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Happy New Year Everyone!
Initially I wanted to do a "CHOMP! 2017 Top 5 Best Eats" until I started going through all my pictures and realized there's NO way I can narrow it down to just 5! I mean, c'mon! I've had wayyyy too much good food this year! So now I've split up between Sweet vs Savory, and it's going to be CHOMP! “Top 10” Best Eats. Hehe. :P (And letting y'all in on a secret... I chose "10" because that's the max number of photos I can include on a single post on Instagram. hahaha. All for the gram, amiright?)
First up! The Savory! I chose these places, some for really obvious reason likes "I go there, literally, once a week", and others because it was just very memorable. And tbh I often don't remember what I ate 2 days ago because it's almost always something new and different. haha.
I don't really want to rank these because they are all fantastic in my book, so I will list them by how often I visit them.
1. Pōk (West Village).
I mean... are you even surprised?! I basically went 1-2 times a week for a good 6 months straight. I literally have 20+ folders on my computer of photos from every visit. I freaking love this place and I actually crave it. They have the BEST poke bowls imo, plus the best matcha drinks… My favorite being the Matcha x Coco. I always build my own bowl.
Here's my go-to combination:
- Base: Bamboo Rice + Kelp Zucchini Slaw
- Protein: Salmon
- Sauce: Spicy Ponzu
- Toppings: Edamame, Kale (no longer on the menu, so I switched to Napa Cabbage), Pickled Ginger, Crispy Onions
- Premium Toppings (+$1): Avocado and/or Seaweed Salad
I rarely deviate from this. It's just TOO good! And guess what? I just had it for lunch today!
2. Pōk the Raw Bar (West Village).
I only had the chance to sit in front of Chef Jimmy Park twice at the 5 seater raw bar. I'm sad he's not at Pok anymore... it was definitely the best sushi experience I've ever had other than when I was in Japan. The Omakase/"chef tasting" was freaking amazing. I got to try many things I've never had before. I anxiously await what he's working on next.
3 & 4. Commissary (Downtown).
This place only opened back in November but is already one of my favorite spots. I started going there weekly as well and each visit would cost me around $50 because I just wanted to buy everything! XD Also, most of the time I’m there by myself so I get a lot of stares from other people. It's just me... and a whole table of food. haha. This takes spot 3 and 4 because I love their Rigatoni (pork sugo, parmesan) and their Pulled Pork Sandwich (slaw, pickles, chipotle BBQ) is the BEST I've ever had, no joke.
5. Oni Ramen (Deep Ellum).
I've only been to this location, which is his second. This location only opened back in Sept but I've been there at least 5+ times already. Each time I go, I take new people because it's so good I have to tell everyone! BEST ramen in Dallas, hands down. All the different broths are super flavorful without being super salty. And most of the bowls come standard with a ton of toppings, you rarely have to add anything else, so it's more affordable than a lot of other ramen spots. My current favorite? The Rich Tonkotsu, plus a soft boiled egg. Yum! If you want even MORE flavor? Get the Kyushu Tonkotsu (with black garlic oil).
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| That pork belly tho.... |
6. North Italia (Legacy West).
I freaking love the entire Legacy West center. All the eateries there are fantastic. But I have a weakness for pasta and North Italia has got that down! Every single pasta dish I've had there has been on point. One of my favorites being the Short Rib Radiatori (parmesan cream, fresh horseradish, wilted arugula, herbed breadcrumb). The name for the pasta is just like it's shape! Like an old style radiator! haha. But seriously, can't go wrong with ANY of their pastas.
7. Haywire (Legacy West).
I told y'all I loved this area. Haywire is one of the newest additions, only opened at the end of November. The newest member under Front Burner Restaurants who also own winners such as Sixty Vines, Whiskey Cake, The Ranch in Las Colinas, and more! I was immediately impressed walking in. 3 stories high, each floor is decked out in unique Texas decor, and they have a killer patio (and an Airstream) on the 3rd floor. Not to mention the people here are so nice, I felt so welcomed. And the food? Amazing! My favorite dish right now is the TX Whiskey BBQ Baby Back Ribs... it's off the bone tender and comes with the 2 best sides they have... the mac n cheese and the cornbread. OH the cornbread! It's amazing. I will always order one for myself. They're only a buck each! It's absolutely my favorite thing there. In the span of 3 weeks, I went 3 times. Did I mention that it's about an hour drive for me from home to Legacy West? Worth it!
