Courtney E. Smith
@thecourtneyesmith.bsky.social
Unemployed food journalist covering Texas and your mom’s house.
My newsletter.
My newsletter.
Avra’s splashy debut felt more style than substance; Georgie’s new chef shows promise but still has kinks to work out. Meridian reminded me what bold, creative cooking can do when it’s firing on all cylinders. And then there’s Molino Oloyo — a pop-up so good it outshined them all.
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Avra’s splashy debut felt more style than substance; Georgie’s new chef shows promise but still has kinks to work out. Meridian reminded me what bold, creative cooking can do when it’s firing on all cylinders. And then there’s Molino Oloyo — a pop-up so good it outshined them all.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I’ve been eating queso all year to try and pull together a list of the best places to eat it. It turns out, cheaper and classic is better. In this week’s edition of the Lefotovers, I look at why - and where to eat it in Texas.
August 28, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I’ve been eating queso all year to try and pull together a list of the best places to eat it. It turns out, cheaper and classic is better. In this week’s edition of the Lefotovers, I look at why - and where to eat it in Texas.
How much should a burger cost? How about a burger by a chef with a Michelin-starred restaurant (it serves pasta)? How about a burger I personally judged and gave a winning nod to at a food festival? In my first newsletter, I break down the hidden costs of a damn good burger.
August 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
How much should a burger cost? How about a burger by a chef with a Michelin-starred restaurant (it serves pasta)? How about a burger I personally judged and gave a winning nod to at a food festival? In my first newsletter, I break down the hidden costs of a damn good burger.
Someone sent this to me, I’ve never felt so hated.
February 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Someone sent this to me, I’ve never felt so hated.
If you were visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, who would you want them to be?
December 26, 2023 at 3:45 PM
If you were visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, who would you want them to be?
One photo to sum up the holidays.
December 26, 2023 at 3:43 PM
One photo to sum up the holidays.
A very special holiday episode of Songs My Ex Ruined this week, in which @woolyknickers.bsky.social gets Grammy-winner Abigail Barlow to reclaim a Christmas song - by recording a cover of it that she let us premier in the pod!
December 25, 2023 at 3:32 PM
A very special holiday episode of Songs My Ex Ruined this week, in which @woolyknickers.bsky.social gets Grammy-winner Abigail Barlow to reclaim a Christmas song - by recording a cover of it that she let us premier in the pod!
Behold my beautiful Christmas Eve quiche.
December 24, 2023 at 6:32 PM
Behold my beautiful Christmas Eve quiche.
Immediately posting across all platforms.
November 15, 2023 at 9:57 PM
Immediately posting across all platforms.
Extremely excited to share the launch announcement for a podcast I've been working as editorial director on for Nevermind Media. Subscribe now and check out the trailer! nevermind.fm/shows/have-y...
October 5, 2023 at 7:22 PM
Extremely excited to share the launch announcement for a podcast I've been working as editorial director on for Nevermind Media. Subscribe now and check out the trailer! nevermind.fm/shows/have-y...
Lot of goodies in this week’s newsletter but the best of all may be my moody fall playlist. courtneyesmith.beehiiv.com/p/youve-got-...
September 24, 2023 at 9:51 PM
Lot of goodies in this week’s newsletter but the best of all may be my moody fall playlist. courtneyesmith.beehiiv.com/p/youve-got-...
Jealousy ruined this song for Lola Kirke but a member of the band ruined it for @woolyknickers.bsky.social and me. 🤦🏻♀️ New episode of Songs My Ex Ruined where ever you podcast.
September 13, 2023 at 6:31 PM
Jealousy ruined this song for Lola Kirke but a member of the band ruined it for @woolyknickers.bsky.social and me. 🤦🏻♀️ New episode of Songs My Ex Ruined where ever you podcast.
Still time to listen to this week’s Songs My Ex Ruined with a whopper of an influencer of a tale from @nikostratis.bsky.social about Death Cab for Cutie.
September 11, 2023 at 2:15 PM
Still time to listen to this week’s Songs My Ex Ruined with a whopper of an influencer of a tale from @nikostratis.bsky.social about Death Cab for Cutie.