Snag a prime seat in front of chef Masayuki Otaka at Teppo
Grab a seat facing Masayuki Otaka's yakitori grill at Teppo Yakitori-Sushi Bar and feast on chicken, pork and more charred over superhot binchotan Japanese charcoal.
Teppo Yakitori-Sushi Bar, 2014 Greenville Ave., Dallas. 214-826-8989.
2. Order something crazy at Small Brewpub
Chicken feet anyone? Pig's trotter? Confit pork tongue? Small Brewpub chef Misti Norris has a thing for out-there ingredients. Ordering one of her creations definitely puts you on the fast-track to power foodie-dom.
Small Brewpub, 333 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas. 972-863-1594.
3. Dive into a fantastically oozy, funky French cheese
Stop by Central Market and pick up a perfectly ripe Epoisse, or another fabulous washed-rind cheese from France (Central Market has an excellent selection.) Serve it with a white Burgundy (a 2012 Olivier Leflaive Les Sétilles goes great!) at a dinner party for your friends – not as an appetizer, but between the main course and dessert. Add a crusty baguette (maybe from Village Baking Co. or the Edouard's from Central Market), and you're good to go.
Central Market, 5750 E. Lovers Lane, Dallas. 214-234-7000.
4. Nibble and sip xiao long bao at Fortune House
Shanghai-style soup dumplings called xiao long bao are a rare treat, and those at Fortune House in Irving are pretty wonderful – especially the ones filled with crab and pork. The soup is inside with the filling, so it helps to know how to eat them: Place one in a soup spoon, nibble the edge, drink the soup inside, then dip the dumpling vinegar-ginger sauce and eat.
Fortune House, 8150 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. 972-831-9888.
5. Plunge into a dessert-in-a-terrarium at Top Knot
Pastry chef Keith Cedotal's Thai strawberry shortcake at Top Knot, the new restaurant upstairs from Uchi, tastes just right for the season.
Top Knot, 2817 Maple Ave., Dallas. 214-855-1354.
