business bits

Kessler food

Kessler Park Eating House, a new restaurant from the owners of Jonathon’s, put up a sign in January and had been expected to open as soon as Feb. 1. The restaurant, in the old Mama Connie’s café at 1619 N. Beckley, will focus on American food, but will be different from nearby Jonathon’s.

A little scrub goes a long way, so why not throw in two of our favorite ingredients, chocolate and sugar? The lifestyle blog Live Laugh Rowe shows us how chocolate is not only delicious to eat but is also full of antioxidants and will rid you of those dry lips during cold weather.

2. CHOCOLATE-COVERED BACON

Although it is hard to make bacon any better, the food blog Around My Family Table takes it to the next level by dipping it in semisweet chocolate for the perfect sweet and smoky treat.

3. CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD

A rich addition to fruit, crackers or toast, this spread is a perfect gift to share. A combination of chocolate, hazelnuts, sugar, butter and cream featured on the website Epicurious, the treat can also be spooned over ice cream or swirled into brownies.

Yogi time

Sync Yoga & Wellbeing held its grandopening celebration at Sylvan Thirty Jan. 24. The yoga studio, which still has a location in Bishop Arts, took the second-floor space of a building that had been destroyed by fire in March 2014. Find Sync’s schedule of classes at syncdallas.com or by calling 214.946.2224.

1 Dallas Grilled Cheese Co. opened last month in the Bishop Arts District. 2 Chef Blythe Beck is the first chef to serve two consecutive stints at Kitchen LTO at Trinity Groves. Her stay has been extended through March. 3 Smoke opened a second location in Plano at the end of the year. The new restaurant includes a wood-burning hearth, and the menu has a focus on game.

4. HOT CHOCOLATE SPOONS

With only three simple ingredients — sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate chips — these handmade chocolate molds from the Adventures of Cake Girl blog will keep you warm all winter long.

5.CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK

Chocolate bark is one of the easiest and prettiest gifts you can make. There are no rules and really no recipe required. Bon Appetit has a recipe for a salty, sweet bark, but feel free to sprinkle in your choice of nuts, dried fruit or candy pieces.

6.CHOCOLATE CREAM SHOOTERS

Whether you need a cocktail or a mocktail, chocolate cream shooters will win your heart. Food Network shares one of their favorite chocolate drinks filled with rich chocolate syrup, half and half and a shot of seltzer water to make it foam.

7. CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL BALLS

Two pantry staples, peanut butter and pretzels, make it easy to whip these up for a Valentine’s Day celebration. This bite-size candy was created with the perfect amount of salty, sweet and crunch. It will be hard to have just one.

8. CHOCOLATE CARAMELS

These little gems fall somewhere between the chewiest caramels and decadent dark chocolate fudge. If you are a lover, play around with the different intensities and choose your favorite brand to make these bite-size confections your very own.

FIND THE FULL RECIPES at inkfoods.com or advocatemag.com

Kristen Massad writes a monthly column about sweets and baked goods. The professional pastry chef graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York City and owned Tart Bakery on Lovers Lane for eight years. She blogs about food and lifestyles at inkfoods.com.