8. City Hall Bistro (The Adolphus Hotel).
Probably one of the most gorgeous spaces I've seen this year. It's hidden inside the newly renovated, and so beautiful, Adolphus hotel. The food is killer and unique. They change up their menu though so my favorite item is no longer on there... Atayef (savory Lebanese pancake, duck confit, pear, black garlic aioli). But that's ok, because everything else on the menu is also amazing. Pasta game is strong!
9. Mudhen Meat & Greens (Dallas Farmers Market).
I was obsessed with this place for a while. Their food is healthy yet tasty and filling. I don't go as often as I'd like because their weekend brunch gets pretty packed so I have to plan ahead and make reservations. My favorite brunch dish here is the New English Breakfast (two eggs, applewood bacon, chicken sausage, sweet potato mash, roasted heirloom tomato, toast, and dressed arugula). So many colors, flavors, and textures on this plate. And it's pretty healthy too. I never feel heavy or overly full after leaving here.
10. Edith's French Bistro (Mockingbird Station)
This is a hidden gem. I never used to go to Mockingbird Station much because there wasn't a whole lot, but I'm loving this new addition. First of all, one of the CUTEST places, decor wise. And secondly, the food is bomb! I've only been there 3 times but I haven't had anything bad. I especially love their sandwiches. I've gotten a different one on each visit. My favorite being The Pastrami (apple fennel sauerkraut, avocado, white american cheese). I always get the Caesar salad as the side. So freaking good!! Also make sure you save room for dessert. They have a crepe station as well as several cases of cakes and pastries on display.
So many other great restaurants and dishes in 2017... I wish I could include them all. It took me several hours today to finally get it down to 10! And here's to so much more deliciousness in 2018!!!
I'll be posting the Sweets tomorrow! Stay tuned! :)
~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
Haywire opened at Legacy West in Plano just 2 weeks ago. Being part of the restaurant group that brought us Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, Ida Claire, and more... this place was definitely on my radar. My husband and I happened to be in Plano on the 2nd night of opening so I quickly snagged a reservation.
*Now open for Lunch and Dinner. Brunch will start Christmas weekend!*
Haywire - Legacy West
5901 Winthrop St. Suite 110
Plano, TX 75024
(972) 781-9473
http://haywirerestaurant.com/
Price (dinner): $$$+
Y'all... this place is amazing!! My husband was caught in traffic so I explored the place while waiting for him. THREE floors completely decked out in awesome decor. Definitely a very western/Texas theme, but each floor had its own vibe. Also, a bar on every floor! The rooftop is extra awesome, complete with a cabin-esque nook area to enjoy a game, and a full size Airstream! It's a fancy Airstream too, I would like to dine in there some time.
This place is huge! It's definitely going to be a popular spot when the weather is nice. So I was walking around just looking and taking pictures when I was greeted by the GM and the Director of Operations from Front Burner Restaurants. They just walked up and said hi! How nice! They informed me that they were having a complimentary wine tasting event and asked if I wanted some wine. I don't drink, but they guided me over there for some appetizers and cheese boards. Yay, free food! I sampled the Cornmeal Fried Texas Gulf Oyster and Fried Green Tomato (with Green Goddess dressing).
So good. I'm not a huge oyster fan but it was so good! And loved the fried green tomatoes. You must have the dressing! Btw... since I don't drink wine, the GM brought me a glass of water, himself! I felt so special!! :)
I was getting a little worried and feeling bad that we were so late for our reservation, however, they were so laid back and easy going. When my husband arrived, we even went and got him some free wine first before being seated. The main dining area is super cool. Dimly lit, and really nice decor. They have a sitting area with really cool chairs and a fireplace.
Our waiter, Oscar, came over to greet us. He was super nice! We noticed that it was Happy Hour and he helped to recommend some drinks. My husband got the Frozen Texas Tea (4 types of liquor; with sangria swirl) $5~ during HH.
This was a bigger glass than I expected. It was really yummy... did NOT feel like you were drinking that many different kinds of alcohol. But that's deadly right? My husband liked it so much he ordered a 2nd one, and that was one too many! He got quite tipsy towards the end of the meal. haha.
