It Needed Salt

This episode is a different twist to our normal reviews. We discuss the life of the late Anthony Bourdain after S read his famous book, " Kitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly"

In this episode we discuss a new snack and wine pairing from wine sommelier Sam Capaldi https://www.instagram.com/samanthasommelier/ and review a favorite Houston based Tex- Mex restaurant, El Tiempo Cantina. DFW has one coming to Arlington in May. We discuss everything from the menu layout, history of fajitas, tortilla preferences and new favorite margaritas. This time we actually order dessert. IYKYK!  Listen now to hear our rating!  What we ordered:  Margaritas- Sangria swirl and mango swirl Chips and salsa- small queso, and habanero salsa Steak Fajitas with both Spanish and cilantro lime rice, black beans and pinto beans. Sopapilla- came with sweet sauces and ice cream on the side. Sources and links: https://whatscookingamerica.net/history/fajitahistory.htm  https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/campfire-stories/cattle-ranchers  Where: on Navigation in Houston, TX- https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/arts-culture/food/2024/04/02/482360/el-tiempo-arlington-dfw-location-may-2024/  DFW is supposed to be getting one - Arlington May of this YEAR. Baseball stadium.  https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/el_tiempo_choctaw#:~:text=El%20Tiempo%20Cantina%20%E2%80%93%20a%20Houston,Choctaw%20Stadium%20in%20May%202024.

We’re each picking our top 5 best margaritas in Dallas so far! We dive into the history of the frozen margarita machine and also sign up for the Margarita Mile game, the self-guided tour headed up by Visit Dallas, to expand our knowledge and palates. Salt, sugar, and Tajin rims come into question, but we’ll probably drink it anyways (as long as there’s a straw in the goblets at Katy Trail Ice House). Cheers! https://www.visitdallas.com/food-drink/margarita-mile/  https://www.instagram.com/margaritamile/

In this week's episode we discuss a recent experience at a coffee shop located on the Katy Trail and dinner at Town Hearth by restauranteur, Nick Badovinus. It's a Dallas Design District favorite for steak, Vesper martinis, and an overall fun and energetic vibe with a visually interesting interior. We discuss everything from the overall design of the restaurant, menu layout, standout dishes and our surprising service experience.  Listen to hear how we rated Town Hearth! Items we tried: Drinks: Vesper Martini Espresso Martini Carajillo  Wines: Cab Franc, Gradis’ Ciutta Friuli, IT ’20 Malbec, Don Nicanor Nieto Senetiner Mendoza, AR ’19 Dishes: Tomato & Burrata Salad Surf and Turf varieties: 6 oz filet with Shredded Crab and Hollandaise; 6 oz filet with BBQ Spices Sea Scallops Fries with Voodoo Peppercorn Sauce Dessert: Icebox Mud Pie http://www.townhearth.com

In this episode we start our journey into the world of Vietnamese cuisine with a review of the East Dallas gem, Mot Hai Ba. A fusion restaurant in East Dallas that combines Vietnamese and French cuisines. We share our thoughts on the cocktails, the menu, and overall dining experience. Highlighting our favorite dishes, such as the Shaking Beef, Eggplant Curry, Garlic Noodles and Branzino. We discuss the service, the ambiance, and the pricing of the restaurant and give our rating! mothaibadallas.com

For our first episode, we review and rate Lucia, the chef-owned Italian restaurant located in the Bishop Arts neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. Chef David Uygur is currently a semifinalist for a James Beard Award. We cover everything from Amish chicken to salumi and charcuterie boards, appetizer olives, pates and terrines. We also dive into the wagyu beef tongue, crab risotto, and even a surprisingly delicate aioli… and won’t stop talking about the cultured butter. Listen now to find out how we rated this restaurant! luciadallas.com

What is this show even about? Two anonymous Texas food critics share what you can expect from the restaurant review-based podcast, including why we're choosing to stay anonymous, our origin story and review rubric, food preferences, and overall goals for diving deeper into the culinary world. __________ Featured Article: What Happened to the Rules for Restaurant Reviewers?

It Needed Salt features two anonymous food critics who invite you to join them in learning about food while reviewing restaurants. The first episode of It Needed Salt releases March 24, 2024.