Bijoux

We hesitate to mention it, but Bijoux offers Twitter Trivia on Wednesdays and if you answer correctly/first/whatever the stipulation, they generously provide you a $50.00 credit. We love Bijoux, so we, of course, play compulsively...But everyone can be a winner because on Monday nights, Bijoux is now offering a three course dinner for $39.50.

We had to check this out; Monday night found us with our cocktails in hand, perusing the menu.

First, they brought us the amuse bouche which was a petite portion of pate topped with a delicious sauce. Then, they came around with a bread basket offering olive, rosemary or raisin/pecan bread. They are all served warm and you can have as many slices as your heart/stomach desires.

For starters, we had the whipped carrot soup with a marshmallow cracker. This was truly amazing- frothy and almost like sweet potato pie, it wasn't heavy enough to deter us from eating the rest of our meal, but it was very tasty.


Going the opposite direction, we also got the chipped brisket appetizer. Chipped brisket, an egg, and a light sauce all served on toast points with a shaving of white cheddar- we would order this again in a minute.

Next, the main courses: we ordered the truffle stuffed chicken served with mashed potatoes and celery. This tasted like a true home cooked meal, deliciously lumpy potatoes and all. The chicken was served with the skin on- what a rare and caloric treat!

We also tried the basil risotto with pine nuts. The risotto was flawless and the pine nuts offered a nice contrast.

And finally, dessert - the blue cheese plate was served with tiny toasts, chopped nuts and julienned apples. Lovely presentation!

We were served a kiwi palate cleanser and were ready for our final dessert. This was an upside down quince cake served with whipped cream and house made chamomile gelato. This dessert rivaled the chipped brisket for our favorite part of the evening.

The Dish: We love Bijoux and we love being able to visit for only $39.50. It's like Restaurant Week without the disparaging parts! Give their Monday menu a try.

Jonathon's in Oak Cliff

After being published in Food & Wine magazine for their Friday beer cheese soup special, we HAD to try out Jonathon's in Oak Cliff. We decided to get there pretty early (11:15 am) in case everyone else read the same article; by the time we finished our lunch, the place was certainly filling up.

We each started with a cup of the beer cheese soup and loved it. It was flavorful and creamy, but wasn't too rich. As described in the magazine, there were hints of bacon and jalapeno - making this the best beer cheese soup we've ever had.

We deiced to split the chicken pot pie for our entree. Again, we were very pleased. The presentation was lovely and homey. The pie itself was even better! The crust was buttery and flaky and the flavors were wonderful, a true bite of fall with peas, carrots, a solid gravy, and shredded chicken.

We wrapped up our lunch with a delicious pumpkin chocolate chip muffin topped with cream cheese frosting. A nice end to our carb-y lunch.

Our gentleman server could not have been nicer and the food got an A+! We are excited to have another favorite in the OC!

The Dish: Friday beer cheese soup is worth the lunch break, but don't forget Jonathon's serves up some delicious brunch (chicken and waffles), too!

Zio Cecio

Last night we tried Zio Cecio on Lovers Lane. It is located in the spot where Cafe Italia used to be, but it is completely renovated. The bar has been moved, the kitchen is more available. Placement of mirrors and better use of floor space gives this place a cozy and yet, open feel.

The restaurant was about 90% full, so we were able to get seated immediately. We ordered our Prosecco and Chardonnay and dove into the extensive menu (which largely features seafood items). The waitress was extremely helping us with our choices. We were a little disappointed to hear that the pizza oven was still being prepared and wasn't ready; focacia and pizza would have to wait for another day.

Our entrees took an inordinate amount of time to arrive, but we imagine they are still working out some new restaurant kinks. The server was good to refill our bread basket.

The ravioli was topped with a homemade tomato sauce that was truly flavorful and there was a hint of mint mixed into the potato-cheese stuffing. Overall, the dish tasted very authentic Italian and managed to have a light feel. The tomatoes really made it work.

The risotto wasn't our favorite- we had to salt it and the flavor was a bit lacking. The rosemary overpowered the apple. The walnuts did add a nice crunch, but on the whole, we wouldn't order this again.

Due to the heavy starch intake, we were to full to venture into dessert. However, they had more than a few choices that looked delicious!

Our feeling on Zio Cecio is that it is a nice place, a great spot for the neighborhood. For our drink and dinner tab, however, we were disappointed. Prices were a little too high for dishes that we didn't love.

The Dish: Let Zio Cecio work out their kinks before stopping by!