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I'm so behind on my posts... I almost don't want to do them anymore. Too many other things that take priority lately... mostly wedding planning. It's coming up in 3.5 months! Eeeeks!! So much to do still.
I thought I'd post about the really important places that happened in the last few months. :)
We start with the wonderful pies from Kessler Pie Co. They make all their pies and desserts from scratch. It's never frozen. They're currently offering pick up and delivery only. But they've recently announced that they are opening a store front soon!! Congrats to them. :) It'll be in Oak Cliff. Follow their Facebook page to get updates. And check their website for pricing and delivery options.
Kessler Pie Co.
Oak Cliff
(469) 877-6800
www.kesslerpieco.com
I got my lovely delivery in December. They were so sweet to drive all the way out to Rockwall and hand deliver these. I felt so special! I got an assortment of mini pies in jars and one in a standard sized jar. They were super cute!
All the pies were great. I especially loved that flaky salty sweet pie crust on some of the flavors. Some I did close ups...
The Mellow Yellow (hand spun vanilla custard, banana, vanilla whipped topping, salty-sweet crust). Loved the crust, wished there was more banana. But this was a sample size jar so I assume the normal size will have much more fruit.
Apple Cranberry (granny smith apples, cranberries, house herb mix, salty-sweet nutmeg and cinnamon infused crust). Warmed it up in the microwave for a few seconds and it was oozing over!! Yaasss! Sweet and tangy. If you like tart, this is for you.
Banana Nut Bread. Nice and moist. Pretty standard banana bread. But that little jar was loaded with nuts!
BP214 (cubes of bread and raisins soaked in coquito cream). I always love bread pudding, but I think I also like the crispy edges when you bake them in a pan better. This was good, and the raisins were super plump, but no crispy texture.
Cherry Cream Cheese (graham cracker crust, sweet cream cheese filling, country red cherries). My fiance loves cherries and absolutely loved this one. I let him have most of it cuz I'm nice. haha. :P
The Coco Loco (hand spun vanilla custard, coconut shavings). I'm not a fan of shredded coconut so this wasn't one of my favorites. But again... awesome crust.
Blue Magic (graham cracker crust, fluffy cream cheese, blueberries) #1 Seller. This was in the regular jar size. I can see why this is their number one. It was my favorite as well. The mixture of the blueberries and cream cheese was fantastic. The cream cheese was super fluffy... like a really light cheese cake. Yum!! Not to mention the gorgeous color.
What a nice treat to kick us off into the holiday season. Thanks to Kessler Pie Co. for sharing some of their creations with me. And I'm loving this new dessert in jars trend. Much easier (and cleaner) to eat than a cupcake. hehe.
*Note: I received the pies for free. But these are my honest opinions.
Overall Experience:
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I kinda wrote this out of order... but oh wellz.
For NYE Eve, my fiance and I went to Roy's... our favorite place for special occasions. :) Also because they recently put out a new prix fixe menu which sounded awesome! We already had plans for NYE to eat dinner with my parents, so this was our fancy night out.
Roy's - Plano
2840 Dallas Parkway
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 473-6263
www.roysrestaurant.com/locations/tx/plano
Price: $$$$+
We arrived early for our 6PM reservation... we're old farts.. I know. :P I prefer to eat dinner pretty early. The place was pretty packed when we got there. So he went to the bar and hit up the happy hour while we waited for our table. Their hh goes until 6:30 or 7PM everyday. :)
Soon we got seated. Our waitress was super nice, as usual. We rarely have bad service here. And we already knew what we wanted to order.
We got the normal edamame with shichimi for the table. But they also brought out some compliments from the kitchen: Fried Duck Dumplings.
Oooooo! Amuse-bouches are not standard here... although I've had a few since I've been there so much. The plate was so cute! The outside was fried nicely and the inside was creamy and rich. It was a good little bite. :)
We came here to try the new Creative Northeast Asia Prix Fixe menu. The 3 course meal is $36.95~ (not including tax or tip).
We started with the Grilled Filet Mignon Yakitori (shoyu, cucumber, yuzu kosho).
It was a pretty big appetizer I thought. And although I found the meat to be a little underseasoned, it was sooooo tender. I was about to cut it with a knife, but it was completely unnecessary. Super super tender!!
Pumpkin Seed Crusted Ahi (kabocha squash dumplings, bok choy, citrus emulsion).
The plating was very pretty and colorful...but not a big portion. The tuna was fresh and I liked the pumpkin seed crust. The kabocha dumplings were pretty good, similar to gnocchi in texture I'd say. But the plate lacked seasoning overall. It was very light in taste. I wish there was more sauce than that little smear in the middle of the plate. However, my fiance had a genius plan. He asked for extra wasabi cream sauce that they use in the Misoyaki Butterfish (which I ordered for myself) and it was awesome. That sauce can go on anything! The manager came over at one point and we got to chatting and he actually said he's put that sauce on mashed potatoes before! Sounds divine!
