ConDFW in Richardson, TX: Feb 20-22, 2009

[Priscellie]

Corner Bakery and La Madelaine are adored as well!  Great dining places for a big group of friends.

[caynreth]

havent' been to la madeleine yet. though there is one walking distance from my house. have to try that. I despise corner bakery though. Unfortunately, it's my dad's favorite so he always wants to go there when he comes to visit...which is much less since we moved to Dallas. He despises Texas. Can't say as I blame him really...

[Gman]

You should try the Corner Bakery. And I'll find out the name of the place by the old restaurant that was south american fusion that had breakfasts to DIE for. Off 75, in Richardson.

I think you are talking about Cafe Brazil. They have multiple locations in the Dallas area, the closest two are Richardson and University Park, some are 24 hr.

Cafe Brazil Richardson

Hours:
Sunday - Wednesday 6:00am - Midnight
Thursday - Saturday Open 24 hours

PH: 972-783-9011
FX: 972-783-4446

2071 N. Central Expressway (Hwy 75)
Richardson, Texas 75080-2706


Cafe Brazil University Park (Hwy75)

Hours:
Open 24 hours 7 days a week

PH: 214-691-7791
FX: 214-691-7729

6420 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, Texas 75206-4100    

Breadwinners is another great place for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.  The original is on McKinney Ave in Uptown Dallas and has great food and ambiance. 

They have a nice Central Market Supermarket on Lovers Lane East of Hwy75 Central Exp. It has premium great groceries and lots of hot ready to eat made on the premises foods and a small restaurant area for great soups, salads, sandwiches and some entrees, sort of like Whole Foods but the food tastes slightly better.
 

[David one Mutts Friend]

But for us that fly into this con and are not going to rent a car. Do any of these places deliver?

David

[Shecky]

They're...so-so.

That's unfortunate, Pharaoh; as I said, for the one I visited repeatedly lo these many years ago, it was awesome. Wish you could have that one.

[Gman]

That's unfortunate, Pharaoh; as I said, for the one I visited repeatedly lo these many years ago, it was awesome. Wish you could have that one.

La Madeline was founded in Dallas and the original location by Southern Methodist University on Mockingbird near 75 Central Exp (in University Park) is still there. It is decent food at a reasonable price. French style food, a step above Boston Market but not high end gourmet food.

[Gman]

But for us that fly into this con and are not going to rent a car. Do any of these places deliver?

David

There is a Chinese All you can eat buffet within a couple of blocks, a Subway, a Jack in the Box and a couple of other places within walking distance.

[Gman]

The Hotel shuttle will take you for free within a few miles. There is the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) train station around 1 mile away. The train goes many places.

[Shecky]

La Madeline was founded in Dallas and the original location by Southern Methodist University on Mockingbird near 75 Central Exp (in University Park) is still there. It is decent food at a reasonable price. French style food, a step above Boston Market but not high end gourmet food.

Maybe they upgraded it for New Orleans?

Well, no, it wasn't "gourmet" (for certain values of "gourmet"), but it had breads I had never been able to get outside of Europe, and they were VERY good. I enjoyed every sandwich I ever had there, and the coffee, while not earthshakingly fantastic, beat the snot out of Starbucks - it was rich, robust and tasty without being bitter. So maybe it WAS a function of the individual store. I don't know. I just wish you all could've had the one I knew well. Wait - how long ago are you talking about? As I said, the last time I visited the one in N.O. was pushing 15 years ago, and they may have changed since then.

Even more off-topic but still talking about bread places - anyone had Atlanta Bread Company? Even though there's one only about 5 miles from here, we haven't been there in a couple of years (real pain in the neck to get to), but they had ahead-of-the-curve breads, their sandwiches were reliably good and their bread-bowl soups... I'm not a huge fan of black bean soup, but for their recipe in the sourdough bread bowl, I'd hit somebody. Not hard, but enough to get their attention and say, "Hey, you really ought to try some of this soup."

