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Lead Your Own Food Tour: Dine Around at the Village on the Green

Experience four different ethnic cuisines in one night.
By Hayley Votolato |
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La Perla d’Italia, Pho House, Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine, and Maximo invited me as a guest on Wednesday for a food tour at the Village on the Green. I was given a tasting at each restaurant (the opposite of little Costco-sized samples), all thankfully within walking distance of each other. Four restaurants and way too much food later, I think it’s safe to say I was stuffed. If you didn’t think it was possible to have Italian, Indian, Vietnamese, and Mexican food all in one night, it’s definitely do-able, as long as you exercise portion control.

For a fun night, try taking your own food tour at the Village on the Green with family and friends. Order one or two dishes at each place, and experience four different ethnic cuisines at its best. Follow my lead or forge your own path. Either way, you’ll leave feeling full and satisfied.

Mozzarella-making at La Perla d'Italia (photography by Hayley Votolato)
Mozzarella-making at La Perla d’Italia (photography by Hayley Votolato)

Stop 1: Eat cheese and watch cheese being made at La Pera d’Italia

Our dine around started at La Perla d’Italia, which opened at the beginning of January. With huge open glass windows facing the kitchen, you are able to view the mozzarella-making process right in front of you. The Mozzarella di Bufala is made with 100% water buffalo milk brought from the Campania region of Italy. As a mozzarella snob—or just an Italian snob in general—I was disappointed by the Bufala Caprese salad. The cheese was almost a little too dry. What I wasn’t disappointed by was the beautiful stracciatella bruschetta. Now that is something I would be able to eat for days.

Pho Bo at Pho House
Pho Bo at Pho House

Stop 2: Get the pho bo at Pho House

Pho House was the next restaurant in our gluttony adventure. I have been to Vietnam twice in my lifetime, so this pho had something to live up to. Surprisingly, I was very impressed by the pho bo. It was one of the best phos I’ve ever had. It must have been because they added brisket, the family recipe twist. They slow roast the brisket for seven hours overnight, making the pho so flavorful. If I was really craving Vietnamese food, it would definitely be worth the 45 minutes trek from where I live.

Murgh tikka masala, jeera rice, and garlic/sesame naan at Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine
Murgh tikka masala, jeera rice, and garlic/sesame naan at Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine

Stop 3: Order the murgh tikka masala at Mughlai

Walking into the Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine restaurant felt like walking into India. Spices filled the room with a warm, pleasant aroma. The murgh tikka masala (chicken roasted in tandoor, then cooked in a onion tomato masala sauce) poured over the jeera rice (cumin flavored basmati rice) was a little taste of heaven. It’s got a little kick to it, so if you weren’t expecting it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Maximo Heat Margarita, La Paloma, and Black & Blue Mexican Mojito at Maximo
Maximo Heat Margarita, La Paloma, and Black & Blue Mexican Mojito at Maximo

Stop 4: Top the night off with Maximo’s Black & Blue Mexican mojito

At last, we reached Maximo. Right off the bat, we were served three drink samples: the Maximo Heat Margarita, La Paloma, and the Black & Blue Mexican Mojito. The Black & Blue Mexican mojito was my favorite out of the three. The other two came close, but didn’t quite reach the same level. The mojito had mint leaves muddled with fresh blueberries and blackberries, combined with el Jimador Reposado and fresh-squeezed lime juice.

If you’re considering your own food tour at the Village on the Green, prepare yourself for a massive food coma. As for me, it’s time to put my stretchy pants on.

Hayley Votolato is a D Magazine intern, and aspiring food and travel editor. She will be graduating from Texas Christian University with a degree in Strategic Communication from the Schieffer College of Communication this May.

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