If you want to dine at The Zodiac downtown, you’ll to have to wait until January rolls around to get a reservation. However, that doesn’t mean you have to rule out a lovely lunch at Neiman Marcus. Across the street there’s the NM Fashion Cafe, which definitely deserves your consideration next time you’re downtown.
I lunched there today with some friends before checking out the store’s windows as a sort of kickoff to the Christmas weekend. While my entree was tasty but unremarkable (Southwest Caesar Salad), what came before & after made lunch really delightful.
To start, the Queso Tortilla Soup is a must. Non-negotiable. If you like traditional tortilla soup, you’ll love this updated version. Instead of the classic red broth with chunks of chicken & veggies, this soup is a cheesy, velvety, yellow cream. Next time, skip the cup; I’m getting a bowl.
After the meal, my friend Eric & I split a slice of the Strawberry Dream Cake, which was so cute it inspired the picture above. Strawberry cake with fluffy white frosting… it was delicious. Half is all you need, because it’s really sweet.
Stop by the Fashion Cafe if you’re downtown for lunch or shopping at Neiman’s or just looking for some cake.
Word to the wise: Get there early. We lunched a little later in the afternoon & by that time they were out of the daily special, as well as the angus burger. How exclusive.
1525 Commerce St. | Dallas, TX 75201
214.573.8250
So it’s been strangely quiet here on the little dish, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense considering the holidays are like the playoffs for those who love to cook and bake (and eat, for that matter!)
I have to take full responsibility for that. I’m a writer in an industry that’s really impacted by the holidays. It’s a crazy, crazy time of year for me and I sort of shifted into “survival mode.” It’s been quite some time since I’ve had a relaxing meal out or investigated a new restaurant to try… Très sad!
But it hasn’t been all doom and gloom in my culinary world. For Thanksgiving, I baked a pumpkin cheesecake based on a recipe “stolen” from The Cheesecake Factory. It was a huge success. Assembling it was incredibly simple, almost therapeutic. Measuring out spices by the precise teaspoon, beating the cream cheese until it was soft and smooth, pressing the graham cracker crust into the pan… Simple and tangible and focused — everything my holiday season hasn’t been.
It reminded me of what I love most about baking and why it’s important, even at times when you think you’re too busy for it. Which is why I’m reaching out to you. I want to bake — no, need to bake — something fun & lovely this weekend. Any suggestions? Holiday sweets? A favorite comfort dessert? I’m open to something new to try, so please send suggestions!
Now as for that marvelous cheesecake… Not only was it simple to make, it was delicious. I used a Barefoot Contessa tip on cooling the cheesecake slowly to prevent cracking and it worked perfectly. You just turn off the oven a couple of minutes prematurely, but keep it in the hot oven so it continues to cook. After 10 minutes or so, open the door so that the heat slowly dissipates. Once it’s completely cooled, put it in the fridge to chill. I think the slow temperature change is what kept it from cracking. I’ve had trouble with that in the past and after following those steps, didn’t have even a tiny one!
The Cheesecake Factory’s Pumpkin Cheesecake
(I couldn’t find the copy cat site I found the recipe originally, but you can find it here)
Crust:
1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
5 tbsp. butter, melted
1 tbsp. sugar
Filling:
(3) 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
Whipped Cream
Mix the crust ingredients together in a medium bowl, just till coated and crumbly. Wrap the bottom (outside) of an 8″ springform pan with foil to prevent leaks. Press the crumbs onto the bottom and about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the springform pan. Bake the crust for 5 minutes, then set aside until you are ready to fill it.
In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice and continue beating until smooth and creamy. Pour the filling into the pan.
Bake for 60-70 minutes. (The top will turn a bit darker at this point.) Remove from the oven and allow the cheesecake to cool. When the cheesecake has come to room temperature, put it into the refrigerator. When the cheesecake has chilled, remove the pan sides and cut. Serve with a generous portion of whipped cream on top.
Once upon a time there was a Celebrity Café in Las Colinas. It was pretty much ignored by me because on the three occasions I visited there, I was underwhelmed with a too-sweet cake, a dry cookie, and a sandwich that was just ok. Nothing there was bad per se, but nothing was worth coming back for.
Fast forward to a week ago when a friend at work, Matt, surprised us with cupcakes from a bakery called Outta the Oven. The cupcakes were delicious and Matt had really nice things to say about the ladies working there (and a certain panini he had for lunch).
