Dallas ! Emporium Pies and KlydeWarren Park

More Dallas restaurant cuteness pops up everyday !  

A jaunt with the nieces to the Bishop Arts district found us at the cute Craftsman-style home of Emporium Pies.

As we drove up, I noted a couple getting some engagement photos on the porch. 

Me: "Look at those two getting their engagement photos here."

Skye: "Why are they doing that?"

I honestly had no clue.  My engagement photos would have slices of pies in my hands, and in my significant other's face.  (This is why I will never be engaged.)

If you get your pies to go, they will be packaged in a cute wooden container, bundled with colored twine and a wooden fork.  Packaging is everything.  I want to eat out of this everyday !

Slices run $5 here, with a rotating selection.  Today's included cherry, bourbon pecan,deep dish apple pie (super deep!) and lemon chiffon.

There was too many to choose from.  My nieces erred on the side of chocolate (they are indeed of my blood!).

Jasmine did not hesitate to order the Smooth Operator, french silk in a pretzel crust.  It was creamy, chocolatey and not as dense as you'd imagine, so you can easily finish off the whole slice (it's that smooth!).

Skye opted for the Ebony & Ivory, described as a buttermilk chess pie swirled with chocolate hazelnut spread.  Swirled is probably an understatement.  The pie tasted like an undercooked chocolate chip cookie bar where a mass of chocolate has sunk to the bottom.  In order words, it was absolutely glorious.  Crunchy. Creamy. Decadent. Swoonworthy.

The Snowball was a light and airy coconut custard confection topped with toasted coconut.  With a buttery crust, it was a perfect midafternoon treat.

After, I tried to make my nieces partake in some physical activity at the newly constructed KlydeWarren park in downtown Dallas to burn off some of the pie poundage.

The park is spacious, clean, and lined with food trucks.  When did this happen, I have no idea, but I am so excited at the prospect !  Food truck choices included banh mi, Coolhaus ice cream sandwiches, sushi, snowcones and more.

The kids play areas have neat little structures on which to scamper.

My favorite is the ropey molecule.  If I was not three times the size of everyone here, I would've totally gotten myself tangled in there, but I didn't want to accidentally smother any small child.

The humidity eventually got the best of us, but Dallas, you are looking pretty spiffy of late !

Han's Nonsensical Rating: Emporium Pies is a resounding, definite YES for ladies who dessert, gents to take online girls to impress them with their tender side, and for anyone who is easily charmed by a perfect slice of pie.

Emporium Pies

314 North Bishop Ave

Dallas, TX

Dallas ! Hop to It! Hopdoddy's Brrrrgggrrrr Brrrrr

Dear Dallas,

When did you get so cute and start becoming a little foodie town?

Love, Han & Diana

Everytime we come home to Texas, we are noticing some changes on the culinary front ! Hopdaddy's is a newish spot in the Park Cities area, and originates from Austin (where all delicious things are born).  The burger bar is not shy about how self-sufficient it is, grinding its own meats, baking its own buns, and handcutting its own delectable fries.

The restaurant is bright and spacious, with lots of large wooden tables and hightop seating.  Customers line up in a queue, order at the register, and tables are held for each party by the hostesses.  

There are a dozen hamburger options, half which feature Angus beef, and others that include bison, turkey, lamb and sushi-grade tuna.  Something for everyone !

Drinks are tasty.  Natural fountain sodas from Maine Root Company are available here (the blueberry is most exquisite) in addition to delicious shakes and rain water !

The salted caramel is remarkably light and creamy with a subtle salty aftertaste.  So good.

Diana and I shared a classic burger with thick-cut bacon, cheddar and added fried egg on top (don't yolk around - always seize the moment of getting eggy with anything!).

We were told by our server that nearly all the Asians that frequent Hopdoddy's gets an egg on top, and we were definitely reinforcing that stereotype.  I mean who does not want to see this luscious waterfall dribbling down?

The burger was delicious - the patty was meaty and flavorful, the bun soft and pliant.  If I had to ding them for anything, it'd be that it was slightly overcooked (medium shown below), but the hamburger was still juicy, so we didn't really mind.

