Eat Drink D-FW

In this episode, the Dallas Morning News food team talks tea with Rakkasan Tea co-founder Brandon Friedman, a combat veteran who learned about tea while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. He talks about why selling tea is “kinda like being a drug dealer,” and why it’s a “stop drink” that creates a sense of calm amid the chaos of war — or just your daily life. The team also talks to Tanner Agar, owne...

The Dallas Morning News food team celebrates the last Eat Drink D-FW episode of the year by sharing their favorite holiday food (and drink) traditions, their favorite podcast moments of 2022 (pizza! Big Tex!), and what they want to talk about in 2023. Then they sit down with chef Junior Borges of Meridian restaurant in Dallas about the most meaningful dishes on his menu (and what his mom thinks of...

Dallas restaurateur Greg Katz of Beverly’s and Clifton Club joins the podcast to talk about how he “never says no,” even during the busiest time of the year, plus he shares stories from his childhood in South Africa and how he developed his popular matzo ball soup. Food journalists Erin Booke, Sarah Blaskovich and Claire Ballor also talk about the cult of Chili’s Chicken Crispers and our new favor...

The Dallas Morning News food team has officially shifted into “soup mode.” Listen as food editor Erin Booke chats with writers Sarah Blaskovich, Claire Ballor and Nick Rallo about the best soups at D-FW restaurants, and how we cook them at home. They also discuss why it’s so hard to get a restaurant reservation right now, and then chef and TV personality Vivian Howard talks about her Viv’s Fridges...

Everyone has food words that give them that “ick” feeling. Listen as host Erin Booke talks with food writers Sarah Blaskovich and Claire Ballor about the food words they love to hate. Can you guess which ones they are? And are the words actually annoying, or do just annoying people use them? Then writer Amanda Albee talks with Dallas chef Jessica Alonzo of Native Ferments TX — aka the “pickle Jedi...

Dry-brined or fried turkey? Canned greens beans or fresh? And how many ways can you potato? Thanksgiving has changed and evolved over the years for many families, but there are still some traditions we cling to. In a special Thanksgiving episode, food editor Erin Booke chats with writers Sarah Blaskovich, Evan Grant, Leslie Brenner, Nick Rallo and Deah Berry Mitchell about their favorite holiday d...

“Food insecurity is a complicated issue, feeding our neighbors facing hunger is not,” says Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. Listen as The Dallas Morning News food team talks with Trisha about the history of the food bank, why there is more food insecurity now than at the height of the pandemic, and how we all can help our more than 700,000 hungry neighbors have a...

How long should you smoke a brisket? Do you salt and pepper, or use a slather? In this special bonus episode of Eat Drink D-FW, listen as Dallas Morning News food reporter Sarah Blaskovich hosts a barbecue roundtable with Joe Zavala, co-owner of Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie, and Lane Milne, co-owner of Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth. They talk about what equipment they use, their different...

We’d all love to eat like an Italian every day, right? The Eat Drink D-FW team recorded at Eataly Dallas to talk to chef Paola Saglietti about her favorite holiday dishes and entertaining tips, plus what she thinks of Italian restaurants in Dallas. Host Erin Booke and writers Sarah Blaskovich and Claire also talk about the cult of Buc-ee’s, Dallas spots on reality TV, and food packaging that cause...

We don’t want to be James Corden, but sometimes you do need to send your food back at a restaurant. Listen as The Dallas Morning News food team talks about bad behavior in restaurants, and why it’s so hard for nice people to ever complain about their food. We also talk about the “cult of the restaurant kitchen,” why we all love olive appetizers, a new jalapeño popper dip recipe, and a great new lu...

Join the Eat Drink D-FW team for a special — and very spirited — Halloween episode recorded at spooky Dallas mezcaleria Las Almas Rotas. Owner Shad Kvetko tells stories about haunted happenings at his bar. Did that mummified monkey just move? And does pouring a shot of mezcal keep the spirits happy? Maybe. Host Erin Booke and food writers Sarah Blaskovich, Claire Ballor and Nick Rallo also talk ab...

Will these viral pumpkin cookies make you the best new neighbor? Is breakfast soup really a thing? And what on earth does Flamin’ Hot Mountain Dew taste like? (It definitely looks like “windshield wiper fluid.”) Listen as the food team tries some new foods and shares a lot of opinions about them. We also then talk about writer Claire Ballor’s series — the best things we ate this week — which can i...

Everybody eats, right? Even politicians. And restaurants often play a huge role in how people get elected in Texas and beyond. Dallas Morning News political reporter Gromer Jeffers joins the food team this week to chat about the big midterm election on Nov. 8 and why food is so important on the campaign trail. What restaurants does Beto like? What does Abbott order? At which Dallas restaurants can...

