Product Review: Willa Vodka

Low-cal vodka? Don’t mind if I do. Willa vodka is touted as a “natural, healthier, lighter premium craft vodka”, and it being low in calories means it’s lower in alcohol content than other vodkas (70 proof compared to the industry standard 80 proof).

01_willa_bottleEven better that the lower calorie count? Willa is all about advertising to women. (Even though it was created by two men!) “Independent spirits for independent women” is their tag line that scrolls across the top of their website … but don’t let that fool you, guys. (You won’t lose your man card for buying this.) Anyone who is looking for a more health-conscious vodka, this is the one. I let some guy friends visiting my boyfriend try it … and let’s just say it wasn’t just me who liked the taste.

It was awarded the silver medal for best “Small Batch Craft Vodka” at the New York International Spirits Competition in 2012. In 2013, Willa brought home the gold medal for both taste and bottle design at the SIP Awards.

This non GMO vodka has a smooth taste and a great price. It’s made with 100% organic Italian wheat and the water used for distilling is from the Nantucket Aquifer. The nose has a bit of citrus and just a slight bit of charcoal. The taste was smooth (thanks to the lower proof) and had the same citrus notes, but was incredibly clean.

The Willa brand is in the process of expanding. They have started a Fundable page looking for investors to help expand into flavored vodka, gin, and rum. I look forward to what is to come for this new brand.

Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop


WILLA VODKA
willavodka.com
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~$29 for 750mL

Here are a couple of the recipes that Willa suggests:

Lemon Drop
2 parts Willa Vodka
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
1/4 part stevia simple syrup

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

Cos-lo-politan

Cos-lo-politan

Cos-lo-politan
3 parts Willa Vodka
1 part cranberry juice
3/4 part fresh lime juice
1/4 part fresh orange juice
1 barspoon of light simple syrup

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a an orange twist.
  

***Willa gave our team a bottle to try out.***

Product Review: Collingwood Canadian Whisky

Right before Christmas, I received a small sample bottle of Collingwood Canadian Whisky to review. As one who generally defaults to Crown, if I even dip a toe into the great White North, the bar was high(though Susie chastises me regularly for my lack of imagination).  Once I read that Collingwood boasts a “toasted Maplewood finish”, apprehension set in. I’m not sure if they are doing this in Texas, but Rhode Island bars are heavily pushing the flavored whiskies these days, to the point where my post-work happy hour spot proudly serves a Triple Crown (maple, apple, original) and there are way more maple-flavored options in the dark section of the liquor store than God and Booker Noe intended.

Despite the initial cringe at my sweet, syrupy trigger word, the end result is good. For Collingwood “maplewood finish” is more a process to mellow the harshness of the drink then a sweetener, and it works. I meant to just take a sip neat and then make a cocktail or two, but, since the bottle was small and the taste was smooth, I simply put the whole thing over the ice and enjoyed as we opened presents. (What?)

There’s definitely the same sweetness found in Crown and Canadian Club (think vanilla/toffee), but it wasn’t too overpowering.

The full retail size comes in an old school aftershave-looking bottle (newly revamped), reminiscent of your dad getting ready for dates with Mom 30 years ago (which will drive you to drink if you think about it too long.) I’m not ready to convert for life, but this is definitely a nice whisky to have on-hand for winter that won’t make you feel stuck in the flavored whisky/bourbon apocalypse that is slowly coming to absorb us all. (Oh, the shame.)

If you’re less of a purist and you want to create cocktails with this sweet elixir, here are some suggested recipes.  They recommend using Collingwood in “classic, lighter cocktails”.

TOM COLLINGWOOD™

TOM COLLINGWOOD™

TOM COLLINGWOOD
2oz Collingwood Whisky
0.75oz simple syrup
1oz lemon juice
3oz soda water

Mix Collingwood, simple syrup and lemon juice in a highball glass with ice. Top with soda water and serve.

COLLINGWOOD CANADIAN MULE
1oz Collingwood Whisky
3oz ginger beer
splash lime juice
garnish: lime wedge

Mix all ingredients over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Collingwood is available in most stores across Texas and you can locate the bottle closest to you at collingwoodwhisky.com. The suggested price is around $27.

COLLINGWOOD WHISKY
collingwoodwhisky.com
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Dallas #BoozeNews: January 14, 2016

I’ll be heading to the San Antonio Cocktail Conference this evening, so stay tuned to my Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat (@SusieOz) to see what I’m learning, drinking, and doing!  (And I always appreciate words of encouragement.  It takes a lot of work to drink San Antonio.)