Happy Hour is M-F from 4-7PM. They have $5 apps and drinks. I highly recommend the Frozen Texas Tea. But have a DD! And... half priced wines every Sunday!
Mini Elk Tacos (spicy elk picadillo, caciotta cheese, grilled corn pico, cilantro crema, micro greens) $9.95~
We were also intrigued by the elk tacos from the HH menu, but they hadn't started food specials when we went. We got them anyways. So the meat is a elk and wagyu beef blend so it's not gamey at all. I was a little surprised it was a crispy taco... these days most people do soft corn tortillas (which I don't like). I liked the crispy taco shell. It was filled to the brim with meat. The toppings kept falling out. haha. A good problem to have. It was really good. I would've like some hot sauce but I just like spicy foods. hehe.
I asked Oscar about their cornbreads cuz a friend of mine had gone the day before and raved about them. I asked him because it's not on the menu... But yes, you can order them, and it's super cheap.
Buttery Cornbread. I think they're like $1~ each?
Can I get a dozen to go please! :P These were my favorite things of the night. They were perfection! Warm, fluffy, with slightly crispy edges. It was sweet yet had a slight heat to it. I wonder what kind of spice they used but it was very slight... you just get a hint of heat. Enough to make you wonder. Loved it. I can have this with my meal, or as dessert.
For the entrees, there were so many things we wanted. I ended up with the Mesquite Grilled Bone-in Pork Chop (warm farro and rainbow chard salad, smoked chili honey butter) $24.95~
Mainly because of the farro and chard salad... sounded yummy! Plus this was healthier than getting the mac and cheese. (Next time!) Really thick cut pork chop, perfectly tender. I ordered it medium and it was a little under. Since it's bone-in, it takes a little longer to cook through. I would suggest med-well for next time. Loved the flavors too. The farro salad was amazing and had this peppery-ness to it. I liked the bit of heat.
My husband went with the Double Cut Texas Wild Boar Chops (local oyster and shiitake mushrooms, butternut squash, cipollini onions, pan jus) $31.95~
The most tender boar everrr! We did notice that the veggies underneath did not include any of the mushrooms or onions so we brought it to Oscar's attention. He was able to get us a side dish of that. Ours just had brussels sprouts and butternut squash which also paired really well with the boar. I did wish the chops were bigger though. My husband inhaled his plate quickly.
We were pretty full. But I made sure to stop eating and take the rest of my entree to go because I wanted dessert. My husband regretted getting the 2nd drink because now he's way too full. haha. To our surprise, Oscar asked us if we wanted a slice of cake and it was going to be on the house. Well duh!! Bring it on! :P We chose the Chocolate Cake (with vanilla ice cream). Not sure how much the cake is since it was on the house! :)
It was a big slice of chocolate decadence. That ganache is amazing. We ended up taking more than half of the cake to go, but killed the ice cream. Tip: If you let the cake warm up a bit... it's even better!!
It was a fabulous dinner. Brian, the GM, came by and talked to us for a while. Another manager came by to greet us towards the end of the meal too. And Oscar was just a joy. We absolutely loved our experience and cannot wait to go back. We're already planning to visit again next week.. and bringing LOTS of friends. :D
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
Today is my 30th birthday. Man do I feel old! XP But in honor of today, the post will be about my bday dinner this past Saturday! And just so happens to also be my 450th post since CHOMP! started. :)
I wanted to have a big dinner with a bunch of friends. I had a guest list of over 30 people, and now I must find a venue!! Trust me, it's not easy finding a place to eat for a party over 20 people. But I called up one of my favorite restaurants in Dallas, Blue Plate Kitchen, and they immediately said they would love to take care of my group. Sweeeet! It's not hard to see why I love this place so much.
Rathbun's Blue Plate Kitchen
6130 Luther Lane
Dallas, TX 75225
(214) 890-1103
http://www.kentrathbun.com/blueplate/dallas
Price: $$$-$$$$
I spoke with one of the managers, Melissa, a week prior to the dinner and went over seating and menu options. I chose to just have everyone order a la carte from the full menu since everyone has their own preferences. I had the option to do a set menu though, that might be fun sometimes. She was super nice and accommodating and I was sure everything would be great. We had agreed on one long table and 2 smaller side tables since the group was so big. But when we got there on Saturday, they were able to fit everyone into the long table, and it wasn't cramped or anything! I was very happy with that.
