Join us for Upcoming CityLine Events in Richardson, Texas!

At Tricky Fish, we absolutely love being a part of the CityLine community! CityLine – perfectly situated near the intersection of President George Bush Turnpike and Central Expressway (Highway 75) in Richardson, Texas – is always having events and classes that make this big suburb feel small. And that’s what we’re all about – indulging in the simple life. Here are a few upcoming Richardson holiday events you won’t want to miss:

CityLine’s First Merry Market & Festival

December 9: Noon-7pm

We are so excited for CityLine’s first annual Merry Market & Festival! Join Tricky Fish for brunch, and then peruse all the festival has to offer. (Or you can even visit us for lunch and dinner during the festival!)

There will be booths galore, filled with holiday gift ideas from local artisans and vendors, activities for the kids, free hot cocoa and cookies, free donuts, live music all day long, and so much more! It’s a fun-filled event you can bring the whole family in for!  This event is absolutely free, and the perfect chance to add a little holiday cheer to your busy schedule.

Prohibition Day: Old Style Cocktail Class at Tricky Fish

December 5: 7-10pm

Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone or an amazing date night idea? We’ve got just the thing! Join us at Tricky Fish for an amazing night as we harken back to the 1930s with Prohibition style cocktail lessons! Bonus points if you dress in Prohibition-era clothing. It’s going to be a fun night, and you won’t want to miss it! And hey – you might even learn a thing or two! Register on the CityLine website today, as space is limited.

Can’t make it to these upcoming events? No problem! There are always plenty of events going on at CityLine. Check the CityLine website often for updates on all the latest events. At Tricky Fish, we love hosting Richardson wine tastings, beer tastings and mixology classes, so be sure to stay tuned for more of those in the future as well.

Have you Tried the New Menu Items at Tricky Fish Richardson?

That’s right: at Tricky Fish, we are keeping our menu fresh! We’re constantly changing it up - adding new recipes, offering unique chef specials, and concocting new handcrafted cocktails – just to keep things interesting. We never want you to feel like our menu is stale. It’s just one of the ways we strive to be the best new restaurant in Richardson.

So with that said, we’ve already added a few new menu items that we hope you enjoy!

Tricky Fish

While this menu item may not be new, we can now offer a new twist on the customer favorite! The traditional Tricky Fish comes with blackened tilapia, served with crawfish etouffee and Cajun dirty rice on the side. Now, in addition to the tilapia option, we are pleased to offer blackened salmon or redfish instead if you so desire. Hum…decisions…decisions….

Blackened Salmon

In addition to the Tricky Fish, you can get that same delicious blackened salmon flavor but with a totally different vibe. Our Blackened Salmon entrée substitutes the traditional Cajun sides for mango relish, dirty rice, and shishito peppers.

Grilled Salmon

You asked and we answered. Salmon has amazing health benefits – high in Omega-3s and can actually reverse high cholesterol numbers – so we’re excited to offer this lighter option on the menu. The grilled salmon comes with potato hash and shishito peppers.

Grilled Redfish

Another great grilled option on our new menu, the grilled redfish is served with a wilted spinach salad and fried onions.

Don’t forget to grab an ice old craft beer, glass of wine, or a handcrafted signature cocktail to accompany your meal!

Visit us at Tricky Fish in Richardson, Texas today and tell us what you think of our new menu items! Are you loyal to one of our menu mainstays or have you found a new favorite with the new menu items?

Accidental Success: The Rise of the Moscow Mule

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just stumble across a cocktail – coin a name for it – and then it catch on like wildfire?

So many of the popular cocktails we enjoy today started this way – including the Moscow Mule.

Let’s just say the Moscow Mule started as a cross between good ole fashioned American ingenuity and a complete accident.

In the late 1930s, a company called Heublein bought the rights to Smirnoff vodka, the delicious, smooth vodka we love today. But back in the 1930s, no one was drinking vodka and Americans snubbed it. Here’s where the facts get fuzzy. One story is that Heublein executive John Martin paired up with his buddy Jack Morgan – owner of the Cock n Bull bar in LA – and created the drink to clear an abundance of ginger beer inventory and spark interest in the newly acquired Smirnoff vodka. However, Wes Price, the head bartender at Cock n Bull at the time, also claims that he invented the drink. So who knows?! All we know is that we’re glad someone came up with it!

And as for the copper mugs? Well, it seems they might have come on the scene because Morgan was dating a woman who owned a copper company – seriously. But at the end of the day, it was actually Martin who popularized the Moscow Mule in the copper mug, taking polaroids of bartenders holding the copper-clad drinks in hand and then showing them to the next bar he was trying to persuade to buy Smirnoff vodka/ginger beer. Apparently, it worked.

