Pizza News

New pizza chain tosses more authentic Italian pies to Dallas-Fort Worth

Midici is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth.

Photo courtesy of Midici

A new Neapolitan-style pizza chain is headed to DFW, bringing more authentic Italian thin-crust pizzas to both Dallas and Fort Worth. Called Midici, it's a chain from California that was founded in 2015 and is a sibling to Menchie's Frozen Yogurt. It's currently in hyper-growth phase, with more than 100 branches opening across the country.

The first local branches to open will be in Fort Worth, at the new Left Bank complex, and in Euless, at Chisholm Trail Pkwy., both opening by fall 2017. More locations are penciled in for Dallas, including one in Uptown. There's already a Midici open in Katy, near Houston, with two more set to open in the Houston area in 2017, as well as one in El Paso.

Midici observes all of the usual standards that a Neapolitan-style pizzeria observes, with the dough made from four ingredients: Italian "00" flour, water, salt, and yeast, and pizzas baked for 90 seconds in a wood-fired oven that burns at close to 1000 degrees.

The menu features vegan-friendly selections, authentic Italian gelato, a signature Nutella calzone dessert, and happy hour with wine and beer.

Serving as culinary consultants for Midici are Peppe Miele and Mario Vollera, known as the masters of Neapolitan pizza. Miele is president of VPN Americas, the American delegation of Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana, which provides certification to pizzerias who observe the Neapolitan methods.

Running the Fort Worth opening is Michael Crain, a graduate of Texas Wesleyan Law School (now Texas A&M University School of Law), who has worked in government and real estate. He and his wife, Joanna, were living in China and decided to get involved with Midici after moving back to Fort Worth.

"We love the pizza and also the atmosphere," Crain says. "It's fast-casual and fast-dining, and yet the quality and experience makes you feel more like it's fine-dining."

All Midici branches have very tall ceilings and an open space. Each branch has an indoor olive tree, which is a requirement and makes finding the right location key.

"The idea is to create the feeling that you're dining in an open-air piazza in Italy," Crain says.

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Speakeasy News

Speakeasy with secret red phone booth entry is dialing into The Colony

Red Phone Booth

That red phone booth is a secret entry.

A speakeasy bar concept from Atlanta that's been plotting a DFW location for a couple of years is inching closer to reality. Called Red Phone Booth, it'll open in the Grotto at Grandscape, at 5774 Grandscape Blvd. #100 in The Colony, and a release says it's coming in March.

Red Phone Booth features old-school Prohibition-style cocktails, cigars, and small plates. It's owned and operated by Stephen de Haan with actor/whiskey and cigar enthusiast Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead, Band of Brothers, Clarice and The Kids Are Alright).

The Grandscape location was originally forecast to open in 2021, back when speakeasy bars were an up-and-coming trend, remember that? One presumes the delays were pandemic-induced.

The lounge will be open to the public, but customers must know the secret phone number which they can procure only from another member, local hotel, or restaurant. They dial into an antique red phone booth to gain entry.

The cocktail menu features spirits such as bourbon, whiskey, scotch, tequila and Japanese whisky, made with fresh juices and hand chipped double-reverse pass osmosis ice.

Exclusive member tasting events will allow members sample flights of whiskey, bourbon, scotch, or tequila.

Food includes Italian-inspired appetizers such as Stuffed Peppadew Pepper, Insalata di Bistecca, and star-shaped Neapolitan pizzas.

They currently have two locations in Atlanta, plus one in Nashville, and another opening in Florida later in 2023.

In a statement, de Haan says they were introduced to Grandscape by family and thought it would be a good addition to the various shopping, dining, and nightlife options there.

The grand opening scheduled for March 3-4, but they are ready to sell memberships now, which range from $350 to$5,000 for an Executive Membership which includes 4 individuals.

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