Paco and John Mexican Diner

Have you met Paco? I have. And he's now one of my favorite restauranteurs.

I am writing this review again after several more visits to what has become our second favorite place to eat in Fort Worth. I don't know how anyone could have doubted our choice, since our favorite is John's restaurant of Paco & John... St. Emilion.

Last weekend Hambre Esposo & his wife joined Foodie and hubby at Paco & John for what turned out to be the most exciting visit to date. Side note: We have gone to eat brunch just about every weekend for the past month - see future posting on the brunch options. Back to the surprise - the dinner menu has been updated!! Not that the menu was bad before, but for all your veg eaters out there you have more than one option.

Here are a few of the newest additions to the dinner menu - the street taco's are available, vegetable enchiladas, spinach & cheese enchiladas, and I think there are a few more - I was so excited I forgot to write them all down.

Of course I had a hard time deciding since I thought I was just going to have to have the Chile Reino again. But, I finally nailed it down to the vegetarian enchilada plate (served with a side of rice, no beans). The plate included two of their sauteed vegetable enchiladas with a spinach & cheese enchilada in the middle. What a feast. The vegetable enchiladas are fantastic. It's the same mix of veggies that they use in their vegetable & sweet potato breakfast burrito - roasted peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onion. They are all seasoned perfectly and cooked just right to be in an enchilada. The spinach & cheese was okay - but next time I will order all veggie...

Of course the same starters are available - complimentary chips & their great salsa, quesos (crab, chirizo, and a new one with roasted peppers/onion), guacamole.

If you have not had a chance to try this new jewel in the Southside - don't waste another day. Remember for now BYOB and they are closed on Monday's.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

Yogi's Bagel Cafe

Small place, Strange name, Great breakfast.

Hubby and I found this place thanks to the title company we went to several years ago when we bought our house. We had been a few times (mostly bagels & cream cheese visits), but hadn't been in at least a year and a half.

Hubby's sister came to town a few weekends ago and we needed some place new to take her. We decided to give Yogi's Bagel a try once again. I have to say if you're claustrophobic this is not the place for you. It was Sunday morning and the place was hoping. The line was to the door, the tables were full, and it just kept getting more crowded the later it got.

For those of you who have never been, the menu is so full it's almost overwhelming. If you have a hard time making decisions - I highly recommend you check the menu out before you go. This place runs like the "soup Nazi" from Seinfeld - when it's your turn to order in line, you better know what you want.

They are well known for their "coffee bar" - probably 15 different types of coffee are fresh brewed with a "help yourself" type attitude. Also available is pre-packaged house made cream cheese and any type of bagel you can imagine.

Upon this last visit there was a wide range of ordering - Breakfast Taco (egg, cheese and potato), eggs/waffle/toast/meat, and Migas. Nothing is ever "bad", but they do have so many things on the menu - I think they make some things better than others. I highly recommend sticking to the "original" American type breakfast while here.

Don't be afraid to call ahead or take things to go. I have gone in many mornings and picked up bagels & cream cheese to go. The bagels are made fresh every day and the cream cheese (flavors & original) are prepared in house.

Ranking: 3 carrots

Ellerbe Fine Foods

I know the reviews have been mixed, mine is no different.

About a month ago my mother-in-law came to town and hubby and I decided we should treat her to one of our fine establishments in our area. Since we had been dying to go to Ellerbe's we thought there couldn't be a better occasion.

We made reservations for 7:30 on a Saturday, and arrived to find a fairly full restaurant. Tables are presented with simplicity accompanied by a menu printed and posted on a wood board and attached by rubber band. Each table is topped with a vase of the herbs from their garden on site. I know what you are thinking -are you talking "country kitch"? Not quite - think simple French country.

The menu is limited, but created seasonally with high quality meats, vegetables and herbs. Each dish is paired perfectly - meat with a vegetable. Now, on to the more disappointing part of my evening. There is one salad that is prepared vegetarian right off the menu, but not one entree on the menu that is vegetarian.

Fresh french bread is served with creamed butter and Hawaiian pink sea salt. The trio is wonderful, a delightfully sweat treat to start.

The salad of choice was the Mexia Peaches and Deborah's Farmstead Chevre. The citrus vinaigrette was just delightful and paired perfectly with the peaches and Chevre.

On to the main course. I was so disappointed when the waitress gave pause to my question regarding a vegetarian dish. Almost half of their vegetable sides are created using chicken broth or cooked with a meat product, leaving me with a less than desirable option. I just couldn't believe that a restaurant located on Magnolia would find it acceptable to have a menu with no vegetarian alternative. I felt that as a restaurant who touts their fresh, local, simple - what better blank canvas than to create a masterpiece for the vegetarians that frequent the Southside.

Nonetheless, I was brought a dish of soup broth with summer vegetables topped with their fried okra. The vegetables included, squash, zucchini, green beans, asparagus and peppers. The broth was seasoned perfectly and would have been great for a soup. The vegetables were grilled and had no flavor beyond the broth. The okra was breaded and seasoned perfectly and actually cooked whole, sliced in half - which is a new way for me to eat fried okra. If this is the only option for a vegetarian - I think they will find we visit once not again. I can't imagine paying the average price of an entree for this dish more than once.

As far as the other dishes served at the table - Veal Picatta and Johnnie Fair Glazed Petite Pork Shank - all were a hit. Hubby has listed this as one of his favorites.

Now who can eat such a meal and not have dessert? I had the Maw Maw's Bread Pudding, hubby had Mexia Peach and Prosecco Semifreddo, mother-in-law had the Schokinag Pot de Creme. I think we all should have just started with dessert. All the comments involved - "best dessert ever"... blah blah blah. I have had to Bread Pudding grow on me over the past several years - and this was by far my favorite. Simple, traditional and to the point is the only way to describe. I hate when bread pudding is like eating custard - this had just the right consistency.

