Popcorn Cravings

Crave Popcorn Co. in Plano pops up sweet gifts and nostalgic candy

Not unlike cupcakes, popcorn is a trend that has transcended trendiness — a discovery happily made by Carol and Blake Davis, who've opened Crave Popcorn Co., a popcorn and gift shop in a former antique store at Lakeside Market center in Plano.

The couple already had an entrepreneurial streak as part of a family nursery business that grows trees, plants and flowers. But the popcorn shop realized dreams they shared.

"My wife always wanted a gift shop, and I'm interested in cooking," Blake says. "So it satisfied different areas for us. And we're happy with how well we've done."

In fact, they've pretty much been deluged since they opened on Valentine's Day. Perhaps it's the fact that they make everything in-house, with true ingredients such as Madagascar vanilla, butter and sugar.

"We make sure everything tastes good, and we're excited about using the best ingredients," Blake says. "We have about 25 to 30 flavors, and I make everything every day. Flavors run from basic caramel corn to crazy stuff like maple bacon, white cheddar and bacon, and s'mores."

Because they make their popcorn with coconut oil or canola oil, it satisfies two growing audiences: vegans and gluten-free customers. "We don't use any animal products except for cheese," he says.

Crave is also a full candy shop with everything from nostalgic candies like cherry sours and salt-water taffy to newer novelties like maple-bacon lollipops and wasabi gumballs. Big sellers include chocolate-covered potato chips.

"It's definitely a niche business," Blake says. "But where we're located, it's a very family-oriented area, and a lot of our business is gifts. People want a birthday gift or a good-luck gift for a tryout."

Crave is a full candy shop as well as a popcorn palace.

Photo courtesy of Crave Popcorn Co.

Crave is a full candy shop as well as a popcorn palace.

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Where to eat

Where to eat in Dallas right now: 8 just-opened restaurants in April

dallas.culturemap.com

NDA burger

This April edition of the monthly CultureMap Dallas Where to Eat column, offering recommendations on restaurants to check out, is an easy one. This is because the theme is places that have newly opened, and there are plenty to choose from. It's been a banner month in a banner year so far for new restaurants opening around Dallas, and there are dozens more on the way.

Most of these eight have opened just in the past few weeks.

Here's where to eat in Dallas right now:

GOAT
Euro-Mediterranean restaurant and nightlife experience founded in Tulsa by cousins James and Nabil Alame just opened at the Link building in Victory Park at 2601 Olive St. #100, where it's serving a tempting array of Lebanese specialties, steaks, and vegetarian items. There is kafta, the Lebanese version of meatloaf; chicken kebabs; hummus and falafel; and an eggplant Napoleon. It's a "vibe" place, meaning there's a DJ and entertainment.

Kati Roll
Concept founded in Greenwich Village is dedicated to a unique Indian street food: kati rolls, an irresistably flaky wrap filled with skewered meats and topped with chutney. They just made their Texas debut in downtown Dallas at 1322 Elm St., on the ground floor of a parking building across from The National. This is true to form: It's an urban concept most often situated in downtown worker neighborhoods, and are focused on lunch. They also offer momos, the Indo-Tibetan dumplings, steamed or pan-fried. with a choice of chicken or vegan cabbage filling.

Little Daisy
Latest restaurant at the Thompson Dallas in downtown Dallas replaces Nine, the perfectly good prior occupant of the ninth-floor space. The Daisy menu is more decadent and old-school, with a Louisiana twang thanks to chef Jeramie Robison, and includes gumbo, bananas Foster pancakes, pastas, burger, oysters Rockefeller, steak frites, and crab Louie. It's an elegant space, open all three meals plus brunch, and a nice amenity for building occupants. The dilemma remains reaching Dallas diners who can only eat at restaurants with drive-up parking spaces in front.

Mābo
Japanese restaurant in Preston Center is from Masayuki Otaka, former chef/owner of Teppo on Greenville Avenue (which closed in 2022 and is now home to sushi restaurant Kaiyo). It's an omakase-style spot with a 14-course tasting experience, with two tastings per night at 5:30 and 8:30 pm, with only eight guests per seating, so this is a limited, precious, special-edition kind of thing, with a $200 pricetag to match. But Otaka has a devoted following, and his version of omakase is less about raw fish and more about the yakitori-style of cooking for which he was famous at Teppo, featuring grilled meats, mushrooms, and other bits on a skewer.

Miznon
Israeli restaurant specializing in Mediterranean street food just opened in Deep Ellum in the former Postino space at 2639 Main St. It's the brainchild of celebrated chef Eyal Shani considered to be one of the leading figures in the Israeli culinary scene, and has locations in Tel Aviv, Paris, Singapore, Vienna, Melbourne, and NYC. Using special pitas crafted by Israel-based Angel Bakeries, the sandwiches range from Falafel to Steak & Egg to Lamb Kebab, but don't miss Shani's pioneering roasted whole cauliflower.

NDA Brasserie
Breakfast and lunch spot with a clubby atmosphere from Harwood Hospitality Group seems positioned to attract the business crowd. But with dishes like sweet potato hash bowl, avocado toast, tres leches French toast, tuna nachos, chicken noodle soup, Green Goddess salad, a French dip sandwich, and a lobster roll, there's plenty for foodies to like too. Bubbly fans will definitely be pleased with five by-the-glass options including not-that-common Taittinger for $32 per glass.

Starship Bagel
Small bagel shop is about to get very big. Starship started out in Lewisville, then opened a kiosk in downtown, but on April 12 will open a third outlet in a way more convenient location at 6859 Arapaho Rd. #603 in North Dallas. Founder Oren Salomon is crazy about bagels and likes to say that the bagels are the story, and they have in fact won national awards. But Starship also offers a range of sandwiches with a cute spaceship theme including the Millennial Falcon, like a bagel version of avocado toast, and the Supernova lox, a smoked salmon bagel loaded with capers and the veggie works.

Knife Italian
Irrepressible chef John Tesar has earned acclaim for his steakhouse and seafood restaurants, and now he's tackling Italian with this new concept which just opened at the newly transformed The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas. The Knife Italian menu is designed with family-style dining in mind, including seafood crudi starters; Neapolitan style pizzas in varieties such as white clam, or potato, truffle, & duck egg; and entrees to be shared such as Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a 48-ounce 44 Farms dry aged Porterhouse carved tableside.

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