Best of Dallas: egg roll

Months ago, we hosted the second food challenge. Egg rolls. Who has a crispy fried shell and the spiciest dipping sauce? Will old favorites be overthrown by local Vietnamese hole-in-the-walls?

Competitors included:
Green Papaya
Tam's Egg rolls
Vietnam
I love egg rolls
Yumi (to go)

It was a tough competition.

Green Papaya's spicy dipping sauce nearly put them over the edge, Yumi's were baked and veggie, a nice strategic play angling for best of health, but falling short when placed against a golden fried exterior... (my mouth is watering just typing this!). Tam's and I love Egg Rolls didn't stand a chance, they reminded me of the frozen's from Albertson. Soft, thin and not nearly fried enough... which left VIETNAM (off Bryan St.) victorious! We held onto our trophy (barely) until the next food-off.

We also included a best DIY contest for drinks... which were so good it has left the details hazy, but Blackberry Smash (knocked off from The Porch) and a random entry of Duck Soup came in for first and second. A kudos to the Leonard's for their creative Duck Soup entry.

I wish I knew the secret for a delicious egg roll recipe, but alas I will leave you with the winning cocktail recipe....

Duck Soup

2 oz bourbon whiskey
1/2 oz apricot brandy
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz pineapple juice
1/2 tsp caster sugar

Our next competition is Best Of Dallas: Salsa edition.

Prescreened for creativity

This weekend, in between packing up my 700 sq. ft apartment, I picked up one of the coolest hobbies→screen printing.

I know it is trendy but I just love screen printed everything. Shirts with funky branches, owls on wallets or pretty much anything painted onto anything. It can be a fun way to make travel photos forever keepsakes, personalize bags or even hand make stationary.

So when Becca and I decided to expand our skills and start routinely actively looking into classes, screen printing was an easy first win. Why? Maybe I can save some of the cash I spend on etsy.com, it was one of the few classes that’s contained into one day and you get to leave with your first screened tee! Plus the Make shop is in Bishop Arts and sells things from various local artist. Love.

I’ve looked into kits online, but they seemed costly and complicated. The class was $70 and gave me an in-person tutorial (which is good because I have an allergic reaction to instructions). I share with you my new found screen knowledge:

Step one: get supplies. This means acrylic paint, cheap ink pen that will not bleed, polyester fabric, scissors, mod mat glue, a design and an embroidery hoop.

Step two: Put polyester fabric into hoop and tighten like a drum.

Step three: Trace image through polyester with pen or pencil .

Step four: “Paint” the negative space (non paint) with mod glue.

Step five: Place bag/shirt/fabric you want screened under the drum, and heavily apply acrylic paint to polyester covered hoop. You might consider using a squeegee to give the added pressure to push the paint through the polyester onto the desired fabric.

Step six: dry shirt, clean up and wear your new product*!

Guess you all know what you're getting for Christmas!

*My and Becca's first screens! Mine=branch Becca=(cooler) owl. :)

Best of Dallas? Pizza edition.

What better place to start with than the place you live! So there are a few cuisines that are always debated among friends of what is the ‘best’ of. A few of us decide to take matters into our own hands and start putting restaurant reps, and our food credibility, on the line. First up: pizza!

Contenders: Prego’s, Garibaldi’s and local fav... Bryan Street Tavern.

To make all things fair, we decided to have agreed toppings half (pepperoni and mushroom) and the other half to have up to each submitter for creativity. Since the host(ess) had first dibbs and went with BST, we banked on Grimaldi’s (per Jeff’s request) and I did not feel comfortable hedging on an unknown. I take winning and food very seriously after all.

Results:
Best overall- Grimaldi’s (our submission!)
Best choose your own- BST (tavern favorite)

Next up: eggroll off! I’m putting my trophy on the line and backing Vietnam off Bryan/Live Oak.

What are some other delicacies we should debate?