EATS

I just dropped in for lunch at the revamped Seventeen Seventeen at the Dallas Museum of Art, and it was hopping. Easy to see why. This is a great spot, whether you're meeting friends or business associates.

But if you're looking for a trendy new menu from consulting chef Stephan Pyles, just back off. The celebrity chef may have had a hand in creating these dishes, but I would not call them groundbreaking. Instead, they're pretty good new American with a deep bow to the South (seared sea scallops with an uptown red-eye gravy, Bourbon-glazed pork loin with a savory bread pudding) that comingles Mediterranean, Asian and American bistro dishes. Paula Lambert's cheeses showed up in two salads, including the Caprese.

Loved the sea scallops and tempura-fried veggie appetizers. Also, the pork loin. Only the hanger steak fell short: Its shoestring fries were hot - and limp. (You've got to get these right, guys.) I liked the wine list, too. With only about two dozen selections, it includes mostly familiar California names like Montelena and Duckhorn, but also some pleasant surprises, like a Tavel rose and Cloudy Bay Chardonnay (not Sauvignon Blanc) from New Zealand.

A fresh round of hostility breaks out during Judge's Table, but the biggest news (other than, to me, the surprise cheftestant going home) was that Restaurant Wars happen this season after all - next week! These folks are really trying for some blockbuster ratings this season. (And apparently getting them: Bravo TV sent out a release after last week's show that Wedding Wars was the most highly watched non-finale episode of Top Chef since Season 2.)

Spoilers galore right after the jump.

Although I haven't made it out to the McKinney Farmers Market in its new location this year (so many markets, so few Saturdays), it is gratifying to see in a press release that Dominion Farms is selling its grass-fed meat and poultry alongside Rehoboth Ranch. Dominion is located in Denison, not far off U.S. 75 (they have an on-site store), and the family has been selling their meat since 2000 but have farmed the land much longer. On their Web site, they invite tours so you can see how they treat their livestock, and right next to the information is this pic of a piglet feeding next to its presumed mama. Awwwww.

Anyway, back to McKinney. Besides Dominion and Rehoboth, vendors include Motley Farms (organic herbs and heirloom vegetables), Oak Ridge Valley Farms (organic produce), Reeves Family Farm (produce and plants), farmers David Dooley and Cyndy Long (local produce), Rowdy Heddins (local produce including melons) plus Canine Cookie Co. and Roundrock Honey. The setting at Chestnut Square Historic Village is a perfect fit for the homespun farmers market, and Saturday entertainment will be provided by the Red River Valley Dulcimer Club. Chestnut Square is three blocks south of the main square at McDonald and Anthony (park in the lot on McDonald).

This week, Restaurant Critic Bill Addison reviews Yutaka Sushi Bistro, which does Japanese-inspired cooked dishes as well as its sushi and sashimi. Dining writer Kim Harwell reviews Woodlands Grill, the Preston-Forest restaurant inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece Fallingwater.

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