Lobster Bisque and a Cherry Slurpee
December 2, 2009 by KelliK
Filed under To Do in DFW, feature, fun
Have you ever stopped on the road for lunch or dinner and gotten gas?
Gasoline, that is.
If not, you’ve been missing a real treat in Watauga. Inside the Conoco gas station accolades from food critics and newspapers line the walls of Chef Point Cafe and even Guy Fieri from Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has been there.
Five Star Food in a Gas Station
I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical when my good friend and fellow foodie, Pam, suggested we meet for lunch at a gas station. In Watauga. As she told me about some of the entrees, my curiosity was peaked. Was it really possible to get Cioppino Soup or Lamb Chops with a brown mint sauce while just outside beyond the door the gas pumps were cranking out premium unleaded? I had to find out.
Daily Specials on the Dry Erase Board
I had heard of Watauga, but I had to get out the Mapsco to find it. (Answer: State Road 377, a little South of Keller.) As I crossed the Tarrant County line, I wondered what I would find. Would this be some kitschy thematic diner in the back of a gas station, or would I arrive to find the eatery in the same strip mall as a filling station, not really sharing the same space?
Let me fill you in folks. This is the real deal. There, on the north side of Watauga Boulevard, is a large red and white Conoco sign. As I pulled into the establishment at 12:15, cars and trucks were busy filling their tanks with gas. The front lot was jammed but behind the building I found a few spaces.
When you open the double doors you’ll notice a regular gas stations convenience store on the right. Beyond the rows of candies, gums, and assorted beef jerkies is the refrigerated section with waters, and sodas, and just past that, the slurpee machine. But the scene is quite unexpected if instead, you look left. A dry erase board lists the specials of the day with entrees as varied as Oxtail over Dirty Rice to Chicken and Waffles. Small red tables cluster together, as sights and yummy smells from the open kitchen permeate the dining area.
I have to say, I am a sucker for daily specials at any restaurant. I always imagine the chef at the farmer’s market that morning finding something unexpected and planning a dish around it for the daily special. Sometimes, I’ll even give the waiter my two or three top choices, and tell him to let the chef pick my dinner. So although it may sound pedestrian, I chose the Chicken Pot Pie. For starters, I couldn’t finish it, it was so huge. The flaky pastry that smothered the top of the bowl, and hung down the sides was scrumptious. I thought I tasted a bit of tarragon in the creamy sauce, but the chef swears it was simply French Basil and Parsley. No matter, it was delicious.
WOW! Crabmeat stuffed Porkchop in Asiago cream sauce
My lunch companions had the Butternut Squash Curried Pasta and Scallops (also a special) and the Crabmeat Stuffed Pork Chop in an Asiago sauce over Angel Hair. Both were fabulous! For dessert we split the highly anticipated Bread Pudding in Hot Cognac Sauce, and I must be honest, we were all a little disappointed. It was rich and creamy, but nothing unusual.
Aside from the inspired dishes of this restaurant, the ambiance is a kick! The table next to us held 3 workers from a local factory who were munching on burgers as big as your head, a monte cristo sandwich and fries. The diners behind us were dressed to impress and were noshing on Lobster Bisque and what looked to be the Hawaiian Salmon special. All the while very serious chefs moved about in a kitchen that was less than 5 feet away from us, creating plate after plate piled high with mouth watering dishes. Michael Buble played softly in the background as I noticed a monster truck with king cab and duelies peel out of the parking lot. I really felt like I was in a scene from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
Nevertheless, next time you find yourself hungry in Tarrant County, stop by the Chef Point Café in Watauga. Fill your gullet or fill your gas tank, and before you leave, grab a slurpee for the road.
Don’t be a Griswold: New Rules for Holiday Lighting
December 1, 2009 by KelliK
Filed under family, feature, reality check
It all started in July. Seriously. I walked into Hobby Lobby in shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops, already pitted out from crossing the heat-baked parking lot. I rejoiced in the momentary blast of icy air that hit me as the store’s doors opened. But then the assault began…Christmas music! I am not kidding you! I don’t know when it started, but I can assure you that by July 9th, the Herald Angels were singing “Hark” in Hobby Lobby. I turned on my flippy-floppy heels, and walked out of the store.
