Archive for category: Local Business

Regular diners at the Asian Mint Fusion Cafe say that it’s impossible to find a bad dish at the restaurant. Whether it’s Pad Thai, or sushi night, or Chinese style orange chicken, the food is always fresh and delicious. But what is a fusion restaurant?

Chef and Owner Nikky Phinyawatana explains that “Asian Fusion to us means not serving the traditional Asian cuisine you grew up with. I moved to Dallas from Bangkok and I would say that Bangkok is a great hub of fused food from all over the world with Thai food. So our food is Thai fused with the world. Our cuisine is mostly similar to Bangkok style cuisine.”

Hallmarks of the Bangkok style cuisine include fresh ingredients and unique flavors, Phinyawatana adds: “We use fresh ingredients that is prepped hourly and daily. We make our own sauces in house and with simple basic ingredients. They are carefully seasoned to show off the true flavors of the vegetables and proteins we are featuring in the dish. Simple ingredients that come together to have mouth watering flavor profiles that you cannot resist, presented in a modern clean atmosphere.”

A good way to begin a meal is with a refreshing Asian Mule made with lemongrass-infused vodka and ginger beer, or a Mango Sangria. Menu offerings include crisp vegetable rolls, tuna crisps, shrimp rangoon and fried calamari for starters, Crispy Basil Fish, Chicken Satay, curries and the Pad Thai made using wonton noddles for a unique taste. Desserts offer unique touches like jasmine flavored creme brûlée and chocolate cake with edible glitter. Green iced tea and ginger beer are perfect accompaniments to the food.

What are the most popular dishes? Phinyawatana says that “We are super well known for our Pad Thai. We do claim to have the best Pad Thai in town. Out other star dishes are the pad see mow woon sen, siracha chicken, our curries, crab fried rice and jasmine creme brûlée and green tea ice cream cake.” There’s also a special brunch menu featuring bacon and egg Pad Thai and mimosas.

The Asian Mint values that the community has come to expect are healthy, innovative flavors, efficient service, consistency, and caring and a hip and fun environment. The decor in the newly expanded space is green and white and contemporary. A private dining room with AV presentation capabilities and surround system has also been added recently.

The philosophy behind Asian Mint is also green. With energy efficient light bulbs, automatic sensor faucets, biodegradable or recyclable containers, and menus made with recycled paper, this is a place that cares about the environment. The location at Forest Lane is convenient for the lunchtime office crowd, though people will travel across town for the Pad Thai and other delicacies. There’s another location at the Shops of Highland Park mall. Known as The Mint, it offers the same delicious food.

For more information about Chef Nikky and the restaurant feel free to take a look at their website at www.asianmint.com.

Deep in the heart of Spring, Texas, you’ll find the Augusta Pines Golf Club ? a not so hidden gem that is just begging to be visited by those near and far. Home to the PGA Champions Tour from the years 2004 to 2007, this public golf course and country club has proven it meets the same standards as those of the most elite standing, while still maintaining its good ole fashioned Texas hospitality.

Augusta Pines came to life through the ingenuity of Tour 18 Inc, former owners of the “America’s Greatest 18 Holes” program. This one of a kind company designed, owns, and now operates the stunning club ? helping to solidify its place within the ranks of the greatest golf clubs in the United States.

But it is more than just the title owners that set this up and coming club apart from its competitors.

“Great course conditions and friendly service set us apart from your typical Golf Club,” explains Greg Saul, PGA Director of Golf. “We know our Members by name and create an atmosphere like a big fraternity.” The great course conditions Saul describes include water play in 11 different holes, tall pines, oaks, and dogwoods, and smooth greens with a lot of slope, which help to make an enjoyable game for all calibers of golfers.

