When The World Is Your Oyster, But You Want Pizza

I'm not sure about all of you, but when you have a kid (or multiple) they usually win out at the pizza war.  At our house, most every Friday is pizza and a movie.  We sometimes make our own, order something that we can't get delivered (so we run in and pick it up), but in most cases it is a standard chain delivery.  While easy and usually enjoyable - it does get boring. 

So!  What do you do when you are kid-free on a Friday night?!?  You do adult pizza night and a movie (We watched The Gray Man on Netflix).  That was easy part - then you have to decide where to go get that adult pizza in Fort Worth.  That turned into a HUGE research/discussion.  

Here were some of the points of discussion ~

• Should we pick based off splitting a pizza - i.e. they will do a 1/2 and 1/2
• Crust and reheatability (i.e. how do those leftovers taste)
• Do we try somewhere new or do a tried and true favorite
• Yelp sorting by ratings and number of reviews narrowed the list down.

There are so many new places that we haven't tried yet.  Price, location, and just uncertainty of the unknown all played into our decision.  Once we hashed out all the possibilities, we decided on a tried and true favorite ~ Zoli's Pizza.  

Zoli's is the brain child of Cane Rosso favorite, Jay Jerrier.  When we lived down in the 'hood (aka Southside) we spent many nights enjoying pizza at Cane Rosso - or as it became known at our house "The Red Pig".  I think on the pizza side this might be another obsession with a chef - because everything he touches we adore.  We would drive to Dallas - 45 minutes away! - just get some Zoli's before we had a Fort Worth option.  

At Zoli's you have to decide - am I square or a round type of person.  Do I like my pizza large and in charge with a thicker crust (square pie), or am I a traditional, classic crust that's a little thin and doesn't get in a way of the toppings (round pie)?  Don't get me wrong, they both have their place in the pizza world.  I do not discriminate against any great pizza - which is what makes Zoli's so much fun.  

I've never, ever had a bad thing from here.  My ultimate treat is to start with an order of Zucchini Fries and almost not leave room for the pizza.  I've tried to replicate this wonderful dish at home - and I can't even come close.  Not to mention the house-made jalapeño ranch that you dip these wonders in, and some pizza if there is any left.  

The pies are all a preferential decision.   I'm usually a classic ~The Spangler, while my husband will almost 99% of the time order The Honey Bastard.  I do love me a NY White when I'm not in the mood for a red sauce base (can I recommend that if you order this, get a side of the red sauce and use it as a dip!)  As for the 50/50 split - Zoli's will accommodate a split pie as long as the base is the same on the two pies.  

Don't be fooled by our adult pizza night - every kid we see here enjoys the pizza - including our own!  They have a great outdoor space and the decor is off the chain.  Go have a great adult pizza night of your own, or bring along you kids for a great and enjoyable family pizza night!

~Ciao

Maria's Mexican Kitchen

I wasn't aware that you could fall in love with a chef until in my late 30's, my husband and I began consistently eating over and over at the same group of restaurants.  Sunday brunch at the bar of Pacific Table, Friday evening drinks and appetizers with friends on the patio of Press Café (btw great location to allow kids to run around outdoors), and an obsession with the dip duo at The Tavern.  Many might not be aware that all of these (plus a currently shuttered FW Cork & Pig location) are the brain-child of Chef Felipe Armenta.  Should I mention I've even graced the Midland/Odessa Cork & Pig location with my presence - why stay exclusive to Fort Worth?

Transforming the shuttered Fort Worth Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House location into a true Mexican experience, Maria's atmosphere alone is worth the price of admission.  It's almost deceiving to believe that for 38 years the building housed a staple steak restaurant for the Fort Worth community.  

The first visit was in November 2021 on a whim while out and about in town.  It was packed - which lead to immediate running to the bar where we snagged two seats and immediately settled in for a lovely meal.  The fresh made salsa and tortilla chips are out of this world - like could eat a meal out of this good.  

