The pizza guy’s at your door so often your neighbors had him arrested for stalking. The employees working the burger drive-thru have become some of your closest friends. Your spouse and kids are threatening to run away if you cook chicken breast-anything again this week.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’ll be glad to know there’s an interesting new take-out restaurant in our neighborhood for those with more aspiration than time to serve uncommon meals.
It’s Café Med and Food To Go, brought to you by well-known chef Avner Samuel and his brother, Oded Barnea.
The Mediterranean spot offers a nice mix of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and hot plates, such as lamb shoulder shawarma, crusted chicken schnitzel and seared beef steak.
It also offers a bright, casual dining room that actually has room for dining, unlike some take-out places in town.
Shown here are crispy Moroccan beef cigars, falafel with tahini parsley sauce and the mazza plate, which includes matbucha salad (recipe below), tabouli salad, hummus and baba ganoush.
CAFÉ MED AND FOOD TO GO
Preston Royal Village ~ 6025 Royal, Suite 101
214-373-0044
Hours: Sun-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
$
Chilled Moroccan Matbucha Vegetable Salad (serves 4)
2 zucchini
2 squash
2 green bell peppers
2 large red tomatoes
2 medium red onions
½ cup olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 bunch of cilantro
½ tsp. chili flakes
Salt and pepper
Cut all vegetables into 1-inch cubes. Heat half the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and chili flakes and cook until you can smell the garlic. Add all the vegetables and cook until the liquids have cooked out (10-15 minutes). After all liquids have been removed, place vegetables on a large tray to cool. Add remaining olive oil, cumin, cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Salad may be served immediately or be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Arts & Entertainment
Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse Friday, June 13, Buddy Mondlock and Mare Lennon; Friday, June 20, Jean Synodinos with Carey Colvin; Friday, June 27, Kimberley M’Carver and Eric Kolb. A smoke-free, alcohol-free venue for live music. All shows start at 8 p.m. and are $10-$12. Northpark Presbyterian Church, 9555 N. Central. For information, call 214-363-0044 or visit www.unclecalvins.org.
Pugsley’s Library Live music on Saturdays. Openers 7-8:30 p.m., headliners 9-11 p.m. 2443 Walnut Hill, 972-243-1111.
Library Exhibit Throughout June. Photography by D. Matteson Pascal. Preston Royal Branch Library, 5626 Royal, 214-670-7128.
Community
Trinity Toastmasters Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. This Toastmasters group, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of helping people improve their communication skills, meets weekly and is seeking new members. Cassidy’s Restaurant at Holiday Inn Select, 10650 N. Central Expressway. Call 214-343-5701 for information.
Botanical Drawing Saturdays, June 7 – August 16, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn how to draw and paint flowers accurately and beautifully. Brookhaven College Continuing Education, 3939 Valley View. Call 972-860-4198 to register.
Culinary Classes and Events Every Saturday this month, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Summer Saturdays, grilling everything from T-bones to garlic bread; Saturday, June 7, 11 a.m., The Art of the Artichoke; Saturday, June 7, 2 p.m., How to Increase Your Metabolism, with Dr. James R. Blum; Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m.-noon, learn to prepare roasted rosemary corn with spinach salad and spicy herb glaze; Tuesday, June 17, 2-3 p.m., Simply Italian: Quick Dinners with our Ready-made Sauces, with chef Domenico Biasi; Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m.-noon, Vegetarian Low-fat Cooking with The Natural Palate; Saturday, June 21, 2-3 p.m., Feng Shui basics; Thursday, June 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Ask the Doctor, focusing on using routine nutrition to promote optimal health; Saturday, June 28, 11 a.m.-noon, learn to prepare black bean enchiladas with jicama slaw; Saturday, June 28, noon-3 p.m. Fourth of July Grillathon. All classes and lectures are free and open to the public, although class size is limited. To sign up, call 214-361-8887 or visit the customer service area. Whole Foods Market, 11661 Preston at Forest.
Movie Time Every first, third (and fifth, when applicable) Tuesday of the month, 10:30 a.m. Each session includes an interactive discussion following the film’s conclusion. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information, contact info@jccdallas.org.