For those of you that don't have room for dessert, all tables are served a complementary pastry - a single bite pastry with a vanilla sugar center topped with powdered sugar - delightful.

Reservations are recommended especially on the weekend.

Ranking: 3-4 carrots (totally in the middle)

Jazz Cafe #2

Oh, how you break my heart. Why Jazz Cafe do you have to let me down?

I know you say, "...after such a raving review"! I don't know what's worse, having to tell you all the truth or admitting to myself that my dream brunch joint has to be left in my sleep.

"What," you say, "could cause such heartache?"

The first (and only other visit) was with a large group, the restaurant was full, the music was playing and my heart was racing... so I probably let the adrenaline rush cloud my judgement of the overall service. Upon the second visit, hubby and I decided it couldn't take that long with only two of us, and not to mention when we arrived it was probably half as full as last time. The music was still playing, and the time management was still a HUGE problem.

We sat down at about 10:45 on a Sunday morning, ordered at some time around 11:00... here is the order: sampler Hummus, Black Bean Enchiladas (yes Veg friendly, see notes below) and 1/2 order Eggs Benedict. Not a complicated order - no special requests - just straight off the menus. We get our appetizer at some time around 11:30 or 11:40 - I know you think I am exaggerating - but I am not. You must be thinking that we ended up eating our appetizer with our breakfast - and you wouldn't be too far from what I was thinking, until it was well after 12:15 when our food finally arrived. I know, I know I must be crazy - but I am not - I didn't get to Central Market until 1:00!! I wasted my whole Sunday morning WAITING FOR FOOD!

Now on to the food.

Hummus was simple with lemon and tahini - not too bad - I'd eat it again. Black Bean Enchiladas: I thought I was going Vegan, until they arrived with a huge "dollop of Daisy" on top. This dish was nothing to ride home about - black beans inside one corn tortilla. I asked for a back up tortilla just because there was so much bean on the plate - I had to do something with it. Of course hubby ate the Eggs Benedict as fast as he could cut it and get into his mouth. He swears that it is one of the best Eggs Benedict's he has had.

Ranking #2: 2 Carrots

Vapiano

Several weekends ago, I decided to have a surprise date night with my hubby. We love to enjoy new "art house" movies (usually movies that will not show in wide release). In order to do this we usually have to make the crazy trek all the way to Dallas or Plano. For those who want to know, the movie choice was "Moon". Great movie and I would recommend it to anyone.

Now on to the main show: the new concept in dining out. Vapiano (plans are to have one in Fort Worth by the way) is an Italian restaurant that operates very closely to a Luby's. Don't confuse the food with the concept... Fresh & casual dining that you order at a walk-up bar, swipe your gift like card (used to carry your bill), take a buzzer, and move on to the next walk up bar you want to order from. Seems overwhelming at first, but don't let it deter you from checking out this joint. Low overhead (your doing the ordering, picking up and checking out) keeps the costs down to a minimum.

Because the concept was coined in Europe - the menu is extremely veg friendly. The choices are almost overwhelming - fire-roasted pizzas, fresh pasta, salads, antipasto dishes. The pizzas that we decided on: Margherita and Verdure. Both exceptionally made - I have to say I was jealous of my hubbies Margherita pizza - the flavors were just a little more complex and well formed for being what can normally be a "plain Jane" pizza. The Verdue was topped with mushrooms & roasted red/yellow bell peppers - not bad - I had great pizza a few days the following week for lunch.

If you are ever in the area and need somewhere to go, I highly recommend you at least try it once. The modern decor and the updated concept on "cafeteria" style dining is a great change to either fast food ordering or stifling restaurants with wait staff who may or may not take care of you.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

Top 5 Brunch (or breakfast) Spots

I was given a challenge the other day by a good friend to pick my top 5 of any category and keep a running list. He said my rules were they had to be top 5 based on my vegetarian requirements and that at any point the 5 could rotate or loose a spot.

Always up for a good challenge, I decided to start with my 5 top Veg Brunch spots around town. Remember these are only based on my vegetarian perspective and will have nothing to do with whether a place does or does not serve bacon & eggs.

1. Spiral Diner - by far best all you can eat pancake brunch (Sunday only)

2. The Jazz Cafe - who can beat jazz music and a great meal to cure growling stomach.

3. Esperanza's - I have never reviewed this place because I eat here usually once a week (that could be tedious), but if you crave Mexican early in the morning (or even at lunch on the weekends) their breakfast is great.

4. Taverna - one of our favs overall whether lunch, dinner or brunch (brunch: Saturday & Sunday only).

5. Cafe Modern - only been once, but the options for veg or vegan were nice and they change the menu seasonally.

So don't be a hater. If your joint isn't listed at least give these a try or post your favorite places and that way I can give them a try. I am always looking for new places to try (especially for breakfast/brunch).

The Jazz Cafe

I have found a new best friend and it plays jazz to me and feeds me wonderful vegetarian delights.

After several failed attempts to go to the Jazz Cafe for brunch we finally made it today for a friends birthday. After eating not so good sushi (review coming) and drinking (late but not too late) for said friend's birthday, we decided to get together on actual birthday for brunch.

Do not be afraid - you might drive past this inconspicuous building on Montgomery more than once. And, you might not be able to find parking in their tiny parking lot (it's worth it to park in the street or a lot across the street on the weekend). Or once you finally make it to the entrance the not so well kept patio could deter you from entering, but fear not - I won't lead you astray.

