EATS

Restaurant Week(s) in Dallas fascinates me: It's a way more popular phenomenon here than in other cities I've lived in, and so many more restaurants participate. And though I avoided participating establishments this week in favor of Tex-Mex and pizza joints for upcoming stories, I was curious this year to see what the hubbub was about.

So I decided to check out Craft in the W Hotel for RW on my own dime. Craft is a restaurant that cooks to my personal taste - yes, it's spendy, it's a splurge for my personal budget, too, but I love their respectful way with salads and vegetables, and I'm very keen on pastry chef Shannon Swindle's dessert aesthetic. How would the RW menu measure up to my numerous "normal" experiences?

Photo of Craft's RW tomato salad by "Ralphie"

A source close to a source tells me that Casey Thompson will be acting as consulting chef over at Central 214 in the Hotel Palomar. I think we'll be hearing more on this from Ms. Thompson and/or the hotel soon.

If you're a fan of Mighty Leaf tea, you'll be glad to know the company is introducing two new flavors in September at Whole Foods Market: Organic Green Dragon and Organic Detox Infusion.

Organic Green Dragon is made with pan-fired Chinese green tea leaves, which is a "nutty and buttery" brew. Organic Detox Infusion is an herbal blend that includes mint and basil.

In December, look for antioxidant-rich Organic African Nectar (African roobios with mango, vanilla and blossoms).

About 60 Restaurant Week participants will extend their specials through Aug. 31. Go to our Restaurant Week package and look for the places marked with orange buttons to see which ones are still offering dining deals.

Did you have a reservation last week or do you have one for this week? Go to the RW blog to leave your review of your meal or read about other diners' experiences.

Photo of Lavendou by Darnell Renee / DMN

Hope you saw the advance story on the cover of Sunday's GuideLive section. If so, you already know the biggest foodie event in America is happening over the long Labor Day weekend, with 50,000 people expected to converge upon Slow Food Nation in San Francisco.

You'll also be reading my live reports from SFN, right here on the Eats blog. This first "Woodstock of food" promises to be fun, fascinating and fraught with the potential for some serious overeating at the open-to-the-public marketplace.

I also plan to be posting photos that I hope will give you an idea of what's happening around town -- and outside the city as well, as I'm taking a "Slow Journey" bus tour Sunday to the Russian River wine country.

So I hope you'll come along for the ride. Please stay tuned to Eats starting Thursday night, when I'll be attending the "Come to the Table" opening dinner, right after we hit town.

Finally, a foodie has made the cast of Dancing With The Stars. Reality show alum Rocco DiSpirito will be among the celebs hoofing it when the new season starts Sept. 22. He'll be paired with Karina Smirnoff.
Imagine how that disco ball trophy will look next to the chef's James Beard award. I'll be watching. Will you?

La Calle Doce on lower Skillman Street in Lakewood has temporarily closed, following a small fire that caused mostly smoke damage early this morning. See the DMN story...

Only two years ago, the Park Cities Neighbors section was going on and on about Tonia Ashworth and Chateau de Fromage, where Tonia produced exquisite artisanal goat cheese.

Tonia told me yesterday that she sold the commercial side of the business two months ago after a competitor made her an offer she couldn't refuse. So you won't see Chateau de Fromage chevre in stores anymore. But you will still find it on high-end menus. She continues to make the cheese for chefs, such as Sharon Hage at York Street.

Her good fortune is our misfortune, but Dallas at last has a good supply of other local artisanal producers. And if you want to stop by and chat with Tonia -- and get in on her cheese expertise, she's hanging out these days in the cheese department at the Dallas Central Market. She's the Tonia with "Istanbul, Turkey" on her name tag.