For those not on the green, the Antebellum Clubhouse sports an astonishing 70,000 square feet designed to emulate the look and feel of the old South, with its sprawling balconies and pivotal pillars. And, to complete the authentic Southern charm feel, the Antebellum is home to a stunning Grand Ballroom that can accommodate groups and events with up to two hundred in attendance. When it comes to dining at the Augusta Pines Golf Club, you won’t be disappointed. “Savannahs restaurant and bar has a beautiful setting and has a wide variety of food appetizers to steak and seafood,” states Saul.

In addition to the meeting halls and ballroom for weddings, showers, and other events, there is a 30,000 total square foot section of the Antebellum reserved for office spaces in both the East and West Wings of the estate. These office spaces allow you to enjoy spectacular golf course views, executive conference rooms at no charge, useable covered porches and balconies, space planning, membership packages, and full catering for your meetings ? making them like no other office space imaginable.

The golf club is also involved with several tournaments throughout the year. “We have several Member Events and also host Corporate and Charity Tournaments with 16-144 golfers on Mondays and Tuesdays,” Saul says. “However, Wednesdays and Thursdays we limit the maximum number of golfers to 72 allowing plenty of space for our Members.”

According to Saul, Augusta Pines membership is like no other available. Membership fees are all inclusive, allowing Augusta Pines members full access to carts, ranges, lockers, bag storage, handicap service and includes an additional 20% off merchandise. “Augusta Pines Membership also includes full privileges at our sister club Gleannloch Pines,” Saul proudly states. “We’re staffed by PGA Professionals and both of our Clubs are very family and kids oriented.”

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The Gruene Estate sits on 17 acres of land just 1 mile outside the town of Gruene. With a house that dates to 1855 and a newer pavilion and open-air chapel complete with bell tower, this is a place to truly experience Texas hill country life. “We started out as just vacation rentals, but after people did a few weddings on the property, we decided that it would be a great place for an actual venue,” explains owner Nolan Bluntzer.

The Bluntzers have owned the Gruene Estate lands for about 10 years turning what was once a roughly 6,000-acre cotton farm into a country wedding experience over two years ago and, as Bluntzer says, we have been “doing vacation rentals, weddings and events ever since.” Conveniently located on Loop 337 and near Austin and San Antonio, the Estate provides Old World charm, as if you stepped back in time.

“Nothing on the property is prefabricated,” Bluntzer states, including the crystal chandeliers or the open-air pavilion and chapel that seats up to 200 guests with handmade tables build from reclaimed barn wood. “Our venue has a rustic vintage feel that a lot of brides seem to like,” he continues. “The chapel was designed around antique stained glass windows from a church in England.” Even the bell rung by a newlywed couple upon exiting the church was made especially for the Estate by fifth generation bell makers in Michigan.

Couples, wedding guests and vacationers can all enjoy The Gruene Estate. Twelve guests can sleep overnight onsite, which is different than other wedding venues. Guests have easy access to downtown New Braunfels or Gruene, which was begun by a Gruene family member in the late 1880s and now has the State of Texas designation as a Historic Town. It is a quaint town that houses the oldest dancehall in the state. New Braunfels has Schlitterbahn (a water park) and many historic buildings, nightlife and tubing on the Guadalupe River.

“I think since we are a small family-owned and family-operated business,” Bluntzer says, “we strive to provide a personal customer service experience that brides and grooms will appreciate as they plan their event.” Happily ever after begins at this historic country estate in Texas.

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Yunan Yang, Owner of The Cooking Girls restaurant in Houston, TX is a former medical researcher and an inspired cook. She credits her mother-in-law not only with teaching her how to cook but also about the importance of food.

“She opened an amazing window for me. What she did tells me how important healthy food is for the family and life.” Coming from a big family in Chongqing in central China, Yang’s mother-in-law learned the art of cooking from the top chef in China in the 1930s.

The basic rule about food concerns flavors, says Yang: “Let the food have their own natural flavor. Many foods can create amazing flavor once they meet each other, such as Ginger and Duck, Duck means cold based on traditional Chinese culture, Ginger means Hot.” The contrasting flavors produce an amazing taste. Each combination of foods likewise needs to find a balance.

