Queso News

Dallas dish of the week: New chipotle variety of Ro-Tel tomatoes

Smoky and sweet = irresistible.

Photo courtesy of Ro-Tel

Editor's note: Every week, we'll spotlight a culinary treat found around Dallas-Fort Worth — whether it's a new opening, a dish at a restaurant, or a grocery find.

Dish: Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles and Chipotle Peppers
Location: Supermarket aisle

Ro-Tel canned tomatoes are the building block of proper queso, the other block being Velveeta. The Chipotle chain learned the hard way when it tried to introduce a queso made with "real" cheese that the Velveeta version is the one most people crave. Do not try to give us "real" cheese.

The queso most people love is the world's dumbest recipe, which Ro-Tel is nonetheless not embarrassed to post: Combine one can of Ro-Tel and a block of Velveeta. Heat until blended. Voila: queso.

Ro-Tel tomatoes are definitely a Texas thing. Founded in 1943, they were originally available only in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas.

In the '80s, Ro-Tel decided to bump it up and partnered with Kraft, maker of Velveeta, to turn queso dip into an Official Thing.

In the '90s, Ro-Tel began expanding its line, introducing hot and mild versions, no salt, habaneros, and more; there are now nine varieties.

Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies and Chipotle Peppers is the newest. It was released in late 2017 and is now readily available at supermarkets.

It is unquestionably the best. Sorry, Fire Roasted, the most previous newbie which was introduced in 2015, but you've been beat.

The new ingredient is chipotle peppers, added to the original recipe of diced tomatoes and green chilies.

"This brings a smoky taste to any dish where Ro-Tel can be used, from everything to meats and fish to traditional queso," says a Ro-Tel spokesman.

You hear "chipotle" a lot in Texas, and not because of the Chipotle chain. Chipotle is a staple flavor in Tex-Mex and Southwest cuisines, and a favorite for chefs like Dean Fearing and Stephan Pyles.

A chipotle is actually a jalapeno pepper that's been dried and smoked. It might be the most perfect chile ever. It's warm but not hot; moderately smoky without hammering your nasal passages; and a little sweet.

Straight out of the can, Ro-Tel with chipotles is a little sharp and astringent, as canned tomatoes often are, and the smokiness of the chipotles is almost harsh.

But when blanketed by melted cheese in a Ro-Tel chipotle queso (seen here on Instagram), the edges soften. The tomato-chipotle mix gives the tangy, creamy cheese warmth and dimension. The sweet-and-smoky with the creamy are irresistible — rendering old-school Ro-Tel queso dull by comparison.

As with all Ro-Tel products, the chipotle version has chunky chopped tomatoes which add substance to the texture, and make you feel like there is possibly something "healthy."

That Ro-Tel would introduce a chipotle pepper flavor seems inevitable, since recipes have been circulating in which you combine Velveeta, regular Ro-Tel, and canned chipotle peppers.

This just allows you to do it with one less can.

sustainability

Henderson Avenue News

Dallas bar High Fives will close on Henderson Avenue after 10 years

High Fives/Facebook

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A nightlife staple on Dallas' Henderson Avenue is closing: High Fives, the bar located at 1804 McMillan Ave., will close in early January, after more than 10 years.

According to a release, the actual closing date will be tied to the Texas Tech Red Raiders' game schedule in January.

"To all our neighbors, the Red Raider faithful, and everyone who has made High Fives their home—we are saying goodbye by raising our hands high for one last High Five," says owner Phil Schanbaum. "This establishment was built on community, spirited rivalry, and countless memories. We are deeply thankful to every single patron and, especially, to all of our incredible staff who were the heart and soul of this place."

High Fives opened in mid-2015, part of the portfolio of This & That Hospitality, the company Schanbaum founded with partner Brandon Hays, next door to its sibling bar The Whippersnapper (which was rebranded into a concept called Boogies in October 2025.)

Schanbaum says that they're unsure of what will go in the High Fives space after it closes — but that the closure "paves the way for the ongoing evolution of Henderson Avenue."

The property is owned by Acadia Realty, the New York-based company that is partnered with Dallas development firm Ignite-Rebees on a 161,000-square-foot, creative, mixed-use development currently underway on Henderson Avenue between Glencoe Street and McMillan Avenue at the eastern end of Henderson Avenue.

High Fives' closure is part of that plan to transform the quarter-mile stretch into a walkable destination featuring restaurants, retail, and office space.

"To Henderson Avenue, we look forward to further expansion and to making this street even better. We are excited for the neighborhood's renaissance, which will bring new experiences, retail, and dining concepts to the area," Schanbaum says.

Moving target
The actual closing date will depend on the outcome of the season for Texas Tech's football team the Red Raiders.

"The final chapter for High Fives will be written alongside the almighty Texas Tech Red Raiders. The bar's ultimate closure is tied directly to the team's success," the release says.

The next game day is on January 1, when doors open at 10 am.

If the Red Raiders advance past the game on January 1, High Fives will remain open for subsequent Texas Tech game days until the team's run ends. Meanwhile hours in December will be Thursdays & Fridays from 8 pm-2 am, and Saturdays: from 2 pm– 2 am.