Dudes Like Macarons Too

Dallas baker throws Valentine's Day pop-up party with manly macarons

For those hoping to get crafty on Valentine’s Day, Emily Allen has some sweet tricks up her sleeve. The Dallas baker is hosting a Cakewalk Bake Shop Valentine’s Day pop-up at her Bell Jar studio on February 14, from noon-6 pm. But it won’t be all red paper hearts and cupcakes.

For starters, Allen will offer her hand-painted, gilded and Sweetheart candy-inspired macarons in pretty craft paper boxes — ready for gifting or eating on the spot. But she is also debuting her “Man Macs,” a line of snack-time-flavored macarons she recently developed to appeal to the more rugged gender.

“I get so many clients who think men don’t like macarons, so I wanted to make something fun that the ladies could buy their guys,” she says. “I thought it would be fun to play on manly flavors.”

That means versions of the delicate treat in root beer float, s’more, Guinness-infused chocolate stout, and peanut butter and jelly flavors. There is even an unexpectedly sweet Cheetos-n-beans combo. And, yes, you can sample before you buy.

Allen also will offer plenty of her most popular flavors, including lavender, pistachio, lemon ginger, raspberry and vanilla bean. Each box of five costs $14.

Those who wish to customize their gifts can pick their macaron flavors, then head to the Yeti & The Beast station for decorating supplies and DIY heart box kits. Funky extras — think hand-painted “You’re a Gem,” gift tags, leather pens and photo-strip cards — will also be available for purchase from the custom design company.

To preserve those Valentine’s Day memories, Allen has partnered with the Photo Wagon, a vintage 1960s trailer-turned-photo booth, for on-the-spot, prop-packed photos. The wagon will be stationed at the back of the Bell Jar, where guests can snap shots for $5 per strip.

“My hope is that the event is interactive and fun for people,” Allen says. “And not just couples.”

Can’t make it to the event? Fort Worth fans can swing by Shampoo salon or Maven boutique to find her pre-selected and packaged macaron boxes. Or keep an eye on her Facebook page for future pop-up shop dates.

Emily Allen hopes her Valentine's Day pop-up will be fun for everyone — not just couples.

Photo by Apryl Ann Photography

Emily Allen hopes her Valentine's Day pop-up will be fun for everyone — not just couples.

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BBQ news

11 Dallas-Fort Worth BBQ joints showcased in Texas author's new tome

Photo by Brianna Caleri

This hefty book highlights the behind the historical connections that make Texas Barbecue so interconnected.

Most Texans know our barbecue traditions are more complicated than a bit of salt, pepper, and smoke, but how much else is there to say? For Austin-based food and travel writer Veronica Meewes, the answer is: a lot.

Her new 512-page book, Texas BBQ: The Art of Low and Slow, covers the subject in great detail, from long restaurant and pitmaster profiles to shorter blurbs that weave the complicated web of who's who in Texas 'cue. Gorgeous photographs round out this feast of a coffee table book.

Eleven Dallas-Fort Worth barbecue restaurants get featured in the book, including Cattleack Barbeque, Zavala’s Barbecue, Goldee’s Barbecue, Smoke-a-Holics BBQ, Heim Barbecue, and more.

This book stands out not just for its beauty — including embossed lettering and a cloth wrap that looks and feels like a high-quality denim apron — but for the depth at which it chronicles each establishment.

Texas BBQ: The Art of Low and Slow table of contents Big photos make Texas BBQ fun to flip through.Image courtesy of HarperCollins

Some of the most notable entries, such as Goldee's Barbecue in Fort Worth, Truth BBQ in Brenham and Houston, and Aaron Franklin in Austin, get six to 10-page spreads. Each is written in a way that the reader would understand if they simply flipped to their favorite restaurant, but during long reading sessions, bigger narratives start to unfold.

The author recounts the story of Fort Worth's highly acclaimed Goldee's, from its founders' childhoods and early work experiences to its beginnings just before the pandemic, to its Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction in 2024. There are even a few recipes, equipment, and cooking secrets revealed.

In between comprehensive restaurant histories, the author offers snippets of more general knowledge: a barbecue glossary, a breakdown of different types of wood and knives, and a profile of two popular barbecue education courses.