Today I entered the morning version of the Scat Jazz Lounge - my calling in another life. The music was playing, the tables were full and the place smelled wonderful.

I sat down at the table and made the comment that the food would have to be really bad for me not to return. And overall, I wasn't disappointed. This menu has a little bit of something good for everyone. I debated seriously between the Black Bean Enchiladas and the BOS eggs - I had to decide what I would order the next time I came. I decided on the BOS eggs (after prompting from the waitress) and was not disappointed. Now mind you it's not a Mexican joint, but it's definitely a spin on a classic. Scrambled eggs stuffed with cheese, onion, tortilla chips, potatoes, and jalapenos w/ a spicy black bean and pico on the side. They give you three tortillas to create your own breakfast tacos. Other orders at the table included Steak and Eggs w/ a side of French Toast (made with an English Muffin - a unique way to create french toast); Eggs Florentine (Eggs Benedict made w/ spinach in place of the ham) w/ a side of a single pancake (large enough to feed the table, this pancake was killer. Thick, fluffy and with a spice in the batter it was excellent); and a half order of Eggs Benedict. All the eggs were poached just right - not too runny and not too hard. The sauce was thick, but not chunky.

Yes, you can get a full order or half order of most of the Benedict options - just the right size for portion control - I don't know who wants portion control with this type food - but it's there.

One downside was the lack of service. We got one coffee & water refill the entire time we were there and we were there for a while. A table of two sat after us and got their food service almost a full 15 minutes before us. That was probably the most frustrating was waiting and waiting and waiting to get our food. And then really once we ordered we didn't see our waitress again until she brought us our food and then we had to go track her down to pay (literally).

Don't be fooled - I'll go again. I wasn't in a hurry this visit and I'll make sure I'm not in a hurry next time. It was worth the wait to enjoy the conversation with our friends and listen to the great music.

Don't forget the following: At the Jazz Cafe it's okay to call in an order to go, bring cash or check book - they don't take credit/debit cards, it's first come first serve seat yourself.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

The Ranking System

I have been told by several people, but none to subtly by my wonderful hubby that I should create a ranking system for the restaurants that I review. So after many attempts to ward off this type of generic labeling I have finally given in to the requests.

I make no guarantees regarding the success or failure of this system - I will probably continue to blame it on my husband (unless it becomes a success). My rankings will be based on the following:

- Atmosphere

- Service

- Quality of food

- Cleanliness

- Amount of time for food service

- And last but not least, the vegetarian offering and/or lack there of.

So here's how it will go:

FULL SET OF UTENSILS: This restaurant meets all my requirements to be a favorite and will be or has been frequented more than once. More than likely it is a staple restaurant and is visited once a week.

MISSING THE SPOON: This restaurant has potential, but something just wasn't quite right. Usually in the detail of the review the specifics will be given as to why it wasn't given the highest honor.

MISSING THE KNIFE: Not the most important utensil at the table, but nonetheless could be disappointing to not have one if needed. Any restaurant getting this label just wasn't all put together. Could have been several minor mistakes or one gigantic one. Usually this is just those places that are mediocre, but because we all have faults would probably be eaten at again.

MISSING THE FORK: Most meals are not a success without a fork and so goes it for a restaurant getting this label. Sorry to say it just didn't quite cut it. Any restaurant missing a veg option will automatically get this label.

NO UTENSILS AT ALL: I think this needs no explanation. Horrible and won't return.

Vidalias

About a month ago, some long time family friends came to town from Oklahoma. They of course needed a taste of the great life in Fort Worth and wanted to try one of our great breakfast/brunch institutions. Neither the Mr. or I had tried Vidalias and suggested we go and give it a try.

For those of you that don't know Vidalias is attached to the great Marriott Renaissance Hotel. The restaurants has been award as an official "Go Texan" restaurant by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The dress is causal, but the decor is top notch. We went super casual that Saturday morning - prepared to do our errand running for the day - I almost felt out of place. But don't fret - the staff is laid back, friendly, and down home Texan.

We had a large group of 6 and were one of the first at the restaurant that morning. If you are one of those people that have a secret pleasure with the nice hotel buffet - Vidalias is the place for you! Enjoy the buffet without paying to stay the night at a hotel.

Veg that I am I leaned toward a light and filling breakfast. I had the House Made Granola w/ Yogurt and Fruit. I didn't know you could make such a large helping of yogurt and granola - but this dish was ginormous. I ate probably a 1/4 of the helping I received. The fruit was fresh and seasonal and the granola was fantastic.

Several of the others ordered the Traditional Eggs Benedict and two ordered the buffet. Foodie hubby totally took advantage of the buffet - plates full of bacon, sausage, fresh made mini Belgium Waffles, a made to order omelet and the Granola w/ Yogurt and Fruit.

Overall the restaurant was good. I would definitely go again and recommend it to anyone who lives locally or is out of town staying in Sundance.

Ranking: 3 Carrots

Best of... Vote for Spiral

For those of you that don't know - Spiral Diner is my fav.

Veg News Magazine (which I subscribe to - and you should too - to get all the great recipes and shopping ideas) is having their annual "Veggie Awards" voting. So, go vote for Spiral to be the "Best Vegan Restaurant" in the whole US. Yeah, you read right - Spiral should be the Best Vegan Restaurant in the whole world.

http://www.vegnews.com

Why No Posts

I'm so sorry to those of you that actually check this out on a regular basis. Hubby and I have been super busy lately - weddings, 4th of July and just neighborhood socializing. I'd be more than happy to review all the cookout and pot-lucks we have attended in the last 3 months, but I think that would be rather boring and since we aren't planning on feeding any readers, a total waste of time.

