In less than the span of one week, not one but two people told me I needed to go to Smoke for breakfast.  I took that as a sign – wouldn’t you!  Smoke is a restaurant in North Oak Cliff at 901 Ft. Worth Avenue.  We found the restaurant easily.  First we crossed the new Margaret Hunt Hill bridge -a first for all of us.  It is wonderful!  I want to go back over it again and again.  Then we turned left on Sylvan, and then right on Ft. Worth.  We were there!  Easy Breezy – and was I ever relieved.  Just goes to show you that going to Oak Cliff is not the same as going to the end of the Earth

As we walked into the restaurant, we knew why it was named Smoke.  It smelled like smoke.  Not cigarette smoke, but food smoke.  You know, that earthy smell that comes with good smoked meat.  I started to anticipate.

Now the cute little waitress suggested the Heavy Handed Blueberry and Ricotta Cheese Pancakes with Vanilla Poached Apricots and Cream – or the Smoked Brisket Cornbread Hash with Poached Egg, Green Chili Rajas, and Onion.   They both sounded delicious, but in the end we all ordered the pancakes.  Sweet Mother of Pearl!  The pancakes were wonderfully delicious.  They were different than any pancakes I have ever tasted.  Perhaps they were made with some cornmeal.  Even with the coarseness of the cornmeal, they were light and rich.  See those apricots poached in vanilla sauce.  No need for syrup here. Yummy, yummy, yummy!

We all agreed that we wish someone else at the table had tried something different on the menu.  (We were curious about the other menu items.)  To be honest, I think that everything on the menu would be delicious, and I plan to test my theory by ordering something different on my next trip to Smoke, and the next, and the next – you get the idea.  (I want to go back!)

Be still my heart!  The best grits ever!  This is the side order of Cheese Grits and Hominy Casserole we ordered to share. “The best grits ever,” so exclaimed more than one person at the table.  They were so creamy and rich.  We loved the addition of the hominy and the pickled jalapeno peppers.  If you click on the link above, you can get the recipe for the Cheese Grits and Hominy Casserole.  NBC Channel 5 asked Chef Tim Byre for the recipe, and he was so kind to share.  The recipe has several steps, but it is doable.  Still, it might be easier to drive to Oak Cliff for breakfast – it is worth the trip.

Blessings to you and yours,

P.S.  I love, love, love the little cast iron casserole that held the grits.