I’m really no Scrooge. Ask my friends and they’ll tell you that there are a minimum of 5 trees in my house each year. I regularly host a cookie exchange and a couple of holiday cocktail parties. Most years my Christmas shopping is finished by Halloween, and my cards go out the day after Thanksgiving. (OK, truth be told, last year I didn’t get cards out at all, but that’s a first in 21 years of marriage.)
There used to be some sort of “holiday etiquette” that everyone followed. Nothing was written. There were no classes to take. People just did it. Things began to get a little off-kilter when retail businesses began to set up holiday displays before Thanksgiving. That worked without repercussion, so the set-up day began creeping backward, first before Halloween, then before Labor Day. But now, they have pushed the envelope too far in my mind! I refuse to listen to “Dashing through the Snow” while sweat is running down the middle of my back.
Once the retail stores started pimping Christmas early, other businesses soon followed suit. The Christmas Lighting guys began hanging folders on our doors in August. The card stores started pre-selling their custom engraved photo cards in September. In some areas, Salvation Army began setting up in October. I can’t take it, so I have stayed away from the stores as much as I can. Christmas is no longer “special” when it lasts for 6 months.
And herein lies the real problem. Many of my neighbors and yours too, no doubt, have joined in the pre-pre-pre-Christmas sentiment. So today, for you my friends, I will step into the role of Miss Manners, as I declare the new Holiday Lighting rules. You can thank me next year.
- Christmas lights should be hung with care. If the lights are to represent a straight line (like on a roof) use clips. If the lights are on a tree or bush, check to make sure that one of the strands doesn’t flash while all the others are solid. If you really feel you must line your sidewalks with lights (honestly, Miss Manners thinks this can be a bit distasteful) use stakes so neighbor kids don’t trip. Please don’t leave extension cords hanging from any of your displays, it truly ruins the effect.
- Exercise caution when purchasing inflatable scenes from large home improvement stores. Miss Manners realizes that some who choose to be festive do not have time to painstakingly string lights around their home, and that the ease of plugging in colored nylon and watching it come to life is nice. However, there’s something a bit disturbing about driving through a neighborhood in the daytime and seeing deflated Santas and emaciated Frosty’s lying about in everyone’s yard. Therefore, I will suggest that no more than one inflatable scene per yard is tasteful and since set up is relatively easy, can you please shove this type of décor in your garage (or behind a bush) at the end of each night, and plug it in freshly each evening?
- Icicle lights are no longer chic. Enough said.
- Purchase timers for your display. Lights should go on at dusk, and shut off no later than 11pm each evening. Imagine living next to the Griswold’s and having to pull all the blinds in the house just to get your kids to sleep at night.
- Holiday lights should not be turned on prior to Thanksgiving, and they should be turned off no later than one week after New Years Day. This should give everyone ample time to celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanza and the Epiphany.
My holiday wish for you is that your neighbors will embrace these rules. Wouldn’t it be lovely? Regardless, I will continue in my quest to make the holiday season both festive and tasteful. Next year, we’re going to need to talk about those holiday sweaters.
Thanksgiving and the Kids Table
Have you ever been relegated to the “kids table” on Thanksgiving? You know what I mean. The house is overflowing with people and the dining room table is stretched as far as it will go. A satellite table is set up just outside the dining room entrance to accommodate the rest of the crowd. Inevitably it’s a card table with one wobbly leg. These seats go to guests of the younger variety, however, every once in awhile, due to overcrowding (or spite) an adult has to be seated with this group.
I’ve been that adult.
I can already hear the groans from the rest of you turkey eating adults, who think this might be a fate worse than death. I can sense the sympathy from many of you dear readers, who feel I have been slighted. I can hear the insipid giggles from my family, who no doubt think, “Better her than me!”
I’ll share a secret with you if you promise not to tell…this is the best seat in the house! No one at this table cares if you don’t eat your brussel sprouts. No one casts a side long glance if you forget to spoon your soup properly, or begin to slouch. No one here, ever talks about their water heater, nosy neighbor, or medical problems. But the best part is, as long as you can get the kids to pick up their plates and head into the kitchen, you get first dibs on dessert! (And no one at this table tells if you have more than one tasty treat!)
