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It's the last day of 2017!! Hope your year was as sweet as mine. Here's my "Top 10 Sweet Bites" for the year. It was pretty hard to narrow it down. Y'all know I lurrrv my desserts.
These are not ranked btw... I love them all. But I've definitely have some more than others. And SERIOUSLY craving some right now...
- Starbucks Reserve (Legacy West).
This place has made me like coffee. Even if the coffee is topped with a scoop of ice cream. haha. :P The House Affogato from Starbucks Reserve is delicious. And I'm obsessed with this place. I love sitting at the bar so I can watch the baristas demo the siphon coffee. One of these days I'll have to go to one of their workshops! Also fantastic... the Cold Brew Malt... basically a coffee milkshake - Cold Brew, 2 scoops of ice cream, Starbucks' malt powder.
- Bisous Bisous Patisserie (West Village).
I've definitely spent a lot of time in West Village this year. Between Pok and the Summer Sammie pop ups from Bisous Bisous, it's like I lived there. I went almost every weekend they were available. Warm and flaky croissant waffles made to order with seasonal ice cream flavors sandwiched in the middle. So yummy!
- Val's Cheesecakes (Maple Ave, Lower Greenville).
Best cheesecakes ever. I definitely ate A LOT of his cheesecakes this year, include TWO whole ones. They make a great addition to any special occasion and he can do anything you want in his custom creations. My all time favorite... the Classic Blueberry. I still have a few jars in my fridge, better go get those now!
- Everett & Elaine (Legacy Food Hall & Dallas Farmers Market)
I first stumbled upon E&E earlier this year at the Dallas Farmers Market. They makes some of the most delicious looking desserts and pastries. But since they've opened their stall inside the Legacy Food Hall, I've discovered my favorite thing there. The Tiramisu Cotton Cheesecake. It's an Asian style (super fluffy) cheesecake with a decadent tiramisu topping. It's on a whole different level. You cannot compare it with anything else. Every single person that I've recommended it to has loved it.
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| Photo by @_rachelann_ |
- Commissary (Downtown).
Again, one of my favorite places this year. They have a gorgeous dessert display and so far everything I've tried is good. However, the first thing I had there, the Triple Chocolate Eclair, remains one of my favorites. It's like a Ferrero Rocher, which is one of my favorite candies. Plus it's fancy.
- North Italia (Legacy West).
Again, one of my favorite spots this year. Make sure you make room for dessert after all those amazing pastas. Their Tiramisu is probably one of the best I've had to date. Rich espresso flavor and cream, lots of chocolates, and the crunchy chocolate balls totally makes it.
- Tommy Bahama (Legacy West).
I didn't even know TB had restaurants until I went to the Legacy West grand opening. The decor is so festive and the food is quite fantastic. But... their desserts are definitely the star. One of the prettiest desserts I've had this year... and definitely the BEST creme brulee ever, imo. Their Pineapple Creme Brulee is baked inside an actual pineapple!! So bright and fun and fresh.
- District Food & Wine (Design District).
This is definitely a hidden gem. They're only open for lunch during the week so I don't think most people know it's there. But the BEST Lemon Cake of my life! I don't even really like lemon desserts very much and I chose this over the chocolate cake. What?? Not too tart or too sweet, the cake is fluffy and perfect. I still think about it from time to time.
- Emporium Pies (Bishop Arts District, Deep Ellum, Downtown McKinney).
This is my favorite pie place in Dallas so it's really hard to pick a single one that I love. But I found my absolute favorite pie this year... and that's a pretty bold statement coming from me. The Nutty Honey from the Fall Menu... peanut butter and honey. Please bring it back!!
- We the Birds Macarons.
So... these are not limited to 2017, but I've got to give a shout out to my friends at We the Birds for having the most beautiful and delicious macarons ever. I prefer theirs over Ladurée. Yes, you can quote me on that. I gifted several of their custom flavors to friends this year so I think it's relevant. :P Love y'all!
