Archive for the ‘Dallas’ Category
I am pretty sure you are all aware of the cupcake phenomenon that is sweeping the nation. Well if you are not, you have been living under a rock. No offense, or maybe I am just speaking to women here, but cupcakes became all the rage a few years back and it is now not often that you don’t see them in every bakery, magazine, wedding, or party alike. I get it, I love them and all of their possibilities, I especially love that they are the perfect portion and just enough of a dessert, indulgent without making you feel sick because you ate half of the cake! And again I may be speaking to the ladies out there, but let’s be real, they are just so cute and again the possibilities are endless. I was so about the cupcake bandwagon, that before we got married I registered for a 3-tiered cupcake stand. And I have actually even used it once, which is more than I can say about some of the other things we registered for 🙂 With their extreme popularity many shops have popped up around the nation devoted to that one thing and one thing only, CUPCAKES! And the very first to do so was the now notoriously famous shop known as Sprinkle’s, opening its doors in Beverly Hills in 2004. The founder and creator of Sprinkles was Candace Nelson who was deeply inspired by her grandmother who owned a very popular bakery in San Francisco in the 1930’s. Channeling her grandmother’s legacy, Candace’s goal was to create cupcakes that were not only beautiful but made from the best ingredients, fresh without any preservatives. These cupcakes are certainly a fresh take on a classic we all know and love and very inventive to boot. With a wide range of flavors that change daily, it is no wonder that people flock to these shops, that are now 10 major cities with many more to follow. I mean who doesn’t love a good cupcake? And she must know what she is doing, because this year Candace was asked to be a judge on the Food Network’s new competition show Cupcake Wars.
Not only are their cupcakes modern and inventive, complete with their signature candy dot on top, but their architecture and design were also greatly considered in the development of these shops. I always love when design and decor are considered a major partner in the operation and not just an afterthought. Their shops are very visually appealing and the designer’s goal was to evoke a feeling of being in a small European bakery with all the wonderful sights, smells, and playfulness. And although simple and not overly fussy, the details are just enough to keep your focus, you do not have to look in a million directions to take it all in, your purpose is right in front of you…the cupcakes!
I mean let’s be honest, how gorgeous and mouth watering is that set up? Now this particular picture is from the Beverly Hills Location, but Adam and I set out one day to visit the Dallas location, which is almost identical in style. We were fresh off a wonderful couples massage and happened to be in the neighborhood of the newly opened Sprinkles Dallas. I had been dying to try one of their creations for some time now and since we knew this may be our last opportunity before we moved, we stopped in. Now I was perfectly content to just get one flavor and be done with it, but my lovely husband being the one who always wants to try every flavor and still couldn’t make up his mind thought we should get 6! But they were 6 beautiful cupcakes! We ended up deciding on the Dark Chocolate (for me), Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and the Cinnamon Sugar. I will admit now that it was very hard for me to wait until we got home to break into these bad boys! But I was patient and it paid off.
I dug into that dark chocolate cupcake no problem and enjoyed every morsel! Adam chose the vanilla, but unfortunately was not as impressed, he is a bit picky when it comes to cake! I on the other hand loved mine, I though the cake was perfectly moist, yet stayed together well and didn’t crumble everywhere. The icing was divine, smooth and creamy with the perfect dark chocolate flavor. You could really tell how fresh they were and the natural ingredients I felt made such a difference. I really enjoyed it so much, it was hard not to grab another one, but I restrained myself. Adam just was not really impressed, I guess this ritzy cupcake, with all the hype just didn’t cut it for him. He also said it just didn’t taste like anything, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. He also tends to pay more attention to the “cake” part on any dessert like that, where as I am more of an icing girl, which also might be why our opinions differed.
One thing I will mention, they also mention it on their website, since these cupcakes are made with natural, fresh ingredients, they do not save super well and should not be refrigerated. So come the 2nd day I really didn’t want one because honestly their texture was just not as appealing, so sadly the dark chocolate was the only one I tried.
