Closed?

Somebody mentioned the Sonic in Preston Center is closing. I'll check it out later today.

UPDATE: Confirmed. The sign on the door says today is their last day of business. They cite an inability to renew their lease. Which leaves one wondering: dispute over lease cost or another tenant in the wings?

Sevy's Sunday Sandwich Specials

Looking for a lighter bite to end the weekend? Check out our Sandwich Special menu offered from 5:00-9:00 pm on Sundays. All sandwiches include a choice of crispy french friens or fresh sliced tomatoes.

The Sevy Burger $10.95

Seasoned, cooked to order and served with smoked bacon, sharp Cheddar cheese on a Kaiser roll with our own coarse mustard sauce (also available as you wish).

Shaved Steak Sandwich $14.95

Thinly sliced sirloin on a sourdough hoagie with melted Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and horseradish sauce.

Red Chile Spiced Chicken Sandwich $11.95

Fresh chicken breast rubbed with spices, grilled to order, and served on a cracked wheat bun with sauteed poblano peppers, onions, Monterey Jack cheese and chipotle mayonnaise.

Located at 8201 Preston Road (just south of Northwest Highway), our weekend hours also include Saturday Brunch (11am-2pm), and Saturday Dinner (5:30 pm - 11:00 pm). Enjoy our full bar featuring over 60 varieties of scotch and over 40 wines by the glass.

Cashing In On Julia

While in Half Price Books, a lady asks the clerk, "Do you have any of Julia's cookbooks?"

"Sorry, we're all sold out."

And her republished famous "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" makes the #1 spot on the New York Times Best Seller list - for the first time since it was published almost 60 years ago.

And in my e-mailbox, Gastronomica Magazine is re-publishing their Summer 2005 special issue "featuring ruminations by Jacques Pépin, Paul Child, Alex Prud’homme and others on the iconoclastic American chef Julia Child." Each copy costs $13, you can check out the table of contents here, it looks really really good.

My New Favorite Food Blog

Ryan Farr of 4505meats.com on his blog, Road to......

Warning - not for those who don't eat animals!

(H/T to Freckled Citizen for this link - and I thought it was about posters!)

Sevy's Scotch Club - Premier Event!

Join us Monday, August 31, 2009 from 5:00- 7:00 p.m. for our premier Scotch Club event. Enjoy five courses of delicious food paired with some premium malt scotches, $44.95 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Seating for this event is limited, reservations required.

Contact Jimmy, Stefaan or Amy M. at (214)265-7389 or SevysCatering@aol.com.

FIRST PAIRING
Chunky Lobster Cappuccino
***
Craggamore, Speyside Malt

SECOND PAIRING
Smoked Gouda and Ham Croquettes with Roasted Red Pepper Ranch
***
Glen Ord 12 Year, Highland Malt

THIRD PAIRING
Mini Kobe Beef Corny Dogs with Chipotle Mayo Ketchup
***
Glen Goyne 10 Year, Highland Malt

FOURTH PAIRING
Cumin Scented Beef Tenderloin Quesadillas, Pepper Jack Cheese and Green Chile Salsa
***
Longmorn 15 Year, Highland Malt

FIFTH PAIRING
Crispy Banana Nut Ravioli, Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream
***
Glenmorangie 12 Year, Highland Port Cask Malt

Sevy's Grill and Catering, 8201 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75225

Deadly Sweet

OK admittedly I'm short on time today, payroll is waiting to be input and we're painting Sister's bedroom. So I'm sending along this link to a great piece of writing by Marion Nestle on her blog, Food Politics. About the too-much sugar in our diet and how this is further complicated when nutritionist groups endorse sell their endorsement of products that are questionably "healthy".

My goal of packing a healthy lunch for school is undergoing a huge transformation - the salad, carrot sticks and fresh fruit are OK, but gone is the small organic Australian-themed (via Napa) yogurt. I checked and it contains over 5 teaspoons (25 grams) of sugar in that one little cup!

Working Better Than A Value Menu

Brinker International's latest sales strategy is noticed, and appreciated by a financial analyst with Sterne Agee & Leach, according to today's post on the Dallas Business Journal website, here. Current analyst "mean" recommendations are BUY.