Sweet Dreams everyone! And have the most amazing 2018!
~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
Did you know that Tommy Bahama has restaurants?? All I've ever known of the Tommy Bahama brand are those really festive, colorful, tropical shirts. Well... they DO have restaurants, and we got one this year at Legacy West in Plano. And you know what? The food is good!!
Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar - Legacy West
7501 Windrose Ave.
Plano, TX 75024
(214) 501-3600
www.tommybahama.com/restaurants/plano
Price: $$$+
I was invited to go check it out. Excited! I went on a Saturday for lunch with a friend. The last time I had seen the space, it was still under construction. Now it's got the retail store, with the restaurant, with a HUGE covered patio next to it. And it was a beautiful day. We opted to sit inside because there were less people. The inside decor was very tropical. It felt like you were at a resort, on vacation, and I liked that very much.
Our waiter was pretty awesome and took great care of us from the beginning. He went over the cocktail menu with us. Neither of us really drink much alcohol so he was giving us recommendations.
I really liked that they had a mocktail section called "Zero Proof" for people like me who want pretty drinks but none of the alcohol. :P I chose Blue My Mind (muddled blueberries, passion fruit, scratch lemonade) $6~
It was very pretty. The yellow of the passion fruit was super bright and fun. It was a bit more tart than I would've liked, but then again, I can't take a whole lot of sour. I wished the blueberries were more muddled like in the description. They were mainly whole. But were very pretty in the drink, and were nice and plump.
My friend got the Handcrafted Pina Colada (bacardi, muddled pineapple, coconut, gosling's black seal float) $10.50~ She wanted something pretty sweet, and pretty. And this fit the bill. It was very good. It made you feel like you were sitting on the beach.
Our waiter also explained the whole menu to us. While he said everything is delicious, he pointed out some of their most popular items.
World Famous Coconut Shrimp (papaya-mango chutney) 4 pieces $11.50~
There's a bigger size to this.. I don't remember if it was 6 or 8 pieces, but that's $16.50~ I did notice that that prices for dishes here are a bit high, at least in my opinion, but they also have the same menu for lunch and dinner so it's gonna seem a bit more steep for lunch. The shrimp was fantastically fried. The fried coconut was very crispy and the shrimp was tender. I would totally eat it again. But the dish was a bit expensive for the amount.
Bread (cinnamon butter). I always love it when restaurants give bread. Their bread was a funny shape. Hehe. Yes, I'm being immature. But it was yummy. Warm and fluffy on the inside, it paired really well with the whipped cinnamon butter.
For our entrees we decided to get a sampling of different things. Land and sea... and sandwich. haha.
Cuban Sandwich (house roasted pork, ham, gruyere, pickles, sriracha mustard, jerk yucca fries) $13.50~
I love Cubans. At first glance, this looked a little sad.. the half on top kind of drooped over the bottom half. However, it is delicious! The bread was also pressed nicely. I think the bread was just a bit thin that's why it draped over the other half. Loved the pickles in there. The meats were tender. The yucca fries were fried nicely. They were dense though, so I couldn't eat too many. Yucca is a very dense and starchy root vegetable. The slaw was good. Not overly dressed and nice and crunchy. But I feel like they use this as a default side to everything. Would've been nice to have had different dishes along with different sides. The slaw was on every dish, including the appetizer...
Kona Longboard Fish & Chips (fresh catch, island tartar, jerk yucca fries) $22~
I love fish and chips. In their case, the chips were actually yucca fries. I wish we had subbed one of the yucca fries for something else. It was definitely too much! The fish was SO fluffy on the inside and the tempura batter was nice and airy and thin. It was a good fried fish. And I love tartar sauce. Gimme a jug and I'm happy. :P
Grilled Baby Back Pork Ribs (sweet & spicy blackberry brandy BBQ, island slaw, cauliflower-potato mash) Half Rack $19.50~
I'm so glad we got this. I was debating between the fish and chips and this. Smart that we got both. haha. The blackberry brandy BBQ sauce was oh so good. The meat on the ribs was super tender. I actually think this was my favorite out of the entrees!
