Yum-o

TV food queen Rachael Ray debuts a virtual restaurant pop-up in Dallas

Ray herself won't be in Dallas but her food will.

Food Network veteran and celebrity chef Rachael Ray is launching a "virtual restaurant" through a partnership with Uber Eats in 13 cities, and that includes Dallas.

Fans hoping to see Ray pour out the EVOO in person will be out of luck, since the innovative concept has no brick-and-mortar presence. Instead, the 11 dishes will be available for delivery through the popular platform.

The eatery debuts on October 17, following the October 15 release of Ray's latest cookbook: Rachael Ray 50: Memories and Meals from a Sweet and Savory Life. The book features comfort food favorites and recollections from the author's remarkable career.

The items on the virtual restaurant's menu are pulled mostly from the book, and include three starters/salads, three main items, two pastas, and three sides:

Buffalo pulled chicken chili with smoked blue ranch sauce
Tahini Caesar salad with za'atar croutons
Sicilian orange and fennel salad with oregano
Big smack cheeseburger
Fried chicken sandwich
Dozen-spiced fried chicken wings with spicy honey
Bolognese with egg tagliatelle
Fettuccine alla vodka
Jalapeno popper grits
Sweet 'n' spicy pickles
Cauliflower mash with roasted garlic, ricotta, lemon, and thyme

Despite Ray's many years in food as a TV personality, author and magazine editor-in-chief, she has never operated a restaurant.

According to Uber spokesman Travis Considine, the company actually making the food is Uber partner Reef Kitchens, a delivery-only kitchen that operates a number of virtual restaurants on Uber Eats. These are delivery-only kitchens with locations across the country.

You can find Ray's food by clicking on the Rachael Ray banner at the top of the app, or by searching "Rachael Ray to Go." Prices range from $3.95 to $13.95, not including taxes or Uber delivery fees. Standard delivery rates will apply, except for Nov. 1-7, when delivery will be free in Dallas.

Ray's food will be available from 11 am-1 am daily. The Dallas pop-up will last only until the end of December.

In addition to Dallas, the virtual cafe is also popping up in Austin, Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chattanooga, and Toronto.

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Ice Cream News

Global gourmet ice cream chain debuts in U.S. with 2 Dallas-area shops

Dumont Ice Cream

An ice cream concept from India has made its U.S. debut, right here in Texas: Called Dumont Creamery & Cafe, it's an ice cream chain founded in Hyderabad that now has two locations in the Dallas area.

Their first location was Frisco, which opened at 1951 FM 423 at the end of 2023; a second location opened in late October in Coppell at 1535 S. Belt Line Rd. #160.

Dumont was founded in 1999 by brothers Vivek and Bhashkaar, and currently has 23 locations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada listed on their website.

Bringing the concept to Texas are local franchisees and friends Sai Sashank and Tarang Tirumala, who moved to the U.S. in 2005 to attend college.

Both have successful consulting careers, but craved a taste of home.

Ice cream is the centerpiece at Dumont with more than two dozen flavors, ranging from gourmet to classics to flavors boasting global influences: from Italian-inspired sorbet to a New Zealand-inspired honey ice cream called "hokey pokey."

There is vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip — but also unique options such as cake and jam, an ice cream with a vanilla base, bites of cake, and spiced jam; and kheer, a coconut ice cream studded with dried fruits and nuts — a nod to the kheer rice pudding that's one of India's favorite desserts.

A single scoop is $4. They have cups and a cute version of waffle cones: shorter and fatter than usual, to provide a greater ratio of ice cream-to-cone.

In addition to ice cream, they have a beverage program with coffee and espresso drinks such as lattes, plus boba tea. There are also special drinks like falooda — an exotic Indian milkshake with rose syrup and vermicelli — as well as limited-edition drinks like iced kheer, a cool beverage version of that same popular rice pudding dessert.

Both locations are spacious, bright, and clean, with pale green banquettes at Frisco, and pale blue chairs and tables at Coppell. Both feature an astronaut theme with statues and framed photos and cartoons on the wall. The Coppell location also has a mural dedicated to great moments in Coppell history.