Thank goodness they didn't go the route of the $4 margarita , which is probably the reason for the strong cash flow. But then they were ahead of the economic curve when they started selling their numerous side-chains several years ago - when you could still get a price for a company in this industry.

(Note - while formerly a Brinker stockholder, we sold our shares 13 years ago to invest in our own restaurant adventure).

Getting Round To It

Watching CNBC today while working, on came an interview with Frank Bruni, food critic (well at least through this month) of the New York Times and author of Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater.

Looks like a very good read, but if (like me) you're a little short on time, here is a humorous abridged version courtesy of Grub Street-New York. I promise, as soon as I get caught up, I'm reading the whole book.

Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life. - Confucius

Trends In Tabletops

From The Wall Street Journal, a la Julia Child, the future in restaurant tabletops (H/T to Kevin Garvin).

More On Tea

Word comes from Martin, of Village Tea (Preston/Forest, old Quizno's spot) about his soon to open spot:

I'm Martin, the CEO and 1 of the partners behind Village Tea Company Inc. We really hope to be an escape for everyone and have taken special care to deliver on that promise.Our incredible tea menu will be accompanied by small salads, sandwichs, pastries and crepes (my personal favorite) - all the things that bring out the flavor of tea. The kids area will be organized quiet play at limited and set times throughout the week featuring childrens authors debuting new books and certified child care individuals to supervise as needed.

I'll give that a try. Wish someone had started this concept when my kids were young and hubby was busy opening restaurants around the country.

Good luck on your opening!

Beginning Next Saturday

SATURDAY BRUNCH MENU

STARTERS
Warm Mozzarella Crostini 7.50
Fresh mozzarella topped with Roma tomatoes, roasted garlic and basil.
Crispy Calamari Rings 8.99
Coated in a beer batter then crispy fried, served with spicy tartar sauce and tangy cocktail sauce.
Sevy’s Fresh Corn Chowder cup 6.75/bowl 7.75
Garnished with streaks of red pepper puree.
Fresh Field Greens Salad sm. 7.50/lg. 9.50
Mixed greens with Roma tomatoes, crisp jicama, sliced cucumbers and pomegranate vinaigrette.
Caesar Salad sm. 7.99/lg. 9.99
Crisp Romaine lettuce, herbed croutons and Parmesan Reggiano. "The Works" (add anchovies and extra Parmesan.......$.99)
Sevy’s Chop Salad sm. 7.99/lg. 9.99
Crisp iceberg lettuce, red and yellow peppers, Parmesan cheese, fresh tomatoes mushrooms and cucumbers tossed with a zesty oregano vinaigrette and crispy onions.
Fresh Fruit Plate 7.50
Sliced pineapple, melon, oranges and mixed berries with poppy seed dressing.
Warm Griddled Bagel 8.99
Served with cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onions and capers.

ENTREES

Texas French Toast 9.99
Two pieces of Texas Toast griddled to a golden brown, warm maple syrup, powdered sugar and crispy bacon.
Migas!Migas! 10.99
Eggs scrambled with Chorizo sausage, tomatoes, cilantro, crispy tortillas and green chile sauce.
Eggs Benedict
Toasted English muffin, poached eggs and a delicate Hollandaise sauce. Your choice:
Traditional - Canadian bacon 10.99
Florentine - Sauteed spinach and shallots 9.99
Sevy’s - Grilled beef tenderloin 13.50
Hickory Grilled Chicken Salad 13.50
Warm chicken breast sliced over fresh mixed greens with apples, red onions, buttermilk bleu cheese crumbles, toasted pecans and cider honey vinaigrette.
Warm Crab Cake Salad 14.50
Crispy jumbo lump crab cakes, shaved fennel, julienne iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes and Thousand Island dressing.
The Sevy Burger 9.75
Seasoned, then cooked to order and served with smoked bacon, sharp cheddar cheese on a Kaiser roll with our own coarse mustard sauce (also available as you wish).
Hickory Grilled Chicken Penne 13.50
Fresh chicken breast tossed with Swiss chard, roasted peppers, mushrooms, Madeira cream and shaved Parmesan.
Angel Hair Pasta with Fresh Spinach 10.99
Sauteed spinach, Roma tomatoes, olive oil, fresh basil, garlic and toasted pine nuts. (Add chicken breast, $3.99; add poached shrimp, $4.99)
Rosemary Chicken 13.50
Marinated chicken breast served over creamy mascarpone polenta with roasted garlic broccoli and natural juices.
Fresh Atlantic Salmon Fillet 14.50
Barbecue glazed salmon over buttermilk chive whipped potatoes with tabasco butter and crispy leeks.
Buzzy’s Seafood Tacos 13.99
Delicate pieces of shrimp, fresh fish and sea scallops folded with spinach and jack cheese in flour tortillas with toasted pumpkin seed salsa and orange jicama salad.
Almond Crusted Rainbow Trout 13.50
Pan seared, then served with grilled new potatoes, fresh vegetables and lemon chive butter.
Sevy’s Smoke House Beef Tenderloin Filet 16.50
Subtle hickory scented filet grilled to order, served with crispy buttermilk onions and red wine sauce.