We made sure to save a little room for dessert this time. Since they had the dessert display front and center when I first walked into the dining room. Their desserts were huge!! But our waiter told us that we can actually get half portions for everything, except the pineapple creme brulee. I really appreciate them giving that option!
Malted Chocolate Pie (chocolate cookie crust, mocha mousse, english toffee crumble) Half Portion $6.50~
The whole portion is basically the complete pie. I liked the half portion presentation better actually. It's so cute, being cut into little wedges. And man... 1 little wedge is enough! It was so decadent. Freaking delicious, down to the chocolate sauce they decorated the plate with. I made sure to eat a bit of the sauce with each bite and it made a difference. The crust had a great texture and paired with the smooth mousse perfectly. This will satisfy ANY chocolate lover.
Pineapple Creme Brulee (tahitian vanilla bean, caramelized pineapple) $9.50~
As soon as we saw this, we knew we were getting it. Even though it was the full size and we were getting full. It was just so pretty! And I typically don't choose creme brulee if there's a cake or something as another option, but I'm so glad we did. Not only is is beautiful, it is THE BEST creme brulee I've ever had in my life. Hands down! Nothing comes to mind from any previous experiences that can beat this. I mean, I love pineapple, but I always prefer more chocolate in desserts. This was light, you can see and taste the vanilla bean, and it has small chunks of pineapple under the custard. Lots of texture, with the fruit chunks and sugar crust. The pineapple was incredibly fresh too. And the base of that pineapple "bowl" is actually a whole slice of pineapple. I used my spoon and dug into that as well. LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEED IT! I will go back just to get this.
We had a great time. The food was good, but the price point was a little high for me to go back frequently. But the desserts? Another story. Seriously, TAKE ALL MY MONEY when it comes to the desserts. I cannot wait to go back for the creme brulee and try something else. Their drinks are also on point, presentation especially. If you want to feel like it's still summer or pretend you are at the beach, this is the place to be.
Thank you so much, Tommy Bahama, for having us. And introducing me to the dessert that CHANGED MY LIFE! :P You know you'll see me again.
*The meal was comped but all opinions are my own. Plus, always tip your wait staff even if you get a free meal!*
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Lots of good food this past week, you guys! No wonder I haven't been to the pool at all this summer.. need to diet first! hahaha XP
My fiance and I finally got to go check out Bin 303's $10 Burger Tuesdays. We've known about it for a long time now but never made it on a Tuesday night. AND we've never tried any of their burgers! So we specifically set aside a Tuesday night to go check it out. All the burgers are $10 on Tuesdays.
Bin 303
105 Olive Street
Rockwall, TX 75087
(972) 771-5303
http://bin303.com
Price: $$-$$$$
First of all, Bin 303 is a neighborhood gem in Rockwall. It's a converted old house so it's very homey. The food is always pretty fantastic. I had made a reservation thinking we didn't need one since it's a week night but just in case. I'm sooo glad I did because apparently their Tuesday nights are equivalent of a Friday night. The place was packed! My fiance dropped me off and had to go circle around to find parking. They had our table ready for us. As I was waiting for my fiance to park, 2 ladies walked in without a reservation, and the wait was like 45 minutes or something. Damn! I'm so glad I was being cautious. They had recently renovated so the bar area now is really big. Looks like a great place to chill with some friends.
After we were seated, the waiter brought us some waters. My fiance decided to get the Cucumber Sipper (Hendrick's Gin, St. Germain Elderflower liquor, fresh mint, cucumber water, simple syrup, fresh cucumber) $10~
Refreshing, but a little heavy on the elderflower liquor for my taste. A bit strong for me. But as you all know... I'm a super light-weight. hehe.