Cheers to you, John Martin, for bringing us such a tasty cocktail! Ready to take on the best Moscow Mule in Richardson? Visit Tricky Fish today to get one of our delicious mules, an Old Fashioned, or any of our other handcrafted cocktails.

10 Great Uses for Tricky Fish’s Bacon Jam

Bacon jam – a delicious, savory Southern condiment – is the secret to several of our Tricky Fish entrees including the cheeseburger, fried oyster BLT, and the fish sandwich. So popular in fact, that last Fall we shared our top secret recipe with all you fine folks. And yet, we are still frequently asked the question, “How can I use bacon jam at home?”

Don’t worry; your friends at Tricky Fish have come to the rescue! Here are 10 of our favorite ways to use bacon jam at home:

#1: Breakfast Omelet

Bacon is the quintessential breakfast meat. Slather some homemade bacon jam on an omelet to give it the perfect punch of flavor.

#2: Breakfast Sandwich

Create your own breakfast sandwich with an English muffin, fried egg, butter, and homemade bacon jam.

#3: Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roast brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper in the oven at 425 for 20 minutes or until done. When they are crispy and browned, take them out and slather a little bacon jam on top!

#4: Chips & Dip

Sour cream is good with pretty much anything, and bacon jam is no exception. Stir a little bacon jam in with sour cream, then dip your favorite chip.

#5: Burgers

We add bacon jam to our cheeseburgers at Tricky Fish and the combination is heaven! Want to try something a little different? Try blue cheese, caramelized onions, and bacon jam.

#6: Pasta

Buy some pre-made ravioli, cook using package directions, then slather bacon jam and butter on top instead of traditional pesto or marinara sauce.

#7: Salad

Warm the bacon jam and then add a dollop on top of your favorite salad.

#8: S’mores

Like that combination of sweet and savory? Spread a little bacon jam on a graham cracker before adding the chocolate and roasted marshmallow for an all-new twist on an old favorite.

#9: Grilled Cheese

The traditional grilled cheese sandwich is made even better when you slather a little homemade bacon jam on it before grilling.

#10: Pancakes and Waffles

Pancakes and waffles are great topped with syrup – and bacon jam!

Tricky Fish – the best new restaurant in Richardson, Texas – wants to hear from you! What is your favorite use for bacon jam?!

3 Common Misconceptions about Oysters – Tricky Fish Richardson

Oysters are one of our most popular dishes here at Tricky Fish in Richardson, Texas, and over the years, we’ve learned that there are many misconceptions about these tiny little shellfish. You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em - but either way – let us set the record straight on 3 of the most common misconceptions about oysters:

Myth #1: Oysters are High in Bad Cholesterol.

Yes, it’s true. Oysters were once considered very high in cholesterol and possibly contaminated with harmful metals. However, new research on the subject has removed oysters from the “bad cholesterol list” and the University of Maine’s School of Food and Agriculture considers them healthy! Packed full of zinc, iron, and Vitamin B12, oysters can definitely be part of a healthy diet.

Myth #2: You Can’t Eat Oysters During Months Without the Letter “R.”

“R” months – May, June, July, and August – are typically the warmest of the year, causing warmer gulf waters. What was once a hard and fast rule to avoid contamination and off-peak oysters, is now just a thing of the past. During the warmer months, Tricky Fish gets its certified oysters from Gold Band Oysters, ensuring safety and enjoyable oysters year round.

Myth #3: The Bigger the Oyster, the Better the Taste.

An oyster’s flavor has little to do with its size, and much more to do with its harvest date. The fresher the oyster, the better it tastes, period. Tricky Fish – your seafood restaurant in Richardson - orders its oysters fresh from the Gulf and you can always ask to see the harvest date.

Join us at Tricky Fish in Richardson’s CityLine and order a plate of raw oysters on the half shell, fresh from the Gulf of Mexico! It’s the perfect appetizer or happy hour treat to accompany a big glass of craft beer!

Give the Perfect Gift: Tricky Fish Gift Cards Available Now!

So we’re new to CityLine in Richardson, Texas and we know many people haven’t had the pleasure of trying our new restaurant yet.

Why not make it easy for your friends, coworkers, and family to try our restaurant – give them the gift of Tricky Fish gift cards!

Tricky Fish gift cards are available in any denomination. Just visit our new restaurant location in CityLine of Richardson and ask to get a gift card or two.

Your friends will be thrilled to experience our casual dining experience, bringing the simple pleasures of life to every meal. Tricky Fish has Southern fare: delicious shrimp etouffee, Tillamook mac and cheese topped with shrimp, kitchen sink gumbo, and more. And don’t forget about our craft cocktails, handcrafted with simple ingredients every time.