Fries are thin, crisp and addictive here.  We ordered a couple batches to eat with the chili con carne, however, our server hooked us up with a complimentary cup of their green chile queso, simply because we were Asian.  We couldn't help but be thankful for our heritage at that moment as both made a satisfying dip for the fries.  They're both different (the chili hearty while the green chile is more mellow but with pep), and you really couldn't go wrong with either.

Lines remained consistently out the door while we feasted, but the waits still appeared minimal, and everyone was still having a merry time !  Worth the small wait !

Han's Nonsensical Rating: Hopdoddy's, you're pretty irresistible with those beautiful buns and that sumptuous shake.  Mmmhmm!

Hopdoddy Burger Bar
6030 Luther Ln
Dallas, TX

Dallas ! Brunchin' at Hattie's

I met up with my friend Ida during winter break at Hattie's for a leisurely brunch in Dallas' delightful Bishop Arts District.  A jazz musician entertained strolling couples engaged in last minute Christmas shopping on the corner.

Inside the brightly lit, white linen restaurant was warm and bustling.  Reservations are recommended for this popular spot.  And how could it not be popular when the complimentary bread is a choice of sourdough or banana bread?

I just stared at the server when he gave me the choice.  Who is picking sourdough bread over banana?!

The brunch menu is delightfully Southern, with buttermilk fried chicken, low country shrimp and cheddar grits and others, but my heart was already set on the hangtown scramble.

Yes, your eyes are definitely espying bacon-wrapped oysters fried in a crispy cornmeal crust alongside herb-scrambled eggs and home fries.  Maybe this dish is really cheating, because how can you ever go wrong with frying bacon and oysters together?  I felt slightly guilty eating all five oysters, and maybe I was just altogether shell-fish by not offering Ida one, but sometimes you just gotta go for it, right?

Ida had the pecan-crusted catfish topped with a lemon butter sauce and served with mashed potatoes and vegetables.  It looked great.  She looked great eating it.  It was a win-win.

After, we ate really disgusting cupcakes from Cretia's.  The floury icing weighed a pound, hid a layer of fudge, which I appreciated, but the cake itself was pre-frozen? Not quite defrosted? Tasted like crap?  You pick whatever reason you need to not eat it, and proceed to not eat it.

Han's Nonsensical Rating: I don't think it was the most amazing food I've ever had, but I just really like what they got going on there at Hattie's !  I'd hangtown fry it all night long !

Hattie's

418 North Bishop Avenue  Dallas, TX 75208

Cretia's

I'm not going to give you any information on them because I really don't want you to eat here.

Brunching and Horse Racing @ Lone Star Park

Over Memorial Day weekend, I returned to my beloved Dallas to spend time with family. My aunt was visiting from Taiwan, so my parents and I took her to touristy American things like baseball games and the Cheesecake Factory. (Don't hate, I love the Cheesecake Factory with all of my heart.) In addition, we took her to Sunday brunch at Lone Star Park. We ate, we swooned at the pretty horses, and we even did a little betting. It was a perfect afternoon. :)

A brunch ticket at the park buys you brunch and fantastic viewing seats... because hello, you don't have to sit outside in the Texas heat.

We sat right next to the window and therefore had an unencumbered view of the racing. *highfive*

Alright, let's talk food. It was a very standard Sunday brunch, with an pasta/omelet station, salad bar, hot dish options, and a variety of dessert. Here's a slathering of some of the stations:

The tex mex station was the cheesiest (both literally and figuratively), and the one from which I ate the most. I am so embarrassing.

Brunch also comes with a free mimosa or glass of champagne:

Here are some of our plates:

The food is good, but not great. You get the feeling that every item probably came from Costco - which, you know, I could totally get behind.

Especially when there's a vat of heated melted dark chocolate, and you can do things like this:

There's also an ice cream bar and multiple kinds of cobbler (there needs to be more cobbler in the northeast). The vat of chocolate was definitely our table's most popular item.

Brunch starts around 11:30a, and you can sit for as long as the races go. They don't take away the food until after 4:30pm-ish, so it means you can eat for a good five hours. Which we absolutely did, while betting on and cheering for the horses.

These are all the bets I lost. Thank god I'm a cheapo and stuck with the $2 bets. ;)

I super enjoyed our time at the park - eating, laughing, and screaming for my randomly-selected horses to win... I highly recommend a visit!!