[Gman]

Maybe they upgraded it for New Orleans?

Well, no, it wasn't "gourmet" (for certain values of "gourmet"), but it had breads I had never been able to get outside of Europe, and they were VERY good. I enjoyed every sandwich I ever had there, and the coffee, while not earthshakingly fantastic, beat the snot out of Starbucks - it was rich, robust and tasty without being bitter. So maybe it WAS a function of the individual store. I don't know. I just wish you all could've had the one I knew well. Wait - how long ago are you talking about? As I said, the last time I visited the one in N.O. was pushing 15 years ago, and they may have changed since then.

Even more off-topic but still talking about bread places - anyone had Atlanta Bread Company? Even though there's one only about 5 miles from here, we haven't been there in a couple of years (real pain in the neck to get to), but they had ahead-of-the-curve breads, their sandwiches were reliably good and their bread-bowl soups... I'm not a huge fan of black bean soup, but for their recipe in the sourdough bread bowl, I'd hit somebody. Not hard, but enough to get their attention and say, "Hey, you really ought to try some of this soup."

I do like La Madeline's and I like Atlanta Bread Company but La Madeline's is better. I was referring to Captain Hammer's post. It is not a Top Chef type place like Abacus, Nobu or The Mansion at Turtle Creek were you remember the meal for years.  Dallas is a big city and there are many, many great places to eat. Atlanta Bread Company has at least one location near the DFWCon in Richardson on Campbell Rd just West of Hwy 75 Central Exp (5 miles away from Con). I have noticed some locations of restaurants are better than others or who is cooking that day. La Madeline has very good bread and very good tomato basil soup. We do have a few top notch bakeries here in Dallas that have incredible bread such as Eatzies which is a mini gourmet pre-prepared meal store/bakery with a small eating area or Breadwinners which is a bakery, with breads and desserts to go plus a great restaurant or Central Market or Whole Foods supermarkets both have very good breads, salads, and soups. If you like great bread bowl soups go with Cafe Brazil. If you like NY style Deli there is Deli News on Campbell and Preston. It has very good pastrami sandwiches, soups etc.

[belgarion]

Bob Asprin has passed on. He may be at the con in spirit.

Mikey

going to UNT?

DFWCon is a small but EXCEEDINGLY cool convention with fantastic author guests.

If we're lucky, Brust will be back, and we can get him, Bob Asprin, and John Steakley in a room together.


Anyone know if Jim has a problem with cigarette smoke?

(The bar is open air in the middle of the con. Most guests hang out there at night and shoot the breeze.)

[Vijay]

  If you're not interested in chains I was told there are some quality restaurants nearby, such as http://www.chowthai.com/Home.html

  Driving up from Houston on Friday so would be willing to drive to restaurants but I only have a small Prius?  Also, thinking of a something in my party suite at the hotel so might get something catered if there's interest? Thanks, Vijay Kale

[Wolfhowls]

Yeah I get to make my drive at 2300 Friday night. It's gunna be a fun one for me!!

[Vijay]

They plan on posting a tentative schedule next weekend and panels in the next couple of days.  First time through the line one can have three items signed.

[Gman]

  If you're not interested in chains I was told there are some quality restaurants nearby, such as http://www.chowthai.com/Home.html

  Driving up from Houston on Friday so would be willing to drive to restaurants but I only have a small Prius?  Also, thinking of a something in my party suite at the hotel so might get something catered if there's interest? Thanks, Vijay Kale

That restaurant is located in Addison. That is a bit over 5 miles away from the hotel. Addison has a very good rep as a fun place to go safely. They have over 100 good restaurants (Restaurant Row) on Beltline Road and off on some of the side streets such as Houston's, Chipotle, Chamberlain's Steakhouse and Chamberlain's Steakhouse, The Flying Saucer (huge number of draft beer selection and some decent bar food), Gloria's (great Tex-Mex), Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian and Italian food), Mi Piaci (very nice Italian) to name a few. There are also a few good Indian Restaurants in the area.