Preston Hollow Advocate

08/14/2025

Dallas’ chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, based in Preston Hollow, will celebrate its 40th anniversary in August by giving out $40,000 in scholarships for women continuing their wine education. The international nonprofit represents women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. ⁠
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Members of the organization range from chefs and farmers to media professionals and food bloggers, says Vice President Jennifer Bajsel. The Dallas chapter’s current membership includes celebrity chef Tiffany Derr; "Chefs for Farmers" producer Iris Midler; Break Bread, Break Borders founder Jin-Ya Huang and Asian Mint founder Nikky Phinyawatana.⁠
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Through chapter events, Les Dames raises funds, enabling women to access the resources to pursue careers in the industry. “My big focus for the incoming year is to really get Les Dames back home into the community,” Bajsel says. For the past three years, the Dallas chapter has partnered with Eataly at NorthPark Center to host Festa della Donna, offering member-provided food stations, wine tastings and educational classes. It has also featured celebrity chefs, including Lidia Bastianich and Tiffany Derry.⁠
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https://prestonhollow.advocatemag.com/2025/08/11/women-supporting-women-les-dames-descoffier/

08/12/2025

Owner Blaine McGowan says he and his team at Ella Dine + Drinks asked what was missing from the Preston Hollow Village neighborhood as they created the American-style bistro that opened in June. “The restaurants that are similar to what we do are all down toward Downtown Dallas and Bishop Arts, and we really felt like this neighborhood needed something like this,” he says.⁠
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The food menu is a reflection of Executive Chef Kyle Farr’s personal and culinary background. Farr was previously the chef at the now-closed Bishop Arts favorite Boulevardier. Ella offerings include homages to the French bistro, including the mussels ($28) served with the same casino butter that was used on oysters at Boulevardier.⁠
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Another tribute includes one of Farr’s favorite dishes on the menu. Ella’s braised pork cheek ($30) features an orange jus made by deglazing the pan with Fanta, a reference to Boulevardier’s root beer-braised pork chop.⁠
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The personal touches expand beyond the menu at Ella. The restaurant is named after McGowan’s 10-year-old daughter Ella Francis, who goes by Frankie. “I wanted something that was meaningful and has a purpose behind it and something that would really just make me smile every time I think about it, every time I see it, and it does every time I walk up. It makes me think of her."⁠
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https://prestonhollow.advocatemag.com/2025/08/11/ella-dine-drinks/
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At Ella Dine + Drinks, the martini doesn’t just come with a twist — it can come with a caviar bump. Does it get more Dallas than that? This is one of the many small luxuries

08/11/2025

The Grant Halliburton Foundation has announced the 16th annual Hope Party, according to a statement released by the Foundation.

The Grant Halliburton Foundation has announced the 16th annual Hope Party, according to a statement released by the Foundation. The Hope Party is a fundraiser benefitting the Grant Halliburton Foundation’s mission to provide North Texas youth and their families with mental health education, resour...

08/09/2025

Seven years ago, eager to share her homemade treats, Hockaday School student Eva Spak entered her seventh-grade advisory with a cookie cake in hand. Her impressed classmates ask Spak the question that alters the course of her future career: “This is so good — could I buy some from you?” ⁠
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In the beginning, 13-year-old Spak primarily fulfilled her friends’ orders. Then, through word of mouth, her business steadily grew to reach the greater Preston Hollow community. The biggest growth to her brand occurred when Spak began selling her treats in her school’s bookstore in the eighth grade. Since her mother’s jewelry was already sold in the bookstore, Spak asked the manager of the store if she could begin selling her goods, too. ⁠
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Now a Current Cornell University student, Spak works as a chef at the hotel on campus and participates in numerous food-related clubs. But her business is still thriving back in Preston Hollow. She still manages Eva’s Cookies from afar, but an underclassman she hired handles the day-to-day decisions back home. ⁠
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https://prestonhollow.advocatemag.com/category/all-magazine-articles/
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08/07/2025

As schools go back in session for the fall, Preston Hollow is welcoming a few new principals to DISD this academic year.