Lone Star Park

Sunday Brunch at Silks Dining

1000 Lone Star Parkway

Grand Prairie, Tx 75050

Dallas ! The Original Pancake House's Apple Pancake

I met a friend for a quick breakfast in Dallas recently at one of my favorites, the Original Pancake House, a charming breakfast chain located all over the US.  Despite growing up in Dallas for over 18 years, I have never eaten their signature apple pancake. 

I wish I had taken a picture of their menu to explain why.  The apple pancake looks exceptionally unappetizing as a big, dark brown pile of.  Yep.

But today was about taking a leap of faith.

Like the ideal Match.com date, it looked even better in person, gloriously glistening in gorgeous cinnamon apple glaze.

Thick slices of crisp, tart apples sweetened by caramelized cinnamon sugar were cooked into an eggy Dutch baby-type pancake base. The result, the perfect excuse to eat something that most resembles a hot apple pie for breakfast.  Fantastically good.

This dish takes about 15 minutes to cook, so bunker down and your patience will be rewarded!

Original Pancake House
(multiple locations)
2301 N Central Expy, Ste 156
Plano, TX 75075

Cafe on the Green @ the Four Seasons

I know it's only January, but I already miss the holidays! So today, while there's still snow on the ground - making me feel all warm and cozy inside - allow me to reminisce about my amazing Christmas Eve dinner buffet at the Four Seasons in Dallas. Nice buffets are often hit or miss, but this one hit all the right spots and then some.

It was in Cafe on the Green, already a beautiful spot with views of sprawling greens, and I'd be lying if I didn't think to myself, "Wow, this would be a gorgeous place for a wedding." I mentioned that to my father, and he said, in the nicest way possible, something to the effect of "Dream on." And so I will dream! ;)

The first thing I noticed about the buffet was the dessert room. Not just any dessert room. A dessert room full of holiday displays of adorable winter settings - all made of chocolate and candies and other edible delights. It took my breath away. I felt like Reese Witherspoon in the opening scenes of Sweet Home Alabama, where Patrick Dempsey takes her to a Tiffany store, gets down on one knee and says, "Pick one." Except I'm luckier - because I didn't have to just pick one... I pretty much picked everything.

Did you see the chocolate fondue tower? Yeah. Even the food labels were made of chocolate, written with even more chocolate.

I was so distracted by the desserts, I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the other food setups, except for the kids station.

Um, awesome.

You'll be happy to hear that I actually did eat some substantive food.

Boom. Christmas in my stomach, without the hassle of preparation or cleanup. I loved the crab claws and cocktail shrimp. Fresh, plump, delicious. I took a couple of broccoli florets from the salad station for good measure. You know, to be healthy. The best part was the combo of the turkey+dressing+gravy+homemade cranberry sauce. All of it was spot on, with perfect texture and moistness. None of it tasted like it came from a buffet.

After a couple of plates of that, I tackled the desserts. Started out with this plate of goodness:

Clock-wise from top left: apple quince purse, chocolate pecan tart, fudge brownie with caramel dipping sauce, blueberry tart, raspberry macaron, madeleine with fig dipping cream. A strawberry pavlova fills out the center of my plate. I included a close-up of the pecan tart... because hello, who doesn't love gold-dusted food? Every single thing on my plate was absolute quality and delicious.

And also, I love pavlovas. I've loved them ever since my friend Jen made a spectacular chocolate pavlova years and years ago.

This one was also pretty wonderful - light, airy, with just the right amount of sweetness.

My second plate of happiness:

Clock-wise from the top: coffee panna cotta, pistachio mousse and tuiles, cognac pear tart, and caramel cream puff. Again, everything was a winner! My favorite of the night was the pistachio mousse and tuiles. The mousse was nicely light and flavorful, and the crisp of the tuiles was a perfect complement.

My third plate:

By this time, I was keeling over with fullness, but I couldn't pass up the chocolate fountain, or the creme brûlée, or the pretty cheesecake and chocolates. I just couldn't. And yet again, my stomach found this plate to be thoroughly enjoyable.

My point is, every once in a while you gotta treat yourself to a room full of dessert. And if you make it to the Four Seasons in Dallas, you won't be disappointed. I'm already looking forward to next year's Christmas Eve buffet.

Cafe on the Green at the Four Seasons

4150 North MacArthur Boulevard
Irving, Texas 75038

972.717.0700