymore either. The squash casserole and the baked potato casserole were both very good - and as I remembered from before. They did not have garlic toast which was another old favorite and the german chocolate cake was dry. The service as you mentioned was very attentive. All in all a disappointment for me. As I was leaving I walked over to the baked goods to look for the cinammon rolls and they did not have any of those either. I had read reports that it was back and as good as ever so I was really disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high or perhaps it is more about what your old faves happened to be since some things were as I remembered. That said, it is probably better than any other cafeteria in Dallas (I've not been to any since shortly after the original HPC closed). If I lived near by I might go back and try again but since it is across town for me, I doubt I will return.
Coconut Ice Cream
Talenti makes a good coconut gelato. I used to find it several places (after they closed their Dallas store) but now the only place I can buy it is Whole Foods. I've not checked Central Market, however....
DAL: Am I in for a beating if I go to Coal Vines tonight?
I've not tried either of these places yet for the very same reasons - although I hear good things about both. What are the "off hours" you have found good for decent service?
Cappuccino in the PM?
Many years ago, on my first trip to Paris I was having dinner (outdoors) at a bistro on the Left Bank. I ordered a cappuccino after my dinner and the waiter just came untrained and went on a rant - mostly in French with some English thrown in but it was clear he felt the order was unacceptable other than for breakfast. There was a nice, older French couple sitting next to us and the genteleman dressed the waiter down (in French) and told him (in English) to bring me my cappucino and to behave in a more gracious manner. I was very young at the time and for the rest of the trip only ordered espresso after dinner to avoid another similar scene. Today I wouldn't care and would order whatever I happened to be in the mood for - particularly in the US.
sushi grade fish?
mojo - I don't know where in Texas you live nor can I answer your question about where sushi restos buy their fish (might just ask at your fav place) but here in Dallas I buy sushi grade tuna from my fish mongers (TJ's and Rex's). You can probably get it at WF and CM as well. If you have a fish monger you trust they can probably point you to other fish that would be suitable for sushi/sashimi with the normal disclaimer about raw fish and parasites that you see at any sushi restaurant....
