It's always nice to be surprised by a joyful experience you were NOT expecting and that is exactly what happened when Food Tours of America guided us through the historic Dallas neighborhood of Deep Ellum. Yes, we expected some great local foods. Yes, we expected to learn a little bit more about a famous district of Dallas. Yes, we expected a leisurely passing of time. We were happily surprised to instantly make friends with others in our group, with shopkeepers and merchants, and with our incredible tour guide Amy.
We met up with Amy at Cane Rosso ("red dog," in Italian, named after the owner's pet) and dived into their fresh-from-scratch margherita pizza. Handmade from imported Italian flour and fresh daily local ingredients, our hot pizza emerged from CR's authentic Italian, wood-fired, stone-and-tile oven and disappeared in our greedy little hands in seconds! (I told ya, we came hungry!) Amy explained CR's founding and history, and how it has become a Dallas institution by bringing a little bit of fresh-daily Italy to the heart of Texas.
We departed the restaurant and stood before gorgeous, masterpiece murals enveloping the buildings all around us. Directly in front of us was the old factory where Henry Ford built his Model-Ts and ushered America into age of the automobile. Deep Ellum was Dallas' original manufacturing and music district, Amy explained, and that legacy has been preserved over the years by musicians, artists, craftsmen, merchants and residents in the ageless, re-purposed buildings.
We dropped into Rocket Fizz, a retro soda, candy and gift shop straight out of the 40s and 50s. True happiness! Childhood instantly brought back to each of us! From there we popped-in to the nextdoor EZ Slider, a burger bar originally founded as a food truck. The food truck biz expanded into a permanent burger heaven. We sampled their specialties, a Savory slider with Texas bacon and jalapeños and a Sweet slider with Texas marmalade and goat cheese. Scrumptious!
Next we headed to the 1890 Marketplace, specializing in Texas flavors: spices, seasonings, sugars, infused olive oils and vinaigrettes. It was the highlight of the Deep Ellum tour for me. Literally thousands of tasty combinations discovered here! Something for everyone, to please every pallet, for kitchen pros and amateurs or for simply sprinkling onto any dish to transform it into heavenly delicacy.
Amy next took us to Terry Black's BBQ. As we bounded down the sidewalks of Deep Ellum we feasted our eyes on the creative, bustling shops and people that make Dallas unique. And nothing is unique if not genuine, succulent Texas barbecue. We learned about the family basis of Terry Black's and chatted at length with the pitmaster. He divulged the best barbecue secrets! And then we sampled that melt-in-your-mouth brisket!
What is the perfect follow-up to the best brisket in town? How about the best beignets this side of New Orleans? We found them at Le Bon Temps on Main Street. Rich, piping-hot pastry goodness settled into a bed of snowy powdered sugar!
Thank you, Food Tours and Amy for this surprising delight! We cannot wait to come back and explore Deep Ellum again!