Think you’ve got what it takes to set a world record for enchilada eating?

Enchiladas Restaurant is issuing a Cinco De Mayo Challenge in a quest to find Dallas’ Biggest Stomach. This Saturday, May 5th, they’ll host the 1st Annual Enchilada Eating Contest, and the person who eats the most enchiladas in a ten minute race will receive a grand prize trip for two to the Caribbean.

“We’ve been in the community for over 30 years,” said Tony Waldrop, owner of Enchiladas. “We love to give back, and this year we’re celebrating the holiday with proceeds going to the LHHS senior class.”

The fun contest will be judged by LH celebrities, and there’ll be a bounce house for kids. Doors open at 11am and the contest begins at 1pm.

To enter as a contestant, call Martin at 214-926-7879.

Plus, three more spots for mouth-watering pies.

One day, perhaps, I’ll figure out how the multi-national wine companies make brand decisions. For example, why would the company that owns Chateau Ste. Michelle also own two grocery store brands, Columbia-Crest and 14 Hands, that make the same kind of Washington state wine that sell for about the same price?

Until then, I will appreciate the value and quality that these wines offer. The 14 Hands ($12, sample, widely available) was just as pleasantly surprising as the Columbia-Crest cabernet was, making it yet another example of the first rule of wine writing — taste the wine before you decide whether it’s worth writing about.

Look for lots of cherry fruit in the 14 Hands, though the fruit is not as sweet as in similarly-priced California cabernets. It also has some heft and the appropriate tannins, and people who are determined to notice chocolate in cabernet will probably pick up a little of that, too. In this, the wine reflects Washington state’s style and terroir, which doesn’t happen much in $12 wine. Though it’s not as big a wine as its corporate sibling, the 14 Hands is definitely cabernet and not cabernet lite.

Call it a safety wine — something you can buy or order when you’re stuck somewhere and the wine selection is decidedly limited. It will pair with most red meat dinners, as well as a very gooey sausage pizza.

Construction on a new Dave and Buster’s complex is scheduled to begin within the next nine months.

Help Mom branch out — but don’t foist something on her she may not like — with these three suggestions.

Coming soon to Casa Linda: Torchy's

Torchy’s Tacos, the ever expanding taco chain that started several years ago in a trailer in Austin, will open in Casa Linda in the former  Souper Salad spot. I have never eaten at Torchy’s, but based on the menu description, it could very well be a big win.

Thanks to Advocate reader Michael Mosteller for snapping and sending this photo.

We are waiting on word about the opening date. I’ll update you as soon as I know more.

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Total Wine, a large regional chain, is supposed to open in Dallas shortly. Throw in Trader Joe’s, which is supposed to open this fall, and Spec’s, Texas’ largest chain, which opened at the end of last year (as well as all of the current retailers), and we have an abundance of wine choices — not just more than we’ve ever had, but lots and lots more.

Which will not only drive the retailers crazy (and probably put a couple out of business), but give consumers more choice and lower prices. How can I argue with that?

Case in point is the Vin Gourmand ($13, purchased, available at Spec’s), a white Rhone blend. It’s a style of wine not much sold here; Dallas is an oaky California chardonnay kind of town when it bothers with white wine, and that’s usually an afterthought to red. And, when you do find a white Rhone, it’s usually a couple of dollars more than in the rest of the country. So, when I saw the Gourmand and for less than elsewhere, you can imagine how quickly I scooped it up.

My enthusiasm was amply rewarded. This is quality wine at a terrific price — a blend of grenache, roussane and viognier that is fresh and clean, with lime and apricot fruit (the latter from the viognier). It’s not overly complex, but it’s not lacking in a middle or finish, either, and even has a bit of stoniness on the end. This is perfect warm weather wine that will pair with almost any kind of summer food. Given that we’ve already been in the 90s, this is a a welcome addition. Highly recommended. 

Darwin and Matteo Gattini began when they were little boys helping their dad, Antonio, in the pasta restaurant he founded in Lake Highlands 26 years ago. Now their father, born in Italy, has retired and they’re making plans to move MoMo’s from its longtime home at Forest and Greenville to a new spot, closer to Texas Instruments.

Friday, April 27th, waiters will serve the last Insalata Alla Momo and Tortelli Di Spinaci at that location. “We’re hoping to open at our new site within the first week of May,” Darwin told me, but with construction and inspection being an uncertain art, it could be mid-May.

“There’s not enough parking here,” said Darwin, explaining the change, “it’s a busy shopping center.” When they move into the former Top Cat restaurant, the décor will be “much nicer” and they’ll be “running a leaner business,” he added.

The current space has seating capacity for 85, while the new spot can seat 60 inside and 20 on the patio.

“We’re aware of people wanting to save money in this economy, so we’ll still have our BYOB policy. We’ll try to make it nice, but not too cool, so that you don’t feel out of place if you aren’t dressed up. It’s a family restaurant, and many of our regulars say we’re like their second home or their own living room.”

The new location, 8989 Forest, is between the library and TI, near Sheba’s Ethiopian Kitchen and around the corner from O’Riley’s Billiards. Groups can choose a long banquet bench seating 22 or an 8-top half circle booth, and the Gattinis made sure to install their signature fireplace in the new location.

Sign at Moon Wok announcing new breakfast hours beginning May 1

One of my new go-to Asian takeout places Moon Wok Grill will open for breakfast May 1. Eggs and pancakes and some more exotic fare, no doubt, will grace the “healthy” and inexpensive breakfast menu, according to the cashier I spoke to last night. And coffee. They will have coffee. Moon Wok is located in the center at Skillman-Royal, near Tom Thumb.

Worth a mention, another place at the northernmost point of Lake Highlands (based on our Where is Lake Highlands data), Bistro B, at Walnut and Audelia, opens at 8 a.m. for breakfast. Most impressive is the Vietnamese cafe’s coffee and smoothie selection. Coffee specialty drinks rival Starbucks and they offer more than 20 types of smoothie — avocado, honeydew, soursop, durian, lychee and more traditional flavors such as peach banana or vanilla.

My preferred breakfast-pick-up place, which I believe has more of a lunch/dinner reputation is Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Mockingbird-Abrams. It’s uber cheap and convenient if you have several people to feed. Their breakfast burritos are ginormous and the breakfast tacos—shrimp, pork, beef with eggs and potatoes—are impressive at $1.99.

Any other unexpected breakfast places we should know about? Tell us in the comments or email chughes@advocatemag.com.

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