NEW OPENINGS

Vicini, Frisco’s newest eatery from duo Brian McCullough (part owner of Standard Pour) and Robert Hall (former GM of Abacus and part of the Hall family … who make wine) will open January 26 by the Cowboys development.  There’s even going to be a pasta room, y’all.  Expect classic and “progressive” American-Italian dishes from a soon-to-be-named chef and the same quality craft cocktails as TSP.  I’ll be making the drive north for this one!

Goodfriend Package opened its doors in East Dallas on Wednesday!  The purveyors of delicious burgers and some of best fries in Dallas (I mean … a pile of heaven) who also happen to own one of my favorites, The Blind Butcher, will offer 600+ craft beers, sandwiches featuring meats from TBB, and more for breakfast and lunch.

Another win for our friends up north … on January 22, Plano will see a new concept Julia Pearl which will “meld classic Southern cuisine with modern culinary techniques” with Tre Wilcox as the restaurant’s Culinary Director.  I’m looking forward to the Deviled Eggs topped with crispy chicken skin, pomegranate-red pepper glazed pork belly … because, yum.

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Fried Chicken from Julia Pearl

Mudhen Meat & Greens, the much anticipated  new concept from the minds behind Meddlesome Moth and LARK on the Park has officially opened in the Dallas Farmer’s Market!  Visit for heathy food “that just tastes good, feels food, and won’t kill you.”  Sounds promising.  It opened a bit behind schedule, but better late than never!

Firebird Restaurant Group is at it again.  They’ll break ground on a development with three of their restaurants at I-30 & Highway 34 TODAY, January 14.  A brand new Snuffer’s, El Fenix, and Taqueria La Ventana will open their doors next summer.

Not really an announcement … but, while Filament, a new restaurant Downtown, opened in early December, they’ve recently gotten my attention.  After witnessing a particularly tempting photo series from lunch yesterday from various media outlets (most notably @TheDallasDiva), I know I need to make it in … soon.

OTHER COOL THINGS …

Get local and delicious at the Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival March 31-April 3, 2016! Tickets are now available for seminars, meals, tastings, events, and more!

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Have you jumped on the Japanese whisky train yet? They’re doing some delicious things over there.  Suntory Whisky Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 was recently named “World Whisky of the Year” in Jim Murray’s 2015 Whisky Bible.  While it’s been around since 1924, the the 48% ABV spirit has recently been getting the attention it truly deserves.

Sundown at Granada is debuting 15 new seasonal menu items that were crafted to pair well with select cocktail, beer, and wine options.  Check out the Big Tex Flatbread (made with Shiner brisket … I mean) New Orleans BBQ Shrimp & Grits, and the Vegan Dulce De Leche Ice Cream and Salted Coconut Caramel Swirl.  The new menu items are now available.

PeachAustin vodka producer, Deep Eddy, recently released its newest flavor, Deep Eddy Peach.  Like their other products, it’s small batch, made with real fruit juice, and gluten-free.  So yeah … there ya go … you have another option if you’re into that sort of sweet vodka thing.

LIMITED TIME OFFERINGS

Hopdoddy‘s monthly burger special is the Ranch Hand Dan Burger (chicken patty, buttermilk ranch, bacon, field mushrooms, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, tomato, red leaf lettuce on an egg bun)!
Available: through January 24
Cost: $9

RanchHandDan_HD

Midnight Madness at Ida Claire’s

Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day, and like a good appreciator of all-things food, I don’t relegate my breakfast enjoyment to the morning hours.  After a good night out, I can’t think of anything more enticing than ending it with some breakfast favorites: pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon and whatever else you can throw at me. Gone are the days of waiting in the drive-through lane for what seems to be an eternity for a  dismal chicken biscuit and hello to “Midnight Brunch”.

Ida Claire’s is the new southern-inspired entry to Addison’s already buzzing restaurant scene. This eatery is the newest venture from the team that has graced us with Mexican Sugar, Whiskey Cake and other local DFW favorites. This place really helps to fill a void in Addison for non-chain, creative restaurants. Plus, their assortment of cocktails are a step up from most of their competitors.

I was excited to attend the appropriately scheduled preview (started at 11 pm) of “Midnight Brunch”, back in the end of September. (I know, I know … time for me to get back on the #SDDContributor wagon.)