For those of you that truly want to know coming soon are reviews for La Familia Mexican Restaurant and Vidalias (brunch review).

Thanks for the patients and hope you enjoy some of the upcoming as much as we have!!

Brennan's, New Orleans - Brunch

This is Foodie husband's dream brunch. Brennan's, which has been open since 1946 (see website), is known for the set brunch menu. You begin with a starter, entree and then dessert. Yes - they encourage dessert even after breakfast.

We needed something to get us started and ordered their famous Brandy Milk Punch, for those of you that want to watch your figure skip this section - a concoction of half & half, brandy, and topped with a sprinkle of fresh nutmeg. Oh yeah it tasted as good as it sounds.

I started with the Baked Apple in Double Cream - a cored apple baked and then covered with warmed cream, carmel and cinnamon. Very delicious, and for those of you who have always talked about having dessert first - this the place. Other veg options included Strawberries and Double Cream. Hubby started with their signature Maude's Seafood Okra Gumbo. This gumbo is not made with a traditional roux of butter and flour, but is created using okra instead - there are several other restaurants that have stolen this idea and have an Okra based gumbo on the menu.

Our waiter, who has probably worked at Brennan's since it opened (not really), was outstanding - confident, suggestive, and very willing to take the bull by the horns if given the opportunity. I was debating between the two veg options on the menu - Eggs Sardou & Eggs Portuguese. Why debate when you can have both! He took over and offered to bring me one of each - how phenomenal! For my taste buds the Eggs Sardou was too bland, although it had an excellent presentation and overall did not taste bad. Now the Eggs Portuguese on the other hand - creative, tasty, and creole. There is no question, next time Eggs Portuguese will win the debate. I feel that this dish would have even be just as tasty without the pouched egg on top - the sauce and the flaky pastry were fantastic. Foodie's hubby didn't stray too far from the signature side of Brennan's (wait till you hear about dessert) - Eggs Hossarde was his selection - I don't even know if he tasted it, he woofed it down so fast.

Now to the important stuff - dessert. An order of Banana's Foster (Brennan's specialty) and Crepes Fitzgerald were ordered to share. Both were scrumptious. By this point in the meal I felt like I could bust, but why stop eating such luscious plates of food? We both cleaned our plates and seriously debated about picking them up and drinking the sauces left behind.

This is a "must go" in New Orleans. Reservations recommended. I might go back to New Orleans just to eat here - why aren't you an option in Fort Worth yet?

Ranking: 5 Carrots

Court of Two Sisters, New Orleans

Well, for those of you who aren't in the French Quarter "know", this is supposedly one of the "must go" places if you are in New Orleans. Foodie hubby and I decided late one evening to go here for dinner.

The outdoor patio has been painstakingly designed to provide shade during the heat of the day and a glorious nightly vision in the evening. The wait staff was pleasant, but not top notch. The maitre'D was polite to us, but I watched as another couple asked to be seated at a smaller table and you would have thought they asked him to cut off his right arm.

The restaurant is known for the Table D'Hote or the fixed price, 4 course meal. I politely asked if I might substitute the vegetarian option from the a la carte menu and order the 4 courses. They were not willing to work with me at all. I was extremely disappointed that a vegetarian is not allowed to enjoy the other 3 courses unless they are willing to spend an arm and a leg to order them all a la carte. Shame on you Court of Two Sister for discriminating on those of us in the community who do not want to eat a half a cow or a bottom feeder fish.

Now that I have ranted about their equality for all - I started with the Court of Two Sisters Salad (minus the Tasso or ham). The Creole French dressing was beautiful and had that kick. Overall nothing to toot your horn about. I then ordered the Eggplant Napoleon off the a la carte menu and I'm so glad that I did. This dish provided one of the most savory dishes the entire time we were in New Orleans. For the Vegetarian's in the hunt - this dish is well worth the money - I wouldn't hesitate to have it again. I just hope that the Court of Two Sisters opens their eyes to the fact that vegetarians might like to enjoy the 4 course meal as well and add an option to the fixed price meal.

Foodie husband of course ordered from the Table D'Hote. For a starter he had the Turtle Soup Au Sherry. The trick to this dish is the sherry added to the roux. Overall Foodie hubby gets this just for the roux - the turtle is a tougher meat and can take away from the overall enjoyment of the soup. For his entree - Corn Fried Des Allemands Catfish (served with lump crabmeat cole slaw & cajun tarter sauce). The presentation was striking - yes even for catfish. Hubby doesn't enjoy tarter sauce and it was all over the catfish, so this dish was wasted on him, but the cole slaw excellently seasoned.

The final event - Bread Pudding. This dish was traditional through and through. The bread was soaked and stuffed perfectly making the consistency exactly like a thick, moist cake. It wasn't over done, runny or stuffed with any frills. By far some of the best bread pudding eaten by either of us over the years.

Overall, if on a limited budget this is probably not the place you want to waste your money on. If you have the time and resources you should definitely add it to the list - just to say you have been. Would I give it a second try? - maybe if they added the Veg option to the set priced option.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

New Orleans

As some of you might know, we took a mini vacation to New Orleans for a wedding this weekend. I normally would only write about places that most people could access from the Fort Worth area, but I thought it might be nice to give some restaurant ideas for those of you who might be visiting the New Orleans area in the future.

I have to say for those of you who are vegetarians you must search high and low to find a place in the French Quarter. If you are a full on vegan - "good luck" is all I can say.

Foddie's hubby has had a myriad of delightful meals - all of which I am sure are packed with calories, fat and the like. But, who can deny a manly man the great pleasure of a meaty meal. And for those of you that do consume meat - oh the bounties of this area are overflowing with mouth-watering options for you.

