The Spread.

Taco Bell Gets Inspired By Dallas, Tiffany Derry Scores a New Gig and Fireside Pies Turns 10.

Welcome to The Spread, our weekly feature that aims to share all the area restaurant, food and beverage industry news that's fit to print. Except, this is the Internet, so space isn't a concern. Also: Good thing, because this is Dallas and this town always has breaking restaurant news going down like whoa.

People who've had their fair share of Taco Bell tacos — or who were brave enough to try this Frankenstein-esque breakfast creation — know well that cheap, less-than-mediocre tacos are easy to come across.

Good tacos, on the other hand? Well, unless you're, say, our pal Jose Ralat of Taco Trail fame, those can be harder to find.

But maybe not for longer: Taking a page out of the playbook of its Yum! Brands parent company, which recently opened Super Chix out in Arlington as a means to test the Chic-Fil-A competition waters, Taco Bell recently announced plans to open a new upscale, Instagram-worthy version of its restaurant called U.S. Taco Co. and Urban Taproom.

Here's the kicker about that, though: The tacos, according to the press release announcing the new chain, will be influenced by San Francisco-style ones, but, more important, with Dallas-style ones. How so? Well, they promise a taco on the menu that'll be stuffed with Texas smoked brisket and topped with salsa and Oaxacan cheese. The menu will also have thick-cut fries, and a variety of premium tacos and shakes.

Unfortunately, unlike Super Chix, the flagship restaurant of the new chain will be opening in Huntington Beach, California, before making its way to the rest of the country. Here's hoping that the stated Dallas influence in the food means it'll make its way to North Texas sooner than later.

Far closer on the horizon, however, is the due-to-popular demand return of The Parking Lot Event. This rotation of food trucks at the Sprouts Market on Henderson Avenue will go down on the first Thursday of every month, with the first one taking place on May 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will include live music, wine samples from Naked Wines, beer samples from Community Beer and free ice cream.

And, since Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, you might as well start planning your celebrations at some of the area restaurants that will have specials for the occasion. Sunset Lounge, for instance, will have $3 food and drink specials all day on Saturday, May 3. They'll also be opening early — at 11 a.m. — and will have guest DJs the entire day. Boxwood Tap & Grill, meanwhile, is celebrating the holiday on the actual day upon which it was intended to be celebrated with a Don Julio tequila dinner made by executive chef Jason Wade.

Looking for a more beer-inclined way to celebrate? You can celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Lakewood Brewing Company's Mole Temptress brew, which is now available at restaurants throughout the area. The seasonal collaboration with Dude, Sweet Chocolate is made with chiles, cacao nibs and cinnamon. It's also only being served on draught, so be sure to try some while you can.

In other news, Fireside Pies is coming up on its 10-year anniversary, and management is celebrating the occasion with $10 pies and a $1.10 sangria option. The deal will take place at Fireside's Henderson, Plano, Inwood and Grapevine locations on May 13, starting at 5 p.m.

Lastly, we end this week with some more proof that former Top Chef (Season 7) contestant and Private|Social executive chef Tiffany Derry just keeps on making waves in the national restaurant landscape. Her latest move of note? She's joined the cast of Hungry Investors, a new show on Spike TV (which, worth noting, also employs Oliver Peck, another noted Dallasite, in another of its reality TV competition shows) in which Derry and two other judges invest in a restaurant in need of help. One of those other panelists, you should know, is Bar Rescue host John Taffer. Meaning? Derry knows John Taffer! Lucky…

Cover photo via Spike TV. Got a tip for The Spread? Email us!