Soft Serve

Blowing up recently as a margarita base, soft serve is growing increasingly popular. Restaurants like Palladino’s sell butter-dipped soft serve sundaes along with their Italian meals.

Soft serve initially went viral because of its airy texture, warmer temperature and low dairy fat concentration, making it slightly healthier in terms of fat intake. Nonetheless, it is still timeless among consumers today.

“Soft serve seems to have a lasting hold on the American imagination,” journalist Stephanie Burt said in a Food Republic article. “It speaks of summer, small towns, childhood freedom, Route 66 and the simplicity of flavor.”

Though Palladino’s adds many toppings to their sundaes, their vanilla flavor honors the minimalism of soft serve’s roots, deviating from a pattern Burt notices among many vendors.

“We didn’t have 88 flavors; we only had three (vanilla, chocolate or swirl), and so the decisions were easy,” Burt said. “These days, soft serve ice cream at most chains – and even some independent spots – has a lot of long, chemical-sounding words in it, a big departure from the perceived wholesomeness of a chocolate-vanilla swirl cone.”

Palladino’s Steak & Seafood, 5959 Royal Lane, 214.452.3352

Sushi Hand Rolls

As the need for convenience and simplicity arises within the modern dining world, Japanese restaurants across Preston Hollow are incorporating temaki sushi hand rolls into their menus.

The rolls first rose to popularity in Japan because of their efficiency. Nonetheless, local temaki kitchens like Kawa Omakase want to give customers an authentic Japanese dining experience.

“Having the chef prepare your food right in front of you adds a nice, interactive touch to the experience,” customer Andre Sie said in a Google review. “You can really appreciate the quality and care that goes into each piece.”

Kawa Omakase values how food connects people with new cultures and with each other. They believe omakase to be a way of bonding.

“Omakase is more than a meal; it is an intimate dialogue between chef and guest. We honor this sacred tradition by presenting dishes that not only delight the senses but also tell a story,” according to the Kawa Omakase website.

Kawa Omakase, 5940 Royal Lane, 214.434.1318

Acai Bowls

Walking a fine line between treat and healthy snack, acai bowls have blown up online throughout the past year. Nékter Juice Bar serves as a key supplier of these bowls as the trend thrives.

Dietitian and diabetes educator Whitney Stuart notes that the popularity of acai bowls likely stems from how colorful they are, which can sometimes be misleading.

“The trend has encouraged people to add more fruit to their diets, raising awareness of antioxidant-rich ingredients,” Stuart said. “However, awareness doesn’t always translate to actual nutritional benefits.”

Stuart urges people to enjoy the bowls and be mindful of their ingredients, decreasing health risks and promoting nutritional fluency.

“To enjoy acai bowls in a healthy way, treat them as a rare treat and limit your toppings to whole fruit,” Stuart said.

Nékter Juice Bar, 8403 Pickwick Lane, 972.629.9428