It's $10 Burger Tuesday so we're gonna order burgers!
I got the Texican Burger (aged cheddar, chipotle mayo, nueske bacon, pico and avocado spread; on brioche bun; served with barley salad) $14~ I also added grilled jalapeno relish (on the side) +$1~
I got my meat cooked medium, which I think they did a good job. It was a damn good burger. I absolutely loved the buttery, fluffy brioche bun. The meat was flavorful and super juicy. Avocado is always a good addition.
I did notice that I didn't get much bacon, but honestly, I didn't miss it. The jalapeno relish was WHOA! So spicy on it's own. But I spread it on my burger and it was just the right amount of heat. Guess the jalapenos were extra spicy that night. I wouldn't recommend it unless you can take some serious heat. The barley salad was a nice and light side. I liked that there was arugula and tomatoes mixed in. I would so totally have this burger again. Any time. Delicious!!
My fiance got the Cheese Burger (aged cheddar, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles; on brioche bun; served with sweet potato fries) $14~
He got his medium-rare. The waiter didn't object when he ordered it med-rare either, which means their meat is good quality. I've had restaurants say they're uncomfortable cooking their meats less than medium for burgers. The meat was cooked perfectly.
He loved it. Another winner! Oh, and the sweet potato fries were fantastic! We both love sweet potato fries, and they did them right.
Creme Brulee (with fresh strawberry) $9~
Usually we don't eat like this on a week night.. But this is like a special occasion. Mid-week date night. Awww. :P So we got dessert. Great consistency, crunchy burnt sugar on top. It wasn't too heavy to round out this great dinner.
Needless to say, we'll be back soon. They do offer their burgers every night, but normally it's $14 each. If you ever find yourself in Rockwall, definitely check out Bin 303. It's one of our favorite spots. :)
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
For Father's Day, my sister and I treated my parents to dinner at Perry's Steakhouse. My dad has been asking us to take them downtown somewhere for awhile and I thought this was the perfect opportunity. I love Perry's and have been trying to go back. Also, they had a Father's Day special 3 course deal that was too good to pass up!
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille
2000 McKinney Ave, Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 855-5151
www.perryssteakhouse.com/
Price: $$$$+
Our reservation was at 6PM and we arrived on the dot. We were immediately seated so I texted my sister that we were there. She responded that my parents haven't even gotten to their house yet! (they were carpooling). Uh-oh! Apparently my parents thought the reservation was at 6:30. I informed our waiter, Demetrius, and he was so cool with it. "I'm not worried," he smiled and shrugged. Whew, I feel better. :P
So what to do for the next 20 minutes while we wait for them to arrive? Drink!! haha. I wasn't planning on drinking that night since I had some cocktails the day before but they had some yummy sounding drinks and we had some time to kill.
Glenmorangie Ginger Blossom (Glenmorangie 10 year old (scotch), lemon juice, honey water, fresh ginger; shaken and served with a lemon twist) $12~ This was pretty strong. Scotch is not my thing, but it was still quite tasty.
Blackberry Basil Smash (blackberries, fresh basil and pineapple muddled with Cinco vodka, Dekuyper Amaretto, and lemon juice; shaken and served over ice) $12~ This was soooo delicious. Also strong enough for me, plus on an empty stomach it hit pretty quickly. But so good, I could've had 2 more! My bf and I fought over this one. hehe :P
Our waiter brought us some Bread (with whipped butter) before our cocktails came. It's probably a good idea to eat something before drinking. haha. The bread was warm and fluffy. And I think all butters should be served whipped. It definitely helped ease the waiting since I was starving!
Finally everyone arrived. More drink orders were taken and Demetrius told us all the specials. I was already very happy with our waiter, very friendly and just made us feel so welcomed. He was very knowledgeable of the specials too.. and there were a lot of them. We decided to get an appetizer.