My second visit was my "going away" party for work in December 2021.  This was a large group of over 10 people - several of them from all over the United States.  We had a wonderful time trying new drinks, sharing appetizers, and it was so fun to see what everyone ordered off the menu.  

I know! You want to know what I ordered!  Unfortunately, this specific dish is no longer on the menu in the form I ordered - Baby Rock Shrimp Enchiladas.  However, it has been replaced by a close relative in the Seafood Enchiladas.  Let's just say the plating of three enchiladas with three sauces is amazing.  The three sauces are unique on their own, but together created a balance from sweet to hot that I have yet to find elsewhere in Mexican dining.  

Our most recent visit was for my birthday in April (I know I've been working on this post for a few months).  I went for something lighter knowing I would dessert it up later in evening.  The Los Cabos Seafood Salad (pictured) was fresh, crisp, with just the right hint of spice.  While our food is always amazing, the service on this visit left us a little wanting...  Our daughter remembers the wait for our food more than the experience and food which bummed me out.

Nevertheless, we will return.

If you're looking for something with vegan or vegetarian options - they haven't quite hit the mark yet.  There are several great pescatarian options - and I'm sure they would give you the "you can order a salad without the meat".  It appears they have some options veg style for brunch, but we've not gone for brunch so I can't speak to that menu specifically.  However, if it's like any of his other restaurants brunch - I'm sure it is amazing.  

Holy Smokes - 10 Years and Where Have You Gone?

 This is one of those strange posts where you look back and think gosh "where did I loose track of time?", "how did I have so much time before and now I don't?", or some other question of your choosing.

I opened some of my old posts as I was thinking through what I'd like to do with my life and thought "this is one of those times where I've enjoyed the permanence of the internet".  It's sad to see some of my favorite places no longer in business, and I giggled as I read through pre-child outings (oh freedom where are you?!?!).  But then I think of all the new places that have opened and I've kept them all to myself.  

Fast forward 10 years - my husband and I have an 11-year old, have moved twice, have seen three very old pets pass away (dog, cat, and fish), have added two new cats and an adolescent dog to our family, and I have recently left my job of 7+ years.  I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing with my life - I could keep a counselor in business for years dissecting my workaholic tendencies and trauma from my last job.  In the meantime I'm coming back to therapy that I enjoy - food, crazy pets, and writing for fun!

For those that keep up or randomly find these posts - I've updated a few of my lists (since it's been a bit).  I'll work on providing a well needed recommendation shortly - can anyone say Maria's Mexican Kitchen.   

After Dinner Drinks and Dessert

My husband and I had our first date night in probably over 4 months.  Seriously ridiculous.  Following dinner we were having hard time deciding what to do - the movie times weren't looking promising and I couldn't talk him into going bowling - so what did we do instead?  We headed to The Modern to enjoy the exhibit and then have some dessert.
We started off with a "after dinner" cocktail - L'etrusco by Pistoletto: Ultimat Vodka, Bailey, Frangelico, Xo Cafe, Expresso.  Chocolate, Cream, Coffee - really?! A grown up Mudslide - yeah I went there.

Dessert was Cinnamon Peaches and Vanilla Ice Cream with Pound Cake Croutons.  I was a little skeptical when it was brought out.  I could tell immediately that they were forcing the peaches into the dish (not quite ripe enough), but the ice cream is made in house and the pound cake croutons were playful and tasty.  I did ask the bartender where the peaches were from and was at least surprised to find out that he had personally purchased them that morning at the farmer's market, although he was unable to tell me the farm he purchased from.  Had those peaches had time to fully ripen that dish would have been fabulous - it needed the extra sugary juicy goodness from the peaches.
Would I do it again - definitely!

