Courtney E. Smith
@thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social
Unemployed food journalist covering Texas and your mom’s house.
My newsletter.
My newsletter.
Sometimes I write a kicker that I delight myself with and I don’t care if it’s just for me. Whatever! Anyway, big Dallas restaurant news. www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
What's Next for Travis Street Hospitality - D Magazine
Georgie, Knox Bistro, and Frenchie all have new executive chefs, Le Bilboquet’s chef will retire soon, and Le PasSage is getting a rethink. But Bruno Davaillon and co. have a plan.
www.dmagazine.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Sometimes I write a kicker that I delight myself with and I don’t care if it’s just for me. Whatever! Anyway, big Dallas restaurant news. www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
Dipped a toe into writing restaurant reviews for @dallasobserver.com . www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/e...
El Molino Sells Glamour and a Little Bit of Mexican Food
We review El Molino, the first 'Mexican' restaurant from Vandelay Hospitality.
www.dallasobserver.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Dipped a toe into writing restaurant reviews for @dallasobserver.com . www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/e...
This story about a freelancer landing assignments at storied publications with ChatGPT generated pitches and fake quotes is a good scammer read, but also indicative of the state of modern journalism. thelocal.to/investigatin...
https://thelocal.to/investigating-scam-journalism-ai/
November 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This story about a freelancer landing assignments at storied publications with ChatGPT generated pitches and fake quotes is a good scammer read, but also indicative of the state of modern journalism. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Help, my parents think the tariff dividends check is happening and want to use it to rent an Airbnb for Christmas.
November 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Help, my parents think the tariff dividends check is happening and want to use it to rent an Airbnb for Christmas.
Made my debut on @seriouseats.bsky.social this week, diving into the history of beef tallow. www.seriouseats.com/is-beef-tall...
Inside the “Ancestral Fat” Trend: Does Beef Tallow Deserve Its Hype?
Once dismissed as unhealthy, beef tallow is finding new life among chefs and home cooks.
www.seriouseats.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Made my debut on @seriouseats.bsky.social this week, diving into the history of beef tallow. www.seriouseats.com/is-beef-tall...
So many people are speculating about why and how Mamani in Dallas earned a Michelin star after only two months. I’ve got a list of reasons. theleftovers.beehiiv.com/p/why-mamani...
A List of Reasons Mamani Earned a Michelin Star
Because I've had to explain this at multiple dinner parties, so clearly people want to understand it.
theleftovers.beehiiv.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
So many people are speculating about why and how Mamani in Dallas earned a Michelin star after only two months. I’ve got a list of reasons. theleftovers.beehiiv.com/p/why-mamani...
What does a MAGA entertainment company look like? Paramount, baby. variety.com/2025/film/fe...
Inside David Ellison’s Dramatic First 100 Days at Paramount: Courting Tom Cruise Blockbusters, Forging Ties With Trump and Daring Anyone Else to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery
David Ellison is the ultimate Hollywood disruptor. This week's Variety cover story goes deep on the Paramount-Skydance boss' industry takeover.
variety.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 PM
What does a MAGA entertainment company look like? Paramount, baby. variety.com/2025/film/fe...
When I say I want more affordable all day cafes and spaces with good music, I mean like this one. A couple of good folks are saving a Deep Ellum institution from closing down, and I covered it for @dmagazine.bsky.social. www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
AllGood Cafe’s New Owners Will Keep the Music Going for a New Generation
The new crew, themselves musicians, talk about their plans to change the restaurant (very little) and preserve its legacy.
www.dmagazine.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
When I say I want more affordable all day cafes and spaces with good music, I mean like this one. A couple of good folks are saving a Deep Ellum institution from closing down, and I covered it for @dmagazine.bsky.social. www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
Four restaurants, four very different nights out in Dallas. In this week’s issue of The Leftovers, I’m sharing what happened when I revisited some big-name dining rooms — and was lucky enough to find myself in one of the city’s most exciting pop-ups.
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Four restaurants, four very different nights out in Dallas. In this week’s issue of The Leftovers, I’m sharing what happened when I revisited some big-name dining rooms — and was lucky enough to find myself in one of the city’s most exciting pop-ups.
Halloween playlist drop! Yeah I know, I’m switching to Apple, the overtly less evil music streaming service but it’s not actually. open.spotify.com/playlist/3C5...
Ssssssspooky!
open.spotify.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Halloween playlist drop! Yeah I know, I’m switching to Apple, the overtly less evil music streaming service but it’s not actually. open.spotify.com/playlist/3C5...
There is nothing I love more than being right. So, I put together a list of the new Michelin-recognized restaurants across Texas that I told you to try. You’re welcome. theleftovers.beehiiv.com/p/love-to-be...
Love to Be Right
Places I've written about and recommended in the last year that earned Michelin recognition in Texas.
theleftovers.beehiiv.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:52 PM
There is nothing I love more than being right. So, I put together a list of the new Michelin-recognized restaurants across Texas that I told you to try. You’re welcome. theleftovers.beehiiv.com/p/love-to-be...
A comedy of errors in Dallas, in which one hand is not speaking to the other in city government. www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
City Hall Wants to Strengthen Dallas Nightlife. It’s Cracking Down Instead.
