I Ate the D 100 AKA Much Respect for Nancy Nichols

In June of 2013, D Magazine finally printed their list of the Top 100 restaurants in Dallas. This isn’t an annual list, or even a biennial list. It’s been a while since they last published that list, but knowing how we all love a good list so we can compare notes(scores) with friends, the good folks at D, more specifically Food and Travel Editor Nancy Nichols, put together the list of the top 100.

I generally read D cover to cover the day it arrives in our mailbox(don’t judge), so I remember when the issue came out. I remember turning to the Sig-O when I saw the list and saying, “We should do this. We should eat at all 100 top restaurants.” How on Earth I managed to snag someone who would blindly join me on this quest to #EatTheD100 is beyond me, but the Sig-O said, “Sure. Why not?” So the quest began.

A few clarifications before I go on. We did not do all 100 in the time since the list came out. We’ve been in Dallas about 15 years, so if we had already been to one on the list, it counted. If one of us had been to the restaurant, but the other had not, it could still count – those amounted to less than five restaurants each. As people who eat out a fair bit, vary their restaurant choices and have adventurous palates, we (I) were pretty disappointed when we had been to just over 50 of the top 100.

While we’re not in 100 percent agreement with where restaurants were placed on the list, we really have no qualms for the majority who made the list. Were there some that should have been on the list but weren’t included? Of course. Were there some that were on the list that probably shouldn't have been? Probably. Were there any who absolutely didn't belong on the list? Yes, but only one and I’m not going to front them out publicly because someone still has to make a living and feed their family from that restaurant, but hopefully not feed them food from that restaurant. What about the ones that closed? Yes, we made it to all of those before they closed.

I now completely understand why Nancy gets tired of the “what’s the best restaurant in Dallas” question. Seriously, if I had a dollar for every time we’ve been asked that question, I would be able to go back to all of our favorites on the list and probably still have a little cash in my pocket for a drink at the Windmill. I’m by no means a restaurant critic, but I have gained a new found respect for those who have to eat for a living. Personally, I’ll stick to food as a hobby rather than a living. And I’m never attacking a list of 100 again.

I knew this adventure would eventually end up on the blog, but I’m not going to bore you with reviews of all 100.  Because we all love lists, we’ve created “Best Of” lists from the Top 100 list. Yep, lists from lists, mind blown! I’m breaking these lists up over several days, so check back later for the next installment. 

Get Fashionable with Legal Hospice of Texas on April 9

If you haven't bought your tickets for Fashion Cited: A Style Event 2015 on April 9th, you'd best log on and snag yours before this fashionable event sells out. 

The always fabulous Rhonda Sargent Chambers of RSC Productions will emceeing this year, a change from her honorary chair position in 2014. The stylish Todd Brownlee, DDS, is the generous presenting sponsor this year. Even better is this year's ever fashionable and philanthropic Carol Meyer, who is the event's honorary chair. 

Fashion Cited is celebrating its ninth year and continues to be one of the most anticipated annual fashion events in Dallas. Proceeds from Fashion Cited benefit Legal Hospice of Texas, which is a non-profit law firm providing legal services at no charge to low-income individuals who are terminally ill or HIV positive.  This year marks LHT’s 25^th year of service in North Texas.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum has rarely seen as well-dressed a crowd or fashion show, so you'll want to make sure you're there this year. 

Valentine's Dinner at Home Thanks to Civello's

Want to surprise your sweetheart with a homemade Valentine's Dinner rather than fighting the overpriced restaurant crowds, but you don't know how to cook? Do you know how to boil water? If so, Civello's Ravioli has you covered with their adorable heart-shaped stuffed pastas that have been tinted using red beets(just the tint, not beet flavored). They've got four different fillings, so whether your Sig-O prefers cheese or something more exciting, they have your dinner taken care of. Prices range from $10-$20 a dozen (lobster is more expensive then cheese, obviously).

Call 214-827-2989 for the current selections, visit them at http://civellosraviolismo.com/  or swing by the shop on Peak Street. Since you're saving all that money by staying in for dinner, go splurge on a good bottle of Italian wine at Jimmy's Food Store, just up the street.

Community Brewing is Turning 2!

One of Dallas' favorite and older local breweries is turning two this month and they're throwing themselves a party. The Sig-O and I went to the 1st anniversary party, so we have no doubt that this one will be even bigger and better. Word of advice - get your tickets online and early - you may be able to get in, but don't you want the cool glass and first crack and the special oaked/aged beers or small batch releases? Get your tickets already. It's the best $25 you'll spend this week.

Southwest's Free Concert Celebrating the End of Wright!

Planning your weekend? Southwest Airlines is celebrating the end of the Wright Amendment and the Freedom to Fly with a FREE Sunday concert starting at 2 p.m. featuring Robert Early Keen, Jack Ingram and more at Klyde Warren Park. Get all the deets here.

