And the Eat Goes On

Shiitake Mushroom Flatbread at Dish



Wine Tasting at Dish

Yesterday's food tour continued with an epic evening that included stops at three Dallas restaurants. (Lucky me, again!) First, Dragonfly at the Hotel Zaza. Though the restaurant is between executive chefs right now, the kitchen seamlessly pulled off three of its most popular dishes: fried wonton tacos filled with raw ahi tuna, crispy calamari served on a bed of sweet chili vinaigrette-tossed greens, and a sampling of steak and beurre rouge that was unanimously deemed excellent (I didn't try it of course). Most people know Dragonfly for its cocktails, so it's no surprise that each course came paired with a drink - peach jalapeno martini; a Za Collins, made with Hendrick's gin; and my personal favorite, some delicious concoction that combined Belvedere vodka and tequila with grapefruit juice and basil. (I have to figure out the name of this - I will order it the next time I'm here...)

Next up, a wine-paired tasting at Dish, the posh spot on Oak Lawn whose "deliciously simple" fare is served in a sexy modern dining room. First up, a trio of flatbreads (the one topped with Denison, Texas-sourced shiitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, local goat cheese, and arugula was my favorite); an appetizer of prosciutto, parmigiano reggiano, mandarin oranges, and fennel; and finally, a miniature surf and turf - barbecue braised short rib and a sea scallop served on a bed of roasted corn, cous cous, bacon, and poached egg. Dish's desert course was a petite tasting of four favorites: the smoked pecan brownie, warm banana cake with salted caramel sauce, chocolate mousse, and lemon ice box pie, served with a Hungarian dessert wine called tokaji.

Nonna

Though my body would have been happy to end there, we had one more stop to make - Nonna, winner of D magazine's Best of Big D 2010: Best Italian Restaurant. Here, the food took center stage in this simple, cozy restaurant in Highland Park. Silky burrata cheese with panzanella and caponata (a grilled eggplant salad) was served with garlicy grilled toast points, followed by lobster ravioli in a bowl of lobster broth. A lobster ravioli to please purists, the delicate pasta pillows were so soft you barely had to chew, and the generous hunks of lobster meat inside weren't hidden amongst any form of cheesy, chewy filling. Pappardelle bolognese, a seafood stew, and papperdelle with braised rabbit -- all served family style --followed. A small glass of Negroamaro provided the perfect partner to this deliciously handcrafted Tuscan meal. I ended the night blissfully satiated, with a promise to myself that I'd come back with my sweet, deserving, husband.