Snack News

Salsa wins on Super Bowl survey conducted by Plano snacks company

Snack time is here.

Plano-based snacks company Frito-Lay conducted a poll about snacks consumed during Super Bowl Sunday and two winners emerged: potato chips and salsa.

Does Frito-Lay, which makes Doritos, Cheetos, and Tostitos, really need a poll? Seems like they would have sales figures that tell them what consumers snack on during big games or any other time of the year.

But a poll can serve as the basis of a story such as this, especially on a site that doesn't do many Super Bowl-related stories. Also Plano is a local company, and that surely merits some coverage.

The poll was conducted January 8-9, among a national sample of more than 2,200 adults. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, and region. Results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

According to a release from the company, Super Bowl Sunday, which this year takes place on February 3, is one of the single-largest retail sales days for snacks at many supermarkets. The poll found some minute differences in geographical preferences, says senior VP Steven Williams.

"Frito-Lay keeps its finger on the pulse of snacking, always looking at what consumers prefer," Williams says. "It's interesting to see how different regions and age groups snack – whether it's potato chips or tortilla chips, classic or spicy."

Poll results include:

80 percent of Americans surveyed will have potato chips or tortilla chips
Chicago favors popcorn
L.A., Dallas, Miami, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., favor potato chips
Houston, Atlanta, and Boston favor tortilla chips
Younger people — nearly half of Gen Z and millennials surveyed — favored cheesy and spicy snacks
Salsa is the top dip

"Super Bowl Sunday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year for snacks," Williams says. "It's different than other holidays we see throughout the year as consumers are most likely to be enjoying snacks specifically at home, which can mean their choices can vary from other occasions."

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Coming soon

Downtown Dallas gets new modern Mexican spot with 'tacokase' twist

Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

Luna Roja translates to "red moon," as depicted in a striking mural in the dining room.

A new "modern" Mexican restaurant is landing in downtown Dallas: Called Luna Roja, it will open at 1525 Elm St., near the AT&T Discovery District.

According to a release, opening day will be Thursday, April 2. Luna Roja takes the space formerly occupied by Elm St. Cask & Kitchen inside the Hilton Garden Inn. A separate restaurant entrance that does not require diners to enter through the hotel is under construction.

Translated as "red moon," Luna Roja promises to bring something fresh and new to the area: namely, a "tacokase" experience led by chef Omar Larson, they say. It's a fun taco-twist on omakase, one of the hottest dining trends in Dallas right now.

Omakase is the dining experience in which the chef prepares a multicourse tasting menu of small bites made to order. While omakase has no set number of dishes, it usually ranges from 10 to 20 courses depending on how excessive the chef/restaurant is.

"Luna Roja will introduce a tacokase experience, a chef-led tasting inspired by traditional Japanese omakase highlighting a curated progression of tacos and complementary flavors," the release says. "The experience is offered as a monthly activation, giving guests an opportunity to explore seasonal ingredients and specialty creations from the culinary team."

A variety of dishes at Luna Roja.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

When diners at Luna Roja are not tacokase-ing, they can enjoy a menu that showcases regional Mexican flavors and fresh ingredients, with many dishes designed for sharing. The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Lunchtime shareables include:

Shrimp and Scallop Aguachile with cucumber-radish salad, avocado purée, and spicy aguachile verde on a crispy tortilla
Street Corn Croquettes with cotija, jalapeño, fresh lime, and Tajín
Torta Luna: Bolillo roll with slow-cooked citrus pork, melted cheese, onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and avocado
Taqueria Smash Burger: Beef patties with Oaxaca cheese, poblano rajas, caramelized onions, Maggi burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, and pickle (served with fries)

Larger plates served for dinner include:

Ancho Glazed Short Ribs with sweet potato purée and charred poblano relish
Chipotle Honey Glazed Half Chicken with charred poblano mashed potatoes, roasted carrot, onion escabeche, and charred lime
Carne Asada: 44 Ranch skirt steak with bean purée, enchilada guajillo sauce, and guacamole
Crispy Skin Salmon with black bean purée, salsa verde cruda, radish, lime oil, and microgreens
Seared Scallops with sweet corn purée, salsa macha, and charred scallion relish

Weekend brunch will feature favorites such as Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Tostadas (layered with citrus-soy, chipotle aioli, salsa macha avocado, radish and cilantro); and Huevos en Purgatorio (with poached eggs simmered in chile de árbol tomato sauce and topped with cilantro, queso fresco, pickled red onions and radish, served with corn tortillas).

A dedicated taqueria menu will feature heirloom corn masa tortillas filled with options like Al Pastor, Guajillo Shrimp, and Wild Mushrooms - with all the trimmings.

The beverage program features more than 50 selections of tequila including blancos, reposados, añejos, extra añejos, mezcal, and sotol. Signature cocktails include the Mexican Mule “La Mula” with Milagro Silver tequila, ginger beer and lime; and the Spicy Mango Margarita with El Jimador Blanco Tequila, serrano, agave, mango, lime and tajin.

The bar area, which looks out to the patio.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

Luna Roja's interiors aim to fuse contemporary Mexican design with traditional symbolisms. "Murals by FGIII Fine Art Productions, textured stone accents, and saturated colors evoke the spirit of Mexican heritage," the release says.

There will also be a spacious bar, outdoor patio, and private dining space, they say - "creating a new gathering spot that reflects both the spirit of Mexico and the energy of downtown Dallas.

Upon opening April 2, their entire operating schedule will be:

Breakfast: 6 am-11 am Monday-Friday
Lunch: 11 am-1:30 pm Monday-Friday
Dinner: 4 pm-9 pm Sunday-Thursday / 4 pm-10 pm Friday-Saturday
Brunch: 10 am-3 pm Saturday-Sunday
Bar: Open-11 pm Sunday-Thursday / Open-12 am Friday-Saturday
Happy Hour: 4-6 pm Monday-Friday

tacos downtown dallas openings hotels tex-mex