Mimosas, Bloody Marys and
Bellinis.........5.95 each.

Wherein I Sign the Check

And the restaurant joins the OpenTable family. Installation in 4-6 weeks, total "in" up-front $500 plus tax (plus cost to run an internet cable to the front podium). Much lower than when this service first started, then there's the service/software/equipment fee of $199 per month plus $1 per reservation booked through their site.

I'll keep you posted on the stats.

August News at The Grill

Saturday Brunch begins on August 15th, from 11 am to 2 pm with a delicious menu that includes Eggs Benedict, Migas, French Toast, Almond Crusted Trout, Tenderloin. My favorite? I cajole the chef into making me Beef Tenderloin Benedicts, yum. And to start the day off right we will be featuring Mimosas, Bellinis and Bloody Marys for $5.95. I'm busily typing the menu, once done I'll share it with you here.

August's Food and Wine Dinner features the cuisine of Argentina, with wines complimenting each course selected by Greg LaBlanc, Regional Director of Gaucho Imports. These dinners have been so popular that we are expanding this five course dinner to two nights, Monday August 24th AND Tuesday August 25th. Reception begins at 6:30, seating is limited and reservations are required, $59.95 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Contact Jimmy, Stefaan or Amy M. at (214)265-7389 or SevysCatering@aol.com to reserve your seat.

August's Cocktail of the Month, the Dripping Springs Rickey was a huge hit with the waitstaff who tested the bartender's recipes! House-made raspberry simple syrup, fresh lime juice and Dripping Springs vodka make this a killer chiller for a warm summer. And a great price at $7.95!

Our featured fresh product for August is the peach, delicious, sweet, the perfect compliment to cream. So after dinner enjoy our August special dessert, Peach Romanoff a deliciously light, cool dessert with fresh peaches folded in and an almond cookie on the side.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Light Your Cigars!

So far I've not heard of any services being cut in Addison, a municipality that recognizes the tax revenues from "sin" keep the city running. Unlike Dallas, whose concern with smoking ordinances is driving the tax revenues to our neighbors to the north and seeing some top-end restaurants forced to close their cigar bars down. Not to mention that it's an amenity, much like a Convention Center hotel, that high-end business is looking for in a destination.

Every good businessman sees a great opportunity, which is why I love Richard Chamberlain. We stopped by Chamberlain's Steak and Chop House last Friday by to check out the luxurious new cigar bar he recently opened in the back of the restaurant. I'm someone who enjoys the smell of a nice cigar, hell, cigarettes still smell great and I quit smoking 24 years ago. So be prepared for a very smoky experience, but one designed with total comfort in mind. You could sit around the piano, or take over one of the several relaxed lounge areas, both have large screen TV's tuned to news and sports events. They also have tables for those who would like to enjoy a great steak with their cigar.

Yeah, and from the looks of it, it is drawing some monied guests from former haunts in Dallas, they've found a new place to enjoy a fine cigar in a restaurant setting. Now they spend their tax dollars in Addison - and it's not chump change, either.