Edelwiess

So, Foodie's hubby and some of his buddies went to eat at Edelweiss, and one of the guys wanted to be a guest blogger.  So, without further adue - here it is:

If you go to the Edelweiss Restaurant website you'll see their a whole page dedicated to the celebrities that have stopped by for schnitzel and a chicken dance.  The last was John Wayne (and Mark Davis does not count) and I'm pretty sure The Duke has been riding the great plains in the sky for quite a while now.  I'm definitely sure the restaurant hasn't changed a thing since John Wayne swaggered in and cooled his heels.  But that sense of nostalgia, of a simpler time when men were men and schnitzel was schnitzel is essential to the whole Edelweiss experience.

    It's essential because it's not as good as you remember.  "Hambre Esposo" (Foodie said I had to come up with a name) and his ragtag group of fellow travelers (Or my father law, two brother in laws, Foodie's hubby, and a poor unsuspecting neighbor.) started out a boys night out in the Rhineland.  About half the party had been here before and recalled mountains of food, stines of dark larger, and swiss miss wattresses. Unspecting Neighbor asked me what to expect and all I could think of was "kinda a traditional German Hooters".  That's what I thought of it the last time I was there when I was fifteen. 

    That's not quite what we walked into.  It was dark as we walked in around 7:45 pm on Saturday night, but you could tell it was maybe a quarter full.  The walls were full of pictures of men with big lapels and wide ties and the waitresses serving them had a familiar feel to them. They were familiar because they were still waiting on tables there when we walked in.  The musicans were on a break so as we walked in there was more of an awkward family dinner vibe than Beirgarten.  We sat down, the matronly waitress got our drink orders, and everyone scoured the menu. 

    Everything is traditional. there is schnitzel of course along with sausage plates, steaks, and Beef Rouladen.  Most of the table, including Hambre Esposo, got the Combination Plate.  The plate contains everything you're there for - Jaeger and Vienna Schnitzel, mashed potatoes, saurkraut, one big rib, and spinach. I would have gone through each item and given a description and how I thought it went together, but really one description will suffice. "Eh."  Everything was just Ehhh.  Not bad, but not good either.  There was a lot of it so it had that going for it. 

    It wasn't just that the food underwelmed, but the whole experience had a half ass feel to it. Not that anyone was not doing their part, rather it didn't live up to memories. Those who had been there had stories about eating well and proudly drinking while loudly singing along with the crowd to whatever the band was playing. This time there was no crowd, our beer was kinda flat, and the band seem to play the same song as Bernd, owner/emcee, sang/talk through songs like a German Willie Nelson.  Nothing was bad, it was just not as good as anyone remembered.  A woman got up and played the saw and that ended up being what we talked about as we headed out that night. 

   Do not take this as a slam on Edelweiss. I'm sure that if you go at 5 in the afternoon on a weekday it is hopping and swinging like John Wayne ordered the house a drink.  But that is where this restaurant's crowd ended up, eating early on a weekday, and Hambre Esposo and his band of brothers have yet to reach that demographic.

La Familia Mexican Restaurant

So it has probably been 3 months since we actually at La Familia. Don't mean any disrespect, but you know things come up.

This is probably one of the best "finds" for us with the help of "Hambre Esposo" and his wife (neighbor buddy & wife, also guest blogger). This was a late Friday night dinner after a neighborhood get together. For those of you that have never ventured in and out of the new development on 7th - there are several great little "hole-in-the-walls" (those restaurants that didn't sell out to the man).

Who needs to say more than Margarita on Fire! In a frozen mug comes the closet thing to a Norman, OK great at The Mont - a swirl of frozen margarita and sangria, topped with a sugar cube that has been soaked in tequila and then set ablaze. This tasty drink quenched our thirst and is well worth the visit alone.

For all the "veggies" out there I know you are so tired of going to Mexican restaurants only to be let down by the fact that they cook with lard - lard in everything including the refried beans. La Familia prides itself on using only natural ingredients and NO LARD in anything!!! This is probably one of the first Mexican joints that I have been free to eat the beans. So silly you say - oh no! - who goes to a Mexican restaurant and doesn't want the beans?

There are many veg options on the menu - from enchiladas to quesadillas and probably a few options in between. I chose the vegetarian enchiladas - stuffed with squash, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms and onions - topped with a small amount of cheese and tasty tomatillo sauce. This dish had just the right amount of veggies and a nice spicy kick.

Don't ask me about the salsa and chips - that was several months ago. I can tell you that all entrees come with bean & ham soup or a chicken tortilla soup - a nice little touch. So you ask will you go back? Of course! What a sweet find.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

Lili's Bistro on Magnolia

So this post has been a long time coming. Foodie husband and I went to Lili's last month for our 3rd wedding anniversary that happened to fall in the middle of the week. Yeah, I know not real extravagant, but the food was fantastic.

We have both been to Lili's several times over the couple of years that we have lived in the Southside, but I had forgotten how much I enjoy the creative dishes. Don't be scared - the dishes are little pricey, but for a special occasion or for a once in a blue moon treat - it is definitely worth it.

For an appetizer we shared the Hummus and Pita. Their pita bread is to die for. If you have a carb phobia - STAY AWAY - you can't stop eating it. I love a nice kick added to any meal and the jalapeno drizzle was just the right touch - unique & an added flavor to what can normally be a bland dip.

Hubby ordered the Lili's House Burger, which is topped with their signature Gorgonzola Cheese sauce and has a side of their mouthwatering waffle fries. As most of you know I don't eat meat, but my first comment was, "WOW, that makes me want to start eating meat again!". It looked fantastic, and must have been, because Foodie Hubby ate it all, licked the plate and went home miserable (see dessert note).

