Chef News

Dallas chef Kent Rathbun resigns from his company to try something new

Chef Kent Rathbun, the world is his oyster.

Photo courtesy of Kent Rathbun

Dallas chef Kent Rathbun has resigned from Kent Rathbun Concepts, the restaurant company he founded in 2009. According to a statement from his partner Bill Hyde, Rathbun will relinquish his day-to-day activities to pursue other avenues of interest, but he will remain part of the company.

"We are currently exploring his new role and welcome his continued engagement for the benefit of our guests, staff, and company," Hyde says. "We are extremely proud of the culinary talent we have placed in each restaurant and look forward to continuing to serve our valued guests."

Hyde, who previously worked with Ruth's Chris Steak House, took over after Rathbun's original partner, Robert Hoffman, died in 2006. The company has six restaurants, including Abacus; Hickory in Plano; and four branches of Jasper's, in Plano, Richardson, Austin, and the Woodlands. It also runs the Kitchen at 6130, a catering operation in Preston Center, in the former Blue Plate Kitchen space.

As noted on Escape Hatch, Christopher Patrick was recently promoted to the top chef position at Abacus, and the other restaurants had chefs in place. Rathbun says he felt like it was time to venture off and do something else. "I'm excited and want our team at the restaurant group to succeed and excel," he says.

One of Dallas' best-known chefs, Rathbun was nominated as the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southwest in 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004. He has appeared on numerous TV shows, including the Food Network's Chef du Jour, Cooking Live with Sara Moulton, Ready Set Cook, the CBS Early Show, the Rosie O’Donnell Show, and NBC’s Today Show. In 2008, he competed on Food Network’s hit series Iron Chef America, where he beat Bobby Flay.

He and his wife, Tracy Moore Rathbun, are working on the reopening of Chelsea Corner, the famed Uptown bar from the '80s, in partnership with Len Critcher, owner of The Tavern.

"We're planning on opening in September," Tracy says. "They are swinging hammers, and we are working on the menu. We're having some fun with it. I think people can reinvent themselves and move on."

chefs

Soda News

Texas' favorite soft drink Dr Pepper spins off fruity-creamy new flavor

Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper has a new flavor.

Texas' favorite soda Dr Pepper, loved for its cherry-ish flavor, has a new berry variety: Strawberries & Cream, available in regular and Zero Sugar versions, now on shelves everywhere.

According to a release, Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream Regular will be offered in 12-packs with 12-ounce cans and also in 20-ounce bottles. The Zero Sugar version will be offered in 12 packs only.

Both will be permanent additions.

The release says that the new flavor combines the original 23 flavors of Dr Pepper but with layers of strawberry flavor and a creamy finish. That sounds like a lot of activity for a little old soda.

"Our expert team of flavor scientists are constantly innovating to bring to life new varieties that will surprise and delight treat seekers and our existing dedicated fans," says Dr Pepper Marketing VP John Alvarado. "Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream is an exciting evolution for our brand's flavor portfolio as it joins our permanent lineup alongside popular varieties such as Dr Pepper & Cream Soda and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar."

Dr Pepper is part of Keurig Dr Pepper but is also the oldest major soft drink in the United States, around since 1885.

The "23 flavors" theme, which is said to be responsible for its unique taste, is a secret recipe, ooooh, and is thought to include amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato, and vanilla.

The current full Dr Pepper lineup includes Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free, Cherry, Zero Sugar, and Cream Soda.

A spokesperson says that Dr Pepper has introduced several LTO flavors over the past few years, including Dr Pepper Fansville Reserve Bourbon and FANtastic Chocolate in celebration of college football season, and Dark Berry, all available for a limited time only.

The spokesperson neglects to mention some other special edition flavors from the past that have included Dr Pepper Red Fusion, Dr Pepper Berries & Cream, Dr Pepper Cherry, Dr Pepper Vanilla Float, and Diet Cherry Chocolate Dr Pepper, which was delicious.

The two best were definitely Heritage Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" — best because they used sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Alas, discontinued.

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