Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Fort Worth Date Night: Toast of the (cow)Town

by Michael Bloomberg
June 10, 2010

If you grew up in the southwest part of Fort Worth, Hulen Mall was about the biggest thing in the area for years. Sure, it added to the traffic and, once the Christmas holidays came about, we often looked for other ways around town. We knew about this little shortcut called "Bryant Irvin" to beat the congestion.

Hulen's restaurants were always packed. Whether it be Outback, Bennigan's, Chili's or Black Eyed Pea, residents from neighboring cities like Burleson, Aledo and Weatherford would fill our restaurants. Often causing hour-long waits just to get a table.

Times have changed. Most of the cities aren't little any longer and many have their own restaurants. It still hasn't eased up the traffic on Hulen. But, we do have many more choices. There is an event coming up that is so spectacular, it will make changing your Date Night to a Tuesday so worth it. And, with all the new eateries popping up on the west side of Fort Worth and downtown, it's about time someone gave a few of the Hulen culinary hot spots some respect.

Fort Worth culinary journalistic royalty, June Naylor and longtime co-worker and BFF, Cynthia Wahl, have combined their love of grub to create Texas Toast Culinary Tours. According to their website, TTCT is "a place for cuisine-savvy people in Texas (and well beyond) who want to discover more about the food and wine originating here and in our other favorite places. Because the best eating and drinking destinations aren’t always obvious, and because it can be a trick to sort through all the new offerings, you need a bit of guidance."

Next up is a series they've so aptly dubbed, "Feeding Frenzy." Feeding Frenzy was "created for locals and visitors who want a behind-the-scenes look at the most popular restaurants, wine outfits, food producers and brewers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The typical Feeding Frenzy outing gives guests a chance to eat one small course, with a special wine or cocktail pairing, usually at three different places. Participating restaurants will be linked by neighborhood or cuisine, and guests will get face-time with chefs, talking about what inspires them and how their creations come to life."

On Tuesday evening, June 22, Feeding Frenzy has hand selected three of Hulen's greats in what they have called the evening, "Make a Bee-Line Down Hulen." You'll start with an appetizer and a great drink from the incomparable high-quality soul food of Buttons. Then, it's down south a few blocks to the greatness of Brix Pizza and Wine Bar. The evening will wrap up with a quick jaunt to Bistro Louise for, what is sure to be, one of Fort Worth's finest desserts and a glass of bubbly.

Texas Toast Culinary Tours offers up so much more than just the Feeding Frenzy outings. There are also guided gastronomical road trips for foodies and custom tours, as well. However, this upcoming Hulen excursion is a great way to get your feet wet with all that TTCT offers. Not to mention, the great food, fun camaraderie and the behind-the-scenes insight you will experience. As Luciano Pavarotti once said, "One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."

For complete information on Texas Toast Culinary Tours, please visit:

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