Dallas Eating: Beef Ribs and a Cat with the Ultimate Restaurant Pedigree

24-25 February 2024

This was a short weekend trip into Dallas, in late Friday night and out ridiculously early Monday morning. I had that wonderful dinner at Tei Tei Robata Bar on Saturday evening. But earlier in the day, I dropped by a BBQ place I’ve not been for many years, Big Al’s Smokehouse BBQ.

I was actually not far away, so I thought, why not order something to go? And nicely, they had beef ribs – not the gigantic ones, but nice, hearty ones – on their online ordering system (many places that carry them do not due to them running out very often). So it was ready when I arrived and I was out the door heading to my crappy hotel.

I got there and unpacked, and got to work.

Not bad, I enjoyed them quite a lot. It’s very hard to get beef ribs in Chicago. I was spoiled in Virginia when I had access to the big ones all the time, so I’m not complaining even if I’ve had better ones. But solid and delicious, so I was happy.

The next day, Sunday, was also a busy one. I was mostly in Fort Worth and further west, so I was running low on time and had no opportunity to wait in line for BBQ. I had less luck with online ordering opportunities. So went with my usual Jack in the Box, my ultimate guilty pleasure, something I also cannot get at home in Chicago.

That evening I went to an early dinner because I have a 5am flight out in the morning. A very interesting dinner, as I was meeting a fellow blogger, who write the excellent Dining With Frankie restaurant blog. One of my very favourite blogs, so it was a pleasure to meet her and her husband over a nice burger at Louie’s.

Food was good, martinis were delicious, and the company wonderful. We really enjoyed ourselves and probably should have kept an eye out on the time because we ended up staying there for over 4 hours chatting away. Such wonderful people, and it’s always great to talk food. And I got to meet Frankie!

Although it was painful to have a 2.30am alarm and a trek through DFW because American Airlines changed my flight to another terminal – and the damn terminal train wasn’t working. How many people get their steps in before 4am?

But I also had a ton of work emails to deal with, and the timing was good since I was working on a joint project with someone in Qatar, so being active on email at 4am helped for once.

A good weekend trip that’s for sure!

Big Al’s Smokehouse BBQ
3317 Inwood Road

Louie’s
1839 North Henderson Avenue
Dallas, Texas

Review: Tei Tei Robata Bar

24 February 2024

I’ve been to Dallas many times over the years, but when I landed on Friday night at DFW, it was a unique experience…

I’ve never been here before.

Not many major airports in the world, or minor for that matter, I can say that. I can safely say I’ve flown in/out of several hundred airports, including a few defunct ones. But one of the biggest in the country?

Not a big fan from first exposure, but what can you do? I left a snow shower in Chicago to head into unseasonable warmth in Dallas. Goody… A busy Saturday, got a good 20,000 steps in, even with the heat. Only interruption was lunch, of which I will describe in the next post. But with all that walking, I wanted a good dinner.

When I was doing research for this weekend trip, I couldn’t decide on where to eat. I finally chose Tei Tei Robata Bar. The menu won me over, as it does not look like something typical at all. In fact, reminds me a little of my haven in Chicago after work, Cocoro.

I got there and was seated at the bar, where there was sushi and robata. I like this. I quickly ordered a bottle of delicious junmai and knew I was gonna be feasting. I decided I wanted to start with raw tonight.

So for a little bit, I sat and relaxed, enjoying my sake. Then it started to arrive. First the sashimi plate.

Oh my, this is making me drool. They serve 5 pieces per sashimi order, and these were incredibly generous pieces – especially the hotate (scallops) and toro. The hamachi (yellowtail) was smaller, but delicious. But the hotate was absolutely excellent. The toro was ridiculously generous and fabulous. All with some freshly-grated wasabi, and I was damn happy.

And also appeared are some nirigi. The ikura was pretty good, but it was the kamasu (barracuda) that really won the day. Rarely do I see this outside of Japan, so I was very happy. Next round will be from the robata!

I ordered and chilled with my bottle of sake, still enjoying it. Then it started to arrive.

Could you not guess I would order shishamo if I had the chance? Delicious, although not quite as good as the ones I had at Cocoro just very recently, but still addictively good.

This enoki mushroom dish is addictive, swimming in a buttery sauce of pure joy. I was eating this like some divine noodle dish. So ridiculously good…

And this grilled pork jowl was really good as well. One my my favouite cuts of pork, it was a sizeable portion and I enjoyed it heartily.

Oh this is good! I usually would have way more food, but I think the Dallas heat has zapped my appetite. But I had room for one more. As much as I wanted some of the collars, I feared they were too big, so I went with another helping of…

Yep, shishamo. I am messed up mentally by this fish. So good all evening.

A nice dessert focused on matcha ice cream, which was very much needed. Goes well with some nice Japanese whisky as well.

What a surprisingly wonderful evening! I thanked my excellent server and the team behind the counter as I headed out full and happy.

