Mochitsuki-January 13 January 7, 2008

The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth is hosting a New Year’s celebration next Sunday from 2:00-5:00pm at Fujitsu Network Communications (2801 Telecom Pkwy, Richardson).  Mochitsuki is the craft of making mochi (sweet rice cakes).  According to JASDFW’s website:

“Pounding Japanese sweet rice to make rice cakes is traditionally done at shrines, public places, and homes at the end of the year… The preparation begins days in advance, but the spirit of cooperation and hard work that go into making mochi bring people together and make the effort worthwhile.  People take turns pounding, turning, and eating mochi, and sharing thoughts about the past year and hopes and dreams for the next.”

Mochi will be served with sweet bean paste, roasted soy bean powder, and seaweed wrap with soy sauce.  The celebration will also feature Kakizome (first calligraphy of the New Year), cultural displays and performances, and Ikebana (flower arrangement) demonstrations.  Admission is $5 per adult and free to children 12 and under.

Chef Tre Wilcox on Bravo’s Top Chef Christmas Special December 6, 2007

Having a hard time going cold turkey between Top Chef seasons?  Get a mini fix of Top Chef tonight on Bravo at 8:00pm Central.  Former contestants, including Dallas favorite Chef Tre Wilcox of Abacus, will meet Santa and compete in a holiday smack down.  Will Santa be the ultimate judge for the competition?  Will we see some crazy spins on the classic cookies and milk? 

For the sake of Tre’s (and other contestants’) dignity, let’s hope this holiday special is less corny than the Food Network episode where the celebuchefs teach each other a favorite dish.  Anyone else catch the 15-minute segment where Sandra Lee “helps” Bobby Flay  with his lobster dish?  By “help,” I mean stand around wishing for a strong cocktail because that lady doesn’t cook. 

Halloween Costume Party Fundraiser at CrossRoads Winery October 22, 2007

CrossRoads Winery in Frisco is hosting a fundraiser Halloween costume party for breast cancer awareness month this Friday, October 26, from 8:00 to 11:00pm.  The $20/person entry fee entitles you to a glass of wine and buffet style appetizers.  Prizes for costumes will be voted on by party attendees in categories such as scariest, sexiest, most creative, etc.  Join the Halloween fun for a good cause!  $5 of each entry fee will be given to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

And Moving Further East on the Globe… October 4, 2007

You did the Greek Food Festival last weekend, now it’s time for the Lebanese Food Festival.  Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Lewisville is hosting this festival with free admission and parking.  Along with authentic Lebanese delicacies, the festival will feature live music, arts and crafts, and door prizes.  Even though the festival is in its 12th year, I will be going for the first time this weekend and I am excited.  The Lebanese food from last year’s festival look promising!

A Full Weekend of Festivals (with Food)! September 24, 2007

If you like festivals and you’re into food, this upcoming weekend (9/28 to 9/30) is going to be a treat for you.

First up, it’s the kickoff weekend for the State Fair of Texas, known to food lovers as a celebration of all things deep fried.  With vendors competing for fried honors such as Best Taste and Most Creative, the State Fair is truly the “Fried Food Capital of Texas.”  New items this year include fried cookie dough, fried latte, fried chili frito burrito, fried banana pudding, fried guacamole bites, fried peach cobbler on a stick, and fried sweet potato pie.  The State Fair is also encouraging vendors to trans-fat-free oils for frying, so you can feel a little (just a little) less guilty about your indulgences.

Second up is the Dallas food event I’m most excited about each year, the Greek Food Festival of Dallas.  The festival features plate lunches and dinners as well as tons of a la carte options, featuring my favorite deep fried invention of all time, loukoumades (Greek honey balls), which I don’t believe are available at the State Fair.  The plated meals are large in serving size, so consider splitting a plate with a friend and purchasing other goodies a la carte to stuff yourself to the max.  The festival also features live music and dancing (Constantine from American Idol will perform Saturday night and Sunday afternoon), cooking demos, and a variety of Greek imports at the marketplace. 

Last and perhaps least well known of the group is the Japanese Fall Festival (Akimatsuri) presented by the Dallas Japanese Association.  Sunday (9/30) from 11:00am to 3:00pm, the festival will feature music and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, children’s games, cultural booths, raffle prizes, and most importantly, food from local Japanese restaurants (Sushi Sake, Sushi Yama, Royal Tokyo Sushi Den, Ino Japanese Bistro, Teppo, and more).

You can experience Texan, Greek, and Japanese cultures all in one short weekend.  What more can a curious foodie ask for?