Yang says that “Our body needs balance, our world needs balance too.” She knows what she’s talking about. As a medical researcher with a number of publications in leading research journals, she had a stellar career. Her researches with radioactive materials were however making her sick, and after her son was born, her doctor advised her to change careers.

Food, she discovered, was a better way to health than drugs. Treatments target the disease too late, she says: “Once you have cancer cells growing, everything is a little bit late: why not focus on your daily life? Food is the best way to participate in our daily life and reminds us try our best to keep healthy. It is a better thing focus on daily life than to find help from doctors.”

Yang loves cooking and expresses love for her family, friends, neighbors and colleagues through food. In 2015, she decided to open a restaurant and in a very short time, The Cooking Girls has become a Houston favorite. The New York Post ranks it as the 17th best Chinese restaurant in the the US.

Popular dishes include the Volcano Cod, which even wins over people who are not typically fish-waters, Twin Peppers Chicken, Mabo Tofu and Dan Dan noodles. Yang creates many of her own own healthy recipes such as for the pickled radish.

She also chooses the same ingredients for the restaurant that she would use for her own family. She feels that high quality protein is very important, and chooses premium organic meats, including Berkshire Pork, Angus certified beef, farm raised chicken and duck etc.

Healthy teas are another menu speciality. Dr.Lee’s tea is named for a famous doctor who lived in China five thousand years ago and is good for the throat and the balance of the body. Yang feels that God blessed her when he gave her a second chance after recovering from her illness. Through her cooking she wants to share her belief that health is the most important thing for your family and your life. Her second restaurant, Pepper Twins, decorated with Yang’s own paintings, has just celebrated a grand opening at River Oak.

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The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, a non-profit focused solely on the redevelopment of downtown Arlington, provides information on downtown Arlington by phone, email or website to anyone living, working or visiting downtown Arlington. “We work hard every day to make sure that downtown Arlington is a clean, safe, attractive and vibrant destination,” explains President Tony Rutigliano.

Of course, sports fans know the City of Arlington is a mecca for teams. The Dallas Cowboys and their famed cheerleaders fill AT&T; Stadium each time there is a football game there. Texas Rangers pitch fast balls at Globe Life Park. And now, The Shock, a Women’s National Basketball Association team, has their new home in the heart of downtown at the University of Texas College Park Center. Bowling devotees will marvel at the International Bowling Museum where the 5,000-year-old sport is followed from ancient Egypt to today’s computer-assisted lanes highlighting rare footage and documenting bowling’s best female and male players in the Hall of Fame.

Aside from sports, there is lots to do to keep locals and visitors alike busy and intrigued by Arlington. Six Flags provides all-day family fun. “But there are so many other places to check out as well,” notes Rutigliano, “including Top of the Hill Terrace, Arlington Music Hall, Arlington Museum of Art, Theatre Arlington, Levitt Pavilion, Arlington Highlands and many wonderful local restaurants.”

People also come to town for the many music, art and holiday events that take place year-round. Rutigliano says, “Some of our very popular recurring events include the Center Stage Music Festival, Art on the Greene, South Street Art Festival, Christkindl Market, Light Up Arlington, Arlington 4th of July Parade, and the Holiday Lights Parade.”

The City is investing in its future by rebuilding Abram Street and building a new Central Library to enhance the downtown area. Businesses can get information from The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation on downtown properties for sale or lease, incentives, development activity and other information so crucial to starting a new or moving an existing business into downtown. Overall, Rutigliano tell us, “Arlington is a great place to live, and the real estate market it extremely hot right now. Arlington is becoming more desirable each year and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.”

“Organizations like ours are extremely important as a facilitator to expand the economy and nurture community pride,” Rutigliano tell us. Following the Dallas Cheerleaders lead, he exclaims, “We are the biggest cheerleaders for our community!”

By Elizabeth R. Elstein