I was slightly more perplexed about what I wanted and debated about several items. I finally landed on the Tzatziki Medley which is a split dish of Tabouli and Bulgher and Berries. I have a hard time finding a Tabouli that meets my acidic/tart requirements, but this Tabouli can't be beat. The tart Tabouli paired with the sweet and warm Bulgher and Berries was a nice combination. I debated hard about eating the whole dish and not taking any home, but the following day at work it was well worth having the left overs. It made me want to go back for more that evening.

As I promised above, the stuffed Hubby ordered the Banana Upside Down Cake to go. He was so stuffed he had to save it for the following evening. But in the tradition of Lili's he warmed it up and topped it with vanilla ice cream and continued our anniversary dinner the following evening.

See their website for reservation policies. This is definitely a recommended pick!

Ranking: 5 Carrots

SENSE-sational- The Foundation for JPS Health Network

Saturday evening Foodie husband and I were invited to attend the JPS Partners for Health benefit at the new Omni Hotel in downtown Fort Worth.  This private benefit is a fundraiser to help the JPS patients unable to afford even basic co-pays for prescriptions and other health care needs during emergency situations.

I thought I would write about this because it is one of the first events held at the new Omni hotel and it would allow everyone to hear what an experience it is just to step foot into this fabulously designed hotel.  If you have not taken the time to "wonder" through the hotel, please do.  They took great efforts to incorporate the Fort Worth decor into this normally posh hotel.

I don't want to spend a lot of time on what the event planner (not employed by the hotel) created inside the space, but do want to mention that we did eat our appetizer's while blind-folded.  EXACTLY!?! What do you say to that?  

The appetizer was Vegetable Beignets with three different dipping sauces - Annatto Seed Mascarpone, Strawberry-Ginger Mascarpone (2nd favorite), and Pesto Mascarpone (Favorite).  Because this course was designed around us being blind-folded - the concept was incredible.  The flavors were fantastic, each sauce was unique and once you looked the plate design was to die for.  I couldn't stop eating.

The entree for all non-vegetarians was Chilean Sea Bass wrapped in French Ham served with roasted fennel and spring vegetables in a lobster bisque reduction.  Foodie's husband (and everyone at our table) could not stop raving about the choice for the main dish.  They wanted to stay away from the traditional steak or chicken - and therefore went out on a limb and created a masterpiece.  The presentation was original, and Foodie's husband ate it all - even the roasted fennel.

The alternate dish for vegetarians was actually vegan as well.  It was almost a lasagna presentation of roasted squash, red bell pepper, zucchini with the roasted fennel and spring vegetables on the side all on top of herbed mash potatoes.  The plate design was unbelievable - I thought my dish looked more appetizing than the standard dish.  Small sprigs of rosemary sprouted from the "lasagna" of roasted vegetables and thyme adorned the plate.  The vegetables were seasoned just enough and cooked to perfection - I would have eaten a plate full of the roasted fennel and the baby carrots if they had put it in front of me.

For dessert they created a Deconstructed Trifle with Flavored Coulis, fresh berries with whipped cream, and assorted garnishes from their pastry shop.  I was slightly underwhelmed with this idea.  The items to create your own trifle were placed on the tables on large trays and we had to pass them around and try not to get into too much of a mess.  On the creative scale this might have been a little overboard.

Overall the staff was fantastic, the food was excellent and I would recommend that anyone go and check out the Omni - even if you don't stay in a room or eat & drink from any of the restaurants.  Bravo - it is like a small Vegas style hotel and conference center in the middle of downtown.

M & O Station Grill

M & O Station Grill, a part of the Leonard's Department Store Museum, was an interesting adventure into my journey to find truly the best veggie burger in town.

The diner itself is quaint, decorated the way you would expect an old fashioned burger diner to be, and seems to have quite the following.

We arrived early on a Saturday morning (around 11:30) and they were freshly chopping all the ingredients for that day - tomatoes, lettuce, onions, potatoes, and list could go on. I felt encouraged by their attention to the finer details of a perfect burger.

I ordered the veggie burger (no cheese) which comes topped with lettuce, tomatoe, onion, dressing of choice (not knowing about their homemade "special sauce", I picked mustard) and fresh grilled mushrooms. Foodie's husband did the usual - cheeseburger - mustard only. All burgers are grilled to order - as you order them, so they come out fresh and piping hot.

The burgers arrived and what a sight. Fresh buns toasted to perfection, fresh ingredients, and a side of handcut steak-style fries. Foodie's husband was in heaven - they make a skinny patty just like he likes it. I on the other hand was a little disappointed. One of two things happened - and those of you that do the veggie burgers on a regular basis know exactly what I'm talking about - the sides of the patty were so hard my knife wouldn't even cut the burger in half. So, they either freeze these patties and then cook them as they are ordered, or they just overcooked it. What I could eat of the burger was fantastic - the mushrooms made this burger!

I haven't given up yet on M & O Station Grill. I'll give them a second shot.

Ranking: 3 Carrots

Paco and John Mexican Diner

For those of you that don't know, this fantastic "quaint" joint has opened almost directly on the corner of 8th & Rosedale. The owners none other than proprietor of St. Emilion's & his long time friend and chef. Am I personally excited - yes!! Why you ask? Well, reason #1 none other than my favorite restaurant of all times is St. Emilion's; #2 they took a dump of an old convenient store and transformed it into a great place to get some fantastic food.

The restaurant has been open for lunches for several weeks now, but just recently they have started a dinner flight. So, on the second Friday of dinner being served, Foodie, Foodie's husband and two other couples joined in on the trek to confirm the greatness that is Paco & John.