If you are ever in Dallas, do check this place out. Heavily recommended!

Tei Tei Robata Bar
2906 North Henderson Avenue
Dallas, Texas

Review #4: Bayan Ko

21 February 2024

I was a little surprised late last year when I got an email from excellent local Filipino-Cuban restaurant Bayan Ko that they were expanding into a new space nearby, but the existing place would be converted to a tasting menu.

And intrigued.

I’ve really enjoyed most of my dining experiences at Bayan Ko over the past year since my first visit in August 2023. Although my last visit missed the mark a little, I was definitely willing to give this new experience a try.

A very, very long day at the office in an extremely busy week, I fought my way back north to Bayan Ko. Got there late no thanks to the disappearing Brown Line trains. The CTA is such a damn joke…

But I got there and chilled with a nice cocktail as I looked at the interesting 5-course menu. And a little amuse surprise.

A taste little nibble focusing on whitefish roe. Delicious, and thirst-inducing, so I drained my cocktail happily. I went with the wine pairing and we began with a rather generous pour of Catalunyan cava when the first dish arrived.

Oh this is good. The black forbidden rice was absolutely delicious with the lobster, the fragrance was gorgeous as well. And the quail egg is always a winner. Definitely a winning dish here, and generous too. Then another generous pour of albariño we get the second dish. No prize for guessing what this is.

Good octopus. A little soft for me, but this is the type of octopus dish that makes people who are not octopus lovers (like me and Chef Lawrence Letrero are) like the stuff. Good dish. Then another generous pour (a sense a trend) of rioja and we have the beef.

This is absolutely scrumptious, solid wagyu here. Cooked perfectly, with that melt-in-your-mouth stuff that you just love with this beef. With the beans and plantain, as well as onions helping it along, this was a fabulous dish.

I am a little surpised by the portion sizes for this cheap of a tasting menu ($90), as well as the very generous pours on the wine pairing (only $45). Talking about that, now we have a beautiful garnacha – again a very generous pour – for the final savoury dish.

Lovely lechon here, solid stuff. I love when pork is cooked well, and it’s cooked perfectly here. Rich, crispy, flavourful. Beautiful, topped by some delicious tamal too. And it’s again a good size, so I was full!

Everything was absolutely fantastic from both front and back of the house this evening, and my love affairs with Bayan Ko has been revived! A nice amaro and we have the dessert.

It’s their take on bibingka, the traditional Filipino coconut cake. Really nice, a great way to end the evening that’s for sure!

I headed out very happy, already planning when I’ll be visiting again! Of course that depends on if the Brown Line hasn’t deteriorated even further by then!

This new format is absolutely fabulous, highly recommended!!!

Bayan Ko
1810 Montrose Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

I Miss Those Baby Tagines in Rabat… (Review: Shokran)

4 February 2024

This was a busy weekend. I’ve been stressed out on life stuff, as February is always the toughest month for me. So I spent Saturday morning doing some urban hiking and hanging out with some deer, before a very filling ćevapi lunch at D-4 Bosnian Cafe – to fuel me for some errands I had to run in the afternoon while fighting the haphazard appearances of buses that never adhere to any schedule…

Sunday was no different as I was out the door early for a lot more urban hiking. Some 7 miles later, including an hour-long bus ride, I was tired and hungry. A stop at a cidery for a few drinks and then it was time for a mid-afternoon linner.

I was within walking distance from a Moroccan place I wanted to try named Shokran. I got there and saw the “cash only” sign on the door. Hmmmm, do I have enough? I hope so. I walked in and as they opened at 3pm and it’s about 20 minutes after, I’m the first customer.

I looked over the menu and immediately I miss Rabat and eating there.

I eventually ordered and snacked on some pita that soon arrived. Also a nice jug of mint tea, one of the joys I really miss. I love the mild burn a truly good and strong mint tea brings. I was hungry so I was eagerly awaiting the food to arrive.

Well, this version of bastilla (pastilla) is huge. But it also wasn’t very good. One, the chicken was borderline indedible (read: cooked for days), rendered into something beyond mystery meat…it didn’t even taste like meat anymore. Plus, all you taste is sweet, not just from the powdered sugar, but everything else. This would have been an interesting dessert.

Honestly, when I was in Morocco I avoided this dish of this because I don’t particular like sugar with meat, and had a spectacular savoury seafood version instead. Oh well, I need a box for this, especially with my main coming…

The royal couscous dish was huge, laden with vegetables and various meats: chicken, merguez, and of course the lamb. The broth was much needed, drenching my plate. The lamb was fabulous, I have to say, but everything else wasn’t. The merguez was passable, but the chicken was a brick, and some of the vegetable was cold yet overcooked like it was reheated badly. The couscous itself was okay. But it was a gigantic dish again, so I was defeated after finishing about half of it.