Apple Tasting (five spice cake, bruleed apples, apple gelee, caramel sauce).
Since we got a dessert with the prix fixe, we didn't order another one. When the waitress brought it, I was like "whoa!" It's a pretty big cake! And it was very pretty, I loved the different types of apple chips, bruleed apples, and apple skin? on top. She did say the skin was more for decoration... may not be good to eat. We both really liked the bruleed apples with the crunchy layer of burnt sugar on top. I also really liked the gelee and sauce, gave the cake the moisture it desperately needed. I can totally taste the five spice and I liked the flavors overall, but the cake itself was too dry. And there wasn't enough sauce to make it better. I think a bit more caramel sauce, maybe a few dollops of whipped cream would work wonders. Or even better... a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Mmmm. Just a thought. :P
Of course I got the Misoyaki "Butterfish" (Alaskan Black Cod, baby bok choy, furikake rice) $34.60~ It's my absolute favorite, can never go wrong. The fish was melt in your mouth tender. And the sauce is always amaze-balls and the green is gorgeous on the plate. Thumbs wayyy up!
Ohh.. and the cherry on top... the couple in the table next to ours gave us a $25 off coupon as they were leaving. They got 2 in the mail and said one was to give to a "friend". Thanks friends!! It definitely made our night even better. :)
Another great meal. Everyone was so friendly, the food was good.... my butterfish still trumps all! Can't wait to go back again. Maybe I'll try something new next time... haha.
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
*EDIT 11-4-14*
I went back to Emporium Pies yesterday. I had an appointment in McKinney, so I met my ex-boss for lunch at Harvest. I was really full, but I happened to park right in front of Emporium Pies so I HAD to go in. I HAD TO! XP It was calling to me. And then I found out they had wifi, so I was able to sit in there and do some work.
I ordered a hot tea first, hoping I could digest some of my lunch and then get a piece of pie. 2 hours later... I was still incredibly full. So I got a slice of pie to go.
Smooth Operator (french silk chocolate filling in a salty pretzel crust) $5~
This would be the 5th flavor out of their line-up of 7 flavors that I've tried. I took one bite before I popped it into the fridge at home. It was so rich and decadent. The French silk chocolate was so smooth (hence the name). Definitely needs a cup of milk, a scoop of ice cream or some tea. I liked the pretzel crust a lot. The hint of saltiness helps to balance out the rich chocolate filling. YUM! But I don't know if I can eat the whole slice in one sitting. hehe.
Next time I'm going to try the Nannerz... bananas with vanilla custard! :)
Oh.. I do wish they have a bell or something at the register because at one point I waited a long time before someone came out. I needed their wifi password!
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I was so excited when I found out Emporium Pies was opening a second location. But they chose McKinney, which is still so far from me. Oh well, I'll take whatever I can get. They're that good. At least this way whether I'm in the north or south of Dallas, I can get some pie! :P
Emporium Pies - McKinney
107 S. Tennessee St.
McKinney, TX 75069
(214) 491-1577
http://emporiumpies.com/
Price: $
As soon as I reserved our painting class in downtown McKinney, I immediately decided I will get some pies to go and have it during class. I'm excited! It's been almost a year and half since I've been to the original one in Bishop Arts. I've never been a huge pie person, but theirs is legit. All the pies are homemade and has no artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, dyes or corn syrup.
I jetted out of dinner and went to get some pie while my fiance and other friends went to check in at the painting class. There was a line at Emporium Pies. Not surprised, but I was in a hurry so I was really anxious. I could see the ladies behind the counter cutting slices of pies feverishly. It was nonstop and there were stacks of pies and to go containers everywhere. And I loved their packaging for the to go orders. Little wooden baskets tied in string with a wooden spoon.
So homey and cute, just like their shop decor. The one in Bishop Arts is in a renovated old house. The one in McKinney is just a storefront but it's decorated in the same manner so when you step in, you get the same feeling.
I got a bunch to go, cuz when's the next time I'll be back?? The main one I really wanted to try was the Drop Dead Gourdgeous (gingersnap crust and pumpkin custard filled with cinnamon cloves and spice) $5~
I saw a picture of it on instagram last holiday season and I've been dreaming about it ever since. haha. I dug into it first chance I had while in class. It was so good. Probably one of the most flavorful pumpkin pies I've ever had. Whatever their blend of spices are, it packs a punch! The crust was flaky and buttery. I wish I had some tea, this would've been good with it.