The prices are great, and it's BYOB (for now) - so we tried a little bit of everything. The queso - with yes both crab & chorizo - was ordered. I ordered some guacamole, salsa and chips are complimentary. Oh my gosh the feast began. The table devoured the queso - and the quac - I couldn't share. It was creamy and had a great kick!

I think we literally ordered one of everything on the menu (which is not posted on the website at this time) - fresh steamed mussels, fajitas, shrimp tacos, stuffed chicken, and two chile reino's. I don't normal do a ton of cheese, but this chile reino was fantastic. Slightly breaded, covered in a red sauce with a side of roasted veggies and rice. I couldn't stop eating!! Every plate on the table was cleaned.

One bust is the limited amount of veggie items offered at dinner. For lunch there are several items, but I don't think they have down their dinner menu just quite yet.

So following our face stuffing meal, we took home their daily made brownies, topped it with some vanilla ice cream and chilled on our back porch. What an end to a great meal.

Ranking: 3 Carrots (still getting it together and the veg option was minimal)

Ferre - Fort Worth

I want to say that overall, I find Ferre to be a beautiful restaurant, both architectually and with their food presentation. This restaurant is perfectly positioned across from the Bass Performance Hall and with mid-range prices. Foodie husband and I have both eaten at the Ferre previous to this visit, but I must say I will definitely think twice about eating there again - could have been on the ether of a fantastic performance at Bass the first time.

Yesterday (Saturday) close friends of ours had made reservations for 10 people (including their parents who flew in from D.C. for the weekend) at 9:00 pm. Over 60% of the party was present at 9, but it wasn't until 9:30 that they told us because we had one extra person attending (yes 11 people) we would have to wait for another section to clear. So, instead of adding one chair to our 10 chair table, we had to wait for a party of 20 to clear in another area that had been there since 6.

So, sometime close to 10 pm we were finally seated. Now 75% of our group was present (others were still in-route from work). Our waitress took our cocktail order and the hosting couple ordered apps for the table. Sometime around 10:30 - 10:45 another waitress was flagged down to take our main course order. The table orders ranged from the rack of lamb, scallops, catch of the day, to my usual Eggplant Parmesan.

After going through exorbitant amounts of bread, cheese crisps (and others had the appetizers), our main courses finally arrived. I was extremely disappointed. Foodie's husband was too intoxicated to comment accurately on the state of his dish, but mine looked and tasted like something I could make at home - not that I am a horrible cook, but you know you go out to eat at a nice restaurant and expect them to use some creativity. The eggplant was cut lengthwise, breaded and topped with red sauce - not impressed. The pasta that was on the side, should have been a main dish though. The light dressing was flavorful and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Next time that is what I am going to ask for - a main dish of the side pasta.

Of course everyone ordered desserts - I think one of everything. Our dessert of choice was Profiteroles - for those of you that don't know, this is a puff pastry stuffed with ice cream of choice and usually covered with a sauce. This dessert if prepared correctly can be decadent - this one was a flop. The puff pastry was extremely dry, the ice cream tasted like Blue Bell and topping was generic - melted chocolate with some crushed up toffee candy bar.

Ranking: 2 Carrots

Cheesecake Factory - Southlake

Yes, I know this could be on the verge of being a "chain" restaurant, but I found the most outstanding salad on the menu that I just have to share it with everyone.

I of course could not make up my mind - especially with the breadth of selection that is available at the Cheesecake Factory - so I just made a random selection with the Vegetable Chopped Salad. This salad is so loaded with veggies that any vegetable lover would be satisfied. The combination of fresh asparagus, edamame, apples and the beets has now become a favorite of mine to make at home. I was a little skeptical of the Pomegranate Vinaigrette, so I ordered it on the side. It had a little too much "Asian" influence for my enjoyment with the salad. I quickly replaced it with the traditional vinaigrette and was exceptionally pleased.

This salad is definitely a recommended pick - and it's easy to make at home as well!

Ranking: 4 Carrots

Tommy's Burgers

I was very disappointed with Tommy's - especially after all the good reviews and people telling us, "you just have to try it" or "you haven't been to Tommy's yet?"

I'll start from the beginning - we tried to go to the one on 7th first at about 7 on a Friday evening and it was closed! WHAT?!? So, we check the website and it said it should be open, so we get in the car and go travel to the one at Camp Bowie - the map isn't quite right on the website, but we found it anyways.

Of course I try the veggie burger - since supposedly it's the "best". I found it to be dry and pre-prepared. I felt that it wasn't quite as low as what I could prepare from the frozen food section at home, but it wasn't up to snuff with the other veggie burgers I have had.

The hubby got the standard - meat, cheese, mustard, ketchup. His exact words were, "it's okay". These burgers are extremely thick and therefore probably don't appeal to the hubby in the first place, but needs to be noted.

Might give it a second try.

Ranking: 3 Carrots

JAKE'S - Old Fashioned Burgers

Jake's moved into the previous location for Chili's in downtown Fort Worth. What a refreshing change from the cookie-cutter crap of the chain restaurants.

Other burger joints have been voted best "veggie" burger, but I found Jake's to be the best I have had so far. It was made fresh, had a little kick and wonderful flavor.

The regular meat burgers are made thick and to order. Foodie's husband stuck to the basics, with meat, cheese, mustard and ketchup only. He prefers the thin patties to the thick, but said the flavor was great.

The buns & burgers came out fresh and piping hot. The fries are fresh cut and seasoned great (Jumpin' Jake Fries). We haven't tried the sweet potato fries yet, but we'll definitely go a second time to give them a try.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

St. Emilion - Our Favorite

This is by far our favorite restaurant in Fort Worth, probably in Texas, and one of our top 5 in the country. If you are looking for a place to enjoy a special occasion, take clients or just enjoy a fabulously prepared meal - I don't think either of us could say enough good about St. Emilion.

