Dallas, TX--

If the old saying redheads are feisty, then it certainly holds true when Blythe Beck delivers her feisty attitude in her entrees at Central 214 located in the Palomar Hotel Dallas. We often see menu items that are too wild or a little over the edge, but Blythe is not afraid to try traditional Texas cuisine and mix it with some new style all her own. The Naughty Kitchen With Chef Blythe Beck debuted on Oxygen on September 22, showcases some of what you can order right off the menu.

When you first step in the restaurant, you will see why this is a very fun atmosphere for even the casual dining patron. The bar and lounge area offers a place to gather over their signature cocktails and with their selection you will certainly want to have one of these. The outside courtyard area is the perfect complement to what Central 214 offers inside with its cozy couches and cabanas, this is a place to enjoy a summer evening. As Blythe said, “The outside is just F---ing Cool in the Summer, I mean look at it.”

Okay by now you are probably want us to cut the chase and want to know what has given Blythe her “Naughty” tag? Well most of her menu items have a certain flare like the fried ones, which she calls “naughty” and some were create during her nights of vodka therapy.

Our first taste of the men u was something close to home and we wanted to see how she did it her way in the Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Served with Crispy Spinach and Jalepeno Caper Mayo, these cakes are almost good enough to entrée sized. Packed full of Jumbo Lump Crab meat and almost absolutely no fillers these are a must have for $16.00.

One place the Blythe is willing to take a risk and make it work is with her Fried Appetizers.   While normally anything resembling a Fried Cheese Stick would be a turnoff, the Crispy Prosciutto Wrapped Cheddar served with Apple BBQ Sauce and Spicy Avocado was lightly breaded and packed full of natural cheese flavor. You hardly taste any fried in this choice.   Add a little dab of the BBQ Sauce and this is damn naughty and a little bit spicy too. Another great choice for $10.00

While most of the menu items change seasonally one that remained into the fall and is a Southern Favorite are the Fried Green Tomatoes served with a Crawfish Remoulade.   While we passed on sampling this one in order to keep the review more seasonal, it is a strong favorite of most of the servers for $11.50.

As the temperatures begin to fall, Blythe finds a way to warm all of her patrons especially with menu items like the Smoked Chicken-Noon Day Onion Soup. Packed with house made Thyme Noodles, and loads of fresh chicken, this isn’t your traditional Onion Soup. Forget its cheesy Cousin, French, this Onion Soup will warm you in many ways.

If you like seafood the options are very unique to Texas. The Grilled Pacific Halibut was grilled to perfection with just the right amount of blackening that complimented the smoked crab and garlic Anaheim Pepper with Texas Tomato Pico. This is one of the best selections Central 214 offers and is a large portion for those craving fish.

Another unique seafood selection is the Texas Size BBQ Prawns.   While many might pass these up, these dry rubbed gems are big enough to feed two and served sautéed over Naughty Cream Corn, this isn’t something you are going to find everywhere.

There are not too many restaurants in the State of Texas that do not offer a top quality meat selection and two of the selections are certainly going to satisfy your hunger and leave you asking how to make it at home… I am sure Blythe with her upbeat attitude may even give you a little secret or two.

One not to be missed is the Strip Loin of Beef.   Served with Arugula, Grilled Texas Peaches and Bleu Cheese it is a lot of beef and less filling. We ordered   it prepared medium and   the peaches really made the difference.   The grilled flavor of the beef and the sweet peaches in one bite is mouth watering.

Lastly if you are looking for something totally unique then you need to try the Chicken Fried Kobe Steak. While we will caution this item is not for everyone, we figured with Kobe beef, what could be wrong with trying it a different way than normal. Served with Slow Braised Mustard Greens, Butter Whipped Potatoes and Bacon Red Eye Gravy. At first bite, you are like this is super country, what the heck is it doing on the menu, but the potatoes and a bite of the steak is the way to go. Can you say crunchy and smooth at the same time.

Nothing beats a perfect entrée than a more perfect desert. While we barely had much room left to find out why these deserts rank very high in taste and less on filling, we managed and sampled three of the best deserts in Texas.

First on the desert menu was a Chocolate Waffle served with Peanut Butter Ice Cream. This is something that could easily be the first meal of the day.   Breakfast for desert is a better title for this one.

If you really have a liking for a slice of pie, then you will really like Blythe’s own Texas Peach Pie.   These dumpling style pies served hot and dusted in cinnamon and sugar were certainly the best peach pie we have sampled in a long time. Warm and delightful with every bite and enough to share.

When you’re looking for a way to go out with a bang, try Blythe’s Bourbon Chocolate Shake with Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies.   One sip of this is pure heaven.   Dip the cookies and you will know why these are not your grandma’s cookies. This one not for sharing that’s for sure, it won’t last that long even though there is enough extra provided in the silver milk carton looking cup for those who just savior more.

So before you leave Central 214, you will know why you have been naughty, if you tried it fried or had it for desert, it was naughty for sure.   Leave your calorie counter home and just enjoy, you won’t get many opportunities like this one with perfect selections from start to finish. You will also leave the Hotel Palomar feeling a little naughty and you didn’t even need a room to do so.