Miami News

Villa Azur restaurant brings Miami flash to W Dallas Hotel - Victory

The cuisine is Mediterranean.

Photo courtesy of Villa Azur

A glitzy restaurant and lounge from Miami has made its Dallas debut: Villa Azur is a new concept at the W Hotel in Victory Park with a cosmopolitan, international mien, promising to bring the kind of food, beverage, service, and glamour you might find in the French Riviera, opening on November 11, according to a release.

Villa Azur comes from three friends with extensive backgrounds and experiences. Jean Philippe Bernard has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Paul Breuza develops concepts around the world. Michael Martin is a staple in the Miami nightlife scene (Opium Group, The Mondrian Hotel, LIV, Wall at the W Hotel) who brings expertise nightlife industry expertise.

They vow that Villa Azur will add a "sexy, European touch" to Dallas' nightlife scene.

Food
Under the direction of Executive Chef Carlos Torres, the menu will observe a Mediterranean theme, pairing seasonal ingredients, international flavors, and stunning presentation, including more than one tableside preparation.

Dishes include:

Truffle burrata
Pâtes à la Meule served tableside in a Parmigiana wheel and cognac-flamed
Dover Sole Meunière prepared tableside
Whole roasted chicken
Tiramisu

Service
Villa Azur Dallas will be open 5 pm-12 am, with breakfast and lunch in the hotel lobby. It aspires to excellence on service while embracing the vibe and energy of a neighborhood hotspot, combining the upscale dining experience found on the French Riviera yet simultaneously incorporating the effervescence of Dallas' vibrant lifestyle.

This will include entertainment, glamorous greeters, live DJs, fancy cocktails, and dinner parties.

Atmosphere
Located in the former Cook Hall space to the left of the hotel's Houston Street entrance, the restaurant seats 150, with an additional 20 seats in the bar and lounge area. The space has been given a makeover by interior designer Jose Jafif, with a mixture of neoclassical and modern trends and eclectic details.

In a statement, co-owner Jean-Philippe Bernard calls the design spectacular.

"I am very excited to be joining my friends and business partners in the opening of a restaurant in Dallas," Bernard says. "We are looking forward to sharing with our future patrons a next-level experience, a place where they can dine, socialize, and celebrate, mixing culinary excellence and glamorous lifestyle. From the cuisine and drink menus to the overall atmosphere and ambiance, Villa Azur will definitely bring the authentic, vibrant, and festive South of France energy to Dallas."

Director of Operations Genevieve Bernard says that "not only is Villa Azur a restaurant where patrons can enjoy fine French-Mediterranean cuisine but it is also a 'destination' where friends can gather together in a cozy yet energetic atmosphere."

Villa Azur is part of a wave of concepts from Miami, giving Dallas some Miami heat. In addition to the restaurant, the hotel will also host a rotating contemporary art collection with works from Markowitz Fine Art Gallery for opening weekend, and more gallery features to come.

hotels openings nightlife cocktails

Grocery News

Discount grocery SaveGo Wholesale debuts in Plano with Asian goods

SaveGo

SaveGo Wholesale has just opened in Plano.

A grocery store with discounts on Asian goods is now open in Plano: Called SaveGo Wholesale, it's a locally-founded Asian grocery chain that just opened at 915 W. Parker Rd. #311, in a shopping center just west of US-75 at Alma Road.

SaveGo was founded by entrepreneur Jacky Chan, who previously worked for ABC Food Trading, a wholesale distributor where he learned the ropes of the discount Asian grocery world; now he's putting that to use in his own concept.

SaveGo specializes in Asian groceries, restaurant ingredients, and everyday essentials. Store footprints are far smaller than a typical Kroger or Tom Thumb — more in line, both in size and vibe, with a concept like Aldi, including merchandise packaged in its original shipping boxes or set on pallets. Not having to unpack products helps lower costs.

"SaveGo Wholesale is a warehouse-style grocery store, designed to deliver value and quality, with no membership required," Chan says. "That’s why SaveGo Wholesale offers a warehouse-style shopping experience with wholesale pricing for both families and businesses."

The store is aimed at restaurants or big families who like to cook Asian food. Items are packed in large bulk sizes — like an Asian version of Restaurant Depot, the chain that sells wholesale food, beverages, equipment, and supplies for restaurants and bars.

But they also have a prep area where they'll repackage items in smaller portions.

Produce from SaveGo WholesaleSaveGo

In addition to unadorned racks piles with merchandise, there are also walk-in coolers, open to customers, stocked with produce, dairy, and beverages. Merchandise will rotate depending on season and whatever deals are available. The store's website does not list prices.

Fresh produce currently offered includes honeydew melons, green onions, corn on the cob, iceberg lettuce, bell peppers, carrots, bok choy, lemons, broccoli, ginger, and more.

Dry goods range from massive bags of Szechuan peppercorns to gallon bottles of cooking oil to to sacks of rice to cases of tapioca pearls for bubble tea. This is the place to get the largest bottle of corn syrup your heart could desire.

Plano, which is in soft opening mode, is the first store but Chan has big plans to open more. The store lies right in the middle of a brisk Asian market area, with H Mart Plano just a mile east; 99 Ranch Market, about 2 miles north; JusGo Market about 3 miles north.

Meanwhile, the Plano store will celebrate a grand opening that's also a combination Chinese New Year event on February 21, with dancers, vendors, and product demos.

asian supermarkets