Hummus News

Darna Mediterranean Market and restaurant escorts exotic eats to Plano

It's all about the hummus.

Photo courtesy of Darna

The hummus is headed for Plano with the imminent opening of Darna Mediterranean Market, the Marrakesh-inspired bar, restaurant, and market opening at Legacy West.

The 6,200-square-foot market and eatery, which has been in the works since April 2021, is going into the former Barnes & Noble space at 7700 Windrose Ave. #G-170. According to a release, it's anticipated to open in June.

The new concept is from veteran restaurateur Yaser Khalaf (Mondo Pizza, Baboush in Dallas, Shawarma Bar in Fort Worth), and is described as a celebration of the shops, cafés, street vendors and bazaars that attract people of all ages and cultures to the shores of the Mediterranean.

Darna – which means "our house" in Arabic – will cover a wide range of international cuisines, with meat boards, French pastries, Italian/Roman-style pizza, Turkish flatbreads, Middle Eastern kabobs, Moroccan tagines, and Lebanese mezze, while also creating the vibrancy of eccentric markets in the Mediterranean.

For dining in, a full-service kitchen will accommodate with dishes such as Greek feta fondue, pastrami hummus, and chicken kabobs.

A grab & go deli will feature ready-to-eat offerings, alongside its quick-service mezza, salad, and sandwich stations. Grab & Go guests will be able to build salads and sandwiches tailored to their liking, with home deli meats, breads, cheeses and spreads assorted by Darna’s team.

A market will offer high-quality products, including specialty olive oils, Moroccan spices, dried fruits, roasted nuts and European cheeses and meats. Essential cooking ingredients will also be available for curious cooks and seasoned chefs alike.

A coffee bar will serve pastries, desserts, and an array of essential coffees, particularly Turkish coffee. Darna will also feature a full-service alcohol bar offering everything from craft cocktails to select beer and wine.

Khalaf is partered with Pat Garza in a company called Yela Concepts, which does restaurants and consulting.

"Yaser and I have been working on this unique venture for quite some time, so we couldn't be more excited to open, creating an experience unlike any other in North Texas," says Garza, who is Yela Concepts' President & CEO.

"Inspired by Yaser’s heritage and years of research, along with his extensive reputation in the restaurant industry, Darna will encompass the cultivation of experience defined by texture, aroma, and visual art. We can’t wait to open next month and welcome everyone into ‘Our House,'" he says.

Darna will feature an ambiance inspired by timeless Middle Eastern elements with nuances of modern chic, North African and coastal Mediterranean interiors. Darna’s industry-leading design and architectural partners will create a world-class space that is sure to take guests on a Mediterranean journey like no other," Garza says.

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Escargot News

New all-day French bistro in downtown Rockwall is all from scratch

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Belle View Bistro Rockwall

An all-day French bistro has made its debut in Rockwall: Called Belle Vie Bistro, it’s a new mom-and-pop in the charming historic downtown district, at 112 E. Rusk St., the former home of The Fatted Calf restaurant, where it opened its doors on November 12.

Belle Vie is from Luis and Iliana Marquez, a hard-working couple who also own Los Marquez, a popular taco--themed food-truck-turned-restaurant in Rockwall they first debuted in 2019. In May, the couple took over the former Fat Chicken space to open a brick and mortar location of Los Marquez, where they serve well-made Mexican food like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, but also burgers & fries. They open for breakfast with breakfast tacos, and run a daily lunch special, often creative, always popular, such as birria ramen with choice of beef or lamb for $11.

But the couple had a bigger vision of creating a place where chef Luis could stretch and showcase his skills.

"Luis has a lot of culinary experience, and it’s something that he’s been putting aside,” Iliana says. “We were just waiting on the perfect time to bring this to life.”

"This is something exciting and new for us, it’s something that we always wanted to make,” Luis says.

Like Los Marquez, Belle Vie is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving classics like French onion soup, moules frites, escargot, and duck confit. There are also comforting and American dishes like spinach-artichoke dip, crab cakes, and fish & chips.

Lunch features Cobb salad, a French dip, and chicken & Brie panini, while an extended breakfast -- which runs from 7 am to 4 pm — includes pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, beignets French toast, and crepes, plus pastries and breads made from scratch.

Mural on the wall at Belle Vie Bistro RockwallFacebook

The bakery counter is a delight, with eclairs, croissants, scones, fruit tarts, and cake slices in flavors like carrot cake and white chocolate raspberry. There's also a serious coffee program with espresso drinks such as lattes.

"We pride ourselves on making everything from scratch," the duo says. "Our bread—whether for sandwiches, paninis, hamburgers or anything listed on our menu is made fresh just for us by our incredibly talented pastry chef and baker. The same care goes into our pastries and desserts ensuring every bite is special and crafted with love."

The dining room is warm and cozy with dark wood chairs and plush booths and a full-wall mural depicting a street in Paris. They also have a full bar, with cocktails and beer on tap. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $9 for a Belgian waffle during breakfast to $45 for prime ribeye at dinner.

For now, they're not taking reservations — it's first come, first serve.

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