Food Traveler Magazine Winter 2013 | Page 91

Winter Southern Style Stampede 66 r e t n i W hern Souttyle S Lockhart Smokehouse Discover Dallas Dining CLAY COLEMAN (SKYLINE), JEFF BERGUS (LOCKHART), CLAIR MCCORMACK (STAMPEDE 66) D allas loves food. Not only are there more restaurants per capita in Dallas than in New York City, it’s also home to several award-winning celebrity chefs, innovative trends in cuisine and 14 distinct entertainment districts, each with its own unique culinary culture. From Ethiopian to Japanese and slowcooked Texas barbecue to gastronomy and steak, the city has it all. It’s the home of “America’s team” the Dallas Cowboys, the first Neiman Marcus and the legendary J. R. Ewing. To get a taste of Dallas’ eclectic culinary scene, start with a tour. Food Tours of America offers an Uptown food tour that guides visitors through the 125-year-old neighborhood, feasting on authentic Tex-Mex, barbecue, Mediterranean and sweets, and sightseeing along the way. Dallas By Chocolate offers a decadent tour of the city’s finest chocolatiers, including CocoAndre and Dude, Sweet Chocolate. They also offer tours with chocolate, cheese and wine pairings and delectable cupcake tours that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Celebrity chefs love Dallas, too. Fifth-generation Texan, author and James Beard award-winner, Chef Stephen Pyles can’t get enough of Dallas, championing three unforgettable restaurants: Stephen Pyles in downtown featuring oysters and entrees with a decidedly Texas twist; Samar with exotic Spanish, Indian and Mediterranean flavor; and Stampede 66—the ultimate ode to Texas by one of the “founding fathers” of Southwestern cuisine. Dean Fearing also offers his award-winning namesake restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, featuring modern Southwestern cuisine and wild game. Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck soars high above Dallas, quite literally, in Reunion Tower, serving contemporary twists on Asian cuisine and handcrafted, curated cocktails. And diners can’t leave Dallas without trying one of Kent Rathbun’s restaurants— Abacus for fine dining, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen and Jasper’s. These legends of the culinary world aren’t the only ones dipping their spoons in the Dallas food scene. Inimitable and fiery Chef John Tesar is making big waves with his responsibly sourced seafood powerhouse Spoon Bar + Kitchen. Chef Matt McAllister gets experimental with FT33, a restaurant that serves seasonal ingredients with an inventive flair. Some of the best fried-chicken and Southerninspired cocktails are found at Lisa Garza’s Sissy’s Southern Kitchen, while Chef Tim Byres’ SMOKE Restaurant WINTER 2013 | FOOD TRAVELER 89