Everyone has a favorite holiday, and for many, it falls in the month of December. I totally get it! I too, love the glitter, gluttony and giving of the Christmas season. But for all its merriment, there is a lot of pressure that comes along with Santa’s arrival. Conversely, Thanksgiving sneaks in with little fanfare and departs almost as quietly. I’m a sucker for tradition, and Thanksgiving has it in spades! There’s little stress about what’s to come, because everyone knows the plan. Morning begins with the Macy’s Day parade, followed by turkey, stuffing, yams, assorted veggies, a wishbone and plenty of pie. It finishes with football and a walk around the block. (To make room for more pie, of course.)
There’s a calmness about Thanksgiving that many other holidays lack. Families truly get together to share fellowship and food. You can count on Aunt Bev’s homemade cranberry relish with chopped nuts, Aunt Paula’s noodles, Aunt Nancy’s dressing, or Grandmother’s Golden Glow Salad. Sure, you make jokes about the whole thing, and kick your cousin under the table when the same story is repeated for the twentieth year in a row, but you really love it and it makes you feel safe. And isn’t that really what family celebrations are all about?
So though I am excited to dig out my favorite Christmas decorations and attend some great holiday parties, I’m in no rush to get through Thanksgiving. It’s like a deep breath of fresh air before all the excitement begins. I intend to relish the day with my husband, kids and friends who will be visiting this year. I’ll be up early and I’ll have the Macy’s Parade on in the background, as I begin cooking. I’ll bring out the special china and set the table properly. And this year, when I set the place cards, I might save a seat for myself at the “kids table.”
Girlfriends Getaway to Bald Head Island
November 17, 2009 by KelliK
Filed under Inspiration, feature
There’s nothing like a long weekend at the beach…
…especially if you’re lucky enough to stay in the Coastal Living Beach Home, on Bald Head Island. Toss in 8 of your best friends, a private chef, glorious weather, a mystery to solve and you’ve got the recipe for some fantastic memories!
My good friend Terre and I plan events for people all over the world.
From corporate retreats and incentive trips to golf outings and anniversary soirees; as event planners, we’ve done a little bit of everything. But each year in the fall, we treat ourselves and our friends to a spectacular four day get away.
In January, the invitations arrive detailing the theme, location and activities. Each guest is responsible for her own transportation to the area, but after that, we take over with lavish meals, fantastic accommodations, interesting side trips, and special trinkets for everyone. We try to head to places that aren’t the typical destination, and then include events that the normal traveler couldn’t arrange for themselves.
One year our theme was “Unlock the Mysteries of Santa Fe.” Each guest received a vintage skeleton key in the mail, and when they arrived at the resort, their key unlocked a trunk that revealed a special gift. As I recall, that weekend we did a GPS Scavenger Hunt in the mountains, took a class at the famed Santa Fe School of Cooking, and were special guests of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, partaking in a private dinner in the gallery. The final night we arranged for a recording artist to serenade all the ladies with a private concert in one of the suites. We’ve been to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina for Candlelight, we stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado for a Black and White weekend, and last year our theme was “Red Hot Montreal.”
This year Terre and I decided to try something different. Instead of staying at an exclusive inn, we made arrangements to rent the Coastal Living Beach Home. With beds for 15, 7 bathrooms, large gathering spaces and 3000 square feet of covered porches overlooking the ocean, it sounded like just the ticket! The invitation instructed our group that this year there would be no need for the cha-cha shoes or fancy jewelry. (They didn’t believe us, by the way.) This year sweatshirts, cozy sweaters and warm pajamas were the things to pack. Along with the invite, came a culinary murder mystery novel which our guests were to read prior to departure. Terre and I planned the entire weekend around the recipes and intrigue from this book.
