Friday, January 11, 2008

Best Bites: Dining out in DFW January 11

By Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Veteran Dallas-based restaurateur Jack Baum is the man of the hour thanks to the deal he just signed with P.F. Chang's to buy their nascent Japanese concept Taneko Japanese Tavern. Taneko has earned praise galore from the restaurant business. But since it only has the one branch in Scottsdale, Ariz., what's that mean to Dallas diners? Nuthin yet.

Local diners WILL care about a new place that Baum's management company, Food, Friends, and Company is about to open closer to home, specifically at the corner of Preston and Forest: Woodlands Grill, an upscale restaurant that, according to its help-wanted ads "draws its inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Falling Water, an icon of modern architecture. Woodlands, features a waterfall in the restaurant and a split-level design with an elevated bar. Natural stone and wood, combined with a clean and modern design, set the tone for a serene and upscale dining experience."

I'd make a wise-crack about decor except that the menu, viewable online, kicks ass. It has arugula!!! (goat cheese tart with seasonal vegetables, lightly breaded goat cheese medallion, and arugula salad, $12); shrimp and truffle pasta (hand cut pasta tossed with shrimp, brown butter, sage and white truffles, flowered with parmigiano, and black Umbrian truffles, $22); Kobe beef sliders slow-roasted and pulled, 3 for $12; the Woodlands cheddar bison burger served on a brioche bun with sweet potato fries, for $12; plus beef short ribs, tuna, etc. etc.

The first Woodlands opened in Illinois in November, and now this second branch is set to open on January 21. There's a grand opening charity event happening on January 17 that'll benefit the Vogel Alcove Childcare Center for the Homeless (make your reservations here).

And to cover ALL the Baum news, The DMN's Steve Brown says that Baum will be opening a REALLY upscale place with partner Morton Meyerson called Meyerson's (ego much? kidding), to be located in a new high-rise at the corner of Pearl Street and Cedar Springs across the street from the Ritz-Carlton.

Thai times two

Blu Ginger Thai Cafe is an extra-pretty place in Las Colinas that turns out to be a sibling to Noodleswing Thai Cafe in Flower Mound. They're both owned by Alisa and Pote Pruettiangkura, and they have similar menus and approaches (calling noodle dishes "twirlers", for example), with an especially careful eye for presentation on the plate. Restaurants are a second career for the couple: Alisa, who has an MBA, was previously a financial manager with Santa Fe Railroad; and Pote, who has a PhD, worked for Texas Instruments.

One for Dee

Del Frisco's, Dee Lincoln's Dallas-spawned steakhouse chain, got an on-air mention on Wednesday by Howard Stern, whose morning-show staff celebrated its second anniversary on Sirius satellite radio with a brunch catered by Del Frisco's New York outlet.

According to Lincoln, executive chef Clarence Van DeMark and general manager Scott Gould personally catered the affair at the station for Stern and the entire production staff of approximately 50 guests. The menu included filet mignon with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon eggs Benedict, crab cake eggs Benedict, and banana foster waffles. Del Frisco's also has branches in Fort Worth, Denver, and Las Vegas.

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