We were warmly greeted as we walked in. A few people were already there and at the bar. With a group that size, you are bound to have late comers, but the restaurant never rushed us. We hung around at the bar for awhile and finally when most of the group arrived, we sat down. We had a waiter and waitress taking care of us. I found out our waitress had the same birthday as me! So happy birthday to her today as well. :)
They had just changed from the winter to spring menu earlier in the week. Just FYI.
You know the best thing about eating with a big group of people? The variety of dishes, which means LOTS OF PICTURES!! I went down the table and told everyone not to eat until I got a picture of every different dish. Bwahahaha! It's my birthday, I can do whatever I want right?? :P hehe. Fortunately, they served one side of the table earlier than the other, so no one was really sitting around for too long before I got a picture. You ready to drooool??
I always love their bread baskets. Homemade mini biscuits and cornbread madeleines. Comes with whipped cinnamon butter and housemade jam. Warm and buttery and soft, and we can get refills!! :P
There were quite a bit of cocktails floating around but this is one of ones we got. Deep Eddy (sweet tea vodka). If you like sweet tea, this is a good cocktail for you!
Appetizers:
Polenta Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes (thyme goat cheese, Round Rock ancho honey) $9~
I got to try a bite. I really liked the breading on the tomatoes. But I do not like goat cheese and definitely tasted some. If you like goat cheese, this will be a good app for you. My friends enjoyed it.
Crispy Calamari (sweet peppers, okra, black garlic aioli) $12~
Really good. Thick cut calamari so you can actually get the texture of the squid instead of just batter. It was fried nicely and I liked the pairing with the sweet peppers and aioli.
Wood Roasted Duck Confit Flatbread (orange marmalade, brie cheese, red grapes) $14~
We got this and it was delicious. I usually love their flatbreads. I'm surprised they took the cheesy bread off the menu actually. Everyone's always loved that. But the duck was tender, you can taste the brie and the sweetness with the duck was a great combo. I especially loved the arugula on top which added that pepperyness that contrasted the other flavors. The texture of the flatbread was also spot on. I'd totally eat this again.
Quinoa-Kale Salad (walnuts, THC blueberry balsamic) $14~ This is a half portion because they split the order for my 2 friends.
On to the Entrees:
Wood Roasted Texas Quail (cornbread waffle, fried Brussels, citrus syrup) $19~
My bf and I shared this because we also got a couple side dishes. It was really good. The quail was pretty small, but that's pretty standard. Our favorite was the fried Brussels sprouts. And with the citrus syrup it was sweet and savory and delicious. The waffle was nice and crisp on the outside and paired well with everything. The quail was actually my least favorite part about the dish but it was still very good. The meat was tender and the body was stuffed with something. That took me by surprise, but it was a good surprise!
Hickory Grilled Wagyu Burger (sharp white cheddar, crispy shallots, Madeira aioli) $15~
Several people in the group ordered this. It looked mighty impressive! However, I heard mixed reviews on this. One friend said it was cold, another few others said it was very heavy, and one said it was under seasoned. :( Guess it was just a bad day for the burger.
Herb Roasted Airline Chicken Breast (wilted spinach, roasted carrots, apricot glaze) $18~
This looked like a really healthy dish. But was tasty too from what I heard. The apricot glaze was a nice touch apparently. They had messed up a friend's order of this, but I thought the restaurant handled it really well. They ended up giving a few other dishes to my friends and comped their entire meal. With a huge group like this, mistakes are inevitable, but I was impressed with the way they fixed things. :)
Beeman Ranch Chicken Fried Steak (green beans, carrot puree, jalapeno gravy) $23~ This looked yummy. And everyone who had it said it was good.
Gramma Minnie's Fried Chicken (cream cheese roasted garlic mashers, maple gravy) $24~
This was the one dish I was highly recommending to everyone. I've never had a bad version of this. The chicken is always super juicy and fried to perfection. I'd say it was the most ordered item on the menu and everyone loved it!! It's a lot of food too! I got to try the mashers this time and it is addicting!! The maple gravy was sinful, I can drink it... haha. I kept eating it off of my friend's plate. :P LOL!
