Dallas Observer Iron Fork Recap

Last Wednesday, I attended the Dallas Observer Iron Fork at Fair Park's Centennial Hall. Iron Fork featured tastings from local restaurants, beer, wine, and cocktail samplings alongside live music. This event can basically be summarized as a Foodie Paradise. 

I loved going around to try items from the various restaurants. I definitely plan on visiting some of them in the future. Two of my favorites were Back Home BBQ and Bawarchi.

Iron Fork culminated with a chef's competition featuring Jermaine Brown from Julia Pearl and Oliver Stirin from Blind Butcher.

Although, Jermaine lost the battle, he's still one of my favorite chefs in the DFW. It was a pleasure to meet him afterwards. 

Julia Pearl's Executive Chef Jermaine Brown & I

Did you attend Dallas Iron Fork? What were your favorite items?

Saturday Seafood at Hoochies Denton

Hoochie's Exterior

If there's one food that I love its seafood. Over the weekend I had the pleasure of dining at Hoochies Dining in Denton, TX. It's alright if you giggled at the name. I smile whenever I hear it. Interestingly, Hoochies was named after the Post World War I flapper girls in an effort to reflect the restaurant's less Americanized approach. The owner also wanted the name to be memorable to customers, and it most definitely is. I fell in love with the uniqueness, character, and charm of Hoochies.

Hoochies name isn't the only thing that makes it memorable. I loved the casual, comfortable, down home ambiance of the restaurant. You order at the counter, grab a table, and your meal is served to you. The service was impeccable and my glass never went empty. All of the servers were extremely friendly and accommodating. 

I also found Hoochies menu to be affordable yet expansive. Although, there were lots of menu choices I didn't find the menu overwhelming. There is truly something on the menu for everyone. Hoochies price point is affordable and I opted for the Weekend Catfish and Shrimp Basket Special which costs $7.95. 

Weekend Special

My catfish filet was huge and my steak fries were plentiful. The shrimp were also large in size and my meal came with hush puppies. If you've read some of my previous reviews you already know that I'm picky about my hush puppies. I'm proud to say that these were jalapeno free although, they still had a subtle kick to them. They were also unique in being square shaped. My catfish was effortlessly crispy and well seasoned. I also loved the shrimp which had a perfectly balanced amount of batter.

Shrimp Basket

My hubby opted for the Shrimp Basket and was very satisfied with his meal. He opted for the 5 piece basket. Hoochies also offers a larger portion, but the 5 piece was plenty for him. I also loved how our baskets were served with condiments. This might seem minor, but one of my pet peeves is having to ask for condiments at seafood restaurants. It was nice to have everything right in front of me when I was ready to eat. The service as Hoochies was also extremely fast. My meal was served within 10 minutes of ordering. 

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

Sam, the owner of Hoochies also brought out an order of their Mexican Shrimp Cocktail for us to try. If you visit Hoochies please do yourself a favor and order it. After the first bite, my mind started to become clouded with memories of my last vacation to Mexico. Seriously, Hoochies picked the perfect name for this dish because it tasted like it was straight out of Mexico. The Shrimp Cocktail was jam packed with shrimp, and I loved the chunks of avocado. Tortilla chips were served on the side and I loved everything about this dish! 

Hoochies is definitely a solid seafood pick. If you're in the Denton area go ahead and give them a try. I am looking forward to ordering a Po' Boy on my next visit and maybe some crawfish if I'm feeling adventurous. I'm actually a little scared of them as I have no idea how to eat them. Have you been to Hoochies? Go check them out and let them know Shasha sent you. 

Sam & I

***Disclosure*** I received a complimentary meal in exchange for my review of Hoochie's Denton. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Win a Beyonce' Diva Day Giveaway!

Photography by Valery Brennan

Ok here's a fun Shasha fact. When I'm not busy stuffing my face or traveling I'm at home practicing my Beyonce' dance moves. That's right y'all I'm a huge Beyonce fan and proud member of the Beyhive. As part of my Beyhive responsibilities it's only right that I do the following to serve the greater good. 