SIGNATURE DISH: Well if you gathered from this post there was really only one topic of conversation today and that is cupcakes! This bakery shop has been doing one thing and one thing only since 1994 and as successful as they are at it, I doubt they will try to change it up. It will be interesting to see if this craze subsides, but it doesn’t appear to be anytime soon!
TASTE: This is where Adam and I differ on opinion, I thought my cupcake was pure decadence and divine, he thought his had no flavor. He even tried another one later and said the same thing. Whether he has a better cake palette than I do, I’m not sure, but what I do know is that I thought this cupcake was pretty dang good and I might have to give them a different rating than him this week! 😉
AMBIANCE: I loved the design of the shop and thought it was creative, modern, and eye catching. They do a wonderful job of showcasing what they are selling and making those cupcakes simple in design, yet so visually appealing. The shop itself, with its wood tones and bright colors to contrast, really draws you in and complements the cupcakes. And as I mentioned, I think is wonderful when the design is a complement to what is going on inside, instead of being an afterthought.
PRICE: This is where sprinkles falls a bit short for me, I mean I understand these are “gourmet/designer” cupcakes, but let’s be real at the end of the day they are still cupcakes and at $3.25 each, they are a bit pricey. The only thing I can think is that one, they have extreme notoriety and can therefore charge that much and two, fresh ingredients are expensive and therefore they need to charge a bit more. Either way I still would not pay this often, but on a special occasion it is a fun treat!
Overall I was very pleased with my experience at Sprinkles even if Adam was not and I hope I can visit again. But in the meantime this week I am going to give this lovely shop 4 Little Piggies while Adam will only be giving them 1 1/2 Little Piggies.
Katie:
Adam:
SERVICE:
Anyone living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area will tell you that we have no shortage of burger joints around town. In fact, I have already featured one of my favorites, Twisted Root, on here a few months ago; and I think it has been one of Adam’s missions while living here to try them all and discover which is the best. Also, I pride myself on staying abreast of new “hot spots’” that pop up as well as researching tried and true favorites by reading various publications, watching TV, or hearing about them through others. That being said, we have tried a lot of the options, some being just average while others are out of this world good! This next restaurant is the latter on both accounts.
In 2006, GQ magazine put out an article by Alan Richman (one of the most decorated food writers in history) compiling a list of the “20 Burgers You Must Eat Before You Die.” From the time I read the article and saw Oprah create a segment on her show about it, I was intrigued. In fact, I remember printing off the list and thinking I need to try all of them! :) However, it wasn’t until we moved to Dallas and really got interested in starting this blog that I began thinking about that list again. I thought, “you know…I bet a fair amount of these places are pretty notorious in their cities, thus making them definitely a blog worthy visit;” And it just so happened that one of the burgers, number 10 to be exact, was a Dallas favorite and kept being suggested by a couple of friends of ours (thanks for the great recommendation Robert and Holly!). I’m referring, of course, to the famous Keller’s Drive-In.
Upon realizing Keller’s was on the “20 Burgers” list, I knew that a trip there was in order. So one day after church, Adam and I ventured over to Northwest Highway to try their infamous burgers, including the famous “No. 5” which has a bit of a back story I’ll explain later. We both really enjoyed it, and I knew after completing my half marathon in March that I wanted my celebratory burger, fries, and shake to come from there! 🙂 (and it just so happened that we saw Keller’s featured on an old episode of The Food Network’s “The Secret Life of…” right after our first visit).
