Hello Big D

Seriously great, creative gourmet tacos served in the rear of the market at the Green Spot Bio-Fuels gas station,  It’s located just south of Mockingbird off Buckner (on the east side of White Rock. But, no matter where you are make the field trip to try these suckers.  New menu everyday.  $3.00 each (well worth it).  Incredibly creative tacos with fun and whimsical monickers like “French Connection”, a taco including: bacon, egg, spinach, tomato and hollandaise sauce.  Unreal.  Enjoy.

http://www.greenspotmarket.com/

Green Spot Market & FuelsGree
702 N. Buckner Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75218

ph: 214.319.SPOT

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There are two days a year I dread, Valentine’s Day and my anniversary. This is shocking to most since I happen to be married to the best husband ever, but I’m not a fan of romantic holidays. So this year when my dad invited us to join him and his girlfriend on their traditional anti-valentine’s date at Hole In The Wall, I quickly jumped at the chance.

This worn-in biker bar, towards the north end of Harry Hines across from (insert strip bar of choice), has one of the best burgers in town. Made the old fashioned way on a griddle, it was greasy and fantastic. Top that off with some onion rings and a man singing the blues in a red three piece suit and you have a new Valentine’s tradition. I’m hooked.

A few things to be aware of:

1. You must purchase a membership card – I have no idea why you need it or what you get for being a member but we got it for free making the experience that much sweeter.
2. Don’t expect fine dining – I’m not sure if anyone has cleaned the place since it opened. It’s dark and has bras hanging from the ceiling.
3. Beware of the regulars – The regulars will more than likely stop what they’re doing, turn around and stare as you walk in causing a bit of an Animal House moment. It will pass and your burger will be worth it.

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If you’ve known me for very long, and were asked to create a list of things that I love the most, there are a few obvious choices that you’d probably be able to nail down:

• my wife
• graphic design
• my 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit pickup truck (yes, they made those)
• my fanboy favorites Brian Eno, Stefan Sagmeister and Teddy Roosevelt

…and, of course, sandwiches. I simply adore a good sandwich.

I’d like to say that I’ve spent years in pursuit of a good sandwich in Dallas, that this delicacy has been the Moby Dick to my Captain Ahab, but if I were to tell you this I would be lying. Actually, I found the perfect sandwich rather quickly, and it can be found at a little place called Deep Ellum Deli.

I was introduced to this fine establishment a couple of years ago during a stint at a design studio down the block from the Deli (capital D intentional) where it was a weekly standard. I think what really launched the tidalwave of adoration for me was the introduction of the whole “oil and vinegar” concept, which quite frankly, blew my mind. The magic to a Deep Ellum Deli sandwich is really the proportion of ingredients, which can only be applied properly by a truly experienced hand. The bread is fresh and non-soggy, the lettuce is crisp and shredded to perfection, the mayo is apparent but not overwhelming, and the meat/cheese ratio is truly inspired.

Deep Ellum Deli is definitely a labor of love and is staffed by an experienced husband and wife duo (I assume they are husband and wife, though I can’t say I’ve confirmed this) who must have gone to some sort of sandwich making school in France or wherever it is that sandwiches were invented (Germany maybe? Where was that Earl of Sandwich fellow from?) and are really great about acknowledging your status as a repeat customer. However, due to the precise standard to which each sandwich is held, the wait can sometimes be quite long. Once lunch time arrives the place tends to fill up pretty quickly, which is not hard because there approximately three tables in the whole place. So, make sure to give yourself plenty of time for lunch on a Deep Ellum Deli day. That’s okay though, because it should be an event. I kind of think it should also be a weekly national holiday.

Also, keep in mind that Deep Ellum Deli is a cash-only establishment. They rock it old school there. However, the prices are extremely reasonable, so a few bucks should fill you up pretty easily.

Now, perhaps some of you nay-sayers out there are questioning my dedication to the Deli. Maybe you’re saying to yourself “Dude, they’re just sandwiches! No one would write a ballad of any sort about a sandwich!” But if you’re saying that, you obviously do not understand my passions. You also apparently never made it to my apartment circa 2007, where in order to get online you would have had to log-in to a network named “Sandwiches” that was protected by the oh-so-appropriate password “Delicious”.

See? I told you I love sandwiches.

Deep Ellum Deli can be found at 3001 Commerce St # 10, which works out to the corner of Commerce and Hall in Deep Ellum.