Cloud 9 (house made caramel on the bottom, creamy butterscotch custard in the middle, toasted brown sugar meringue at the top) $5~ (Sorry, forgot to get a picture!) This is a seasonal flavor that's only available in the fall. I got this for my fiance cuz he loves butterscotch. It was really rich and quite sweet. Definitely needed milk or tea. But it was good. The filling was a little too runny for my preferences but he loved it, which is most important since I got it for him. :)
I also got the Lord of the Pies (apples baked in hand-made caramel and topped with a crispy cinnamon streusel in a buttery, flaky crust) $6~
One whole pie contains 10 apples! It is a mega apple pie, hence the extra dollar. It pretty much filled up the whole container! Tons of apples, baked to the right texture. Not too mushy but not too hard and crunchy either. The streusel was great. I wish there was a little more. If you love apple pie, give this one a try.
Buttercream Gang (classic buttermilk pie in a shortbread crust) $5~
I got this one for me, for later. I had a buttermilk pie the first time at Emporium Pies and it was pretty awesome. I ate this the next day and it was still good. The buttermilk filling is dense but I didn't think it was too sweet. I like sturdier pies, the one's with the super runny, fruity centers is usually not my thing. I liked the filling a lot but thought the crust was a bit dry. Not sure if that's due to being out overnight but it wasn't as good as I remembered. I ate this one with a cup of tea and it was great.
There are still flavors I haven't tried there yet. Definitely looking forward to those. They have one with bananas. If I wasn't taking them to go, I would've tried that one. Best pies in town, go check them out! :)
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
Recently I got a recommendation for a crepe place in Frisco. I haven't gone to the Frisco area for a while now and I don't really know what new places popped up. I happened to schedule a dinner last Friday night with 2 of my friends so I suggested we go try Chef in Blue.
Chef in Blue
4710 Preston Road, Suite 312
Frisco, TX 75034
(469) 252-0486
http://chefinblue.com/
Price: $
It's located in a strip mall. Just look for Cedars Woodfire Grill when turning in. It's a small cafe type restaurant. Not too fancy on the decor but I did like all the large pictures of their food. Everything looked delicious. I was the first to arrive so I was looking over the menu. The guy at the register was very friendly and made some suggestions and answered my questions. I was told that the had a pumpkin crepe that wasn't on the menu so I asked him about it. It sounds like it's a new addition and they might put it on the menu soon? As you know, I'm obsessed with pumpkin so I already decided that was going to be my dessert. :P
Everything looked good on the menu. It was very hard to make a decision... We all got different things. Yay! More stuff for me to try. haha.
Specialty Crepes:
Latina (baked chicken, ham, spinach, pineapples, mozzarella, honey Dijon dressing) $8.75~ Their crepes are huge!! Completely stuffed with fresh ingredients. My friends really liked this one. It was good, but I didn't care for the honey dijon dressing. I liked the other crepe better.
Savory Crepes:
Spinach, Potatoes, Mushroom, and Cheese Crepe (with choice of cheese) $6.80~ Plus Ham +$1.90~ My other friend ordered this. He ended up liking the Latina better. I liked this one better... especially the cubes of potatoes in there. It's like a breakfast crepe almost. Again, stuffed to the brim. My friend finished it, but he was pretty full after.
Chef Combos:
Sandwich or Panini/Salad Combo (1/2 sandwich or panini with a small garden salad) $5.75~ I got the Roast Beef Chimichurri Panini (choice of white or multigrain ciabata with Swiss cheese, roasted beef, chimichurri sauce, fresh tomato and mayonnaise).
I chose the multigrain and also added spinach in there. I knew I was getting dessert so I wanted to keep it light. It was just the right amount. I loved the panini. The multigrain had extra texture from the grains/seeds in the bread. It was pressed nicely where the outside had a crunch. The ingredients were all fresh. I didn't really taste the chimichurri, which was my main reason for getting this, but it didn't even matter. It was delicious. I was actually getting full after this.
We got 2 Dessert Crepes between the 3 of us:
Pumpkin Pie Crepe (pumpkin pie filling, cinnamon, whipped cream, topped with ice cream) $7.75~
This was yummy. And quite big as well. Not as big as the savory crepes though. The first few bites along the edges I didn't get much of the pumpkin, but the middle was filled with it. The pumpkin had so much flavor. The added cinnamon and ice cream was the perfect pairing. One of my friends didn't care for pumpkin so he didn't really have any of this. My other friend was too full, so I think I ate about 3/4ths of this myself. XP AND I ate part of theirs!
Apple Cinnamon (brown sugar, fresh apples, caramel,topped with whipped cream) $7.75~ Plus ice cream +$1~ This was pretty good. The apples were cooked down a little so they're softer to eat with the crepe which was good. I liked my pumpkin one better but both were good.
