Victor Tango’s Received The Midas Touch

Saturday’s social calendar for 250 or so included the “invitation-only” soiree Nancy mentioned here.  It was a sneak peek of the soon-to-open Victor Tango’s (September 8th) combined with the birthday celebration of Consilient Restaurants’ friend, Anne Stodghill.  My event-attending friends were pleased with evening’s key elements: great food, creative cocktails and eye candy. As guests worked their way through the packed house, they enjoyed bites and beverages with Hunter Sullivan crooning in the background. Some judge a party by the people, while others determine its success factor by the food and beverage – this event was the perfect mix of all three. I enjoyed the food so much, I captured a Kodak memory of the night’s menu. (more…)

Jamon Iberico de Bellota, The Really Expensive White Meat

Hankering for some $179-a-pound ham? Central Market has you covered. The grocery store, on the southeast corner of Lovers Lane and Greenville Avenue, is now selling the Spanish delicacy that comes from acorn-fed pigs.

Apparently, the U.S.D.A. had to sign off on the slaughterhouse in Spain where the little piggies go “wee wee wee all the way home.”

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Crossing Guard’s Shiny New Whistle

I’m sure everyone agrees that we’ve needed a crossing guard at the corner of Dickens and Amherst for quite awhile. The new spunky-ish grandpa in neon yellow is totally serious about his job and he’s doing great. But he’s got this whistle, the loudest freaking thing I’ve ever heard. I’m not saying he doesn’t need a whistle but I do think he needs to take occassional breaks from the power chirp.

Captain Merritt Hater, put your cape away. I said we needed him. And I think the whistle is a good idea. But if he never stops blowing it, people will stop reacting to it. I’m just sayin’.

I Think It’s Time for a Snack

I remember the first week I came to work here at People Newspapers. Pokey O’s set up in our kitchen and gave everyone free sandwiches. That’s when I knew I’d make it Dallas.

But I haven’t had the delicious sandwiches since then, and I think now is the time to go. I got this information the other day and thought I’d better share.

Beginning the past Monday and continuing through Sept. 1, Pokey O’s will be promoting the “Jerry Lewis Ice Cream Sandwich” in order to increase awareness for the MDA’s annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. This special treat is a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiched between two fudge brownie nut cookies. For every “Jerry Lewis Ice Cream Sandwich” that’s sold, $2.50 will be donated to MDA! This is the first time Pokey O’s has ever been involved with MDA, and everyone is very excited about this promotion.

Kindergarten Mom Rules Vs. Middle School Mom Rules

I’m getting lots of questions in the hallways and on the school sidewalks about which back-to-school things I’ll analyze for columns this year. Funny you should ask…

One thing I know for sure is that some of the kindergarten mom rules are the same as the middle school mom rules and some are very, VERY different. Developing. Please e-mail your thoughts on the matter, I’ll be studying the comlex issue over the next several weeks.

First Day Volcano Scars

My kindergartener had a wonderful day overall. He loves his teacher and his new buddies. He even has his Sissy’s old locker. But he had one traumatizing experience that will likely stay with him forever. It involves a volacano and what could be called carpet burns. More in my column this week.

Snuffers Hot Sauce Change?

This breaking Snuffers news just in:

Those who love the chips and picante sauce at Snuffers are in for a big disappointment. My family went there last night for an end of the summer meal and I was extremely disappointed to learn that – for the first time ever as far as I can recall – Snuffers has changed the salsa that it serves with its chips. The new salsa,  I regret  to report, is very bland. The stuff was so bad it almost makes me wonder if they ran out of their regular salsa and had to substitute store bought for the night.

Anyone else get the new salsa?

Day 2 and I Already Need a Vacation

It’s much harder to wake up on the second day of school, isn’t it?  To add insult to injury, the Mansion’s Chef John Tesar is traipsing through Europe eating and drinking and he’s rubbing it in on his blog.  Makes me want to start planning next summer’s vacation already.  Merritt, you’re quite the planner.  Have you started yet?