Niman Ranch Pork Chop (white hominy grits, root beer demi) $26~ I think I've had this in the past? Not sure, but my friend said it was really good.
Chef's Seasonal Fish (stir fried veggies, Jasmine rice, ginger-soy butter) $26~? The fish was Mahi Mahi and the veggies were cauliflower. This looked really good and healthy too. Those who ordered it said they really liked it.
Five Spiced Big Eye Tuna (bamboo rice, fried avocado, wasabi cream) $29~
This was my other choice, but we didn't get it. I did get to try a bite of the rice from a friend's. It was slightly green and infused with wasabi!!! Now I really wish I had ordered this. I LOVE wasabi. haha. One friend really loved it too, another didn't know the wasabi was going to be in the rice and that was a bit much for her. They also both said they wanted more of the wasabi cream sauce.
Pan Seared Diver Scallops (house pork jowl, English pea risotto) $31~ Really beautiful dish. The colors of the risotto against the red/orange sauce was very pretty. Looked yummy too!
Ribeye 10oz. Center Cut Bone-In (grilled asparagus, pink peppercorn butter) $38~
My sister got this. She's not a fan of sweet and savory so her options were pretty limited since almost every dish had a sweet element to it. However, there was a balsamic reduction on the steak which was sweet so she was kind of disappointed. She said they should note that on the menu. I tried a bite of the steak though and it was cooked well.
Shrimp & Grits. This was the Blue Plate Special of the day. I think it was either $26 or $30. Very pretty colors!
Sides:
House Bacon-Balsamic Brussels Sprouts $8~
Gotta order Brussels sprouts anytime they're on the menu! Yum! Tender, flavorful, and lots of chunks of bacon. Although my bf and I both liked the fried Brussels sprouts on the quail dish even better.
Sauteed Baby Bok Choy $8~ We also got this. I really liked it. It had a lot of flavor.(This was half eaten btw... I forgot to take a pic at the beginning...)
Parmesan White Truffle Fries $8~ Didn't try it this time, but I've had it before.
Crab & English Pea Mac n' Cheese $10~
My friend got this, and I loved it. I couldn't stop eating it. And just so happens it was the same friend who had the mashers I was taking too. hahaha. I think I ate half the mac n' cheese myself. It was cheesy yet not saucy. I'm not a fan of the "wet" mac n' cheese that swim in cheese sauce. This was perfect for me. Al dente pasta, a little bit of veggies, that nice char on the top. MMmmmmm! :)
Dessert:
Most people were too full after dinner so only a handful of us got dessert.
They gave me a dessert on the house for my birthday. Yay! I chose Chef's Bread Pudding (warm rum sauce, Henry's ice cream) $8~
It was chocolate banana-bread bread pudding. I was already leaning towards this but as soon as I heard it was made from banana bread? Sold!! It was a big size too, sitting in a pool of rum sauce. So delicious. The bread pudding was warm and soft, but not overly mushy. You can definitely taste the bananas. I just wanted more ice cream! hehe. Definitely a recommendation.
Chocolate Lava Cake (cinnamon sugar churros, house made ice cream) $8~ Didn't see any lava, but the cake itself was smooth and rich, very very good. The churros were playful and fried well.
BPK's Banana Split (strawberry panna cotta, peanut butter crumble, bruleed banana) $8~ This was interesting. I would've never thought panna cotta in banana split form. haha. Very pretty dessert.
Creme Brulee (seasonal berries) $8~ Biggest creme brulee ever! Compare that to the one we got at Roy's the day before... it's over twice the size!
We had a fantastic time. I know I always enjoy my visits to Blue Plate Kitchen. And I'm so happy that people enjoyed the food (for the most part). More importantly, they all enjoyed the dishes I recommended! hehe. The waiter and waitress did a great job, they were attentive and split the checks for everyone without problems. We were the last group to leave the restaurant and yet they didn't ever make us feel like we needed to rush out of there. I always feel so welcomed and comfortable here. I'm glad they helped me celebrate this special occasion. Special thanks to the managers Dennis and Melissa, our two waiters, and everyone else that took care of us throughout the night. I will definitely be back and will continue to recommend Blue Plate Kitchen to others. And thanks to all my friends who came out to hang out with me! I feel loved. :D
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
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