Hot Pop-Up

4 Dallas chefs combine forces for cutting-edge Asian pop-up

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Photo courtesy of Khao

Some cutting-edge Asian food will be dished out on July 26 at a one-night pop-up event featuring a quartet of chefs, each doing their own cuisine. Two of the chefs are from well known restaurants. The other two will preview restaurants that are set to open in the next year.

The known chefs come from Sumo Shack, Wabi House, and Monkey King Noodle Company. They'll be joined by chefs from Four Sisters, a restaurant opening soon in Fort Worth, and Khao Noodle Shop, a restaurant still in the works aiming to open in 2018.

The result for attendees seems likely to be some of the most interesting food you can find around DFW.

The pop-up will take place at Monkey King Noodle Shop in Carrollton, with a theme of Asian street foods, from four distinct cuisines:

Japanese: chef Dien Nguyen from Wabi House / Sumo Shack
Chinese: chef Andrew Chen from Monkey King Noodle Company
Vietnamese: chef Tuan Pham from Four Sisters, Taste of Vietnam
Laotian: chef Donny Sirisavath ("Donny Darkoo") from KhaoNoodleShop

The event was conceived as a way to spotlight up-and-coming Asian chefs, says spokesperson Teresa Nguyen.

"Monkey King owner Andrew Chen had a lot of success with the pop-up they did last year for the Year of the Monkey celebration," Nguyen says. "They wanted a way to showcase other young Asian talents round town. Dien Nguyen, from Wabi House and Sumo Shack, met Donny at a pop-up and thought his food was extraordinary. It was also an opportunity for these chefs to do something off the menu from what they regularly serve at their restaurants."

Chen will do egg rolls in two versions, one vegan and one with brisket burnt ends. He's also doing a dish called ketchup fried rice with Hong Kong-style sausage, which he describes as a "first-generation Chinese dish that probably every Chinese kid that grew up in the States has had at some point in their childhood."

Sirisavath will do "boat noodles" with handmade noodles, and a Lao version of musubi, the Spam sushi item, but featuring handmade Laotian-style pork sausage with sticky rice, served with an eggplant dip, tripe rinds, and veggies. There'll be vegetarian/vegan options for both dishes.

Pham, formerly a chef at Shinjuku Station in Fort Worth, is doing Thit Heo Nuong Xa, aka lemongrass grilled pork skewers; and Chao Tom, aka grilled sugarcane shrimp sticks, which he'll be doing in a truly authentic manner.

"I am planning to set up on the grill as they do in Vietnam, where they stack the meat in a huge pile around the coals and brush it with a thin glaze over the fire," Pham says.

The pop-up event page is here. It will begin at 5 pm and last until everything is sold out. It's first-come first-serve on orders and seating; there are no reservations. All orders will be take-out although Nguyen says there's lots of indoor and patio communal seating.

It's hard to predict the turnout, but as Nguyen observes, 300 people have already RSVP'd yes. "It started out as a family event, but it's getting bigger than anyone expected," she says.

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Seafood News

Dallas chef brings seafood to Trinity Groves via Pesca restaurant

Pesca

Pesca Trinity Groves

A veteran Dallas restaurateur has a new seafood restaurant at Trinity Groves: Called Pesca Coastal Cuisine and Cocktails, it’s in a space with seafood history, in the former Amberjax Fish Market space at 3011 Gulden Ln. #107. According to a release, it opened on December 13.

(The website has a confusing banner that says "NOW OPEN! DECEMBER 13TH-24TH UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.")

Pesca comes from Jesus Carmona, owner of the taqueria Milagro Tacos and Argentinian restaurant Chimichurri. Carmona is among the lucky restaurateurs in Dallas who've been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and he was also on Good Morning America’s taco cook-off.

The menu includes fish grilled or a la plancha, plus spicy shrimp shooters, oysters Rockefeller, tuna crudo, crab croquettes, chowder, shrimp enchiladas, linguini frutti di mare, and lobster rolls.

They also offer desserts, such as Florida Key lime pie and coconut cream tarts, plus cocktails and a selection of beer and wine. Prices range from $6 for a cup of soup to $29 for salmon succotash.

The design features natural wood tones, ocean-inspired hues, and nautical accents, plus bold elements, pops of color, and playful twists.

“I designed this space and menu to invite people to experience my variations of delicious coastal dishes,” says Carmona in a statement. “Pesca will provide new food options for West Dallas, a community very close to my heart.”

Carmona, originally from Mexico City, began his career at the age of 12, working in the family business. Carmona earned his food and beverage degree from Miami Dade College and he attended the San Francisco Culinary Academy. He has more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

“Jesus has provided Dallas communities with quality restaurants and food experiences, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Trinity Groves,” says West Dallas Investments partner Sam Romano in a statement. “Pesca allows him to show us his talents with coastal cuisine - something that is not currently being offered in West Dallas.”

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