I just recovered from a week of back issues when suddenly my pup decided to follow suit. Dandy went into the vet on Friday after 4-5 days of decreased mobility. She occasionally yelped if she moved suddenly or if Doogie collided into her. She slowly, very carefully, climbed up and down curbs when out for a walk. As much as tried to poke and prod her to see where the pain might be, she didn’t react. The veterinarian revealed some concerns that she may be suffering from a common ailment in dachshunds. Spondylosis was one item listed on her chart. Anyway, Dandy received a pain-killer shot and is currently on steroids. The vet prescribed strict crate rest and no activity for a week. That’s a tough thing to do if you’re an active-lifestyle pup!
Grubbin’ for fajitas and ‘que
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
1630 Valwood Pkwy
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 280-9191I have to mention that ever since I’ve patronized Dickey’s begging for the “off-the-point” brisket, they have never failed me. In particular, the counter man at the Carrollton location has consistently provided me with the fattiest, juiciest, surprisingly flavorful brisket every time I’ve asked. (Even the Wylie location has delivered some moist flavorful brisket on at least 2 occasions that I remember.) Even when I’m feeling dangerously adventurous, I’ve found that their flat cut brisket has also been moist, tender and smoky. So I have to credit Dickey’s for being consistent and delivering some decent restaurant-chain barbecue. Sausage is just plain, almost grocery-store quality…and their spuds–like their sides–at times can be rather dry and forgettable. In any case, come here for the meat and you won’t have too much to complain about. Just remember how to order it.
My rating: stars
Uncle Julio’s
190 E Stacy Rd
Bldg 3400
Allen, TX 75002
(972) 678-1001Having heard that call-ahead seating is a requirement for Uncle Julio’s, I had the fiance set up a “reservation” at the Allen location on a Friday night. I expected it to be busy, but I also expected UJ to follow through on our seating arrangements. No such luck–we called at least 40 minutes ahead and still had to wait another 20 minutes, all the while enduring the horrendous noise and standing-room-only crowds. Definitely not a place for date night. I only hoped that the fajitas we were about to consume would make up for the uncomfortable surroundings. It almost did.
We were treated to the house special fajitas with lobster tail for our visit. However, we were disappointed by the rather frugal amount of combination steak and chicken, despite how tasty it was. There was barely any onions on the not-so-sizzling platter, and I think I managed to create 1.5 fajitas out of the platter we shared. We were pleased however to get tortillas freshly made from their machine…I began to use their tortillas as filler, dunking it in their average salsa until I discovered that it tasted better in the butter sauce accompanying our lobster. Overall, the fajitas may have tasted good but it was not our best fajita-dining experience–too little for too much dinero. One positive: our server was very prompt with refills and took care to stop by regularly to check on us, despite the tremendously busy dining room.
Perhaps next time we will remember to purchase their fajitas by the pound and just order out to avoid the crowds. Hopefully we will get more palate-pleasing bang for our buck. But for now, our best fajita hunt continues.
My rating: stars
Puppy slowdown
The past few days has seen Dandy in a lethargic state. She doesn’t appear to be in any pain, but she has been unusually quiet and walking very slowly. This is a sudden change from her usual bouncy/loud self. Previously, it was hard enough to keep up with her on our morning jogs, but now, I can’t even convince her to break out of a walk. Occasionally, she will just set her bottom down on the grass and just watch me walk away. Happily, her appetite hasn’t changed and she is friendly as ever. What concerns me is she is trembling quite a bit and when around sudden movement, she will yelp as if afraid or hurt. She still has an affinity for squeaky toys, though she is less aggressive with them. She has yet to destroy the loofa pup I gave her last night as a distraction. Definitely a concern.
Gone lookin’ for Cajun
Fishmonger’s Seafood Market & Cafe
1915 N Central Expy Ste 600
Plano, TX 75075
(972) 423-3699The fiance and I entered this place for an adventure in dining on a Monday evening near closing time. We were looking for some good gumbo and hoped to find some other tasty Cajun plates.
While I hoped for more from Fishmongers, I have to report that their menu lacked fire and spice, like their gumbo. Their clam chowder, while exceptionally creamy, lacked the seafood flavors I was craving…and hardly meaty at all. Their gumbo was just a drab brown rice soup with some chunks of seafood, but no zing whatsoever.
I did however enjoy their coconut shrimp appetizer, decent sized specimens lovingly fry-coated in crisp coconut and paired with a sweet ginger marmalade. The signature blue crab fingers however tasted like frozen crab after being doused in a garlic-butter sauce. I imagine it was sauced heavily to disguise the one-dimensional blandness…and to provide an excellent dunking sauce for their heavily-laden garlic bread. Garlic lovers rejoice!
I found their caesar salad less than stellar as well–no anchovies here–though I was pleased they used shredded romaine and removed croutons upon request. I think I regret that decision now, given that their croutons were of the same source as their garlic bread.
The fiance got their baked salmon in a lemon dill cream sauce while I got their mahi-mahi in creole cream sauce. The fiance’s salmon turned out tasty, even though it was baked (I almost prefer salmon otherwise) and the cream sauce only enhanced the character of the fish. My mahi on the other had was disappointing–the creole cream sauce had too much of a bitter-sour tang that detracted from the beautifully blackened fish. I had to pick out the shrimp and crab chunks from the tart tasting sauce…and left me wholly dissatisfied with the meal.
This is what I get for not ordering salmon. I can’t judge Fishmonger’s based on that single plate…I’m willing to try them again given their close proximity to home and their fine customer service. But I do wish they had some spicier food to make it a truer Cajun dining experience.
My rating: stars
Knowing your Cuts
Sweet cheeks had me thinking about the different cuts of pork ribs the last time we visited Rudy’s. I found an informative post on the various cuts of meat at Full Custom Gospel BBQ. Read it and hunger!