I've teamed up with 9 bloggers to give one of you lucky readers a BEYONCE DIVA DAY! The prize for this insane giveaway includes: 1 FLOOR ticket to the Beyonce show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on May 9 (travel, accomodations, parking, food not included) $100 gift card to RiffRaff 1 set of lash extensions from Lash Loft 1 gift card for a manicure at Bellacures Dallas Preston Center 1 gift card for a blowout at DryBar

In other words, the day of the show you'll be able to treat yourself with hair, nails, lashes and a brand new Freakum Dress! Enter using the Rafflecopter below!

Valery Brennan

The Ginger Marie Blog | Ware is the Vodka | Jaleesa Charisse

Stephanie Drenka | Beauty and the Pleats | Busy Being Shasha

Glitz N Grits | Milk and Cuddles | Eat Love Plank

Sweet Treats and Daydreams

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kickin' it at Dallas Kwestival

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Dallas Kwestival. Kwestival was an awesome festival held at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, TX. The purpose of Kwestival was to showcase various neighborhoods and businesses located around the city. 

Kwestival truly embodies the notion of getting out to explore your own city. Dallas is comprised of so many different neighborhoods and it was awesome to see them represented. The festival was filled with unique local vendors that offered an array of different products and services. Kwestival was also extremely foodie friendly as there were tons of great local treats! 

Are you making an effort to get out and explore your own city? You may be surprised at what you find. Whether its going to a fun park, checking out a museum, or a new restaurant do something different!

Were you able to attend Kwestival?  If so, what did you think? Drop a line in the comments and let me know. 

Spring Photoshoot Fresh! Styled Session with Gernelle Nelson Photography

Are you feeling the fresh photos located throughout my website? Although, I loved my previous photos, I wanted to give my website a fresh look for Spring. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of attending Jacque Amadi's From Passion to Profit Workshop. During the workshop, I entered my business card into a drawing for a photography session from Gernelle Nelson Photography. Guess who the lucky winner was? Me! I was beyond excited to be photographed by Gernelle. Prior to my photoshoot Gernelle and I collaborated to discuss what my overall vision of my shoot was. She not only picked a beautiful location but brought my vision to life. When I received my photos back I was in awe. I couldn't believe that the girl I was looking at in the photos was me! Gernelle's mom Carter also served as a second photographer for the shoot. This ensured that they captured me from all angles. Yassss! Gernelle and Carter had my angles on lock!

While attending Jacque's workshop I also had the pleasure of meeting Caris, the owner of Porschstores. I am in love with her boutique and she has some amazing pieces that are perfect for travel. She kindly contributed two pieces from her boutique to the photo shoot that made me feel comfortable and confident. Stay tuned as I'll be posting a follow up blog post explaining how my items from Porschstores are travel must haves. 

Andrea, from Core & Craft House of Style was another member of the Lady Boss Dream Team. I really can't express just how awesome she is at styling. By no means am I a fashion blogger, and I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to accessories. Andrea did an excellent job of capturing my personal style without being forceful. She styled me during the shoot, and also spent time shopping with me for shoes and accessories to compliment the look. She even assisted me with my posing. I'd like to think of Andrea as my Fairy-Style Mother. This was first time using a stylist and it definitely won't be my last. I didn't understand the value in using a stylist until I worked with Andrea. If you're a creative like myself don't hesitate to reach out to Andrea for your styling needs.

I also had the pleasure of having the lovely India do my makeup. Sorry, but I can't take all the credit for the glow that I had going on. I told India that I wanted a very natural look and she delivered. I loved the warm colors, and my lips were popping! I normally don't wear false lashes, and I love how they looked so natural. My eyes are super sensitive due to an eye allergy and I didn't even feel the lashes.

Last but not least, I have to shout out my hairstylist Addy Williamson for doing my hair. I've been rocking with Addy for quite some time, and she is a beast when it comes to a wand curler. I told Addy that I wanted fun, playful, hair and she came through. She also did a partial custom color to freshen my hair up for Spring. My curls were light, fluffy, and lingered for days after the shoot. Addy and I will be collaborating again in the future on some of my favorite looks for travel. Be, sure to check out her dope extensions line Hair Icon. 

Team Work did indeed make my photo shoot dream work. Are you feeling the new images?

Food Void: Yen Ching Chinese Restaurant

Last week, I took an unexpected trip to my hometown of Richmond, VA. Since this trip was short, I didn't have time to visit all of my favorite restaurants. However, I did get the chance to visit my favorite Chinese spot. Ever since I moved to Dallas, I've been unable to find a Chinese food restaurant that's similar to what I'm use to back East. My Dallas Chinese food void has been real.