We welcomed the ladies in Wilmington, North Carolina on Thursday evening for a special dinner at Deluxe restaurant. The Basil Garden Gimlet kicked the evening off in high fashion while Thomas, the establishment’s manager and Trinity, the chef, took every care to customize a menu for us that included perfect wines for each course. After dinner, we hopped in our private shuttle and headed to the ferry. (Side note for all of you Jon and Kate fans/haters…our driver gave us some behind the scenes scoop on Kate whom he had driven around last summer. All I will say is this; it appears that she looks out for number one more than numbers 3-10.)
We boarded the ferry to our island home, and once there, hopped into golf carts. The weekend was all we had planned and more. The ladies golfed, shopped and hit the spa. We hopped on a tram for a private tour of the island and climbed to the top of “Old Baldy” lighthouse. We hired an artist who set easels on the front porch, and instructed us all as we recreated in acrylics, a scene from the island. We played games, lots of Bananagrams, and took countless walks on deserted beaches with dolphins splashing and feeding nearby. One day we broke into teams and created videos! Let’s just say, none of us will ever win an Oscar, but they were oh so fun. On our final evening, a chef from the food network cooked a delicious meal as we drank, sang songs from the 70’s and 80’s at the top of our lungs, and remembered all of our earlier trips.
On Sunday, as we boarded the ferry back to reality, our friends begged us to give them a hint of where next year’s trip would find us. But Terre and I were still on island time, and frankly, it’s hard to imagine a better place to share a weekend with your closest friends.
Back to Boston; A Beautiful day in the City
Get away to the City & Explore Victory Park
September 28, 2009 by KelliK
Filed under To Do in DFW, feature
I love late September in Texas. The temperatures begin to cool, the humidity drops, and every day is another excuse to play hooky and head outside. So what’s going on this year? It’s been raining in Dallas for a week. Yes, we needed the rain, but jeez, enough is enough! It’s tough to get out and enjoy your pool or take a walk on the local trails when it’s so soggy even the Trinity River is overflowing its banks!
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I might be tempted to use this meteorological anomaly as an excuse to grab a flight out of town to some sunny destination (don’t think I didn’t try). But as my husband pointed out, I’ve abandoned the Metroplex 3 of the last 5 weekends, and October is shaping up to be a travel-palooza, so this weekend I’ve been grounded.
Trying to think outside the box, I realized that my darling hubby never made the declaration that I had to stay HOME, only that I needed to stay in the Metroplex! This presented me with a wealth of opportunities. I hopped on my computer, made some phone calls, and I am proud to say, I’ve got a fun weekend planned. Feel free to use this as a guide if some weekend you too, need to get away without going too far.
The first order of business was finding a fabulous hotel room surrounded by good places to eat and fun things to do. I called the W hotel and got a great deal for the weekend. I can hardly wait to use their “Whatever, Whenever” service. I’m trying to think up something really obscure to see if they can deliver on their promise.
Next, I had to plan some fun activities. I’m sure we’ll enjoy a morning swim in the hotel’s 16th floor pool with panoramic views of the city and I’ve scheduled a spa treatment for myself. If the skies clear, we’ll take a walk on the Katy trail, if not we could hit the gym, grab a movie, or simply people watch in the lobby. My husband would like to try the W’s Acura Experience, tooling around the city in a new MDX. At some point, we’ll grab a tasty lunch at one of the Victory Park eateries.
For nighttime fun, I checked the American Airlines Center weekend event planner. Now I’m sure she puts on a good show, but there is not a chance in the world that I could get my husband to see Brittney Spears’ Circus tour at the AAC on Friday night. So instead, on Saturday, we’ll attend the Ultimate Fight Club Championships. Our college aged son will be envious, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to open my eyes to see what’s going on. Nevertheless, I’m willing to step outside my comfort zone, and try something new. Afterward, we’ll head over to the Havana Social Club where my husband can light up a stick and enjoy the company of other cigar aficionados while I throw back some yummy rum drinks in an attempt to forget the horror I’ve just witnessed. Finally, we’ll hit the Ghost Bar where celebs and beautiful wannabes congregate. I know from previous experience that they make a mean blueberry martini, but this time I’ll try something a new.
