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Francesco Farris Opens Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana October 2011

DALLAS, TEXAS – Italian restaurateur Francesco Farris will open his newest venture, Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana, a casual and home-style Italian restaurant at 4615 West Lovers Lane on October 13. The award-winning Sardinian chef plans to bring real Italian food to Dallas in a comfortable and family-friendly setting. Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana, inspired by Francesco’s nick name “Cecio” and zio meaning “uncle,” will be open Monday through Sunday from 5 to 10 pm and for brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm.

Zio Cecio’s menu, carefully crafted by Francesco Farris, will feature an array of Italian specialties that represent the palate of his Sardinian roots including a selection of appetizers, pastas, risottos, seasonal vegetables and wood-fired pizzas.

“This new restaurant will be as though I’m inviting you into my home kitchen,” says Farris. “It will be a relaxed, casual atmosphere and accommodating the customer will be my main focus.”

Among the many flavorful Italian dishes, patrons can find the following on the menu: La Bolognese Con Fettuccine- beef and pork ragu in a San Marzano sauce, Neri Alle Vongol- squid ink infused spaghetti with fresh clams, Quadratini Alla Mentuccia- ravioli filled with potatoes, fresh cheese, mint and a light rosy tomato sauce and Ossobuco Al Barolo- braised veal shank in Barolo wine reduction. To accommodate Zio Cecio’s guests, Farris will plan select wine dinners and specials depending on customer’s wishes.

With an open kitchen concept, patrons of Zio Cecio will be able to view the masterful hands of Farris as he prepares their favorite Italian dishes. The dining room, seating 75, features worldly accents and includes granite tables and matching bar top, cedar wood beams and a walk-in wine cellar with frameless glass. Black and white canvas photographs adorn the Venetian plastered walls of the dining room along with glass tile and two mirrors stretching from floor to ceiling. Guests can also choose from among the additional 35 seats on the gracious patio.

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Located at 4615 West Lovers Lane in Dallas, TX, Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana is Chef Francesco Farris’ newest venture featuring authentic Italian cuisine in a comfortable and family-friendly atmosphere. Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana is an Italian affair with a Sardinian twist. The menu features a selection of starters including imported cured meats and artisan cheeses, featured pastas and risottos prepared with fresh seasonal vegetables along with organic beef, lamb, pork, chicken, fresh seafood and daily specials. Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana is open Monday through Sunday from 5 to 10 pm and is open for brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. For more information please visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.ziocecio.com” www.ziocecio.com or call 214.351.1100.

Experience Authentic Mexican Fare at the State Fair

El Ranchito and La Calle Doce Chef Prepares Dishes at the State Fair of Texas

DALLAS, TEXAS (September 28, 2011)- Chef Jesse Sanchez will be at the Celebrity Kitchen at the State Fair of Texas on October 4 at 6 p.m. to prepare dishes from his restaurants, La Calle Doce and El Ranchito.   Celebrity Kitchen showcases the culinary creations of popular restaurant chefs from around Dallas/Ft. Worth.  For more information visit www.bigtex.com.

What: Chef Jesse Sanchez at Celebrity Kitchen

Where: Creative Arts Building

State Fair of Texas

3921 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Dallas, Texas 75210

When: October 4, 2011

6:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

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About El Ranchito:

After the success of La Calle Doce, Oscar and Laura Sanchez opened El Ranchito, a full-service Mexican restaurant serving authentic Northern Mexican cuisine and classic Tex-Mex dishes. Known widely for its freshly made tortillas and festive atmosphere where mariachis play daily, customers return to El Ranchito time after time to savor the experience that is Mexico. For more information about El Ranchito visit www.elranchito-dallas.com.

About La Calle Doce:

La Calle Doce is a full-service, authentic Mexican seafood restaurant where patrons can enjoy coastal Mexican cuisine created with the freshest ingredients.  The original location, opened by Oscar and Laura Sanchez, has been operating in Oak Cliff since 1981 and in 1999 the Sanchez’s opened the second location in Lakewood. For more information about La Calle Doce, visit www.lacalledoce-dallas.com.

Stay Social

Social House Opening Brings New Concept and New Menu to the Village on the Parkway

ADDISON, TEXAS (July 8,2011)– The Social House, a new supper pub offering contemporary American cuisine, is now open at the Village on the Parkway in Addison.

Created to enhance all forms of social interaction, the Social House offers guests a comfortable, yet polished atmosphere featureing stone wallas adorned with wooden framed televisions and a unique wooden ceiling. This casual setting features an indoor/outdoor patio perfect for late night dining. With 22 televisions, a fireplace and private meeting areas, The Social House can accommadate almost any social gathering like a guy’s night out, a fun date or corporate happy hours.

