CoffeeStudyTalk

Joe’s Bakery is worth a stop for breakfast.  They have some pretty good Mexican food mixed with classic American Bacon & Eggs. The scrambled eggs is amazing and the Barbacoa wow.  It’s like a perfect match with some tortilla’s. Very affordable.  I did small half price plates too and was filling for me. Also, my first few photos with the new 14 Pro’s camera.  It’s an improvement over the 11, not a leap above like the 11 was vs the 6s, but still better.

Still searching for a good Cappucino in Dallas.  Tried Kona Reserve in Frisco and it’s meh.  They slightly burnt the espresso, but surprisingly that helped it not taste like a cup of warm milk. Excluding the coffee, place is very nice, friendly staff, great parking.  Most coffee shops in Dallas at least have that going for them…but still searching for a good Cappuccino. Cappuccino rating 5.5/10

Got my Taco 🌮 fix and decided to enjoy Labor Day by knocking back a frozen Margarita.  It was $12.99 for the Margarita which cost me more than the Taco Plate. I was able to finish it and get pretty buzzed.  Next time, I’ll try the smaller size.

How is Lemma Coffee rated 4.7 out of 5 on Yelp?  That’s the same rating as Summer Moon.  You can’t trust Yelp anymore even with 115 reviews. If they are giving high marks for location, ambiance and staff then yes it’s a 5, but the coffee…it’s a 3.8. So far the dozen Frisco Coffee Shops I’ve tried with exception of Summer Moon all seem to think a Cappuccino should taste like a glass of warm milk. I must be ordering it wrong? Cappuccino Rating ( 5/10) Update - July 2023 - Tried again.  Nope, espresso is just way too bitter. Core issue with Lemma is their espresso shot.  It’s just too bitter and difficult to drink.  Should be more creamy and closer to dark chocolate than just bitter. I’d have to drop the rating to 4 in 10 for espresso shot.

I'm still on a lookout for a good Tonkatsu spot (Pork Katsu).  I've tried the food court one at Mitsuwa in addition to Kurobuta and obviously, this one is better. You get quite a bit with your meal at Kurobuta, which can be good and bad.  While flavorful and tender, it just lacks something on the panko batter and the sauce. Still, this will work for now as my Tonkatsu fix.

I dine at Fuzzy's Taco way too much.  This has become my go to place for my Taco fix.  Tuesday's are obviously the best time to order some tacos, but otherwise the Taco Plate special is reasonable. The chips they use for the Queso are hit or miss, but when they are a hit with the seasoning it’s delicious.  I'd prefer the Queso dip from Torchy's, but otherwise I rather order Fuzzy's than Torchy's. It’s not the best tacos in DFW, but they are delicious and worth a try.  Ranking them 6.5 of 10.  

I heard great raves about Torchy Taco's and ate lunch here.  It was okay and after trying a several dozen more Mexican spots across the West Coast, I think its a good chain restaurant. The queso is probably the best I've had in DFW due to their adding a bit of kick with some spice, guac and cilantro. The tacos were decent, but were lacking something I can only find in other Mexican taco shops. Between the 2 chains of Fuzzy and Torchy.  I’d lean towards Fuzzy and rank this place 6 of 10.  Still good tacos.  

I had high hopes for Original Pancake House as I've enjoyed their Dutch Baby and other offerings at different locations, but the Dallas one was meh at best. I'm still on the lookout for a good breakfast spot for my bacon & eggs fix.  

I stopped by the Tous le Jous Bakery inside the H-Mart in Allen.  Got some groceries and took a break enjoying a cup of coffee and some pastries.  The pastries were better than the coffee, but the Cappuccino is acceptable. For more bread type pastries Tous le Jous is preferred over the sweeter donut style offerings at Paris Baguette.   Cappuccino Rating = 6/10  

I got hooked on IKEA Swedish meatballs and was enjoying them almost every week for a cheap and simple meal. I also spent way too much money buying random stuff from this store and probably furnished half my home with IKEA furniture.

A perfect summer treat is Paht Bin Soo, Korean Shaved Ice and a great spot I found is in Frisco on Preston at Sul & Beans. I’ve tried both the Injeolmi and Strawberries.  I prefer the Injeolmi.

It’s an acquired taste, but those who enjoy Soondae (Blood Sausage), they have a good one in Carrollton near the H-Mart at Moobongri. It’s setup like a self service food hall so you can eat as much rice & kimchi. I recommend ordering the Soondae on the hot platter as it stays warmer longer and enhances the flavor.

Texas Roadhouse is when you want food that’s extra salty.  If your okay with that then the steak is acceptable.  Ribs were a bit dry and the baked potato a little mushy.  Onion is okay for a few bites. I needed the salad and beer to wash all the salt down. I would go again though, but ask to go easy on the salt.

One of the best places to find good BBQ is Hutchins.  I tried the Frisco location and have always enjoyed their brisket.  Usually, I go for a sandwich and some sides.

It took a while and a lot of experimenting trying over 30 different wines over the last year to find a decent bargain in the Cruz Alta Reserve Malbec. It’s a pleasant red wine that is a medium dry, full body and easy to drink. The Malbec is like a nice in between a heavy Cabernet and a lighter Pinot, without being a Blend. I did try some Spanish Rioja’s and the more expensive ones above $20 seemed to match the $12 Malbec. If you enjoy Chianti’s, especially on a second day pour of an opened bottle, this Malbec fits the bill at a great price. Update - 7/9/23 - Gotta let it breathe Malbec, especially Cruz Alta has to breathe.  It tasted awful when first opened and I thought the wine had gone bad, but the second day…wow, it’s delicious.  I keep forgetting this particular bottle needs to a lot of time breathe.

Cant beat the $7 Happy Hour specials at Bottled In Bond in Frisco.  The Old Fashioned is not part of that deal and was acceptable, but I prefer Legacy West's Old Fashioned. Bottled In Bond uses Evan Williams for their Old Fashioned. This place is a nice spot to chill, but parking is limited and can fill up quick due to the Happy Hour specials.  Old Fashioned Rating = 6/10

Pho Pasteur is probably the best place for Pho in all of DFW.  I dined at the original location in Arlington and also their second spot in Carrollton. Both spots are great and for the price you are getting a really good bowl of Pho.  Spring Rolls are excellent and the Iced Coffee is always a must.  Ranking this place 8.5 of 10.