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P.F. Chang’s

Saké has met its match at P.F. Chang’s!  The every-man’s “fancy” Asian Bistro has revamped its cocktail menu to include some more well-known cocktails than previously offered, such as a Moscow Mule, sangria, and their version of a Bloody Mary, the Sichuan Mary.

My party tried the Moscow Mule (not terrible at all, and quite strong), the sangria (really nothing too unique, but it’ll hit the spot if you’re looking for something refreshing), and the Manhattan Gone A-Rye (delicious and strong as s**t … if you like Manhattans).  I was pleased by the flavors, and look forward to trying the Coconut Lemon Sour and Black Tea Gimlet on my next visit.

P.F. Chang’s still offers a full bar, beer (lists customized with regional offerings), wine, and saké.

We are back in the US!

DAY 7: ROME

What an amazing day in Roma!  After an early departure, we headed to Rome for a day “on our own”.  Alice and Jeff ventured across Rome and say just about everything there was to see, while Mom and I met Barbi and Fred (in for the weekend from Florence) for a long Italian lunch, complete with limoncello and macchiati.

Florence and Pisa tomorrow for an 11-hour tour.  Wish us luck.

We won some $$$ at Blackjack! As it goes in our family … even if you just break even, that’s winning! ♥️

Off to Munich with brand new memory foam pillows and bellies full of mediocre (at best) airport Mexican appetizers and margaritas.

Our last day in Rome was a delight. We went to see the Boca de la Verità (from – it is meant to cut the hands off liars) and meandered back to the church where the concert was to be held.

The concert was amazing and ended up being so crowded that they ran out of seats. I am about to head into their third concert in Florence right now.

Does anyone remember the name of the restaurant that was in the current Malai Kitchen space?  Honestly, I don’t really care because I wouldn’t give Malai up for all the bubble tea in Thailand.

I was so pleased to join Braden and Yasmin, the adorable husband/wife team behind Malai Kitchen, for a few sips of wine and a couple cocktails.  Not only are they delightful people, but they know their stuff.  Case in point: their wine list.  If you haven’t checked out Malai’s revamped wine list, it’s worth checking out.  The wine menu offers a unique variety of wines starting at $7 a glass from across the globe, some of which are priced quite close to retail (tres unique for a restaurant).  Even better? It’s wine-idiot-friendly as it’s organized by intensity.  

We enjoyed tastes of:

  • Livon 2011 (Friulano) – a unique flavor
  • Markus Molitor “Bernkasteler Badstube” 2011 (Riesling Kabinett)
  • Joseph Kent “Vieux Carre” 2010 (White blend)
  • Guillon “Gevery Chambertin” 2007 (Pinot Noir)
  • Longoria “Alisos Vineyard” 2005 (Syrah)
  • Brazin “Old Vine” 2010 (Zinfandel)

I died for the Guillon Pinot and would definitely recommend a glass or three of it.  The Markis Molitor is light and has just the right amount of sweetness to be the perfect pairing for a spicy curry dish.  Ask the bartender (or ask for Braden or Yasmin if they’re in) for a recommendation if you’re lost.

As for cocktails, they have a short list of really stellar options, many of which were developed by Jason Kosmas, the king of cocktail.  My dude, Rico*, and I tried a good mix of their offerings and were really wowed by some of the amazing mixology behind the Malai bar.  

The Singapore Sling got an audible “oh my god” from me and I’ll be returning for that one.  They recommend it for two (as it’s a pitcher) … but I think one person with a high tolerance and the Uber app could handle it.  Something everyone in Dallas must try is the Kaffir Collins (top left in the picture).  Since it’s made with a fruit used in Thai curries, kaffir lime, you can LITERALLY** not find this anywhere else in Dallas.  The taste is so incredibly rich and light and intriguing at the same time that  Rico and I actually squabbled over who got to finish this drink.  (I won.)  Other winners are the Cambodian Daiquiri and Bourbon Smash.

Malai Kitchen is convenient to grab before a movie or for happy hour, so stop in soon and order a Kaffir Collins in my honor.  

MALAI KITCHEN
www.malaikitchen.com | @malaikitchen
3699 McKinney Ave #319 (West Village)
(972) 591-3387

*Rico is both a freaking talented coworker and the leader of the Brunch Bros gang.  Check them out if you aren’t already a huge fan.
**According to them.  Believe me … I tried bribing them to tell me where to get the Kaffir leaves.

You’ve heard the name, and know they make some (damn) good Tex-Mex.  BUUUUT did you know that they also make some pretty delicious drinks?  Barkeeps Dex and Bryan came up with a craft cocktail menu to please every palate.  From sweet and slushy to strong and smooth, the drinks are all very different, but are equally unique and delicious.

The drinks are made by hand, and are all available served over crushed ice.  This isn’t some half-assed crushed ice … it’s nearly snow cone-esque.  Also, their margaritas are mostly green.  (This seemed like an important point — though I’m not really sure why — so I’ll go along with it … GREEN MARGARITAS?!??!! WHOOOHOO!)  Drinks range from $8 to $24 (Ultimat Lemonade Pitcher) and have a decent strength behind them.  

We’ll start from the top of some of the drinks I sampled.

  • HANDCRAFTED PIÑA COLADA | I haven’t had a piña colada in ages, but this made me wonder why I’ve poo-poo’d the classic poolside drink.  It’s not too sweet and is made with crushed ice, making it more a snowcone than a traditional Icee.
  • SAZERAC | The CH version of the Sazerac takes away the vicious bite of the classic version by adding a bit of lemon.  Being a whiskey fan, I really enjoyed this drink.
  • TITO’S TEXAS SIPPER | As some of you may know, I hate me some grapefruit.  Even with my aversion to the ruby red, I enjoyed this drink enough to drink half of it (which, given that I tried upwards of 9 drinks that night, is saying something).
  • EL PEPPINO | A delightfully refreshing martini with cucumber, elderflower liqueur, and TY KU citrus … so basically, it’s delicious.  
  • SUMMER BREEZE | I already mentioned my disgust for grapefruit, and this one has some serious grapefruit going on.  Crazy thing?  I dug this drink.  Really.  I drank most of it and hardly let my HH guests have a sip…. though when one of them got a hold of it, she ended up finishing it and ordering two more.
  • KICKIN’ MULE | Who isn’t a fan of a traditional Moscow Mule?  (Seriously … if you don’t like them, raise your hand and I’ll come through my computer and slap you.  Moscow Mules are delicious.)  Their amped-up version of the MM is a very well-balanced take on it … and I’ll say that I’ve journeyed back in since my review to buy one of these with my owned hard-earned money.  That should tell you something!!  Bonus?  They’re served in copper mugs … if you’re into that sort of thing.

The drinks at Cafe Herrera aren’t the only thing I am going to harp on.  The food is pretty damn awesome, too.  The food is made fresh daily out of the open kitchen.  (I like to see into kitchens … you?)  The queso and guac are better than most, and the Herrera’s Appetizer (nachos, flautitas, cheese quesadillas, and some delish garnishes) is excellent.  I love a good sampling!  But the best food of the night?  Definitely the ceviche — it was really fresh and had the perfect balance of citrus and “sea”.  It’s my jam.

Head into Mockingbird Station and visit one of Dallas’ oldest Tex-Mex cafes (the family is one of the oldest, that is) and don’t forget to order a drink … a real drink.
CAFE HERRERA
www.cafeherrera.com | @cafeherrerambs
Mockingbird Station | 214-823-4040

***Please note: this tasting was on the house.***