Central Track Contributor
Celebrate Hot Dogs and Question The Bacon Upcharges At Your Favorite Area Burger Joints.
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.
July just so happens to be one of those months that's full of national foodie observances.
For example? It’s National Picnic Month, so the folks at Norma’s Cafe are celebrating the entire month with specialty to-go picnic boxes. Inside goodies include brisket sliders, chicken tenders, coleslaw and homemade chips with a choice of black-eyed peas, pinto or green beans, and homemade ranch dressing. The boxes also come with a choice of Mile High Cream Pie plates.
Additionally, it’s also National Hot Dog Month. And National Ice Cream Month, too. Which, if nothing else, sparked this delightfully weird and interesting challenge proposed to specialty ice cream shop Carnival Barker's from our pals at the Observer's City of Ate blog. Basically, they've asked namesake ice cream maker Aaron Barker to come up with hot dog ice cream using a box of ingredients including neon green pickle relish, hot dog buns and Twizzlers in only two days. Expect grossness!
Meanwhile, adding bacon to your burger got a little bit easier on the wallet thanks to Eater Dallas' new Add Bacon Index. The graphic compares the costs of adding bacon to your burger at 15 different establishments around town, with the add-on prices ranging from 40 extra cents to a whopping three additional dollars. (You're crazy for that one, Sundown at Granada.)
In opening news, the Canadian-basedFirecrust Pizzeria announced has brought its brand of Neapolitan-style customized pies to the Knox-Henderson area. The concept follows the Chipotle-like Seinfeld-aping fast-casual service model, where customers pick their ingredients and then the pies are cooked in a 900-degree oven for 90 seconds. The shop should have an easy go at introducing its concept to its new just-off-the-Central-Expressway crowds; it takes over an Pie Five location where the same idea came into play.
Meanwhile, over at DFW International Airport, Yum Brands is opening of its test concept Bahn Shop. The airport location will come in conjunction with the previously reported SMU outpost which is now scheduled to open this fall. In the meantime, the DFW International location plans to open later this month with a broader menu than the SMU shop.
Then, lLater this year, North Texas will become the home to two outposts of a Hawaiian fish taco concept called Coconut's Fish Cafe. The Maui-based chains offerings incude a signature dish of grilled fish tacos with white corn tortillas and a variety of toppings, as well as other types of tacos and grilled fish burgers. A Plano location is set to open this September, while the second location on Lovers Lane will follow in November.
And, over on Maple Avenue, In other moving news, Battuto is leaving its North Dallas location and its space off of Frankford and Preston will become home to Pat Snuffer’s new burger venture, Pat’s and Mike. Stay tuned for our update on that.
In brew news, tickets for the Observer's Brewfest go on sale to the general public right here on Friday, July 11. Want to guarantee your way in before that? You can head here until 10 p.m. on Thursday to get your tickets in advance; just be sure to use the promo code “CentralTrack” at checkout. The event, which is being held on September 13 at the Dallas Farmers Market, will feature more than 150 beers from around the world for sampling.
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