Ida Claire’s has a charm all of its own: Think eccentric Southern great aunt meets 60s flower child.  Whoever put the décor together for this place deserve a pat on the back–the place overflows with southern, vintage character and has just the right amount of quirkiness. Wood tables, birdcages hanging from the ceiling, and bright patterns form a welcoming and eclectic environment. And just because, there is a  a kick-ass Airstream trailer on the patio decked out in various psychedelic prints. (In fact, the trailer can be reserved for private parties.)

Airstream Trailer

The menu offers a wide variety of Southern-influenced dishes that tend to be on the heavier, lesssss healthy side, but that’s what I am looking for late at night.  As the night went on, the plates kept coming and we kept eating …

Food highlights:

  • Sweet Potato Chip Duck Confit. Freshly fried sweet potato chips smothered in duck fat gravy, goat cheese fondue and topped with a sunny side-up duck egg. Trust me, this one was as good as it sounds.
  • Crawfish Corn Fritters served with a smoked mustard remoulade. These were crispy on the outside and buttery on the inside, just the way a proper fritter should be.
  • Brisket Egg Burger. Ida Claire’s spin on a classic burger topped with B&B pickles, pimento cheese, black pepper aioli. This burger was huge and is definitely big enough to share, if you’re feeling generous.
  • And of course, the quintessential Southern breakfast food – Chicken and Waffles. Ida Claire’s version was jazzed up with chicory maple syrup and hot sauce butter. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Crawfish Corn Fritters

Crawfish Corn Fritters

The drink menu is no less thought out than the food menu. Naturally, a good Southern restaurant wouldn’t be caught dead without Juleps and I opted first for the Tobacco Peach Julep. Here, Tennessee whiskey, mint, tobacco syrup and peach bitters mixed for a true taste of all things Southern. Maybe a tad bit heavy on the ice, but good overall. From there, I went for the Vieux Carre (rye, brandy, Benedictine, sweet Vermouth, angostura and Peychaud’s bitters); it wasn’t a drink for the weak of heart.  Throwing caution to the wind (no not Gone With the Wind), my wife opted to go with the Airmail, a refreshing and potent drink crafted from gold rum, lime, honey and sparkling rosé, which apparently now rivals the classic Moscow Mule as her current favorite cocktail.  Her nightcap, a Scarlet Letter  (Bonnie’s  bathtub gin, hibiscus tea, honey, grapefruit, lemon and seltzer), was as you would expect from the ingredients: sweet, sugary and fruity, but all in a good way.

I have been fortunate to attend a number of events (thanks to Susie) and this one is certainly one of the more memorable ones.  From the delicious food and drinks to the overall ambiance of the place, Ida Claire has a lot to offer.  I will definitely be heading back sometime soon.  While our food and drinks were on the house this time, the prices looked reasonable considering the quantity you get and the quality of the items.

Hats off to Ida Claire for providing Uber credit for transportation to and fro! Southern hospitality at its finest.

Midnight Brunch: 11 pm – 2 am Friday – Sunday


IDA CLAIRE
www.ida-claire.com
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5001 Belt Line Road, Dallas, TX 75254
(214) 377-8227

 

Dallas #BoozeNews: January 6, 2015

It’s the first #BoozeNews of 2016, y’all!

NEW OFFERINGS & UPDATES

Ladies of the north … get ready.  Mexican Sugar is launching its Ladies Night!  Starting tomorrow, January 7 and every Thursday after, get 1/2 price sangria and wine from 4pm-close!

Dallas’ new favorite sushi spot, Uchi, announced its new Chef de Cuisine, Jeramie Robinson.  Louisiana-born Jeramie has been at the Mansion on Turtle Creek and has been with the Uchi family since 2012 with a short stint at Shinsei.

Newly opened BITE by Eddy T on Oak Lawn will now, in addition to its delicious full menu, offer a two-course prix-fixe menu.  He will create new rotating options that will change weekly!

One of DFW’s upscale bowling dens, Bowlmor Lanes, is relaunching on January 23 after making major renovations complete with new amenities, an enhanced VIP section, a large event space, and 42-lanes of bowling!  Stop by, bowl some frames, grab some serious* food and drink some beers!   *Really … this food doesn’t mess around–think 5lb burgers, pizza cupcakes, and signature cocktails!