Many of my friends who are Dallas Transplants have also commented that the Chinese cuisine in Dallas is also different from what they're used too. So maybe it isn't just me. I've tried countless restaurants with no success. If you have any great Chines restaurant recommendations feel free to chime in.  I'd love to try them. I'm confident that there's a DFW chinese restaurant that serves food in appearance similar to my photos below. I'll never forget when I tried one restaurant that put white sauce on my chicken and broccoli! I had no idea that brown sauce wasn't the norm! 

I love how Yen Ching's Chicken & Broccoli is so flavorful. It always has the perfect amount of brown sauce and the chicken is always nice and tender. 

I love Fried Rice that's fried to a nice brown. I've noticed that in Dallas my Fried Rice is always a little on the lighter side. Maybe, I'll start asking if they can fry it a little darker. Yen Ching's Pork Fried rice, is the type of rice that I have dreams about! It's flavorful, plentiful on meat, and I love how it's filled with egg. It's not overwhelmed with veggies, which is how I prefer it! 

Yen Ching's Kung Pao Chicken is excellent. it's not too spicy and you can have them adjust the spice level accordingly. I've been dining at Yen Ching for years at it's two locations. I've never had any problems with food quality or consistency during any of my visits. 

I love how Yen Ching serves it's diner's complimentary fresh orange slices after dinner. Oranges are known to aid with digestion. I love how refreshing, sweet, and light they are.

What's your favorite Chinese restaurant? Drop a line in the comments and let me know! Wanna know more about Yen Ching? Check them out here. 

Art in Action: Hope Outdoor Gallery Austin, TX

A few weekends ago I took a quick trip to Austin, TX. Austin, is one of my favorite cities. I love its creativity and spirit of independence. Austin is a huge contrast to Dallas. Dallas has the tendency to feel very pretentious. However, Austin feels more organic and natural to me. Whenever I'm in Austin I feel so comfortable as it has the vibe of an east coast city. As a creative, I always leave Austin feeling inspired.

 I had the opportunity to visit the Hope Outdoor Gallery also known as Graffiti Park. This gallery is a community outdoor paint park. You can obtain a paint pass and create your very own graffiti art. This park proves to be a mecca for my fellow creatives.  I saw numerous artists, musicians, and bloggers like myself posing for photos in front of the awesome artistic pieces. I absolutely loved the different pieces and their messages. 

If you plan to visit Austin, definitely put the Hope Outdoor Gallery on your list. Admission is free and it's a great place to get inspired. For more information check out the link here. 

Southern Goodness: Dining at Julia Pearl Southern Cuisine

Hello There!

Have you ever ate something so good that you felt like it touched your soul? I had that feeling after dining at Julia Pearl Southern Cuisine in Plano, TX. My dining experience was so wonderful that I ended up visiting this restaurant two weekends in a row. After finishing my meal I found myself entering a food-induced coma. I ended up cancelling my after dinner movie plans, because I couldn't fight the urge to go home and retire on my couch. 

I moved to Dallas about five years ago and I've always felt homesick over the lack of soul food dining options available here in Dallas. Don't get me wrong we have some good soul food restaurants here in the Big D. However, I find that there are more options available back in my hometown. Whenever, I have the opportunity to fly back home to Richmond I make sure that I grab a bite from my favorite soul food restaurants. I'm happy to report that Julia Pearl has fulfilled my soul food void!  I am so ecstatic to have a soul food restaurant that is not only close to home but has an upscale feel. During my last visit, I had the privilege to eat while listening to the sounds from the awesome Fingerprint's Band. There's nothing I love more than a great meal and some good tunes to go with it! 

The upscale yet comfortable vibe at Julia Pearl isn't the only thing that makes the restaurant special. The service is phenomenal. I loved how management constantly walked the restaurant floor to check on guests. My waiter Brody (who served me on both visits) was extremely accommodating and attentive. Vivian, one of the owners of Julia Pearl was extremely warm and friendly. She not only welcomed me with open arms (literally) but even made me a side of her famous potato balls which were delicious! Sorry, but I gobbled them all up before getting a picture. I even saw Executive Chef, Jermaine Brown greet many diners to check on their experience. Great dining experiences aren't always just about the food. Julia Pearl clearly realizes the importance of this and has proven that they are committed to making the experience memorable. I walked in the restaurant as a guest, but left feeling like I was a part of the Julia Pearl Family. 

