Since I visit Dallas a few times a year, I keep an eye on places to eat and drink there. Kessler Baking Studio has been on my list for years because their sweet treats look so tasty. Did you know they were a James Beard semifinalist in 2020? (James Beard Awards are one of the highest culinary honors solely in the U.S.) On a recent trip to Dallas, I finally made it there!

Why Visit Kessler Baking Studio?

You can find good baked goods in many places but you can tell when they’re exceptional. The secret might be love, but using Texas butter and Texas pecans might have something to do with it at Kessler Baking Studio. They also never add preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors.

Chef Clyde Greenhouse, the Bow Tie Baker, started Kessler Baking Studio in 2001, so if you live in Dallas, you’re no stranger to this deliciousness. Be sure to visit on a Saturday when they pull out their specialty breakfast items like cinnamon rolls and banana bread.

Which Baked Goods to Try

I couldn’t help but get a sampling of different things – cookies, brownies, and pastries.

Kessler Banana Bread (with pecans and walnuts)

“Mom’s banana bread” is a hefty circular loaf, a perfect banana bread offering. Each is about 2-3 inches wide and 1 inch tall.

Kessler Cinnamon Roll

Big, fluffy, and drenched in icing, this cinnamon roll was a good breakfast treat.

Chocolate Pecan Brownie

Their brownies are fudgy and thick! This pecan variety had pieces within the brownie and decor on top.

Texas Pecan Shortbread Cookie

Some may say shortbread cookies are boring, but they haven’t had this buttery version. The Texas shape and addition of pecans make their signature cookie extra special.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie

The cookies are big, between 2-3 inches across. The edges are crispy with a softer middle. Have you ever had a chocolate chip pecan cookie? Texas pecans are a good accompaniment.

Kesslerdoodle Cookie

I love snickerdoodle cookies and what really drew me to this one was the addition of ginger and look at the photo – so much cinnamon!

Oak Cliff Ranger Cookie

This one is a loaded oatmeal cookie with coconut, chocolate, pecans, and almonds. A little bit of everything that makes it unique.

Other items I didn’t get but sound scrumptious:

• Buttermilk biscuits
• Seasonal scone
• Sandwich cookie (2 cookies with vanilla buttercream)

Ordering for a group? The giant 9-inch oatmeal cream pie or 14-inch cookie cake would be great for a celebration.

If you’re in Dallas and driving past this cute bakery, make sure to stop in for a sweet treat!

Kessler Baking Studio
1129 N Beckley Ave, Dallas, TX 75203
https://www.kesslerbakingstudio.com/

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Breakfast at CBD Provisions (Dallas)
After staying in town for a Dallas Cowboys game, we ventured to downtown Dallas for breakfast. Their weekday breakfast selection wasn’t as good as their weekend brunch but it was our best option and it was very tasty!

Homemade Sweet Potato Hash
This has become my boyfriend’s signature homemade breakfast dish and I love it! Sweet potatoes are roasted with rosemary and then cooked with kale, bacon, garlic and onions. Finally, eggs are cracked on top and it’s baked in the oven. Hearty, healthy and delicious!

Bites at Wine and Swine
Austin Food & Wine Alliance’s annual Wine and Swine event is consistently my favorite annual Austin culinary event. The weather is usually perfect and the food can’t be beat. My favorite dishes this year were the pastrami bun from Olamaie (that ended up winning the award), the pulled pork torta from Franklin Barbecue, cassata gelato in a tiny lard pastry crust from Dolce Neve, and smoked Hawaiian pork roll from Launderette.

Hot Pot at Shabu
Craving warmth on a cold night, we found it at Shabu. We had a spread of shrimp, quail eggs, beef slices, two kinds of mushrooms, and Chinese lettuce.

Homemade Pecan Pie
I made this pecan pie for my work Thanksgiving potluck. It was a hit!

Crabsgiving
Following up our Seafood Boil, we had the equipment for a few more weeks before we had to give it back, so why not another? This time, in addition to shrimp and snow crab, we got king crab. I would NOT want to encounter one of those things in real life! The legs were long and sharp. Our friends braved the cold with us and we enjoyed our fill of seafood.

Homemade Chicken in Spicy Red Pepper, Tomato and Mushroom Sauce
When I crave a certain dish, I consult the internet to find a trustworthy recipe. When my boyfriend craves a certain dish, he buys all the ingredients he thinks goes in it and wings it. It’s a great talent to have (especially if you simply reap the benefits like me), and this dish turned out SO GOOD. It’s got spicy red peppers, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, white wine, chicken, garlic, yellow onions and a bunch of spices. Served on top of brown rice and with a side of homemade black beans, this dish will hopefully become a staple!

Chinese Thanksgiving Feast
My dad and cousin put a big effort into our Thanksgiving meal this year and it was so good! Lobster, crab and crab fried rice, mushrooms, steamed fish, jellyfish, turkey and Chinese broccoli. We all had full bellies by the end of the night.