Sunday morning, we’ll cruise over to Gachet Coffee where the White Velvet is the coffee drink of choice and the pastries come highly recommended. We’ll no doubt review the weekend’s highlights and then hop in our car to make the 25 minute drive back to our suburban home. When you live in a large city like Dallas, it’s not always necessary to get out of town for a mini-vacation. There are ample places around town that you’ve probably never explored, so step out, explore and have some fun!
September 11, The Comfort of the Airplanes
September 11, 2009 by KelliK
Filed under Inspiration, feature
I had just gotten home from my aerobics class and flipped on the T.V. There was Diane Sawyer, looking a bit concerned, talking about a plane that had just crashed into the side of one of the World Trade Towers in New York. I hollered at my husband, who was working at home that day, to come in and see what was going on. The minute he walked in the room, they showed a live video of the second plane hitting the second tower. We stood there next to each other, 2 feet from the television, as the newscasters began to speculate about what was going on. We flipped from channel to channel, while the talking heads repeated the same info, and with each passing minute, and each new detail, nervousness gave way to panic.
At the time, we lived directly across the street from the elementary school that my son attended, and about a mile from my daughter’s middle school. I walked over to the elementary, to see if they knew what had happened. Coincidentally, as I came through the front door, my son and his 5th grade class were passing in the hallway. He ran up to me, whispering, “Mommy. Did you see what happened in New York? Do you think the bad guys will come to Dallas?” I wanted to cry right there, but I could tell he needed reassuring. “Of course not honey,” I lied, not at all sure what would happen that day. “How did you hear about it?” I asked. He said that his teacher had gotten a phone call from her husband, and she had turned on the T.V. so they could watch history happening. Within 20 minutes, the school district had contacted the elementary schools and instructed them not to mention what was happening, and to turn off all media. In theory, this was a great plan for the thousands of little ears who went about their day as if nothing significant had happened. But for the 22 kids in my son’s class, this just added to the “scary” factor. The school went into lock down as I stood there in the front hallway, and I was escorted from the building. Parents were pulling into the front drive, running up to the school’s doors, only to have me tell them they couldn’t go inside.
Across town at the middle school, the scene was completely different. Lockdown had taken place there as well, but many of the kids were crowding around monitors watching the reports all day. By the time my 7th grade daughter got home, she was more than a little worried.
At dinner that night, we called both sets of grandparents (one set in Maine, the other in Arizona) just to make sure they were alright. Once that was settled, the questions started and my husband and I did our best to answer them honestly. Everyone seemed satisfied as we tucked them into bed and for a special treat they got to sleep in the bunk beds on a school night. Just as we turned out the light, my daughter said, “Mom, doesn’t it seem almost creepy how quiet it is without the planes flying over our house?” And you know; she was right. Some kids live in areas where they can identify varieties of hummingbirds or butterflies, but the reality of living North of DFW is that my kids can identify the carrier operating a plane based on the tail insignia of an aircraft as it passes overhead. (And not just the biggies in the US; I dare you to stump my kids with an international carrier!) From 5 a.m. to about midnight, the planes zip over our town, and at some point in our life they had become comforting. My husband and I crept downstairs, poured glasses of wine, sat on our front porch swing listening to the silence.
Freezer Medley and Pantry Picnics: A Mom tries to Save Money
I don’t know how your household runs, but in my home, I do the monthly bills while my hubby takes care of medical accounts and investments. Knowing that this year we’d have two kids in college, I’ve been very cautious with our expenditures. Still, I told my hubby Brian, that for awhile we were going to be eating beans and rice. Furthermore, we were going to scale back our dining out experiences until I was comfortable with the checkbook again – I guess he didn’t believe me.
That first Monday without kids, he headed off to work, and I got busy with my daily routine. Around three o’clock I started thinking about what I was going to prepare for dinner. I walked into my pantry and stared at the shelves.
This is embarrassing to admit, but I have shelves and shelves of foods that must have sounded good on some long ago shopping trip. Maybe the purchases were ingredients for a recipe I never made. Why in the world did I buy organic low fat vegetable barley soup? What possessed me to purchase gluten free fusilli pasta? Did I really need 13 cans of tomato paste? My head was spinning, so I decided to check out the fridge instead.
