Chop House Burgers, Arlington, Texas. The Best?

First, let me thank Lynn for the suggestion. I don't first-time-try Arlington restaurants much these days and wouldn't have found the Chop-House if Lynn hadn't said something.

The Chop House Burger is as good as you can get. Period. I could stop there, give you the link, and say, next time you are in Arlington, stop by.

But for those interested, Chop House Burgers is the venture of long-time steakhouse chef Kenny Mills, who, among many other things, ran one of my favorite steakhouses in the country, The Capital Grille, in Washington, DC. I mention that because after you have tasted one of the Chop House burgers you know that this is a hamburger that has had some thought put into it.

The "Best" burger in the area? I don't know, but it should be an entrant in any DFW competition. If you have been, or you go, PLEASE, tell me your opinion. Am I missing something or is that a great burger?

The fries, by the way: medium-thin cut, fried perfectly, hot, and delicious. One order is enough for two people, at least for Marian and me. The prices are similar to any of the better hamburger places in the area, about $10 per person for a meal. They do have soups and salads, as well.

Chop House Burgers is in a little strip shopping center at the corner of Park Row and Fielder.

I'll be going back. What else can I say.

Chop House Burgers Link: Here

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Zestfest, 2011. Irving, Texas.

I'm not sure why they moved Zestfest to the Irving Convention Center. No offense, but Irving...Zestfest? Something wrong with that.

Anyway, here are a few reminders from my last year's visit and some general information. It is a great show for taste testing and for buying.

1. There is a $10 entrance fee but you can come and go all day.
2. It can get crowded, if you want more space, ask when the "down" times are.
3. There are drinks to purchase, including Coors beer, but no food except 1 concession stand serving hotdogs and such. Of course, there are hundreds of sauces, salsas, and relishes to try with plenty of tortilla chips.
4. Try the super hot peanuts. Wow.

DETAILS:

Friday, January 28, 2011 11:00-3:00 TRADE ONLY
Friday, January 28, 2011 3:00-7:00
Saturday, January 29, 2011 10:00-5:00
Sunday, January 30, 2011 10:00-4:00
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Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
500 W Las Colinas Blvd.
Irving, TX 75039

http://zestfest2011.com/

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Super Bowl XLV. A Few Random Thoughts.

Super Bowl XLV at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, on February 6, in Arlington, Texas will be the biggest sporting event in the country in the year 2011. That's saying something. Super Bowl numbers are staggering: the number of people watching, the number of pizzas consumed, rooms and cars rented, the list is endless.

In the video, they say that 150,000 people will be visiting North Texas Super Bowl weekend. I hope they all feel welcome and that North Texas looks good.

We have no single-ticket draw here. No mountains, beaches, or slot machines. No French Quarter, or Colosseum, or natural wonders of the world. We do have amenities that match nearly every city in the nation. Great restaurants, hotels, parks, lakes, rivers and the like. And lots of wide open space.

In many ways, I think Fort Worth has more to offer SuperBowl visitors than Dallas, even though it is smaller in scope. Fort Worth has a model downtown with plenty to do and see. Traffic is a little lighter, it's closer to the Stadium and it's not quite as overwhelming as Dallas. Plus, it has an authentic western quality to it. We like the nickname, Cowtown.

I know many people are opposed to the intrusiveness of events like this and maybe the cost is a little daunting. But in my mind, the end does justify the means. The benefits are not just the immediate monetary bump, but the exposure that brings people and businesses back for years to come. Billions of people watch the Super Bowl on TV and they all will be seeing the mural at Sundance Square as ESPN plays SuperBowl host. We couldn't get that kind of exposure with twenty years worth of advertising.

I love the Super Bowl being right next door to me. Love it. And anything I can do to make it come off a success I will.

Oh, and Jerry, have your people call my people. I might have time to stop by your luxury suite on Sunday.