Texas Fine Dining

My wife and I just returned from Dallas Texas to visit my son and to see his new house.  It was a great visit and he showed us as much of Dallas as we could fit in.  Above is the Texas State Mammal, the Texas Longhorn.  Interestingly, the Texas longhorn is not native to Texas being brought from Spain and having it's lineage traced back to Indian cattle.  But that is the case with much that is Texas.  Many things in Texas are a blend from many cultures. 

There is a saying in Texas, "He has a lot of horn." and yes it means exactly what you are thinking but more.  It means he (or she) has power, influence, and for lack or a better term let's call it gravitas.  The "He has a lot of Horn" quote comes from cattlemen and cowboys.  A Texas Longhorn can have horns of enormous size and in the finer specimens they may grow horns that exceed 9 feet across.  So what do you eat in Texas?  We will get there. 

But first what is there about Dallas that is unique? 

A lot.  First, you can see a vibrant young city.  Dallas is one of the economic engines of the Southwest and the USA in general.  It courses with activity and it is much younger than I expected.  It is a center of Financial Services and that is why my son is there.  He's makin' money for people that know how to make money.

 The Texas School Book Depository and Dealey Plaza are in Dallas and can be seen easily.  The Depository is now a museum and a memorial.  Dealey Plaza is so much smaller than I had envisioned.  I stood where Zapruder stood and looked at a scene that has not changed since the film.  I looked at three X's in the street showing where the President was when he was shot including the last kill shot.  It is still a working road and to watch as a taco truck drives over the X's is a bit surreal. 

Then you can drive by Mark Cuban's house.  It is amazing what excessive wealth; almost obscene wealth can buy you.  Then drive through the neighborhood where George Bush (43) and Dick Cheney (Darth Vader) were neighbors.  It is a stately old area permeated with the aura of security cameras and private security forces.  You have the impression that if you stopped your car for more than a few seconds a law-enforcement officer would be there to make sure you didn't "need assistance".

Then we went to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen.  When you look at a map you notice that The Gulf of Mexico is not far away from Dallas.  I was surprised to hear that we were going to a seafood restaurant with a Cajun background.  But as I have said already, Texas has taken a bit of this and a bit of that and created a unique and vibrant culture for not hundreds but thousands of years.

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen is a nice white tablecloth type of place.  Service was attentive but not intrusive.  It is a bit dim but not excessively so.  The ambient noise level is subdued and conversation is easy.

We started with appetizers.  We had a half dozen gulf oysters on the half shell and an order of Shrimp & Crawfish Fondeaux.  Both were very good but the Oysters were superb.  First they were fresh and big.  They were very sweet and meaty.  I am a Chesapeake Bay guy.  We love oysters and brag that the bay oysters are the best.  The ones at Pappadeauxs' were better than I remember from Chesapeake "Arsters".  I would recommend them to anyone that likes oysters.  Our main dishes were Filet Mignon for my son, Fried Oysters for my wife and Shrimp and Scallop Orecchiette Pasta for me.  The steak was cooked exactly to order and looked wonderful.  It came with mashed red potatoes and asparagus.  The fried oysters were not the breaded strips of oyster that is sometimes served.  These were full, whole oysters lightly breaded and quickly fried.  They were a delicacy.  My Shrimp and Scallop Orecchiette Pasta was also very good.  It had shrimp and scallops of course but it also had jumbo lump crab and asparagus in a rich cream sauce.  There was not a thing they could do to improve the meal but lower the price.

Now they have a very diverse menu.  You can get Several types of Gumbo, Shrimp and Crawfish Etouffee, Fried alligator, Frog Legs, Salmon, Lobster and Crab including Blue Soft Shell Crab.  It is a place where you can keep coming back to try new things.  Nice.

So you had a great meal.  What now?  Well I am glad you asked because smart Dallasites go to Braum's for Ice Cream.  They serve food but it is uninspired fast food.  But the Ice Cream is wonderful, high butterfat, made daily and delicious.  I only had time to try two offerings.  First is the Butter Pecan and it is rich and refreshing.  Then there is Amaretto Peach Charlotte.  Fresh peaches, crumbled ladyfinger cookies, almonds and the best cream make this just magnificent. 

Next time you are in Dallas check out Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and then try Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores.  You will not be unhappy.

Finally, there is some old business to take care of.  Last time when I explained about Okinawa raw fish balls I hinted that I might explain Okinawan bullfighting.  We do not have a lot of time.  But I went to a lot of these bullfights and I found it was very relaxing and rather "Zen". Okinawan bullfighting is to Spanish Bullfighting as Sumo is to American wrestling.  There is no blood, just endurance and strength.  I have a clip that does a good job of explaining Okinawan bullfighting.  Click Here to view.