With three full bars, guests can easily order from The Social House’s drink menu which offers more than 50 beers on tap including craft, import and domestic beers along with a 60 bottle wine list and ten specialty cocktails. The 75 item menu offers an array of bar snacks, salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos and entrees including a luscious Chicken Fried Steak crafted with 21 day aged beef. Among the more adventurous dishes found on the menu include III Meat Meatloaf with ground beef, pork and buffalo, Chicken Fried Oysters with horseradish cream sauce, The Sink Burger with white cheddar, Swiss cheese, Ancho pulled pork, and friend onion strings and the Social House Griddle Cheese with white cheddar cheese, Granny Smith apples and Wright’s apple wood smoked bacon.

Located at 5100 Beltline Road in Addison, TX, The Social House is a supper pub offering contemporary American cuisine in a sleek, casual atmosphere. The Social House is currently open Monday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information call 972-392-4300 or visit socialhouseaddison.com.

About bigInk:

bigInk, founded by President and CEO, Jeffrey Yarbrough, is a full service PR and Marketing Company specializing in restaurants, bars, fashion, food, entertainment, wine and lifestyle oriented clientele. bigInk was named on of the Top 25 Public Relation Firms by the Dallas Business Journal. For more information, visit www.biginkpr.com or call 214) 485-7300.

MesoMaya Opens in North Dallas

Dallas, Texas (August 22, 2011) MesoMaya is Dallas’ newest adventure into fresh, bold and earthy flavors of authentic interior Mexican cuisine and opened August 16.

MesoMaya’s concept is inspired by ancient cultures and culinary roots of Mexico and is owned by Dallas restaurateur, Mike Karns.  Located at the northwest corner of Preston and Forest, this premiere location is a must see.

Chef Nico Sanchez of Henderson Avenue fame, created a menu including must tries,  carne asada sided with house made, white corn tamales and Budin Azteca de camaron house, a multi-layered stack of fresh white corn tortillas, queso fresco and sweet & tangy, fire-roasted tomatillo’s topped with seared Mexican white shrimp and white cheese.

House specialty margaritas include La Flaca, a one-hundred percent organic skinny margarita made with Dulce Vida silver tequila, agave nectar and fresh squeezed lime juice.  The refreshing Cucumber Rita is made with fresh-juiced cucumber whites and blended with silver tequila and fresh squeezed lime juice.

Patrons stepping inside MesoMaya for the first time will notice the open kitchen and the preparation of corn tortilla’s made from scratch.  The bar area allows anyone a perfect seat to view the exposed kitchen with unique and colorful dishes, plus it’s a great place to dine.  The inviting dining space will bring a distinct adventure in regional Mexico from the décor to the menu offerings.  There is also a more intimate dining area allowing a private space for parties or large groups to dine together.

A Mobile Pizza Smackdown

Three Local Pizza Guys Gather for the American Heart Association’s Cotes du Coeur Wine Society’s Annual Kick Off

DALLAS, TEXAS (September 8, 2011) – The American Heart Association will host their annual Cotes du Coeur Wine Society Kick Off on September 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Village shopping center. Local pizzaioli’s Paolo Cavalli of Cavalli Pizzeria, Jay Jerrier of Il Cane Rosso, and Salvatore Gisellu of Urban Crust prepare their best Italian pies for both members and future prospects of the Côtes du Coeur Wine Society.

This year’s kick off event brings together some of the most talented wood-burning pizza chefs in the Dallas area. Guests will have the opportunity to sample the chef’s specialties and then vote on the “King of Mobile Wood-Burning Pizza Chef.” Current Society and Young at Heart members may attend the event at no cost, and non-members can enjoy palatable pies, Italian specialties and wine donated by Pogos for $20, while supplies last. For more information about the Côtes du Coeur Wine Society or to purchase tickets for the Côtes du Coeur Wine Society Kick Off please visit www.dallaswineauction.com or contact Allison Holmes at Allison.Holmes@heart.org.

Who:                       Cotes du Coeur Wine Society

Paolo Cavalli of Cavalli Pizzeria

Jay Jerrier of Il Cane Rosso

Salvatore Gisellu of Urban Crust

What:                    Cotes du Coeur Wine Society Kick Off

Where:                   West Village Shopping Center

North Alley at the Blackburn Street Entrance

3699 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX 75024

When:                  September 29, 2011

6 – 8 p.m.