I’ll be heading to the San Antonio Cocktail Conference this evening, so stay tuned to my Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat (@SusieOz) to see what I’m learning, drinking, and doing! (And I always appreciate words of encouragement. It takes a lot of work to drink San Antonio.)
NEW OPENINGS
Vicini, Frisco’s newest eatery from duo Brian McCullough (part owner of Standard Pour) and Robert Hall (former GM of Abacus and part of the Hall family … who make wine) will open January 26 by the Cowboys development. There’s even going to be a pasta room, y’all. Expect classic and “progressive” American-Italian dishes from a soon-to-be-named chef and the same quality craft cocktails as TSP. I’ll be making the drive north for this one!
Goodfriend Package opened its doors in East Dallas on Wednesday! The purveyors of delicious burgers and some of best fries in Dallas (I mean … a pile of heaven) who also happen to own one of my favorites, The Blind Butcher, will offer 600+ craft beers, sandwiches featuring meats from TBB, and more for breakfast and lunch.
Another win for our friends up north … on January 22, Plano will see a new concept Julia Pearl which will “meld classic Southern cuisine with modern culinary techniques” with Tre Wilcox as the restaurant’s Culinary Director. I’m looking forward to the Deviled Eggs topped with crispy chicken skin, pomegranate-red pepper glazed pork belly … because, yum.
Fried Chicken from Julia Pearl
Mudhen Meat & Greens, the much anticipated new concept from the minds behind Meddlesome Moth and LARK on the Park has officially opened in the Dallas Farmer’s Market! Visit for heathy food “that just tastes good, feels food, and won’t kill you.” Sounds promising. It opened a bit behind schedule, but better late than never!
Firebird Restaurant Group is at it again. They’ll break ground on a development with three of their restaurants at I-30 & Highway 34 TODAY, January 14. A brand new Snuffer’s, El Fenix, and Taqueria La Ventana will open their doors next summer.
Not really an announcement … but, while Filament, a new restaurant Downtown, opened in early December, they’ve recently gotten my attention. After witnessing a particularly tempting photo series from lunch yesterday from various media outlets (most notably @TheDallasDiva), I know I need to make it in … soon.
OTHER COOL THINGS …
Get local and delicious at the Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival March 31-April 3, 2016! Tickets are now available for seminars, meals, tastings, events, and more!
Have you jumped on the Japanese whisky train yet? They’re doing some delicious things over there. Suntory Whisky Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 was recently named “World Whisky of the Year” in Jim Murray’s 2015 Whisky Bible. While it’s been around since 1924, the the 48% ABV spirit has recently been getting the attention it truly deserves.
Sundown at Granada is debuting 15 new seasonal menu items that were crafted to pair well with select cocktail, beer, and wine options. Check out the Big Tex Flatbread (made with Shiner brisket … I mean) New Orleans BBQ Shrimp & Grits, and the Vegan Dulce De Leche Ice Cream and Salted Coconut Caramel Swirl. The new menu items are now available.
Austin vodka producer, Deep Eddy, recently released its newest flavor, Deep Eddy Peach. Like their other products, it’s small batch, made with real fruit juice, and gluten-free. So yeah … there ya go … you have another option if you’re into that sort of sweet vodka thing.
LIMITED TIME OFFERINGS
Hopdoddy‘s monthly burger special is the Ranch Hand Dan Burger (chicken patty, buttermilk ranch, bacon, field mushrooms, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, tomato, red leaf lettuce on an egg bun)!
Available: through January 24
Cost: $9
