2016 has been full of great discoveries and re-discoveries, so this week we thought we’d recap some of the places we’ve visited over the last five months or so to give you a list of great places to check out this weekend!
Bon Appétit!
Epic Gelato
2400 Lakeside Parkway Ste 100, Flower Mound TX 75022
Owner, Rich Baldwin, made the (rather large) leap from working in corporate IT to owning his own gelato shop after an experience he had in a coffee shop in Italy several years ago. After being given the great advice to “take a minute and enjoy life” from the shop owner, Rich decided to leave his corporate life behind and pursue his lifelong dream of attending culinary school where he mastered the art of gelato. After culinary school, Rich also spent time studying with some of the best coffee roasters here in DFW to master that craft as well.
And all of Rich’s efforts have resulted in Epic Gelato – where you can peacefully enjoy some truly authentic, fresh and delicious coffee and gelato. Rich actually imports the chocolate and fruits he uses in the gelatos from Italy, so it’s true Italian gelato!
When we were there we tried out several of his gelato flavors which were all incredibly rich and creamy. And we also got to try out a prototype for the Donato which is a donut filled with gelato. It was life-changing.
Paradise Bistro & Coffee Co.
2451 Lakeside Parkway Ste 100, Flower Mound TX 75022
Lakeside DFW had a great start to the year with several wonderful restaurants opening their doors – to include the second location for Paradise Bistro & Coffee Co.
Paradise Bistro is a true family affair with brothers Aaron & Nathan McDaniel owning the business along with their father, Tony. And they want all of their customers to feel like part of the family as well. In fact, their goal is to feel like an extension of customers’ homes, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
We’ve only had the privilege of sampling Paradise Bistro’s dinner menu, but are dying to get back over there one weekend to try out their brunch menu, which includes classics like pancakes, biscuits and gravy, omelettes and breakfast tacos. But they also mix it up with some specialty dishes like Banana Nutella Waffles and a Smoked Salmon Benedict.
Besides those yummy brunch dishes, Paradise Bistro has tons of salad and sandwich options, including their Paradise Special Salad and their Chicken Salad sandwich.
Asahi Teppenyaki & Sushi
2300 Cross Timbers, Flower Mound TX 75028
If you’re interested in some entertainment to go along with your meal, Asahi Teppenyaki & Sushi is the perfect option for you! This sushi and hibachi restaurant offers a truly wonderful experience to go along with your meal, and the food’s delicious too!
We sat around the hibachi table when we went for lunch and tried out some of their most popular dishes including the Asahi Tower and the Salmon Bomb, which were both visually stunning and delicious!
And our Chef, Milo, provided a great show for us as he prepared our hibachi-style meal working some serious magic on the grill.
Asahi is the perfect place to enjoy a unique business lunch, a meal with friends or a meal for a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary, graduation, etc.
Paradise Spirits, Fine Wine, Food & Deli
Intersection of FM 407 and I-35W
We’re grateful to one of our Foodies who insisted that we try out this gem located a little off the beaten path out past Argyle. We’ve driven past this gas station/convenience store several times before, but never realized that hidden within those walls is a delicious deli that serves great sandwiches and hamburgers!
Paradise’s menu is simple, but that’s because they’ve perfected the art of making hamburgers made from meat ground right there in the store each day. And they spent a substantial amount of time researching hamburger buns qualified enough to hold their hamburger patties – and they ultimately decided on a sweet sourdough bun baked fresh in a small Houston bakery.
In addition to their juicy hamburgers, Paradise also offers breakfast items for morning commuters as well as an amazing deli meat selection – all carved right in front of you when you order.
We’re so grateful for hidden gems like Paradise, and are grateful for our Foodies who make us aware of places like this one!
Chasin’ Tail BBQ
601 S. Lake Dallas Dr, Lake Dallas TX 75065
Sometimes you just need a healthy dose of some homestyle BBQ, and when that craving hit our office, we visited another Foodie Friday favorite, Chasin’ Tail BBQ.
We got to enjoy our lunch with owners Brooke Asbell and Mike Cooper who told us all about how Chasin’ Tail has helped them realize their dream of serving their passion for BBQ to residents of North Texas.
Chasin’ Tail does not skimp on portions! When you order ribs, you get SIX hearty ribs. And we were also big fans of their brisket (both chopped and sliced) with its rich flavor and tenderness.
In addition to their brick and mortar store in Lake Dallas, Chasin’ Tail is also working on opening their second location in Old Town Lewisville off of Main Street, and also have an extensive catering business great for business meetings, weddings, parties, etc.
Manchale
420 Parker Square Rd, Flower Mound TX 75028
If you’re looking for a little something to spice up your usual dining routine, we’d definitely recommend you pay one of Flower Mound’s newest restaurants, Manchale, a visit. This is the perfect place to come and relax while enjoying some honest Indian cuisine.
Their Chef has trained in India and Switzerland where he learned how to authentically prepare Indian food with his own twist combining classic Indian dishes and flavors with Swedish sweets.
My personal favorite dishes we sampled were the Lamb Pepper Masala and the Gobi Manchurian which is actually made from cauliflower, but eats like a tender meat dish!
Manchale makes it easy to order any of their food online for pick-up and they cater as well! So why not treat your friends to a unique culinary experience?
Gloria’s Latin Cuisine
3721 Justin Rd Ste 101, Flower Mound TX 75022
Flower Mound anxiously awaited the Grand Opening of a DFW favorite – Gloria’s Latin Cuisine- for months. And it was well worth the wait!
The new location has an incredible outdoor patio area, which will make drinking and dining on beautiful days an absolute delight!
Owners Gloria and Jose Fuentes have artfully crafted their menu to incorporate flavors from their home country of El Salvador, as well as from several other Latin American countries to bring a unique mix of offerings to customers. Whether you want classic Tex-Mex dishes or more unique ones like Red Fish served with Yucca or Salvadorian tamales, Gloria’s can hook you up!
Jay Marks updates the Foodie Friday blog each week. Read more at https://iamjaymarks.wordpress.com/tag/foodie-friday/
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