The cupcake I had that day was delicious: banana (if you can believe that) with a cream cheese frosting. When I went to look up Outta the Oven, I found that the Celebrity Café I had forgotten about is now under a new name. The scoop is that this Celebrity Café franchise (along with another in Addison) has gone rogue, renamed itself, and is now working independently. I’m not sure exactly how different their menu is from what it used to be or if the recipes vary that much from what they were before. What I do know is that the almost magical banana cupcake made me give them another look. Yesterday on the last day of National Cupcake Week, I went back to try a German chocolate cupcake that was equally lovely. Nice cupcakes minutes away from my office and they’re only $2.25 a piece, which is a steal compared to Sprinkles. This could be a very bad thing…
7979 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 130,
Las Colinas, 75063
972.869.0015
It’s Saturday and you know what that means? It means I get to do as I please! And when I said on Thursday that I was going to go to The Cupcakery on Saturday, I meant it! So I headed over there today after my bang trim with my guy Taury @ Pompeo. (He’s great if you’re looking for somebody.) What initially struck me was how fantastic The Cupcakery’s cupcakes look; they’re as pretty in person as they are online. I was disappointed to have only my iPhone for the visit because it really doesn’t do them justice. They also make some really cute custom cupcakes–today they had some examples of football ones they made for the Texas games, but you can get almost anything done. I picked a few of the most promising sounding flavors and headed home to share them for a taste test…
Tickle Me Pink – The Cupcakery’s signature flavor. It’s pink for cuteness, not because it’s strawberry, so don’t be misled. Vanilla buttercream frosting on either chocolate or vanilla cake. (I went chocolate.) It’s a straightforward cupcake, so I thought it’d be one of the best to really judge their merit. Delicious! Creamy frosting, moist cake, rich chocolate. It’s a killer cupcake.
Boston Dream – Take an awesome vanilla cupcake, fill it with a light Bavarian cream, and top it with ganache. Go straight to cupcake heaven. This one was my favorite.
Southern Belle – A classic red velvet. Nothing innovative about it, but that’s ok. I like the original version and this was a good execution of it.
Kir Royal – Sad times. This was the only unfortunate one in the group. Raspberry cupcake with champagne frosting. Sounds like a clever idea. Tastes like old alcohol and perfume. Couldn’t finish even my small tasting slice.
Damn I Forgot the Name – I wish I could remember the name of the cupcake. It was vanilla cake with tons of chocolate frosting and coconut on top. Amazing.
It might be a little too early to just let them runaway with the crown, but I have to say that The Cupcakery is my favorite cupcake in Dallas. Their frosting isn’t as sugary-gritty as Sprinkles and their cake isn’t as dry. They’re actually better priced ($3.00 a cupcake) and their flavors are really fun. If the little dish gave grades, they would get an A+, but since we don’t I’ll just say 5 stars.
2222 McKinney Ave. Suite 230
Dallas 75201
214.855.0003
Now I don’t want to drive anyone away, but if you want cupcakes 24/7, you should really know about Only Cupcakes. That site can really satisfy your cupcake needs like no other. Lots and lots of eye candy (and fondant). The only thing that makes me sad is that sometimes there’s the most amazing cupcakes and I want to know how to make them! Recipes, please 
Apparently, it’s National Cupcake Week.
W. T. F.
The one week a year where you can justify eating a cupcake everyday and I MISS IT? Let’s not dwell on missed opportunities. For the next four days, we’re talking cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes. Saturday morning I’m going to Dallas’ newest cupcake shop, The Cupcakery. Their reputation precedes them; About a week ago, a friend of mine was raving about the best cupcakes she had while visiting Las Vegas. Turns out, they’ve moved here! (Just for me?) Quite a fortunate coincidence, if you ask me. So that will be Saturday and I’m already excited.
Till then, stay tuned for more updates on Cupcake Week!
When we were making plans for our trip to London, there was one very special item on my list of things to do while there. Aside from the popular sites to see—the Tate, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben—I really wanted to have afternoon tea somewhere fantastic. On our last night in London that wish definitely came true. We had a champagne cream tea at the Ritz.
From the number of tables with cameras, you can see it’s a very popular place for those visiting the city or celebrating a special occasion. And it’s very obvious why. The tea room was beautifully done in ornate gold & rococo decor. The whole place was filled with a sense of excitement—lots of good people watching & servers running back and forth carrying three-tiered trays of sandwiches, scones & sweets.
The tea itself was served loose-leaf in a silver pot. I chose an elder-flower tea that was sweet all on its own & really delicious. I would love to buy some at a tea shop here. The selection of sandwiches featured ingredients popular in the UK: prawn, cucumber, “mature” cheddar, smoked salmon & watercress, plus egg and chicken salads made less creamy than the versions we have in the States.
The pastries, tarts, and mousses were rich & delicious. A raspberry & cream tart was made with a toasted pistachio crust. A strawberry napoleon was light & flakey with a vanilla custard layered in between sheets of puff pastry. The chocolate torte was beyond decadent.