We recently had both sets of our parents together for dinner and this was the place of choice. We request the same server every time - Jennifer, and had a wonderful time. This was my first visit back since I have stopped eating meat, and was unsure of the experience I would have.

For those of you who have never been, the menu is a set 4 course meal. You have a starter, soup/salad course, main dish, and dessert. The usual menu is posted on the web, but the best part is the large chalkboard w/ specials. These specials are made with seasonal ingredients and change regularly. There are a few options for starters and the soup/salad course that would work great for a veg dish.

I started with the Cream of Asparagus Soup (minus the shrimp puff pastry), followed with the Insalata Caprese and for my main dish I ordered the chef's veg special. I have never had anything bad, so I'm going to talk about the main dish. The Vegetarian Special was a beautifully presented plate of fresh vegetables - all prepared in a different manner. The plate had cabbage, classic mixed vegs, a potato au gratin made with spinach and red bell peppers, grilled asparagus, and mushrooms. I am sure I have forgotten a few of the veggies on the dish - but what a treat. They were all seasoned well, tasted great and will keep me coming back for more. Oh but wait! There's more - dessert. I tried the special apple tart flambe (topped with ice cream). It wasn't one of my favorites, but the creativity was outstanding. The tart comes out warm, and then is topped with flamed Calvados.

I could go on forever with everything that was ordered at the table. Foodie's husband had the Original Duck dish. Beautifully presented and so he says - WONDERFUL. Several people ordered the Filet, and my mother had Jennifer surprise her with one of the special fishes on the board. Everyone at the table ate everything on the plate - to the point of being stuffed. By far the most popular dessert is their homemade cookie formed into a cup and filled with "fromage blanc" and topped with fresh blackberries.

Make sure you make reservations (months in advance for New Year's or Valentine's Day). Recommended Pick!!

Ranking: 5 Carrots

Taverna - Short & Sweet

I'll keep this one short and sweet. Taverna is a recommended pick on our favorites list, but I can't help but mention it, since we took my mother-in-law to eat there over this past weekend.

Not only do they get the dinner right every time, if you are looking for a great place to have brunch - you should definitely give them a try.

I don't know that I have ever had anything less than excellent from the menu. I do my best to try something new every time we go. This time I tried the Eggplant Parmesan and what a feast for my eyes and stomach. It was nothing like a standard parmesan dish - stacked with eggplant, cheese and sauce - it was almost like a baked lasagna. Wonderful.

Foodie's husband gets the Balsamic Risotto with Chicken just about every time we go. Yeah a guy eats Risotto and likes it!

There are so many great things on the menu - it's hard to keep it short. There are items for all taste buds and prices to please all.

Recommended to make reservations on the weekend (or expect to wait!).

Ranking: 5 Carrots

Cafe Modern - It sparked The Start

Overall this was a great experience. If you have never been inside the Modern Museum, it is definitely something you should do. If you are not a fan of modern art, then grabbing brunch over the weekend is a great way to enjoy the wonderful architecture and landscaping - a view only available inside the museum.

They provide several options for both vegetarian and vegan alike. This made my heart jump for joy, since I have an exceptionally hard time trying to find a restaurant that provides at a minimum a decent vegetarian option, much less anything without dairy or eggs.

As a starter each table is provided fresh baked scones. These were some of the best scones I have ever tasted. I chose to try the Modern Omelet, and wow what a surprise. The Omelet was fluffy and stuffed so full it was overflowing on the plate. I was very skeptical about the stewed tomato, but it gave the egg, feta and mushroom a nice acidic balance. The potato's were seasoned nicely and were cooked well.

Foodie's Husband started with the Winter House Salad - which was presented beautifully, but for my taste that is where it ended. I found the salad dressing to be completely bland for the robust spinach. After tasting his, I wouldn't order it again. But he found it "okay". For his main entree he ordered the Chicken Fried Benedict. What an original twist on a great classic. It was "chicken fried" pork tenderloin on an English Muffin, topped with the poached egg and hollandaise sauce. I don't think it was too bad - he cleared his plate, and if it wouldn't have looked bad - he might have licked the plate. I have to say, it looked and smelled wonderful.

I do have to give you the entire picture. Don't expect them to be super snappy. It took a little longer than it should have to receive our coffee and water. We also received his starter salad before we received the complementary scones. I also overheard from the table behind us that his Ian's Shepherd's Pie was, "all potatoes and no meat." So, they of course took his plate back and tried again. It looked like he kind of dug around in the new one and wasn't overly impressed with the second attempt, but didn't say anything. We were finished before they were, so I wasn't able to see the final outcome.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

The Start

So, my husband and I are having brunch last Sunday at Cafe Modern (located in the Modern Art Museum), and it dawns on me - we enjoy trying new restaurants, love to eat and really really like passing on our experiences.  We have both tossed around starting a blog, but have never really had anything that just was life changing.  We have friends that blog about re-doing their historic home (we don't have this), friends who blog about their pregnancy/baby (we don't have this either).  

What better way to share our passion of good dining and great experiences.  

Of course, we also have a unique dining requirement. Approximately 7 to 8 months ago I made a lifestyle change, and I will no longer eat meat - and I mean no meat (fish included).  I also try to steer clear of all dairy and egg products (Yes, that would be Vegan).  So, when I review I will definitely be taking this in to consideration.  My husband would take a great piece of meat any day of the week - so don't worry - we won't leave you carnivores out.

We hope you all enjoy, and most of all hope that our experiences are helpful as you plan a special occasion or just want to know a great place to get a bite to eat.