I settled into my temporary home in Juniper’s first floor guest room with relish. The three story Dallas townhouse she and Big B purchased is situated in the neighborhood of Oaklawn, an eclectic mix  of midcentury homes, 60’s era apartments, and newly constructed townhouses. The floor to ceiling picture window in the second floor living room offered a leafy view of the 60 foot pecan tree shading a sidewalk that led to fabulous eating, shopping and entertainment. I was looking forward to living the life of an Uptown Girl almost as much as the birth of my first grandchild.

The townhouse was on the market and subject to frequent last minute showings to prospective buyers, so we were not in the mood to evacuate every last cooking utensil off the counters each day in order to maintain that impersonal hotel staging that realtors love to show off. Our meal prep was limited to throwing together a quick salad or yogurt parfait from the refrigerator staples, so deciding where we would go to dinner was a daily highlight.

Our go-to absolute favorite was Eatzi’s Market and Bakery, around the corner and a quick two block zip down Lemmon Avenue. Eatzi’s motto is “Chef’s Meals for the Taking”, and we certainly took advantage. Sometimes we brought our dinner home to eat, and other times we enjoyed our meals  outdoors sitting at the wrought iron cafe tables on the patio, acting like we were sitting in a French bistro.

Eatzi’s is a feast for all five senses, beginning at the door,  where tantalizingly aromatic tendrils of baking  wrap around you and lead you through the vestibule stacked on one side with puffy white sacks of flour and on the other with  large ovens filled with crusty and golden loaves of bread. Then the swells of opera music pull you through into a  cavern dominated by a large, circular deli case filled with mounds of food attractively displayed on varying heights of platters and bowls. And yes, cavern, because by this time you have forgotten that you are in a non-descript building sitting in the middle of a large city parking lot, and have instead stumbled into a wondrous chamber filled with edible treasure.

The aisle divides and circles around each side of the main deli counter, where chefs decked in traditional toques, white jackets and black checked trousers stand smiling, waiting to serve up whatever dish catches your eye. The aisles are quite narrow, so shoppers find themselves gliding and swirling  past the twice baked potatoes, roasted meats, and salads, gently swinging their shopping baskets around and behind so as not to become entangled with each other. Fresh fruit selections are displayed along the right wall, sandwiched between the pastry and sushi cases. The back wall features assorted sandwiches made with the freshly baked bread, salads, and dips, and an antipasto counter serving up cheeses, meats, and olives.

The left side of Eatzi’s features the made to order sandwich and salad counter, coffee bar, and a grill featuring daily specials whipped up on the spot by more smiling chefs. In between the aisles are shelves stocked with crackers, wines, chips, chocolates, and even fresh flowers.

We sampled our way through many of Eatzi’s entrée choices such as grilled salmon, , or roast chicken, accompanied by various sides of kale, sweet potato, or quinoa salad before eventually settling on favorites: Juniper’s preferred selection was the brisket quesadilla, which we would bring home to heat up on the stove while snacking on pesto hummus and crackers. I frequently opted for an assortment of tapas: olives, cheeses, and dolmas, which I would pair with a selection of crackers and glass of wine. We invariably ended our meal with a scoop of tiramasu or chocolate mousse. Stretching out on the couch in the evenings with our girly foods and watching the neighbors stroll down the sidewalk through the big window was a perfect way to end the day.