So two boxes of mediocrity to go home with. It’s a cash only place, so I settled up quickly and headed out for my rideshare. I’m lazy after all that hiking and too much food this late afternoon…

It was okay, but not a place to repeat, sadly. But it does make me miss eating in Morocco…

Shokran
4027 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, Illinois

Review: Sayat-Nova

1 Feburary 2024

Some folks may not like going back to the office, luckily my job makes it very flexible. So I personally opt to go in once or twice a week, and it’s actually very useful – both to connect and to have some focused time to work without the distractions you have at home. So I can get some very focused stuff done starting at 7am (yeah, I go in early to avoid a very crowded bus), so by the end of the workday I am tired.

And I tend to skip lunch also, which makes the game of finding food more fun. I have a bunch of regular places I like to visit, but I also am constantly looking for places that makes it easier to visit when I am at the office. And today’s experiment is Sayat-Nova in River North.

Armenian food is delicious, but sometimes you don’t really get the traditional Armenian stuff but a blended, regional cuisine that’s been shaped due to the diaspora. I’ve been to Armenian restaurants that are all but Persian or Lebanese, with one or two Armenian specialties. Looking at the menu here, I suspect that’s the case here, as there’s no Armenian staples like tjvjik or even spas, and it’s very heavy on kebabs…

I got there and it was empty – except for the half-full bar. But everyone chose to take 2-3 seats with their bags, so I ended up on a table…fine. I relaxed with a drink and ordered from the menu, sighing that there weren’t many of the Armenian dishes I wanted to eat. Sadly very common with Armenian restaurants these days, as they just want to serve kebabs, remembering my short stay in Fresno and dinner at AJ’s Armenian Cuisine.

After a short time my starter arrived.

Lamajoun (lamajun) is a traditional Armenian treat, and these worked well. I read some reviews of people complaining about portion size, really? This is a hearty starter that should be shared. It was quite good.

Then my lulla (lule) kebab, which is the most Armenian of the kebabs offered. Quite good, again a hefty portion.

Goes with the rather uninspiring taboule I had on the side. I would have preferred some traditional Armenian etch, but what can you do?

It was a good filling dinner, but I rather have had some truly traditional Armenian dishes this evening if they had been offered. Oh well. At least I’ll have a dessert.

The mahalabeya, or milk pudding, was rather uninspired again. It’s almost like the kitchen is going through the motions, which also explains the menu being something less traditional and something easier to replicate (like kebabs).

I thanked my server and headed out, a little disappointed. The food was relatively good, but it was definitely not the Armenian experience I would have wanted. I really wish they add more traditional Armenian dishes as there’s very little opportunity to get stuff like tjvjik even in a city like Chicago. Now I can get kebabs just about anywhere…

Sayat-Nova
157 East Ohio Street
Chicago, Illinois

Review: Mehanata

22 January 2024

It was a very long flight back to Chicago from Paris, about 9.5 hours. Immigration was surprisingly fast, but then everything fell apart no thanks to the incompetence of Air France and O’Hare combined. Bags were coming, but turns out not all of them. Took about 1.5 hours for the “priority” bags to come out, meaning a lot of people missed their connections because of the idiocy of the airline and most likely the airport.

I’ve never heard so many French people swear in English before.

Finally got out of the airport and of course being in Terminal 5 it’s either get on the stupid people mover to Terminal 2 for the privilege of taking a rideshare or to risk a crappy Chicago taxi. This stupid city…no thanks to our stupid ex-mayor Lori Lightfoot…

So I compromised and took a taxi to a nearby restaurant for an early dinner. The idiot driver went the wrong way as well and had all sorts of attitude. This is why I fucking hate Chicago taxis…just the rudest assholes that complain yet are too lazy to use their gps for anything. They don’t care if they go the wrong way, the meter is running!

Either way, I got to Mehanata, the Bulgarian restaurant that I have wanted to try even before I moved to Chicago. It was empty this early Monday evening, not helped by some threats of an icy night. I sat at the bar, ordered a bottle of an excellent Bulgarian red from Targovishte, and relaxed to pour over the extremely long menu.

I eventually ordered, knowing how big the dishes are. Enjoying the wine and chatting with my bartender, soon the food started to arrive.

Shopska salad is a must in a Bulgarian meal, so it’s there as a side. I missed having this, it’s been awhile.

Some good garlic bread too, and I do appreciate it being heavy on the garlic the way I love it!

Then my “starter” – just to show the size of these dishes – a traditional beef tripe and tongue dish in a garlic and mushroom sauce. Two of my favourite things together, quite good. I love how you can enjoy the texture of both, not too soft (thus mushy) but not difficult to eat. Perfect.

But way too much food, especially after a very long flight. So I had to take a lot of it to go. Finished my wine and enjoyed a rakia then thanked my excellent bartender before heading out for my excellent Uber home.

Good stuff, I think I will drop by again in the future after landing at O’Hare, especially if I’m trapped at Terminal 5!

Mehanata
1141 Lee Street
Des Plaines, Illinois