Gyro Plate at Prince Lebanese Grill (Dallas/Arlington)
Boyfriend and I went to visit his sweet grandma in Arlington during Thanksgiving, and we found a highly rated restaurant in the area. She had never had Lebanese food, and it was so cute hearing her say, “well, I tried a new kind of food today!” We learned when we sat down that the restaurant’s claim to fame was their appearance on Food Network years ago. We started with their popular appetizer plate with hummus, babaganoush, tabouli, and dolmas. Boyfriend had the spicy chicken shwarma that was tasty and I really enjoyed my gyro plate with meat, rice, pita and greek salad. If you’re ever in the area, give this place a visit!

Kale and Avocado Dip, Matcha Horchata, and Quinoa Burger at True Food Kitchen (Dallas)
True Food Kitchen is an aesthetically cute and trendy restaurant in Dallas’ Preston Center and there are locations around the U.S. Their menu is focused on anti-inflammatory and seasonal foods. We started with the kale and avocado dip, which was very similar to guacamole. I loved my matcha horchata, made with almond milk, and my quinoa “burger” had a little too much quinoa but I enjoyed the flavor combination of quinoa, hummus, tzatziki, tomato, cucumber, red onion, avocado and feta. I’m looking forward to the Austin location coming soon!

The eats with no photos because the restaurants were dark and I was savoring the moments!

Dinner at NoRTH
The situation: way past dinner time at 9pm and all the new restaurants you want to go to are too far south. Thank goodness for the restaurants at the Domain! My favorite dishes of the night were the Grilled Cauliflower with fried egg and baby asparagus and the bolognese pasta dish. Dinner was delightfully paired with a stellar Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dinner at Bullfight
I was excited to try Bullfight for my birthday dinner. The overall experience was good but not great. The marinated octopus dish was very tender but over-seasoned. The grilled quail and tomato gazpacho were good but not impressive. I didn’t enjoy the crab on toast. My favorite dishes were the mushrooms with a jamon cured egg and the diver scallops. For dessert, the Crema Catalana (creme brûlée) was really good. The Tempranillo and Monastrell red wines (by the glass) were very compatible with the food. Wanting to re-live some of my amazing eats in Spain, I may have had too high of expectations for traditional Spanish eats, but Bullfight has a lot of potential to become a favorite. I’m looking forward to returning with friends next month to try the jamon! Side note: If you’re looking for Spanish tapas and traditional dishes, Barlata is the closest I’ve found in Austin. Bullfight is more of a fusion restaurant.

What mind-boggling things have you been eating this month? Have you tried any new restaurants lately?

The post Flavors of the Month: November 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Kimchi Fried Rice at The Peached Tortilla 
I’m a fan of The Peached Tortilla and I like what the restaurant is doing. I enjoyed dinner service back in March and thought their dishes were fantastic. For brunch, I went with nostalgia and ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice because it has Spam mixed in. I know. I haven’t had Spam in years but it was a part of my childhood, for better or worse. Despite the health factor, I did enjoy the dish and wouldn’t mind ordering it again for a family-style meal.

4th Tap Brewing Co-Op
A new brewery opened in North Austin near Circle Brewing and Adelbert’s. Since it is near boyfriend’s work, I got the inside scoop and tried it early. I like 4th Tap because they have an IPA called the Long Walk that isn’t too hoppy. They already have three beers canned. While they are new to the physical building, they are not new to Austin’s craft brewery scene; they’ve been going at it since 2011. Check out their grand opening party on November 7th!

Quiche at Bolsa (Dallas)
I’ve been wanting to try brunch at Bolsa for years. Years! I finally checked it off the list and enjoyed this skillet quiche. The crust was soft and flakey unlike a usual crispy pie crust.

Sweet Treats at Joy Macaron (Dallas)
After brunch at Bolsa, we were close enough to stop for some macarons at Joy Macaron on the way out of town. Yum! We got a six-pack with salted caramel, Nerds, blood orange, rose and lychee, pistachio, and Italian cream. All dainty and delicious. My favorite was the salted caramel (of course).

Gyro at Shahi Café
This hidden gem in North Austin is my favorite place for a quick, filling bite. The gyros are fresh and flavorful. The service is top-notch. Their summer drink, the ginger basil limeade, is a must every visit, though they may be transitioning to a fall drink now.

Crab Cake Benedict and Oysters for Brunch at Mongers Market + Kitchen
Mongers Market + Kitchen is delightful. Inside is a beautifully designed dining room and outside is a roomy patio. The menu has an abundance of seafood items. The mimosas are on point. The raw oysters are high-quality. All in all, it was a lovely brunch with my friend MJ. The Crab Cake Benedict comes with tomatoes, potatoes and arugula and is a very filling dish. My few bites of MJ’s slightly caramelized French toast were the perfect end to the meal. This restaurant will be a top choice for my seafood fix!