Checking Out the Best State Fair of Texas Discounts

Supposedly some people still pay full price admission to the State Fair of Texas ($17 for GA and $13 for seniors and kids under 48 inches). That means a family of four is easily looking at $60 just for entry(not including parking, but we recommend taking DART). The good news is there are plenty of discounts you can get for admission. Here are the best discounts available for the State Fair of Texas:

·         Buy your tickets in advance

o   Online - Meh, you’ll only save $2 for GA and $1 for seniors/kids when you buy them at BigTex.com, but then you’ll pay almost $9 in shipping. Nevermind.

o   Kroger – You can buy GA tickets there for $15.50, but they don’t offer the senior or kids ones.

·         Season Passes – If you plan going to the State Fair at least three times (and we assume your cardiologist has given you a refill of your Lipitor), buy a season pass. For just $39.95 you’ll get your season pass, plus a one-day free guest ticket and free rides on the Texas Sky Way and Top o’ Texas Tower during special season pass event. Buy this one at Kroger to save $5.

·         North Texas Food Bank Deals – This one is always good for a great deal that helps people in our community. All food and drinks will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank.

o   Opening Day – Bring a full 20-ounce Dasani or Coca-Cola product and get in for $6. Everyone in your party needs to bring their own.

o   Wednesdays – Bring at least three cans of food on a Wednesday and you’ll get in for $3. Again, everybody needs to bring their own three cans.

·         Senior Deals – Ah, the luxury of getting older – Seniors get into the Fair for $4 off every day. AND, every Thursday is Senior Day, so those folks get in for FREE!

·         Dr Pepper Deals – Each person who brings and empty Dr Pepper can gets $5 admission on Tuesdays or $8 admission after 5 p.m. any day.

·         Coca-Cola Thursday – Bring an empty 20-ounce bottle any Thursday and get it for $6.

·         McDonald’s Coupons – Check your tray liner or bag for State Fair coupons. They’ve got ones that can save $3 off GA admission and $7 discounts for kids.

·         KISS-FM Fridays – Visit the KISS-FM site to print a coupon for each member of your group to get $5 off GA tickets.

·         Group Tickets – If you’ve got at least 20 people, you’ll start seeing the discounts rack up. But going to the fair with 20 other people in the group is going to make it hard to decide which ride to go on next.

***BONUS***

Discount on Midway rides – Tuesdays are a great day to go to the fair. You can get your $5 Dr Pepper ticket, plus all rides (except thrill rides and the Texas Star) are only six coupons! If you like going for the rides, this can be a big saver for you.

Restaurant Week Report: Canary By Gorgi

I have to share that we had the most delightful dinner at Canary By Gorgi on Saturday night. We hadn’t been there before, but after looking at Chef Gorgi’s RW menu, and knowing we could cross another off on our quest to eat at all 100 of the D Magazine Top 100 restaurants (we’re at 84 thank-you-very-much), we happily pointed our car north to Addison.

The 4^th course was actually the 1^st course, and was a poached shrimp on a grilled avocado with a puttanesca sauce. The warm tomato sauce and shrimp came together so well with the cooled avocado. We knew that if the rest of dinner was like this, we were certainly in for a treat.

I then had the seared sea scallops, which had a delightful gazpacho salad with them. What a welcome change to have a gazpacho salad rather than the usual, and often not done well, gazpacho soup. The Sig-O loved the escargot. Again, a welcome change being served in a Mediterranean pomodoro sauce rather than the usual garlic butter.

While I’m normally not a steak during RW person, the side of gnocchi with valdeon cream sauce convinced me to try the filet. So glad I did, as this is one of the places in town you can count on to cook your steak to the perfect temperature. When you ask for medium rare, that truly is what comes out, not the more medium pink that many places pass off as MR. The Sig-O was quite pleased with the lamb T-bone and grilled quail, “Wait, I get both.” Yes, it was quite the plate, and proof that Chef Gorgi knows how to treat RW diners right. When the table gets suddenly quiet after the entrees are brought, that is generally a good sign. We both agreed that this was one of the better RW menus we experienced.

But wait, there’s more! Desserts were the chocolate liqueur cake and the date and Turkish kefir butterfly. What a wonderful flavor juxtaposition we had with those two – chocolate cake was dark deep chocolate with a sweeter icing, while the butterfly was beautifully tart and well complemented by the sweeter date. Chocolate and kefir, what an interesting finish to our meal.

After so many years of RW and countless delicious meals, it’s so refreshing to see Chef Gorgi still embracing Restaurant Week and the cause behind it. More importantly, with his charming demeanor and delicious food, he’s enticed new customers to come back to his lovely little Addison gem. I know we’ve already decided to go back for our anniversary this fall, if not sooner.