Tea at Taschen

The Joule offers tony afternoon tea service alternative in downtown Dallas

Sometimes you just need to duck out of the office on a Friday afternoon, and The Joule is giving Dallasites another, more refined option for playing hooky with its new afternoon tea service.

As of September 26, the hotel’s Taschen Library, just off the lobby near TenOverSix and Weekend, is offering champagne afternoon tea service on Fridays at 2:30 pm. Imagine snacking on goat cheese on brioche with cucumber, basil cream and crispy prosciutto and sipping rare tea blends while surrounded by midcentury mosaics and beautiful coffee-table tomes.

“Because The Joule lobby is already such a naturally communal environment, we wanted to offer a really special experience within it,” says Joule general manager Justin Fields. “The Taschen Library proved to be the perfect little nook for something a bit more intimate.”

Joule executive chef Jaco Smith and executive pastry chef Ruben Torano devised the menu, which will change seasonally. Savory treats may include ham mousse eclairs and deviled egg sandwiches; sweet options could be huckleberry buckle or berry layer cake.

In addition to champagne, guests can enjoy Freak of Nature Oolong, 2001 Vintage Oak Barrel-Aged Pu-Erh and Moonlight Jasmine Blossom teas.

We envision this as a way to entertain out-of-town guests, spend time with girlfriends or wrap up a business meeting (if you must still work). Regardless of the company, it’s not a bad way to start the weekend, and this has a different vibe than downtown neighbor The Adophus, which is known for its afternoon tea service.

“We thought Friday would be a great day as people close down their work week and are ready to relax or even celebrate something special,” Fields says. “If it’s as popular as we think it will be, I have a feeling we’ll be hosting private events there quite often.”

Tea at Taschen is $59 a person, inclusive of taxes, gratuity and valet. During the tea, guests receive 10 percent off purchases in the library. Seating is communal and limited to 16 people. Reservations can be made by calling 214-748-1300 x4363 or emailing tea@thejouledallas.com.

Tea is served communal style in the Taschen Library at The Joule.

Photo courtesy of Taschen Library

Tea is served communal style in the Taschen Library at The Joule.

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RIP Al

Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat dies at 69 after ALS battle

Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, RIP

Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, founder of the acclaimed local steakhouse Al Biernat's, passed away on November 13, following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease; he was 69.

Biernat was one of Dallas' all-time great hospitality figures, dating back to his days at The Palm steakhouse, for whom he worked in Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas.

Biernat founded his namesake restaurant in 1998 on Oak Lawn Avenue, where his standard of excellence and doting charm made it a destination for special occasions, Park Cities swells, and celebrities in town.

His sense of hospitality had little competition in Dallas. He was a charming and personable host who genuinely liked people, and it didn't matter whether you were Conan O'Brien, David Crosby, or one of the other high-profile diners that visited his restaurants — or else just a regular schlub: He had a knack for making everyone feel special and remembered.

Biernat was born on August 20, 1955 and grew up in Michigan, then lived in Colorado, New York, Los Angeles, and Houston, before moving to Dallas to work at The Palm in the West End, where his dynamic presence gave the restaurant an incomparable vitality; it closed in 2017.

He opened Al Biernat's at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave. in 1998, followed by a second location in North Dallas at 5251 Spring Valley Rd. in 2017.

He began to experience ALS symptoms in May 2023, was diagnosed in December, and revealed his condition in February 2024. The revelation was met with an outpouring of sympathy and well wishes from the hospitality industry — a sign of the high regard in which he was held.

The average life expectancy for people with ALS is two to five years after diagnosis. Symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing, or in the hands, arms, legs, or feet. He began to have difficulty communicating in September, and spent his last days in a hospice.

On September 18, he broached the topic of dying, before ending on a note of gratitude to friends and family.

"Having Bulbar ALS I am realistic about my future," he said. "Friends and family have asked me if I’m afraid of dying, and this is what I say to them. Because of the salvation of Jesus, I will be rejoicing in my spirit to see him in all of his glory. Since we are all flesh, soul, and spirit, only my flesh is being left behind. But don’t get me wrong, I have a blessed life in this world, with a loving wife, and a beautiful family and many wonderful and caring friends. I am grateful!"

Both Al Biernat's locations will continue to remain open under the management of Biernat's nephew Brad Fuller, as they have for nearly the past two years.

Biernat is survived by Fuller, as well as his wife Jeannie and three daughters: Angelica Saylor, Kaitlin Biernat Connell, and Jess Biernat and grandchildren. According to family members, details regarding a celebration of his life will be announced soon.

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