very fresh, very hearty bread

I was just reading this interesting thread from a couple of years ago on best whole grain bread, and wonder about current advice for the very freshest, very heartiest kind of bread.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/643802

Normally Central Market/ Whole Foods breads are pretty good, but I'm looking for something still fresher and still heartier than these.

Breadhaus seems like the ideal, but sadly, I don't think we'll be able to make the drive frequently (from east Dallas). Now I miss Germany where you can wake up anywhere, walk three blocks and plunk down about $2 for a loaf of unbelievably fresh bread. So, somewhere within loop 12, or within range of I-30 between D and FW, would be perfect.

I'm going to try EatZi's, though I must admit that anti-Uptown prejudice has kept me away from there in the past. Empire Baking Co. also looks promising.

Unfortunately it seems that most listings don't discriminate between "cake bakeries" and "bread bakeries," and most, from what I can figure out, specialize in cake, i.e. Bread Winners, Society Bakery, Casa Linda Bakery. Bread bakeries, especially no-nonsense, whole-wheat bread bakeries, seem fewer on the ground. Even Henk's European Bakery is more cakes/pastries, right?

English desperately needs a distinction of the "boulangerie/patisserie" or "Baeckerei/Konditorei" type, to distinguish between "cake bakeries" and "bread bakeries."

Thank you for all advice!

BenjaminL in Dallas - Ft. Worth

best fresh tomatoes

Thank you!!

I don't mind waiting for the season -- just want to know where to look. Will check again in the summer.

BenjaminL in Dallas - Ft. Worth

best fresh tomatoes

Hello all,

I'm wondering whether there is a place to get really good-tasting fresh tomatoes.

Even Central Market and Whole Foods, so great in so many ways, seem to sell many completely flavorless tomatoes.

Should I try Jimmy's? Is there a certain variety or brand to look for? It's a shame that so many tomatoes seem to have almost no flavor at all.

Many thanks in advance.

BenjaminL in Dallas - Ft. Worth

After-work drinks in Arlington (near UTA) ?

Thanks for the responses! Judging from the web, Olenjack's is more upscale and Gilligan's more modest. Both look good.

BenjaminL in Dallas - Ft. Worth

After-work drinks in Arlington (near UTA) ?

Hi all-

The scenario: after-work drinks with co-workers (maybe a bite to eat) around 6:00pm, somewhere within reasonable driving distance of UT Arlington. Any ideas?

Thank you!

BenjaminL in Dallas - Ft. Worth

Cantonese - Hunan menu at Royal Palace, New Haven - tips?

Hi all,

I'm wondering what would be the best bets to order from the menu of Cantonese and Hunan dishes at Royal Palace in New Haven -- either based on experiences there, or what are reliable choices from such restaurants generally.

http://www.ctmenusonline.com/royal_palace_cantonese_menu.htm

A few years ago I had the water chicken on two occasions - amazing once, just OK the second time.

To me, all of the vegetable ("garden") dishes and appetizers look good, plus the beef tendon...

____________________________________________________________________

Menu: http://www.ctmenusonline.com/royal_palace_cantonese_menu.htm

includes among others

Appetizers - spring roll, dumplings, scallion pancakes, crispy shrimp balls, shu my

Soup - seafood bean curd, 8 treasure winter melon, si foo beef, crab meat and fish

Vegetable - snow pea leaves with garlic, spinach with garlic, baby broccoli with garlic, chinese broccoli in oyster sauce, mustard greens and black mushrooms, baby rape with garlic

Poultry - roast duck, 8 treasure duckling, pickled duck, crispy chicken

Meat - salt-baked pork, chan do spare ribs, twice cooked pork, black pepper t bone beef steak, red wine t bone beef steak, water beef / chicken / fish, sizzling beef steak, sliced beef tendon

Seafood - chive conch, honey and walnut shrimp, fried bean curd with shrimp, octopus with XO sauce, pickled squid, salt baked squid, crab meat bean curd, spicy conch, crab meat vegetables, clam with black beans

Casserole - fish and chicken and eggplant; sinewof ox stewed with bamboo bean curd; clam in clay pot; fish and chicken bean curd; seafood bean curd; chicken

chow mein, chow fun

BenjaminL in General New England Archive

Best Cappuccino in New Haven, Conn.?

I wonder if anyone has tips for finding high-quality cappuccino and other foamed-milk-coffee beverages in New Haven.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Germany. I love America, but the standards here for cappuccino here are way, way lower. I won't even mention places like Italy or Portugal with real coffee cultures.

I ordered a "small" cappuccino at the Publick Cup and got something in a bowl that would either hold a lunch of soup for two people, or possibly serve as a backup hot tub.

I know, thanks to Tim Harford, you can get a short cappuccino at Starbucks, but there must be something more.
http://www.slate.com/id/2133754/

Opinions?

BenjaminL in General New England Archive