PERFORMING ARTS CHAIRS

The architect for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, the venerable Norman Foster has specified Walter Knoll chairs from Scott + Cooner for the box seats. No picture yet of the chair, but what a compliment!

RE: YUM, YUM

I don’t want to belabor a point, but when readers keep writing in, I feel compelled to respond. Along those lines, a kind-hearted reader (and fellow “Chef of the Month” attendee) pointed out the critical fact that chef Bondy let us in on one of her favorite recipes–and it’s cereal, people. That’s right!

She takes her favorite flakes (Balance, I think), puts in a little skim milk, and then nukes it to create an almost oatmeal-like consistency. She tops it off with fresh raspberries, blueberries, or other fresh berries. So, before you make fun of a cereal-making managing editor, perhaps you should look in the mirror! And while you do that, think of Joanne Bondy, the famous Dallas chef, as she makes her own cereal.

Thanks for writing in, everyone. I feel at peace now

PORTABELLO ‘SHROOMS

Can anybody figure out that I have finally finished my writing duties? Had to muster much self discipline to keep my fingers off the BLOG keys… or maybe it was Roger’s threat to dump squirrels in my yard… hey guys, what do you call those South Asian places where they raise snakes again? (I’m still shuddering.)
OK, I heard from a very reliable source that owners/buyers from Portabello Road in London (where all the neat antiques are to be found) have been known to purchase their merchandise from Slocum Street Dallas and then ship it across the sea, only to re-sell it at their prices in their showrooms. To quote my (un-named, he fears the Brits) source: “If the merchandise from Slocum Street is good enough for the Queen, then I’m sure it will suffice and surpass the taste of the most finicky in Dallas.”

BURSTING THE BUBBLE???

I uncovered a few facts that shed more light on our poufy Real Estate bubble:
Independant contractors all: There are now more than 2.6 million Real Estate licensees in the U.S., according to figures from the Association of Real Estate Law Officials
Call it a NonPayment: The average down payment on a home was just 2% of the home’s purchase price in 2005, and 43% of first time home buyers in 2005 used no down payment at all to help purchase their home! That was up significantly from 2003 where 28% of first time home buyers used no down payment at all…..(Source: National Association of Realtors)

RE: YUM, YUM

A blog reader with excellent taste in men wrote in to defend her actions at last night’s Chef of the Month extravaganza at Whole Foods.

You have many talents, [Roger], but I think we all know by now that cooking isn’t one of them. But you definitely make the best bowl of cereal I can ever remember eating.

That’s right, I’m talented. Don’t hate the player, hate the cereal….Look’s like Chex’s back on the menu, boys!

RE: DARK AND LUSCIOUS

Sure, Roger. Like I see you offering up any goodies from Joanne Bondy last night. Tell you what: you bring the Cheerios and I’ll bring the Chantico. Par-tay!

RE: DARK AND LUSCIOUS

Todd, several of us in the editorial department don’t quite understand all this “drinking chocolate” nonsense you speak of. How do you get the bars into the cups, for instance? Perhaps you could be generous offer up examples of this madness so we could see (and taste) for ourselves…

COLOR TRENDS 06

The Color Marketing Group, hosted by Sherwin Williams, gave their color prognosis for the year last night at Vu Imports, 1615 Dragon St.–a charming showroom featuring Asian and Indian imports. Color forecasting is not just a bunch of people sitting around saying, “Blue, it’s blue this year,” but experts considering all venues from cars to vegetables, economic considerations, and even weather. Here goes…

“Orange is the color that makes everything feel new.” But more earthy this year.
(more…)

DARK AND LUSCIOUS (YEAH, BABY!)

Last winter, drinking chocolates were all the rage. Starbucks introduced its Chantico. (”A drinkable dessert with an intense, full-bodied chocolate flavor and silky, rich texture,” says the coffee purveyor. Lordy. Now that’s some sultry writing.) Apparently, the dessert drink’s popularity is still steamy. The Cultured Cup hosts a tasting and historical look at drinking chocolates at Southern Methodist University on Feb. 9 at 7p.m. And if you want to serve up some bubbly cacao at home, check out Williams-Sonoma’s new Mauviel hot chocolate pot. It’s copper. It’s cool. And quite handsome. For more copper cookware, The Whimsey Shoppe is also a boffo boutique.

YUM, YUM

“He can cook a really good bowl of cereal.” That’s what my wife had the nerve–no, the audacity–to tell the very charming D Home Chef of the Month Joanne Bondy of famed Ciudad at last night’s “Evening with Joanne Bondy” at Whole Foods.

The truth of the matter is, I can cut up fruits and vegetables, too, and Bondy offered a great tip for those sticky pineapple scraps I toss after cutting up my pointy, tasty friend. Mix 2 tablespoons of brown sugar in two quarts of water. Toss in your pineapple top (or bottom, or sides) and set it in the fridge for three days. Pull it out, remove the scraps, and what do you have? Aqua Fresca–a lightly sweet treat that I can’t wait to try with my famed Honey Nut Cheerios a la Roger.

SING IN THE RAIN

I noticed that no one seemed to mind getting wet last weekend. No one rushed from parking lots into stores to avoid the drops, and I even saw a few adults right along side their children splashing in the puddles near my house. Let’s hope everyone gets a chance to do that again this weekend.

But if you’re like my puddle-splashing friends, perhaps you’ll be willing to head out to Cedar Ridge Preserve, which is run by Audubon Dallas. Biologist Dr. Marcy Brown Marsden will lead you on a 90-minute expedition in search of wintering sparrows (you know, those brown little guys that all look the same to the untrained eye). It all starts at 8:30 a.m. this Saturday with a light breakfast and a primer on our feathered friends. Full details can be found at the link above. But take my advice: Brave the rain (if we’re lucky enough to get any), take your kids, and do some learning this weekend. And if you see a puddle, by all means, splash away.