From “It’s a disaster” to “I want this for my final meal” and “I don’t really like hot fruit,” our team did not hold back when trying and ranking the top 10 Big Tex Choice Award finalists at the State Fair of Texas for 2022. Listen as seven journalists — food editor Erin Booke, food reporter Sarah Blaskovich, audience journalists Ariyon Dailey and Sam Bonacci, product manager Britton Peele, our ma...

Do you “get it” or not? Dallas Morning News retail reporter Maria Halkias talks to food editor Erin Booke and food reporter Sarah Blaskovich about the three kinds of H-E-B customers, what the biggest sellers were on the first opening day in Frisco (get the Texas-shaped chicken nuggets), and what’s next for the grocery store in North Texas. Then, Sarah and writer Kevin Gray talk about Belgian beer...

Sometimes we are just too tired to cook — and too broke to order DoorDash. That’s when we grab our go-to burnout foods. Join food editor Erin Booke, food writers Claire Ballor and Nick Rallo, and producer Julie Fisk as we talk about the quick meals we put together when we are just OVER IT. (Hint: The freezer is your friend.) Then, we chat about hot dogs, our favorite movie snacks, and sit down wit...

Brats or brisket? White Claw or Lone Star? Cowboys Insider David Moore joins our food team in talking about Texas tailgating culture. Where does Dallas rank? He has some thoughts. Host Erin Booke and food reporters Sarah Blaskovich and Claire Ballor also discuss the Great Coleslaw Debate, the two D-FW restaurants on the Bon Appetit best-of list, and why we love the Chilton cocktail. Learn more abo...

The Eat Drink D-FW team took over Pizza Getti in East Dallas for a special Pizza Takeover episode. Listen as hosts Erin Booke, Sarah Blaskovich and Claire Ballor (plus producer Julie Fisk) talk about their favorite nostalgic pizza memories and their go-to pizza joints in D-FW. Then, Sarah chats with Pizza Getti owner Kyle Rotenberry about the 50-year history of his classic Dallas pizza joint. We a...

At new Caterina’s restaurant in Fort Worth, the staff takes your phone and puts it in a pouch so you can focus on your dinner. Wild. Join food editor Erin Booke and food reporters Sarah Blaskovich and Claire as we discuss the experience and why it might actually be awesome. Then we discuss the racist incident that happened in Plano in the Sixty Vines parking lot and how the restaurant responded. L...

Dallas can be a great place for celebrity spotting, from Kevin Hart playing bartender to Beto O’Rourke ordering a pastry at a cool coffee shop. Join food editor Erin Booke and food reporters Sarah Blaskovich and Claire Ballor as they chat about other celeb sightings. Then, Sarah sits down with chef Julian Rodarte, the young new CEO at Trinity Groves, about his journey as a restaurateur (and how Ph...

Did you know that Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs has vaudeville beginnings? And that they’ve had the same recipe since 1942? But they didn’t add ketchup until 1994? Listen as GG and Amber Fletcher, the mother-daughter duo currently running the corny dog legacy, talk about the fun history of this iconic Texas tradition, how they’ve weathered the pandemic, and what big plans they have for the future...

In this week’s episode, it’s all about back to school. Food editor Erin Booke reminisces with reporters Sarah Blaskovich and Claire Ballor about what they ate as kids during school. Sarah had the healthy mom who packed veggies and never told her about Oreos, and Claire’s rural school didn’t even have a cafeteria. Erin was a hot lunch kid, and still craves those steak fingers. At Dallas ISD, the st...

Did you know that there are more than 500 wineries in Texas? Food editor Erin Booke talks with Shelly Wilfong, wine educator and host of the podcast This is Texas Wine, about Texas’s burgeoning wine industry. Texas hasn’t always been viewed as a serious wine producer, but Texas wines are competing at an international level more so than ever before, Wilfong says. She also shares her favorite Texas...

Did you know that The Mozzarella Company’s famous Deep Ellum Blue cheese was an accident? Listen as Dallas chef and legendary artisan cheesemaker Paula Lambert chats with food editor Erin Booke about all things cheese and how the Dallas dining scene has evolved over the last 40 years. Erin also chats with reporters Sarah Blaskovich and Claire Ballor about sandwiches and sushi, and actor and tempor...

To some people, grocery shopping is a chore. But to the Eat Drink D-FW team, it’s a joyful hobby. Listen in as food reporter Claire Ballor chats with Dallas Morning News retail reporter Maria Halkias about all the buzz in the grocery world right now. (Hint: HEB is kind of a thing, as are private label deals.) Food editor Erin Booke chats with Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook about his favorite grocery...