Kangaroo Carpaccio Nacho and Meatloaf at Lonesome Dove
I ate kangaroo! It tasted like beef. I also had a hearty dish of meatloaf, collard greens and mashed potatoes and finished the meal off with butterscotch budino. Lonesome Dove missed the mark for me. While the restaurant is beautifully constructed and presents the opportunity to eat exotic meats, the dishes lacked spark. I wouldn’t mind dining here again but my expectation will be a meal that is good but not great.

San Francisco and Sonoma Eats
I’ve updated my San Francisco Eats post by adding a few restaurants enjoyed on trip number two. Check out my notes on farm:table, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, R&G Lounge, Jane, Brenda’s French Soul Food, and Comstock. Also check out the phenomenal Sonoma restaurants in my Sonoma Travel Guide.

$6 Happy Hour Burger at Gardner
I had dinner at Gardner late last year and it wasn’t my favorite, but this burger has me denouncing all other burgers I’ve eaten. It’s juicy and it comes with addicting French fries. They have drink specials and as low as $15 bottles of wine. To top it off, their bar and patio area is looking good and patio time in Austin has arrived. This burger special is on their patio during happy hour until the end of November and I highly recommend taking advantage of this deal! Get there as close to their 5:30 pm opening time as possible to snag a seat.

What recommended eats do you have to share?

The post Flavors of the Month: October 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

This year’s TX-OU Red River Showdown weekend in Dallas was one to remember. Texas came home with an incredible and unexpected win against ranked Oklahoma. We left the fair with sore throats, sunburnt faces, and tired bodies. It was all worth it!

The State Fair of Texas is a favorite fall event, even though it’s a hit or miss of actually having fall weather. That’s quickly forgiven with the satisfaction of a Longhorns win and a Fletcher’s corny dog. It’s always good to be among a sea of burnt orange and the Cotton Bowl, and this game has the highest energy of the season.

Here are some of the views from my day at the State Fair, starting with the Longhorn Band performing their half-time show.

Want to try your hand at a game or two?

When was the last time you were on a bumper car?

An appropriate beer for the weekend. This beer is from Independence Brewing out of Austin

Getting dizzy just looking up. There are many rides, including a section for kids

The historic stadium – the Cotton Bowl

The Midway is the place for games and rides

Iconic ferris wheel

Horns up for a post-win celebration

If you’d like to read more on what to do at the State Fair of Texas, check out my previous post.

Want to see more Texas events? Read these posts:

• Hiking Enchanted Rock
• Celebrating Craft Beer at Texas Craft Brewers Festival
• Best Texas Vacation Getaways Near Water

The post State Fair of Texas Views appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

When I was a student from elementary to high school in Dallas, we celebrated Columbus Day as Fair Day since the day coincided with the season the fair was open and students were given free admission tickets. I have lots of good memories of my family going to the fair together. After high school, trips to the fair became a tradition because the UT-OU football game was held at the Cotton Bowl during fair season. I was so excited to go this year and had so much fun!

Here are some things you have to look forward to at the State Fair of Texas. 

1. Watch the UT-OU Red River Rivalry game
This year, UT pulled out a big win and it was so exciting to see it!

2. Ride the gigantic ferris wheel or at least admire its majestic structure
We didn’t ride it since there was a long line and we were so ready to leave after an exhausting day, but it was cool to look up from the base and admire it.

3. Jump in Cars at the Auto Show
I’ll admit – I’ve always teased the thought of driving a humongous truck. Blame it on a Texan stereotype, my frequent country music listening, or jumping into trucks at the State Fair Auto Show every year as a kid, but it’s funny to imagine me driving a big truck. So, of course, a trip to the fair means looking at the shiny, beautiful new trucks and cars at the auto shows. I mostly paid attention to the new Chevy Silverado and the new Fiats.

4. Say Hello to Big Tex
With a crisp white button up and beautiful new boots, Big Tex is new and improved this year after a sad, fiery demise last year. Still a little creepy looking and possibly related to the Elf on the Shelf, Big Tex is the iconic symbol of the Texas State Fair.

5. Admire the Ribbon-Winning Creations
The Creative Arts building houses all the ribbon winners this year for everything from pickled veggies to Lego displays to photography. This year it also houses the world’s largest butter sculpture, weighing in at 2 tons!

6. Devour a Large Amount of Fried Food
Fried food is in abundance at the fair. You’ve got your typical funnel cake and Fletcher’s corny dog, but the State Fair of Texas takes it to the next level with its fried food competition. It might take some work tracking down where the specific stalls are but it’s worth it!

My favorite: Fried King Ranch Casserole

Fried Cuban Roll

Funnel Cake

Fletcher’s Corny Dog

Fried Millionaire Pie

7. Gush at Baby Animals
What is it about baby animals that just makes you want to stand there and say awwwwwww? The fair had all kinds of animals on display – goats, piglets, chicks, ducks, llamas, emus, etc. They even had piglet races, which was just adorable.

Have you been to a state fair? What’s your favorite thing to do?

This post is sponsored by Chevy Silverado, but this recap and my thoughts on wanting to drive a big truck are straight from me.

Check out my State Fair of Texas views from 2015!

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