From the Inside Out

For those of you who enjoy fine dining, but don’t enjoy the price tag, Restaurant Week is back! More than 120 restaurants in North Texas will be offering 3-course meals for only $35 during the week of August 16 - 22.

The list includes favorites like III Forks, Al Biernat’s, Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, Jaspers, The Mansion, Del Frisco’s and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Reservations are required, and space fills up quickly, so don’t delay. When calling, be sure to request a “Restaurant Week” reservation.

And if the low cost isn’t enough to spur you into action, here’s another reason. Proceeds from Restaurant Week will benefit the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Home.

For more details, click here.

Domino’s Pizza has recently been advertising a complete overhaul of its 50-year old pizza recipe. In a 2009 Brand Keys survey of taste preference among national pizza chains, Domino’s came in last — tied with Chuck E. Cheese. No wonder they are making a change!

I have to admit, Domino’s appears last on my list too. The only time I ever order Domino’s Pizza is when all other pizza places are closed, and I honestly can’t even remember the last time I did that. But now their ads have intrigued me. Domino’s is responding to critics and consumers alike by completely changing the core elements of their pizza — new crust, sauce, and cheeses.

Curious, I decided to test it tonight. I started out by placing my order online. They have a great online ordering system, which is something I really like. I hate calling pizza places and being put on hold forever. It’s much more convenient to peruse your options online and order immediately. Once your order is placed, you can watch the online “order tracker” to keep tabs on the status of your pizza. You can see when it’s being prepped, put in the oven, going through a quality check, and ready for pick-up/delivery. It’s pretty cool.

The big test, however, would be the taste. Instantly, you notice that the pizza looks different. It also tastes different, very different. Gone is the cardboard crust. The new crust is hand-tossed, and it includes garlic and parsley seasonings which are quite tasty. The new sauce, according to Domino’s, has a bolder, sweeter taste with a kick of red pepper. I didn’t taste the red pepper, but I enjoyed the sauce. It wasn’t too heavy or overbearing — a nice mix. The new cheese is a mix of shredded mozzarella and provolone. I would have preferred a little more cheese on my pizza, but other than that, I had no complaints.

While I don’t think the new recipe will be winning any awards soon (do they even give out awards for great pizza?), it is a dramatic improvement over the old Domino’s pizza recipe. Both Gary and I liked it, and I think it stands up well to the other pizza delivery chains now. Mr Gatti’s and Papa Johns still rank as my No. 1 and No. 2 choices respectively, but I won’t completely rule out Domino’s as an alternative option in the future.

If you haven’t tried it out yet, give it a shot. You just might like what you see — and taste!

Each time I travel to Italy there’s one thing I seek out. The trip just isn’t the same without it. Gelato, Italy’s regional variant of ice cream, is a special treat I enjoy as much as I can while I’m there. I experienced gelato for the first time while in Rome. There were two shops conveniently located just outside the steps of our hotel. Each night when we would return from a fun-filled day of sightseeing, we’d grab a scoop, sit down, and gaze at the Pantheon.

An evening with the best companion, the best ice cream, and the best view = priceless!

Gelato differs from the ice cream we eat in the US. The flavors are richer, there is less fat, more sugar, and it has a different texture. It’s not just good; it’s great! Luckily, you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy to experience some for yourself. Paciugo serves authentic Italian gelato that’s made fresh daily in over 20 stores across the nation.

After apprenticing at a four-generation gelateria, the owners of Paciugo moved from Turin, Italy and started their first gelato cafè in Dallas in 2000. I’m not sure why anyone would want to move from Turin to Dallas, but I’m glad they did because I really enjoy having a little taste of Italy here in the US. The gelato doesn’t seem to be quite as good as the original, it’s pretty darn close. Either that, or I just think everything tastes better in Italy…haha!

Regardless, if you haven’t had a taste of gelato, you should check it out. Take a break from the frantic Christmas shopping this weekend, and give yourself a little treat. And, if you are near the Frisco location, take advantage of these special offers for some free gelato through Dec. 20th. Enjoy!

Are you still looking for ways to save money during the holiday season? Even better, do you want to help others save money? If so, I have a treat for you! Restaurant.com’s “Feed it Forward” program gives you the opportunity to help give away up to $30 million in free restaurant gift certificates. Over the next 16 days, you can give up to thirty $10 gift certificates per day to your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, strangers, or anyone else you think would like to have one. How’s that for the spirit of giving?

Restaurant.com is a website that connects restaurants and diners nationwide. They offer savings at more than 13,000 restaurants nationwide and to various online retailers with more than 20,000 gift certificate options. You can find participating restaurants using their search engine, and learn more about each restaurant by viewing their Web site featuring menus, driving directions, and more.

There are two ways to give. You can sign-up on the Feed It Forward website or participate through their page on Facebook. It’s simple. To send a gift, just enter your name and email address, as well as the name and email address for each recipient—as many as thirty people every single day. You can share your reason for giving with the person who is receiving the gift certificate, and you can also post it on the Feed It Forward site if you choose. People who receive gift certificates also will be given the opportunity to join the giving effort and “feed it forward.”

For more information on how it works, check out the FAQ and start giving today! If you don’t want to give (bah humbug), but you want to receive, send me your email address. I’ll send you a $10 gift certificate anyway!

Who doesn’t love getting something for free, especially during one of the worst recessions in the history of our country? Thanks to Whataburger, now you can get free food items every other day leading up to December 24th, 2009. It’s called the “12 Days of Whataburger” promotion, and it includes everything from free shakes to french fries and burgers.

All you have to do is visit Whataburger’s “12 Days” website and provide your email address and zip code. After signing up, you’ll receive free food coupons throughout December. It’s Whataburger’s way of spreading Christmas cheer, and nothing says “Merry Christmas” like free food.

Enjoy!