We were all so stuffed after. It's a lot of food! And all so yummy. The quality of the ingredients were all nice and fresh. It wasn't really heavy either. We just overstuffed ourselves. haha. The service was really great too. You order at the counter and they bring it out to you, but during the course of our meal, they came out to check on us, ask how the food is, etc. I will definitely be back in the future. Go check them out! Help them stay in business!! And thanks to my friend for the recommendation! :)
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This past Saturday my bf's parents were in town so he wanted to take them to Bin 303 in Rockwall for an early Mother's Day dinner. I've been there once before. I really liked the decor... homey, rustic yet still nice.
Bin 303
105 Olive Street
Rockwall, Texas 75087
(972) 771-5303
http://www.bin303.com
Price: $$$-$$$$
The first time I went, it was ok. I liked the decor and ambiance a lot but wasn't super impressed with the food (I think also cuz I wasn't very hungry that day..). But there are a lot of other options on the menu that sounded delicious.
Our waiter was really friendly and welcoming. It's definitely not a pretentious place. :)
Soup of Butternut Squash (butternut squash, onions, herbs, wine and lemon, topped with 303 pesto) Cup for $5~ My bf ordered this for his parents to try. We've had it before already... They loved it. The color was so vibrant and they enjoyed the pesto on top.
When our waiter gave us the specials... this sounded amazing. He also told us that there weren't that many pieces left so we really had to lock one down!! haha.
Special of the Day: Panko Crusted Chilean Seabass (7 oz. sea bass with panko and herb crust with green beans, grilled tomatoes, roasted red pepper cream sauce) $32~
I got this. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I think one of the best preparations of fish I've had in a long time! The sea bass was cooked perfectly, so tender and juicy. The herb/panko crust was my favorite. It was full of flavor and crispy from beginning to end. The green beans were still crisp and paired well with the tender fish. And I loved the red pepper cream sauce. They even gave me a little cup with extra sauce!! I want to go back and get the same dish again. NOW!! So freaking delicious!! Of course that was my favorite dish of the night. haha.
I have to just go ahead and rate this specific dish:
Grilled Texas Redfish (Palacios, TX redfish blackened, topped with grilled tomatoes and jalapeno relish on a bed of lemon pepper vegetables - zucchini, squash, green beans, red bell pepper, red onion) $23~
His mom ordered this. It was a nice big portion. The fish was cooked well, but in all honesty, I don't remember how it tasted after I had a bite of mine. hahaha. Everyone sampled it and enjoyed it though.
Standard Steak (house seasoned wood-fired steak, grilled, topped with roasted jalapeno butter paired with jalapeno twice baked potato) $34~
His dad ordered this. Which was one of the items I was looking at before I heard the special... Jalapeno butter.. that just sounded yummy! The twice baked potato was different. I liked it a lot because it had a nice crust on top. I didn't taste much jalapeno but it was still really good. The steak was pretty good. He ordered it medium, which it was... (I prefer med rare).
Pepper Crusted Steak (pepper dusted wood-fire steak, grilled, topped with burgundy mushrooms paired with crab mac n cheese and cognac cream sauce) $39~
My bf got this, mainly because of the crab mac n cheese... or that was MY reason at least. hahaha. The mac n cheese was good and it was the first to be inhaled. :P The steak was ordered med rare but turned out to be more on the medium sized. And not enough pepper crust on the outside in my opinion. I liked the mushrooms and cream sauce more than the steak. And it seemed like he preferred his dad's steak more and vice versa. haha. Half way through they decided to switch plates.
The entrees were all good, but after my sea bass, I didn't really want any of the other ones. :P
Everyone enjoyed the food and were very content.
Last time we were too full to get dessert so I made sure I had room this time!
Salted Caramel Pot de Creme (with whipped cream and crushed pretzels) $8~
His parents ordered this. Which was also my choice. So of course I got to sample! I'm normally not a huge fan of salted caramel but this was really good. The pot de creme was rich and creamy and smooth. It had just enough salt and the pretzels added a nice and much needed crunch. I liked this dessert better.
Apple Crisp (slow-cooked oven tart, topped with vanilla bean ice cream) $8~
This item takes about 15 minutes to make so if you are more in a rush, make sure you put in the order earlier. We were in no hurry so we ordered it after our entrees. We got this one cuz the bf wanted it. It looked awesome when it was served. Freshly out of the oven, it was steaming! I really liked the crumble topping. And I like anything a la mode! But I wanted more apples and more ice cream!! The ice cream melted way too quickly. haha. Still yummy though. Just gotta eat fast!
It was a fantastic meal! Much better than the first time I went. And I can't stop thinking of that sea bass!! Good food and good company, I think his parents really enjoyed it. It was a good early Mother's Day. :)
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
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