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Patineuse

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  1. This place is a find! It is located at 3509 E. Park Blvd in Plano, cross street is Shiloh road. This little jewel has great food, service and...atmosphere. Today I got take out from their lunch menu and I had the Los Rios Pita Pocket. This had grilled steak, onion and mushroom. The steak was tasty...maybe slightly stringy...but that is not a bad thing since I am watching my fat intake these days. Their sandwiches are served with "Batatas Brava" (patatas bravas) and a tangy mayonaisse on the side. My friends order the French Country salad frequently and add chicken. This salad has mixed greens, feta, tomatoes, cucumbers olive oil and herb vinaigrette. I have had the chicken panini pomodori sandwich (very delicious), Salad Nicoise, hummus and the Chicken Saffron Kabob. So far everything has hit a home run.The last time I was there for a sit down meal I scored because the manager brought me a creme brulee on the house. Prices for lunch specials are $7.50-8.99, entrees are 9.75-12.50. Their website is http://www.losriosbistro.com/, however none of the links work. This is a breath of fresh air for the East Side of Plano where the choices are usually limited to chains or "greasy spoons" of many cultures.
  2. Well, it was Thursday, so pretty light. Mostly 40s to 60s crowd, although a few younger couples. The guitarist strolled between inside and outside rather than staying at a stationary set up. I was inside. Outside would have been pleasant, but my allergies have been giving me fits lately; and I'm pretty mildly allergic. The outside patio has the mister for warmer days. I'll have to try it once the air clears up a bit.
  3. Got there Thursday...service was fabulous. Fois Gras was incredible. I'm not sure that the servings were bigger, but that is not an issue, especially since I was dining by myself. I'm glad to see things improve and surpass!
  4. I haven't seen this posted here, so I thought I would mention Genroku Restaurant. Great food, decent service, no atmosphere (like many Asian restaurants) and inexpensive. My current favorite is the Chirashi Ju. They have bento boxes, Japanese menu and Taiwanese menu. Everything is delicious. It's in the Asian shopping center on Greenville, east side, between Arapaho and Beltline. A regular spot for Asian clientele, hashi (chopsticks) are the norm. I have only been to the Richardson location.
  5. Patineuse

    Empanada Crusts

    I am munching on the empanadas I made with Doddie's recipe. Very good, and nice texture. Although I will try it with lard next time...I did not think about the transfat and I had Crisco on hand. Doddie, do you add any seasonings?
  6. I shopped there today and made the most amazing heirloom tomato salad with wild arugula and mushroom soup with chanterelles and mousserons. I almost cried because I couldn't finish the tomato salad tonight, it was so good. I am saving the rest of those beauties for breakfast. Tomorrow it's corn and golden tomato salad. I met Tom, and though I can't remember the name of the man who assisted me, he was incredibly helpful and I can't remember the last time I had one on one service with selecting produce. I sure am glad they are open Saturdays so I can shop there when school starts again. The storefront is very easy to miss. If you are coming from 75, the store is on the left just before Jimmy's. Jimmy's is another terrific shop for any Italian ingredients you might need. Plus they have some produce that you FM 1040 might not have. I picked up mediterranean cucumber. The whole experience reminded me of growing up in San Francisco and going from small store to small store to get the groceries.
  7. Patineuse

    Empanada Crusts

    Thanks, I'll give it a try!
  8. Patineuse

    Empanada Crusts

    Basically it is ground pork and beef, potatoes, onions, olives and raisins seasoned with garlic, soy sauce, aji-no-moto and salt and pepper. Spanish origins with a Chinese accent. They can actually improve a bit if left at room temp for a while.
  9. I have three methods I have run across for empanada crusts: The puff pastry method adapted by Penelope Casas from Julia Child's recipe Rose Levy Beranbaum's whole wheat turnover pastry from The Pie and Pastry Bible After rolling the dough, winding the dough onto a 14-20 inch stick, slicing pinwheel like slices and rolling each of these pieces as described in Let's Cook With Nora, a Filipino cookbook I have gotten the best results from Beranbaum's recipe, but it is still not quite right. Any recommendations out there?
  10. That would make a lot of sense, since their presentation is different than the shared community plate tradition one associates with tapas. I really do hope they get their service issues worked out. I would like to support this restaurant.
  11. I was excited that Olea had opened at last and got to sample it Saturday. They do try hard to please. The young man who was our server asked if we had heard of tapas before. A fair question, but I had to giggle inwardly. That was the whole reason I was there. He said that the restaurant was hoping to make Olea the tapas capital of the U.S. if not the World...a tall order! Anyway, I think they are working through the serving and protocol procedures. At first the server forgot to bring the small serving plates when they brought out the focaccia and olives and then another waiter asked him, "they didn't want plates?" The server also described the manchego as a cheddar!? I've always felt it was closer to a parmesan so I had to wonder if he had heard of tapas before working there this morning. He then brought my sangria in a stemmed wine glass...with a straw So, I did my usual and ordered a bunch of plates. I brought my 18 year old son with me, who has either eaten my tapas at home or at restaurants. All the food was delicious. The presentation was not what I expected. Not necessarily below expectations, just different. I am used to the plates being prepared for sharing purposes, it seemed that the plates were prepared as individual dishes. For example, the asparagus was two spears, criss crossed, with two rolls of jamon serrano filled with goat cheese. I've had the asparagus dish of similar description at Hola (esparagus with serrano and cheese) but there are more spears and they are sprinkled with jamon bits and manchego. I noticed at the next table a family ordered tapas, but they ordered them as individuals and evidently expected them to be served as individual dishes, no sharing. Everything in the first round of tapas was served with a lot of lemon and parsley. I'm not sure why this stuck out but the lemon halves and thick slices seemed gargantuan next to the delicate slices of carpaccio and manchego. (We also ordered the before mentioned esparagus, calamari, and crab cakes) The second round included the mushrooms farci, trio of hummus/olives/eggplant spreads and sausages. These tended to be garnished with cherry tomato halves. The waiter had suggested the escargot, though I have enjoyed it before, I decided to forgo it this time. I have to be in the right mood for it! Kevin72, I'm glad you started this thread and that I found Egullet.
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