While the sweets & sandwiches were wonderful, my favorite part by far were the scones. Light, not dense or dry, raisin scones were served with jam & the perfect clotted cream. It was the highlight of a fantastic experience. I really want to thank our friends Craig & Teresa for making it happen
My grandmother always would have tea parties with us when we were little. It’s one of my favorite memories of her. Sitting in such a magical place, I thought about our little tea sets and homemade cookies. This formality was a far way away from those tea parties at home, but the feeling of specialness was very much the same. I wish she could have been there. In a way, I feel like she was.
While it might not be London, you can have Afternoon Tea at the Ritz in Dallas. I bet it’s just as tasty & you don’t have to worry about the exchange rate!
Don’t be fooled by the dilapidated exterior of Captain Nemo’s Steak Submarines. It sits quietly off the corner of Grauwlyer Road and Irving Heights Drive in Irving, unexpected and unassuming. You might not even think they are open unless you chance upon them during the afternoon lunch rush. On our adventure to this landmark restaurant established in 1973, the place was empty except for an old man in a truck out front, receiving some drive-up service. (Apparently if you pull up and just wait in your car, someone will come out and take your order. Now that’s what I call service.)
Once inside Nemo’s, you’ll see it has a very old-school, “locals only” feel to it. It’s all wood-paneled interior and no frills tables and chairs. These are good signs, because how could a place like this stay in business for so long unless they served up consistently delicious food? We ordered a Steak Sub and an Original. All the subs come with lettuce, tomato, onion, special seasoning, vinegar, and oil. The Original is your classic cold meat sub: salami, cotto, ham and provolone cheese. Nothing too special about it and very standard except for the bread…
As any sandwich connoisseur will tell you, it’s the bread that makes or breaks it. Nemo’s definitely has their bread on lock. It is baked fresh everyday in the bakery next door and is the perfect combination of a crusty outside and a soft, chewy inside. It’s even available for purchase so you can take it home and make your own subs. If I lived closer, I would be taking advantage of this fact daily.
While The Original was nothing to rave about, the popular Steak Sub is a whole different story. It’s stacked with wonderfully flavored, sliced ribeye that warms the bottom of the roll. It’s then piled high with all the standard veggies and sauce mentioned above. I would almost liken it to a cheesesteak, although the meat is not sliced as thin and the seasoning is a bit different. This is the sub that makes Captain Nemo’s what it is. Delicious and unique, what more could you want? Oh, did you say carrot cake?
Let me just say this for their carrot cake: I usually don’t like it, but the homemade, fresh carrot cake that they bake at Nemo’s is an unexpected treat. The frosting is picture perfect and I dare you to find a better piece of carrot cake for the steal of a price, $2.00.
Capt. Nemo’s is a diamond in the rough and I would recommend it to anyone out there searching for a great steak sandwich and carrot cake to top it off with.
Price: $4.69 (Steak or Original Sub)
$2.00 (Carrot Cake)
1426 N Irving Heights Dr | Irving, TX 75024
972 438 7777
My birthday was last month and to my surprise, my talented friend Teresa and sister Andrea decided to make me a camera cake. I was blown away at how awesome it was. Just look. The detail is amazing, but you probably won’t recognize much unless you are a camera junky like me. Trust me though, everything was spot on and they worked quite hard at putting it together. I can’t give any details on how it was done because I wasn’t allowed anywhere near the kitchen for that entire day, but it sure did taste and look good, so I didn’t care.
[ Yeah, that's a hot-shoe!]
Oh and I’m back. My world travels were an amazing time but it’s also nice to be home and back into a semi-routine. Thanks to Dan for helping out on the picture duties while I was away and speaking of pictures; If you are interested in seeing some from my trip, head over to here:
[ Travel Photos ]
Yay! It’s WALL•E day! I’ve been so excited about WALL•E finally coming to my home and today my wish comes true! In celebration of WALL•E day, I baked this cake that looks just like him. “Eveaaa!”
The WALL•E cake started off really simple. I bought the special Wilton cake pan and whipped up a basic white cake batter. (I went with white because I wanted it to look really perfect without any crumbs showing through.)
After it baked, I shaved off the top of the cake (so it would lay really flat) and let it cool. From there, it became an intensely complicated game of cake paint-by-numbers. The cake pan came with an insert that listed out how many icing colors you would need, what decorating tips to use, and how it all is supposed to come together. I think it listed 26 steps in total. While I worked, I looked at a picture of WALL•E for reference. Following the steps word-for-word, there was only one or two times where I felt they were leading me astray. When there was something sort of weird, I just went with what the picture looked like…
Such a cute WALL•E cake! I can’t wait until tonight when I can go home and watch the movie! Anybody else a WALL•E fan? I think it’s one the best movies to come along in a long while, animated or not. PIXAR is just unstoppable.
