On yet another driving trip to Philadelphia (departed yesterday), the staff of Food and Fort Worth (wife and me) made a couple of stops and observations.
Observation 1: While driving on the freeway between the hours of 7 pm and midnight, the truck to auto ratio is about 7 to 1. Trucks being 7.
Observation 2: The clever idea of a rain sensing windshield to activate intermittent windshield wiper sounds good but doesn't work. Why does everything have to be tricked up to the point of failure? My suggestion: an easy to read dial that says 5 seconds, 10 sec, etc., so you can determine the windshield speed. This suggestion is made because it has rained all the way.
Observation 3 (made long ago): In highway motel stops, age is everything, i.e., pick a new or newer motel in any variety and you'll be happier; also get as far from the freeway as possible and always request a room far from the ice maker. Right now Super 8 is expanding and has many newer motels. All with wifi, some with flat screens, all with bad but available breakfast, most clean and cheap. $44 for the two of us. If you speak Sari it helps (I apologize, had to throw that in).
Observation 4: I have a love/hate relationship with tech. I would hate it but love it if all cell phones had GPS, as did all restaurants that wanted to make it easy for you to find them. Such as, type in Starbucks and it directs you to the closest one.
Stop 1: Little Rock, downtown Market Center on river. Very cool place with restaurants, bars, shopping.
Stop 2: Dickson, Tennessee. Overnight. ZZZZZZZZZZZ. It's Dickson, Tennessee. But the drive through the Smokies in Tennessee, and Shenandoah in Virginia, is fantastic.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
La Familia and Sukhothai. Always Good.
There are many good family-run restaurants in the area that serve excellent food at a fair price. I would like to mention two of them. The cooks for these restaurants will never be featured on the Food Network and I doubt the owners will be running for mayor. Their dinner plates have no swirled sauces and no vertical garnishes. There is not much subtlety in the tastes. But their food is good. The wait staff is friendly and you can enjoy a nice evening with a few friends and not spend a fortune.
La Familia Mexican Restaurant in Fort Worth and Sukhothai in Arlington.
In the F&FW poll of your favorite Mexican restaurants La Familia polled highly. Second place and almost first. I think that has to do with the fact that the visitors to this weblog are locals who know the authentic places in Fort Worth. And La Familia is a local favorite. It serves a good plate of Mexican food and treats everyone like a regular. La Familia moved a year or so ago to just off 7th on Foch Street. Al Cavaso the founder and owner has built a good, solid restaurant business the old fashioned way -- good food and appreciating the customer.
Sukhothai restaurant, off Fielder Road just south of I30, is as good as it gets in the category. Traditional Thai food. Again, family owned and operated. This a small restaurant in a old strip shopping center with seating for 30 maybe and it is truly family run. But man can they cook. Their Thai dishes are the best I have ever had. Each dish is served as it is ready, in keeping with the tradition of sharing different plates amongst the dinner party. I like it because everything is piping hot when served. Sukhothai is "bring your own wine" establishment. I am never disappointed when I go there. Sometimes we can talk the owners 10 year (?) old son into playing the violin. It's a treat when he does. Entrees are $10 - 15. The appetizers are delicious. Take your time and enjoy, no one will hurry you here. By the way, Sukhothai does have a Zagat rating.
La Familia Mexican Restaurant in Fort Worth and Sukhothai in Arlington.
In the F&FW poll of your favorite Mexican restaurants La Familia polled highly. Second place and almost first. I think that has to do with the fact that the visitors to this weblog are locals who know the authentic places in Fort Worth. And La Familia is a local favorite. It serves a good plate of Mexican food and treats everyone like a regular. La Familia moved a year or so ago to just off 7th on Foch Street. Al Cavaso the founder and owner has built a good, solid restaurant business the old fashioned way -- good food and appreciating the customer.
Sukhothai restaurant, off Fielder Road just south of I30, is as good as it gets in the category. Traditional Thai food. Again, family owned and operated. This a small restaurant in a old strip shopping center with seating for 30 maybe and it is truly family run. But man can they cook. Their Thai dishes are the best I have ever had. Each dish is served as it is ready, in keeping with the tradition of sharing different plates amongst the dinner party. I like it because everything is piping hot when served. Sukhothai is "bring your own wine" establishment. I am never disappointed when I go there. Sometimes we can talk the owners 10 year (?) old son into playing the violin. It's a treat when he does. Entrees are $10 - 15. The appetizers are delicious. Take your time and enjoy, no one will hurry you here. By the way, Sukhothai does have a Zagat rating.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Wine and Food Lovers: Zambranos: Good!
Some people just have good taste. Cef Zambrano is one them. You can see it in the new wine bistro, Zambrano Wine Cellar, he opened on Houston and 9th Streets in downtown Fort Worth. He took a pretty beat
-up coffee shop and turned in into a bistro showpiece. This is a very good looking place. It's small with seating for about 30 - 40 including some outside tables and the bar seating. The wine display, table settings, and wall paintings all suit the space and the cuisine. Even the waitresses are good looking which is never a bad thing.
Best of all, the food is good. Pizza, cheeses, salads, bruschetta. All suitable to a wine tasting bistro. The wine selection is over 200 bottles with 30 available by the glass. This a great place for the wine appreciator, but both food and wine lovers should stop by, wish Mr. Zambrano well and have a glass or two. This is the kind of place Fort Worth needs.
The bad news: until the Omni is complete and Lancaster Boulevard populated with residents, shoppers and strollers from Sundance Square, I think he'll have a hard time getting the casual, walk-by diner. There just isn't a lot of foot traffic going by right now. In 6 months or so, when those two developments get started I think he'll be looking for a larger place.
My wife and I had pizza, a fresh garden salad and bottled water all for under $40 including the tip. I would love to have enjoyed a glass or two of the dry red stuff, but alas, I can not.
Great place for a light dinner, or lunch, a glass of wine and a walk around Fort Worth afterwards. Or for a drink after a movie or show at Bass Hall. I really liked this place.
Open for lunch and dinner. Visit their website at: http://www.zambranowines.com/
-up coffee shop and turned in into a bistro showpiece. This is a very good looking place. It's small with seating for about 30 - 40 including some outside tables and the bar seating. The wine display, table settings, and wall paintings all suit the space and the cuisine. Even the waitresses are good looking which is never a bad thing.Best of all, the food is good. Pizza, cheeses, salads, bruschetta. All suitable to a wine tasting bistro. The wine selection is over 200 bottles with 30 available by the glass. This a great place for the wine appreciator, but both food and wine lovers should stop by, wish Mr. Zambrano well and have a glass or two. This is the kind of place Fort Worth needs.
The bad news: until the Omni is complete and Lancaster Boulevard populated with residents, shoppers and strollers from Sundance Square, I think he'll have a hard time getting the casual, walk-by diner. There just isn't a lot of foot traffic going by right now. In 6 months or so, when those two developments get started I think he'll be looking for a larger place.
My wife and I had pizza, a fresh garden salad and bottled water all for under $40 including the tip. I would love to have enjoyed a glass or two of the dry red stuff, but alas, I can not.
Great place for a light dinner, or lunch, a glass of wine and a walk around Fort Worth afterwards. Or for a drink after a movie or show at Bass Hall. I really liked this place.
Open for lunch and dinner. Visit their website at: http://www.zambranowines.com/
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