Appetizer of the Day: Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms (breadcrumbs, Chilean Sea bass, crab, (and some other fish), in a creamy tomato sauce) $10.95~
It comes 5 to an order. I asked Demetrius if we can get an extra one since there are 6 of us. He said he would try and ask the kitchen. Unfortunately the kitchen couldn't accommodate but they did pick out the 5 bigger mushrooms for us. Yay. I appreciate his effort! The mushrooms were super stuffed.
None of us really tasted any of the seafood though, mostly just breadcrumbs, but the flavors were good. I liked the browned crumbs on top. And especially loved the cream sauce on the bottom. I scraped it up with a fork. haha. And even dipped some bread in it. I asked Demetrius what was in the sauce and he said Alfredo and marinara. So easy... I should make it at home. hehe.
So the deal for Father's Day turned out to be their regular Pork Chop Sunday (your choice of salad, Perry's Famous Pork Chop, and dessert trio) $24.95~ I didn't know it was offered every Sunday! I think for Father's Day they had it available all day whereas normal Sundays it's only from 4-9PM. Man.. we need to come on Sundays more! I absolutely LOVE their pork chops. (I included the normal a la carte price on each item, so you can see what an amazing deal this is...)
5 of us ordered the pork chop special. We each got a salad. All the salads are pretty big. I was almost full after I finished mine! haha
Warm Spinach & Bacon Vinaigrette Salad (normally $9.95~)
My dad's choice. It was really flavorful from the bacon vinaigrette. The only thing about using bacon grease as a dressing base is that it is quite heavy. But sooooooo good. haha. I'd say it's worth having every once in a while even though the salad is technically not that healthy anymore. :P
Chopped Salad with Applewood-Smoked Bacon (normally $8.95~) Nice crisp lettuce with crispy bacon. Came with the house vinaigrette which was awesome.
Field Green, Pear & Candied Pecan Salad (normally $9.95~)
I got this. Also came with the house vinaigrette. It was really fresh. I loved the sweetness and brightness from the pear and mandarin oranges. The candied pecans added a crunch. I think this was my favorite out of the 3 salads.
Perry's Famous Pork Chop (hand selected in the Midwest specifically for Perry's Steakhouse, this prime chop is cured, roasted, slow-smoked and caramelized; served with homemade applesauce) (normally $35.95~)
This dish is to die for. Especially if you are a pork lover like me. Pork is my favorite kind of meat. I've had it once before, 3 years ago I think? And I've been dreaming to have it again. It is a 3 bone-in.. yes THREE.. pork chop, and they carve it for you table side. Love the presentation. Table side service always adds some drama! The thing is like 5 inches thick. And the carving knife slices through it like butter. The meat is so tender and juicy! Once carved and served the waiter explained to us the different sections. The small piece topped with lime wedge is called the "eyelash". It is the most flavorful cut and has a nice layer of fat on it. Followed by the ribs, which is my personal favorite section. The slab of meat on top of the ribs is so juicy. The last, and biggest piece is called the "eye". It has a lean section, which is normally known as the tenderloin, and the other half has layers of fat in it. The applesauce that came with the dish is mainly for the "eye". It smelled and looked amazing. Since I was the only one that had been to Perry's before, they were all staring with their mouths open. I had tried to prepare them for it, but I guess it exceeded their imaginations. haha. My bf said he was so glad he got this (he was debating between the ahi tuna, which is his favorite thing). It was everything I remembered it to be. I started with the "eyelash" but took bites out of every single section. The chunk of meat on top of the ribs is my absolute favorite. The rub was so flavorful and I love the combo with the sweet apple sauce. Only complaint? There were no veggies on the side to cut the heaviness of the dish. I had thought about ordering a side dish, but decided it was too much food. In hindsight, I still should've. I love meat and all but I need something else to balance it out. However, I still made a good dent in it... got through about half! I'm so proud. haha. None of us was able to finish, but Demetrius told us that no one really finishes this dish, even linebackers. haha. The pork chop has defeated us, but you know what, we've got delicious leftovers for the next 2 days so it's still a win! :P We were talking about what to do with the leftovers. Demetrius suggested we slice the "eye", put some pickles, cheese and mustard on it and make a killer Cubano. I was thinking the same thing! This guy is awesome. haha. Oh yea, I had the rest of my pork chop pieces for lunch yesterday and today. Still amazing after being heated up in microwave. I want MORE!!