Keller’s was built in the 1950’s to be a standard drive-in, and to be honest, it appears as though not much as changed in 60 years! Still, that is what gives it so much appeal…you truly feel as if you stepped back in time when you drive up…
It may not look like much, but it certainly invokes a feeling of nostalgia and a no-nonsense good food environment. When you drive up and find an open spot, one of the waitresses comes out to take your order, just like the old drive-in’s…no speaker box here! They also, like the historic food landmark they represent, are the no-nonsense type…nice, but definitely not out there to impress or be your best friend. Many of the servers have been there for years and they KNOW their burgers are good, so they don’t really have time for hemming and hawing with you. Also, the menu is not large, which is good, because really you are only there for one thing…a burger!; and many specifically for their landmark “No. 5” special…
Here is where it gets interesting. The story goes that Keller’s “No. 5” special is actually the original ‘Big Mac’ and that McDonald’s got the idea for the now famous sandwich from here. I’m not saying this is true or not, but Keller’s “No. 5” special is 2 all beef patties, “special” sauce of thousand island dressing, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and tomato on a poppy seed bun. I don’t know…other than the sesame seed/poppy seed difference, it’s pretty close, but you make the call? What is so interesting, is that while anyone could have imitated the ‘Big Mac’ and said they were the first, Keller’s created this burger a good 20 years before McDonalds even developed the Big Mac. So, like I said…you be the judge. ;)
I’m the first to admit that I’m no ‘Big Mac’ connoisseur, and to be honest I never tried one until I was 25! (shocking I know). So I left the No. 5 up to Adam to give a full on taste test, while I stuck with a standard cheeseburger with grilled onions (ummm-ummm….love me some grilled onions!), fries, and strawberry shake (yes, I am 12 years old and dip my fries in it haha :)).
*Our friends Chad and Christina were also there to celebrate as Christina completed the race too and we deserved a greasy meal after our months of preparation!
Yeah…those burgers didn’t stand a chance! What makes them so good is not necessary the meat itself, but rather the combination of the ingredients. The poppy seed bun adds a unique flavor and is grilled just right to give it a softness and crunch. The patty, although slightly overcooked, is masked when paired with the creamy cheese that just oozes out with each and every bite…pure cheesy goodness at its finest. And with my addition of grilled onions, there is a creamy sweetness that comes out that just makes every bite enjoyable. Adam said that the No. 5 tastes exactly like a Big Mac, except it isn’t bogged down with the extra middle bun and the poppy seeds create a unique taste he preferred. He said it was a cleaner, simpler version of the fast food classic (and He IS a Big Mac expert! ;))
So down to the review…
SIGNATURE DISH – Burgers for sure, but the famous “No. 5” special is their claim to fame!
TASTE – The taste I would have to say is truly an experience. I said that the burger patty itself is a tad overcooked and doesn’t have much flavor. But, that is not what makes this sandwich. It is literally every component together that makes the burger as good as it is; and the cheese alone oozing out is what won me over for sure! I do have to say that their fries are nothing spectacular, which is kind of disappointing, because you always want a good burger to be accompanied by good fries. Lastly, their shakes were delicious (very creamy) and I would order one every time I go. So although it isn’t the best burger in fries I’ve ever had, I still recommend it. (half a ‘Little Piggy’)
AMBIANCE – As I mentioned before, what makes the experience so fun at Keller’s is its old school drive-in ambiance. There are always tons of cars, bikers, and people just hanging out for the afternoon. You can even order beer off of their menu, so people will literally just park and hang out all day. It isn’t necessarily pretty to look at, but to me that is the whole appeal of the place. I mean…who really wants to eat a messy burger at some stuffy upscale restaurant? When you want a burger, the burger is all that really matters!
SERVICE – Their service is pretty standard, although both times we’ve been there they’ve forgotten Adam’s drink. These women are experienced car hop waitresses and they don’t mess around! But they will get you your order quick, which is all I want sometimes! (half a ‘Little Piggy’)
PRICE – Price alone makes this place totally worth the trip! At only $2.69 for the “No. 5” and all the other burgers coming in under or around that, your whole meal will typically cost you 5 bucks or less. That’s hard to beat! Be aware though…they are cash only, so make sure you have at least $10 in your pocket. ;)
So I leave you all now with my mouth watering and giving Keller’s a raving 4 Little Piggies!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, PCC-ers! My husband (Adam) and I live in Dallas, but as most of you know, I lived in Chicago for a large part of my life (and don’t worry, I won’t bore you more with more “I love Chicago…” blah-blah:)), so why not bring you the best of both worlds this week…a Dallas favorite created over 20 years ago by two native Chicagoans looking for for good pizza; and what could be better than getting that Chi-town tavern feeling right here in D-town? (and we don’t really refer to Dallas as “D-town” but, I thought I’d try it out…my bad ;)) Well, Louie’s is just that, a tavern first and foremost. The bonus…, it is a tavern than serves darn good food! Located in the Knox-Henderson neighborhood of East Dallas, it was overlooked by us at first because of all the regular hot spots located in that area. However, we were invited out to another bar near it a while back, and we noticed that it was packed!, which was surprising from the looks of this place (and I’m not saying this as a positive), so our interest was definitely peeked. I mean, at first glance it looks likes an old auto shop (in fact it is), rather than a top-notch bar or restaurant. Well, the kicker was when we saw the following clip on Travel Channel’s “Diner’s, Drive-ins, and Dives,” and we knew our first judgment had been a mistake.