Ok, sorry if I'm getting to sentimental. I know you all are ready to hear about the food. Since I visited this restaurant twice, I had the opportunity to try many of the menu items. 

Before ordering Julia Pearl serves up some amazing cornbread. The cornbread here is sheer perfection. Seriously, Jiffy ain't got nothing on Julia Pearl. I loved how the cornbread was soft, sweet, and delectable.

Deviled Eggs with Crispy Chicken Skin. Ok, is it me or does everyone have one aunt or family that makes awesome deviled eggs? Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! Seriously, these deviled eggs tasted like they were made by one of my family members. However, the crispy chicken skin was a nice touch. I loved how it added flavor and crispiness to the deviled egg. I would definitely order these again. 

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. If you've read some of my previous food reviews you'll know I'm especially particular about my seafood. I know all about Maryland Crab Cakes and I can taste a fake in a heart beat. The crab cake at Julia Pearl was amazing. Seriously, this thing tasted like it was straight out the Chesapeake Bay.  All my east coast foodies...REJOICE! this would definitely qualify as an east coast crab cake. 

Julia & Pearl's Chicken Wings

Chicken Wings. I don't know what to say about these except that you should order them. Julia Pearl's appetizer menu is on point. I would have no problem going there and just ordering appetizers and drinks because they are super tasty and plentiful. These wings did not disappoint. The lemon pepper was fantastic and the barbecue was also a hit. My husband actually ordered the chicken wings as an entree during our second visit and was full. 

Whole-Cut up Bird. This was a LOT of chicken. My husband and I ordered the whole chicken and we quickly realized that we could've ordered just half and had plenty. We had tons of leftovers after our meal and I actually felt bad that our waiter had so much food to box up. The fried chicken was delightful. Perfectly seasoned with a slight kick of heat. The fried chicken was the epitome of down home cooking. I found myself looking through the kitchen window trying to check if there were a gang of grandma's in the back frying chicken. The fried chicken had a great home cooked taste.

Mac and Cheese. Just do yourself a favor and order it. I have been having dreams about it ever since I left. I can best describe it as creamy, cheesy, macaroni goodness. It also had a slight kick, which made the flavor even better. 

Mashed Potatoes. Perfection! Keep in mind that the sides at Julia Pearl are plentiful. My husband and I ordered individual sides but will share on our next visit. In my opinion, they can easily serve 2 people. 

Pork Chop. This pork chop was incredibly tender, and grilled to perfection. It honestly reminded me of steak. I've had a lot of good pork chops in my life but this one was memorable. I loved the amount of char on it. Also my macaroni and cheese nicely soaked up the juice from the porkchop and collard greens which really made the flavor of this dish amazing. 

Collard Greens. I love a good bowl of collard greens. Once again, Julia Pearl showed up and showed out with these. Was it Fantasia that had a song called Collard Greens and Cornbread? I found myself humming it as I ate these. Another solid pick on the menu. 

The Desserts. Whew! I am tired from all this typing! But let's get down to the real champion on Julia Pearl's menu. Do not leave the restaurant without ordering a dessert. I ordered both the Red Velvet & Lemon Pound Cake. I loved how both dishes were served with ice cream which was the perfect accompaniment. However the real MVP at Julia Pearl is........(drum roll please)

Red Velvet Cake 

The Red Velvet Cake! I have a had a lot of Red Velvet Cakes in my life but this one is a WINNER. This cake had me thanking God for giving me taste buds. Do not leave the restaurant without ordering it. Shout out to the Lemon Pound Cake for being runner-up. Now I might be a little biased because I love Red Velvet anything, but the red velvet  cake was lifechanging!

Lemon Pound Cake

Well there you have it! A detailed review about Julia Pearl Southern Cuisine. On both occassions, I left the restaurant feeling like my meal was "made with love." Do yourself a favor and check out Julia Pearl. Be sure to tell Vivian that Shasha sent you.

 I'm looking forward to visiting Julia Pearl again for brunch. I've got my eye on their Chicken and Waffles plus I'm dying to try their Brisket. 

Have you dined at Julia Pearl? What items did you love from the menu? Drop a line in the comments and let me know.