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OK…admittedly Uncle G can’t seem to shake off his kick for Mexican fare lately. So, with that being said, let’s discuss another great find—The Taco Joint. Located at the intersection of Gaston Avenue and Peak Street, and open breakfast and lunch only, this place simply has it figured out. Serve creative Tex-Mex style tacos, and understate the burrito enchilada and tostada options. Everything I have tried has been great. For breakfast I’ve devoured a migas taco and the sausage, egg and cheese taco. Both were excellent. For lunch I enjoyed the steak fajita taco one visit and some funky special fajita beef burrito with spicy queso sauce and grilled onions another time. Fajita taco was strong, but the burrito special was phenomenal. So, high marks on the cuisine for certain.

Now let’s kick around some other notable reasons the Taco Joint is worth the journey east of downtown:

1. Management—great people. The owner / proprietor is super friendly, and somehow remembers my name each time I go in there (3 total)
2. Jalapeño Ranch—A solid option to round out your standard salsa offerings is a yummy ranch that is a great compliment to their tacos and burritos.
3. Pellet Ice—It’s just the best isn’t it? It makes every fountain drink better. Why is that?
4. Clean, fun, family friendly place—Walk up ordering, with spacious and simple dining room seem to be an unexpectedly great family consideration when I visited last Saturday AM.
5. Really just a fun and well branded experience—Sorry, I can’t shake the marketer in me sometimes.
6. Philanthropic—Offered a proceed of sales to the Rise School of Dallas for a couple of weeks last month. Very cool.

Check it out:

The Taco Joint
911 N Peak St
Dallas, TX 75204

(214) 826-8226
www.thetacojoint.com

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The cuisine debate will soldier on forever. Conversations that rage about the best burger, Mexican food, hot dog, atmosphere, etc. will be started by The Observer or D Magazine and carried on into the interpersonal cross talk of friends across the Metroplex. My job today is to introduce an oft-forgotten, but fairly popular Tex-Mex establishment known as Pepe’s & Mito’s.

Pepe’s & Mito’s is located in Deep Ellum and is one of the few pillars of strength in a (currently) downtrodden arts and entertainment district. Many are unaware of this jewel, but the truth is, Pepe’s & Mito’s is faithfully supported by Deep Ellum businesses and Baylor Hospital staffers. Well, those two groups and people like me. People that know that Pepe’s & Mito’s has it figured out. People that know that Pepe’s & Mito’s is arguably one of the best, if not the best Tex-Mex eateries in all of Dallas.

OK, before you declare Armageddon hear me out. I plan to practically break this down for you in ways that anyone that respects good latin cuisine can digest. To do so, I will take you through a meal progression at Pepe’s & Mito’s.

Walking in the door today, I literally recognize the very same management and server staff from when I lived in Deep Ellum in 1998. Very little turnover equals a solid establishment that is clearly making some decent scratch for its wait staff.

As you sit down you’ll be pleased to know the menu is very affordable. This isn’t surprising because the atmosphere isn’t anything terribly special, but it’s not dingy. Anyway, very quickly I am presented chips and salsa. OK, I’ll stop right there. The chips and salsa set the tone for the whole Tex-Mex culinary experience, right? Well, Pepe’s & Mito’s salsa is strong. Not the best, but really good. The chips are great too. Always warm, which is a nice touch.

The margarita is wonderful too. I mean, damn good, easy to drink, and not acidic in the least. It’s actually kind of refreshing (if that makes any sense). I strongly recommend.

Now I will caution you on one thing. The queso is truly weak. Not good. Do not order it.

Back to the menu…I really like everything on the menu, and they mix in some different Tex-Mex options like Avocado Quesadillas. Their chicken enchiladas are amazing. And, I love their fajitas. But, before we go any further, I need to explain to you at its core why the food at Pepe’s & Mito’s is superior to most of its Tex-Mex counterparts. The flour tortillas. They are like crack. They have some sort of butter foundation, and they make every meal they are invited to a star. I am so obsessed with them, that I demand an order of flour tortillas the minute they drop the chips. With some butter and a little salsa…unreal. I can say this with a straight face: they are the very best flour tortillas in the free world. I said it. You have a problem? Cuz my boys Pepe & Mito might just have my back.

Anyway, I could go on about the random but great Halloween party I threw there in 2002. Or, the great catering experience I recently had. Or just the hospitality in general. But check it out for yourself. Lunch or dinner, it is a nice, casual, and delicious Tex-Mex experience that is a nice departure other Dallas Tex-Mexeries.

Pepe’s and Mito’s Mexican Café

2911 Elm Street, Dallas, 75226

(in Deep Ellum, corner of Elm & Malcolm X)

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