I told you they wanted a place for good pizza…and I think they’ve found it! 🙂 After seeing their pizza, I had an instant craving; and it just so happened that we were looking for a low key but fun place for Valentine’s Day. We both agreed that Louie’s was exactly the kind of place we were looking for; and I always jump at the chance to try a pizza made the “Chicago-way”…even if it is thin crust. So, we invited our friends Garrett and Audra to tag along and experience Louie’s as a Valentine’s treat.
Since we were going on a Saturday night and this place is not very big, we figured there would likely be a wait, which there was. However, lucky for us there happened to be a couple of bar stools opening up at the bar when we arrived, so we opted to bide our time and enjoy a pre-meal drinky-drink. 😉 Continuing with my luck, they had one of my most favorite drinks on the menu…Lindeman’s Framboise, which if you have never had one, they are delish. 🙂 Ummm…thick, sweet, raspberry flavored Beligian beer. It was truly enjoyable (although uber-expensive!).
While enjoying that special treat, we were able to sit and survey the scene. The bar area is a fairly narrow space and very dark, but remember that Louie’s is a bar that serves food, not a restaurant with a bar…so this was understood. The walls are covered with a variety of signs, memorabilia, and other trinkets reminiscent of Chicago. Adam and I both commented how eerily similar it felt to a lot of the bars we had frequented when we lived there in its decor, cramped quarters, and the feel from the staff, so much so that we felt like we were back in our old town (I swore I had taken a picture of this, but my camera seems to have eaten it, I guess you will just have to see for yourself ;)).
As I mentioned previously, Louie’s is a tavern, but they also wanted to create a menu that would keep the people coming back; and remember, they originally wanted a place where they could finally get good pizza in Dallas. That being said…, Louie’s is a bar first, restaurant second, and that is how the staff treats it. Additionally, much of the main seating is smooshed into the front bar area, so it is difficult to escape the bar atmosphere. However, around the corner and towards the back is another section that is really open and has more tables and booths, which is actually where we got to sit which was nice because it was much roomier and quieter than the rest of the place, allowing us to enjoy our “double-date” company.
After seeing the Triple-D clip, I already knew I wanted to try one of their large Caesar salads and a pizza with their homemade sausage and grilled onions (both of which I heard were amazing!). Adam was initially going to do pizza as well, but that was until we sat down and heard that the special was lasagna (which the show had said they serve from time to time and is a crowd favorite). Garrett and Adam both started drooling, and from there it was a no-brainer…lasagna it was for the boys. 😉 The guys also decided to get an order of meatballs to split before the start of the meal; and as a table we got some wonderful chewy French bread, as well. Needless to say, we had a lot of food coming our way.
These salads were enormous and easily fed two people. Adam and I shared the Caesar and Garrett and Audra opted for the Greek. The were HUGE…but oh so delicious. They totally hit the spot, and I would not hesitate to order either one again.
We all agreed that the meatballs, which we all tried, were edible at best. Their saving grace was that they were smothered in Louie’s homemade house marinara, which is unbelievably tasty! As Guy Fieri says, “You could put that stuff on a flip-flop and it’d be good.” What I’m saying is that their marinara is really good, and compliments (or helps in the case of the meatballs) anything it’s served on. Trust me…, you gotta try it if you’re a fan of good ‘ol fashioned Italian yummy-goodness.