LIMITED TIME OFFERINGS

The King … has arrived.  Stop by Velvet Taco to celebrate Elvis’ birthday with the Velvet Elvis 2.0, a flour tortilla, housemade peanut butter and blackberry jam, local honey, fried banana, Nutella, peppered bacon, peanuts, and chiffonade mint.
Available: January 8-17
Cost: $4

In honor of National Soup Month, Plano’s Pinstack will offer Black-Eyed Pea and Pepper Soup!  We could all use a little luck when bowling … right?
Available: January 4-10
Cost: cup, $5; bowl, $7

Breakfast for lunch?  You betcha.  Breakfast for dinner?  Oh hell yes.  Dugg Burger Bar is going to make all your breakfast-for-dinner dreams come true with a week of breakfast toppings for your dug-out burger! Coffee bacon (hell yes) on Friday to blackberry jam on Tuesday and waffles on Thursday, you can’t go wrong here.
Available: daily, January 9-15

Start your year right and get your good luck on at Greenville Avenue Pizza Company in January with their Hoppin’ John pizza with black eyed peas, sausage, bacon, rice, mozzarella cheese, and spices.
Available: January 1-31
Cost: small, $17; large, $23

Hop to Hopdoddy for their current specials– the Good Karma burger (curried red lentil patty, vegetable korma, white onion, tomato, red leaf lettuce, curried mustard, egg bun) and the Mango Lassi Shake (handmade ice cream, yogurt, mint & mango puree, whipped cream)!
Available: burger, through January 10; shake, through January 17
Cost: burger, $10; shake, $6

 

Panevino in Addison: Delizioso!

With nearly 200 restaurants packed into 4.5 modest miles, it’s getting tricky for restaurants to stand out in Addison. Newcomer Panevino, located at Addison Walk, manages to do just that. Indulge yourself in just one meal here and you’ll agree.

IMG_0356

Owner and chef, Joseph Ajro, describes Panevino as a fusion of traditional Italian and European bistro elements featuring a wide and varied menu catering to all tastes. That is to say,  you won’t find Chef Boyardee twirling his mustache anywhere near the kitchen of Panevino. Contrarily, executive chef Javier Perez (formerly of Sfuzzi) and his staff make everything in-house, using only the freshest, top-notch ingredients painstakingly selected and imports from the best regions in the world. Following the delightful evening I spent dining with Arjo in his restaurant, I left with the impression he is more or less obsessed with quality when deciding what makes the cut in his kitchen. When I tasted the product of his careful selection process, I understood why.

Panevino boasts an equally thoughtful wine selection featuring wines from around the world. Some of the offerings on the wine list deviate from the expected; Merkin “Chupacabra” Red Blend, anyone? Yeah, that would be an Arizona wine produced by none other than the guy from Tool. (That said, it was delicious.) Clearly, their sommelier, Noah Patridge, isn’t afraid to think outside the box when making recommendations for a new wine to try with dinner. He paired a different wine with each course we enjoyed at dinner, and all of his couplings were spot-on. Original cocktails influenced by European roots round out the drink menu, and a variety of craft beers are available on tap.

But, back to the food. There was not a single dish we tried that fell short of ridiculously good … and some dishes may or may not have made my eyes roll back in my head a little. First, I surprised myself by selecting the Pepper Crusted Ahi Tuna as my favorite appetizer of the evening. Served on a bed of artichokes and roasted peppers, the delicate flavor of the seriously fresh rare tuna was perfectly offset by the peppery sear. I’m not usually a big fan of rare tuna, but I would order this dish again … and again.

One of my favorite dishes of the entire evening, however, arrived in the form of our salad course–the Heirloom Caprese Tower. A glorious tower of the freshest Buffalo mozzarella I have ever tasted, interspersed with gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a balsamic glaze, this “salad” was an emotional experience. I wept.

IMG_0363

It was difficult to select a favorite entree from several excellent dishes we sampled, but WHEN  (and not if) I return to Panevino, I plan on ordering the Homemade Gnocchi so I can stuff every last one of those perfect little ‘tato dumplings into my face hole.  Crowned with tangles of delicate prosciutto, basil, shaved parmesan, and a rich tomato cream sauce, this is one of those dishes that manages  to warm your very soul. If I had a little Italian grandma, I would probably have to lie to her when I lovingly professed her gnocchi to be superior. (Lucky for me, my descendants are Russian and English, so there aren’t many culinary white lies to be told ‘neath the branches of this family tree. Borscht? Kidney pie? idk.)

My husband’s favorite dish of the evening was the Lobster Ravioli, which I’m pretty sure speaks for itself; except for the fact that the ravioli happens to be crowned with scallops and lump crab meat, so it’s basically one big crustacean brigata on your plate. Also noteworthy was the Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp, filled with lump crab meat, plated atop lemon marscapone risotto, and drizzled with a citrus beurre blanc. Yowza. Panevino does seafood well.

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Do save room for dessert. They are all made in-house, and they are not an afterthought; you cannot go wrong here.