Since the book is organized by region — North, East, Central, South, and West Texas — it's both a great semi-personalized book for Texans who love their hometowns and a useful travel guide.

The title of this book could be a tongue-in-cheek reference to how it's written, with a clear passion for getting to the bottom of things, finding the flavor, and trimming very little fat.

Author Veronica Meewes at la Barbecue.Photo by Alex Gray

Texas BBQ is published by HarperCollins, with an original release date of November 11. It is available via the publisher for $50, or as an ebook for $34.99, as well as from other stores across Texas and major online retailers. (As of publish time, it's on sale on Amazon for $30.04.) This is Meewe's fifth book.

Here's the complete list of the Texas barbecue joints featured in the book:

North Texas

Goldee’s Barbecue - Fort Worth
Panther City BBQ - Fort Worth
Cattleack Barbeque - Dallas
Zavala’s Barbecue - Grand Prairie
Smoke-a-Holics BBQ - Fort Worth
Heim Barbecue - Fort Worth & Dallas
Sabar BBQ - Fort Worth
Dayne’s Craft Barbecue - Aledo
Hutchins Barbeque - MicKinney & Frisco
Lockhart Smokehouse - Dallas
Smoke’n Ash BBQ - Arlington

East Texas

Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue- Tyler
1701 Barbecue- Beaumont
Blood Bros BBQ- Houston
Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue- Tomball
Bar-A BBQ- Montgomery
Bodacious Bar-B-Q- Longview
Sunbird Barbecue- Longview
Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue- Crockett
Martin’s Place- Bryan
Khoi Barbecue- Houston
Harlem Road Texas BBQ- Richmond
Gatlin’s BBQ- Houston
Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue- Houston
Feges BBQ- Houston
Killen’s Barbecue- Pearland, Cypress, Shenandoah
Redbird BBQ- Port Lavaca
Patillo’s Barbeque- Beaumont
Brett’s BBQ Shop- Katy
Roegels BBQ Co.- Houston
CorkScrew BBQ- Spring

Central Texas

Franklin Barbecue- Austin
Louie Mueller Barbecue- Taylor
la Barbecue- Austin
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue- Austin
Micklethwait Craft Meats- Austin
InterStellar BBQ- Austin
Kreuz Market- Lockhart
Snow’s BBQ- Lexington
Eaker Barbeque- Fredericksburg
Rossler’s Blue Cord BBQ- Harker Heights
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que- Llano (and other locations)
Miller’s Smokehouse- Belton
Southside Market & Barbeque- Elgin, Bastrop, Austin & Hutto
The Original Black’s Barbecue- Lockhart, Austin, San Marcos
Terry Black’s Barbecue- Austin, Lockhart, Dallas, Waco
Distant Relatives- Austin
Rollin’ Smoke BBQ- Austin
Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen- Austin
KG BBQ- Austin
Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew- Austin
Smitty’s Market- Lockhart
City Market- Luling
Black Board Bar B Q- Sisterdale
Victorian’s Barbecue- Mart
Viteks’ BBQ- Waco
Guess Family Barbecue- Waco
Helberg Barbecue- Woodway

South Texas

2M Smokehouse- San Antonio
Burnt Bean Co.- Seguin
Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que- Brownsville
Teddy’s Barbecue- Weslaco
Reese Bros. Barbecue- San Antonio
GW’s BBQ Catering Co.- San Juan
Lavaca BBQ- Port Lavaca
Butter’s BBQ- Sinton

West Texas

Perini Ranch Steakhouse- Buffalo Gap
Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque- Wolfforth (outside Lubbock)
Brantley Creek Barbecue-
Hallelujah! BBQ- El Paso
Desert Oak Barbecue- El Paso
Brick Vault Brewery & Barbecue- Marathon

Profiles:

Daniel Vaughn
M&M BBQ Co.
Chief Firewood
BBQ Confessional
Houston Edgeworks
Camp Brisket (at Texas A&M)
Chud’s BBQ
Mill Scale Metalworks
Jess Pryles/Hardcore Carnivore
Brisket Country
The Sausage Sensei
Matti Bills (Three Six General, Howdy Child)

books barbecue texas history chefs pitmasters goldee's