If you’re in the mood to dress up for an expensive meal among the beautiful people, the choices seem just about endless here in Big D. But if you want straightforward cooking and don’t feel like changing out of your lucky sweatshirt, you’ll have to be a little choosier. One place you might try is Kel’s Restaurant, a place where you can come as you are and, at times, eat all you want.

In business since 1963, Kel’s has been a fixture in Dallas for country-style breakfasts. It’s a friendly, comfortable place where, if the waitresses don’t already know your name, they’ll just call you “dear” or “hun.”

At any time of the day, you can feast on breakfast favorites such as eggs with hash browns and sausage, pancakes, waffles and French toast. But Kel’s also does a healthy lunch and dinner business. (That’s healthy as in busy, not low fat/high fiber – this is a diner, after all.) The menu features sandwiches, seafood and the famous chicken fried steak, and at night there’s all-you-can-eat catfish or fried chicken with veggies for just $7.40.

KEL’S RESTAURANT
5337 Forest Lane ~ 972-458-7221
Hours: Mon-Sat 6 a.m.-9 p.m.;
Sun 7 a.m.-2 p.m. $

Kel’s Catfish
(Serves 4-6)

1 lb. cornmeal
¼ lb. flour
Salt (dash)
Pepper (dash)
Cajun seasoning (dash)
48 oz. peanut oil
4-6 catfish (8 oz.)

Mix all dry ingredients together. Let catfish sit in cold water for 10 minutes. Remove fish from water, and dredge in cornmeal mixture. Shake excess batter and add to hot peanut oil (350 degrees). Cook 10-12 minutes or until catfish are floating, turning if necessary.

Education

Internet Class For Beginners Saturday, Jan. 11, 11 a.m. An introduction to resources available on the Internet. Registration required for each class. Walnut Hill Branch Library, 9495 Marsh. 214-670-6376.

Hebrew Classes Week of Jan. 12. Modern & biblical Hebrew for all levels. Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven. Contact Ruth Precker at ruthprecker@attbl.com or 972-699-0129 for more information.

Arts & Entertainment

Branch Exhibits Collectible Snow Domes by Meredith Moore, all through January. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal Lane. 214-670-7128.

Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse Friday, Jan. 3, David Massengill with Karen Mal; Friday, Jan. 10, Darden Smith with Catherine Berry; Friday, Jan. 17, Cosy Sheridan with Christopher Williams; Friday, Jan. 24, Annie Gallup with Aengus Finnan; and Friday, Jan. 31, Chuck Pyle with Danzig and Woolley. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; shows start at 8 p.m. All events $10-$12 unless noted. NorthPark Presbyterian Church, 9555 N. Central Expressway. For information, call 214-363-0044 or visit www.unclecalvins.org.

JCPenney presents Annie Leibovitz Women Through Jan. 5, the Women’s Museum hosts an exhibit of photographer Annie Leibovitz’s latest project, “Women.” The exhibit is a collection of images portraying the status and roles of women today. 3800 Parry in Fair Park. Call 214-915-0860 for hours and admission rates.

Family & Youth

Winter Break Program for School Age Children Through Friday, Jan. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Daily trip options, plus arts and crafts projects, cooking, sports, movie videos and time in the game room. Bring a sack lunch; drinks and snacks provided. Children with special needs welcome. $35 per day for members and $45 for non-members. Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven. For information, list of trips or reservations, call 214-739-2737.

Films and Fun Saturday, Jan. 11, 2 p.m. Short films and a make-and-take craft. Walnut Hill Library, 9495 Marsh. 214-670-6376.

Library Live! Viva Mexico! Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m. Omar Angeles uses props and costumes to teach dance, culture and history. Walnut Hill Branch Library, 9495 Marsh. 214-670-6376. Toe Taps and Fingersnaps: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 10:30 a.m. Embark on a musical journey from the roaring ‘20s to the present with strumming banjo fun from Scott Whitfield. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal. 214-670-7128.

Family Manager Seminar by Kathy Peel Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 a.m.-noon. Come learn how to simplify and organize your home, your family and your life. Cost is $10 and includes childcare and lunch. A craft fair will be held afterward. Fellowship Dallas, 10310 N. Central at the southeast corner of Meadow and Central. For information and registration call 214-739-3881 or email csaylors@fbcdallas.org.

Taglit Preschool at the J Wednesday, Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m. Open House for the 2002-03 school year. Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven. 214-739-2737.

Kreative Kids Club Tuesdays, 2 p.m. Crafts and stories for all ages. Walnut Hill Branch Library, 9495 Marsh. 214-670-6376.

Preston Hollow Early Childhood PTA meets the fourth Thursday of each month, August-April, at Highland Baptist Church, 8202 Boedeker. This year’s guest speakers include child psychologist Nell Bush, Dallas Morning News columnist Steve Blow and neighborhood resident and neighborhood portrait photographer Stacy Bratton. Breakfast begins at 9 a.m. with the meeting at 9:30 a.m. Babysitting is available for a small fee. Call Shannon Nealon at 214-360-9742 for information.

Community

Nationwide Jewish Singles Convention Thursday, Jan. 23-Sunday, Jan. 26. At the Club Med in Cancun, Mexico. For more information & reservations, contact Alicia Serrioz at aserrioz@jccdallas.com or 214-739-2737, Ext. 249.

Bridge & Mah Jongg Tournaments Tuesday, Jan. 28, 7:15-10:30 p.m. Check-in for mah jongg begins at 6:45 p.m.; 7 p.m. for bridge. Refreshments provided and prizes awarded to winners. Cost per tournament is $15. Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven. For more bridge information contact Sharon Cane at scane@jccdallas.com or 214-739-2737, Ext. 219, and for mah jongg information contact Sharon Balaban at sbalaban@jccdallas.com or 214-739-2737, Ext. 255.

JCC Tennis Program Now open to non-members. Lessons, clinics and drill sessions with the tennis staff are now available to the public on a limited basis. For information call Austin Holley, 214-739-2737, Ext. 254.

Literary

Barnes and Noble Events Tuesday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m. Join Anita Shreve, author of Sea Glass, for a book discussion and signing; Jan. 4, noon, Kathy Mays Smith, Gold Medal: CCC Company 1538 A Documentary; Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. Rhonda Britten, Fearless Loving: 8 Simple Truths That Will Change the Way You Date, Mate and Relate; Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m. Bill Harris, Hellfighters of Harlem: African-American Soldiers Who Fought for the Right to Fight for Their Country (Note: This event will be filmed for C-Span’s Book TV); Wednesday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m. Brad Thor, Path of the Assassin; Thursday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m., Dotty Griffith, The Contemporary Cowboy Cookbook: Recipes from the Wild West to Wall Street. 7700 W. Northwest Hwy. 214-739-1124.

Preston Royal Book Discussion Group Wednesday, Jan. 15, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Be prepared for a discussion of The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, by Terry Ryan. Preston Royal Branch Library, 5626 Royal. 214-670-7128.