RestauRant & food talk

Advocate editors serve up restaurant news every Monday on the back Talk blog. Read post excerpts below, and for the full posts, visit lakewood.advocatemag.com and search: Restaurant talk.

spec’s taking former toys r us at walnut hill and central the barbecue snob of east dallas is writing a book

Daniel Vaughn of East Dallas, the BBQ Snob behind fullcustomgospelbbq.com, says he’s not going away, but he’s scaling back his blog posts to about two a week because he’s working on a book. Since he started the blog six years ago, Vaughn has become one of the most respected barbecue critics in the country. And he’s not even from Texas, y’all.

—RACHEL STONE

Houston-based liquor store Spec’s is building its first store in the Dallas market, and it’s just outside our neighborhood. Spec’s is taking the former Toys R Us space at Walnut Hill and Central. Spec’s is more than just liquor, beer and wine. It’s like Sigel’s crossed with the cheese and olive section at Whole Foods. The stores feature delis, and they sell cigars, gift items and glassware.

—RACHEL STONE

society bakery’s peppermint red velvet appears on food network

Sugar High is the new Food Network series hosted by Ace of Cakes Duff Goldman. In the show, Duff (who must’ve sold his soul to the devil or something for this gig) travels coast to coast to find the most delicious desserts in America. It’s no surprise he landed at Society Bakery. The cupcakes at this Greenville Avenue bakery have the ability to make one forget all that is wrong in the world. A second Society Bakery location recently opened inside Medical City hospital. No surprise there either — the healing power of cupcakes. The episode of Sugar High featuring Society’s peppermint red velvet cupcake aired last month. Owner Roshi Muns tells us she usually only sells this flavor during the holidays. Because of its newfound fame, however, she says they will likely make it a permanent menu item. Society Bakery is located at 3426 Greenville Avenue, 214.827.1411. —CHRiSTiNA HugHES bAbb

Our neighborhood’s dark shadows

Underneath what looks, on the surface, like a near-utopian area — where chatty mommies push strollers, high school students toss footballs and cyclists traverse freshly paved trail — lurks mystery, a dark history and an unseen menace.

What you read here might change the way you perceive our neighborhood, by way of exploring some of its mysteries and lore.

STORY BY RACHEL STONE & CHRISTINA HUGHES BABB · PHOTOS BY BENJAMIN HAGER & CAN TÜRKYILMAZ