Birthday Weekend Continued...

As departing day approached, we decided that we couldn't end my mom's birthday weekend in Dallas without a ceremonious visit to The Moth.  With Chad's hectic work schedule, my parents had been in town two full days by this time and had seen Chad for MAYBE two hours...but like a good host, and even BETTER son-in-law, Chad wowed my parents (Lisa & Gary included) with an abundance of small plates to share.  It was a great evening of food and laughter, getting my real Valley Parents together with my "Dallas Parents".  :) 

To end the evening's visit to the restaurant, Chad presented my mom with what was almost a fire hazard that nearly brought the whole place down!  Hairs rose as we ALL attempted to put out the fire...(with little success).  Thank goodness for the Chef who's not afraid to put out fires with his cooking apron!  lol.  What memories!~

Birthday Mama :)

Although it seems like just yesterday that I saw my parents last, with a visit home not more than three weeks ago, it had actually been a long while since the parental units had made it back to Dtown since our wedding. With my mom’s birthday as the perfect excuse, and a new-ish casino calling their name (Choctaw, up in Durant, OK) my parents came to Dallas to spend away, while getting in a little daughter (me) /grand-daughter (Macie ;) time.

a very silly birthday girl :) 

Ready to take action! 

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY MOM! ;)

sportin' new head gear.  ;) (all on her own I may add... she LOVED IT!)

There goes the inheritance.  ;)

Awww... mom and daughter :)

My parents (ALL THREE OF THEM!)  Just missing Gary..

Choctaw Buffalo Entry Fountain

And what can top off a birthday better than CHEESECAKE?!?!

Oh yes... two for the table...

Diabetic Coma here we COME!!  ;)

Dinner Club with Jim White - The Meddlesome Moth

As part of my "wifely" duties, and in order to get IN on the action (insert devilish wink here ;), I headed down to The Moth last night to capture one of the restaurants many special events.  Let's just say, I WORK FOR FOOD!  My job:  Photograph the evening and the delicious food as it came my way.  My reward:  A mighty fine FIVE course meal!!  ;)  What a lovely proposition that was!  I had a corner seat at the bar where I not only saw the action on the dining floor, but was able to see all the hub-bub in the kitchen as the staff buzzed away getting ready for Jim White and his guests for the evening.  Jim White is creator and the man behind Dallas' own Savor Dallas, a yearly wine and food event that Chad and I have been lucky enough to attend (and in Chad's case, participate in).   Five courses, five pairings, and a great turn out for this Dinner Club event... in one word, SUCCESS! 

The first course wine prepped and waiting for the night's guests to arrive...

The beautiful stained glass focal points of the restaurant..

Jim White interviewing Chad for his website  :)

After the guests had begun to arrive, Chad began to plate the first course of oysters, mussels, and shrimp.

Oysters in a cucumber/strawberry salad, spanish marinated mussels and jumbo shrimp with tarragon and dijon cream

Working hard on the next course...

As the rest of the restaurant's guests enjoy the bar...

My wine for round two... of FIVE!

So I know I'm a little biased.... or at least I can be, but I have to say that the second course was absolutely FABULOUS!

Coffee cured duck confit with cocoa nib, pistachios and a cherry jam that I could've STUCK MY FACE IN!!!  HEAVENLY!! 

So pretty! 

So all the while the staff was prepping away, Jim got in on the action in his own way, video taping from the dining room  :)

Next up:  Intermezzo - Henry's Raspberry Sorbet & Lambic Float to cleanse the palate

Third Course:  Spring Rolls - Wild Baby Arugula, Texas Peach and Smoked Speck

A glass of Basserie Du Pont, Saison  to wash it all down :)

Fourth Course:  Veal Breast Roulade with Rabbit Sausage & Turnip Puree

View of my spot at the bar... one of the BEST seats in the house! 

Last call for alcohol...  :)  Ron Zacapa Rum 

Paired with the final and most delicious course of the evening... the REAL reason why I chose to participate in this photography session.  ;)

Warm Brioche Bread Pudding - Golden Raisin Caramel, Lime Anglaise and Cashew Brittle

Rum Shot.  Literally.  lol.. :)

Now LOOK AT THAT creamy, yummy goodness! 

What a way to end the night  :) :)

A sea of yummy goodness  :)

Damn Near Famous ;)

As if I needed more reasons to be more PROUD of my husband!!  D magazine just put out a FABULOUS two page article on The Meddlesome Moth, Shannon Wynne and CHAD and his yummy menu!! I couldn’t be happier for my husband, he’s worked so hard to pull this thing together and although they are still working out the kinks, they’ve had a GREAT first few months. Watch out world...Chef Chad Kelley is taking Dallas by STORM!

Don't forget to click on the picture to view the article up-close and personal!  Happy Reading.  :)

Bastille Day at the Bishop Arts District

So it begins...Chad's first official "event" at the Meddlesome Moth took us to "France" as we celebrated Bastille Day with what seemed like THOUSANDS of Dallas area folks at the Bishop Arts District.  From a wine walk around the block throughout the local shops, to a french maids race.... and EVEN a Mussels competition featuring my very own private Chef-love, the first annual Bastille on Bishop was a HUGE success!  Right on task, we arrived a little before seven to set up Chad's tent where he'd be cooking up one of the Moth's signature mussels preparations... The Diablo.  HOT and SPICY!  :) 

And hot and spicy it WAS as the temperatures reached well into the 90's even as the sun set over the crowd.  Yikes!  I can't imagine how Chad was feeling as he slaved over his mussels, trying his hand at beating out the other 8 Dallas area chefs there that night. 

One of 9 chef tents ready to hand out tasty samples of their mussels. 

The other Chef's competing that night: 

Marc Cassel – Park

Graham Dodds – Bolsa

Randal Copeland – AVA

Michelle Carpenter – Zen Sushi

David Uygur – Lucia

Tim Byers – Smoke

Kelly Hightower – Nova

Tony Gardizi – Capriccio & Decanter

Boy was it HOT!!

Part of the festivities included a HUGE chess board, set out for those young and old to play with!

That's ONE SERIOUS FACE!

Working his magic

Getting interviewed WHILE he cooked! 

This guy was apparently from D magazine's SideDish. 

And look at that paparazzi behind Chad! 

Making sure the flame was still strong

Yummmmm... how pretty!

Getting his "plates" ready for judging..

Sooooooo serious!  

So as it turned out, Mr. Kelley didn't win the competition but we were in good company so we thought we would check out Eno's Pizzeria down the street while passing up the sidewalk painters  :)

And the cool collection of Vespa's!  How Euro chic.  ;)