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!

Fred's Texas Cafe

Lost in the middle of all that development. Fred's didn't sell out! One moderately warm weekend in the middle of winter, we decided to venture outdoors for dinner, to the inviting patio available at Fred's Texas Cafe. The vegetarian option is the Portabella Mushroom Burger - "sauteed to perfection with all the trimmings". I ordered this burger with a twist, adding sauteed onions instead of the raw in the fixins. This burger is fairly plain all the way around - easy on the seasoning, almost none on the mushroom - if I hadn't opted for the sauteed onions the burger would have been so bland a baby could have eaten it. The fries are what makes the "basket" worth the money. Hand cut, thick-style, skin on potatoes. No extra breading - the potato and a mix of seasoning added while the fries are still warm. I ate all mine, plus hubbies, and probably would have eaten more if they had offered. Options in the "basket" include turning your fries into some their famous Cheese Fries or Cheese Fries with all the fixins - bacon, chives, sour cream, etc. If your goal is to have an artery clogging dining experience then you have to have the cheese fries. Layers of cheese on the thick cut fries, brown to perfection... add a side of ranch and mix with some ketchup and you have a well dressed fry. Fred's is moderately priced for what you are eating. The Portabello Mushroom with fries only will run you almost $10.00. Don't be fooled - it's worth it to eat on their patio, have a beer and enjoy some music if it's a band playing weekend. Rating: 3 Carrots

Cowtown Diner

This is Fort Worth's newest spot. Don't expect to find much here that is Veg friendly - mostly breakfast. But for those of you that eat meat - expect to be wowed.

Cowtown Diner has remodeled the old La Madeline in downtown to a Texas worthy - chic friendly hang out. The interior is leather and animal hide meets shabby-chic. Well done to the decorator - I was impressed. I am still baffled that they did not utilize the great outdoor space that comes with their space...

Hubby has eaten here multiple times (mostly without me, you'll see why in a moment). Each time he he has been overwhelmed by the creative use of "traditional" Texas mixed with upscale "cafe" style food. Don't be shocked though if you dish comes out missing items or not "put together" as the menu is written. Each visit has included a few faux paux.

My first visit included ordering a dish that they don't even serve on the menu anymore. It was a breakfast play on King Ranch Casserole - eggs, tortilla, cheese, tomato, corn, and tortilla strips. I made sure to ask the waiter that the menu was printed correctly and it had no meat product - after being assured, I ordered what I thought would be an unhealthy breakfast treat. When it arrived it was chalked full of CHICKEN - what?? I then proceeded to return it, only to have it return missing half the items on the menu. It came back as tortilla on the bottom, soggy and covered in this nasty cheese sauce and nothing else... no egg, no tomato, no corn... at this point I was a little annoyed. Hubby had already licked his plate clean and so what was the point in me eating now. But after a side of eggs was brought I attempted to enjoy my breakfast. It was so thick, heavy and creamy - a few bites later I was finished. I learned my lesson - stick to the waffles or pancakes.

Hubby enjoyed his Short Rib Benedict so much that he needed dessert at 10:30 in the morning. He swears that the short ribs alone were the best he has ever had, much less on his favorite breakfast/brunch item. The menu has either changed - or they didn't get the order right when we were there, but it was short ribs served on a homemade potato cake, with a poached egg and the tabasco hollandaise. After eating that manly meal - a slice of homemade pie was ordered. The inside was underwhelming, but the homemade crust was to die for. Get the pie for the crust.

Rating for veg-friendly & getting it together: 1 Carrot

Rating for my husband: 3 Carrots

Spiral Diner - Mucho Grande Nacho's

So for the month of January, one of my guilty pleasures - Spiral Diner - feed us a blue plate special full of Mexican food. For those of you that don't know, Spiral Diner is a strictly Vegan restaurant. They try and buy local and organic and never feed us meat, meat-byproducts, dairy, eggs, etc.

Back to the Mexican Blue Plate Specials -

The dishes were a wide variety of quesadillas and nachos. I had a rare weekend visit with my BF, and for many weeks we had been eying the nachos. I know you are thinking, Nachos?? Who cares about Nachos?? Well need I say more than it was Mexican heaven on a plate. Their warm, "cheezy" sauce, quinoa, corn, black olives, tomatoes, jalapenos, beans, and I'm sure I'm missing something covering hearty corn tortilla chips was to die for.

The "cheezy" sauce is made from raw cashews and nutritional yeast flakes and other yummy-ness - you can't tell it's not real nacho cheese sauce. I can't explain to you how good these are. They are so good they need to be a permanent fixture on the menu. Hello Amy, please add the nachos to the menu... I'd be there all the time just to eat nachos.

I don't know about any of you all, but it's super hard to find veg-friendly mexican food. I eat their ate-layer burrito just about every time I go. Why can't I have a nice vegan nacho alternative all the time.

We never made it back to try the quesadillas - we ate nachos every time we went - but I am slightly sad, because they were trying out the new "cheese" fad in Daiya cheese. If the nachos were any sign, I am sure that Spiral had a winner in the quesadillas too.

Rating: 5 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

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

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

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

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

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

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