From left to right: Dr. Ethel Zamora, Tara Djamat-Dubois, Pilar Dávila. Photos courtesy of Dallas ISD. As schools go back in session for the fall, Preston Hollow is welcoming a few new principals to DISD this academic year. 1. Jerry R. Junkins Elementary: Dr. Ethel Zamora Zamora was named

08/07/2025

A Preston Hollow neighbor has started a petition that rejects the City’s plan to transition trash pickup from alleys to curbs in some neighborhoods.

08/07/2025

Southwest Airlines announced last week that Chair of the Board Rakesh Gangwal was stepping down from his role, effective Aug. 1.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Southwest Airlines announced last week that Chair of the Board Rakesh Gangwal was stepping down from his role, effective Aug. 1. The Dallas-based airline said Gangwal will be replaced by company director Doug Brooks, also effective Aug. 1.

08/07/2025

Back-to-school is around the corner — with Dallas ISD returning to classes next week — which means it’s time for Texas’ Tax-Free Weekend.

Back-to-school is around the corner — with Dallas ISD returning to classes next week — which means it’s time for Texas’ Tax-Free Weekend. Photo courtesy of Galleria Dallas. From Aug. 8 to midnight on Aug. 10, shoppers can enjoy purchases exempt from sales tax

08/07/2025

L Streets neighbor Kerry Paradise of Baller Mom Kitchen knows what it takes to feed a family night-in and night-out. A mom herself, she was responsible for putting food on the table for her three sons, who are 6-foot-8, 6-foot-6 and 6 feet tall.⁠
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Even after her career took her away from chain restaurant operations and into real estate, Paradise still had to make dinner for her family at the end of the day. But while she ferried her kids to basketball practices, games and tournaments, a trip to McDonald’s was oftentimes the path of least resistance. Paradise says, “ I’m trying to juggle work and all of the sports and extracurriculars and feeding the crew. I love to cook, and I had great intention, but even for us, too many times, we were going through drive-thrus, and I didn’t love that.”⁠
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In 2020, Paradise launched Baller Mom Kitchen from her home. While it may not be a full-service restaurant, the business churns out hundreds of pre-made meals every week for neighbors who need to put food on the table but may not always have enough time to cook a hearty meal for four. "I knew so many of my mom friends were feeling the same, so I built this for us with that experience in mind.”⁠
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https://prestonhollow.advocatemag.com/category/all-magazine-articles/
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08/04/2025

Check out our Preston Hollow's Best of Food and Drink 2025 Winners, including Best Desserts winner, Neuhaus Cafe.⁠
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Neuhaus Cafe celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The chocolatier imports high-quality international chocolates that are hard to find. Some popular options include orange dark chocolate, truffles, ganache and adventurous flavors like key lime. In a 2024 story owner Mervyn Sacher says, “People always say to me, ‘You’ve got stuff that nobody else has got. The kids tell their parents I’m W***y Wonka.” Aside from the delicious sweet treats, the cafe is open all day with breakfast served until 3 p.m.⁠
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Get all the Best Of Food & Drink:
https://prestonhollow.advocatemag.com/best-of-2025-winners/
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08/02/2025

The August Preston Hollow Advocate is dedicated to dining in our neighborhood. Meet Eva Spak, who created a cookie empire in middle school and is now managing the business from college. Kerry Paradise of Baller Mom Kitchen feeds hungry (and busy) families her healthy prepared meals. ⁠
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Celebrate 55 years with Celebration restaurant, with a look back at their beginnings as a custom leather goods shop. ⁠
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Ella Dine + Drinks offers an elevated dining experience, a creative cocktail program and the tucked-away Customs Agave Lounge speakeasy. ⁠
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The Preston Hollow-based Dallas chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international nonprofit organization representing women in the hospitality industry, celebrates its 40th anniversary in August by awarding $40,000 in scholarships to women continuing their wine education. ⁠
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Don't miss our Best Of 2025 Food and Drink list.⁠
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Check out the digital edition:
https://digital.advocatemag.com/preston-hollow-current-edition/

07/31/2025

“Veneration: Travels of the Mind” is the newest exhibition at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church’s ArtReach Gallery. The works from local Dallas artist Hugh DeWitte will be on display until September 17.

“Veneration: Travels of the Mind” is the newest exhibition at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church’s ArtReach Gallery. The works from local Dallas artist Hugh DeWitte will be on display until September 17. "Unity" is one of the pieces featured in the exhibit. Image courtesy of Lovers