Best of Dining: Nouveau Menu

Craving some new dishes in 2010?  These chefs have added some new surprises to their menus...and we are eating them up!

Wilcox Redux
You can watch telegenic chef Tre Wilcox live, in action, now that he’s back behind a stove full time at Plano’s Loft 610 Urban Restaurant & Lounge. Tre’s fetching face made him a heartthrob competitor on Top Chef. After a stint as a private chef, he has returned to a resto setting, turning out New American classics like blue cheese crusted prime ribeye and grilled buffalo tenderloin. 5760 State Hwy 121, Suite 175, Plano, TX 75024, loft610.com

Southern Soap Opera
Amidst the restaurant soap opera in which he’s had a starring role, chef David McMillan is revamping the menu at Screendoor in the Arts District. Known for its “modern Southern kitchen,” the restaurant got a new management trio last fall of which McMillan is the only survivor. Still the veteran has kept his concentration, creating new menu items such as filet with sweet cheeks hash. 1722 Routh Street, Dallas, TX 75201, 214.720.9111, screendoordallas.com

Chicken Fried Bliss
Marc Cassel has always had a knack for putting the newest twist on a dish. At Park on East Henderson, he’s gone totally retro and authentico with his better-than-chuck-wagon version of chicken fried steak; lightly and crisply battered, not greasy— and no gloppy gravy. This truck-stop classic has been a signature since the hip hot spot opened. If he keeps this up, the Southwest will rise again. 1921 Henderson, Dallas, TX 75206, parkhenderson.com

"Best of Dining: Nouveau Menu" is part five of a five-part series.

Monday: "Best of Dining: Steak Our Claims"
Tuesday: "Best of Dining: Tate for the Cure"
Wednesday: "Best of Dining: Give Us Resin to Live"
Thursday: "Best of Dining: Say Formaggio, Please!"
Friday: "Best of Dining: Nouveau Menu"