A new task force has a disruptive mission: prevent live music venues from charging music fees.
www.dmagazine.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A comedy of errors in Dallas, in which one hand is not speaking to the other in city government. www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
One woman. Ten barbecue spots in three days. Too much brisket. Not enough cold slaw. These are my hottest takes on where to eat barbecue in the great city of Houston. www.theinfatuation.com/houston/guid...
The 13 Best BBQ Spots In Houston - Houston - The Infatuation
The best BBQ spots in Houston for smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork, boudin, and chopped beef baked potatoes.
www.theinfatuation.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
One woman. Ten barbecue spots in three days. Too much brisket. Not enough cold slaw. These are my hottest takes on where to eat barbecue in the great city of Houston. www.theinfatuation.com/houston/guid...
I ate at ten barbecue spots in Houston to put together a hit map for The Infatiation, including the Michelin-starred barbecue in Spring. I finished more confused than ever about what makes a barbecue spot Michelin-worthy.
October 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I ate at ten barbecue spots in Houston to put together a hit map for The Infatiation, including the Michelin-starred barbecue in Spring. I finished more confused than ever about what makes a barbecue spot Michelin-worthy.
Okay women of a certain age in Dallas, who is coming??
October 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Okay women of a certain age in Dallas, who is coming??
I’m a big fan of THC. When I was going through serious anxiety and depression related to PTSD, it was one of the things that helped me manage it. But it can also just be fun - which I’ve grown to appreciate.
September 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I’m a big fan of THC. When I was going through serious anxiety and depression related to PTSD, it was one of the things that helped me manage it. But it can also just be fun - which I’ve grown to appreciate.
Reposted by Courtney E. Smith
Its creators—one from Colombia, the other born in a farmers market—met at a Home Depot parking lot and were accepted into the Fair on their seventh attempt.
The Best Dessert at the State Fair of Texas - D Magazine
Its creators—one from Colombia, the other born in a farmers market—met at a Home Depot parking lot and were accepted into the Fair on their seventh attempt.
www.dmagazine.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Its creators—one from Colombia, the other born in a farmers market—met at a Home Depot parking lot and were accepted into the Fair on their seventh attempt.
Making my debut in @dmagazine.bsky.social today with a bang! www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
The Best Dessert at the State Fair of Texas - D Magazine
Its creators—one from Colombia, the other born in a farmers market—met at a Home Depot parking lot and were accepted into the Fair on their seventh attempt.
www.dmagazine.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Making my debut in @dmagazine.bsky.social today with a bang! www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2...
Women of a certain age in DFW: Do you want to dance again and still be in bed by 10 pm? There’s a party for that and I’m throwing it. There will be good music from your exactly heyday and snacks. See you there.
September 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Women of a certain age in DFW: Do you want to dance again and still be in bed by 10 pm? There’s a party for that and I’m throwing it. There will be good music from your exactly heyday and snacks. See you there.
I was excited to try Opal’s Oysters in Waco, the first non-barbecue spot from Texas barbecue legends, Terry Black’s. It turns out, there isn’t room for two raw bars in the small city of Waco, Texas.
September 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I was excited to try Opal’s Oysters in Waco, the first non-barbecue spot from Texas barbecue legends, Terry Black’s. It turns out, there isn’t room for two raw bars in the small city of Waco, Texas.
Free speech for me and not for thee, yet again in Texas. Now they want to “examine free speech on college campuses” across the state because students didn’t mourn him the way they wanted. No one elected official, when asked, saw the irony. www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Texas Legislature creates committee in honor of Charlie Kirk to examine speech at colleges
The committees will examine the implementation of two laws enacted in response to perceptions of liberal bias on college campuses.
www.dallasnews.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Free speech for me and not for thee, yet again in Texas. Now they want to “examine free speech on college campuses” across the state because students didn’t mourn him the way they wanted. No one elected official, when asked, saw the irony. www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
HAVE YOU BEEN INFLUENCED? Call the law offices of Courtney E. Smith; you may be entitled to compensation.
September 12, 2025 at 4:35 PM
HAVE YOU BEEN INFLUENCED? Call the law offices of Courtney E. Smith; you may be entitled to compensation.
I’ve been waiting all year for Mamani to open in Dallas. Going prompted me to explore a new content type with my weekly newsletter, looking not just at a review of the food that I ordered but the philosophy of the restaurant and how customers can get the most out of a menu with luxury prices.
September 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I’ve been waiting all year for Mamani to open in Dallas. Going prompted me to explore a new content type with my weekly newsletter, looking not just at a review of the food that I ordered but the philosophy of the restaurant and how customers can get the most out of a menu with luxury prices.
Hotel restaurants aren’t usually a destination, but the Duchess in the Nobelman, a Marriott cosplaying as a boutique hotel in an up-and-coming Fort Worth neighborhood, is an exception.
September 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Hotel restaurants aren’t usually a destination, but the Duchess in the Nobelman, a Marriott cosplaying as a boutique hotel in an up-and-coming Fort Worth neighborhood, is an exception.
I visited Emerald City Lounge, Fort Worth’s first cannabis lounge, this weekend and it was a really good time. I like how the goal is to make it social and destigmatize partaking. Also it was just super cute.
September 3, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I visited Emerald City Lounge, Fort Worth’s first cannabis lounge, this weekend and it was a really good time. I like how the goal is to make it social and destigmatize partaking. Also it was just super cute.