Bailey's Prime Steakhouse and Patrizio Pasta

"Bailey's Prime Steakhouse and Patrizio Pasta coming to West 7th."

That is the headline at DFW.com and the Star-Telegram website. The Star-Telegram article is little more than an announcement. I have never been to the Bailey's Steakhouse in Dallas, so I did a little research. The steakhouse was reviewed by the The Dallas Morning News restaurant critic -- but not favorably. As a matter of fact, he pretty much trashed it. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontentl

I have to admit to having mixed feelings on the mega-steakhouses in general, at least from the view of a personal dining choice. The cost to build and build-out one of these places is anywhere from 2 -- 10 million dollars. The Del Friscos in Philly cost around 7 million, I hear. The prospective clientele for these restaurants is not the local diner but the business diner. We need them in the city but when the wife and I are going out for a special dinner, I want the money going into good food and not faux-velvet wall paper. But that's me.

Patrizio Pasta looks like a nice medium priced Italian restaurant. Again, I have never been to any of their Dallas-area locations.

Let's hope for the best in both restaurants, anyone with a comment on Bailey's or Patrizios please weigh in. Thanks.

Fort Worth Downtown Review

Click on image to go to website.

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The premier issue of the Fort Worth Downtown Review is out and on the newstands. Well, actually in the restaurants and hotels of Downtown-South.

Look for a copy --- or go to http://www.fwdowntownreview.com and click on "Pages."

Many Fort Worth food and Fort Worth news weblogs were included in the "Lists" section. The magazine is oriented to Fort Worth visitors as a guide to enjoying our fair city.

Please make comments and suggestions to rsmith@fwsummit.com. She would love to hear from you.

Fort Worth's Best Beer

Fort Worth has its fair share of establishments where a cold pint can be enjoyed in the summertime.

Flying Saucer, Houston Street Patio, Ginger Man, Bull and the Bush, Paddy Red's, to name just a few, are all places that highlight the enjoyment of a fresh draught. The Ginger Man even has the occasional event, such as next week's, " Beer Tasting, Summer Sippers." (August 1, $30, for more information: gingermanpub.com)

The Star Telegram, July 22, ran a good article on the best summer selections for beer drinkers. Included: our very own Rahr Brewery, Summertime Wheat, and Shiner's Smoakhaus.

http://www.star-telegram.com

Have a little known favorite? Please pass it on.

On Writing Instruments.

I was cleaning out a drawer the other day and realized something.

I have too many pens.

I had ten barely used pens in that drawer alone. Elsewhere, in jars, boxes, briefcases and other drawers I have hundreds of them -- and most likely so do you. I have pens from banks, law offices and businesses of every kind, click pens, roller balls, felt-tip, ball point, highlighters, and my favorites, the traditional fountain pen.

Pencils? I like them too. Wood pencils that require sharpening, and the mechanical kind that advance with a click or a screw. And there are the accessories to pens and pencils: ink wells, cartridges, sharpeners, erasers, and rulers. I love rulers.

My favorite pen is the Parker clip-on click pen with a fine-point, blue-ink cartridge. It has the right size, color, weight, look, and ease of use. And it writes very well. They cost about $5 at office supply store. For letter writing, my favorite pen is an old-fashioned Flair with a medium tip. I like the original Pilot pen with the fine tip but they tended to flatten too quickly.

Everyone once in a while I'll think about Thomas Jefferson sitting in a quiet room writing the Declaration of Independence. He had a couple of big sheets of paper, a quill tip pen, and an ink well. Back then, men had time to think as they wrote. I do know Shelby Foote, author of Civil War - A Narrative, wrote with an no-cartridge, fountain pen. Dip and write. He said it helped his writing.

As usual I have wandered off my point about pens, but now that I think about it. I wonder if the quality of writing has gone down as the ease of writing has gone up?

Best Fajitas in Fort Worth.

The best fajitas in Fort Worth are at Pappasito's. Hands down.

The fajita meat at Pappa's is marinated for two days. I know, I helped open the store 12 years ago and watched how they did it. The extra marination makes the fajita meat very tender.

The best time to enjoy their fajitas is on Wednesday night. Why? The fajitas-for-two-dinner, normally $32, is $16. That's fajitas for 2 with all the extras: fresh, hot, flour tortillas, chips, beans, rice, salsa --- and -- half price drinks during happy hour.

I have been to Pappasito's several times this last month on Wednesday night and the place is packed. I have always believed Pappas made the best fajitas in town, getting them half-price makes them taste even better.

Conclusion: they taste delicious, the portions are huge, and the price is the best in town. What else is there?

Trust me -- try it.

Wednesday night. Fajitas for 2, half-price.

Guest post by Stephen, transcribed from conversation.
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Editor's Note: if you have a different opinion, that is, if you prefer the fajitas from another restaurant, please leave a comment.
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