Hot dogs and lawsuits

Trinity Groves welcomes Hofmann Hots and, soon, restaurant incubator Kitchen LTO

Trinity Groves ushered in its new hot dog diner concept, Hofmann Hots, with a reception for friends and family on February 6, as a preview to the official opening February 8. Hofmann Hots showcases hot dogs from Hofmann Sausage Co., a Syracuse, New York-based company that's been making hot dogs since 1879.

The restaurant is the first in a chain whose investor-owners include Trinity Groves founder Phil Romano. Romano and company recently filed a lawsuit against company CEO Frank Zaccanelli for misuse of company funds. Zaccanelli is accused of racking up personal expenses, including $34,000 for an employee named Megan Lucas.

But there was no talk of the lawsuit at the opening event. Instead, attendees including Susan and John Cuellar, owners of Corazon de Tejas restaurant soon to open in Oak Cliff, and Dotty Griffith, the new executive director of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, lined up for gourmet hot dogs, spicy chili mac and cheese, and tater tots.

The restaurant has a cool '50s diner design, with white tiled walls, stainless steel countertops, gleaming red tables, and blue-and-white vinyl chairs. Also spotted in the hungry crowd: Cindy and Tony Waldrop, Kristy Nail, Melanie Weiser, Summer Graham, Michael Swaim, and Beaux Wellborn.

In other news, Trinity Groves recently announced a mini-incubator project called Kitchen LTO, created by Greenz founder Casie Caldwell. LTO, which stands for "limited time only," will be a pop-up restaurant site with a new set of chefs and designers moving in and out every quarter.

A screening committee will review applicants, but the public will decide who's in, by voting through the company's website and social media channels. Chefs and designers are invited to submit applications by February 27.

Chefs must have culinary training and five years of experience, but design applicants can be students. To apply, visit the website or email contact@kitchenlto.com.

Photo by Jerry McClure

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Sushi News

Fun conveyor-belt sushi restaurant debuts at McKinney mixed-use

Photo by Jakob Layman for Kura Sushi

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A Japanese-inspired restaurant that brings you sushi on a conveyor belt is now open in McKinney: Called Kura Revolving Sushi, it’s located at 8585 W. University Dr. #150 in the West Grove mixed-use development, where it debuts on April 25, with an opening party taking place all weekend from April 25-27.

"We are thrilled to open our sixth DFW location in McKinney, which is one of the fastest growing cities in the country with a population that's increasingly diverse and open to new culinary experiences," says Chief Development Officer Robert Kluger in a statement. "We believe the West Grove shopping center is the perfect place to share our authentic Japanese dining experience with this growing community."

Kura Sushi USA was established in 2008 and has grown to be the largest revolving sushi chain: Small plates of sushi and sides are placed on a conveyor belt that snakes around the restaurant, allowing customers to grab items as they pass by.

They have more than 100 menu items, including sushi, ramen, and popular Asian starters like edamame and wontons. Each item is charged separately starting at $3.45 a plate.

There are two conveyors as follows:

Revolving Sushi Bar. The primary belt that snakes through the dining area, with plates of sushi that are protected by the chain's Mr. Fresh ventilated sushi lid. They say it limits airborne exposure and has plate-tracking technology that monitors how long the item has been circulating, ensuring food remains fresh.
Express Belt. Referred to as the "sushi highway," the express belt is positioned above the primary belt and is used to deliver special orders.

Bikkura Pon Prizes
An integral part of Kura Sushi USA’s tech interactive dining experience, Bikkura Pon is a machine that dispenses prizes after customers dispose of their plates properly. A touch panel registers the number of sushi plates dispensed into the plate disposal slot. After five plates, a short animation plays; after every fifteen plates, a prize such as a keychain or phone mount pops out.

Kura has more than 550 locations in Japan, U.S., and Taiwan. There are 70 locations in 20 states and Washington D.C. McKinney is the fifth location to open in DFW; other locations include Carrollton, Euless, Plano, Frisco, and Fort Worth.

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