We’re excited to see that guests are already having great experiences at our Richardson restaurant and bar and sharing those experiences on Yelp:

“Loved the food and the service was great! We will definitely be returning. Had a great time.” – Dylan in Addison, TX

“So so so impressed with Tricky Fish!!! I’m so excited to see all of the new restaurants opening at City Line and this one is fantastic! We traveled to NOLA earlier this year and the food here was straight out of Louisiana. The craft cocktails were delicious, complex, and didn’t have any rediciulously unnecessary ingredients like a lot of places add to their craft cocktail menus. The happy hour deals are good too!” – QH in Forney, TX

“We will be back… Frequently. Great place for families, dates, and business. At almost every table there are outlets to charge your phone or laptop and a bar to sit and work after hours. The mac and cheese is incredible!” - Rikki in Rowlett, TX

So if you are looking for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, give them a night out at our Richardson restaurant and bar! Tricky Fish gift cards are always the right size!

Sippin' Whiskies to Try Now at Tricky Fish!

As the days get cooler, it feels good to warm up with a glass of bourbon or two. (or three.)

At Tricky Fish, we love bourbon. We’ve gone to great lengths to choose a menu of “sippin’ whiskies” that will impress the palette and challenge you to try something new. Here are a few of our favorite bourbons, on the menu now at Tricky Fish, located in CityLine in Richardson, Texas:

1.  Firestone & Robertson TX Blended Whiskey

Tricky Fish loves supporting local, Texas craft breweries and distilleries. TX is one of our favorites, and not just because it’s produced in Texas, but because it’s just delicious bourbon – pure and simple. It goes down smooth, with sweet hints of honey butter, vanilla bean, oak, pear, and even caramel. But don’t take our word for it! TX was recently awarded the “Best American Craft Whiskey” in the World Spirits Competition.

2.  Booker’s Barrel Strength Whiskey

Hang on to your hats, because Booker’s is a bourbon that packs a punch! Booker’s is raw, uncut and unfiltered bourbon, which means each batch is aged to perfection and then immediately bottled. Nothing is added. You get what you get. Simplicity at it’s finest, and it’s pretty darn good stuff.

3.  Balconies Baby Blue Roasted Corn Whiskey

Want to try something new and different? Give Balconies Baby Blue a try. A departure from the typically craft bourbon, Baby Blue is crafted using roasted blue corn, creating a bourbon with a distinctive nuttiness and complex nose. Who knew blue corn could create such an amazing, award-winning sippin’ whiskey?!

4.  Stranahan’s Rocky Mountain Single Malt Whiskey

Distilled in Colorado, Stranahan’s whiskey contains only 4 ingredients: 100% malted barley, Rocky Mountain water, yeast, and time in the barrel. Somehow these simple ingredients are perfectly blended to create smooth whiskey - and call us crazy - but we swear we taste the mountains in every sip!

Ready to relax and sip some bourbon? Join us at Tricky Fish for lunch, dinner, or happy hour in Richardson, Texas.  

We can't wait to meet you!

Tricky Fish Gives Back: ONEHOPE Winery

At Tricky Fish, we like to keep things simple. We enjoy the simple pleasures in life and love when those simple pleasures align with our goals to give back and support great causes.

When we were opening our Richardson restaurant and bar, we looked long and hard at which wines, spirits, and craft beers we wanted to carry. One such winery stood out, and we just had to carry their wines in-house: ONEHOPE Winery.

What is Different about ONEHOPE?

ONEHOPE is wine with a purpose. As a relatively new winery tucked into the heart of Napa Valley, ONEHOPE Vineyard is an example of how to run a sustainable, for-profit business. It started as just 8 20-somethings, anxious to make a difference, while making great wine. At a trade show, a man named Michael (who they later learned was Michael Mondavi himself!) took an interest in their company and has been a consultant on the business every since. ONEHOPE’s Vineyard is already a leader in water and energy conservation within the Napa Valley.  

Beyond the sustainability aspect of the business, each bottle of ONEHOPE wine that is sold gives back to a certain charity. Causes like fighting childhood hunger, breast cancer research, providing therapies for autistic children, pet adoption, creating clean drinking water in third world counties, and so much more. You can learn more about the charities here.

What Wines do you Carry at Tricky Fish?

At Tricky Fish, both the ONEHOPE Cabernet and the ONEHOPE Chardonnay are on our wine menu. The Cabernet supports therapies for children with autism; the Chardonnay supports breast cancer research.

Photo Credit

It’s wine we feel good about serving – and you should feel good ordering! And bonus: it’s delicious! Visit Tricky Fish at CityLine in Richardson, Texas this week for wine specials, gourmet farm to table entrees, and so much more.