The pizza…, ummm…can we say “YES PLEASE!” I mean, look at that gooey cheese and huge chunks of sausage…, yummy! Now, Adam is not the biggest fan of thin crust pizzas, but I am not as judgmental. 😉 I like pizza of all shapes and sizes, and I rate them based on category and overall taste. But in truth, I’ve yet to meet one I didn’t really like. 🙂 I have to be honest that I was a bit skeptical of the grilled onions, but let me just say…OH…MY…GOSH…, sweet & succulent caramelized goodness! What I liked so much about this pizza was well it still managed to hold all of the toppings, even though it was very light and thin. The sauce, which is perfectly thick and sweet and not overly runny…, well I don’t think I need to mention more about how I feel about it. 😉 The homemade sausage had a zing, but a good zing that added to the flavor; and between the onions and the real Wisconsin cheese, it was extremely creamy and delicious. (Side note: it tasted even better warmed up a few days later!) 🙂
…and that right there is the LASAGNA (and I’m writing the word big, because that is exactly what it was…BIG!). They ain’t kiddin’ around with this dish. It is one huge plate of pasta, meat, cheese, and sauce; and yes my friends, that is one single portion on the plate (and to think that Garret and Adam each had one in front of them :)). Seeing that there was not much conversation after the plates were placed in front of the guys (at first because their jaws were wide with shock & awe ;)), I think it’s safe to assume that they truly enjoyed it. In fact, Adam says it’s the best lasagna he’s ever had, which is saying something; and since neither were able to finish their plates (honestly…I would be a little scared if they could), they were both able to take home a nice portion of leftovers.
Before heading to Louie’s, we did a lot of research on what to expect, and I’m not sure if it was the fact that they don’t have a website, so I read a ton of reviews on YELP, or that it reminded me so much of other Chicago establishments, but Louie’s was one of those restaurants I really felt like I knew what I was getting when I got there; and unlike other places in Dallas, it does not try to impress with its looks and fancy shmancy attitude, rather it provides a gathering place for a cold beer, good food, and a fun atmosphere.
We knew that their signature dish was pizza, but were pleasantly surprised to find most of their other dishes were also very good. Besides the meatballs, we all enjoyed every dish that we tried, and speaking for myself would want to eat again. The ambiance was fun and interesting, and well…bar-like. Just keep in mind that this place is not a restaurant…it is a bar that serves food, so it may feel a bit cramped. Although we were glad to sit elsewhere and were able to hear better because of it, visually the bar area was more interesting, so I give it a toss up. 🙂
The service was good; and to be honest I was figuring it would be way worse based on the reviews I had read. I was very pleased with how we were treated given how busy they were and the fact that they are a bar. Finally, the real drawback with Louie’s has to do with their prices, and this is on a few levels. Their prices are a bit high I think (especially considering it’s a bar ;)). By the time you add in all the fixings to a pizza (they charge per topping), it was close to $20. True, we were able to take a fair amount home, but I just felt it was a bit pricey for what it was. Also, you only get one free refill for a soft drink of any kind, which is highly unordinary and annoying when you have a husband that drinks diet coke like it’s a drug! 🙂 Not knowing he was being charged each time, Adam ordered a few, and needless to say they added up! Lastly, they don’t take credit cards, so be sure to have plenty of cash. We were prepared for this from our research, but is still annoying. This is a major pet-peeve of mine…I mean, what year are we in? There is no reason, especially for a place that does this kind of volume, to not accept credit. It’s just a hassle; and Louie’s…you need to get with the times(website included)!
Still, overall we had a really good experience at Louie’s; and I know given the chance, I would go back. Therefore, although I feel this place would be a better fit in its owners native town, Louie’s is a place that everyone in Dallas that is looking for good pizza and all-around comfort food should try; and i give it 3 1/2 ‘Little Piggies.’
