Fresh home-style tortillas. What more does anyone need to know?
OK, how about they have the best tomitillo sauce in town.
My idea of a perfect meal at Gonzales? Chicken enchilladas with tomitillo sauce.
I always use their neon sign as a landmark. I drive down Jefferson until that sign comes into view. Then I begin looking for parking. Parking can be something of a problem. Be prepared to park on a side street and walk back around the corner. Also, I am not very fond of their salsa. It just isn't to my taste. But, the tortillas and the tomitillo sauce.....oh my.....
367 W Jefferson Blvd Dallas, TX 75208(214) 946-5333 www.gonzalezrestaurant.com
Monday, October 26, 2009
Panini Bakery & Cakes
I love this bakery. It is just around the corner from my office. I drive past and the steering wheel of my car begins to shake in my hands, as if the car was about to turn into the parking lot against my wishes! As if I needed more bad habits!
It is obvious that the bakery is run by a family. Just talk with them. Clearly they are passionate about quality and service, a novel thing in this day and time. They don't try to be all things to all people. They don't have a Cake-of-the-Day. They just do what they do and what they do they do very, very well.
The first cake of theirs I ever sampled was the white chocolate raspberry. The memory of that taste is what first got me to walk in the doors of their bakery. Later, they made the grooms cake for my son's wedding, a truly wonderful chocolate cake that people still are talking about. They sell cake by the slice, but what they do best are whole cakes. Worth the price. They will do fondant, but their butter cream is absolutely everything icing is supposed to be.
You will need to get there before 3 p.m. because they close up and go home (which makes my drive home safer.....)
6063 Sherry Ln Dallas, TX 75225(214) 363-1225 www.paninicakes.com
It is obvious that the bakery is run by a family. Just talk with them. Clearly they are passionate about quality and service, a novel thing in this day and time. They don't try to be all things to all people. They don't have a Cake-of-the-Day. They just do what they do and what they do they do very, very well.
The first cake of theirs I ever sampled was the white chocolate raspberry. The memory of that taste is what first got me to walk in the doors of their bakery. Later, they made the grooms cake for my son's wedding, a truly wonderful chocolate cake that people still are talking about. They sell cake by the slice, but what they do best are whole cakes. Worth the price. They will do fondant, but their butter cream is absolutely everything icing is supposed to be.
You will need to get there before 3 p.m. because they close up and go home (which makes my drive home safer.....)
6063 Sherry Ln Dallas, TX 75225(214) 363-1225 www.paninicakes.com
Dennis Road Automotive
These people are in charge of my cars. My car is too big an investment to just let anyone mess around under the hood! I have been going into their shop for about 4 years now. I have started getting the oil changed there too. The shop is clean. The floors are clean. They call me several days after the work to ask for feedback.
Martha Stewart may not have decorated their waiting area, but I don't go there to get decorating tips. The coffee is good and the magazines are current. And, the bathroom is clean. Who cares about Martha?
When these people fix my car, they charge me a fair price and they say funny things while I am in the office paying my bill. How can I not like them?
Martha Stewart may not have decorated their waiting area, but I don't go there to get decorating tips. The coffee is good and the magazines are current. And, the bathroom is clean. Who cares about Martha?
When these people fix my car, they charge me a fair price and they say funny things while I am in the office paying my bill. How can I not like them?
Jannie's Nails on Mockingbird
I live up by Central Market. I have tried every nail place in the area. Jannie's is the place I always come back to. It is cheap, cheap, cheap. Not much English, but there is enough English spoken to communicate. I have never had an appointment and I have been using them on a regular basis for years. I have always just walked in. I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes.
Parking looks as if it could be a problem. Every parking place available has a sign that says that it is reserved for Campisi's and that they are going to tow my little Buick someplace far away if I park there for 7 minutes. Scary. Dangerous. My solution to the parking problem is to come during the hours that Campisi's isn't likely to care much about cars in the parking spaces...in other words, during the week, during the day and not during the lunch run!
Have you ever wondered why and how nail salons tend to be run by Vietnamese? It all began with Tippi Hedren. http://en.wikipedia.or...
5600 Mockingbird Ln Dallas, TX 75206 (214) 828-2303
Parking looks as if it could be a problem. Every parking place available has a sign that says that it is reserved for Campisi's and that they are going to tow my little Buick someplace far away if I park there for 7 minutes. Scary. Dangerous. My solution to the parking problem is to come during the hours that Campisi's isn't likely to care much about cars in the parking spaces...in other words, during the week, during the day and not during the lunch run!
Have you ever wondered why and how nail salons tend to be run by Vietnamese? It all began with Tippi Hedren. http://en.wikipedia.or...
5600 Mockingbird Ln Dallas, TX 75206 (214) 828-2303
Sole Therapy Chinese Foot Massage
What a great thing to do for yourself! This massage shop does Chinese Foot Massage, an hour-long massage for $35. English is navigated, but not very deeply. My massage person didn't understand that I wanted a full hour, at least not at the beginning. It took some work on my part to communicate. We got there! She did a great job working all the pressure points on my feet and shins. Part of the hour massage is some neck, back and shoulder massage.
They also do chair massage and traditional full-body massages. They are open until 11 at night, so it is possible to finish work for the day, get in a workout and then go get a massage. The perfect ending to a great day!
