We All Scream

Blue Bell ice cream is churning its way back to Texas

It's finally coming back, y'all.

Courtesy photo

Our wish for a scoop (or two) of Blue Bell ice cream is about to come true. In a recent statement, the Brenham-based creamery announced plans to distribute its products to select markets, including some in Texas, beginning on August 31.

With only its Sylacauga, Alabama, plant currently operating, Blue Bell's production is limited and will roll out in five phases to 15 states. North central Texas will be in phase two, along with southern Oklahoma, although no dates have been attached to any phase other than the first one.

Phase one includes Houston, Brenham, and Austin, as well as Birmingham and Montgomery (Alabama cities near the Sylacauga plant). The company would not disclose which flavors will be distributed, but an Alabama health department official told Dallas station WFAA that the only flavors officials tested in a truck were homemade vanilla and Dutch chocolate.

Southwest Texas and central Oklahoma will head up phase three. The majority of Texas, plus southern Louisiana, are part of phase four, while phase five will complete distribution in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas, and begin distribution in Arkansas, Florida, northern Louisiana, and Mississippi. Eight other states are also part of the phase five lineup.

The company conducted a mass recall of its products last April due to contamination of Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Three people died and several were hospitalized after they consumed Blue Bell products manufactured in Texas.

In July, Fort Worth billionaire Sid Bass stepped in to help save the brand as an investor and partner.

Production at all three of its facilities (the other two are in Brenham and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) was subsequently halted, with only the , and Sylacauga plant back in business.

“Over the past several months we have been working to make our facilities even better, and to ensure that everything we produce is safe, wholesome, and of the highest quality for you to enjoy,” said Ricky Dickson, vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bell.

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French Food News

Dallas restaurant Frenchie debuts in former Corner Bakery spot

Frenchie

A French restaurant has debuted in an iconic Dallas space: Called Frenchie, it's a new concept from Travis Street Hospitality (Knox Street Bistro, Georgie) now open in North Dallas’ Preston Center Plaza in the former Corner Bakery space at 8420 Preston Center Plaza.

Described as a quintessential French brasserie — designed as a casual, everyday restaurant serving an all-day menu of lunch and dinner (with breakfast launching in the coming weeks) — it's a new direction for Travis Hospitality, who are venturing outside of their usual Knox-Henderson neighborhood, with their first venture without white-tablecloth service.

Frenchie is the natural evolution for founders Stephan Courseau and Daniele Garcia and culinary director, Bruno Davaillon, who have built a reputation on refined, French-forward restaurants like Knox Bistro, Georgie, and Le PasSage — tempering their French-born culinary heritage and fine-dining training with American sensibilities to create a more family-friendly concept designed for North Dallas’ premier mixed-use district.

"Frenchie is an American French restaurant made by French guys who are now in the American mainstream,” Courseau says in a release. "Frenchie represents the version of the French people we are today. It’s who we became over the years – authentic to who we are today."

Food and drink
The menu blends classic French comfort food with all-day versatility, featuring crepes, rillettes, quiche, poulet rôti, tartare de boeuf, salade Parisienne, and pâtes au pistou. In the morning, coffee and croissants. At lunch, burgers and onion soup. At dinner, steak frites and profiteroles dinner.

The wine list will feature small French wineries, while cocktails will include a "freezer martini" — custom bottled and pre-chilled by Travis Street Hospitality’s Executive Mixologist, Mario Martinez, exclusively for Frenchie.

Decor
The 4,000-square-foot restaurant will feature seating for 150 in the dining room and bar, and a 1,200-square-foot covered patio with an indoor-outdoor bar.

Decor will be grounded in the fundamentals of classic French bistros, with design details such as pewter bar tops, patinaed mirrors, brass sconces, rattan chairs, and rows of banquettes.

Audience
The goal will be to become an everyday destination for families, parents, office workers, and shoppers at the Preston Plaza Center.

Founded by Stephan Courseau and Daniele Garcia, Travis Hospitality has been on the dining scene since 2013 with the debut of Le Bilboquet. This was followed by the opening of Knox Bistro, Georgie and The Georgie Butcher Shop (2019), Rose Café at Le PasSage and Le PasSage (2024).

openings