Dallas Wine Examiner: Organic California Wine

June 1st, 2009

World Market Wine Buys

We are huge supporters of World Market (www.worldmarket.com) because their wines are reasonably priced and the selection is good. You are able to get a nice bottle of wine under $10 and over holiday weekends the deals are even better. Plus, it was the only place in the area that I could find Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc for my dream job video shoot.

This particular Memorial Day weekend we have the fortune of Garnacha de Fuego from the importer of fine Spanish wines, Jorge Ordonez. Ordonez is a trusted Spanish wine guru and he stamps his seal on the bottles of wine that he selects to export to the United States. Pick up this great deal at $6.99 a bottle. This wine has berry, eucalyptus and peppery overtones and is perfect with your grilled favorites. The complexity will fool your friends into thinking it was expensive. Delicious with or without food because of the soft tannins.

May 23rd, 2009

Murphy-Goode Posts Dream Job

As a food and lifestyle writer, I am beginning my application for the dream job posted on the web for Murphy-Goode winery in Sonoma County. A video is required with the application because they want to see your creativity, experience, and likely personality and appearance since you would be the master of social networking representing Murphy-Goode starting on August 1st.

Finding the best Sonoma picnic spots, writing about harvest, and enjoying and writing about food and wine experiences in Sonoma County are part of the job description. Social networking on Facebook, Twitter, Stumbled Upon, Digg and likely Linked In and Plaxo are part of the marketing plan. They all should be in this day and age. The social networking craze is growing businesses exponentially and everyone should be jumping on the bandwagon!

I love the idea of a job as Murphy-Goode lifestyle correspondent since I have spent the last 9 years as a writer, cookbook author, and culinary instructor. I am perfect for getting the word out because I love people and face to face networking as much as on-line social networking. I think community news and web immersion is key for making a label more recognized. With social networking, publicity spread via the web like this job offer makes the buzz more fun! The Utube video is a great idea for viewing other candidates.

With recipe and recipes being two of the most googled words, my experience in food should be a huge plus. I could cook each night and drink wine when I was not being wined and dined or entertaining friends at my temporary Sonoma home. I could stream video, slide shows, and spectacular photographs of the Sonoma area which could all be part of the marketing mix. See more about the job at http://www.murphygoodewinery.com/, but just know, I have to go for this job! It is right up my alley, since my passion is writing about food and wine.

May 3rd, 2009

Dallas Wine Examiner: Women, Wine, and Wisdom

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April 25th, 2009

Dallas Souffle Spot Rises to Occasion

What a lovely atmosphere Rise Souffles in Dallas is for dining. The atmosphere is very French and slightly feminine, but nothing that would keep a man away. This unique concept shows that entrepreneurs can make good things happen in a city of many chain restaurants. In fact, owners Hedda Dowd and Cherif Brahmi, both have intimate relationships with France since Hedda’s mother was French and Hedda spent summers in France. Chef Brahmi is a native of Lyon, France and a passionate chef. Together they make a fabulous team with Hedda’s sparkling personality and Brahmi’s even and kind temperament.

Chef Brahmi has been around since the days of Massimo’s and helped us to make prepared meals for our customers at Caviar to Cabernet. We are so happy to see such success for two people making Dallas restaurants more interesting!

Everything from escargot souffles to truffle infused mushroom souffles start your experience and finish with sweet souffles made with Cappuccino, Grand Marnier and fine Chocolate. www.risesouffle.com

March 31st, 2009

Masaryk Restaurant opens in Addison, Texas

Masaryk opens Tuesday March 31st in Addision Circle, Addison Texas and all I can say is they are lucky to have the talented Chef DeLeon in their neck of the woods. Once locals set foot in there, they will have found their neighborhood spot for Mexican food and kick— top shelf margaritas. I love everything about DeLeon’s food, especially the duck tacos! It is like having your own La Margarita (our favorite Tex-Mex in the Dallas Metroplex) with a slightly more sophisticated menu. The comfort and prices are right!

1 comment March 28th, 2009

Ethnic Restaurants in Dallas

With the economy being a bit tough in Dallas, ethnic restaurants offer some great values. On Friday we wanted to meet some friends, but needed a mid-cities fix and decided on Ali Baba in Irving. Once BYOB, but now with a license, they offered the first bottle of wine at $28 and the second at $20 which was appealing.

A similar cuisine in a Dallas spot, Cafe Izmir http://www.cafeizmir.com/, serves Meditterranean food on Greenville has daily specials, reasonably priced. If you are looking for more varitey of ethnicity try Cava in North Dallas, a mix of Spanish, French, Mexican and Italian. Toulouse off Knox was listed under cheap eats and for French food, and for a fact the mussels are delicious and the atmosphere similar to a French cafe. For Vietnamese with a touch of Brazil, Lumi Empanada http://www.lumikitchen.com/home.html, is new and looks amazing. For Mexican and interesting cocktails La Condesa down by American Airlines Center is noted as good.

If budget is not an issue then there are other great new finds as well. Tei-an, at One Arts Plaza is Japanese noodle house with a sushi bar, while Nonna, a sleek Italian find on Lomo Alto.

Beyond the ethnic influx of places, comfort food is making its way back with Blue Plate Kitchen on Luther Lane (a Rathbun original), Screen Door on Routh, Neighborhood Services, by Nick Bodovinus in the Lover’s Inwood area and The Porch on Henderson (Consilient Restaurants). All of these spots cater to updated home cooking which has comforted generations, but trendy chefs are at the helm!

March 22nd, 2009