Call us extravagant if you wish, but we have 4 refrigerators that all serve distinct purposes. There’s the wine cooler where we keep our reds and whites at the proper temperature, ready for a party. There’s the kitchen fridge, a side by side, that we live from daily. There’s the party fridge up in the media room, always stocked with a variety of soda and water for kids hanging out at our home. (Guess I can unplug that one now.) Finally, there’s a second side by side in the laundry room. Here we keep lots of frozen items, and extra drinks. Again, after checking the two side by sides, I tried to remember why I had purchased frozen butternut squash ravioli? And just how old were those frozen burritos? It was then and there, that I fashioned my money-saving strategy.
I decided that until I could empty my pantry and freezers, I was not going grocery shopping. I wondered how long two people could eat from the food we had on hand. We are currently at 10 days and counting. One caveat to this plan is that I can buy fresh milk and juice. I can also purchase fruit, veggies, or meat, but only enough to add to a meal I am preparing for the day with pantry/freezer ingredients.
My hubby came home from work that day and innocently asked, “What’s for dinner?” With a knowing smile I replied, “I told you, beans and rice!” That day in my pantry I had found red beans, rice and Cajun seasoning. In the back freezer, I had uncovered smoked sausage. Honestly, the meal was delicious! We paired it with steamed veggies (kitchen freezer) and finished it with a peach cobbler (pantry).
Brian loves a challenge, as long as he still gets to eat well, so he joined the in the game as we planned the next couple of feasts. I have to tell you, we’ve had some really creative, yummy meals. Bacon wrapped barbeque shrimp with brown rice, chicken and hash brown cheesy casserole, duck and gruyere paninis, really it’s been fun. My grocery bill for the past 10 days has been exactly $28.17.
Now the task is getting a bit tougher. Many of the foods that mix well have been eaten and I’m left with the freaky stuff. But I will persevere! Tonight I’m trying to figure out what I can do with anchovies. For some reason I have 3 cans of them… any suggestions?
He’s really gone; A hockey moms empty net
I thought I did really well this weekend. Sure, there were a few tears, but no shoulder-heaving sobs and no Kleenex needed, so all in all, it was a huge success. Then we pulled in the driveway, and opened the kitchen door. I could feel the water start to well up in the bottom of my eyes, but I fought it valiantly, and it went away. Dinner was a little quieter than usual, and my evening walk a little longer. I slept through the night and this morning had breakfast with my husband while we watched Fox News. I checked my facebook and e-mail accounts and read one supportive message after another. People are so sweet. After a morning walk, it was time for errands. The tellers at the bank gently asked how my weekend had gone, and I gave them the highlights while keeping it together. I really started to believe I was going to make it through this whole event unscathed. And then it happened. I was less than a mile from home when a big white Suburban pulled out in front of me. I noticed the sticker on the back window.
Marcus High School Hockey #88 Within a nanosecond I was reduced to a pile of rubble. I had to pull off the road because the tears were streaming down my face so furiously I could no longer drive. I sat there for what seemed like an eternity, there was no stopping the water works or the sick feeling in my stomach. How could they give his number away so casually? Didn’t they know he wore the red and white #88 CCM brand jersey for 5 years? He had tried out for the high school team as an eighth grader, and made it. 5 years of early practices before school, or 10 pm practices on Monday nights. 5 years of games first on Sunday afternoons, then when he made Varsity, on Thursday nights. And before all of this, 8 years of sitting in smelly rinks all over the country watching my little boy skate and shoot and celebrate the love of this icy game. And just like that, it was all over.
My youngest graduated from High School in June and this past weekend I dropped him off at his new home. He’s at a college 10 hours away from me, and the hockey bag is here in the garage. I know he’ll do well in school; he’s there on a debate scholarship. I know he’ll make new friends; he’s already hit the fraternity scene. I know my husband and I will be able to do a lot of traveling now that no one else is home with us. All of these are good things and yet I can’t help wishing there was just one more game to attend.
Kelli Kirkham has been a burb mom for 20 years. Through Girl Scout cookies sales, Cub Scout camp outs, dance recitals, room mom parties, middle school drama and high school dances, she has retained her sanity. This year she begins the challenge of trying to remember who she is without kids in the home.