Grace - Fort Worth

Our first visit to Grace was probably a little over a year ago right after our little veggie was born.  We had a Groupon and decided, what the heck, we'll give it a try.  Shocking!  The ambiance is posh, but the people are friendly and the chef is fantastic.
The items on the menu don't rotate like some of the other "local" style restaurants, but because the menu is simple and the items aren't ridiculously off the wall, it's easy for them to seem "in season" all year round.  But, it seems that they did learn that not all Fort Worth locals eat just meat and potatoes.  On our first visit the chef was so kind as to create a vegetarian dish from scratch.  With this last visit there was a vegetarian item on the menu (beside the salad).
I started with the Organic Local Greens (from Tassione Farms in Stephenville, TX) - crispy potatoes, Texas goat cheese and beets.  I know, some guys are afraid of those "local greens", but come on - who can resist a Texas goat cheese and beets.  The salad is worth that alone.  Hubby had the Shaved Asparagus.  This comes topped with something they call the "black hole" - it is a sort of egg, bacon and hash bake.  Shockingly tasty, and he said should have been a dish of it's own.
The veggie dish on the menu is a fresh made Five Cheese Tortellini - english peas, ramps and green onion emulsion.  I thought I could talk the chef into making something "off the menu", so I was slightly disappointed when this came to the table.  First bite taken - disappointed no more.  A great "warm" summer dish that was the perfect balance of both light and heavy.  And not overwhelming, so have no fear I had room for dessert.
One of the guests that joined us got the Meyer Ranch All Natural Beef - grass feed, antibiotic free, no growth hormones.  The fat structure in the beef just seems so unnatural from what we normally see, but it so smooth that you can cut it with a fork.  Sauce choice originally was just good 'ol original horseradish, but the waitress talked him into trying the chef's special preparation of Espresso Horseradish.  If you are a true horseradish connoisseur - steer clear of this - the flavor combination is unlike an other, but not in a good way.

Local Organic Greens

Five Cheese Tortellini

Meyer Ranch All Natural Beef

3 diners, 3 desserts - Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake topped with Henry's organic vanilla bean ice cream - Pain Perdu with butter pecan ice cream, bruleed bananas and salted carmel - Chocolate Walnut Milkshake made with homemade vanilla ice cream, Nochelle and dark Creme de Cacao.  I ordered the milkshake - the best combination of liquor and milkshake around (I drank the whole thing), then I tasted both the other desserts ordered and both were top notch.  But, if I had to put them in order 1. Milkshake, 2. Chocolate Pudding Cake, 3. Pain Perdu.  Would I recommend dessert - heaven's yes.

**Oh and please pardon the picture quality - I don't claim to be a photographer.  But I thought I had better get better about including photos of the meals.

Mini Veggie Joins the Group

Oh my I just saw that the last time I posted to this was 2 years ago!  Seriously, I know this must be wrong.  Well how much can happen in 2 years...  My husband and I know have a 1.5 year old - boy if anyone tries to say that having a kid(s) is a breeze, please just smack them.

So, now that we have added a third mouth to this table, I think I will start to cover some items that we make on a regular basis for the little one.  Of course I treat her like a mini veggie - and so far it's been quite a success.  Although not all the extended family members think this is a good idea (and make those opinions well known).

I'm going to have to spend some serious time updating - we have been to San Fran and had some fabulous food - oh my land of restaurants!  Some restaurants in the Southside have changed and opened and some local regulars have made some serious upgrades.  I am horribly awful about taking pictures - so please forgive - maybe it will give you a reason to go try it for yourself.

Tootles.

VegFortWorth

Allow me to make your day all you Veg eaters out there in wonderful Fort Worth. Posted to the iTunes store earlier this week, VegFortWorth gives you a basic list of Veg friendly restaurants in the immediate Fort Worth area. The 3 main areas of interest include Downtown, Near Southside, and the Cultural/Arts District. No genre of food is off limits. While the functionality is simple, easy and balanced - the information is rudimentary. Vague restaurant reviews are all that are available - leaving you wondering if it's giving you a review or helping you find a veg option restaurant. Some restaurants/food options are not veg friendly, so make sure you know your stuff when you go to certain places. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the waiter/waitress and/or make them ask the chef. One HUGE suggestion is to add the menu of the restaurant, or an abbreviated version of their menu with the veg options only. Don't try and review the restaurant - just let people know what they serve, unless you are going to rate all the restaurants on the app. Overall reaction: Fun to have, needs some work.