Appointments recommended.
10455 N Central Expy Ste #114Dallas, TX 75231(214) 234-0551
They also do chair massage and traditional full-body massages. They are open until 11 at night, so it is possible to finish work for the day, get in a workout and then go get a massage. The perfect ending to a great day!
Appointments recommended.
10455 N Central Expy Ste #114Dallas, TX 75231(214) 234-0551
Cedars Mediterranean Mezza
A Mediterranean buffet in Preston Center? Shawarma, kababs and fresh pita within easy reach of my office? Whats there not to like? I need to round up some of my vegetarian friends and walk them through the doors at this place! Really good, fresh food, buffet style. Lots and lots of well seasoned vegtables. The meat entrees looked good. The desserts display was really very inviting but I managed to resist that siren song ("hold me back, please! Hold me b-a-c-k!!!").
I had the falafel platter...a generous scoop of Hummus and Babaghanouge, a very lemony tabuli. After a while, the waitperson brought me a very nice platter with 4 falafel patties, carmalized onions, tomatoes, lettuce and a really nice yogart sauce. It was a whole lot of food.
I am a big fan of Fadi's buffet. This place measures up well to Fadi's. Their website has a coupon tab. As of today, there was a coupon for "buy one entree, get 2nd at half-price".
6125 Berkshire Ln Dallas, TX 75225(214) 363-1717 www.cedarsmezza.com
I had the falafel platter...a generous scoop of Hummus and Babaghanouge, a very lemony tabuli. After a while, the waitperson brought me a very nice platter with 4 falafel patties, carmalized onions, tomatoes, lettuce and a really nice yogart sauce. It was a whole lot of food.
I am a big fan of Fadi's buffet. This place measures up well to Fadi's. Their website has a coupon tab. As of today, there was a coupon for "buy one entree, get 2nd at half-price".
6125 Berkshire Ln Dallas, TX 75225(214) 363-1717 www.cedarsmezza.com
Texas de Brazil Express
I have been eagerly watching this storefront as the building was updated for this new concept for the Texas de Brazil chain...The idea is exciting...all that really great meat, done fast... The mother-restaurant of the chain is such a total total total pigout (remind me to tell you the story about going there the night before doing a distance run.....).
6101 Luther Lane Dallas, TX 75225 (214) 378-1200 www.tdbe.com
I had a sandwich made from chicken medallions wrapped in bacon. The counter-person sliced the medallions right there while I watched. I got to pick the bread and the trimmings and the sauce. It should have been wonderful. It was close to wonderful. All that kept it from being wonderful was that the meat tasted as if it needed salt. Or something. I'm not sure what it would be other than salt.
I will go back. It is only 2 very short blocks from my office. The quality of the ingredients is impeccable. Next time I am going to give the beef the chance to win my heart!
6101 Luther Lane Dallas, TX 75225 (214) 378-1200 www.tdbe.com
I had a sandwich made from chicken medallions wrapped in bacon. The counter-person sliced the medallions right there while I watched. I got to pick the bread and the trimmings and the sauce. It should have been wonderful. It was close to wonderful. All that kept it from being wonderful was that the meat tasted as if it needed salt. Or something. I'm not sure what it would be other than salt.
I will go back. It is only 2 very short blocks from my office. The quality of the ingredients is impeccable. Next time I am going to give the beef the chance to win my heart!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Lenders
People who work in the Mortgage industry tend to be some of the smartest people in the real estate industry. They have to retain massive amounts of information about all the different loan programs. And, they have to have better than average problem solving skills. They have to be able to change directions when they encounter an obstacle.
There are two kinds of lenders. There are Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Companies.
Mortgage Brokers function as a kind of money clearing house. They match up borrowers with people who have money to lend. The Broker has no relationship with the mortgage after closing. Someone else is going to be servicing the loan. It costs more to close a loan with a Mortgage Broker because that is the only possible point at which they can be paid for their services. Don't let that scare you. They earn their money, believe me!
Mortgage Companies typically lend their own money. It costs less to borrow from them because they are going to make their money off the interest charged and the fees collected while the loan is being serviced. Mortgage Companies tend to do best with "clean" borrowers, people with good credit, a W-2, no foreclosures, no financially challenging situations. Having said that, don't assume that they can't help you. If they can help you, it will cost you less money out-of-pocket to close. That is always a good thing! You want to run your loan application through a Mortgage Company even if you think there may be something in your credit history that might not be easy to work around.
There are two kinds of lenders. There are Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Companies.
Mortgage Brokers function as a kind of money clearing house. They match up borrowers with people who have money to lend. The Broker has no relationship with the mortgage after closing. Someone else is going to be servicing the loan. It costs more to close a loan with a Mortgage Broker because that is the only possible point at which they can be paid for their services. Don't let that scare you. They earn their money, believe me!
Mortgage Companies typically lend their own money. It costs less to borrow from them because they are going to make their money off the interest charged and the fees collected while the loan is being serviced. Mortgage Companies tend to do best with "clean" borrowers, people with good credit, a W-2, no foreclosures, no financially challenging situations. Having said that, don't assume that they can't help you. If they can help you, it will cost you less money out-of-pocket to close. That is always a good thing! You want to run your loan application through a Mortgage Company even if you think there may be something in your credit history that might not be easy to work around.
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