Dallas

Friends forwarded our invitation to John Tesar's 3rd and Last Private Underground Dinner, which led to an exhilarating birthday celebration. Texas architect, Steve Chambers, turned "12" on June 2. It happens that both fell on a Saturday; our friends thought this dining experience could be fun. We had tasted Tesar's food at the Mansion and thought his back-to-back Five-Star wins were well deserved.

Those of us with gluten allergies or celiac disease are somewhat used to interrogating wait staff on what we can or cannot eat.  It's a totally different experience at Company Café in Dallas, Texas.  Gluten eaters may find themselves asking for the gluten version of things because pancakes, French toast and bagels are gluten free, unless you request the full flour version.

Since 1987, Vogel Alcove has been providing daytime childcare for homeless children 5 years old and younger. It was founded by Thelma Vogel and Doris Budner in response to the growing number of homeless people, primarily women and children, in the mid-1980's.

Just like the Dean Martin song, Volare, that is playing as we enter the store, "we fly away from the maddening crowds...and sing in the glow of a star that we know...where lovers enjoy peace of mind and leave the confusion and disillusion behind." This is Jimmy's Food Store at Bryan and Fitzhugh, where the brothers DiCarlo concentrate on doing what they do best: serve up the finest that Italy has to offer with friendly smiles, in a quaint multi-ethnic neighborhood.

I wasn't surprised when I opened the December issue of D Magazine and saw that Neighborhood Services Bar & Grill (NHS Bar & Grill) received "best new restaurant" of 2010.