Happy hour details:
4pm-7pm Monday through Friday
$5 Sangria, $5 House wines, and $2 off all Texas beers


PANEVINO
www.osteria-panevino.com
Facebook
5000 BELT LINE RD. #300, ADDISON
(972) 807-6268

HOURS:
Monday – Friday
11AM – 11PM
Thursday – Saturday
11AM – 12AM
Closed on Sundays

Bite by Eddy T – Dallas

Bite by Eddy T recently opened in the former Cyclone Anaya Kin Kin Urban Thai space on Oak Lawn.  Chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin (affectionately known as Eddy T … because, who can say that name?!), brought his concept over from Fort Worth in December offering American cuisine with an Asian influence.  The restaurant will offer lunch and dinner, an extensive wine list, teas, and a full bar complete with a menu of rather interesting cocktails.

I was intrigued by the cocktails which use some local spirits and infusions made in-house.  My favorite, which is also my Fort Worth contributor, Amanda’s favorite drink at Bite, was the smoked bourbon, sweet tea, limoncello, and St. Germain business.  When delivered, the mason jar is capped to keep the smoke chambered.  Hot damn.  (Literally and metaphorically.)

Dinner was fantastic and my favorite was the Parmesan Soufflé.  I was so pissed that I hadn’t ordered that myself and had to settle for just two bites of it.  The Braised Short Rib (not pictured, also not ordered by me) will be what I return to eat.  Dessert was a different story … it was delicious–every.damn.thing was delicious.

The food and drink satisfied all of us at the media event, which was capped off beautifully by their homemade lollipops.  The staff was incredibly friendly, the restaurant lovely (if a bit dark… always tough to get decent pictures of the food!), and the atmosphere charged.

Check out Eddy’s newest restaurant in Dallas soon … and make sure to have a smokey drink and lollipop for me!


BITE by EDDY T
bitebyeddyt.com
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3211 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas,TX 75219
972-925-0006

Primo’s: New Ownership, Old Favorites

Primo’s is a Dallas institution in it’s own right. It would be harder to find a cheesier enchilada or a frostier happy hour margarita than the familiar offerings at this beloved industry favorite.

In case you missed it, Primo’s closed its doors in 2013 and reopened them again in early 2015 under new ownership. The new owners attempted to update Primo’s tried and true menu, much to the chagrin of many once-loyal fans. It wasn’t working. I have wonderful news for Primo’s loyalists and Tex Mex enthusiasts alike: Primo’s is, once again, under new ownership; and this time, new owners Dirk and Mark Kelcher (of Ron’s Place and now Cedar’s Social) intend to restore Primo’s to its former glory. Primo’s fans can expect to see the majority of the original menu, with a few thoughtful additions  that don’t take away from what Primo’s should be.

Some welcomed additions to Primo’s menu include a variety of new specialty cocktails, as well as a collection of aptly dangerous tequila flights. While Primo’s Tex Mex menu is full of old favorites, their re-vamped cocktail menu is creative and playful- in a good way. If you’re feeling indecisive, throw caution to the wind and consider allowing  the bartender to craft you an off-menu libation based on your personal preferences. I was lucky enough to sample several off-menu creations, such as the delightfully zippy Basil Jalapeño Margarita and the cleverly crafted Moscow-Rita, prepared with ginger beer in place of triple sec. While all of the specialty cocktails I sampled were interesting and delicious, I would be remiss not to remind everyone how comforting and satisfying Primo’s house marg so happens to be. Not too sweet, not too tart, and nice and smooth; simple and darn near perfect.

I can happily confirm the Kelchers are delivering on their promise to stay true to Primo’s old school Tex Mex roots. The chips are crispy and hot, the salsa spicy, the queso decadently thick and cheesy, and the guac is fresh and chunky. Primo’s beef tacos cause grease to dribble down your chin in the best way possible. Meanwhile, the chicken tacos are quite possibly the ultimate soul-warming comfort food … apart from, of course, the enchiladas. Fajitas are served sizzling, decorated with sexy little char marks that cause one to salivate in anticipation.

Ongoing specials include Margarita Tuesdays, including $3 margs and $7 taco plates, along with Happy Hour Monday-Friday, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., including $3 domestic drafts, house wines, house margs, and well. $7.99 lunch specials are available Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.


Primo’s Tex Mex Grille
www.PrimosTexMex.com
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1400 Hi Line Drive, Suite 116 (Design District)
(214) 390-7671

Hours of Operation:
Sunday- Monday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday- Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.