Art Classes Thursdays, 10 a.m.-noon Artist Veronique Jonas lends her expertise to create a class that includes instruction in ceramics and painting. For information, contact scane@jccdallas.org.
Jazzercise Mondays, 10-11 a.m. Dance and get fit at the same time. $10 for JCC members and $15 for non-members per session. Aaron Family JCC, 7900 Northaven. For information, contact jcohn@jccdallas.org.
Photography Club Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Coordinator Mel Bruck helps you learn to take a better photograph. Each session focuses on the various elements of photography, and participants bring in their handiwork for review. All you need is a camera, film and the desire to learn! For information, contact scane@jccdallas.org.
Sunday Dance Fever Sundays, 2 p.m., Dance instruction and fun. June 1: Ballroom; June 15: Salsa; June 22: Jitterbug/Swing; June 29: Final Dance Party – show off what you’ve learned! Cost per class, per person: $5 JCC members, $10 non-members. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information, contact sbalaban@jccdallas.org.
Readers’ Theatre Mondays, 1 p.m. Sharon Cane leads weekly sessions reading various plays, with one or more performances planned throughout the year. No memorization required! Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information, contact info@jccdallas.org.
Family & Youth
Stretching and Exercise Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10 a.m. Stretching and low-impact group exercises with instructor Dorothy Gross. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information, contact info@jccdallas.org.
Kids in the Kitchen Children in the first grade and up can learn to prepare delicious treats that don’t require attention from mom and dad. Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven. For information, contact info@jccdallas.org.
Dallas Children’s Museum Events Wednesday, June 18, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Summer Kick-Off Event, featuring Kalinka from 2-3 p.m., with music from Russia, and Vet and her rainforest crafts workshop from noon-4 p.m.; Wednesdays, June 18-August 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wonderful Wednesdays, with special crafts, activities and story times. Free with museum admission. Saturday, July 12, 11-6 Free Admission Day, with crafts with artists Vet and Junanne Peck, face painting, butter making with Southwest Dairies and special performers and activities throughout the day. Saturday, July 31, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Camp Valley View. A one-time membership fee of $10 benefits Dallas Children’s Museum and gains each child access to all Camp Valley View events and mall merchant discounts. Call the museum at 972-386-6555 or visit www.dallaschildrens.org for information on summer camps and classes. 308 Valley View Center (2nd level, next to JC Penney).
Library
Percussion Things Friday, June 6, 2 p.m. Multidisciplined presentation combining storytelling and poetry with rhythms of the Shekere, Congas, Bata, Jembe and other traditional instruments that reflect Afro/Latin culture. Presented by Len Barnett. Sponsored by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Neighborhood Touring Program. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal. 214-670-7128.
Library Live! Tuesday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. Laughter & Wonder, featuring an armchair journey through Africa and its oral tradition, literature and culture, with Audrey McClure. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal. 214-670-7128.
Folk Tales Tuesday, June 17, 2 p.m. Stories for young and old presented by Jiann Powers. Sponsored by the Preston Hollow Early Childhood PTA. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal. 214-670-7128.
Paper Bag Princess Tuesday, June 24, 2 p.m. A “fractured” fairy tale, featuring a princess on a mission to save the not-so-charming prince from the dastardly dragon. But whatever will she wear? Storytelling with puppetry presented by Sandy Strout. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal. 214-670-7128.
Literary
Barnes & Noble author signings and discussions: Thursday, June 5, 7:30 p.m., Lisa Martin will discuss The Cool Chick’s Guide to Baseball; Friday, June 6, 6:30 p.m., L.C. Hayden will sign When Angels Touch You; Sunday, June 22, 2 p.m., Dick Morris will discuss Off With Their Heads; Sunday, June 22, 2 p.m., Christopher Moore will discuss Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings; Sunday, June 29, 2 p.m., James Evans will sign Big Bend Pictures. 7700 W. Northwest Hwy. 214-739-1124.
Preston Royal Book Discussion Group Wednesday, June 18, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come for a discussion of At Home in the World by Daniel Pearl. Preston Royal Branch Library, 5626 Royal. 214-670-7128.
Book Review Thursday, June 19, 11 a.m. Rae Solomon reviews recent books. For information, contact scane@jccdallas.org.