My sister got the Seafood Symphony Kabob (a hanging presentation of blackened tuna, seared scallops, grilled shrimp, smoked salmon, and pan roasted sea bass; accompanied by a creamy ginger sauce for dipping) $39.95~
Available for a limited time. We thought at least 1 person should get something different. This was one of the specials Demetrius told us about. When he was describing it, we were all drooling. Sounded amazing and the presentation was so cool! It was a hanging kabob. (I apologize for the blurry pictures, it was swinging and my camera apparently didn't focus! XP) Another waiter came and removed all the pieces from the skewer.
I only tried a bite of the sea bass. So freaking tender, it melted in my mouth. The ginger sauce was slightly sweet and tangy, a good pairing for the seafood. My bf got to try a bite of the ahi tuna, he loved it. My sister (with help from her bf) finished the entire plate. Impressive! Since she normally doesn't eat very much. Overall she said it was good but not spectacular. I guess I just got to try the best part!
Dessert Trio (vanilla bean creme brulee, Grand Marnier chocolate truffle, praline cheesecake) (normally $9~)
This came with the pork chop deal. Cute little trio. I only ate the creme brulee because it was harder to take it home. It was really good. I typically don't order creme brulees but I'd recommend this one. You can see the specs of the vanilla bean throughout. The bruleed sugar shell on top was crunchy and added nice texture to it. My bf LOVED the creme brulee... he ate his, part of mine, and the rest of my parents' too. hahaha. He scraped those plates clean! We took the other 2 desserts to go. I had the praline cheesecake yesterday. It was super rich and decadent, that small bite was plenty for me. It was very cheesy! Almost had a hint of savoriness with how cheesy it was. Me likey. I always like some savory with my sweet!
I just had the truffle today. It's a solid piece of dark chocolate. Really rich and so sinful. You can really taste the Grand Marnier too. A touch of citrus in the rich chocolate.
Rocky Road Bread Pudding (butterscotch bread pudding with chocolate chips in a caramel sauce, topped with candied walnuts and toasted homemade marshmallow) $9~
This is the reason why we took the rest of our desserts to go. I had seen a picture of this on Perry's facebook page earlier in the week and I sent it to my bf. We both said WE MUST GET IT! haha. We were pretty full but how often do we get to go to Perry's? So we said why not. :P Such an impressive looking dessert. The bread pudding was soft and gooey and full of chocolate chunks. My sister and her bf both said they normally don't like bread puddings but he kept going back for more. haha. I guess he just never had a good one! Even my mom, who normally doesn't like sweets said it was really good. My dad, my bf and I totally loved it (we are the 3 with the biggest sweet tooth.) hehe. I did wish the marshmallow was toasted even more so it had that crisp shell on the outside. Delicious and soooo photo worthy! :P We thought we'd be taking the majority home with us but actually we made it through about 3/4 of it.
What a fantastic dinner! The food was spot on. We were all stuffed! And best of all, it was one of the best service I've had in a long time. Demetrius was the perfect waiter. And he made my top 3 best service in Dallas. Ever! :) When I go back in the future I will be sure to request him if I can. Great service can make a dining experience even better even when the food is already really good.
Oh.. just a side note. Demetrius told us that the Sunday pork chop special is sharable! What?! That just makes the deal even better!! We'll definitely be back in the future.
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~~ CHOMP CHOMP ~~
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